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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Search for a new light gauge boson in decays of π0 and η

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Abstract We have searched for new light gauge bosons produced in π 0 and η decays by studying the kinematically well-constrained reactions p p→π 0 π 0 π 0 and p p→π 0 π 0 η , where one π 0 or the η decays through the emission of a single photon recoiling against a missing state X (where X is a long-lived weakly interacting particle or X →ν ν ). No signal has been observed and branching ratio upper limits of 6 × 10 −5 at 90% C.L. have been obtained for masses of the gauge boson lying between ∼65 MeV and 125 MeV ( π 0 decay), and 6 × 10 −5 at 90% C.L. for X masses between ∼200 MeV and 525 MeV (η decay). The π 0 -decay limit represents a factor of 4 to 8 improvement when compared to the existing limit, whereas the η decay limit has been measured for the first time, thereby extending the m x range from 130 MeV up to 525 MeV.