Study of χ_{cJ} Decaying into φK*(892)K̅

Using a data sample of 106 million ψ(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector operated at the BEPCII storage ring, we study for the first time the decays χ{cJ} → φK{s}^0K^±π^∓ and χ{cJ} → φK⁺K⁻π⁰ in the E1 radiative transition φ(3686) → γχ{cJ}. The decays are dominated by the three-body decay χ{cJ} → φK*(892)K̅. We measure branching fractions for this reaction via the neutral and charged K*(892) and find them consistent with each other within the expectation of isospin symmetry. In the KK̅π invariant mass distribution, a structure near the K*(892)K̅ mass threshold is observed, and the corresponding mass and width are measured to be 1412 ± 4(stat) ± 8(sys) MeV/c² and Γ = 84 ± 12(stat) ± 40(sys) MeV, respectively. The observed state favors an assignment to the h₁(1380), considering its possible J^{PC} and comparing its mass, width and decay mode to those reported in the Particle Data Group.