Phenomenological analysis of nonresonant charm meson decays

We analyze the consequences of the usual assumption of a constant function to fit nonresonant decays from an experimental Dalitz plot describing charmed meson decays. We first show, using the D+→ bar K0π+π0 decay channel as an example, how an inadequate extraction of the nonresonant contribution could yield incorrect measurements for the resonant channels. We analyze how the correct study of this decay will provide a test for the validity of factorization in D meson decays. Finally, we show how form factors could be extracted from nonresonant decays. In particular, we discuss the form factor that can be measured from the Ds+→π- π+π+ decay. We emphasize its relevance for the study of the decay τ→ντ3π and the extraction of the a1 meson width. copyright 1997 The American Physical Society