Observation of the decay xi0 --> sigma+ mu- nu(mu)

The xi0 muon semileptonic decay has been observed for the first time with nine identified events using the KTeV beam line and detector at Fermilab. The decay is normalized to the xi0 beta decay mode and yields a value for the ratio of decay rates gamma(xi0 --> sigma+ mu- nu(mu))/gamma(xi0 --> sigma+ e- nu(e)) of [1.8(-0.5)(+0.7)(stat) +/- 0.2(syst)] x 10(-2). This is in agreement with the SU(3) flavor symmetric quark model.     

First observation of K{L}-->pi{+/-}e{-/+}nue{+}e{-}

This Letter is the first report of the K{L}-->pi{+/-}e{-/+}nue{+}e{-} decay. Based on 19 208+/-144 events, we determine the branching fraction, B(K{L}-->pi{+/-}e{-/+}nue{+}e{-}M_{e{+}e{-}}>5 MeV/c{2},E{e{+}e{-}}{*}>30 MeV)=(1.285+/-0.041)x10{-5}, and Gamma(K{e3ee}M{e{+}e{-}}>5 MeV/c{2})/Gamma(K{e3})=[4.57+/-0.04(stat)+/-0.14(syst)]x10{-5}. This ratio agrees with a theoretical prediction based on chiral perturbation theory (ChPT) calculated to O(p{4}). The measured kinematical distributions agree with those predicted by just ChPT O(p{4}), but show significant disagreement with ones predicted by leading-order ChPT.     

Observation of CP violation in K(L)-->pi(+)pi(-)e(+)e(-) decays

We report the first observation of a manifestly CP violating effect in the K(L)-->pi(+)pi(-)e(+)e(-) decay mode. A large asymmetry was observed in the distribution of these decays in the CP-odd and T-odd angle straight phi between the decay planes of the e(+)e(-) and pi(+)pi(-) pairs in the K(L) center of mass system. After acceptance corrections, the overall asymmetry is found to be [13.6+/-2. 5(stat)+/-1.2(syst)]%. This is the largest CP-violating effect yet observed when integrating over the entire phase space of a mode and the first such effect observed in an angular variable.     

Kinetic detection method for thin-layer chromatography

The feasibility of using kinetic detection and simultaneous kinetic methods for the determination of species separated on thin-layer chromatographic plates has been explored. The proposed method was tested by monitoring the reaction of ninhydrin with leucine, isoleucine, and phenylalanine. The results obtained using three instruments (two scanning instruments and an imaging instrument) were compared. Although none of the instruments provided ideal results, the premise of the kinetic approach for the in situ quantification of analytes was shown to be valid. The possibility of using kinetic methods to resolve responses from overlapped species was also investigated, and shows promise for improving the overall resolution of thin-layer chromatographic methods. A discussion of the instrumental requirements for successful utilization of the kinetic detection method is also given.