Measurement of the very rare $K^+\rightarrow\pi^+\nu\bar{\nu}$ decay

The NA62 collaboration Cortina Gil, Eduardo ; Minucci, Elisa ; Padolski, Sergey ; et al.
JHEP 06 (2021) 093, 2021.
Inspire Record 1854186 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.106641

The NA62 experiment reports the branching ratio measurement BR$(K^+ \rightarrow \pi^+ \nu\bar{\nu}) = (10.6^{+4.0}_{-3.4} |_{\rm stat} \pm 0.9_{\rm syst}) \times 10 ^{-11}$ at 68% CL, based on the observation of 20 signal candidates with an expected background of 7.0 events from the total data sample collected at the CERN SPS during 2016-2018. This provides evidence for the very rare $K^+ \rightarrow \pi^+ \nu\bar{\nu}$ decay, observed with a significance of 3.4$\sigma$. The experiment achieves a single event sensitivity of $(0.839\pm 0.054)\times 10^{-11}$, corresponding to 10.0 events assuming the Standard Model branching ratio of $(8.4\pm1.0)\times10^{-11}$. This measurement is also used to set limits on BR($K^+ \to \pi^+ X$), where $X$ is a scalar or pseudo-scalar particle. Details are given of the analysis of the 2018 data sample, which corresponds to about 80% of the total data sample.

3 data tables

Observed and expected upper limits on branching ratio \(K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}X\) at 90% CL.

Observed upper limits on branching ratio \(K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}X\) at 90% CL as functions of X mass and lifetime.

Exclusion region limits on coupling strength \(sin^{2}\theta\) at 90% CL as a function of X mass, for visible X decays.


Search for a feebly interacting particle $X$ in the decay $K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}X$

The NA62 collaboration Cortina Gil, Eduardo ; Minucci, Elisa ; Padolski, Sergey ; et al.
JHEP 03 (2021) 058, 2021.
Inspire Record 1832447 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.102393

A search for the $K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}X$ decay, where $X$ is a long-lived feebly interacting particle, is performed through an interpretation of the $K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}\nu\bar{\nu}$ analysis of data collected in 2017 by the NA62 experiment at CERN. Two ranges of $X$ masses, $0$-$110\,\text{MeV}/c^{2}$ and $154$-$260\,\text{MeV}/c^{2}$, and lifetimes above $100\,\text{ps}$ are considered. The limits set on the branching ratio, $\text{BR}(K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}X)$, are competitive with previously reported searches in the first mass range, and improve on current limits in the second mass range by more than an order of magnitude.

6 data tables

Observed and expected upper limits on branching ratio \(K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}X\) at 90% CL.

Observed upper limits on branching ratio \(K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}X\) at 90% CL as functions of X mass and lifetime.

Exclusion region limits on coupling strength \(sin^{2}\theta\) at 90% CL as a function of X mass, for visible X decays.

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