Identifying the quark content of the isoscalar scalar mesons f₀(980), f₀(1370), and f₀(1500) from weak and electromagnetic processes

The assignments of the isoscalar scalar mesons f0(980), f0(1370), and f0(1500) in terms of their qqbar substructure is still a matter of heated dispute. Here we employ the weak and electromagnetic decays D(s)(+) to f0+pi(+) and f0 two-photon decays, respectively, to identify the f0(980) and f0(1500) as mostly ssbar, and the f0(1370) as dominantly nonstrange, in agreement with previous work. The two-photon decays can be satisfactorily described with quark as well as with meson loops, though the latter ones provide a less model-dependent and more quantitative description.