Lepton flavor violation: Constraints from the exotic μ−-eμ− conversion

The exotic neutrinoless μ^? → e ^? conversion is studied within conventional extensions of the standard model as well as in minimal supersymmetric models with R-parity-conserving and R-parity-violating mechanisms. The dependence on the nucleon and nuclear structure of the μ-e conversion rates is consistently taken into account. From the available experimental data on the branching ratio $R_{\mu e^ - }$ for the currently interesting nuclei ⁴⁸Ti and ²⁰⁸Pb, and from the experimental sensitivity for ²⁷Al, which has been employed as a target in MECO experiment at Brookhaven, we extract very severe constraints for the flavor violation parameters with our calculated transition matrix elements. We especially emphasize the constraints resulting for SUSY R-parity-violating parameters.     

Producing μ−d and μ−t in vacuum

After the feasibility of vacuum isolated ^–d production was demonstrated at TRIUMF in 1989, development was begun on a target system that would take advantage of the process to aid in the understanding of the muon catalyzed fusion cycle. Minimal neutron backgrounds, the ability to use silicon detectors, and compatibility with tritium were considered important for a very versatile target system. The advantages which the target gives in isolating CF process will be outlined.     

Observing b → s μ+μ− decays at hadron colliders

We examine the prospects for observing weak flavour-changing neutral current (FCNC) decays ofB mesons at hadron colliders, including effects of anomalousWWZ vertices. Since it is very difficult to measure the inclusive rate B X_s ^+– one should consider exclusive modes such as BK^{* + –} and B K^{+ –}. Even though this requires one to compute hadronic matrix elements, we show that experimentally observable quantities (ratios of decay rates) are not strongly parametrisation dependent. Some possibilities for reducing the theoretical uncertainties from other experimental data are discussed.     

Higgs boson physics in the s-channel at μ+μ− colliders

Techniques and strategies for discovering and measuring the properties of Higgs bosons via s-channel production at a μ⁺μ⁻ collider, and the associated requirements for the machine and detector, are discussed in detail. The unique feature of s-channel production is that, with good energy resolution, the mass, total width and partial widths of a Higgs boson can be directly measured with remarkable accuracy in most cases. For the expected machine parameters and luminosity the standard model (SM) Higgs boson h_SM, with mass ≲ 2m_W, the light h⁰ of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM), and the heavier MSSM Higgs bosons (the CP-odd A⁰ and the CP-even H⁰) can all be studied in the s-channel, with the heavier states accessible up to the maximal √s over a large fraction of the MSSM parameter space. In addition, it may be possible to discover the A⁰ and H⁰ by running the collider at full energy and observing excess events in the bremsstrahlung tail at lower energy. The integrated luminosity, beam resolution and machine/detector features required to distinguish between the h_SM and h⁰ are delineated.     

Annihilation mechanisms of e+e− and μ+μ− production in relativistic nuclear collisions

We revise the μ⁺μ^? and $q\bar q$ annihilation mechanisms of dilepton production during relativistic nuclear collisions. We focus on the modifications caused by the specific features of in-medium pion and quark states rather than by medium modification of the ρ-meson spectral density. The main ingreditent emerging in our approach is a form-factor of the multi-pion (multi-quark) system. Replacing the usual delta-function the form-factor plays the role of distribution which, in some sense, “connects” the total 4-momenta of the annihilating and outgoing particles. The difference between the c.m.s. velocities attributed to annihilating and outgoing particles is a particular consequence of this replacement and results in the appearance of a new factor in the formula for the lepton pair production rate. We obtained that the form-factor of the multi-pion (multi-quark) system causes broadening of the rate which is most pronounced for small invariant masses, in particular, we obtain a growth of the rate for the invariant masses below two masses of the annihilating particles.     

Leptonic decays of vector mesons and a possible μ+μ− resonance

The possible existence of a vector leptonic resonance (⁰) in the ^+– system is considered. We discuss the effect such a resonance would have on the g factor of the muon and also on the ratio of the partial widths of the muonic and electronic decay modes (R_V = (V ^+–)/G (V e⁺ e^–)) of the neutral vector mesons ⁰,,,, and. From the experimental values of R and R, the following values are obtained for the mass, coupling constant, and partial decay widths of the resonance: M = 872 ± 60 MeV, f²/4 = 4 ± 2) ·10^–4, ( ^{0 + –}) = 0.12±0.06 MeV, and (^{0 0 +–}) = 0.13±0.06 MeV.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 5, pp. 39–43, May, 1977.     

Measurement of the forward-backward asymmetry of μ+μ− pairs in CMS

The measurement of the forward-backward asymmetry A _FB and the effective weak mixing angle with the Drell-Yan process at the LHC is presented. The samples of 2011 collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 fb^?1 and 1.1 fb^?1, were used. The results are consistent with the standard model expectations.     

On fluctuations in μ-space

A master equation is derived microscopically to describe the fluctuating motion of the particle density in . space. This equation accounts for the drift motion of particles and is valid for any inhomogeneous gas. The Boltzmann equation is obtained from the first moment of this equation by neglecting the second cumulant (the pair correlation function). The successive moments form coarse-grained BBGKY-like hierarchy equations, in which small spatial regions with r_ij < the force range are smeared out. These hierarchy equations are convenient for investigating the nonequilibrium long-range pair correlation function, which arises mainly from sequences of isolated binary collisions and gives rise to the much-discussed long-time tail and the logarithmic term in the density expansion of transport coefficients. It is shown to have a spatial long tail, like the Coulombic potential, in a steady laminar flow. The stochastic nature of the nonlinear Boltzmann-Langevin equation is also investigated; the random source term is found to be expressed as a linear superposition of Poisson random variables and to become Gaussian in special cases.     

Energy spectra and energy correlations in the decayH→ZZ→μ+μ−μ+μ−

It is shown that in the sequential decay $H \to ZZ \to (f_1 \bar f_1 ) + (f_2 \bar f_2 )$ , the energy distribution of the final state particles provides a simple and powerful test of theHZZ vertex. For a standard Higgs boson, the energy spectrum of any final fermion, in the rest frame ofH, is predicted to be dΓ/dx～1+β⁴?2(x?1)², with $\beta = \sqrt {1 - 4m_Z^2 /m_H^2 } $ and 1?β≤x=4E/m _H ≤1+β. By contrast, the spectrum for a pseudoscalar Higgs is dΓ/dx～β²+(x?1)². There are characteristic energy correlations betweenf ₁ andf ₂ and betweenf ₁ andf ₂. These considerations are applied to the “gold-plated” reactionH→ZZ→μ⁺μ^?μ⁺μ^?, including possible effects ofCP-violation in theHZZ coupling. Our formalism also yields the energy spectra and correlations of leptons in the decay $H \to W^ + W^ - \to l^ + v_l l^ - \bar v_l $ .     

The infrared spectrum of HCCF around 17 μm

The absorption spectrum of HCCF in the region of the CH bending fundamental ν₄ has been studied at a resolution of about 0.03 cm^?1. In addition to the fundamental, the rotational analysis has been performed for six “hot” bands. Several molecular parameters have been derived. The effects of l-type resonances have been discussed. In particular, the influence of the resonance between the sublevels of ν₄ + ν₅ on the effective centrifugal distortion constants has been investigated.     

Determination of the branching ratio ofρ 0→+μ− in the coherent dissociation π−→μ+μ−π− and π−→π+π−π−

In the diffraction dissociation of π^? into μ⁺μ^?π^? on a Cu nucleus at 50 GeV/c, the cross section \(\sigma _{\mu ^ + \mu ^ - \pi ^ - } \) for the 1⁺S(ρ⁰π) wave was measured. The branching ratio of ρ⁰→μ⁺μ^? could be calculated from the ratio of this and the corresponding cross sections in the diffraction dissociation of π^? into π⁺π^?π^?. The obtained value \(BR_{\rho ^0 \to \mu ^ + \mu ^ - } = (4.6 \pm 0.2_{stat^ \pm } \pm 0.2_{syst} )10^{ - 5} \) is in good agreement with the branching ratio \(BR_{\rho ^0 \to e^ + e^ - } \) , as expected ifeμ universality holds.     

Absorption spectrum of C2 molecules near 1.06 μm

An intracavity laser spectrometer has been used to study the laser-spark absorption spectrum of C₂ radicals near 1.06 μm. The spectra recorded have been assigned, and the rotational lines of the transitions 3-0, 4-1, and 5-2 b ³Σ _g ^? -a ³Π _u and 2-1 and 1-0 A ¹Π _u -X ¹Σ _g ⁺ have been identified. The vibrational and rotational temperatures have been determined.     

Possibility of distinguishing the contribution of neutral weak currents in e+e− → μ−μ+ experiments with transverse-polarized clashing beams

The process e⁺+e^{– –}+ ⁺ is studied on the basis of several models: the Weinberg- Salam model, the Lee-Prentki-Zumino model, the vector model, the X model, and under the assumption of a V-A structure of the neutral weak currents. Arbitrary polarizations of all the particles are taken into account simultaneously. Polarization effects are analyzed in detail for the case of transverse-polarized clashing beams, and various possibilities for distinguishing the contribution of neutral weak currents are identified. This possibility is very important not only for obtaining information about the structure of these currents but also for experimentally determining the sign of the weak-interaction constant. Calculations show that the neutral weak currents lead to significant polarization effects at attainable energies. These effects are very sensitive to the model.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 4, pp. 22–27, April, 1978.The authors thank A. A. Sokolov for interest and a useful discussion.     

Subthreshold antiproton andK − production in heavy ion collisions

Subthreshold ¯p andK ^– and energetic ^– production was studied in Ne + NaF, Cu, Sn and Bi, and in Ni + Ni collisions with incident energies between 1.6 and 2 GeV/u. The measured cross sections indicate a dominant contribution of baryonic resonances. This is also consistent with a generalized scaling behaviour of the cross sections with the energy available in the collision and the energy necessary to produce particles as observed with Ne induced reactions. Deviations from scaling especially pronounced in the Ni-Ni system will be discussed in terms of absorption effects. The flat slope of the excitation function for ¯p production can be related to a reduced production threshold caused by a reduction of the antiproton mass in the dense and heated medium by about 100—150 MeV/c². A similar in-medium mass reduction is also indicated forK ^– mesons. An increased ¯p reabsorption probability for the heavier systems is concluded from the comparison of the ¯p yields in Ne + NaF, Ne + Sn and Ni + Ni collisions.Dedicated to Professor Klaus Dietrich on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

Possibility of distinguishing the effect of neutral weak currents in e+e− → μ−μ+ experiments with longitudinally polarized clashing beams

The process e⁺e^{– – +} for the case of longitudinal polarization of the initial and final particles is studied on the basis of several models: the Weinberg-Salam model, the Lee-Prentki-Zumino model, the vector model, the X model, and under the assumption of a V-A structure of the neutral weak currents. Polarization effects tn the differential and total cross sections for this process are analyzed in detail, and various possibilities for distinguishing the contribution of neutral weak currents are found. Calculations show that neutral weak currents lead to appreciable polarization effects at attainable energies and that these effects are very sensitive to the model. It is important to note that an experimental study of these effects can yield valuable information on not only the structure of the neutral weak currents but also the sign of the weak-interaction constant.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 4, pp. 31–36, April, 1978.The authors thank A. A. Sokolov for a useful discussion and for interest in this work.     

Upper limits for lepton-flavor violation from the exotic μ− ν e− conversion

The transition matrix elements for coherent and incoherent channels of the neutrinoless ^– e^– conversion are investigated. The results refer to the ²⁷Al nucleus which has recently been chosen as a target in the MECO experiment at Brookhaven aiming to search for -e conversion events with a sensitivity 10^-17. These results are compared to those obtained previously for ⁴⁸Ti and ²⁰⁸Pb targets. We focus on the contributions to the branching ratio e^– originating from scalar, vector and axial vector interactions resulting in conventional extentions of the standard model and minimal supersymmetric models with and without -parity violation. With our calculations we extract very severe constraints for the flavor violation parameters.     

Towards slow μ− production via muon catalyzed fusion

Slow ^– production via dd-CF using a two-layer arrangement is investigated. To determine its feasibility, experimental measurements are now in progress using the muonic X-ray detection method. The following experimental steps are being considered: (1) measurement of the number of ^– stopped inside a solid H₂/D₂ layer by detecting p K X-rays, (2) hot d emission detection by placing a secondary target at a distance of 10–30 mm from the layer and by detecting specific delayed X-rays, (3) measurement of the disappearance of d emission as the added D₂ layer is increased, (4) dd-CF measurement by detecting fusion protons, and (5) slow ^– emission detection. Results of the initial test experiment are presented.