Measurement ofD meson production in 200 GeV π−-Be interactions

We have measured the differential and total cross sections ofD meson production in 200 GeV π^?-beryllium interactions, using a sample of 48 fully reconstructed and nearly background-freeD mesons in the decay channelsK ^?π^±,K ^?π^±π^± andK ^?π^?π^±π^±. A single electron trigger has been used to select events containing a pair of charmed particles. A vertex telescope of 6 silison microstrip detectors allowed the reconstruction of tracks of charged secondaries and the reconstruction of primary and decay vertices with high precision. The ratio of branching fractions for \(\mathop {D^0 }\limits^{( - )} \to K^ \mp \pi ^ \pm \) to \(\mathop {D^0 }\limits^{( - )} \to K^ \mp \pi ^ \mp \pi ^ \pm \pi ^ \pm \) , and an upper limit for \(D^0 - \bar D^0 \) mixing are presented.     

Search for Θ+(1540) in exclusive proton-induced reaction p + C(N) \to \Theta ^ + \bar \kappa ^0 + C(N) at the energy of 70 GeV

A search for narrow Θ⁺(1540), a candidate for a pentaquark baryon with positive strangeness, has been performed in an exclusive proton-induced reaction $p + C(N) \to \Theta ^ + \bar \kappa ^0 + C(N)$ on carbon nuclei or quasifree nucleons at $E_{beam} = 70GeV(\sqrt s = 11.5GeV)$ studying nK ⁺, pK _S ⁰ , and pK _L ⁰ decay channels of Θ⁺(1540) in four different final states of the $\Theta ^ + \bar K^0 $ system. In order to assess the quality of the identification of the final states with neutron or K _L ⁰ , we reconstructed Λ(1520) → nK _S ⁰ and ? → K _L ⁰ K _S ⁰ decays in the calibration reactions p + C(N) → Λ (1520)K ⁺+C(N) and p+C(N) → p?+C(N). We found no evidence for a narrow pentaquark peak in any of the studied final states and decay channels. Assuming that the production characteristics of the $\Theta ^ + \bar K^0 $ system are not drastically different from those of the Λ(1520)K ⁺ and p? systems, we established upper limits on the cross-section ratios $\sigma (\Theta ^ + \bar K^0 )/\sigma (\Lambda (1520)K^ + ) < 0.02$ and $\sigma (\Theta ^ + \bar K^0 )/\sigma (p\phi ) < 0.15$ at 90% C.L. and a preliminary upper limit for the forward-hemisphere cross section $\sigma (\Theta ^ + \bar K^0 )$ nb/nucleon.     

A study of the centrally producedK *0 K^{*0} \bar K^{*0} final state in the reactionpp→p f (K + K -π+π-)p s at 300 GeV/c

The reactionpp→p _f (K ⁺ K ^-π⁺π^-)p _s , where theK ⁺ K ^? π⁺π^- system is centrally produced, has been studied at 300 GeV/c. TheK ^*0 \(K^{*0} \bar K^{*0} \) final state has been observed and the cross sections for its central production are found to be the same at 300 and 85 GeV/c. TheK ^*0 \(K^{*0} \bar K^{*0} \) final state appears to be produced as a non-resonant threshold enhancement.     

A coupled-channel treatment of Cabibbo-angle favoured (D,D s + )→VP decays

We have performed a two-channel calculation of Cabibbo-angle favoured decays,D _s ⁺ →VP. We find a satisfactory fit toS _s ⁺ →φπ ⁺,ρ ⁰ π ⁺ andK ⁺ \(\bar K^{ * 0} \) data from ARGUS and E-691. We have also studied Cabbibo-angle favouredD→VP decays in a coupled channel formalism. We coupleD→K ^*π,K _? and \(\bar K^0 \phi \) channels inI=1/2 state, andK ^*π andK _? channels inI=3/2 state. We leave the two channels, \(\bar K^0 \omega \) and \(\bar K^{ * 0} \eta \) out of our unitarization scheme. Particular attention is paid to the role of the weak annihilation term in these decays.     

A study of multiparticle fragmentation inK + p interactions at 32 GeV/c

Results are presented on inclusive production of resonant and non-resonant particle systems produced inK ⁺ p interactions at 32 GeV/c. We compareK ^*+(892), \(\bar \Sigma ^{ * - } \) (1385), Σ^*±(1385), and ?⁰ inclusivex-spectra with the ones of non-resonantK _s ⁰ π^±, \(\bar \Lambda \pi ^ - \) , Λπ^± and π⁺π^? pairs at the same effective mass. Resonance-particle pairsK ^*+π^±, Σ^*+π^?, and \(\bar \Sigma ^{ * - } \pi ^ - \) are also studied together with non-resonant tripletsK _s ⁰ π^±, Λπ⁺π^?, \(\bar \Lambda \pi ^ - \pi ^ - \) . The invariantx-spectra of resonant particle pairs decrease less rapidly withx then the corresponding non-resonant pairs. Comparison with quark-recombination predictions indicates that the particles, resonances and multiparticle systems are probably created off a single valence quark or diquark instead of carrying all possible valence-quarks.     

A remark concerning 20 plet dominance in charm decays

Based onV spin consideration, it is argued that20 dominance in the effective weak Lagrangian does not strongly reduce theinclusive decay rate ofD ⁺ mesons. Decays of the typeD→Kρ,K ^*π, ρπ are discussed in pointing out that 20 dominance should lead to a large enhancement of \(D^ + \to \bar K^0 \rho ^ + ,\left( {\bar K^0 } \right) * \pi ^ + \) over \(D^ + \to \bar K^0 \pi ^ + \) ;W exchange, on the other hand, leads to a sizeable suppression ofD ⁰→K ^? ρ ⁺,(K ^?)*π⁺ relative toD ⁰→K ^?π⁺.     

Observation of an isoscalar vector meson at ≃1650 MeV/c2 in thee^ + e^ - \to K\bar K\pi Equation>reaction

The \(e^ + e^ - \to K_s^0 K^ \pm \pi ^ \mp \) andK ⁺ K ^?π⁰ cross sections have been measured in the energy interval \(1350 \leqq \sqrt s \leqq 2400\) with the DM2 detector at DCI. The \(K_s^0 K^ \pm \pi ^ \mp \) cross section shows the contribution of an isoscalar vector meson at ≈1650 MeV/c² in agreement with a previous experiment. The low statisticsK ⁺ K ^?π⁰ measurement is consistent with the above result.     

Energy-charge correlation in the π+π−π0 decay ofK L and of tagged neutral kaons

We relate the asymmetries in the charged pions energy in the decay into π⁺π^?π⁰ ofK _L and of the tagged neutral kaons. The former asymmetry is a given combination of $\Re (\varepsilon ), \Im (\varepsilon )$ , and üε'ü. Moreover, the non-violating CP asymmetry allows a test for the_χ PT predictions within the Zel'dovich approach for the final state interaction.     

Two-particle production inK + p interactions at 32 GeV/c

Results are presented on two-particle inclusive production inK ⁺ p interactions at 32 GeV/c. We study thex _1,2=x ₁+x ₂ dependence of invariant structure functions of (ππ)-pairs and compare them to single particle inclusive distributions in the fragmentation regions. Distributions of particles observed at Feynmanx ₂ in association with various “trigger” particles or systems atx ₁ in the same hemisphere are dicussed in terms of the reduced variable \(\tilde x_2 = x_2 /(1 - |x_1 |)\) . We further present absolute production rates and production ratios of π⁺'s and π^?'s associated with π^±,K _s ⁰ , Λ, \(\bar \Lambda \) ,K ^*+ (890), (K _s ⁰ π⁺), and (π⁺ π^?)-triggers, and compare them with qualitative predictions of the quark recombination model. Forwardbackward correlations between (K _s ⁰ π^±), (K _s ⁰ ,p), (Λ, π^?), \((\bar \Lambda \pi ^ \pm )\) , and (p, π^?) pairs are also discussed.     

Dephasing in the semiclassical limit is system-dependent

Dephasing in open quantum chaotic systems has been investigated in the limit of large system sizes to the Fermi wavelength ratio, L/λ_F 〉 1. The weak localization correction g ^wl to the conductance for a quantum dot coupled to (i) an external closed dot and (ii) a dephasing voltage probe is calculated in the semiclassical approximation. In addition to the universal algebraic suppression g ^wl ∝ (1 + τ_D/τ_?)^?1 with the dwell time τ_D through the cavity and the dephasing rate τ _? ^?1 , we find an exponential suppression of weak localization by a factor of ∝ exp[? $\tilde \tau $ /τ_?], where $\tilde \tau $ is the system-dependent parameter. In the dephasing probe model, $\tilde \tau $ coincides with the Ehrenfest time, $\tilde \tau $ ∝ ln[L/λ_F], for both perfectly and partially transparent dot-lead couplings. In contrast, when dephasing occurs due to the coupling to an external dot, $\tilde \tau $ ∝ ln[L/ξ] depends on the correlation length ξ of the coupling potential instead of λ_F.     

Two-pion spectra for the reaction π− p → π0π0 n at a pion momentum of 38 GeV/c and combined analysis of GAMS, Crystal Barrel, and BNL data

We perform a K-matrix analysis of IJ ^PC =00⁺⁺, 10⁺⁺, 02⁺⁺, and 12⁺⁺ meson partial waves using GAMS data on π^? p → π⁰π⁰ n, ηηn, ηη'n that are supplemented with BNL data on π^? p → K $\bar K$ n and Crystal Barrel data on p $\bar p$ (at rest) → π⁰π⁰π⁰, π⁰ηη, π⁰π⁰η. The positions of the amplitude poles (physical resonances) are determined, together with the positions of the K-matrix poles (bare states) and the values of barestate couplings to two-meson channels. The nonet classification of the bare states found in the present analysis is discussed.     

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.     

Regeneration of arbitrary coherent neutral kaon states: A new method for measuring theK^0 - \bar K^0 forward scattering amplitudeforward scattering amplitude

We propose a new method for measuring the difference $\Delta f = f(0) - \bar f(0)$ of the forward scattering amplitudes for K⁰ and $\bar K^0 $ by use of decay rates of initially pure strangeness states after passage through a regenerator. The phenomenology of coherent kaon regeneration is presented for arbitrary mixtures of K⁰ and $\bar K^0 $ .     

Angular correlations and the tau-neutrino mass

Effects of a nonzero mass for the tau neutrinov _τ as well as a right-handed charged-current contribution to the τ?v _τ coupling are discussed. Angular correlations of the decay products of τ⁺τ^? ine ⁺ e ^? annihilation are calculated as functions of \(m_{v_\tau } \) and the relative amount of right-handed τ?v _τ coupling.     

Branching ratios for the decays of Ψ(3770) and ϒ(10580) mesons to a pair of light hadrons

The branching ratios for the exclusive decays of the heavy quarkonia Ψ(3770) and ?(10580) to a pair of light mesons [π ⁺ π ^-, $K\bar K$ , ρ(ω)π, ρ(ω)η, ρ(ω)η’, $K^* \bar K$ +c.c, ρ ⁺ ρ ^-, and $K^* \bar K^* $ ] and the branching ratios for the decays Ψ(3770) → J/Ψ + P(P = π ⁰, η) and ?(10580) → ?(1S) + P(P = π ⁰,η,η′), which involve a heavy quarkonium in the final state, are calculated with allowance for new data on the width of the D*^±(2010) meson and the mass differences between the charged and neutral beauty mesons (B ^±, on one hand, and B ⁰ and $\bar B^0 $ , on the other hand). The calculations are based on the model where the Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka rule is dynamically violated owing to the intermediate state $D\bar D (B\bar B)$ in the case of the Ψ(3770) [?(10580)] meson. The inclusive annihilation of Ψ(3770) and ?(10580) mesons to light hadrons is discussed.     

Radiative decays and quark content of f 0(980) and φ(1020)

The quark structure of φ(1020) and f ₀(980) is studied on the basis of data on the radiative decays φ(1020) → γπ ⁰, γη, γη′, γ a ₀(980), γ f ₀(980) and f ₀(980) → γγ. The partial widths are calculated under the assumption that all the mesons under consideration are $\bar qq$ states: φ(1020) is a dominantly $s\bar s$ state ( $\eta ' = n\bar nsin\theta + s\bar scos\theta $ component contributes not more than 1%); η, η′, and π ⁰ are standard $q\bar q$ states, $\eta = n\bar ncos\theta - s\bar ssin\theta $ and $\eta ' = n\bar nsin\theta + s\bar scos\theta $ with θ?37°; and f ₀(980) is a e5 meson with the flavor wave function $n\bar ncos\varphi + s\bar ssin\varphi $ . The transition φ → γπ ⁰ specifies the admixture of the $n\bar n$ component in the φ meson: it is on the order of 0.5%. We argue that this order of $n\bar n$ value does not contradict data on the decay φ(1020) → γ a ₀(980). The partial widths calculated for the decays φ → γη, γη? are in reasonable agreement with experimental data. The measured branching-ratio value Br(φ→γf ₀(980))=(3.4±0.4 _?0.5 ^+1.5 ×10^?4) requires 25°≤|?|≤90°. For the decay f ₀(980) → γγ, the agreement with data, Γ(f ₀(980) → γγ)=0.28 _?0.13 ^+0.09 keV, is attained at either ?=85°±8° or ?=?46°±8°. A simultaneous analysis of the decays φ(1020) → γ f ₀(980) and f ₀(980) → γγ favors the solution with the negative mixing angle of ?=?48°±6°, setting f ₀(980) very close to the flavor octet (? _octet=±54.7°).     

The link between neutrino masses and proton decay in supersymmetric unification

Following recent joint works with K. Babu and F. Wilczek, I stress here that supersymmetric unification, based on symmetries like SO(10) or a string-derived G(224)=SU(2) _L ×SU(2) _R ×SU(4) ^C possesses some crucial features that are intimately linked to each other. They are (a) gauge-coupling unification; (b) the masses and mixings of all fermions, including especially the neutrinos; and last but not least (c) proton decay. In this context, it is noted that the value of $m_{v_L^\tau } \sim 1/20{\text{ }}eV$ , suggested by the Super-Kamiokande result, goes extremely well with the unification-hypothesis, based on the ideas of (i) SU(4)-color, (ii) left-right symmetry, and (iii) supersymmetry. A concrete proposal is presented within an economical SO(10)-framework that makes five successful predictions for the masses and mixings of the quarks and the charged leptons. The same framework explains why the ν_π?ν_τ oscillation angle is so large $(\sin ^2 2\theta _{\nu _\mu \nu _\tau }^{osc} \approx 0.82 - 0.96)$ and yet V _bc is so small (≈0.04), both in accord with observation. The influence of the masses of the neutrinos and of the charged fermions on proton decay is discussed concretely, within this framework. The $\bar \nu K^ + $ mode is expected to be dominant for SUSY SO(10) as well as SU(5). A distinctive feature of the SO(10) model, however, is the likely prominence of the μ⁺ K ⁰ mode, which, for SU(5), is highly suppressed. Our study shows that while current limits on the rate of proton decaying into $\bar \nu K^ + $ are compatible with theoretical expectations, improvements in these limits by a factor of 5–10 should either turn up events, or else the SO(10)-framework described here, which is otherwise so successful, will be in jeopardy. Prominence of theμ⁺ K ⁰ mode, if observed, will be most significant in that it will reveal the intriguing link that exists between neutrino masses and proton decay in the context of supersymmetric unification.     

Alternative technique for Standard Model estimation of the rare kaon decay branchings \left. {BR(K \to \pi \nu \bar \nu )} \right|_{SM}

We estimate $BR(K \to \pi \nu \bar \nu )$ in the context of the Standard Model by fitting for λ _t≡V _tdV _ts ^* of the “kaon unitarity triangle” relation. To find the vertex of this triangle, we fit data from |? _K|, the CP-violating parameter describing K mixing, and a _ψ,K , the CP-violating asymmetry in B _d ⁰ → J/ψK ⁰ decays, and obtain the values $\left. {BR(K \to \pi \nu \bar \nu )} \right|_{SM} = (7.07 \pm 1.03) \times 10^{ - 11} $ and $\left. {BR(K_L^0 \to \pi ^0 \nu \bar \nu )} \right|_{SM} = (2.60 \pm 0.52) \times 10^{ - 11} $ . Our estimate is independent of the CKM matrix element V _cb and of the ratio of B-mixing frequencies ${{\Delta m_{B_s } } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\Delta m_{B_s } } {\Delta m_{B_d } }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\Delta m_{B_d } }}$ . We also use the constraint estimation of λ _t with additional data from $\Delta m_{B_d } $ and |V _ub|. This combined analysis slightly increases the precision of the rate estimation of $K^ + \to \pi ^ + \nu \bar \nu $ and $K_L^0 \to \pi ^0 \nu \bar \nu $ (by ?10 and ?20%, respectively). The measured value of $BR(K^ + \to \pi ^ + \nu \bar \nu )$ can be compared both to this estimate and to predictions made from ${{\Delta m_{B_s } } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\Delta m_{B_s } } {\Delta m_{B_d } }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\Delta m_{B_d } }}$ .     

Resonance studies at STAR

Preliminary results from measurements of resonances (K ^*0(892), $\overline {K*^0 } (892)$ , Φ(1020), and ρ(770)) and weakly decaying particles (Λ(1116), $\bar \Lambda (1116)$ , and K _S ⁰ (498)) are presented. The measurements are performed at mid-rapidity by the STAR detector in $\sqrt {s_{NN} } = 130$ GeV Au?Au collisions at RHIC. The ratios K ^*0/h?, $\overline {K*^0 } /K$ , and $\bar \Lambda /\Lambda $ are compared to measurements at different energies and colliding systems. Estimates of thermal parameters, such as temperature and baryon chemical potential, are also presented.