Inclusive χ_bJ(nP) decays to D⁰X

Using Υ(2S) and Υ(3S) data collected with the CLEO III detector we have searched for decays of χ_bJ to final states with open charm. We fully reconstruct D⁰ mesons with p_D⁰>2.5  GeV/c in three decay modes (K^-π⁺, K^-π⁺π⁰, and K^-π^-π⁺π⁺) in coincidence with radiative transition photons that tag the production of one of the χ_bJ(nP) states. Significant signals are obtained for the two J=1 states. Recent nonrelativistic QCD (NRQCD) calculations of χ_bJ(nP)→cc̅ X depend on one nonperturbative parameter per χ_bJ triplet. The extrapolation from the observed D⁰X rate over a limited momentum range to a full cc̅ X rate also depends on these same parameters. Using our data to fit for these parameters, we extract results which agree well with NRQCD predictions, confirming the expectation that charm production is largest for the J=1 states. In particular, for J=1, our results are consistent with cc̅ g accounting for about one-quarter of all hadronic decays.