0000000000161546
AUTHOR
Jürgen Engelfried
Spectra and correlations of Λ andΛ¯produced in 340-GeV/cΣ−+Cand 260-GeV/cn+Cinteractions
We have measured the production of strange baryons and antibaryons in 340-GeV/c Sigma /sup -/+C and 260-GeV/c n+C interactions. The single x/sub F/ distributions show the expected leading particle effect, and the single p/sub t//sup 2/ distributions show a distinct nonthermal behavior. The x/sub F/ distributions of Lambda - Lambda pairs indicate two different phase space distributions for the two coincident baryons. On the other hand two Lambda 's show identical distributions. Momentum conservation during the formation process may represent a significant source for the observed behavior.
Search for the exoticΞ−−(1860)resonance in340GeV∕cΣ−-nucleus interactions
We report on a high statistics search for the ${\ensuremath{\Xi}}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{-}}(1860)$ resonance in ${\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$-nucleus collisions at $340\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GeV}∕c$. No evidence for this resonance is found in our data sample which contains 676000 ${\ensuremath{\Xi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ candidates above background. For the decay channel ${\ensuremath{\Xi}}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{-}}(1860)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\Xi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and the kinematic range $0.15l{x}_{F}l0.9$ we find a $3\ensuremath{\sigma}$ upper limit for the production cross section of 3.1 and $3.5\phantom{\rul…
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.
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/$c^2$.
The RICH counter in the CERN hyperon beam experiment
Abstract The hyperon beam experiment WA89 at the CERN-SPS uses a ring imaging Cherenkov counter (RICH) for identification of secondaries from ∑ − N reactions. Cherenkov photons are generated in a 5 m long radiator volume filled with nitrogen at atmospheric pressure and detected in drift chambers. The drift chambers cover an active surface of 1.6 × 0.75 m 2 , with a maximum drift path of 41 cm. Photoelectrons are counted on 1280 wires with a pitch of 2.54 mm, equipped with multihit TDCs. The counting gas is ethane saturated with TMAE at 30°C. The counter was operated in two beam periods in 1990 and 1991. The spatial resolution of the chambers is better than 2 mm and under normal running cond…
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 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.
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.
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+- --> e nu and K+- --> 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+- --> 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 polarization of $$\Lambda ^0 , \overline \Lambda ^0 , \Sigma ^ + $$ and ?? produced in a ?? beam of 330 GeV/c
The polarization of Lambda0 , AntiLambda0 , Sigma+ and Xi- inclusively produced in Sigma- induced interactions at 330 GeV has been measured in the experiment WA89 at CERN. This is the first measurement of polarization of baryons produced by a hyperon beam. No polarization of AntiLambda is observed, as was also the case in proton beam data. At transverse momenta of about 1~GeV/c Lambda0 and Sigma+ show little polarization, significantly lower than in the proton beam data, while Xi- have a polarization comparable to the polarization of Lambda0 produced in proton beams. The polarization of Lambda0, AntiLambda0, Sigma+ and Xi- inclusively produced in Sigma- induced interactions at 330 GeV has b…