Search for theA1inτ→ντρπ

Within the context of current algebra, we analyze the possibility of observing the elusive $A_1$ meson ($J^{\mathrm{PC}}=1^{++}$) in the heavy-lepton decay ${\tau }^{\pm }\to {\nu }_{\tau }{\rho }^0{\pi }^{\pm }$. In our model the form factors for the decay amplitude are then completely determined in terms of the $A_1$ mass and width so that we are able to predict both the branching ratio and $\rho \pi$ mass spectrum for this decay. We find that the data are compatible with a wide range of $A_1$ parameters including the possibility that there is no $A_1$ contribution at all to this decay mode. Only a modest increase in experimental precision, however, would provide a stringent test of the current-algebra model and, if successful, yield an accurate determination of the parameters of the $A_1$.