Experimental search for evidence of a nucleon decay signal above neutrino backgrounds

Thesis/Dissertation · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6404212

Haines, T J

During 401 days of detector live time, 401 contained events were isolated from a total of about 100 million triggers of the Irvine-Michigan-Brookhaven detector. These events were scanned for evidence of nucleon decay into 28 two-body decay modes. 21 events were observed which could be due to nucleon decay. Detailed evaluation of the expected background due to atmospheric neutrino interactions corresponding to 12 years of detector operation shows those events to be consistent in rate and characteristics with background. Lower limits for the nucleon partial lifetime after background subtraction range from tau/B greater than or equal to (a few) x 10/sup 31/ to (a few) x 10/sup 32/ years at the 90% confidence level. Considerations of the neutrino backgrounds in future detectors suggest that the ultimate lifetime measurement or limit will reach only about 10/sup 33/ years.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Irvine (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6404212
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645102* -- High Energy Physics-- Particle Interactions & Properties-Experimental-- Weak Interactions & Properties
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
BACKGROUND RADIATION
BARYONS
COSMIC NEUTRINOS
COSMIC RADIATION
DECAY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LEPTON REACTIONS
LEPTONS
LEVELS
LIMITING VALUES
MASSLESS PARTICLES
NEUTRINO REACTIONS
NEUTRINOS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEONS
PARTICLE DECAY
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
PARTICLE WIDTHS
PROTONS
RADIATIONS
SEMILEPTONIC DECAY
UNDERGROUND
WEAK PARTICLE DECAY