Measurement of the leptonic branching ratios of the τ lepton

The leptonic branching ratios of the tau lepton have been determined from data collected by the OPAL detector in 1991 and 1992. From a sample of 27196 e⁺e^–+– candidates we find 7322 and 7941 candidates. Using efficiency and background estimates determined from a study of Monte Carlo events and control samples of data, the branching ratios =(18.14±0.20±0.28)% and =(17.48±0.18±0.23)% have been obtained. These new results have been combined with the published results for the 1990 OPAL data to yield the following branching ratios for data taken between 1990 and 1992:

The τ lepton as a laboratory for quantum chromodynamics

Decays of the τ lepton provide a clean environment to study hadron dynamics in an energy regime dominated by resonances. Inclusive spectral functions are the basis for quantum chromodynamics (QCD) analyses, providing a most accurate determination of the strong coupling constant and quantitative information on nonperturbative contributions. The τ vector spectral function is used together with e⁺e⁻ data in order to compute vacuum polarization integrals arising in the calculations of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon and the running of the electromagnetic coupling constant. To cite this article: M. Davier, A. Höcker, C. R. Physique 3 (2002) 1223–1233.     

Measurement of exclusive one-prong and inclusive three-prong branching ratios of the τ lepton

Using the ARGUS detector at thee ⁺ e ^– storage ring DORIS II at DESY, a study ofB ⁰ oscillations has been performed using three different techniques. Besides the standard dilepton method, charge correlations betweenD ^* mesons and one or two leptons have also been investigated. The mixing parameterr is determined to be (20.6±7.0)%.Supported by the German Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie, under contract number 054DO51P     

Azimuthal distributions in radiative decay of a polarized τ lepton

We investigate various distributions over emitted photon angles, especially over the azimuthal angle, in the one-meson radiative decay of the polarized τ lepton, τ^– → π^–γν_τ. In connection with this, the photon phase space is discussed in more detail because it is nontrivial in the case of a polarized τ lepton. The decay matrix element contains both the inner bremsstrahlung and the resonance (structural) contributions. The azimuthal dependence of some observables are calculated. They are the asymmetry of the differential decay width caused by the τ-lepton polarization, the Stokes parameters of the emitted photon itself, and the correlation parameters describing the influence of τ-lepton polarization on the photon Stokes parameters. A numerical estimation is done in the τ-lepton rest frame for an arbitrary direction of the τ-lepton polarization 3-vector. The vector and axial-vector form factors describing the structure-dependent part of the decay amplitude are determined using the chiral effective theory with resonances (RχT). It is found that the features of the azimuthal distributions allows separating various terms in the spin-dependent contribution. The so-called up–down and right–left asymmetries are also calculated.     

The Implications of the New Measurement of τ Lepton Mass

We discuss the physical implications for the new measurement of τ lepton mass.The Value of τ lifetime is predictcd.     

Effective field theory approach to lepton number violating τ decays

We continue our endeavor to investigate lepton number violating(LNV) processes at low energies in the framework of effective field theory(EFT).In this work we study the LNV tau decays τ~+→l~-P_i~+P_j~+,where l=e,μand P_(i,j)~+denote the lowest-lying charged pseudoscalars π~+,K~+.We analyze the dominant contributions in a series of EFTs from high to low energy scales,namely the standard model EFT(SMEFT),the low-energy EFT(LEFT),and the chiral perturbation theory(χPT).The decay branching ratios are expressed in terms of the Wilson coefficients of dimension-five and-seven operators in SMEFT and the hadronic low-energy constants.These Wilson coefficients involve the first and second generations of quarks and all generations of leptons;thus,they cannot be explored in low-energy processes such as nuclear neutrinoless double beta decay or LNV kaon decays.Unfortunately,the current experimental upper bounds on the branching ratios are too weak to set useful constraints on these coefficients.Alternatively,if we assume the new physics scale is larger than 1 TeV,the branching ratios are well below the current experimental bounds.We also estimate the hadronic uncertainties incurred in applying χPT to τ decays by computing one-loop chiral logarithms and attempt to improve the convergence of chiral perturbation by employing dispersion relations in the short-distance part of the decay amplitudes.     

The physics of 2 ≠ 1 + 1

One of the most surprising consequences of quantum mechanics is the entanglement of two or more distant particles. In an entangled EPR two-particle system, the value of the momentum (position) for neither single subsystem is determined. However, if one of the subsystems is measured to have a certain momentum (position), the other subsystem is determined to have a unique corresponding value, despite the distance between them. This peculiar behavior of an entangled quantum system has surprisingly been observed experimentally in two-photon temporal and spatial correlation measurements, such as “ghost” interference and “ghost” imaging. This article addresses the fundamental concerns behind these experimental observations and to explore the nonclassical nature of two-photon superposition by emphasizing the physics of 2 ≠ 1 + 1.     

Search for CP violation in Z0 → τ + τ − and an upper limit on the weak dipole moment of the τ lepton

An improved test of invariance in the reaction e⁺e^? τ ⁺ τ ^? on the Z0 peak is performed using the data sample recorded between 1991 and 1995 with the OPAL detector at LEP. Optimal observables, requiring the reconstruction of the τ flight direction and spin, have been used for different final state topologies. From the non-observation of violation we derive 95% confidence level upper limits on the real and imaginary parts of the weak dipole moment of the τ lepton of |Re(d _τ ^w (m _Z ² | < 5.6 × 10^?18 e cm and |Im(d _τ ^w (m _Z ² ))| < 1.5 × 10^?17 e cm, respectively.     

A test of the Lorentz structure of semi-hadronic τ decays

A method is proposed for the determination of the Lorentz structure of the electroweak interaction in semi-hadronic τ decays. Spin correlations in the process $$e^ + e^ - \to \tau ^ + \tau ^ - \to \bar v_\tau \pi ^ + \pi ^0 v_\tau \pi ^ - \pi ^0 $$ are exploited for a measurement of the normalized product, γ_AV = 2Re{g_Ag _V ^* }/(|g_V|² + |g_V|²), of the vector (g _V ) and axial vector (g _A ) coupling of the τ lepton. The contribution of scalar (g _S ) or pseudo-scalar (g _P ) couplings is also investigated. Since in the above process the direction of flight of the τ leptons can be reconstructed up to a twofold ambiguity a likelihood method using the whole kinematic information can be employed. The matrix element entering the likelihood function has been evaluated in terms of the momenta and angles of the observed pions. The sensitivity of the derived method in ane ⁺ e ^? energy region around 10 GeV has been investigated for the ARGUS experiment using Monte Carlo simulations.     

The lepton flavor violating signal of the extra gauge boson Z′in photon-photon collision at the ILC

The hitherto unconstrained lepton flavor mixings,induced by the new gauge boson Z ,which are the prediction of many new physics models,such as topcolor-assisted technicolor (TC2) models and flavor-universal TC2 models,may lead to the lepton flavor violating productions of τμˉ,τeˉ and μeˉ in photon-photon collision at the proposed International Linear Collider (ILC).Through a comparative analysis of these processes,we find that the better channel to probe the new physics models is the production of τμˉ or τeˉ which occurs at a much higher rate than μeˉ production due to the large mixing angle and the large flavor changing coupling,and may reach the detectable level of the ILC for a large part of the parameter space.Since the rates predicted by the Standard Model are far below the detectable level,these processes may serve as a sensitive probe for such new physics models.     

Status of the lattice and τ decay determinations of α_s

The two highest precision determinations of α s (M 2 Z ),that based on the analysis of short-distancesensitive lattice observables,and that based on an analysis of hadronic τ decay data,have,until very recently,given results which are not in good agreement.I review new versions of these analyses which bring the two determinations into excellent agreement,and discuss prospects for additional future improvements.     

The physics of trapped dilute-gas Bose–Einstein condensates

The experimental realisation of Bose–Einstein condensates of dilute atomic vapours has generated immense interest and activity in this field. Here, we present a review of recent theoretical research into the properties of trapped dilute-gas Bose–Einstein condensates. Topics covered include ground-state properties of trapped condensates, elementary excitations, light scattering properties, tests of broken gauge symmetry, and the atom laser.     

Conformal space-times—The arenas of physics and cosmology

The mathematical and physical aspects of the conformal symmetry of space-time and of physical laws are analyzed. In particular, the group classification of conformally flat space-times, the conformal compactifications of space-time, and the problem of imbedding of the flat space-time in global four-dimensional curved spaces with non-trivial topological and geometrical structure are discussed in detail. The wave equations on the compactified space-times are analyzed also, and the set of their elementary solutions constructed. Finally, the implications of global compactified space-times for cosmology are discussed. It is argued that the recent discovery of periodic structure of matter distribution on large distances strongly suggests that the global cosmological space-time should be close. Next we analyze the inflation scalar field in the inflationary model of universe evolution considered on the spatially compact Robertson-Walker space-time. It is shown that the energy distribution in this model is periodic and the periods and density decrease with increasing distance, in striking agreement with experimental data. Our model of the universe also provides a definite predictions for the energy distribution, polar and azimuthal, considered as a function of angles and . These predictions should be tested with the new astronomical data.Dedicated to Professor Constantin Piron on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday, June 11, 1992.This publication is based on work sponsored by the US-Czechoslovakia Science and Technological Joint Fund under Project Number 92067 and by Grant ASCR under Project Number 19085.Partially supported by the Stiftung Für Deutsch-Polnische Zusammenarbeit Grant No. 984/94/LN.     

Status of the lattice and τ decay determinations of αs

The two highest precision determinations of α s （M 2 Z ）,that based on the analysis of short-distancesensitive lattice observables,and that based on an analysis of hadronic τ decay data,have,until very recently,given results which are not in good agreement.I review new versions of these analyses which bring the two determinations into excellent agreement,and discuss prospects for additional future improvements.     

Status of the lepton g − 2 and effects of hadronic corrections

The electron and muon anomalous magnetic moments (AMM) are measured in experiments and studied in the Standard Model (SM) with the highest precision accessible in particle physics. The comparison of the measured quantity with the SM prediction for the electron AMM provides the best determination of the fine structure constant. The muon AMM is more sensitive to the appearance of New Physics effects and, at present, there appears to be a three- to four-standard deviation between the SM and experiment. The lepton AMMs are pure relativistic quantum correction effects and therefore test the foundations of relativistic quantum field theory in general, and of quantum electrodynamics (QED) and SM in particular, with highest sensitivity. Special attention is paid to the studies of the hadronic contributions to the muon AMM which constitute the main source of theoretical uncertainties of the SM.     

Precise Measurement of τ Mass

Pairs of τ lepton produced near the threshould have been studied in eμ,ee,eπ,μμ,μπ,ππ final states with the data taken by BES detector at BEPC collider in 1992.The obtained τ mass is MeV by fitting data with likelihood method.     

Kinematics of τ two-body decay near τ threshold at BESⅢ

The kinematic properties of two-body decay near τ threshold are studied according to the special capacity of the BEPC accelerator and the BESⅢ detector.Explicitly presented are the transformations of energy and momentum of hadronic particles between different reference frames,and the corresponding distributions.A brand new method is proposed to obtain the energy spread of the accelerator by fitting the energy distribution of hadron from τ semi-leptonic decays.