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Search for the lepton-flavor-violating decay K sub L sup 0 yields. mu. e

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:6990427

This thesis presents results on the search for the lepton-flavor-violating decay K{sub L}{sup 0} {yields} {mu}e. This decay is forbidden in the Standard Model while many alternate models allow it at various rates. These data were collected using a new kaon spectrometer at the Brookhaven National Laboratory Alternating Gradient Synchrotron facility during May, 1987. The sensitivity of the data set is calculated from approximately one million effective K{sub L}{sup 0} {yields} {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup {minus}} decays. Two K{sub L}{sup 0} {yields} {mu}{mu} events were identified, a quantity consistent with the known branching ratio for this decay. No candidate K{sub L}{sup 0} {yields} {mu}e events were detected and a 90% confidence level limit on the branching ratio of B(K{sub L}{sup 0} {yields} {mu}e) < 0.98 {times} 10{sup {minus}8} was established. These results represent a significant improvement over the previous limits and serve to constrain some models that allow for lepton flavor violation. The sensitivity of this result probes, through virtual effects, a mass scale on the order of 20 TeV.

Research Organization:
California Univ., Los Angeles, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
6990427
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English