First Observation of τto 3πην_(τ) and τto f₁πν_(τ) Decays

We have observed new channels for $\tau$ decays with an $\eta$ in the final state. We study 3-prong tau decays, using the $\eta\to\gamma\gamma$ and $\eta\to 3\piz$ decay modes and 1-prong decays with two $\piz$'s using the $\eta\to\gamma\gamma$ channel. The measured branching fractions are $\B(\tau^{-}\to \pi^{-}\pi^{-}\pi^{+}\eta\nu_{\tau}) =(3.4^{+0.6}_{-0.5}\pm0.6)\times10^{-4}$ and $\B(\tau^{-}\to \pi^{-}2\piz\eta\nu_{\tau} =(1.4\pm0.6\pm0.3)\times10^{-4}$. We observe clear evidence for $f_1\to\eta\pi\pi$ substructure and measure $\B(\tau^{-}\to f_1\pi^{-}\nu_{\tau})=(5.8^{+1.4}_{-1.3}\pm1.8)\times10^{-4}$. We have also searched for $\eta'(958)$ production and obtain 90% CL upper limits $\B(\tau^{-}\to \pi^{-}\eta'\nu_\tau)<7.4\times10^{-5}$ and $\B(\tau^{-}\to \pi^{-}\piz\eta'\nu_\tau)<8.0\times10^{-5}$.