Precise measurement of Γ(K→e ν(γ))/Γ(K→μ ν(γ)) and study of K→e ν γ

We present a precise measurement of the ratio R _K =Γ(K→e ν(γ))/Γ(K→μ ν(γ)) and a study of the radiative process K→e ν γ, performed with the KLOE detector. The results are based on data collected at the Frascati e ⁺ e ^? collider DAΦNE for an integrated luminosity of 2.2 fb^?1. We find R _K =(2.493±0.025_stat±0.019_syst)×10^?5, in agreement with the Standard Model expectation. This result is used to improve constraints on parameters of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model with lepton flavor violation. We also measured the differential decay rate dΓ(K→e ν γ)/dE _γ for photon energies 10<E _γ < 250 MeV. Results are compared with predictions from theory.     

Systematic analysis of lepton family number violating processes in the framework of local gauge theories

General unified electroweak gauge theories with neutral lepton mixing are reexamined with regard to processes that change lepton family numbers L_f. The most general allowed mass sectors of models based on SU(2) × U(1) and SU(2)_L × SU(2)_R × U(1) are studied and the consequences for L_f changing processes such as μ → eγ, ν_f′ → ν_f + γ are worked out. We discuss models that break individual lepton family numbers but still conserve total lepton number L, as well as models in which L is broken too.     

Sterile neutrinos in lepton number and lepton flavor violating decays

We study the contribution of massive dominantly sterile neutrinos, N, to the lepton number and lepton flavor violating semileptonic decays of τ and B, D, K-mesons. We focus on special domains of sterile neutrino masses mN where it is close to its mass-shell. This leads to an enormous resonant enhancement of the decay rates of these processes. This allows us to derive stringent limits on the sterile neutrino mass mN and its mixing UαN with active flavors. We apply a joint analysis of the existing experimental bounds on the decay rates of the studied processes. In contrast to other approaches in the literature our limits are free from ad hoc assumptions on the relative size of the sterile neutrino mixing parameters. We analyze the impact of this sort of assumptions on the extraction of the limits on mN and UαN, and discuss the effect of finite detector size. Special attention was paid to the limits on meson decays with e^±e^± in final state, derived from non-observation of 0νββ-decay. We point out that observation of these decays may, in particular, shed light on the Majorana phases of the neutrino mixing matrix.     

TeV-scale bileptons, see-saw type II and lepton flavor violation in core-collapse supernova

Electrons and electron neutrinos in the inner core of the core-collapse supernova are highly degenerate and therefore numerous during a few seconds of explosion. In contrast, leptons of other flavors are non-degenerate and therefore relatively scarce. This is due to lepton flavor conservation. If this conservation law is broken by some non-standard interactions, ν _e are converted to ν _μ , ν _τ , and e are converted to μ. This affects the supernova dynamics and the supernova neutrino signal. We consider lepton flavor violating interactions mediated by scalar bileptons, i.e. heavy scalars with lepton number 2. It is shown that in case of TeV-mass bileptons the electron Fermi gas is equilibrated with non-electron species inside the inner supernova core at a time scale ～(1–100) ms. In particular, a scalar triplet which generates neutrino masses through the see-saw type II mechanism is considered. It is found that the supernova core is sensitive to yet unprobed values of masses and couplings of the triplet.     

Radiative Z0 production: A method for neutrino counting in e+e− collisions

Radiative Z⁰ production in e⁺e^? collisions is analyzed as a method of measuring the partial width of the Z⁰ for decay into neutrinos and thus determining if there exist low mass neutral leptons beyond the three now known (ν_e,ν_μ,ν_τ). The conditions for observing the $\text{γν}\text{ν}$ final state are analyzed and background cross sections are determined. We conclude that the experiment is feasible and requires relatively modest apparatus.     

Lepton-flavor-violating pion decay π+→μ−νμ e + e + and SU(3)C ⊗ SU(3)L ⊗ U(1)N model

Within the minimal SU(3)_C ? SU(3)_L ? U(1)_N model, the lepton-flavor-violating decay π⁺→μ^?ν_μ e ⁺ e ⁺ is calculated without directly invoking lepton mixing. The branching ratio for this rare pion-decay mode is found to be much smaller than the current experimental upper limit. If the anomalous interactions are discarded, this result coincides with the result of the previous calculation.     

The width of theZ boson

We present a detailed discussion of the electroweak radiative corrections to the partial decay widths of theZ boson into lepton and quark pairs (q≠t) and to the total width for 5 flavors. The results are only very weakly dependent on the Higgs mass. The top mass dependence leads to sizable variations ofΓ _z which have to be taken into account for precision experiments at thee ⁺ e ^? colliders LEP and SLC.     

Possible heavy lepton signals at pp colliders

If a new sequential heavy lepton L exists with mass below that of the W boson, it will give rise to the following decay chains: W → Lν_Lwith $\text{L}\text{→}\text{e}\text{ν}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>e</mtext>}}\text{ν}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>L</mtext>}}$ or $\text{L}\text{→}\text{Q}\text{qν}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>L</mtext>}}$. We critically study, and quantify, the possibility of identifying this heavy lepton signal against the various backgrounds in high energy p?p collision. We find that the leptonic decay signal is plagued by serious b?b, W → eν, and W → τν backgrounds, whereas the hadronic decay mode leads to a distinctive signature, after selected cuts are applied. We discuss how the mass of such a lepton may be determined.     

Hyperfeinstrukturuntersuchung des 6p 2 P 3/2-Terms im Au I-Spektrum durch Resonanzstreuung von Licht

From about 6×10⁶ stoppingK ^?-meson reactions in the Saclay 80 cm hydrogen bubble chamber 70Σ ^?→Λe^?¯ν and 11Σ⁺→Λe⁺ν decays have been identified. The ratio of the vector to axial vector coupling constant has been determined,f ₁/g ₁=?0.22±0.28, consistent with the predictionf ₁=0 of the CVC-theory. The branching ratios for the two decay modes are,Γ(Σ ^?→Λe^?ν)/Γ(Σ^?→ all modes)=(0.69±0.12). 10^?4,Γ(Σ⁺→Λe⁺ν)/Γ(Σ⁺→ all modes)=(0.29±0.10). 10^?4. The ratio, Γ(Σ⁺→Λe⁺)/Γ(Σ^?→Λe^?v)=0.69±0.18, agrees with the phase space ratio, 0.61, therefore a theory that includes no second class currents is consistent with the data.     

Limits on neutrino oscillations from a study of νe charged current interactions

We have fully analysed all events with a single electron obtained in an exposure of BEBC to the 350 GeV wide-band neutrino beam at CERN. The data agrees well with expectations based on the calculated ν_e flux and assuming μ?e universality. Using both the rate and the kinematic distributions, improved limits are set on ν_e → ν_X, ν_μ → ν_e, ν_μ → ν_τ mixing.     

Lepton mixing under the lepton charge nonconservation, neutrino masses and oscillations and the “forbidden” decay µ− → e − + γ

The lepton-charge (L _e , L _μ , L _τ ) nonconserving interaction leads to the mixing of the electron, muon, and tau neutrinos, which manifests itself in spatial oscillations of a neutrino beam, and also to the mixing of the electron, negative muon, and tau lepton, which, in particular, may be the cause of the “forbidden” radiative decay of the negative muon into the electron and γ quantum. Under the assumption that the nondiagonal elements of the mass matrices for neutrinos and ordinary leptons, connected with the lepton charge nonconservation, are the same, and by performing the joint analysis of the experimental data on neutrino oscillations and experimental restriction for the probability of the decay µ^? → e ^? + γ per unit time, the following estimate for the lower bound of neutrino mass has been obtained: m ^(ν) > 1.5 eV/c ².     

A determination of sin2θ w and the lepton and quark electroweak couplings frome + e − data

Published data on lepton pair and quark pair final states ine ⁺ e ^? annihilation have been analysed in a self consistent way to yield values for the lepton and quark weak vector and axial vector couplings. Generation universality has been tested for the leptons and under the assumption of the standard model of the weak interaction, the parameter sin²θ _w has been determined separately for the lepton and quark sector. In the renormalisation scheme α,G _μ and sin²θ _w , the result for the lepton final states is sin²θ _w = 0.212±0.014 and for the hadron final states, sin²θ _w = 0.236±0.015. The combined result for this single parameter in the model is sin²θ _w = 0.223±0.011±0.007, corresponding tom _Z =93.0 _?1.8 ^+2.0 GeV.     

Polarized bhabha scattering in multiboson electroweak gauge models

The general expression for the differential cross section of the reactione ⁺ e ^?→γ,Z ₁ ⁰ ,Z ₂ ⁰ , ..., →e ⁺ e ^? with an arbitrary initial polarization state is derived in the context of electroweak gauge models with more than one neutral boson. Angular distributions, azimuthal asymmetries in the case of natural polarization, and longitudinal polarization asymmetries for models of the typeSU(2)×U(1)×G (G=?(1),S?(2)) and left-right symmetric models are compared with the standard model results. For the angular distributions withe ^± having equal helicities a～10% deviation from the standard model is predicted already below 50 GeV for models of the first type withZ ₁ ⁰ masses up to 80 GeV. At energies around the firstZ ₁ ⁰ a study of azimuthal and polarization asymmetries yields the possibility of distinguishing between different models.     

Electroweak tests with τ leptons at LEP

We report on two sensitive tests of lepton universality carried out by the 4 LEP experiments at the Z⁰ pole. From measurements of the τ polarization in e⁺ e^?→τ ⁺ τ ^?, the ratios of the vector and axial vector coupling constants of the electron and the tau lepton to the weak neutral current are obtained to beg _{v e} /g _{a e} =0.066±0.015 andg _{V τ} /g _{A τ} =0.070±0.009 respectively. From measurement of the τ lifetime and the τ leptonic branching ratios, the ratio of the coupling constants describing weak leptonic decays of the τ and the μ is measured to beG _τ /G _μ =0.996±0.008.     

The production of charginos of theSU(N, 1) minimal sugra model ine + e − annihilation andp \bar p collider experiments

We present cross sections for the charged lepton production from the lightest charged superpartner particles predicted by theSU(N, 1) Minimal SUGRA model, either the superpartners of the r.h. charged leptons or the Wino/Higgsino. At least one of these should appear in the decay of theZ, which is produced ine ⁺ e ^?-annihilation-presumably soon at the SLC — or inp \(\bar p\) collider experiments. A large missing mass and strong deviations from back to back production of lepton pairs (and possibly ae-μ final state) would indicate such charged massive intermediate particles.     

Neutral heavy lepton candidate in e+e− interactions

An event of the form e⁺e^? → μ⁺μ^? + (2 jets) recently observed at √s = 43.45 GeV is interpreted as production of a pair of neutral heavy leptons N, each with mass 20.5 ± 1.0 Gev/c². Two possibilities are explored: (i) the lepton is a wak isodoublet neutrino, produced in pairs by virtual Z⁰ decay. In this case, one expects $\text{B(}\text{Z}{}^0\text{→}\text{N}\text{N}\text{) ≈ 5\%}$; (ii) the lepton is a “right-handed neutrino”, produced in pairs via a new vector boson Z_χ. In this case, in one model, the Z_χ must lie between about 50 and 67 GeV/c². More generally, it must be very weakly coupled to ordinary quarks and leptons in order not to conflict with low-q² neutral-current data. Suggestions are made for further observation of N$\text{N}$ pairs and other effects of Z_χ in forthcoming e⁺e^? and p$\text{p}$ collisions.     

Neutrino masses and the scale of B-L violation

A systematic study of neutrino masses in models with local B-L symmetry is presented. The observed SU(4)_c violation in fermion masses, which is necessary to explain why m_e is not equal m_d, is related to the scale of B-L violation. An alternative approach uses renormalization group methods to determine this scale. The heaviest neutrino mass is predicted to be 0.1–50 eV in the case of four fermion generations. Two different generation patterns for neutrino masses are found, one predicting large mixing between ν_e and ν_μ (and eventually ν_τ) and the other predicting leptonic mixing angles of the same order as quark mixing angles.     

Hierarchy of interactions and mass relations in asymptotically free E6 model of unified interactions

The hierarchy of gauge interactions within the E₆ model is proved, and the vector and spinor field masses are obtained. The mass spectrum of the charged W-bosons is found, and the mass scale is fixed so that the mass of the lightest of them is about 70 GeV. The lepton spectroscopy is studied and a new charged lepton, with mass of order 4–8 GeV is predicted. For the low-energy phenomenology, the model may be considered as a theory of 6 flavoured quarks and 4 charged leptons, each with its neutrino. Being 4-component the neutrinos are massive except for the ν_e (m_νe = 0, exactly) and ν_μ (m_νμ ≈ 0, approximately) particles. The problem of the “superfluous” particles which as a rule accompanies the asymptotic freedom in such theories is also briefly discussed.