Production-dependent interpretation of the KLOE-MAMI η → π0γγ tension via the nucleon-triggered leptophobic vector VB

A bstract The recent KLOE measurement BRKLOEη → π 0γ γ=(0.98± 0.11ₛₜₐₜ± 0.14syst)× 10⁻⁴ BR KLOE η → π 0 γγ = 0.98 ± 0 . 11 stat ± 0 . 14 syst × 1 0 − 4 is less than half the current world average, (2 . 55 ± 0 . 22) × 10 − 4 , dominated by MAMI photoproduction data. We show that this ≈ 5 . 5 σ discrepancy can be resolved by the new leptophobic, nucleon-triggered vector particle VB V B with 1 . 5 GeV ≲ m_VB m V B ≲ 5 GeV, coupled via the effective operator (N̄N)~ VBμ νFμ νP N ¯ N V ~ B μν F μν P . This interaction modifies the η ( ′ ) → π 0 ( η ) γγ decay rates only in the processes involving an external nucleon current, γp → η ( ′ ) p and π − p → η ( ′ ) n , but leaves purely leptonic production channels, such as e + e − → ϕ → η ( ′ ) γ at KLOE and e + e − → J/ψ → γη ( ′ ) at BESIII, Standard-Model-like. The same mechanism predicts a ≈ 10% nucleon-triggered enhancement of the η′ → π 0 γγ decay rate and a negligible shift for η′ → ηγγ , together with an A 2 -scaling boost if produced on heavy nuclei instead of protons. VB V B can be searched directly in 2 → 3 photoproduction, for example,