A. Bay

Measurement of the pion axial form factor from radiative decay

Abstract The decay π + → e + νγ has been measured by detecting the positron with a magnetic spectrometer and the photon with an array of NaI scintillators. Using CVC to compute the vector form factor from the π 0 lifetime we use our data to determine the ratio γ of the axial-vector form factor to the vector form factor. With the best present value for the π 0 lifetime (0.897±0.022±0.017)×10 −16 s and F V =(2.55 ±0.05)×10 −2 we obtain two solutions: γ =0.52 ±0.06, favored by a likelihood ratio greater than 8.5 against γ =−2.48±0.06.

Study of sparking in Micromegas chambers

Abstract The discharge properties of Micromegas detector are studied in detail. Tests have demonstrated that the origin of discharges in hadron beams is mainly associated with nuclear interactions of the incident particle with the gas of the detector. Use of low average Z gas mixtures diminishes the spark rate. The streamer discharge model of Raether has been proved to be valid for this detector. A detector polarization which minimizes the spark energy is proposed. Gas and geometry factors improving the discharge limit are discussed.

Vidence for CP-violating asymmetries in B0→π +π- decays and constraints on the CKM angle φ2

We present an improved measurement of CP-violating asymmetries in B-0-->pi(+)pi(-) decays based on a 78 fb(-1) data sample collected at the Y(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. We reconstruct one neutral B meson as a B-0-->pi(+)pi(-) CP eigenstate and identify the flavor of the accompanying B meson from inclusive properties of its decay products. We apply an unbinned maximum likelihood fit to the distribution of the time intervals between the two B meson decay points. The fit yields the CP-violating asymmetry amplitudes A(pipi) = +0.77 +/-0.27(stat) +/-0.08(syst) and S-pipi = -1.23+/-0.41(stat) (+0.08)(-0.07)(syst), where the statistical uncertainties are determined from the Monte Carlo pseudoexperiments. We obtain confidence intervals for CP-violating asymmetry parameters A(pipi) and S-pipi based on a frequentist approach. We rule out the CP-conserving case, A(pipi) = S-pipi = 0, at the 99.93% confidence level. We discuss how these results constrain the value of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) angle phi(2).

High-resolution tracking using large capillary bundles filled with liquid scintillator

Abstract We have developed large high-resolution tracking detectors based on glass capillaries filled with organic liquid scintillator of high refractive index. These liquid-core scintillating optical fibres act simultaneously as detectors of charged particles and as image guides. Track images projected onto the readout end of a capillary bundle are visualized by an optoelectronic chain consisting of a set of image-intensifier tubes followed by a photosensitive CCD or by an EBCCD camera. Two prototype detectors, each composed of ≈10 6 capillaries with 20– 25 μm diameter and 0.9–1.8 m length, have been tested, and a spatial resolution of the order of 20– 40 μm has been attained. A high scintillation efficiency and a large light-attenuation length, in excess of 3 m, was achieved through special purification of the liquid scintillator. Along the tracks of minimum-ionizing particles, the hit densities obtained were ∼8 hits / mm at the readout window, and ∼3 hits / mm at ∼1 m away. The level of radiation resistance of the prototype detectors is at least an order of magnitude higher than that of other tracking devices of comparable performance.

Muon-pair and tau-pair production in two-photon collisions at LEP

The QED processes e^+ e^- ->e^+ e^- \mu^+ \mu^- and e^+ e^- ->e^+ e^- \tau^+ \tau^- are studied with the L3 detector at LEP using an untagged data sample collected at centre-of-mass energies 161 GeV<sqrt{s}<209 GeV. The tau-pairs are observed through the associated decay of one tau into e\nu\nu and the other into \pi\pi\nu . The cross sections are measured as a function of sqrt{s}. For muon pairs, the cross section of the \gamma\gamma ->\mu^+\mu^- process is also measured as a function of the two-photon centre-of-mass energy for 3 GeV<W_{\gamma\gamma}<40 GeV. Good agreement is found between these measurements and the O(\alpha^4) QED expectations. In addition, limits on the anomalous magnetic and electric dipole moments of the tau lepton are extracted.

Measurement of the Z-boson mass using e+e- →Zγ events at centre-of-mass energies above the Z pole

Events from the e + e − → Zγ process with hard initial-state radiation collected with the L3 detector at centre-of-mass energies between 183 GeV and 209 GeV are used to measure the mass of the Z boson. Decays of the Z boson into hadrons or muon pairs are considered and the Z mass is determined to be 91.272±0.032 (stat.)± 0.033 (syst.) GeV, in agreement with the value measured at the Z resonance. Alternatively , assuming this measured value of the Z mass, the method determines the LEP centre-of-mass energy, found to be 175 ± 68 (stat.) ± 68 (syst.) MeV lower than the nominal value.

Repolarization of Negative Muons by Polarized Bi-209 Nuclei

A large ..mu../sup -/ polarization was achieved in muonic Bi atoms with the help of the strong hyperfine field in a polarized nuclear target. Using /sup 209/Bi nuclei polarized to (59 +- 9)% in ferromagnetic BiMn, we observed a ..mu..-e decay asymmetry of (13.1 +- 3.9)%, which gives ..mu../sup -/ polarization per nuclear polarization equal to -1.07 +- 0.35. This value is almost consistent with -0.792 calculated for nuclei with spin I = (9/2) and a positive magnetic moment under the assumption that the hyperfine interaction becomes effective in the lowest muonic states.

Search for colour singlet and colour reconnection effects in hadronic Z decays at LEP

A search is performed in symmetric 3-jet hadronic Z-decay events for evidence of colour singlet production or colour reconnection effects. Asymmetries in the angular separation of particles are found to be sensitive indicators of such effects. Upper limits on the level of colour singlet production or of colour reconnection effects are established for a variety of models.  2003 Published by Elsevier B.V. Open access under CC BY license. 22 L3 Collaboration / Physics Letters B 581 (2004) 19–30

A new vertex detector made of glass capillaries

Abstract We have developed a new detector technique that allows high quality imaging of ionizing particle tracks with very high spatial and time resolution. Central to this technique are liquid-core fibres of about 20 μm diameter read out by an optoelectronic system including a CCD. The fibres act simultaneously as target, detector and light guides. A large-volume prototype, consisting of 5 × 10 5 capillaries of 20 μm diameter and 180 cm length, has been tested in the CERN wide-band neutrino beam. A sample of high-multiplicity neutrino interactions was recorded, demonstrating the imaging quality of this detector. First results from the reconstruction of these events are reported. A track residual of 28 μm and a vertex resolution of 30 μm has been achieved. Future applications of capillary detectors for neutrino and beauty physics are being investigated within the framework of the RD46 collaboration.

Experimental results on radiative muon capture in complex nuclei

Experimental results for the radiative muon capture branching ratio in several nuclei and the photon-muon spin asymmetry in40Ca are reported. For the measurements a two arm Nalspectrometer was used. Apart from26O and40Ca, where we confirm previous results of our group, new data on12C,26Fe,165Ho and209Bi are presented. No available theoretical models explain all the data consistently. The preliminary results for the asymmetry measurements, obtained using a stroboscopic method are in agreement with previous measurements and with theoretical calculations.