Observation of charmless B meson decays

Using the ARGUS detector at the e⁺e⁻ storage ring DORIS II, we have observed charmless decays of B mesons into the final states pp̄π^± and pp̄π⁺π⁻. The significance of the signal corresponds to more than five standard deviations. The branching ratios are (5.2±1.4±1.9)×10⁻⁴ for the three-body and (6.0±2.0±2.2)×10⁻⁴ for the four-body final state. These decays cannot proceed via the dominant b→c transitions, and we show that they are not the result of penguin-type processes. Thus, the observed decays must represent b→u quark transitions. Consequently, the Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element V_ub is non-zero.     

Momentum analysis of kaon and pion pairs produced from time-like photons at 1.6 GeV energy

We present results for the total cross section of e⁺e^? annihilation into two hadrons at 1.6 GeV: σ_ππ = σ_KK = (1.8 ± 1.1) × 10^-33 cm².From these values we obtain the time-like electromagnetic form factors these mesons: |F_π|² = 0.24 ± 0.14 and |F_K|² = 0.46 ± 0.26.     

Quark combinatorics and meson-production ratios in hadronic Z 0 decays

A vast body of experimental data accumulated in the past few years in hadronic Z ⁰ decays allows one to check quark-combinatorics relations for a new type of processes-namely, quark jets in the decays Z ⁰ → $q\bar q$ → hadrons. In this paper, we review quark-combinatorics rules for the yields of vector and pseudoscalar mesons, V/P, in the central and fragmentation regions of hadronic Z ⁰ decays. It is emphasized that, in the central region, a direct verification of quark-combinatorics rules is rather problematic because of a considerable background associated with the decay of highly excited resonances; however, such a verification is possible in the fragmentation region, at x _hadron～0.5–1, where the contribution of resonance decays is suppressed owing to a fast decrease of the spectra with increasing x _hadron. It is shown that, in the fragmentation region, experimental data on ρ⁰/π⁰ and p/π⁺ are in reasonable agreement with the predictions of quark combinatorics. The ratios of the heavy-meson yields, B*/B and D*/D, are also discussed: the data demonstrate good agreement with the quark combinatorial results. We analyze the structure of the suppression parameters for strange-and heavy-quark production in soft processes and estimate their orders of magnitude in multiperipheral processes; the ratio K ^±/π^± at x _hadron～0.5–0.8 and the production probabilities for $c\bar c$ and $b\bar b$ mesons are in good agreement with the estimates.     

Photon production in heavy-ion collisions at SPS energies

Single photon spectra in heavy-ion collisions at SPS energies are studied in the relativistic transport model that incorporates self-consistently the change of hadron masses in dense matter. We separate the total photon spectrum into “background” arising from the radiative decays of π⁰ and η mesons, and the “thermal” one from other sources. For the latter we include contributions from radiative decays of ρ, ω, η′, and a₁, radiative decays of baryon resonances, as well as two-body processes such as ππ → ργ and πρ → πγ. It is found that more than 95% of all photons come from the decays of π⁰ and η mesons, while the thermal photons account for less than 5% of the total photon yield. The thermal photon spectra in our calculations with either free or in-medium meson masses do not exceed the upper bound set by the experimental measurement of the WA80 Collaboration.     

A measurement of the charge asymmetry in the decay η → π+π−πo

An experiment has been carried out at the Rutherford Laboratory to look for a possible asymmetry in the eta decay to three pions. Eta mesons were produced in the process π^?p→ ηn. The experiment produced 165311 decays η → π⁺π^?π^o from which we determined a value for the charge asymmetry A = (0.0028 ± 0.0026). We see no evidence for C-violation in this decay.     

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.     

Production properties ofD 0,D +,D *+ andD s + in 230 GeV/cπ − andK −-Cu interactions

We have studied the hadronic production of charmed mesons in the NA 32 experiment at CERN. A special trigger together with a high resolution vertex detector consisting of charge coupled devices and silicon microstrip detectors allowed the selection of very clean samples of charmed mesons. We have collected 852 fully reconstructed decays: 60D _s ⁺ →K ⁺ K ^?π⁺, 543D°→K ^?π⁺ andK ^?π⁺π^?π⁺ as well as 249D ⁺→K ^?π⁺π⁺ (or charge conjugate). 147 mesons out of our \({{D^0 } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{D^0 } {\bar D^0 }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\bar D^0 }}\) sample were produced via chargedD ^* state. For all charmed mesons we determine the total production cross-section and study thex _F andp _t ² distributions.     

Photoproduction of charmed F mesons at γ energies of 20–70 GeV

Evidence is presented for inclusive photoproduction of F^± mesons in three decay modes, ηπ^±, ηπ^±π⁺π^? and ηπ^±π⁺π⁺π^?π^?. The average mass of the F^± is found to be 2.020±0.010 GeV.     

Observation of the π0 → e+e− decay

We have observed for the first time the very rare π⁰ → e⁺e^? decay. The tagged π⁰'s come from K⁺ → π⁺π⁰ decays in flight. We find the branching ratio to be (2.23_?1.1^+2.4) × 10^?7 (90% C.L.). This value is well above the QED unitary limit and comes in rough agreement with a second-order electromagnetic process mediated by vector mesons.     

Spin effects in two-body hadronic decays of the B c mesons

Spin effects in the weak two-body hadronic decays of the B _c and B _c ^* mesons into J/ψ and ρ(π) mesons are considered within the model of hard one-gluon exchange between quarks at high momentum transfers. It is shown that the polarization of the J/ψ meson in the decays of the B _c ^* meson differs substantially from that in the decays of the B _c ^* meson. The decay widths of the B _c ^* meson differ significantly from the widths of the B _c ^* meson.     

B* production in Z0 decays

The process B*→Bγ has been observed in a sample of approximately 4.1 million hadronic Z⁰ decays collected by the OPAL detector at LEP in the years 1991–1995. Inclusively reconstructed B mesons have been combined with converted photons to reconstruct approximately 1900 B* mesons. The B*–B mass difference is found to be ΔM(B* ?B) = 46.2 ± 0.3 ± 0.8 MeV/c ², and the rate of B* meson production relative to that of B mesons is found to be σ _B*/σ _B = 0.760 ± 0.036 ± 0.083, where the first errors are statistical and the second systematic. The angular distribution of the transition photon in the B* rest frame has been measured and the relative contribution of longitudinal B* polarization states found to be σ _l/(σ _l + σ _t ) = 0.36 ± 0.06 ± 0.07, consistent with a simple spin counting picture. These results average over B⁰, B± and B _s ⁰ mesons.     

X-ray spectroscopy in the EC nucleus

The probabilities P_KK of double K-shell vacancy production per K electron capture decay and per K internal conversion of ¹⁰⁹Cd and ²⁰⁷Bi have been determined by means of the double- and triple-coincidence experiments using Kα X-ray and K internal conversion. For ¹⁰⁹Cd we find P_KK(EC) = (4.2 ± 0.5) × 10⁻⁵ and P_KK(IC) = (4.32 ± 0.46) × 10⁻⁵, and for ²⁰⁷Bi, P_KK(EC) = (2.54 ± 0.50) × 10⁻⁵. The observed X-ray energy shifts of the hypersatellite Ag (Kα₁^H) X-ray and the hypersatellite Pb (Kα₁^H) X-ray lines are 545±15 eV and 1238±45 eV, respectively.     

Joint production of ϕ mesons andπ ±,π 0,p,\bar p,K s 0 andK ± in hadronic interactions

The joint production of ? mesons andπ ^±,π ⁰,p, \(\bar p\) ,K _s ⁰ andK ^± is investigated using a sample of 600,000 inclusive ? meson events obtained in hadron Be interactions with incidentπ ^±,p, \(\bar p\) andK ^± beams. Evidence is presented for the joint production of ? mesons and strange particles produced with non-strange incident beams. With incidentK ^± beam the number of additional strange particles is suppressed. The results are found to be in agreement with the qualitative predictions of a parton fusion model. The comparison with the Lund model for lowp _T processes is fair.     

Searches for the superheavy hydrogen isotope 7H in the absorption of stopped π − mesons

Experimental searches for the superheavy hydrogen isotope ⁷H were performed in reactions involving the absorption of stopped π ^? mesons on ⁹Be and ¹¹B nuclei. In the reaction ⁹Be(π ^?, pp)X, the missing-mass spectrum shows evidence for the formation of ⁷H states, that of E _r = 16 ± 1 MeV and Γ ? 2 MeV and that of E _r = 21 ± 1 MeV and Γ ? 5 MeV (E _r is the resonance energy with respect to breakup into a trition and four neutrons, and Γ is the observed level width).     

Isospin violation in the standard model and the decay F+ → π+π0

The decay F⁺ → π⁺π⁰ can proceed via isospin violating mechanisms similarly to $\text{ψ′ →}\text{J}\text{ψπ}{}^0$. I estimate that π⁰-η-′ mixing together with symmetry breaking in the amplitude lead to Γ(F⁺ → π⁺π⁰)/Γ(F⁺ → π⁺η) = (2.2 ± 0.7) × 10^?3 or (1.0 ± 0.3) × 10^?3, if annihilation processes dominate nonleptonic charmed meson decays. These values correspond to different assumptions for two-meson production in F decays.     

Measurement of the masses and lifetimes of the charmed mesonsD 0,D + andD s +

We present the final results on the measurement of the masses and lifetimes of the mesonsD ⁰,D ⁺ andD _s ⁺ in the NA32 experiment at the CERN SPS, using silicon microstrip detectors and charge-coupled devices for vertex reconstruction. We measure the following lifetimes: \(\tau _{D^0 } = 3.88 \pm _{0.21}^{0.23} \cdot 10^{ - 13} s\) using a sample of 479D°→K ^?π⁺π^?π⁺ and 162D°→K ^?π⁺ decays; \(\tau _{D^ + } = 10.5 \pm _{0.72}^{0.77} \cdot 10^{ - 13} s\) with a sample of 317D ⁺→K ^?π⁺π⁺ decays; \(\tau _{D_s^ + } = 4.69 \pm _{0.86}^{1.02} \cdot 10^{ - 13} s\) with a sample of 54D _s ⁺ →K ⁺ K ^?π⁺ decays. We measure the following masses:m _D ⁰=1864.6±0.3±1.0 MeV,m _D ⁺=1870.0±0.5±1.0 MeV and \(m_{D_s^ + } \) =1967.0±1.0±1.0 MeV.     

Measurement of the slope of the π0-electromagnetic form factor

Using a magnetic spectrometer, we have studied 30 000 π⁰ → e⁺e^?γ events coming from K_π2⁺ decays in flight. We find a positive value for the slope of the neutral-pion electromagnetic form factor: a = +0.10 ± 0.03 (or a = +0.05 ± 0.03 without radiative corrections). This value is higher than the predictions of vector meson models.     

Neutral mesons which decay into 4π0

Data on the 4π⁰ decay mode of mesons have been obtained in a search for glueballs performed at the CERN SPS with the GAMS-4000 multiphoton spectrometer. A new tensor glueball candidate X(1810) appears as a clear peak in the 4π⁰ mass spectrum. The 4π⁰ decay of G(1590) is also observed. The measured value of BR(G→4π⁰)/BR(G→ηη)=0.8±0.3 further supports the glueball assignment of this scalar particle. The rate decay of f(1270) into 4π⁰ has been measured: BR(f→4π⁰) = (3±1)×10⁻³.     

Measurement of the branching ratios for Kμ2+, Kπ2+, Ke3+ and Ke3+ decays using a magnetic spectrometer with streamer chambers

The momenta of ～30 000 charged particles from K⁺ decays were measured using a magnetic spectrometer with streamer chambers. The ratio R = Γ(K_π2⁺)/Γ(K_μ2⁺) = 0.3355 ± 0.0057 was obtained. Our values for the branching ratios are: (63.18±0.43)% for K_μ2⁺, (21.18±0.33)% for K_π2⁺, (3.33±0.51)% for K_μ3⁺, (4.99±0.54)% for K_e3⁺.