SEARCHES FOR SCALAR A(0) AND F(0) MESONS IN THE REACTIONS E(-)-]GAMMA-PI(0)PI(0)(ETA)()E()

The reactions e(+)e(-) --> gamma pi(0) pi(0) eta) are shown to be favo rable for recording scalar a(0) and f(0) mesons. It is demonstrated th at, for photon energies less than 100 MeV, the vector-meson contributi on e(+)e(-) --> V-0 --> pi(0)V(0) --> gamma pi(0) pi(0)(eta)) to the p roduction of the gamma pi(0) pi(0)(eta) final state in e(+)e(-) collis ions is negligibly small in relation to the contribution of the scalar a(0) and f(0) mesons through the transitions e(+)e(-) --> phi --> gam ma f(0)(a(0)) --> gamma pi(0) pi(0)(eta), provided that Br(phi --> gam ma f(0)(a(0)) --> gamma pi(0) pi(0)(eta)) greater than or equal to 5 x 10(-6)(10(-5)). Predictions for Br(phi --> gamma(f(0) + sigma) ---> g amma pi pi) that are based on a two-channel analysis of pi pi scatteri ng are presented. The structure of the scalar f(0) and a(0) mesons is discussed within various models, including the four-quark model, the m odel treating such states as K (K) over bar molecules, and the model i n which the f(0) meson is an s (s) over bar state.