Update on the search for μ→ e oscillations by the 2 experiment

The neutrino experiment sets the most stringent exclusion limits for _μ→ _e oscillations. Analyzing the data set recorded from Feb.1997 up to March 2000 with the upgraded experimental configuration, the search of _e appearance via the p( _e, e⁺)n reaction yields no hints for neutrino oscillations. Applying a likelihood method to the measured event sample of 11 events (background expectation 12.3 events), we deduce an upper limit of sin² (2Θ) < 1.3 · 10⁻³ for large Δm² > 100 eV² and Δm² < 0.049 eV² for sin² (2Θ)=1.     

The Palo Verde reactor neutrino experiment a test for long baseline neutrino oscillations

Our collaboration has installed a long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona. 12 tons of Gd loaded liquid scintillator, in a segmented detector, are used to search for oscillations at 740 m distance to three reactors. The anti-neutrino capture on the proton serves as detection reaction. The experiment is expected to reach a sensitivity of Δm² > 1.3 · 10⁻³ eV² and sin²2Θ > 0.1. Our range of sensitivity is tuned to test the ν_μ ↔ ν_e solution of the atmospheric neutrino anomaly.     

Further evidence for neutrino oscillations from LSND: the νμ → νe decay-in-flight channel

A search for ν_μ → ν_e oscillations has been conducted at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) using ν_μ from π⁺ decay in flight. An excess in the number of beam-related events from the ν_e C → e⁻ X inclusive reaction is observed. The excess is too large to be explained by normal ν_e contamination in the beam at a confidence level greater than 99%. If interpreted as an oscillation signal, the observed oscillation probability of (2.6 ± 1.3 ± 0.5) × 10⁻³ is consistent with the previously reported oscillation evidence from LSND.     

Status of the CHORUS neutrino oscillation experiment

The CHORUS experiment is designed to search for ν_μ → ν_τ oscillation with a hybrid detector system containing 800 kg nuclear emulsions as target and vertex detector. Run I (320 000 recorded ν_μCC in 1994/5) and more than half of the run II (460 000 ν_μCC in 1996/7) data taking have been successfully completed. Approximately 80 000 events have been analyzed so far, searching for and τ⁻ → h⁻ (nπ⁰) ν_τ decays. No candidate has been found, leading to a limit sin² 2θ_μτ ≤ 4.5 10⁻³ for large Δm².     

Single and multi-photon events with missing energy in eecollisions at = 189 GeV

Single and multi-photon events with missing energy are analysed using data collected with the L3 detector at LEP at a centre-of-mass energy of 189 GeV, for a total of 176 pb of integrated luminosity. The cross section of the process e⁺e⁻ → γ(γ) is measured and the number of light neutrino flavours is determined to be N_ν=3.011±0.077 including lower energy data. Upper limits on cross sections of supersymmetric processes are set and interpretations in supersymmetric models provide improved limits on the masses of the lightest neutralino and the gravitino. Graviton-photon production in low scale gravity models with extra dimensions is searched for and limits on the energy scale of the model are set exceeding 1 TeV for two extra dimensions.     

Search for anomalous production of single photons at and 136 GeV

This letter reports the results of the measurement of single photon production in the reaction e⁺e⁻ → γ+ invisible particles at centre-of-mass energies and 136 GeV and an integrated luminosity of 5.83 pb⁻¹, collected with the DELPHI detector at LEP. The signal is compatible with the prediction of the Standard Model for the process , and the number of neutrino families has been determined to be N_ν = 3.1 ± 0.6. Limits have been derived on anomalous neutral gauge boson couplings and on compositeness in the framework of a specific model.     

Final results from the ντ appearance search in the NOMAD experiment

An updated analysis of the full NOMAD data corresponding to 1.35 × 10⁶ charged current interactions has been performed to search for neutrino oscillations through ν_τ appearance. This document updates the recently published results on the ν_μ → ν_τ and ν_μ → ν_e oscillations search in NOMAD [1] with a unified analysis of the hadronic channels.     

Effects of superstrings in collisions

Superstring theory in d = 10 dimensions after Calabi—Yau compactification yields a minimum low-energy gauge group SU(3)_C × SU(2)_L × U(1)_Y × U(1)_E. The low-energy theory includes particles with the quantum numbers of 27 representations of E₆, each of which contains an extra neutrino ν^c conventionally called a “right-handed neutrino”. The contributions of ν and ν^c to through Z⁰ and Z_E mixing is calculated. Small contributions are found of the new right-handed neutrino and of the superstring boson Z_E to σ(e⁺e⁻ → γ + nothing).     

Limits on the neutrino magnetic moment from solar neutrino experiments

If neutrinos have non-vanishing mass and non-vanishing magnetic moments, then electron neutrinos emitted in nuclear reactions in the solar interior may undergo flavour oscillations, spin precession or resonant spin-flavour precession. Assuming equal values for the magnetic moments of all neutrino flavours and using the data from Homestake and SuperKamiokande we obtain an upper limit on the neutrino magnetic moment and find μ_νe ≤ (2.2 − 2.3) × 10⁻¹⁰μ_B, within four standard solar models. We also point out that this limit may be further reduced if the detector threshold energy for the ν_e,χe⁻ scattering is decreased.     

Direct measurement of the pseudoscalar decay constant

The absolute branching fraction for the decay D⁺→μ⁺ν has been directly measured based on a data sample of about 33 pb⁻¹ collected around with the BES-II detector at the BEPC collider. A total of 5321±149±160 D⁻ mesons are reconstructed in nine hadronic decay modes. In the system recoiling against these singly tagged D⁻ mesons, 2.67±1.74 purely leptonic decay events of D⁺→μ⁺ν_μ are observed. Those yield the branching fraction of , and a corresponding value of the pseudoscalar decay constant .     

Future atmospheric neutrino data from Super-Kamiokande

Expected sensitivity of future atmospheric neutrino data from Super-Kamiokande on neutrino oscillation physics is discussed. We expect that the accuracy of the sin ²θ₂₃ measurement will be improved with (exposure time) . By analyzing high energy fully contained events, it could be possible to statistically demonstrate the existence of charged current ν_τ interactions at the 3 standard deviation level with a few more years of data. Subdominant ν_μ → ν_e oscillations could be observed if θ₁₃ is near the present limit. However, significantly more data will be required to observe a 3 standard deviation effect.     

Looking for double beta decay of Nd to excited states of Sm by gamma ray spectroscopy

We have measured the gamma ray activity of a sample of 6189 grams of metallic Neodimium with a germanium detector. From the gamma energy spectrum recorded during almost 6500 hours we extract lower limits for the halflife of the inclusive (0ν + 2ν) ββ decay of ¹⁵⁰Nd to the first excited states of ¹⁵⁰Sm : t_1/2(0⁺ → 0₁⁺ > 1.0·10²⁰, t_1/2(O⁺ → 0₂⁺) > 2.0 · 10²⁾, t_1/2(0⁺ → 2₁⁺) > 9.1 · 10¹⁹.     

The microwave spectrum of 1-phosphabut-3-ene-1-yne, CH2=CHCP

The new molecule 1-phosphabut-3-ene-1-yne, CH₂=CHCP, produced by pyrolyzing prop-1-ene-3-phosphorus dichloride, CH₂=CHCH₂PCl₂, was detected by microwave spectroscopy. The analysis of the rotational transitions indicates that the molecule is planar with constants: A₀ = 46 694(24), B₀ = 2807.7100(21), and C₀ = 2645.8356(21) MHz. These rotational constants indicate that the structure of the vinyl group is essentially the same as that in CH₂=CHCN and CH₂=CHCCH; r(C---C) = 1.432 Å and (C=C---C) = 123.9°. The dipole moment parameters are μ_A = 1.181(2), μ_B = 0.074(1), and μ = 1.183(2) D. The vibrational satellite spectra for the C---CP bending modes indicate that ν₁₁(a′) = 184 ± 30 cm⁻¹ and ν₁₅(a″) = 263 ± 30 cm⁻¹.     

Observation of χb production in the exclusive reaction ′→γγχb→γγ→γγ(eeorμμ−)

We report on the observation of 1 ³P_J (χ_b) production in the reaction ′→γχ_b→γγ→γγ(e⁺e⁻ or μ⁺μ⁻). The data were recorded with the nonmagnetic CUSB detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring, CESR. We observe 124 γγ events with either an electron or muon pair in the final state. In the γγ correlation plot about 40% of the events cluster around (120, 430) MeV.     

Atmospheric neutrinos in the Soudan-2 and MACRO experiments

The results of Soudan-2 and MACRO experiments are summarized. Both experiments observe atmospheric neutrino anomalies in agreement with ν_μ → ν_τ oscillations with maximum mixing. The ν_μ → ν_s oscillations are disfavoured by the MACRO experiment at 98% C.L.     

Non-standard neutrino interactions in the Zee–Babu model

We investigate non-standard neutrino interactions (NSIs) in the Zee–Babu model. The size of NSIs predicted by this model is obtained from a full scan over the parameter space, taking into account constraints from low-energy experiments such as searches for lepton flavor violation (LFV) and the requirement to obtain a viable neutrino mass matrix. The dependence on the scale of new physics as well as on the type of the neutrino mass hierarchy is discussed. We find that NSIs at the source of a future neutrino factory may be at an observable level in the ν_e→ν_τ and/or ν_μ→ν_τ channels. In particular, if the doubly charged scalar of the model has a mass in reach of the LHC and if the neutrino mass hierarchy is inverted, a highly predictive scenario is obtained with observable signals at the LHC, in upcoming neutrino oscillation experiments, in LFV processes, and for NSIs at a neutrino factory.     

High-resolution infrared spectra of HCF3 in the ν6 (500 cm) and 2ν6 (1000 cm) regions: rovibrational analysis and accurate determination of the ground state constants C0 and DK

The high-resolution infrared spectrum of HCF₃ was studied in the ν₆ fundamental (near 500 cm⁻¹) and in the 2ν₆ overtones (near 1000 cm⁻¹) regions. The present study reports on the analysis of the hot bands in the ν₆ region, as well as the first observation and assignment of the 2ν₆² perpendicular band. Using ν₆, 2ν₆^±2–ν₆^±1 and 2ν₆² experimental wavenumbers, accurate coefficients C₀ and D_K⁰ of the K-dependent ground-state energy terms were obtained, using the so-called “loop method.” Ground-state energy differences Δ(K,J)=E₀(K,J)−E₀(K−3,J) were obtained for K=3–30. A least-squares fit of 81 such differences gave the following results (in cm⁻¹): C₀=0.1892550(15); D_K⁰=2.779(26) × 10⁻⁷.     

Short baseline projects

In a search for ν_μ → ν_e oscillations, the LSND experiment has observed an excess of events which are consistent with an oscillation signal. The KARMEN experiment, which is the only ongoing experiment which can test the LSND hypothesis, does not observe an excess, but also does not cover the full LSND allowed region. In this report, the results of these two experiments are discussed, together with the expectations of the MiniBooNE experiment which has been approved to run at FNAL in 2001. MiniBooNE's goal is to definitely verify or disprove the LSND oscillation hypothesis. Finally, the implications of the experimental techniques developed for current short baseline experiments for a future short baseline program, assuming the verification of the LSND signal, is also discussed.     

Millimeter-Wave Spectroscopy, High-Resolution Infrared Spectrum, ab Initio Calculations, and Molecular Geometry of FPS

The transient thiophosphenous fluoride FPS was produced by pyrolysis of 2.5% F₂PSPF₂ in Ar at 1300–1800°C. High-resolution (≥0.004 cm⁻¹) Fourier transform infrared spectra of the a-type ν₁ and b-type ν₂ bands, centered respectively at 803.249 and 726.268 cm⁻¹, were measured and fitted to rotational and quartic centrifugal distortion parameters. The millimeter-wave spectrum, essentially b-type, was measured between 300 and 370 GHz in the ground state and in the ν₃ excited state for FP³²S and in the ground state for FP³⁴S. The frequencies were fitted to a Watson-type A-reduced Hamiltonian up to sextic distortion terms. High level ab initio calculations with large basis sets were performed on FPS and supported the first identification of its infrared and millimeter wave spectra. The calculated anharmonic force field provided precise ab initio rovibrational α constants which were combined with the experimental molecular parameters to determine an accurate equilibrium structure of the molecule: r_e(PS)=188.86 pm, r_e(PF)=158.70 pm, θ(FPS)=109.28°. The collision-controlled 1/e lifetime measured in a 10-Pa (1 : 20) F₂PSPF₂/Ar mixture was 2 s, more than two orders of magnitude larger than that of FPO under the same experimental conditions.     

Measurement of and the dipion contribution to the muon anomaly with the KLOE detector

We have measured the cross section σ(e⁺e⁻→π⁺π⁻γ(γ)) at DAΦNE, the Frascati -factory, using events with initial state radiation photons emitted at small angle and inclusive of final state radiation. We present the analysis of a new data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 240 pb⁻¹. We have achieved a reduced systematic uncertainty with respect to previously published KLOE results. From the cross section we obtain the pion form factor and the contribution to the muon magnetic anomaly from two-pion states in the mass range 0.592<M_ππ<0.975 GeV. For the latter we find Δ^ππa_μ=(387.2±0.5_stat±2.4_exp±2.3_th)×10⁻¹⁰.