Cabibbo-suppressed decays of the Omega_c^0 - feedback to the Xi_c^+ lifetime

Abstract

We investigate a possible background of the type Omega_c^0 --> Xi_c^+ pi^- to the CLEO Xi_c^+ lifetime measurement. This decay mode may lead to an overestimate of the Xi_c^+ decay length and, therefore, increase the measured Xi_c^+ lifetime. The branching ratio Gamma(Omega_c^0 --> Xi_c^+ pi^-)/Gamma(Omega_c^0 --> Omega^- pi^+) is analyzed in the framework of the pole model and the modified current algebra. We find that the Omega_c^0 --> Xi_c^+ pi^- decay mode could not generate a substantial systematic error in the Xi_c^+ lifetime measurement. Also, it cannot significantly reduce the disagreement between theoretical and experimental values of the Xi_c^+ lifetime.

Comments: 9 pages, 3 figures