A measurement of the phases of the CP-violating amplitudes in K0→2π decays and a test of CPT invariance

Abstract The phases of the CP-violating amplitudes in K0→π+π− and K0→2π0 decays, φ+−=46.9°±2.2° and φ00=47.1°±2.8°, have been measured in the same experiment, and a direct comparison gives the phase difference φ00−φ+−=0.2°±2.9°. This result leads to an upper limit on possible CPT violation in the K0 mass matrix, of |(m K 0 −m K 0 )/m K 0 | −18 at the 95% confidence level and is the most stringent test of the equality of particle and antiparticle masses.

Measurement of Kμ30 form factors

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…

Search for heavy neutrinos at the NA48/2 and NA62 experiments at CERN

© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. The NA48/2 experiment at CERN has collected large samples of charged kaons decaying into a pion and two muons for the search of heavy nuetrinos. In addition, its successor NA62 has set new limits on the rate of charged kaon decay into a heavy neutral lepton (HNL) and a lepton, with = e, µ, using the data collected in 2007 and 2015. New limits on heavy neutrinos from kaon decays into pions, muons and positrons are presented in this report.

Empirical parameterization of the K±→π±π0π0 decay Dalitz plot

As first observed by the NA48/2 experiment at the CERN SPS, the π0π0 invariant mass (M00) distribution from K±→π±π0π0 decay shows a cusp-like anomaly at M00=2m+, where m+ is the charged pion mass. An analysis to extract the ππ scattering lengths in the isospin I=0 and I=2 states, a0 and a2, respectively, has been recently reported. In the present work the Dalitz plot of this decay is fitted to a new empirical parameterization suitable for practical purposes, such as Monte Carlo simulations of K±→π±π0π0 decays.

Measurement of K-e3(0) form factors

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…

Measurement of the K-S mean lifetime from pi(+)pi(-) and pi(0)pi(0) decays using K-L decays to determine the acceptance

A precision measurement of the KS mean lifetime has been performed by comparing, in the same experimental setup, the distributions of two-pion decays of neutral kaons produced by high energy proton-beryllium interactions in two targets at a relative distance variable between 112 and 160 m. The value obtained combining the results from π+π- and π0π0 decays is τS = (0.8971 ± 0.0021) 10-10 s. © Springer-Verlag 1997.

A new measurement of the K±→π±γγ decay at the NA48/2 experiment

Abstract The NA48/2 experiment at CERN collected two data samples with minimum bias trigger conditions in 2003 and 2004. A measurement of the rate and dynamic properties of the rare decay K ± → π ± γ γ from these data sets based on 149 decay candidates with an estimated background of 15.5 ± 0.7 events is reported. The model-independent branching ratio in the kinematic range z = ( m γ γ / m K ) 2 > 0.2 is measured to be B MI ( z > 0.2 ) = ( 0.877 ± 0.089 ) × 10 − 6 , and the branching ratio in the full kinematic range assuming a particular Chiral Perturbation Theory description to be B ( K π γ γ ) = ( 0.910 ± 0.075 ) × 10 − 6 .

Observation of the rare decay K-S -> pi(0)e(+)e(-)

A search for the decay Ks->pi0e+e- has been made by the NA48/1 experiment at the CERN SPS accelerator. Using data collected during 89 days in 2002 with a high-intensity Ks beam, 7 events were found with a background of 0.15 events. The branching fraction BR(Ks->pi0e+e-, m(ee) > 0.165 GeV/c^2) = (3.0^{+1.5}_{-1.2}(stat) +/-0.2 (syst)) x 10^{-9} has been measured. Using a vector matrix element and a form factor equal to one, the measurement gives BR(Ks->pi0e+e-) = (5.8^{+2.9}_{-2.4}) x 10^{-9}.

Observation of the decay KL→π0γγ

Abstract The decay mode K L → π 0 γγ has been observed with a signal of 21 events and an expected background of 1.5±0.9 events. A branching ratio for decays with invariant γγ masses above 280 MeV of (2.1±0.6)×10 −6 is calculated. This result is compared with the values estimated from theoretical models and has implications for the CP conserving contribution to K L → π 0 e + e − decay.

Searches for lepton number violating $K^+$ decays

The NA62 experiment at CERN reports a search for the lepton number violating decays K+ -> pi(-)e(+)e(+) and K+ -> pi(-)mu(+)mu(+) using a data sample collected in 2017. No signals are observed, and upper limits on the branching fractions of these decays of 2.2 x 10(-10) and 4.2 x 10(-11) are obtained, respectively, at 90% confidence level. These upper limits improve on previously reported measurements by factors of 3 and 2, respectively.

Search for heavy neutrinos in K + → μ + ν μ decays

The NA62 experiment recorded a large sample of K+→μ+νμ decays in 2007. A peak search has been performed in the reconstructed missing mass spectrum. In the absence of a signal, limits in the range 2×10−6 to 10−5 have been set on the squared mixing matrix element |Uμ4|2 between muon and heavy neutrino states, for heavy neutrino masses in the range 300–375 MeV/ c2 . The result extends the range of masses for which upper limits have been set on the value of |Uμ4|2 in previous production search experiments.

Measurement of the decay KL→e+e−γγ

The full data set of the NA31 experiment at CERN has been used to analyse the decay mode KOL → e+ e-γγ. A signal of 47 events has been observed with an estimated background of 6.9 events. The total number of kaon decays in the decay volume was determined to be (2.1 ± 0.1stat) · 109. This corresponds to a branching ratio of (8.0 ± 1.5+1.4-1.2)· 10-7. © 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Measurement of the branching ratio of the double Dalitz decayK L →e+e−e+e− and the CP parity of theK L -meson

Data from the NA31 experiment at CERN have been used to measure the branching ratio of the double Dalitz decay of the long-lived neutral kaon. Eight events have been found with negligible background. The measured distribution of the angle between the planes of the two e+e--pairs favours a CP=-1 state for the long-lived neutral kaon. © 1995 Springer-Verlag.

Search for direct CP violation in the decays K-+/- -> 3 pi(+/-)

Abstract We report a measurement of the direct CP violation asymmetry parameter A g in charged kaon decays K ± → π ± π + π − by the NA48/2 experiment at the CERN SPS. The experiment has been designed not to be limited by systematics in the asymmetry measurement. Using 1.67 × 10 9 such decays collected during the 2003 run, the charge asymmetry in the Dalitz plot linear slope parameter g has been measured to be A g = ( 1.7 ± 2.9 ) × 10 −4 . The precision of the result is limited by the statistics used.

Search for heavy neutral lepton production in K+ decays to positrons

A search for heavy neutral lepton ($N$) production in $K^+\to e^+N$ decays using the data sample collected by the NA62 experiment at CERN in 2017--2018 is reported. Upper limits of the extended neutrino mixing matrix element $|U_{e4}|^2$ are established at the level of $10^{-9}$ over most of the accessible heavy neutral lepton mass range 144--462 MeV/$c^2$, with the assumption that the lifetime exceeds 50 ns. These limits improve significantly upon those of previous production and decay searches. The $|U_{e4}|^2$ range favoured by Big Bang Nucleosynthesis is excluded up to a mass of about 340 MeV/$c^2$.

FIRST EVIDENCE FOR DIRECT CP VIOLATION

A test of chiral perturbation theory from the measurement of the decay KS → γγ

Data from NA31 experiment at CERN have been used to measure the decay KS → γγ. From 69 candidate events of the type K0 → γγ, 52 events can be attributed to KL → γγ and one event is expected from background processes. The ratio of the relative decay widths R = Γ(KS → γγ)Γ(KL → γγ) is measured to be R = 2.2 ± 1.0(stat.) ± 0.3(syst.) ± 0.2(ext.) where the external systematic error is due to the experimental uncertainty in the branching ratio of the decay KL → γγ. This translates into a branching ratio of BR(KS → γγ) = (2.2 ± 1.1) × 10−6. If these data are combined with the published data from an earlier data taking period with the same experiment, the ratio R is determined to be R = 2.35 ± 0.7…

Search for the decay KL → 3γ

Abstract Data from the NA31 experiment at the CERN SPS have been used for the first search for the decay mode KL → 3γ. Seven events have been found with an estimated background of 6.7 ± 1.5 events. The corresponding upper limit for the branching ratio is Γ(K L → 3γ) Γ(K L → all ) = 2.4 × 10 −7 at the 90% confidence level, assuming a phase-space decay distribution.

First observation and branching fraction and decay parameter measurements of the weak radiative decay Xi0 -> Lambda e+ e-

The weak radiative decay Xi0 --> Lambda e+e- has been detected for the first time. We find 412 candidates in the signal region, with an estimated background of 15 +/- 5 events. We determine the branching fraction B(Xi0 --> Lambda e+e-) = [7.6 +/- 0.4(stat) +/- 0.4(syst) +/- 0.2(norm)] x 10^{-6}, consistent with an internal bremsstrahlung process, and the decay asymmetry parameter alpha_{XiLambdaee} = -0.8 +/- 0.2, consistent with that of Xi0 --> Lambda gamma. The charge conjugate reaction Xi0_bar --> Lambda_bar e+e- has also been observed.

Measurement of the branching ratio of the decay Ξ0→Σ+μ−ν¯μ

Abstract From the 2002 data taking with a neutral kaon beam extracted from the CERN-SPS, the NA48/1 experiment observed 97 Ξ 0 → Σ + μ − ν ¯ μ candidates with a background contamination of 30.8 ± 4.2 events. From this sample, the BR ( Ξ 0 → Σ + μ − ν ¯ μ ) is measured to be ( 2.17 ± 0.32 stat ± 0.17 syst ) × 10 − 6 .

First observation and measurement of the decay K±→π±e+e−γ

Abstract Using the full data set of the NA48/2 experiment, the decay K ± → π ± e + e − γ is observed for the first time, selecting 120 candidates with 7.3 ± 1.7 estimated background events. With K ± → π ± π D 0 as normalisation channel, the branching ratio is determined in a model-independent way to be Br ( K ± → π ± e + e − γ , m e e γ > 260  MeV / c 2 ) = ( 1.19 ± 0.12 stat ± 0.04 syst ) × 10 −8 . This measured value and the spectrum of the e + e − γ invariant mass allow a comparison with predictions of chiral perturbation theory.

First observation and study of the K± → π±π0e+e− decay

The NA48/2 experiment at CERN reports the first observation of the K-+/- -> pi(+/-)pi(0)e(+)e(-) decay from an exposure of 1.7 x 10(11) charged kaon decays recorded in 2003-2004. A sample of 4919 candidates with 4.9% background contamination allows the determination of the branching ratio in the full kinematic region, BR(K-+/- -> pi(+/-)pi(0)e(+)e(-)) = (4.24 +/- 0.14) x 10(-6). The study of the kinematic space shows evidence for a structure dependent contribution in agreement with predictions based on chiral perturbation theory. Several P- and CP-violating asymmetries are also evaluated.

Search for K+→ π+νν¯ at NA62

Flavour physics is one of the most powerful fields for the search of new physics beyond the Standard Model. The kaon sector with the rare decay K+ → π+νν̅ provides one of the cleanest and most promising channels. NA62, a fixed target experiment at the CERN SPS, aims to measure BR (K+ → π+νν̅) with 10% precision to test the Standard Model validity up to an energy scale of hundreds of TeV. NA62 had dedicated data taking for the K+ → π+νν̅ measurement in 2016 and 2017 and will continue in 2018. Here preliminary results on a fraction of 2016 dataset are presented. The analysis of the complete 2016 data sample is expected to achieve the SM sensitivity.

NA48/62 latest results

The NA62 experiment at the CERN SPS recorded in 2007 a large sample of K+ ? µ+?µ decays. A peak search in the missing mass spectrum of this decay is performed. In the absence of observed signal, the limits obtained on B(K+ ? µ+?h) and on the mixing matrix element |Uµ 4| are reported. The upgraded NA62 experiment started data taking in 2015. About 5×1011K+ decays have been recorded so far to measure the branching ratio of the K+ ? ?+?? decay. Preliminary results from the K+ ? ?+?? analysis based on about 5% of the 2016 statistics are reported.

Search for the dark photon in π0 decays

A sample of $1.69\times 10^7$ fully reconstructed $\pi^0\to\gamma e^+e^-$ decay candidates collected by the NA48/2 experiment at CERN in 2003--2004 is analysed to search for the dark photon ($A'$) production in the $\pi^0\to\gamma A'$ decay followed by the prompt $A'\to e^+e^-$ decay. No signal is observed, and an exclusion region in the plane of the dark photon mass $m_{A'}$ and mixing parameter $\varepsilon^2$ is established. The obtained upper limits on $\varepsilon^2$ are more stringent than the previous limits in the mass range $9~{\rm MeV}/c^2<m_{A'}<70~{\rm MeV}/c^2$. The NA48/2 sensitivity to the dark photon production in the $K^\pm\to\pi^\pm A'$ decay is also evaluated.

New measurement of the K±→π±μ+μ− decay

Abstract A sample of 3120 K ± → π ± μ + μ − decay candidates with ( 3.3 ± 0.7 ) % background contamination has been collected by the NA48/2 experiment at the CERN SPS, allowing a detailed study of the decay properties. The branching ratio was measured to be BR = ( 9.62 ± 0.25 ) × 10 − 8 . The form factor W ( z ) , where z = ( M μ μ / M K ) 2 , was parameterized according to several models. In particular, the slope of the linear form factor W ( z ) = W 0 ( 1 + δ z ) was measured to be δ = 3.11 ± 0.57 . Upper limits of 2.9 × 10 − 2 and 2.3 × 10 − 2 on possible charge asymmetry and forward–backward asymmetry were established at 90% CL. An upper limit BR ( K ± → π ∓ μ ± μ ± ) 1.1 × 10 − 9 was e…

Search for heavy neutral lepton production in K+ decays

A search for heavy neutral lepton production in $K^+$ decays using a data sample collected with a minimum bias trigger by the NA62 experiment at CERN in 2015 is reported. Upper limits at the $10^{-7}$ to $10^{-6}$ level are established on the elements of the extended neutrino mixing matrix $|U_{\ell 4}|^2$ ($\ell=e,\mu$) for heavy neutral lepton mass in the range $170-448~{\rm MeV}/c^2$. This improves on the results from previous production searches in $K^+$ decays, setting more stringent limits and extending the mass range.

Measurement of the rate of the decay KL→e+e−γ and observation of a form factor in this decay

Abstract A large sample of Dalitz decays, K L → e + e − γ , has been observed. The branching ratio is Γ(K L →e + e − γ) Γ(K L → all )=(9.2±0.5±0.5)×10 −6 in good agreement with theoretical predictions. We observe an enhancement at high masses in the distribution of the invariant electron-positron pair mass, compared to the distribution expected from QED. This excess is interpreted as being due to virtual mesons contributing to the photon propagator.

Search for direct CP-violation in K±→π±π0π0 decays

Abstract A search for direct CP-violation in K ± → π ± π 0 π 0 decay based on 47.14 million events has been performed by the NA48/2 experiment at the CERN SPS. The asymmetry in the Dalitz plot linear slopes A g = ( g + − g − ) / ( g + + g − ) is measured to be A g = ( 1.8 ± 2.6 ) × 10 −4 . The design of the experiment and the method of analysis provide good control of instrumental charge asymmetries in this measurement. The precision of the result is limited by statistics and is almost one order of magnitude better than that of previous measurements by other experiments.

Search for Lepton Number and Flavor Violation in K+ and π0 Decays

Searches for the lepton number violating $K^{+} \rightarrow \pi^{-} \mu^{+} e^{+}$ decay and the lepton flavour violating $K^{+} \rightarrow \pi^{+} \mu^{-} e^{+}$ and $\pi^{0} \rightarrow \mu^{-} e^{+}$ decays are reported using data collected by the NA62 experiment at CERN in $2017$-$2018$. No evidence for these decays is found and upper limits of the branching ratios are obtained at 90% confidence level: $\mathcal{B}(K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{-}\mu^{+}e^{+})<4.2\times 10^{-11}$, $\mathcal{B}(K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}\mu^{-}e^{+})<6.6\times10^{-11}$ and $\mathcal{B}(\pi^{0}\rightarrow\mu^{-}e^{+})<3.2\times 10^{-10}$. These results improve by one order of magnitude over previous results for thes…

Study of the K±→π±γγ decay by the NA62 experiment

Abstract A study of the dynamics of the rare decay K ± → π ± γ γ has been performed on a sample of 232 decay candidates, with an estimated background of 17.4 ± 1.1 events, collected by the NA62 experiment at CERN in 2007. The results are combined with those from a measurement conducted by the NA48/2 Collaboration at CERN. The combined model-independent branching ratio in the kinematic range z = ( m γ γ / m K ) 2 > 0.2 is B MI ( z > 0.2 ) = ( 0.965 ± 0.063 ) × 10 − 6 , and the combined branching ratio in the full kinematic range assuming a Chiral Perturbation Theory description is B ( K π γ γ ) = ( 1.003 ± 0.056 ) × 10 − 6 . A detailed comparison of the results with the previous measurements…

Test of lepton flavour universality in K+→ℓ+ν decays

Abstract A precision test of lepton flavour universality has been performed by measuring the ratio R K of kaon leptonic decay rates K + → e + ν and K + → μ + ν in a sample of 59 813 reconstructed K + → e + ν candidates with ( 8.71 ± 0.24 ) % background contamination. The result R K = ( 2.487 ± 0.013 ) × 10 − 5 is in agreement with the Standard Model expectation.

Precise measurement of the K±→π±e+e− decay

Abstract A sample of 7253 K ± → π ± e + e − ( γ ) decay candidates with 1.0% background contamination has been collected by the NA48/2 experiment at the CERN SPS, which allowed a precise measurement of the decay properties. The branching ratio in the full kinematic range was measured to be BR = ( 3.11 ± 0.12 ) × 10 − 7 , where the uncertainty includes also the model dependence. The shape of the form factor W ( z ) , where z = ( M e e / M K ) 2 , was parameterized according to several models, and, in particular, the slope δ of the linear form factor W ( z ) = W 0 ( 1 + δ z ) was determined to be δ = 2.32 ± 0.18 . A possible CP violating asymmetry of K + and K − decay widths was investigated,…

Search for a neutral Higgs particle in the decay sequence $K^{0}_{L} \to \pi^{0}H^{0}$ and $H^{0} \to e^{+}e^{-}$

Abstract We have searched for the sequence of decays K L 0 → π 0 H 0 and H 0 →e + e − at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS), and have allowed for a non-zero H 0 lifetime. Three candidates have been seen, consistent with an expected background of 3.3. Limits on the branching ratio product in the range 10 −8 –10 −7 are presented as a function of the mass and lifetime of the H 0 . These can be used to restrict the neutral Higgs of the minimal standard model.

Precision measurement of the ratio of the charged kaon leptonic decay rates

A precision measurement of the ratio RK of the rates of kaon leptonic decays K+- --&gt; e nu and K+- --&gt; mu nu with the full data sample collected by the NA62 experiment at CERN in 2007-2008 is reported. The result, obtained by analysing ~150000 reconstructed K+- --&gt; e nu candidates with 11% background contamination, is RK = (2.488+-0.010)*10^{-5}, in agreement with the Standard Model expectation.

Measurement of the Dalitz plot slope parameters of the K±→π±π+π− decay

Abstract The distribution of the K ± → π ± π + π − decays in the Dalitz plot has been measured by the NA48/2 experiment at the CERN SPS with a sample of 4.71 × 10 8 fully reconstructed events. With the standard Particle Data Group parameterization the following values of the slope parameters were obtained: g = ( − 21.134 ± 0.017 ) % , h = ( 1.848 ± 0.040 ) % , k = ( − 0.463 ± 0.014 ) % . The quality and statistical accuracy of the data have allowed an improvement in precision by more than an order of magnitude, and are such as to warrant a more elaborate theoretical treatment, including pion–pion rescattering, which is in preparation.