τ → πππντ decays and the a1(1260) off-shell width revisited

The tau -> pi pi pi nu(tau) decay is driven by the hadronization of the axial-vector current. Within the resonance chiral theory, and considering the large-N-C expansion, this process has been studied in Ref. [1] (D. Gomez Dumm, A. Pich, J. Portoles, 2004). In the light of later developments we revise here this previous work by including a new off-shell width for the lightest a(1) resonance that provides a good description of the tau -> pi pi pi nu(tau) spectrum and branching ratio. We also consider the role of the rho(1450) resonance in these observables. Thus we bring in an overall description of the tau -> pi pi pi nu(tau) process in excellent agreement with our present experimental knowledge. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.