Observation of a meson X→2γ, with mass 2.85 GeV/c2, produced in the charge-exchange reaction π−p → Xn at 40 GeV/c

Abstract The invariant mass spectrum of neutral final states produced in π − p charge-exchange scattering at 40 GeV/ c has been studied, searching for heavy particles decaying in 2γ. A peak is observed around 2.85 GeV/ c 2 . The cross section of the reaction π − p→X(2.85)+n, times the branching ratio of the X→2 γ decay, is measured to be σ × BR ⋍ 2 × 10 −34 cm 2 .