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RESEARCH PRODUCT

First observations of Pontecorvo reactions with a recoiling neutron

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We report the first observations of Pontecorvo reactions of the type ¯pd →Xn. We fully reconstruct the outgoing meson and, for antiprotons stopped in liquid deuterium, we measure: BR(¯pd→π0)=(7.03±0.72)×10−6, BR(¯pd→ηn)=(3.19+0.48)×10−6, BR(¯pd→ωn)=(22.8+4.1)×10−6, BR(¯pd→η′n)14×10−6 (at 95% confidence level). Assuming charge independence, our result for¯ pd→π0n is compatible with measurements of the only other observed Pontecorvo reaction ¯pd → π−p. The experimental ratios between the above branching ratios are in fair agreement with both the statistical model and dynamical two-step models (assumingN¯ N annihilation into two mesons, with subsequent absorption of one meson on the remaining nucleon). This agreement suggests that there may be appreciable rates for Pontecorvo reactions producing final state mesons with masses above 1 GeV.