Hunting for the rare decay K sup + yields. pi. sup +. mu. sup +. mu. sup minus

Thesis/Dissertation · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:7162963

Selen, M A

This thesis describes an experimental search for the rare decay K{sup +} {yields} {pi}{sup +}{mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup {minus}}. The data were accumulated during two weeks of running Brookhaven AGS experiment E787. Offline event reconstruction reduces the sample to three candidates. If one assumes all three events are background, than an upper limit of 2.1 {times} 10{sup {minus}7} is set at the 90% confidence level. Two of these events cannot be explained in terms of the major background channel. Assuming the background is sufficiently understood, the interpretation of these two candidates as genuine K{sup +} {yields} {pi}{sup +}{mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup {minus}} events results in a measured branching ratio of (6.1 {plus minus} 4) {times} 10{sup {minus}8}. An upper limit on the process K{sup +} {yields} {pi}{sup +}H, H {yields} {mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup {minus}} is found as a function of Higgs mass in the in the interval 2m{sub {mu}} {le} M{sub H} {le} 320 MeV. This limit never exceeds 1.5 {times} 10{sup {minus}7} at the 90% confidence level. We also set an upper limit on the decay mode K{sup +} {yields} {mu}{sup +}{nu}{mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup {minus}} of 3.7 {times} 10{sup {minus}7} at the 90% confidence level. This is the first experimental limit set on this process.

• Research Organization: Princeton Univ., NJ (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7162963
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645100* -- High Energy Physics-- Particle Interactions & Properties-Experimental
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ACCELERATORS
BOSONS
BRANCHING RATIO
BROOKHAVEN AGS
CALCULATION METHODS
CYCLIC ACCELERATORS
DATA
DATA ANALYSIS
DECAY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HADRONS
INFORMATION
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
MESONS
MEV RANGE
MEV RANGE 100-1000
NUMERICAL DATA
SYNCHROTRONS