Bounds on the masses of neutral generation-changing gauge bosons

The existence of several generations of quarks and leptons suggests the possibility of a gauge symmetry connecting the different generations. The neutral gauge bosons of such a scheme would mediate rare processes such as K_L⁰→μ^±, K⁺→π⁺e^?π⁺, μN→eN and would contribute to ΔM(K_S⁰?K_L⁰). We study these and other processes within a simple theoretical framework and derive bounds involving the masses and coupling constants of the generation-changing gauge bosons and various generation-mixing angles. The lower bounds for the relevant masses lie in the 10–100 TeV region. Various remarks concerning the relevance of these bounds to currently popular theoretical ideas and to future experiments are presented.     

Search for CP-violation in Ko→3πo decay

Using the 180 liter ITEP liquid xenon bubble chamber the time distribution of 22 K^o → 3π^o decays has been studied. For the ratio η_ooo of amplitudes K_S → 3π^o and K_L → 3π^o decays we found Reη_ooo = ?0.04 ± 0.45 and Imη_ooo = 0.45 ± _0.65^0.50. Assuming CPT invariance we obtained |η_ooo|² < 1.2 and Γ(K_S → 3π^o)/ Γ(K_S) ? 4.3 × 10^?4 at 90% confidence level.     

Two-nucleon production of hyperons and the search for strange dibaryons

The double charge exchange reaction³He(K^?,π ⁺)Xn was studied at 870 MeV/c. In the X missing mass range below the sigma-nucleon production threshold (2130 MeV/c²), events were detected which can be attributed to the two-nucleon process pp(K^?,π ⁺)λn. This reaction and mass range also offers good prospects for finding theI=1/2,l=1 (¹ P₁) spin-singlet dibaryon D_s suggested as the lowest massS=?1 dibaryon in the MIT Bag Model. Although the existence of the D_s is not ruled out by the present data, there is no need to invoke such an object to account for the observed events below σ production threshold. We show that the cross section level for these events is compatible with a dominant two-nucleon mechanism K^?p→π ⁰λ,π ⁰p →π ⁺n. We also offer an interpretation of the recent (K^?,K⁺) data on nuclear targets from Iijimaet al., which display a broad peak centered around a K⁺ momentum of 600 MeV/c. We find that the two-nucleon mechanism K^?N →πY,πN→K⁺Y produces cross sections which are at least an order of magnitude smaller than those observed, and we suggest that the one nucleon process K^?p →Φλ, followed by the decayΦ → K⁺K^?, accounts for the data.     

A spin-parity analysis of the K+K+K− system produced in the reaction K+p → K+K+K−p

We present the first spin-parity analysis of the K⁺K⁺K^?) system produced in the reaction K⁺p → K⁺K⁺K^?p, and show that the general features of this system resemble those of the (ππ⁺π^?) and Kπ⁺π^?) systems produced in the reactions π(K)p → π(K)π⁺π^?p. There is a low mass enhancement, (47 ± 11)% of which corresponds to 1⁺ states decaying to Kø. At higher (K⁺K⁺K^?) masses 2^? → Kf′ becomes increasingly significant and at all masses there is a 0^? contribution of roughly 30%.     

Observation of the decay Ks → 2γ and measurement of the decay rates KL → 2γ and KS → 2γ

The decay rates of K_L → 2γ and K_S → 2γ have been measured at the CERN SPS. The results are Γ(K_L→2γ)/χ(K_L→2π₀)=0.632±0.004±0.008 and Γ(K_S→2γ)/Γ(K_L→2γ)=2.3 ±1.0±0.4. This is the first observation of K_S→2γ decays.     

Measurement of the KS0 → π+π−γ decay rate

From a study of 70 000 K° decays in the CERN 2m hydrogen bubble chamber, we have estimated the rate for K_S⁰ → π⁺π^?γ for different cuts in the γ momentum. The results are in good agreement with inner bremsstrahlung on K_S⁰ → π⁺π^?. For γ momentum in the K° c.m. greater than 50 MeV/c, we obtain the branching ratio: Γ(K_S → π⁺π^?γ, k>50 MeV/c)/Γ(K_S→π⁺π^?)=(2.8. ± 0.6)×10^?3. This leads to an estimate for the direct γ emission process: Γ(K_S→π⁺π^?γ direct)/Γ(K_S → π⁺π^?)=(0.3 ± 0.6) × 10^?3.     

πℓ2, Kℓ3and K0−K0 constraints on leptoquarks and supersymmetric particles

Mass bounds from different processes for charged Higgs particles, for pseudoscalar leptoquarks occurring in dynamically broken theories, for vector leptoquarks occurring in the Pati-Salam type of grand unified theories and for the exotic particles of supersymmetric theories are studied. The processes considered are the π → eν to π → μν branching ratio, the CP-violating K?3 decay parameters, and the CP-violating part of the K_L ? K_S mass difference. The π → eν to π → μν branching ratio sets the most stringent bounds, 0.5 TeV for charged Higgs particles, 1 TeV for pseudoscalar leptoquarks, 125 TeV for vector leptoquarks and 0.1–1 TeV for the supersymmetric partners of ordinary particles. The π?2 branching ratio should be sensitive at the present experimental accuracy to the effects of pseudoscalar leptoquarks.     

Natural suppression of flavour-changing neutral currents in supersymmetric gauge theories

Induced flavour-changing neutral currents (FCNC) in supersymmetric unified theories are investigated both in models with the standard SU(2)_L × U(1) gauge symmetry and in models with an extra ?(1) gauge symmetry. Supersymmetric extension of the natural flavour conservation laws for neutral currents is obtained by adding a condition regarding the assumed type of supersymmetry breaking. This condition ensures no direct flavour-changing couplings of neutral gauge-Higgs fermions and at the same time is necessary and sufficient for the natural suppression of the induced FCNC. It is found that in the class of models satisfying the new condition the contribution of the scalar partners of quarks to the induced strangeness-changing neutral current is comparable to that of the quarks in $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{L}}\text{→ π}\text{π}$, while it is negligibly small in K_L ? K_S mass difference.     

Cusps in KL→3π decays

The pronounced cusp in K→3π decays which is generated by the pion mass difference is directly related to the ππS-wave scattering lengths. We apply a nonrelativistic effective field theory framework to evaluate the amplitudes for K_L→3π decays in a systematic manner. Electromagnetic effects in the neutral channel K_L→3π⁰ are also discussed.     

The Weinberg-Salam model and weak radiative decays of KL mesons

Weak radiative decays K_L → 2γ and K_L → π⁺π^?γ are considered in the Weinberg-Salam model for weak interactions and in the framework of asymptotically free gauge theory (AFGT) for strong interactions (SI). The problem of calculation of the decays at short and large distances is discussed. It is shown that only the large distance contribution is essential for each decay. The estimates of these contributions being rough, it proves impossible to compare them with experiment. However, using anomalous PCAC theory we derive the relation connecting the contributions for these two decays and, hence, the decay amplitudes via the known constants. Experimental data confirm the obtained result. The important result of the paper is that the matrix elements of the effective Hamiltonian specifying the decays at short distances are not dynamically enhanced, unlike the case of weak non-leptonic amplitudes.     

Comment on the η→3π, η→2γ decay rates

The main decay modes of the eta meson are discussed with emphasis on large symmetry breaking effects induced by the mass of the strange quark. It is argued that these SU3-breaking effects amount to corrections involving factors of 2 to 3 in rate in the above decay modes. This is in line with the well-known large correction factors in the nonleptonic decays K_S →2π and D⁰→K⁺K^?, π⁺π^?.     

Backward production of a spin parity 1+ϱπ enhancement at 1.04 GeV

A spin-parity 1⁺?π enhancement is observed for the 3π mass spectrum in the reaction K^?p → Σ^?π⁺π⁺π^? where events with a small (K^? → Σ^?) momentum transfer are selected. The mass (1040 MeV) and width (230 MeV) of this enhancement are reminiscent of the A₁ → ?π bump which has mainly been observed in the diffractive-like processes. The cross section for this enhancement at 4.15 GeV/c incident K^? momentum is (3.6 ± 0.5) μb.     

Phase-shift analysis of π N → K Σ

We have performed an energy-independent phase-shift analysis of πN → KΣ by analyzing differential cross-section and polarization data for the reactions π⁺p → K⁺∑⁺ and

at fifteen energies from threshold to 2137 MeV invariant mass. The single-energy solutions were linked by shortest-path methods with and without constraints implied by the Odorico zeros for the reaction π^?p → K⁺Σ^?. Similar to π^?p → KΛ it has been found that both isostates are dominated below 1900 MeV by resonances in the spin $\text{1}\text{2}$ waves. The F₃₇ resonance couples to KΣ with √x_πNx_KΣ= 0.04.     

Determining the KS→3π amplitude in pp(OR e+e−)→K0K0

The amplitude ratio 〈3π|T|K_S〉/〈3π|T|K_L〉 can be well determined in e⁺e^? (or low energy $\text{p}\text{p}\text{)→K}{}^{\mathrm{o}}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{o}}$ from the decay time-distribution when each produced kaon→3π, other unknown parameters of the distribution being obtainable from corresponding observations involving known channels like ππ.     

A study of ππ → KK using an experiment on π−p → KS0KS0n at 8.9 GeV/c

We present an analysis of the K_S⁰K_S⁰ system, based on 6380 events, produced in the reactions π^?p → K_S⁰K_S⁰n. Using a one-pion exchange model with absorption we determine the S- and D-wave amplitudes of ππ → $\text{K}\text{K}$. Several A₂ production amplitudes were also included in the fits and we conclude that an unnatural parity exchange amplitudes which does not interfere with pion exchange, seems to present. A branching ratio $\text{Γ(}\text{f}\text{→}\text{K}\text{K}\text{/ Γ(}\text{f}\text{→ ππ) = 0.029 ± 0.006}$ is determined. With this and other new values of branching ratios we have fitted the 2⁺ → 0^?0^? decay rates of the SU(3) relations resulting in (36.2 ± 1)° for the tensor nonet mixing angle.     

Energy dependence of the reactions KLop→KSop,π+Λ, π+Σo from 1540 to 1610 MeV

The reactions K_L^op→K_S^op, π⁺Λ, π⁺Σ^o have been measured for center-of-mass energies from 1540 to 1610 MeV. Channel cross sections and coefficients of the Legendre polynomial expansion of the differential cross sections and hyperon polarizations are presented. We see no evidence in the πΛ channel for the suggested $\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ resonance at 1580 MeV. The cross section for the K_S^op channel shows an energy dependence which is not predicted by the existing phase shift solutions based on charged kaon data.     

Partial-wave analysis of the (KKK) system in the reaction K−p→K−K−K+p at 10 and 16 GeV/c

The reaction K^?p→K^?K^?K⁺p is shown to have properties similar to those of the diffractive reaction K^?p→K^?π^?π⁺p. This is true, at least in first approximation, for (a) the energy dependence of the cross sections, (b) the shape of the three meson spectra and (c) the differential cross sections dσ/dt_pp which have the same slope for the same mass of the three-meson system. Furthermore, the partial-wave composition of the (KKK) system is similar to that of the (Kππ) system, both systems being produced mostly in unnatural spin-parity states by natural parity exchange. In the KKK system, the J^P = 1⁺ state with S-wave decay into Kø(1020) is dominant, (72 ± 11) % of all events with (KKK) masses below 2 GeV.     

ΔB = −ΔL, neutron →e−π+, e−K+, μ−π+ and μ−K+ decay modes in SU(2)L × SU(2)R × SU(4)col or SO(10)

It is stressed that within the simplest model SU(4) of color, unifying quarks with leptons, where B  L is a gauge symmetry, a spontaneous breaking of this symmetry leads naturally to baryonlepton decays like n→e^?k⁺, e^?K⁺, μ^?π⁺, μ^?K⁺ [in constant to SU(5) where B  L is not gauged]. Our mechanism is crucially tied to the presence of the Higgs multiplet (2, 2, 15) of SU(2) × SU(2) × SU(4), which is needed to account for the observed quarklepton mass ratios.     

Backward production of a spin-parity 1+ Kϱ resonance at 1.28 GeV

A (K_ππ)⁺ mass enhancement is observed in the reactions K^?p → Ξ ?K^o+π⁺π^o? when events with a small (K^? → Ξ^?) four momentum transfer squared are selected. The signal is also visible in the reaction K^?p → Ξ^?π⁺+ neutrals. The enhancement, centered at 1.28 GeV, is seen to decay preferentially into K? with spin-parity J^P = 1⁺. The cross section for K^?p→ Ξ^?C⁺(1.28) with C⁺ → K? at 4.15 GeV/c incident K^? momentum is (6.2 ± 0.6) μb.     

Measurement of the branching ratio and π° energy spectrum for K°L → π+π−π°

The K°_L → π⁺π^?π° decay was studied in a bubble chamber experiment at an average momentum of 1.3 GeV/c. We measure the branching ration Γ(K°_L → π⁺π^?π°)/Γ(K°_L → charged) to be 0.1605 ± 0.0038. The data are well fitted with a linear matrix element in the π° kinetic energy with a slope g = 0.612 ± 0.032.