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  • Letter
  • Open Access

Revealing dipion correlations for the observed substructure near the π+π− mass threshold in ψ(3686)→J/ψπ+π−

Zhong-Yu Wang1,*, Zhe Liu2,3,4,5,†, and Xiang Liu2,3,4,6,5,‡

  • *Contact author: zhongyuwang@gzu.edu.cn
  • †Contact author: zhliu20@lzu.edu.cn
  • ‡Contact author: xiangliu@lzu.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. D 113, L031502 – Published 12 February, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/3vfq-ljrv

Abstract

Based on the world’s largest ψ(3686) data sample, the BESIII Collaboration recently reported a substructure near the π+π− mass threshold in the decay ψ(3686)→J/ψπ+π−, challenging the established understanding of the dipion invariant mass spectrum. We propose that this substructure arises directly from dipion correlations. Using a chiral unitary approach, we successfully reproduce the observed anomaly, thereby providing strong evidence of dipion correlation in heavy quarkonium decays. This approach also allows us to predict the corresponding dipion correlation function.

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Phys. Rev. D 113, L031502– Published 12 February, 2026
  • Received 13 November 2025
  • Accepted 22 January 2026
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