Observation of radiative leptonic decay of the tau lepton

Using 4.68 fb(-1) of e(+)e(-) annihilation data collected with the CLEO II detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring, we have studied tau radiative decays tau(-)-->nu(tau)&mgr;(-)nu;(&mgr;)gamma and tau(-)-->nu(tau)e(-)nu;(e)gamma. For a 10 MeV minimum photon energy in the tau rest frame, the branching fraction for radiative tau decay to a muon or electron is measured to be (3.61+/-0.16+/-0. 35)x10(-3) or (1.75+/-0.06+/-0.17)x10(-2), respectively. The branching fractions are in agreement with standard model theoretical predictions.     

Isospin and the tau hadronic decay modes

Isospin constraints onτ decay modes are revisited with a special interest for the low branching ratio channels. It is shown that dominance of the vector current in the channel is suggested by the present data and that some discrepancies exist betweenτ partial width ande ⁺ e ⁻ cross-section measurements in the 6π channel.     

Hadronic decay of τ

We present predictions for invariant mass distributions of the pions in τ→ν+2π and τ→ν+4π as well as improved predictions for hadronic decay rates of τ. We discuss a number of predictions which, if contradicted by τ decays, will imply the existence of a new weak interaction.     

Search for lepton flavor violation in the decay tau+/--->e+/-gamma

A search for the nonconservation of lepton flavor in the decay tau+/--->e+/-gamma has been performed with 2.07x10(8) e+e--->tau+tau- events collected by the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP II storage ring at a center-of-mass energy near 10.58 GeV. We find no evidence for a signal and set an upper limit on the branching ratio of Beta(tau+/--->e+/-gamma)<1.1x10(-7) at 90% confidence level.     

Measurements of tau decay modes and a precise determination of the mass

The cross sections for e⁺e^? → e⁺(μ⁺ + non showering track + any photons have been measured for cm energies between 3.1 GeV and 5.2 GeV. We observe τ-pair production below the thresholdfor charm production and determine the τ mass to be 1.807 ± 0.020 GeV from a fit to the energy dependence of the cross section. The ration of the leptonic branching ratios B_μ/B_e = 0.92 ± 0.32 is consistent with eμ-universality. The following branching ratios are determined for a V-A coupling: $\text{B(τ → ν}{}_{\mathrm{\tau }}\text{e}\text{ν}\text{) = B(τ → ν}{}_{\mathrm{\tau }}\text{μ}\text{ν}\text{) = 0.182 + 0.028}$. B(τ → ν_τ + charged hadron + any photons) = 0.29 ± 0.11, B(τ → ν_τ + three or more charged hadrons + any photons) = 0.35 ± 0.11.     

Search for lepton flavor violation in the decay tau+/- --> mu+ gamma

A search for the nonconservation of lepton flavor number in the decay tau(+/-) --> mu(+/-) has been performed using 2.07 x 10(8) e(+ )e(-) tau(+) tau(-) events produced at a center-of-mass energy near 10.58 GeV with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II storage ring. We find no evidence for a signal and set an upper limit on the branching ratio of Beta(tau(+/-) --> mu(+/-) gamma) < 6.8 x 10(-8) at 90% confidence level.