First evidence for a charm radial excitation, D

Using D*+ mesons exclusively reconstructed in the DELPHI detector at LEP, an excess of 66 +/- 14(stat.) events is observed in the D(*+)pi(+)pi(-) final state with a mass of 2637 +/- 2(stat.) +/- 6(syst.) MeV/c(2) and a full width smaller than 15 MeV/c(2) (95% C.L.). This signal is compatible with the expected decay of a radially excited D*' (J(P) = 1(-))meson. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.