Recent results in electron-positron annihilation above 2 GeV

We review recent results in electron-positron annihilation above a center-of-mass energy of 2 GeV with particular emphasis on the production and properties of new particles. Topics include the total e⁺e^? cross section, the properties of jet-like structure in high energy multi-particle events, the properties of the Ψ family of charmonium states, the production and properties of the charmed D mesons, and evidence for and the properties of the τ, a new charged lepton.     

Observation of associated Kos-electron production in e+e− annihilation

We have observed K^o_s production in e⁺e^? annihilation between 3.6 and 4.4 GeV CMS energy. In the 4.0–4.1 GeV range K^o_s mesons occur correlated with prompt electrons, indicating the formation and weak decay of charmed particle. Within the sensitivity of the experiment, no K^o_s-electron correlation is seen at 3.6 and around 4.4 GeV.     

Fragmentation production of charmed hadrons in electron-positron annihilation

Processes involving the production of D* mesons and Λ _c baryons in electron-positron annihilation at the energies of 10.58 and 91.18 GeV are considered. At the energy of 10.58 GeV, the production of pairs of B mesons that is followed by their decay to charmed particles is analyzed along with direct charm production. The violation of scaling in the respective fragmentation functions is taken into account in the next-to-leading-logarithmic approximation of perturbative QCD. The required nonperturbative fragmentation functions are extracted numerically from experimental data obtained at B factories and are approximated by simple analytic expressions. It is shown that the difference in the nonperturbative fragmentation functions for transitions to mesons and baryons can readily be explained on the basis of the quark-counting rules.     

Production ofμ − e + pairs in neutrino interactions in the SKAT bubble chamber experiment

The production of μe-pairs is studied in interactions of neutrinos with nuclei of heavy freon in the SKAT bubble chamber experiment. A rate of μ^? e ⁺ to charged current interactions above the charm threshold of \(R^{\mu ^ - e^ + } = (4.6 \pm 1.2) \cdot 10^{ - 3} \) is found. The properties of the observed μ^? e ⁺ events can be well described by assuming them to originate from the semileptonic decay of quasielastic produced charmed baryonsΛ _c and inclusive charmedD-meson production. The rates for these reactions are found to be (6.7±3.5)×10^?2 and (2.5±0.9)×10^?2, respectively. A total charmed particle production rate of (9.2±3.6)×10^?2 is calculated.     

On the lifetime of charged charmed particles first direct observation of a charmed baryon decay

Two new examples of production by neutrinos and subsequent decay of charged charmed hadrons are reported. Together with two similar events reported previously they show that the lifetime of charged charmed particles is in the neighbourhood of 5 × 10^?13 s, as expected from current theoretical models. One of the new events is identified as a baryon λ_c⁺ of mass 2.295 ± 0.015 GeV/c² which undergoes the decay process λ_c⁺ → pπ⁺K^? with a proper decay time (7.3 ± 0.1) × 10^?13 s.     

Lepton energy spectra in e+e− annihilation and other processes

An analysis is presented of the single inclusive lepton spectra expected from the decay of charmed hadrons or heavier particles with new flavors produced in e⁺e^? annihilation. Extremely soft spectra are found, in contrast to the heavy lepton signal. Good detection efficiency at low momentum will therefore continue to be important in future experiments. A range of plausible inclusive D meson spectra abstracted from a parton fragmentation picture is employed. The model is applicable to other processes.     

On the fragmentation functions of heavy quarks into hadrons

An explicit form for the charmed quark fragmentation function D^C_c(z) into hadrons has been obtained with the help of the “reciprocity relation” and the c-quark distribution function in charmed mesons (the function calculated in terms of the Kuti-Weisskopf model). D^C_c(z) turns out to peak mainly at z close to 1. The analysis of new data on muon pair production in neutrino reactions points to such a behaviour of the D^C_c(z) function. The obtained fragmentation function, contrary to those, used earlier, leads to a charmed particle (average) multiplicity in e⁺e^?-annihilation independent of energy.     

Observation of pairs of charmed particles produced by high-energy photons in nuclear emulsions coupled with a magnetic spectrometer

Preliminary results of an experiment using nuclear emulsions exposed to a tagged photon beam at the CERN SPS (experiment WA58) are presented. Six events showing pairs of charmed particles have been found. One of these has been interpreted as an associated production of Λ_c⁺ and $\text{D}$⁰. The mean lifetime of the neutral D meson based on three events is τ⁰ = (0.58_?0.2^+0.8 × 10^?13 s,, whereas a statistical analysis of eight charged charmed particles, assumed to be D mesons, leads to an estimate of the mean lifetime of τ^± ≈ 4.4 × 10^?13 s.     

Possible excitation of new C=+1 states via 2 photons e+e− annihilation

We suggest to look at the reactions e⁺e^?→χ→ hadrons which can occur via 2γ annihilation around 3.4 and 3.5 GeV with a cross-section of the order of a few 10^?34cm² MeV and where the χ could decay mainly into ππη_c and ηη_c.     

Dilepton and strange particles production by neutrinos in gargamelle

New results are presented of an analysis of pictures taken during an exposure of Gargamelle to the CERN ν beam in 1975. In addition to three ν_μ+N→μ^?+e⁺+V⁰+ hadrons events previously reported, an excess is found of events of the type ν_μ+N→μ^?+e⁺+ hadrons without V⁰. An analysis of strange particle production in charged current events suggests a possible violation of the ΔS=ΔQ rule. Interpreted in terms of charm production, the data permit an estimate of branching ratios and production rate of charmed particles. A limit is also placed on charmed particle production by neutral currents.     

Investigation of the decay of charmed particles produced in neutrino interactions

The decay of charmed particles produced by high-energy neutrinos has been studied by an experiment using simultaneously emulsion, bubble chamber and counter techniques. Eight charmed particle candidates, 5 positively charged and 3 neutral, have been found in the emulsion, where their production and decay have been directly observed. One of these events is identified as a Λ_c⁺ baryon of mass 2.26±0.02 GeV/c² which undergoes the decay Λ_c⁺→pK^?π⁺ after a proper time of (7.3±0.1) · 10^?13 s.A statistical analysis of the other observed decays leads to the mean-life values τ⁺=(2.5_?1.1^+2.2) · 10^?13 s, τ⁰=(0.53_?0.25^+0.57) · 10^?13 s, for the sample of charged particles enriched by a similar event found in a previous experiment, and for the sample of 3 neutral particles, respectively. The former value is only slightly affected by including in the sample the Λ_c⁺ event or excluding that of the previous experiment.     

Results from DASP one + e − annihilation between 3.1 and 5.2 GeV

This paper summarizes the measurements one ⁺ e ^? annihilation performed by the DASP Collaboration in the energy range between 3.1 and 5.2 GeV. The following topics are covered: total cross section, production and two body decays of the narrow resonances, radiative decays of theJ/ψ and ψ′ resonances and evidence for theX(2.82), ψ′ cascade decays, inclusive η production and evidence for theF meson, semileptonic decays of charmed mesons and properties of the heavy lepton.     

Observation of charmed baryon production in νp interactions in BEBC

Two examples of charmed baryon production by neutrinos have been observed in BEBC filled with hydrogen. Both events fit uniquely the reaction νp → μ^?pK^?π⁺π⁺ and thus apparently violate the ΔS = ΔQ rule. None of the appropriate mass combinations is consistent with the mass values of the D⁰ and D⁺ mesons. However, for the mass combinations of the pK^?π⁺ systems, values of (2.285 ± 0.005) GeV and (2.280 ± 0.003) GeV are found for event 1 and 2, respectively. These values agree with the mass of (2.285 ± 0.006) GeV for the Λ_c⁺ charmed baryon determined recently in e⁺e^? collisions at SLAC.     

Some comments on selection rules for nonleptonic decays of charmed particles

We show that even if only the decays of charmed mesons into two body final states are concerned, the Δn _t=0 rule is stillnot equivalent to sextet dominance. We also isolate the significant contribution of each quark diagram to non-leptonic decays of charmed particles. Thereby pointing out that the recent SLAC observation of Λ _c ⁺ →K ^?Δ⁺⁺ has already given evidence that theW-exchange diagram may be important in charmed baryon decays.     

Observation of possible production and decay of short-living heavy neutral particles in the SKAT neutrino experiment

In the SKAT bubble chamber neutrino experiment production of a short-living neutral particle with mass (1.4?m?2.5) GeV/c² and lifetime τ≈6×10^?12 s has been detected. The event may be interpreted as production and decay of the heavy lepton M⁰→μ^?+e⁺+ν_e with mass (1.4?m_M⁰?2.1) GeV/c². It might also be the production of a charmed particle D⁰→e⁺+τ^?+ν_e (D⁰→e⁺+π^?+ν_e) with mass 1.4?m_D⁰?2.5) GeV/c² in a non-diagonal neutral current. The probability to interpret the event as other possible processes is very low.     

Inclusive electron production from heavy quarks in e+e− annihilation at 34.6 GeV center of mass energy

The production of electrons by bottom and charm hadrons has been studied in e⁺e^? annihilation at 34.6 GeV center of mass energy. It is observed that the b quark fragmentation function is peaked at large values of the scaling variable z with 〈z_b〉 = 0.84^{+0.15 + 0.15}_{?0.10 ? 0.11}. For c quarks 〈z_c〉 = 0.57^{+0.10 + 0.05}_{?0.09 ? 0.06} is observed. A forward-backward charge asymmetry of A = ?0.25 ± 0.22 was measured in b production.     

Exclusive heavy-meson production and the Z width

We calculate in lowest order QCD perturbation theory the production from Z⁰ decay and e⁺e^? annihilation of two mesons, each containing a heavy quark. With reasonable assumptions about the vertex functions that couple mesons to quarks, we find that the rates for these final states are strongly enhanced. Present-day knowledge even allows these rates to be so large that the Z⁰ may be too wide to be detected in $\text{p}\text{p}$ collisions, with disastrous consequences also for event rates at e⁺e^? colliders.     

The holographic bubble chamber experiment and the determination of the effective charmed quark mass and theK-factor for hadronic charm production

In the first holographic bubble chamber experiment — the HOBC experiment — we have accumulated a total of 40000 holograms with particle interactions. We have determined the total charm pair cross section inpN collisions to be 23.3 _?7.7 ⁺¹⁰ μb and 3.6 _?1.7 ^+2.3 μb for 360 and 200 GeV/c incident protons respectively. We have assumed a linear dependence of the cross section on the atomic number of the target. This experiment has demonstrated the feasibility of holographic recording in small bubble chambers. Assuming that the charm cross section can be described by the standard QCD factorized expression with gluon fusion and quark-antiquark annihilation, we have used our measured charm cross sections with other measurements to determine the effective charmed quark mass to be 1.8 _?0.35 ^+0.25 GeV/c². TheK factor, which describes the importance of the higher order corrections, is calculated to be 9.8 _?6.9 ^+12.5 (See noted added in proof.)