We analyse tau -> (3 pions) nu_tau decays within the framework of the resonance chiral theory of QCD. We have worked out the relevant Lagrangian that describes the axial-vector current hadronization contributing to these processes, and the new coupling constants that arise have been constrained by imposing the asymptotic behaviour of the corresponding spectral function within QCD. Hence we compare the theoretical framework with the experimental data, obtaining a good quality fit from the ALEPH spectral function and branching ratio. We also get values for the mass and on-shell width of the a_1(1260) resonance, and provide the tau -> (3 pions) nu_tau structure functions that have been measured by OPAL and CLEO-II finding an excellent agreement.
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