⚛️ high-energy experiments

Observation of a strange $J^P=1^{-}$ resonance $K^{*}_1(1870)$ in $\chi_{c1}\to K^+K^-\eta^{\prime}$ decays

Using a large sample of $\psi(2S)$ events collected by the BESIII detector, researchers performed a partial wave analysis of $\chi_{c1}\to K^{+}K^{-}\eta^{\prime}$ decays and observed a new $J^P=1^{-}$ strange meson resonance, denoted as $K_1^*(1870)$ , with a statistical significance of $11.0\sigma$ .

Original author: BESIII Collaboration, M. Ablikim, M. N. Achasov, P. Adlarson, X. C. Ai, C. S. Akondi, R. Aliberti, A. Amoroso, Q. An, M. S. Anderson, Y. Bai, O. Bakina, H. R. Bao, X. L. Bao, M. Barbagiovanni, V. BatoBESIII Collaboration, M. Ablikim, M. N. Achasov, P. Adlarson, X. C. Ai, C. S. Akondi, R. Aliberti, A. Amoroso, Q. An, M. S. Anderson, Y. Bai, O. Bakina, H. R. Bao, X. L. Bao, M. Barbagiovanni, V. Batozskaya, K. Begzsuren, N. Berger, M. Berlowski, M. B. Bertani, D. Bettoni, F. Bianchi, E. Bianco, A. Bortone, I. Boyko, R. A. Briere, A. Brueggemann, D. Cabiati, H. Cai, M. H. Cai, X. Cai, A. Calcaterra, G. F. Cao, N. Cao, S. A. Cetin, X. Y. Chai, J. F. Chang, T. T. Chang, G. R. Che, Y. Z. Che, C. H. Chen, Chao Chen, G. Chen, H. S. Chen, H. Y. Chen, M. L. Chen, S. J. Chen, S. M. Chen, T. Chen, W. Chen, X. R. Chen, X. T. Chen, X. Y. Chen, Y. B. Chen, Y. Q. Chen, Z. K. Chen, J. Cheng, L. N. Cheng, S. K. Choi, X. Chu, G. Cibinetto, F. Cossio, J. Cottee-Meldrum, H. L. Dai, J. P. Dai, X. C. Dai, A. Dbeyssi, R. E. de Boer, D. Dedovich, Z. Y. Deng, A. Denig, I. Denisenko, M. Destefanis, F. De Mori, E. Di Fiore, X. X. Ding, Y. Ding, Y. X. Ding, J. Dong, L. Y. Dong, M. Y. Dong, X. Dong, Z. J. Dong, M. C. Du, S. X. Du, Shaoxu Du, X. L. Du, Y. Q. Du, Y. Y. Duan, Z. H. Duan, P. Egorov, G. F. Fan, J. J. Fan, K. X. Fan, Y. H. Fan, J. Fang, Jin Fang, S. S. Fang, W. X. Fang, Y. Q. Fang, L. Fava, F. Feldbauer, G. Felici, C. Q. Feng, J. H. Feng, Q. X. Feng, Y. T. Feng, M. Fritsch, C. D. Fu, J. L. Fu, Y. W. Fu, H. Gao, Xu Gao, Y. Gao, Y. N. Gao, Y. Y. Gao, Yunong Gao, Z. Gao, S. Garbolino, I. Garzia, L. Ge, P. T. Ge, Z. W. Ge, C. Geng, A. Gilman, K. Goetzen, J. Gollub, J. B. Gong, J. D. Gong, L. Gong, W. X. Gong, W. Gradl, M. Greco, M. D. Gu, M. H. Gu, C. Y. Guan, A. Q. Guo, H. Guo, J. N. Guo, L. B. Guo, M. J. Guo, R. P. Guo, X. Guo, Y. P. Guo, Z. Guo, A. Guskov, J. Gutierrez, J. Y. Han, T. T. Han, X. Han, F. Hanisch, J. Y. Hao, K. D. Hao, X. Q. Hao, F. A. Harris, C. Z. He, K. K. He, K. L. He, F. H. Heinsius, C. H. Heinz, Y. K. Heng, C. Herold, N. D. Hoffman, P. C. Hong, G. Y. Hou, X. T. Hou, Y. R. Hou, Z. L. Hou, H. M. Hu, J. F. Hu, Q. P. Hu, S. L. Hu, T. Hu, Y. Hu, Y. X. Hu, Z. M. Hu, G. S. Huang, K. X. Huang, L. Q. Huang, P. Huang, X. T. Huang, Y. P. Huang, Y. S. Huang, T. Hussain, N. Hüsken, N. in der Wiesche, Q. Ji, Q. P. Ji, W. Ji, X. B. Ji, X. L. Ji, Y. Y. Ji, L. K. Jia, X. Q. Jia, D. Jiang, S. J. Jiang, X. S. Jiang, Y. Jiang, J. B. Jiao, J. K. Jiao, Z. Jiao, L. C. L. Jin, S. Jin, Y. Jin, M. Q. Jing, X. M. Jing, T. Johansson, S. Kabana, X. L. Kang, X. S. Kang, B. C. Ke, V. Khachatryan, A. Khoukaz, O. B. Kolcu, B. Kopf, L. Kröger, L. Krümmel, Y. Y. Kuang, M. Kuessner, X. Kui, N. Kumar, A. Kupsc, W. Kühn, Q. Lan, T. T. Lei, M. Lellmann, T. Lenz, C. Li, C. H. Li, C. K. Li, Chunkai Li, Cong Li, D. M. Li, F. Li, G. Li, H. B. Li, H. J. Li, H. L. Li, H. N. Li, H. P. Li, Hui Li, J. N. Li, J. S. Li, J. W. Li, K. Li, K. L. Li, L. J. Li, L. K. 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S. Qin, Z. H. Qin, J. F. Qiu, Z. H. Qu, J. Rademacker, K. Ravindran, C. F. Redmer, A. Rivetti, M. Rolo, G. Rong, S. S. Rong, F. Rosini, Ch. Rosner, M. Q. Ruan, W. R. Ruangyoo, N. Salone, A. Sarantsev, Y. Schelhaas, M. Schernau, K. Schoenning, M. Scodeggio, W. Shan, X. Y. Shan, Z. J. Shang, J. F. Shangguan, L. G. Shao, M. Shao, C. P. Shen, H. F. Shen, W. H. Shen, X. Y. Shen, B. A. Shi, Ch. Y. Shi, H. Shi, J. L. Shi, J. Y. Shi, M. H. Shi, S. Shi, S. Y. Shi, X. Shi, X. D. Shi, H. L. Song, J. J. Song, M. H. Song, T. Z. Song, W. M. Song, Y. X. Song, Zirong Song, S. Sosio, S. Spataro, S. Stansilaus, F. Stieler, M. Stolte, S. S Su, G. B. Sun, G. X. Sun, H. Sun, H. K. Sun, J. F. Sun, K. Sun, L. Sun, R. Sun, S. S. Sun, W. Y. Sun, Y. C. Sun, Y. H. Sun, Y. J. Sun, Y. Z. Sun, Z. Q. Sun, Z. T. Sun, H. Tabaharizato, N. T. Tagsinsit, C. J. Tang, G. Y. Tang, J. Tang, J. J. Tang, L. F. Tang, Y. A. Tang, Z. H. Tang, L. Y. Tao, M. Tat, J. X. Teng, J. Y. Tian, W. H. Tian, Y. Tian, Z. F. Tian, K. Yu. Todyshev, I. Uman, E. van der Smagt, B. Wang, Bin Wang, Bo Wang, C. Wang, Chao Wang, Cong Wang, D. Y. Wang, F. K. Wang, H. J. Wang, H. R. Wang, J. Wang, J. H. Wang, J. J. Wang, J. P. Wang, K. Wang, L. L. Wang, L. W. Wang, M. Wang, Mi Wang, N. Y. Wang, P. Wang, S. Wang, Shun Wang, T. Wang, W. Wang, W. P. Wang, X. F. Wang, X. L. Wang, X. N. Wang, Xin Wang, Y. Wang, Y. D. Wang, Y. F. Wang, Y. H. Wang, Y. J. Wang, Y. L. Wang, Y. N. Wang, Yanning Wang, Yaqian Wang, Yi Wang, Yuan Wang, Z. Wang, Z. L. Wang, Z. Q. Wang, Z. Y. Wang, Zhi Wang, Ziyi Wang, D. Wei, D. H. Wei, D. J. Wei, H. R. Wei, F. Weidner, H. R. Wen, S. P. Wen, U. Wiedner, G. Wilkinson, J. F. Wu, L. H. Wu, L. J. Wu, S. G. Wu, S. M. Wu, X. W. Wu, Z. Wu, H. L. Xia, L. Xia, B. H. Xiang, D. Xiao, G. Y. Xiao, H. Xiao, Y. L. Xiao, Z. J. Xiao, C. Xie, K. J. Xie, Y. Xie, Y. G. Xie, Y. H. Xie, Z. P. Xie, T. Y. Xing, D. B. Xiong, G. F. Xu, H. Y. Xu, Q. J. Xu, Q. N. Xu, T. D. Xu, X. P. Xu, Y. Xu, Y. C. Xu, Z. S. Xu, F. Yan, L. Yan, W. B. Yan, W. C. Yan, W. H. Yan, X. Q. Yan, Y. Y. Yan, H. J. Yang, H. L. Yang, H. X. Yang, J. H. Yang, L. Y. Yang, N. Yang, R. J. Yang, X. Y. Yang, Y. Yang, Y. G. Yang, Y. H. Yang, Y. M. Yang, Y. Q. Yang, Y. Z. Yang, Youhua Yang, Z. Y. Yang, W. J. Yao, Z. P. Yao, M. Ye, M. H. Ye, Z. J. Ye, K. Yi, Junhao Yin, Qiqin Yin, Z. Y. You, B. X. Yu, C. X. Yu, G. Yu, J. S. Yu, L. W. Yu, T. Yu, X. D. Yu, Y. C. Yu, Yongchao Yu, C. Z. Yuan, H. Yuan, J. Yuan, Jie Yuan, L. Yuan, M. K. Yuan, S. H. Yuan, Y. Yuan, Z. Y. Yuan, C. X. Yue, Ying Yue, A. A. Zafar, F. R. Zeng, S. H. Zeng, X. Zeng, Y. J. Zeng, Yujie Zeng, Y. C. Zhai, Y. H. Zhan, B. L. Zhang, B. R. Zhang, D. H. Zhang, G. Y. Zhang, Gengyuan Zhang, H. Zhang, H. C. Zhang, H. H. Zhang, H. L. Zhang, H. Q. Zhang, H. R. Zhang, H. Y. Zhang, Han Zhang, J. Zhang, J. J. Zhang, J. L. Zhang, J. Q. Zhang, J. S. Zhang, J. W. Zhang, J. X. Zhang, J. Y. Zhang, J. Z. Zhang, Jianyu Zhang, Jin Zhang, Jiyuan Zhang, L. M. Zhang, Lei Zhang, N. Zhang, P. Zhang, Q. Y. 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Published 2026-11-10

📖 5 min read🧠 Deep dive

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Original author: BESIII Collaboration, M. Ablikim, M. N. Achasov, P. Adlarson, X. C. Ai, C. S. Akondi, R. Aliberti, A. Amoroso, Q. An, M. S. Anderson, Y. Bai, O. Bakina, H. R. Bao, X. L. Bao, M. Barbagiovanni, V. Batozskaya, K. Begzsuren, N. Berger, M. Berlowski, M. B. Bertani, D. Bettoni, F. Bianchi, E. Bianco, A. Bortone, I. Boyko, R. A. Briere, A. Brueggemann, D. Cabiati, H. Cai, M. H. Cai, X. Cai, A. Calcaterra, G. F. Cao, N. Cao, S. A. Cetin, X. Y. Chai, J. F. Chang, T. T. Chang, G. R. Che, Y. Z. Che, C. H. Chen, Chao Chen, G. Chen, H. S. Chen, H. Y. Chen, M. L. Chen, S. J. Chen, S. M. Chen, T. Chen, W. Chen, X. R. Chen, X. T. Chen, X. Y. Chen, Y. B. Chen, Y. Q. Chen, Z. K. Chen, J. Cheng, L. N. Cheng, S. K. Choi, X. Chu, G. Cibinetto, F. Cossio, J. Cottee-Meldrum, H. L. Dai, J. P. Dai, X. C. Dai, A. Dbeyssi, R. E. de Boer, D. Dedovich, Z. Y. Deng, A. Denig, I. Denisenko, M. Destefanis, F. De Mori, E. Di Fiore, X. X. Ding, Y. Ding, Y. X. Ding, J. Dong, L. Y. Dong, M. Y. Dong, X. Dong, Z. J. Dong, M. C. Du, S. X. Du, Shaoxu Du, X. L. Du, Y. Q. Du, Y. Y. Duan, Z. H. Duan, P. Egorov, G. F. Fan, J. J. Fan, K. X. Fan, Y. H. Fan, J. Fang, Jin Fang, S. S. Fang, W. X. Fang, Y. Q. Fang, L. Fava, F. Feldbauer, G. Felici, C. Q. Feng, J. H. Feng, Q. X. Feng, Y. T. Feng, M. Fritsch, C. D. Fu, J. L. Fu, Y. W. Fu, H. Gao, Xu Gao, Y. Gao, Y. N. Gao, Y. Y. Gao, Yunong Gao, Z. Gao, S. Garbolino, I. Garzia, L. Ge, P. T. Ge, Z. W. Ge, C. Geng, A. Gilman, K. Goetzen, J. Gollub, J. B. Gong, J. D. Gong, L. Gong, W. X. Gong, W. Gradl, M. Greco, M. D. Gu, M. H. Gu, C. Y. Guan, A. Q. Guo, H. Guo, J. N. Guo, L. B. Guo, M. J. Guo, R. P. Guo, X. Guo, Y. P. Guo, Z. Guo, A. Guskov, J. Gutierrez, J. Y. Han, T. T. Han, X. Han, F. Hanisch, J. Y. Hao, K. D. Hao, X. Q. Hao, F. A. Harris, C. Z. He, K. K. He, K. L. He, F. H. Heinsius, C. H. Heinz, Y. K. Heng, C. Herold, N. D. Hoffman, P. C. Hong, G. Y. Hou, X. T. Hou, Y. R. Hou, Z. L. Hou, H. M. Hu, J. F. Hu, Q. P. Hu, S. L. Hu, T. Hu, Y. Hu, Y. X. Hu, Z. M. Hu, G. S. Huang, K. X. Huang, L. Q. Huang, P. Huang, X. T. Huang, Y. P. Huang, Y. S. Huang, T. Hussain, N. Hüsken, N. in der Wiesche, Q. Ji, Q. P. Ji, W. Ji, X. B. Ji, X. L. Ji, Y. Y. Ji, L. K. Jia, X. Q. Jia, D. Jiang, S. J. Jiang, X. S. Jiang, Y. Jiang, J. B. Jiao, J. K. Jiao, Z. Jiao, L. C. L. Jin, S. Jin, Y. Jin, M. Q. Jing, X. M. Jing, T. Johansson, S. Kabana, X. L. Kang, X. S. Kang, B. C. Ke, V. Khachatryan, A. Khoukaz, O. B. Kolcu, B. Kopf, L. Kröger, L. Krümmel, Y. Y. Kuang, M. Kuessner, X. Kui, N. Kumar, A. Kupsc, W. Kühn, Q. Lan, T. T. Lei, M. Lellmann, T. Lenz, C. Li, C. H. Li, C. K. Li, Chunkai Li, Cong Li, D. M. Li, F. Li, G. Li, H. B. Li, H. J. Li, H. L. Li, H. N. Li, H. P. Li, Hui Li, J. N. Li, J. S. Li, J. W. Li, K. Li, K. L. Li, L. J. Li, L. K. Li, Lei Li, M. H. Li, M. R. Li, M. T. Li, P. L. Li, P. R. Li, Q. M. Li, Q. X. Li, R. Li, S. Li, S. X. Li, S. Y. Li, Shanshan Li, T. Li, T. Y. Li, W. D. Li, W. G. Li, X. Li, X. H. Li, X. K. Li, X. L. Li, X. Y. Li, X. Z. Li, Y. H. Li, Y. B. Li, Y. C. Li, Y. G. Li, Y. P. Li, Yi Li, Z. H. Li, Z. J. Li, Z. L. Li, Z. X. Li, Z. Y. Li, Zaiyi Li, C. Liang, H. Liang, Y. F. Liang, Y. T. Liang, Z. Z. Liang, G. R. Liao, L. B. Liao, M. H. Liao, Y. P. Liao, J. Libby, A. Limphirat, C. C. Lin, C. X. Lin, D. X. Lin, T. Lin, B. J. Liu, B. X. Liu, C. Liu, C. X. Liu, F. Liu, F. H. Liu, Feng Liu, G. M. Liu, H. Liu, H. B. Liu, H. M. Liu, Huihui Liu, J. B. Liu, J. J. Liu, K. Liu, K. Y. Liu, Ke Liu, Kun Liu, L. Liu, L. C. Liu, Lu Liu, M. H. Liu, P. L. Liu, Q. Liu, S. B. Liu, T. Liu, W. T. Liu, X. Liu, X. K. Liu, X. L. Liu, X. P. Liu, X. T. Liu, X. Y. Liu, Y. Liu, Y. B. Liu, Yi Liu, Z. A. Liu, Z. D. Liu, Z. Q. Liu, Z. X. Liu, Z. Y. Liu, X. C. Lou, H. J. Lu, J. G. Lu, X. L. Lu, Y. Lu, Y. H. Lu, Y. P. Lu, Z. H. Lu, C. L. Luo, J. R. Luo, J. S. Luo, M. X. Luo, T. Luo, X. L. Luo, Z. Y. Lv, X. R. Lyu, Y. F. Lyu, Y. H. Lyu, C. L. Ma, F. C. Ma, H. L. Ma, Heng Ma, J. L. Ma, L. L. Ma, L. R. Ma, Q. M. Ma, R. Q. Ma, R. Y. 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Original paper licensed under CC BY 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ✨ This is an AI-generated explanation of the paper below. It is not written or endorsed by the author. For technical accuracy, refer to the original paper. Read full disclaimer

Deep within the fabric of the universe, matter is built from a handful of fundamental particles that stick together in specific ways. For decades, physicists have relied on a standard map, known as the quark model, to understand how these particles assemble into the protons, neutrons, and other short-lived particles called mesons that we observe in nature. According to this map, mesons are usually formed by a pair of particles: one matter particle and one antimatter particle, bound tightly together. However, the laws of physics also allow for more exotic arrangements, where the glue that holds these particles together—the force field itself—becomes excited and contributes to the structure of the particle. These hypothetical "hybrid" particles are like a musical chord where the instrument itself is vibrating in a new way, not just the notes being played. Finding them is crucial because it would prove that the force holding the universe together can act as a building block, offering a direct window into the complex, invisible rules that govern how matter forms.

For years, scientists have been hunting for these exotic hybrids, specifically looking for ones with a unique set of properties that cannot be created by the standard pairs of particles. While they have found a few promising candidates, a critical piece of the puzzle has been missing: a hybrid particle that contains a specific type of heavy quark known as a "strange" quark. Without this missing piece, the theoretical family of these exotic particles remains incomplete, leaving physicists unsure if their maps of the subatomic world are accurate. To find this missing link, researchers turned to a massive particle collider in Beijing, where they watched billions of collisions to see what new particles might briefly appear and disappear.

The team, known as the BESIII Collaboration, analyzed a vast collection of data gathered from the collision of electrons and positrons. They focused on a specific chain of events where a heavy particle called a chi-c-one decayed into a pair of charged kaons and a particle called an eta-prime. By reconstructing the paths and energies of the resulting debris, they performed a detailed statistical analysis to see if any hidden patterns emerged from the chaos. This process is similar to listening to a crowded room and trying to isolate a single, unique voice that repeats a specific phrase, distinguishing it from the general noise of conversation. The researchers were looking for a specific resonance, a temporary state where the particles briefly clump together before flying apart, which would signal the presence of a new, exotic particle.

Their search yielded a significant discovery. In the data, they found a clear signal of a new particle that had never been seen before in this specific context. This new particle, which they named the K-star-one (1870), has a mass of approximately 1869 MeV/c² and a width of about 167 MeV. The statistical confidence in this finding is extremely high, reaching a level of 11 standard deviations, which in the world of particle physics is considered a definitive observation rather than a mere hint. The particle has a specific spin and parity, properties that describe how it rotates and how it behaves under mirror reflection. While the mass and width of this new particle do not align perfectly with specific theoretical predictions for a standard excited state, this mismatch makes a hybrid interpretation a plausible possibility, though the exact nature of the particle's internal structure still requires further study to fully understand.

While the discovery of this new particle is the headline, the study also provided a much clearer picture of the other particles involved in the decay. The researchers identified several other intermediate states, including familiar scalar and tensor particles, that are necessary to explain the full complexity of the event. They measured the frequency of these decays with high precision, determining that the new particle appears in about 1.48 out of every 100,000 decays of the chi-c-one. By comparing their measurements with existing theories, the team found that the mass and width of this new particle do not match the predictions for a standard quark-antiquark pair, nor do they align perfectly with some specific theoretical models for a simple excited state. This mismatch makes a hybrid interpretation a plausible possibility, though the exact nature of the particle's internal structure still requires further theoretical and experimental studies to fully understand.

The implications of this finding extend beyond just adding a new name to a list of particles. It provides strong evidence that the theoretical framework describing these exotic states is on the right track, suggesting that the strange partner of the exotic family may exist, even if its specific mass properties differ from some initial predictions. However, the researchers are careful to note that while the data strongly supports the hybrid interpretation, the exact nature of the particle's internal structure still requires further theoretical work to fully understand. This discovery serves as a vital new input for scientists trying to map the full spectrum of matter, proving that the exotic states predicted by the theory of strong interactions are not just mathematical curiosities but real, observable components of our universe. The work stands as a testament to the power of large-scale data collection and careful analysis in peeling back the layers of reality to reveal the hidden architecture of the subatomic world.

Technical Summary: Observation of a Strange $J^P = 1^-$ Resonance $K^*_1(1870)$ in $\chi_{c1} \to K^+K^-\eta'$ Decays

Problem and Motivation
The search for hadrons with exotic quantum numbers is a central objective in hadron spectroscopy, offering a direct probe into the non-perturbative dynamics of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). While conventional mesons are described as quark–antiquark ( $q\bar{q}$ ) bound states, states with quantum numbers $J^{PC} = 1^{-+}$ cannot be formed by a simple $q\bar{q}$ configuration and are therefore signatures of exotic matter, such as hybrid mesons containing excited gluonic fields. Lattice QCD predicts the lightest hybrid meson with these quantum numbers to lie in the 1.7–2.1 GeV/ $c^2$ mass range.

While candidates for the isovector ( $\pi_1(1600)$ ) and isoscalar ( $\eta_1(1855)$ ) members of the predicted light hybrid nonet have been observed, the strange partner remains missing. Theoretical scenarios identifying $\eta_1(1855)$ as the lower-mass isoscalar state predict a strange hybrid with a mass around 1.83–1.90 GeV/ $c^2$ that should couple to the $K\eta'$ system. The decay $\chi_{c1} \to K^+K^-\eta'$ provides a promising laboratory to search for this state, as well as to investigate scalar and tensor mesons in the $K^+K^-$ system.

Methodology
This analysis utilizes a data sample of $(2712.4 \pm 14.3) \times 10^6$ $\psi(2S)$ events collected with the BESIII detector. The initial state is produced via $\psi(2S) \to \gamma \chi_{c1}$ . The $\eta'$ meson is reconstructed in two decay modes:

Mode I: $\eta' \to \pi^+\pi^-\gamma$
Mode II: $\eta' \to \pi^+\pi^-\eta$ (with $\eta \to \gamma\gamma$ )

Candidate events are selected requiring four charged tracks ( $K^+K^-\pi^+\pi^-$ ) and the requisite number of photons. Kinematic fits (4C for Mode I, 5C for Mode II) are applied to improve resolution and suppress background. Events consistent with $J/\psi$ or $\pi^0$ backgrounds are vetoed.

A combined Partial Wave Analysis (PWA) is performed on the selected $\chi_{c1}$ signal region using the TF-PWA framework. The decay amplitude is constructed using the helicity formalism and the isobar model, describing the three-body decay as a sequence of quasi-two-body processes involving intermediate resonances ( $X^\pm \to K^\pm \eta'$ and $Y \to K^+K^-$ ). Resonances are parameterized by relativistic Breit-Wigner propagators, with the $f_0(980)$ and $K^*_0(1430)$ described using the Flatté formula.

The resonance selection procedure involves:

Testing all kinematically allowed resonances with $J^P = 0^+, 1^-, 2^+$ (for $K\eta'$ ) and $0^{++}, 2^{++}$ (for $K^+K^-$ ) listed in the PDG.
Retaining amplitudes with statistical significance $> 5\sigma$ .
Systematically introducing additional resonances to test for structures not in the PDG list.
Re-evaluating all amplitudes after the inclusion of any new significant structures to account for interference and correlations.

Key Contributions and Results
The analysis yields the following primary results:

Observation of $K^*_1(1870)$ : An additional resonant structure in the $K\eta'$ system around 1.8 GeV/ $c^2$ is strongly favored by the data. Testing different spin-parity assignments ( $0^+, 1^-, 2^+$ ) reveals that the $J^P = 1^-$ hypothesis provides a statistical significance of 11.0 $\sigma$ , significantly higher than the alternatives (3.2 $\sigma$ and 3.7 $\sigma$ , respectively). This state is denoted as the $K^*_1(1870)$ .
- Mass: $M = (1869.0 \pm 14.6 \pm 18.6)$ MeV/ $c^2$
- Width: $\Gamma = (167.3 \pm 34.0 \pm 24.2)$ MeV
- Branching Fraction: $\mathcal{B}(\chi_{c1} \to K^\mp K^*_1(1870)^\pm \to K^+K^-\eta') = (1.48 \pm 0.30 \pm 0.33) \times 10^{-5}$ .
Comprehensive Amplitude Analysis: The final baseline solution requires a total of 10 intermediate resonances to describe the data with high significance:
- $K^+K^-$ system: $f_0(980)$ , $f_2(1270)$ , $f'_2(1525)$ , $f_0(1710)$ , $f_0(2100)$ , and $f_2(2340)$ .
- $K\eta'$ system: $K^*_0(1430)$ , $K^*_2(1430)$ , $K^*(1680)$ , $K^*_2(1980)$ , and the newly observed $K^*_1(1870)$ .
- The measured parameters for established resonances ( $f'_2(1525)$ , $f_0(1710)$ , $K^*_0(1430)$ , $K^*_2(1980)$ ) are consistent with world averages but with improved precision.
Total Branching Fraction: The branching fraction for the inclusive decay $\chi_{c1} \to K^+K^-\eta'$ is measured to be $(7.90 \pm 0.48) \times 10^{-4}$ . This result supersedes the previous BESIII measurement.
Glueball Mixing Constraints: The measured branching fraction for $\chi_{c1} \to f_0(1710)\eta'$ is determined to be $(4.01 \pm 1.50) \times 10^{-4}$ . This is consistent within $2\sigma$ with "Scheme I" of glueball– $q\bar{q}$ mixing scenarios, where $f_0(1710)$ is dominated by an $s\bar{s}$ component with a sizable glueball contribution, though consistency with other schemes cannot be ruled out due to uncertainties.

Significance and Claims
The paper claims the first observation of a strange-meson resonance with $J^P = 1^-$ in the $K\eta'$ system. The authors compare their result with theoretical predictions for both conventional $q\bar{q}$ states and hybrid mesons.

The $3^3S_1$ kaon state ( $K^*(1950)$ ) predicted by the $^3P_0$ model has a mass ( $\sim 1.95$ GeV/ $c^2$ ) inconsistent with the observation.
Regge trajectory estimates for $K(3^3S_1)$ suggest a mass near 2 GeV/ $c^2$ or a very large width ( $\sim 700$ MeV), neither of which matches the observed narrow structure.
Crucially, the authors note that the predicted masses for the strange hybrid partner (around 1.83–1.90 GeV/ $c^2$ ) are also not consistent with the measured result of $1869.0 \pm 14.6$ MeV/ $c^2$ .

Despite these inconsistencies with specific theoretical mass predictions, the authors state that the observed properties make a hybrid interpretation a plausible possibility, as the state falls within the broader mass range predicted by lattice QCD (1.7–2.1 GeV/ $c^2$ ) and represents a missing piece of the light hybrid nonet. They maintain a modest tone, noting that further theoretical and experimental studies are required to definitively clarify the nature of the resonant structure. The observation provides new input for understanding strange-meson spectroscopy and investigating possible hybrid-state candidates.

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