Possible violation of the δS=δQ selection rule in leptonic decays of σ+-hyperons

We have found a possible example of the rare decayσ ⁺ →nΜ ⁺ Ν, which violatesδS=δQ. The positive decay track of theσ ⁺ comes to rest in the hydrogen bubble chamber and decays into ane ⁺. This track has all the characteristics of a stoppingΜ ⁺. The decay neutron fortuitously scatters twice, producing two recoil protons. The only other possible interpretation of the event isσ ⁺→nγ(π ⁺ →Μ ⁺ Ν), where theπ ⁺ →Μ ⁺ Ν decay produces no deflection (θ<0.1 rad) and no significant change in curvature. Using thep-wave radiative decay predictions ofBarshay et al. we calculate that the integrated branching ratio for such “accidental” events isγ(σ ⁺ →nγ(π ⁺ →Μ _stop ⁺ Ν))/γ(σ ⁺ →nπ ⁺)=1.6×10^?6. Most of the contribution to this “accidental” branching ratio comes from radiative decays where theπ ⁺ mesons have ranges less than 1 mm (p _π<20 MeV/c). If one excludes thoseΜ's with ranges less than 1.2 cm the above “accidental” branching ratio becomes 5.5×10^?7. With this figure we estimate that we should have seen 6.5×10^?2 events of this type thusfar in our experiment. The neutron momentum does not help in deciding between the two hypotheses. We therefore assign a confidence level of 7% for the radiative hypothesis. For the leptonic hypothesis we obtain an estimate of the branching ratio,γ(σ ⁺ →nΜ ⁺ Ν)/γ(σ ⁺ →nπ ⁺)=5×10^?5. If one further accepts theσ ⁺ →nπ ⁺ Ν event reported byBarbaro-Galtieri et al. and theσ ⁺ →ne ⁺ Ν event reported byNauenberg et al., one obtains theδS=?δQ leptonic branching ratio γ(σ ⁺ →nΜ ⁺ Ν)+γ(σ ⁺ →ne ⁺ Ν)]/γ(σ ⁺ →nπ ⁺)=(4±3)×10^?5.