0000000000024579
AUTHOR
A. Lacourt
showing 25 related works from this author
First observation of the KS → π0γ γ decay
2004
Using the NA48 detector at the CERN SPS, 31 KS → π 0γγ candidates with an estimated background of 13.7 ± 3.2 events have been observed. This first observation leads to a branching ratio of BR(KS → π0γγ) z>0.2 = (4.9 ± 1.6stat ± 0.9 syst) × 10-8 in agreement with Chiral Perturbation Theory predictions. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Measurement of Kμ30 form factors
2007
Abstract This Letter reports on a new high precision measurement of the form factors of the K L → π ± μ ∓ ν μ decay. The data sample of about 2.3 × 10 6 events was recorded in 1999 by the NA48 experiment at CERN. Studying the Dalitz plot density we measured a linear, λ + ′ = ( 20.5 ± 2.2 stat ± 2.4 syst ) × 10 −3 , and a quadratic, λ + ″ = ( 2.6 ± 0.9 stat ± 1.0 syst ) × 10 −3 term in the power expansion of the vector form factor. No evidence was found for a second order term for the scalar form factor; the linear slope was determined to be λ 0 = ( 9.5 ± 1.1 stat ± 0.8 syst ) × 10 −3 . Using a linear fit our results were: λ + = ( 26.7 ± 0.6 stat ± 0.8 syst ) × 10 −3 and λ 0 = ( 11.7 ± 0.7 s…
Measurement of the Ξ0→Λγ decay asymmetry and branching fraction
2004
In data taken with the NA48 experiment at the CERN SPS in 1999, 730 candidates of the weak radiative hyperon decay Ξ0→Λγ have been found with an estimated background of 58±8 events. From these events the Ξ0→Λγ decay asymmetry has been determined to α(Ξ0→Λγ)=-0.78±0.18stat±0.06 syst, which is the first evidence of a decay asymmetry in Ξ 0→Λγ. The branching fraction of the decay has been measured to be Br(Ξ0→Λγ)=(1.16±0.05 stat±0.06syst)×10-3. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A new measurement of the branching ratio of K(S) → γ γ
2000
Abstract The decay rate of KS → γγ has been measured with the NA48 detector at the CERN SPS. A total of 149 KS → γγ events have been observed. The branching ratio is determined to be (2.58±0.36(stat)±0.22(sys))×10−6.
Search for neutral Higgs bosons from supersymmetry in Z decays
1990
The light scalar Higgs boson h and the pseudoscalar Higgs boson A of the minimal supersymmetric standard model have been searched for in the processes e+e−→hff and e+e−→hA using data collected by ALEPH at the LEP e+e− collider, with center of mass energies at and near the Z peak. Using a variety of signatures adapted to various mass ranges for h and A, we have excluded a large domain in the parameter space. For large values of ν2ν1, the ratio of the vacuum expectation values of the two Higgs fields, the whole range from 0 to 38.8 GeV is excluded for Mh and MA at 95% CL.
Measurement of K-e3(0) form factors
2004
The semi-leptonic decay of the neutral K meson $K^{0}_{L} \to \pi^{\pm}e^{\mp}\nu (K_{e3})$, was used to study the strangeness-changing weak interaction of hadrons. A sample of 5.6 million reconstructed events recorded by the NA48 experiment was used to measure the Dalitz plot density. Admitting all possible Lorentz-covariant couplings, the form factors for vector $(f_{+}(q^{2}))$, scalar $(f_{S})$ and tensor $(f_{T})$ interactions were measured. The linear slope of the vector form factor $\lambda_{+} = 0.0284 \pm 0.0007 \pm 0.0013$ and values for the ratios $|f_{S}/f_{+}(0)|=0.015^{+0.007}_{-0.010} \pm 0.012$ and $|f_{T}/f_{+}(0)|=0.05^{+0.03}_{-0.04} \pm 0.03$ were obtained. The values fo…
Searches for the standard Higgs boson
1990
Abstract A data sample corresponding to about 100 000 hadronic Z decays collected by ALEPH at LEP has been used to search for the standard Higgs boson produced in the reaction e + e − → H 0 Z 0∗ . No indication for any signal was found, and a 95% CL lower limit on the Higgs boson mass has been set at 41.6 GeV.
Search for CP violation in K0→3π0 decays
2005
Abstract Using data taken during the year 2000 with the NA48 detector at the CERN SPS, a search for the CP violating decay K S → 3 π 0 has been performed. From a fit to the lifetime distribution of about 4.9 million reconstructed K 0 / K ¯ 0 → 3 π 0 decays, the CP violating amplitude η 000 = A ( K S → 3 π 0 ) / A ( K L → 3 π 0 ) has been found to be Re ( η 000 ) = − 0.002 ± 0.011 ± 0.015 and Im ( η 000 ) = − 0.003 ± 0.013 ± 0.017 . This corresponds to an upper limit on the branching fraction of Br ( K S → 3 π 0 ) 7.4 × 10 −7 at 90% confidence level. The result is used to improve knowledge of Re ( e ) and the CPT violating quantity Im ( δ ) via the Bell–Steinberger relation.
Observation of the decay KS→π+π−e+e−
2000
Abstract We present the first observation of the decay KS→π+π−e+e− based upon the data collected in 1998 by the NA48 experiment at CERN. We have identified a clean sample of 56 events with negligible background contamination. Using KL→π+π−π0D decays as normalization sample, the branching ratio is measured to be BR(KS→π+π−e+e−)=[4.5±0.7(stat)±0.4(syst)]×10−5. This result is in good agreement with the theoretical expectations from the mechanism of inner bremsstrahlung.
Search for a new weakly interacting particle
1991
Abstract A search for events of the type e + e − →l + l − X 0 , where X 0 can be any weakly interacting particle which couples to the Z, has been performed with the ALEPH detector at LEP, by searching for acollinear lepton pairs. Such particles can be excluded up to a mass of 7.0 GeV/c 2 for a value of the ratio of branching fractions, Br( Z →X 0 l + l − )/Br(Z→ l + l − ), greater than 2.5 × 10 −3 if the X 0 has third component of isospin, I 3 greater than 1 2 and decays to a pair of virtual gauge bosons. When this analysis is combined with the previous results of the Higgs particle searches from ALEPH, this limit can be extended to an X 0 mass of 60 GeV/c 2 .
Search for excited leptons in Z0 decay
1990
Due to the severity of system-wide power outages, though their probability of occurrence is slight, regulatory authorities require that a system restoration plan be drawn up and kept up to date at all times. The power outage that affected northeastern North America in 2003 proved the need for such a requirement. The particular structure of Hydro-Quebec's power system requires the use of a highly specific system restoration procedure. The daily preparation of the system restoration plan is based on a strategy whose application requires that a restoration sequence be drawn up that uses available equipment, the electrical behavior of which has been validated using appropriate studies. Over the…
The NA48 event-building PC farm
2003
The NA48 experiment at the CERN SPS aims to measure the parameter $\Re(\epsilon'/ \epsilon)$ of direct CP violation in the neutral kaon system with an accuracy of $2 \times 10^{-4}$. Based on the requirements of: \\\\ * high event rates (up to 10 kHz) with negligible dead time;\\ * support for a variety of detectors with very wide variation in the number of readout channels;\\ * data rates of up to 150 MByte/s sustained over the beam burst;\\ * level-3 filtering and remote data logging in the CERN computer center; \\\\ the collaboration has designed and built a modular pipelined data flow system with 40 MHz sampling rate. The architecture combines custom-designed components with commerciall…
Measurement of the KL→e+e−e+e− decay rate
2005
Abstract The decay rate of the long-lived neutral K meson into the e + e − e + e − final state has been measured with the NA48 detector at the CERN SPS. Using data collected in 1998 and 1999, a total of 200 events has been observed with negligible background. This observation corresponds to a branching ratio of Br ( K L → e + e − e + e − ) = ( 3.30 ± 0.24 stat ± 0.23 syst ± 0.10 norm ) × 10 −8 .
Search for supersymmetric particles using acoplanar charged-particle pairs from Z0 decays
1990
We have performed a search for supersymmetric particles using acoplanar pairs of oppositely-charged particles in decays of the Z0. In 0.53 pb−1 of integrated luminosity near the Z0 peak, we observe two events where approximately four are expected from background, allowing limits to be extended on combined photino and slepton masses, and also on combined photino and chargino masses.
Search for decays of the Z0 into a photon and a pseudoscalar meson
1990
Abstract A search is reported for decays of the Z 0 into π 0 γ , ηγ and η ′ (958) γ in e + e − collisions using data collected during a scan around the Z 0 mass. In order to search for π 0 γ final states, in which the two photons from the π 0 decay are unresolved, the production of pairs of high-energy electromagnetic clusters is studied. The data are compared with the expectations from the pure QED process e + e − → γγ , and a 95% confidence level upper limit on the branching ratio of the Z 0 into π 0 γ of 4.9 × 10 −4 is derived. For η′γ, the decay modes of the mesons that contain two charged particles are largely free from QED background. These modes are used to place upper limits of 4.6 …
Search for excited neutrinos in Z decay
1990
Excited neutrinos decaying into a neutrino and a photon are searched for in the ALEPH detector at LEP. No evidence is found for Z decay into vv∗ or v∗v∗ final states. Upper limits are derived on excited neutrino couplings up to excited neutrino masses close to the Z mass. Lower limits on the v∗ mass, independent of the v∗ decay modes, are deduced from the total Z width.
Production and decay of charmed mesons at the Z resonance
1991
Abstract In a sample of 190 000 hadronic Z decays, three signals of charm production are observed: two from the exclusive decays D ° → K − π + and D ∗+ → D °π + → K − π + π + and one in the transverse-momentum distribution of soft hadrons relative to the nearest jet. The features of these signals are in good agreement with expectations based on the standard model and previous measurements of the branching fractions. The number of D ∗± → K ± π ± π ± per hadronic decay of the Z is measured to be (5.11±0.34) × 10 −3 , and the branching ratio B(D 0 → K − π + ) is (3.62 ± 0.34 ± 0.44)%. Charm hadronization has been studied. The average fraction of the beam energy carried by the D ∗ meson is foun…
Measurement of the quadratic slope parameter in the K-L -> 3 pi(0) decay Dalitz plot
2001
A value of (-6.1 +- 0.9_{stat} +- 0.5_{syst})*10^{-3} is obtained for the quadratic slope parameter h in the K_L -> 3\pi^0 decay Dalitz plot at the NA48 experiment at the CERN SPS. The result is based on 14.7*10^6 fully reconstructed K_L -> 3\pi^0 -> 6\gamma decays. This is the most precise measurement of any of the Dalitz plot slope parameters in the charged and neutral kaon decays so far.
Measurement of the decay rate and form factor parameter in the decay KL→e+e−γ
1999
Abstract The decay rate of the neutral K meson KL→e+e−γ has been measured with the NA48 detector at the CERN SPS. A total of 6864 events has been observed with an estimated background of 10 events. The branching ratio is Γ(KL→e+e−γ)/Γ(KL→all) = (1.06±0.02stat±0.02sys±0.04calc)×10−5. The parameter α K ∗ describing the relative strength of the two contributing amplitudes to this decay through intermediate pseudoscalar or vector mesons was measured to be α K ∗ =−0.36±0.06stat±0.02sys.
Measurement of the ratio Γ(KL→π+π−)/Γ(KL→π±e∓ν) and extraction of the CP violation parameter |η+−|
2007
Abstract We present a measurement of the ratio of the decay rates Γ ( K L → π + π − ) / Γ ( K L → π ± e ∓ ν ) , denoted as Γ K 2 π / Γ K e 3 . The analysis is based on data taken during a dedicated run in 1999 by the NA48 experiment at the CERN SPS. Using a sample of 47 000 K 2 π and five million K e 3 decays, we find Γ K 2 π / Γ K e 3 = ( 4.835 ± 0.022 stat . ± 0.016 syst . ) × 10 −3 . From this we derive the branching ratio of the CP violating decay K L → π + π − and the CP violation parameter | η + − | . Excluding the CP conserving direct photon emission component K L → π + π − γ , we obtain the results BR ( K L → π + π − ) = ( 1.941 ± 0.019 ) × 10 −3 and | η + − | = ( 2.223 ± 0.012 ) × …
Search for the decay KS → π0γγ
2003
Abstract A search for the decay K S → π 0 γγ has been made using the NA48 detector at the CERN SPS. Using data collected in 1999 during a 40-hour run with a high-intensity K S beam, an upper limit for the branching ratio BR ( K S → π 0 γγ , z ⩾0.2) −7 has been obtained at 90% confidence level, where z = m γγ 2 / m K 0 2 .
ALEPH: a Detector for Electron-Positron Annihilations at LEP
1990
Process-centred Software Engineering Environments (PSEE) are the most recent generation of environments supporting software development activities. Most of PSEE are based on mechanisms promoting enforcement and automation of process activities. In this kind of mechanisms the process models are prescribed in a detailed and complete way. But the experience shows that supporting processes is more concerned with the flexibility of guidance offered during the process performance than with enforcement of a collection of predefined process models. In this paper, we present a solution to support strategic processes in a PSEE by providing a flexible guidance during process enactment.
Measurement of the B hadron lifetime
1991
The average lifetime of B hadrons has been measured by the ALEPH experiment at LEP. Events containing B hadrons are selected by the identification of leptons with high transverse momentum in hadronic Z decays, and the lifetime is extracted from a fit to the impact parameter distribution of the lepton tracks. From a sample of 1.7×105 hadronic Z decays a lifetime of 1.29±0.06±0.10 ps is measured.
Measurement of B- mixing at the Z
1991
Abstract From more than 175 000 hadronic Z decays observed with the ALEPH detector at LEP, we select 823 events with pairs of leptons in the final state. From these we measure χ , the probability thata b hadron which is observed to decay originated as a b hadron. We find χ =0.132 −0.026 +0.027 .
Measurement of the strong coupling constant alfa_s from global event-shape variables of hadronic Z decays
1991
Abstract An analysis of global event-shape variables has been carried out for the reaction e+e−→Z0→hadrons to measure the strong coupling constant αs. This study is based on 52 720 hadronic events obtained in 1989/90 with the ALEPH detector at the LEP collider at energies near the peak of the Z-resonance. In order to determine αs, second order QCD predictions modified by effects of perturbative higher orders and hadronization were fitted to the experimental distributions of event-shape variables. From a detailed analysis of the theoretical uncertainties we find that this approach is best justified for the differential two-jet rate, from which we obtain αs(MZ2) = 0.121 ± 0.002(stat.)±0.003(s…