Search for lepton-flavor-violating rare muon processes

A new approach to seeking three lepton-flavor-violating rare muon processes (μ → e conversion, μ → e + γ, and μ → 3e) on the basis of a single experimental facility is proposed. This approach makes it possible to improve the sensitivity level of relevant experiments by factors of 10⁵, 600, and 300 for, respectively, the first, the second, and the third of the above processes in relation to the existing experimental level. The approach is based on employing a pulsed proton beam and on combining a muon source and the detector part of the facility into a unified magnetic system featuring a nonuniform field. A new detector design involving separate units andmaking it possible to study all three muonic processes at a single facility that admits a simple rearrangement of the detectors used is discussed.     

Rare decays: Experiments

The experimental status of generation number violating muon and kaon decays is reviewed. We concentrate on three experiments with a large PSI contribution, neutrinoless muon-electron conversion, muonium-antimuonium conversion and the decayK ⁺→π ⁺. The SINDRUM II experiment at PSI searches for the coherent conversion of a muon into an electron in titanium. The design and construction of the SINDRUM II detector and the results of the first data-taking period in 89 are presented. In total 3.2 million events have been analyzed and no candidate for the processμ ⁻ Ti→e ⁺ Ti has been found. Using two independent determinations of the total number of muon stops an upper limit ofB _μe <4.4×10⁻¹² (90% C.L.) is obtained. The plans to lower the sensitivity by two orders of magnitude are discussed. A muonium-antimuonium conversion experiment is being set up at PSI using the refurbished SINDRUM I detector. The goal of the experiment is to improve the sensitivity for the effective coupling constant by a factor of ∼100. Finally a new proposal E865 has been accepted at BNL to improve the sensitivity for the branching ratio of the decayK ⁺→π ⁺ by a factor 70 to 3×10⁻¹². Representing the SINDRUM II Collaboration: (ETH Zürich, Univ. Zürich, Paul Scherrer Institute Villigen, RWTH Aachen, Univ. Tbilisi)     

Rare muon decays and physics beyond the standard model

Rare muon processes such as muonium to antimuonium conversion, μ→eγ and μ→3e provide sensitive tests of new physics beyond the standard model. Specifically the left-right symmetric models of weak interaction with a low scale for the right-handedW _R boson (in the TeV range) provide a whole range of rare muon processes which are experimentally accessible. In this talk, I discuss the implications of the left-right symmetric models for rare muon processes and also briefly touch on the SUSY models with R-parity violation and their implications for these processes.     

Muon identification and pion rejection in the 4th concept

We describe a completely new way to reconstruct and identify muons with high efficiency and very high pion rejection in the 4th concept detector. The dual-solenoid magnetic field allows the reconstruction and precision momentum measurement of muons down to a few GeV (just the energy loss in the 10-λ_int calorimeter and the coil) and the dual-readout calorimeter provides a new, unique and powerful separation of muons from pions. We use test beam data for the calorimeter and calculations for the magnetic fields.      

Quasi-molecular resonances in muonic charge-exchange reactions

We present the first thorough theoretical discussion of non-monotonic structure in the temporal behavior of X-ray fluorescence intensity spectra of muon charge-exchange reactions of the type pμ + Z→p + μZ. Our discussion is based on semiclassical methods; our results are almost entirely analytical. We find that the reported experimental maxima of muon charge-exchange rates are very close to the theoretical limits. We identify a new quantum mechanism, quantum impedance matching, which explains observed inelastic transitions close to the Unitarity Limit. We investigate the specific example of the reaction pμO ^{8 +} in detail using two-center Coulomb adiabatic potential terms. We find that quantum impedance matched higher-order partial-wave resonances yielding muon-transfer rates close to the Unitarity Limit are responsible for the remarkable non-monotonic structure in the X-ray fluorescence spectra. Received 7 January 2002 / Received in final form 15 April 2002 Published online 24 September 2002     

New results for the production of Λ and Σhyperons in antineutrino scattering from protons

We obtain total and differential cross-sections for the strangeness changing charged current reactions ˉ + p → Λ + L ⁺ and ˉ + p → Σ⁰ + L ⁺ , where L is a charged lepton, either an electron, muon or tau. We do this by making use of the standard dipole form factors normally used and of the new form factors recently obtained from recoil proton measurements in electron-proton electromagnetic scattering. We also obtain the contributions of the individual form factors to the total and differential cross-sections for both sets of form factors. We find that the differential and total cross-sections for Λ production change only slightly between the two sets of form factors but that the differential and total cross-sections change substantially for Σ⁰ production. We discuss the possibility of distinguishing between the two cases for the experiments planned by the MINERν A Collaboration.     

Development of a New Experimental Method for Studies of Muon Capture in Hydrogen

A new experiment is under preparation with the aim to improve considerably the present knowledge of the rate Λ _s , which should be measured on a level of 1% or better, for the basic electroweak capture reaction of a negative muon on the free proton μp _1s → n + ν_μ. The capture rate will be determined by measuring the lifetime of μ⁻ stopped in ultra pure hydrogen at 10 bar pressure and comparing it with the lifetime of the unbound μ⁺. A new experimental method was developed for this project which should allow measuring the μ⁻ lifetime with at least 10 ppm precision. The basic element of the detector is operating in the hydrogen gas time projection chamber (TPC) surrounded by multi-wire proportional chambers (MWPCs) and scintillator counters. The arrival times and trajectories of the incoming muons and the outgoing decay electrons are measured with this device providing effective suppression of background. Using the TPC as an active target, we can monitor on-line the protium contamination by impurities with a sensitivity better than 10⁻⁸. This can be done by detecting the charged products of the muon capture reaction on these impurities. It was demonstrated that the TPC and MWPCs can operate in pure hydrogen under 10 bar pressure providing gas gain up to 10 000. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The flavor of quantum gravity

We develop an effective field theory to describe the coupling of non-thermal quantum black holes to particles such as those of the Standard Model. The effective Lagrangian is determined by imposing that the production cross section of a non-thermal quantum black hole be given by the usual geometrical cross section. Having determined the effective Lagrangian, we estimate the contribution of a virtual hole to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, μ→eγ transition and to the electric dipole moment of the neutron. We obtain surprisingly weak bounds on the Planck mass due to a chiral suppression factor in the calculated low energy observables. The tightest bounds come from μ→eγ and the limit on the neutron electric dipole moment. These bounds are in the few TeV region.     

Recent Result of Muon Catalyzed t–t Fusion at RIKEN-RAL

We have measured X-rays and neutrons associated with the muon catalyzed t–t fusion process at the RIKEN-RAL Muon facility. In the X-ray measurement, we observed K_α and K_β X-rays originating from the muon sticking process in muon catalyzed t–t fusion, and obtained the K_α X-ray yield and the K_β/K_α intensity ratio. An average recoil energy of the (μ⁻α) atoms in a solid T₂ medium was determined from the observed Doppler broadening width of the K_α X-ray line. The obtained t–t fusion neutron has shown an exponential time spectrum with a single component and a continuous energy spectrum with a maximum energy of 9 MeV. We have determined the t–t fusion neutron yield, the t–t fusion cycling rate and the muon sticking probability from the neutron data. The obtained maximum neutron energy is a very peculiar value from the view point of the reaction Q value (11.33 MeV) with the three-particle decay mode at the exit channel: t + t → α + n + n + Q. The obtained neutron energy distribution was analyzed by a simple model with two neutron energy components; reasonable agreement has been obtained, suggesting a strong (n–α) correlation in the exit channel of the t–t muon catalyzed fusion reaction. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Resonances in Muon Transfer from Muonic Hydrogen to Oxygen and Neon

The influence of resonances on the muon transfer processes from muonic hydrogen to oxygen and neon (pμ)_1s + O⁸⁺ → p + (μO)_nl⁷⁺ and (pμ)_1s + Ne¹⁰⁺ → p + (μNe)_nl⁹⁺ is considered using the Smith lifetime matrix formalism. It is shown that the existence of a long lived resonance in the case of Ne induces a stronger dependence on collision energy of the muon transfer cross-section for this system. Present address: Chemistry Department, Vancouver University, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada     

Violation of the Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka rule in the decay mode B(1235) →φ(1020) +π

The Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka rule forbids the transitionB(1235)→φπ. Unitarity, however, induces a non-vanishing amplitude forB→φπ. We estimate the amplitude using dispersion relation. The absorptive part is shown to be small contributing less than 100 keV to the partial width Γ (B→φπ). For the dispersive part we evaluate the contributions of the and intermediate states and point out that the state does not contribute significantly. The dispersive part contributes about 300 keV to the partial width. Thus unitarity correction to the Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka rule gives the partial width Γ(B→φπ) to be around 300–400 keV compared with the present experimental upper limit of 1·9 MeV.     

Nuclear form factor,validity of the equivalent photon approximation and Coulomb corrections to muon pair production in photon–nucleus and nucleus–nucleus collisions

We study in detail the influence of the nuclear form factor both on the Born cross section and on the Coulomb corrections to the photo-production of muon pairs off heavy nuclei (γ Z→μ ⁺ μ ⁻ Z) and in heavy-ion collisions (ZZ→ZZ μ ⁺ μ ⁻). Our findings indicate a number of issues which have not been sufficiently described as yet in the literature: (i) the use of a realistic form factor, based on the Fermi charge distribution for the nucleus, is absolutely indispensable for reliable theoretical predictions; (ii) we checked quantitatively that the equivalent photon approximation has a very good accuracy for the discussed processes; and (iii) we present a leading logarithmic calculation of the Coulomb corrections which correspond to multi-photon exchange of the produced μ ^± with the nuclei. These corrections are found to be small (on the percent level). Our result justifies using the Born approximation for numerical simulations of the discussed process at the RHIC and LHC colliders. Finally, we calculate the total cross section for muon pair production at RHIC and LHC.     

Chiral invariant phase space event generator

The Geant4 CHIPS model simulates both decay and nuclear capture of negative muons. In hadron level models the muon is captured by a proton, p(μ,ν_μ)n , and the neutron transfers to the nucleus only 5MeV, which is not enough to split a nucleon from the nucleus, while the measured spectra of emitted nucleons reach 80MeV. In CHIPS, which considers asymptotically free quark-partons, the muon can be captured by a quark, u(μ,ν_μ)d , and transfers 52MeV to the nucleus. This capture mechanism fits the main part of the nucleon spectra, while the high-energy part of the spectra is not fitted. A precise fit of the high-energy part of the nucleon spectra can be made if the muon decay μ → dˉν_μ is taken into account.     

Neutrino mixing and masses in a left–right model with mirror fermions

In the framework of a left–right model containing mirror fermions with gauge group SU(3) _C ⊗SU(2) _L ⊗SU(2) _R ⊗U(1) _Y′, we estimate the neutrino masses, which are found to be consistent with their experimental bounds and hierarchy. We evaluate the decay rates of the Lepton Flavor Violation (LFV) processes μ→eγ, τ→μγ and τ→eγ. We obtain upper limits for the flavor-changing branching ratios in agreement with their present experimental bounds. We also estimate the decay rates of heavy Majorana neutrinos in the channels N→W ^± l ^∓, N→Zν _l and N→Hν _l , which are roughly equal for large values of the heavy neutrino mass. Starting from the most general Majorana neutrino mass matrix, the smallness of active neutrino masses turns out from the interplay of the hierarchy of the involved scales and the double application of seesaw mechanism. An appropriate parameterization on the structure of the neutrino mass matrix imposing a symmetric mixing of electron neutrino with muon and tau neutrinos leads to tri-bimaximal mixing matrix for light neutrinos.     

Muon catalyzed fusion in deuterium gas

We present the results of an experiment performed at PSI to investigate muon catalyzed fusion in pure deuterium gas of 5% density (LHD) at temperatures ranging from 28 K to 350 K. Using a new high pressure ionization chamber the reactions dd → n + ³He and dd → p+t were observed with 100% detection efficiency. The rates of dμd formation were measured with the absolute precision of 1% and the μd spin-flip rates with 0.5%. The temperature dependence of molecular formation and spin-flip rates display pronounced resonance structures. A preliminary fit based on the Vesman mechanism of resonant muonic molecule formation was carried out yielding a dd fusion rate of 3.5·10⁸ s^-1 and a hfs splitting energy of 24.3 meV, both in good agreement with the theory. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Search for Z’ → WW at LHC with the ATLAS detector

The potential for measuring the Z‘WW coupling with the ATLAS detector at the LHC is investigated under conditions of low and high luminosity. It is estimated that detection of the decay channel Z’ → WW → lν _l jj is possible with 300 fb ⁻¹, for a Z’ boson with sequential model couplings and with a mass up to 2.2 TeV.     

Measurement of single muon yields from charm semileptonic decay at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ =200 GeV Au + Au collisions at STAR

We report on the first measurement of single muon from charm semileptonic decays at low transverse momentum (p_T) in  =200 GeV Au+Au collisions. Muon identification was obtained using the STAR time projection chamber in conjunction with a time-of-flight detector. The p_T spectra of electron and muon from charm semileptonic decays are presented. The measured D→μ+X at p_T<0.25 GeV/c greatly constrains the charm total cross section. The charm differential cross section dσ_cc/dy is found to be consistent with the number of binary collision scaling. PACS  25.75.Dw; 25.75.-q     

Designing Klod detector prototypes and results of their experimental tests

The projected KLOD facility is intended for finding and investigating the ultrarare decay K _L ⁰ → π⁰ν$ \bar \nu $ \bar \nu ; its branching ratio predicted by the Standard Model is Br = (3.0 ± 0.6) × 10⁻¹¹. Designing and testing the prototype of the decay-volume veto system and beam veto calorimeter, which are the most important detectors of the facility, are considered. It is shown that the proposed beam veto calorimeter is able to detect γ rays with a high efficiency at the neutron flux of 300 MHz.     

Search for T violation in the decays K+ → π0μ+ν and K+ → μ+νγ

Recent advances in a search for a T-violating transverse muon polarization in the decays K ⁺ → π ⁰ μ ⁺ ν and K ⁺ → μ ⁺ νγ in the on-going E246 experiment at KEK are reported. Future prospects in polarization measurements are also discussed. From Yadernaya Fizika, Vol. 65, No. 2, 2002, pp. 269–273. Original English Text Copyright ? 2002 by Kudenko. This article was submitted by the author in English.     

The Precise Measurement of the μ+ Lifetime

The lifetime of the positive muon (τ_μ ⁺) can be directly associated with the Fermi Coupling Constant (G _F ), which is one of the most basic parameters of the Standard Model. However, the current experimental accuracy of the τ_μ ⁺ is ∼30 ppm and it has not been improved for more than 15 years. We propose a new experiment for a pulsed muon facility such as RIKEN-RAL to measure the muon lifetime with multi-decay per one time window method. The advantage of our setup, no time window limitation, enables us to test the exponential decay law (EDL) in the long decay time region at the same time. The preliminary analysis set a new upperlimit for the EDL deviation in the muon decay. We accumulated ∼10¹⁰ muon decays and analysis is in progress. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.