Evidence for the h_b(1P) meson in the decay Y(3S) → π^0h_b(1P)

Using a sample of 122×10^6 Υ(3S) events recorded with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e+e- collider at SLAC, we search for the h_b(1P) spin-singlet partner of the P-wave χ_(bJ)(1P) states in the sequential decay Υ(3S)→π^0h_b(1P), hb(1P)→γη_b(1S). We observe an excess of events above background in the distribution of the recoil mass against the π0 at mass 9902±4(stat)±2(syst) MeV/c^2. The width of the observed signal is consistent with experimental resolution, and its significance is 3.1σ, including systematic uncertainties. We obtain the value (4.3±1.1(stat)±0.9(syst))×10^(-4) for the product branching fraction B(Υ(3S)→π^0h_b)×B(h_b→γη_b)