A search for heavy neutral lepton production in $K^+$ decays using a data sample collected with a minimum bias trigger by the NA62 experiment at CERN in 2015 is reported. Upper limits at the $10^{-7}$ to $10^{-6}$ level are established on the elements of the extended neutrino mixing matrix $|U_{\ell 4}|^2$ ($\ell=e,\mu$) for heavy neutral lepton mass in the range $170-448~{\rm MeV}/c^2$. This improves on the results from previous production searches in $K^+$ decays, setting more stringent limits and extending the mass range.
Upper limits on |U_e4|^2 vs assumed neutrino mass [MeV].
Upper limits on |U_mu4|^2 vs assumed neutrino mass [MeV].
The NA62 experiment at the CERN SPS reports a study of a sample of $4 \times10^{9}$ tagged $\pi^0$ mesons from $K^+ \to \pi^+ \pi^0 (\gamma)$, searching for the decay of the $\pi^0$ to invisible particles. No signal is observed in excess of the expected background fluctuations. An upper limit of $4.4 \times10^{-9}$ is set on the branching ratio at 90% confidence level, improving on previous results by a factor of 60. This result can also be interpreted as a model-independent upper limit on the branching ratio for the decay $K^+ \to \pi^+ X$, where $X$ is a particle escaping detection with mass in the range 0.110-0.155 GeV$/c^2$ and rest lifetime greater than 100 ps. Model-dependent upper limits are obtained assuming $X$ to be an axion-like particle with dominant fermion couplings or a dark scalar mixing with the Standard Model Higgs boson.
The expected upper limit refers to absence of signal.
See caption of Fig 6.
ALP width dominantly visible, see caption of Fig 7.
The NA62 experiment at CERN reports searches for $K^+\to\mu^+N$ and $K^+\to\mu^+\nu X$ decays, where $N$ and $X$ are massive invisible particles, using the 2016-2018 data set. The $N$ particle is assumed to be a heavy neutral lepton, and the results are expressed as upper limits of ${\cal O}(10^{-8})$ of the neutrino mixing parameter $|U_{\mu4}|^2$ for $N$ masses in the range 200-384 MeV/$c^2$ and lifetime exceeding 50 ns. The $X$ particle is considered a scalar or vector hidden sector mediator decaying to an invisible final state, and upper limits of the decay branching fraction for $X$ masses in the range 10-370 MeV/$c^2$ are reported for the first time, ranging from ${\cal O}(10^{-5})$ to ${\cal O}(10^{-7})$. An improved upper limit of $1.0\times 10^{-6}$ is established at 90% CL on the $K^+\to\mu^+\nu\nu\bar\nu$ branching fraction.
See caption of Fig 5.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A search for heavy neutral lepton ($N$) production in $K^+\to e^+N$ decays using the data sample collected by the NA62 experiment at CERN in 2017--2018 is reported. Upper limits of the extended neutrino mixing matrix element $|U_{e4}|^2$ are established at the level of $10^{-9}$ over most of the accessible heavy neutral lepton mass range 144--462 MeV/$c^2$, with the assumption that the lifetime exceeds 50 ns. These limits improve significantly upon those of previous production and decay searches. The $|U_{e4}|^2$ range favoured by Big Bang Nucleosynthesis is excluded up to a mass of about 340 MeV/$c^2$.
See caption of Fig 6.
The results of a search for $\pi^0$ decays to a photon and an invisible massive dark photon at the NA62 experiment at the CERN SPS are reported. From a total of $4.12\times10^8$ tagged $\pi^0$ mesons, no signal is observed. Assuming a kinetic-mixing interaction, limits are set on the dark photon coupling to the ordinary photon as a function of the dark photon mass, improving on previous searches in the mass range 60--110 MeV/$c^2$. The present results are interpreted in terms of an upper limit of the branching ratio of the electro-weak decay $\pi^0 \to \gamma \nu \overline{\nu}$, improving the current limit by more than three orders of magnitude.
See caption of Fig 6.
See caption of Fig 6.
90% CL expected upper limit refers to absence of signal in the region of squared missing mass above 0.0054 GeV^2.
The first search for ultra-rare $K^+$ decays into the $\pi^+e^+e^-e^+e^-$ final state is reported, using a dataset collected by the NA62 experiment at CERN in 2017-2018. An upper limit of $1.4\times 10^{-8}$ at 90% CL is obtained for the branching ratio of the $K^+\to\pi^+e^+e^-e^+e^-$ decay, predicted in the Standard Model to be $(7.2\pm0.7)\times 10^{-11}$. Upper limits at 90% CL are obtained at the level of $10^{-9}$ for the branching ratios of two prompt decay chains involving pair-production of hidden-sector mediators: $K^+\to\pi^+aa$, $a\to e^+e^-$ and $K^+\to\pi^+S$, $S\to A^\prime A^\prime$, $A^\prime\to e^+e^-$.
See caption of Fig 4.
A sample of 2.8 × 10$^{4}$K$^{+}$ → π$^{+}$μ$^{+}$μ$^{−}$ candidates with negligible background was collected by the NA62 experiment at the CERN SPS in 2017–2018. The model-independent branching fraction is measured to be (9.15 ± 0.08) × 10$^{−8}$, a factor three more precise than previous measurements. The decay form factor is presented as a function of the squared dimuon mass. A measurement of the form factor parameters and their uncertainties is performed using a description based on Chiral Perturbation Theory at $ \mathcal{O} $(p$^{6}$).
Reconstructed $K^+ \to \pi^+ \mu^+ \mu^-$ differential decay width. Only statistical errors are provided. The 4-body differential decay width (shown in green in Figure 3-left) is, in general, required to fit these data points; fitting the squared modulus of the form factor may therefore be preferable.
Reconstructed squared modulus of the $K^+ \to \pi^+ \mu^+ \mu^-$ form factor. Only statistical errors are provided.
A sample of 3984 candidates of the $K^+\to\pi^+\gamma\gamma$ decay, with an estimated background of $291\pm14$ events, was collected by the NA62 experiment at CERN during 2017-2018. In order to describe the observed di-photon mass spectrum, the next-to-leading order contribution in chiral perturbation theory was found to be necessary. The decay branching ratio in the full kinematic range is measured to be $(9.61\pm0.17)\times10^{-7}$. The first search for production and prompt decay of an axion-like particle with gluon coupling in the process $K^+\to\pi^+a$, $a\to\gamma\gamma$ is also reported.
See caption of Figure 6.
Upper limits at 90% CL of $B(K^+\to\pi^+a)\times B(a\to\gamma\gamma)$ in the prompt ALP decay assumption.
See caption of Figure 9.
New results on the forward produced protons and antiprotons in high energy muon-nucleon scattering are presented. Their W 2 , z and p 2 T dependences are compared with those of the other charged hadrons. Significant differences are observed which can be related to the flavour content of the target and to a difference between the baryon content of quark and gluon jets.
No description provided.
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Dimuon and trimuon events have been studied in deep inelastic muon scattering on an iron target at an incident muon energy of 200 GeV. The events are shown to originate mainly from charm production. Comparison of the measured cross sections with data taken at higher muon energies shows that charm production originates predominantly from transverse virtual photons. Within the framework of the photon gluon fusion model this indicates that the parity of the gluon is odd.
No description provided.
The measurements of the z and p T 2 distribution of hadrons produced in the interactions of 200 GeV muons with copper and carbon nuclei are shown in different x Bj and virtual photon energy intervals. Effects of the jet scattering are seen at the lowest virtual photon energies while for energies above 70 GeV there is no evidence of these effects. Comparison with a theoretical model indicates that at high jet energies the parton fragmentation distance is greater than the nuclear radius and that the parton absorption cross section is less than 10 mb.
No description provided.
No description provided.
The production of J/ ϑ and ϑ′ has been measured in 250 GeV muon iron interactions. The measured total cross sections are σ ( μ N → μ J/ ϑ X)=0.74±0.14 nb and σ ( μ N → μϑ ′X)=0.16 ± 0.07 nb. An upper limit on the cross section times branching ratio for ϒ production of BR · σ ( μ N → μϒ X) < 5.2 × 10 −38 cm 2 (at 90% confidence level) is obtained. About half the J/ ϑ cross section is found to have Z ⩾ 0.95 (where Z = E (J/ ϑ / ν ). The first-order photon-gluon fusion model agrees well with the measured Q 2 and ν dependence of the J/ ϑ data and is used to extract the gluon momentum distribution. However, higher order QCD effects are needed to explain the Z distribution of the J/ ϑ and the observed broadening of the P t 2 distribution with decreasing Z . The decay angular distributions of the J/ ϑ are found to be flat in the s -channel frame, but there is evidence for polarisation in the t -channel frame.
NUMBERS ARE CROSS-SECTIONS FOR PSI AND PSI(PRIME) BUT CROSS-SECTION*BR.RATIO FOR THE UPSILON.
THE COHERENT PRODUCTION IS NOT SUBTRACTED.
THE COHERENT PRODUCTION IS SUBTRACTED.
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A measurement of the nucleon structure function F 2 on iron is presented. The data cover a kinematic range of 3.25 ⪕ Q 2 ⪕ 200 GeV 2 and 0.05 ⪕ x ⪕ 0.65 . The data clearly show scaling violation. Fits in leading-order QCD have been made and values for the scale breaking parameter λ are given.
No description provided.
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The proton structure function F 2 has been measured in the range 2.5 ⪕ Q 2 ⪕ 170 GeV 2 and 0.03 ⪕ x ⪕ 0.65 . Scaling violation is clearly seen in the data. Results of fits to leading-order QCD are presented, together with values of the scale-breaking parameter λ.
No description provided.
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Inclusive ϱ 0 meson production has been measured in 120 GeV and 280 GeV muon-proton interactions. Distributions of z and p T 2 are presented. Primary ϱ 0 production is found to be equal to that of π 0 production within errors.
No description provided.
No description provided.
Using the data on deep inelastic muon scattering on iron and deuterium the ratio of the nucleon structure functions F 2 N ( Fe )/ F 2 N ( D ) is presented. The observed x -dependence of this ratio is in disagreement with existing theoretical predictions.
RANGE OF Q*2 VARIES WITH X. E.G. AT X=0.05 , 9<Q2<27. AT X=0.65 , 36<Q2<170 GEV**2.
Results on moments of the azimuthal angle ϕ of final state hadrons from 120 GeV and 280 GeV μp scattering are presented. A ϕ asymmetry is observed and its W 2 , Q 2 , z and p T dependences compared with model calculations which include intrinsic transverse momentum and first order QCD corrections. These studies indicate that the observed asymmetry is mainly due to intrinsic transverse momentum k T .
No description provided.
Typical phi distribution.
No description provided.
The deuteron structure function F 2 d has been measured in 280 GeV μ + d interactions. Existing measurements of F 2 p , made with the same apparatus, are used to calculate F 2 p − F 2 n and F 2 n F 2 p . The ratio F 2 n F 2 p has a similar x dependence to that of earlier measurements at lower Q 2 .
No description provided.
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Exclusive ϱ 0 production has been measured in 120, 200 and 280 GeV muon-proton interactions at high Q 2 (1 GeV 2 < Q 2 < 25 GeV 2 ) and W (6 GeV < W < 19 GeV). The photoproduction cross section decreases as 1/ Q 4 . A shallow t distribution, typical of a hard scattering process is observed and the ϱ 0 is found to be dominantly in the helicity zero spin state. The ϱ 0 s are mainly produced by transverse photons and s -channel helicity conservation seems to be invalid. The data cannot be described by the vector meson dominance model. These data show that at high Q 2 even exclusive ϱ 0 muoproduction is a hard scattering process and that the soft hadron-like properties of the photon have disappeared.
No description provided.
No description provided.
SYSTEMATIC ERROR ON SLOPE IN 0.8.
The cross sections for J ψ production have been measured in interactions of 280 GeV μ + on hydrogen and deuterium (H, D) and also in interactions of 250 GeV μ + on iron. The single-nucleon cross sections in iron are found to be larger than those in H, D. The mean ratio of the iron to H, D photoproduction cross sections in the range 60 < v < 200 GeV is 1.45 ±0.12 (statistical) ±0.22 (systematic error). Within the framework of the photon-gluon fusion model, this indicates that the gluon density per nucleon is ∼45% larger in iron than in H, D in the range 0.026 < x < 0.085, on a mass scale Q 2 eff ∼M 2 J ψ .
First table is from combined H and DEUT data at 280 Gev. Second table is from FE data at 250 Gev.
First table is from combined H and DEUT data at 280 Gev. Second table is from FE data at 250 Gev.
THIS TABLE IS THE RATIO OF THE EFFECTIVE GLUON DISTRIBUTIONS IN IRON AND HYDROGEN(DEUTERIUM) ASSUMING THAT PHOTON-GLUON FUSION IS THE RELEVANT MECHANISM FOR J/PSI PRODUCTION.
The x and Q 2 dependence of the single photon exchange cross section d 2 σ /d Q 2 d x and the proton structure functions F 2 ( x , Q 2 ) and R ( x , Q 2 ) have been measured in deep inelastic muon proton scattering in the region 0.02 < x < 0.8 and 3 < Q 2 < 190 GeV 2 . By comparing data at different incident muon energies R was found to have little kinematic dependence and an average value of −0.010 ± 0.037 (stat.) ± 0.102 (stat.). The observed deviations from scaling gave the value of Λ MS , the QCD mass scale parameter, to be 105 −45 +55 (stat.) −45 +85 (syst.) MeV. The fraction of the momentum of the nucleon carried by gluons was found to be ∼56% at Q 2 ∼22.5 GeV 2 . It is shown that to obtain a description of the data for F 2 ( x , Q 2 ) together with that measured in deep inelastic electron-proton scattering at lower Q 2 it is necessary to include additional higher twist contributions. The value of Λ MS remains unchanged with the inclusion of these contributions which were found to have an x -dependence of the form x 3 /(1 − x ).
No description provided.
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