Evidence for ηc→γγ and measurement of J/ψ→3γ

Abstract

The decay of J/psi to three photons is studied using psi (3686) -> pi(+) pi(-) J/psi in a sample of 1.0641 X 10(8) psi (3686) events collected with the BESIII detector. Evidence of the direct decay of eta(c) to two photons, eta(c) -> gamma gamma, is reported, and the product branching fraction is determined to be B(J/psi -> gamma eta(c,) eta(c) -> gamma gamma = (4.5 +/- 1.2 +/- 0.6) X 10(-6), where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic. The branching fraction for J/psi -> 3 gamma is measured to be (11.3 +/- 1.8 +/- 2.0) X 10(-6) with improved precision.