K.S. Hirata

Observation of a small atmospheric vμ/ve ratio in Kamiokande

Abstract Results are presented of the observation of atmospheric neutrino interactions in the Kamiokande detector in an exposure of 4.92 kt yr. The observed ratio of single ring μ-events to e-events ( μ e ) data ( μ e ) MC = 0.60 +007 −0.06 ( stat. ) ± 0.05 ( syst. ) suggests that the atmospheric v μ /v e ratio is smaller than expected. The implications of these results for neutrino oscillations are discussed.

Experimental Study of the Atmospheric Neutrino Flux

Abstract We have observed 277 fully contained events in the KAMIOKANDE detector. The number of electron-like single-prong events is in good agreement with the predictions of a Monte Carlo calculation based on atmospheric neutrino interactions in the detector. On the other hand, the number of muon-like single-prong events is 59±7% (statistical error) of the predicted number of the Monte Carlo calculation. We are unable to explain the data as the result of systematic detector effects or uncertainties in the atmospheric neutrino fluxes.

Measurement of the flux and zenith angle distribution of upward through going muons in Kamiokande II + III

The flux of upward through-going muons of minimum (mean) threshold energy > 1.6 (3.0) GeV is measured, based on a total of 372 events observed by the Kamiokande II+III detector during 2456 detector live days. The observed muon flux was (1.94+-0.10(stat.)+0.07-0.06(sys.))*10^-13 /cm^2/s/sr, which is compared to an expected value of (2.46+-0.54(theo.))*10^-13/cm^2/s/sr. The observation is in agreement with the prediction within the errors. The zenith angle dependence of the observed upward through-going muons supports the previous indication of neutrino oscillations made by Kamiokande using sub- and multi-GeV atmospheric neutrino events.

Search for neutralino dark matter in Kamiokande

Abstract A search has been made for upward-going muons in the Kamiokande detector as a possible signal from neutralino dark matter captured in the earth. We found the upward-going muon flux from the earth is consistent with that produced by the atmospheric neutrinos. Assuming the galactic halo contains neutralino dark matter, this result provides limits on the neutralino mass in the region 30–80 GeV and gives stringent constraints on the allowed regions of the parameter space in the framework of the minimal supersymmetric standard model.

Experimental limits on nucleon lifetime for lepton+meson decay modes

Abstract We have searched for nucleon decay signals using data from the KAMIOKANDE-II detector. No evidence for nucleon decay has been found. Limits on the nucleon partial lifetime for various decay modes are obtained combining KAMIOKANDE-I and -II data (3.76 kt yr in total). The background subtracted limits at 90% CL range from 0.1×1032yr to 2.6×1032yr depending on the decay modes. For the decay modes p→e+π0, p→ v K+ and n→ v K0, the limits are 2.6×1032yr, 1.0×1032yr and 0.9×1032yr, respectively.

Study of invisible nucleon decay, N ---> neutrino neutrino anti-neutrino, and a forbidden nuclear transition in the Kamiokande detector

Abstract A search was made for anomalous γ-rays in the energy range 19 and 50 MeV in the large underground water Cherenkov detector Kamiokande. We found no significant excess above the known backgrounds. The result was used to set a limit on invisible nucleon decay through n→ν μ ν μ ν μ , n→ν e ν e ν e and n→ν τ ν τ ν τ . A lower limit on the partial life time τ B is given by τ B /Br( γ )=1.8×10 31 yr(90% CL), where Br( γ )= Γ γ / Γ tot is the branching fraction of the γ-decay to the particle emission of the deexcitation of 15 O ∗ . The life time limit becomes τ B =4.9×10 26 yr(90% CL) for a conservative estimate of Br( γ )=2.7×10 −5 assuming a nuclear single particle model. The result was also used for studying forbidden transitions in the 16 O nucleus. The limit for the relative strength of the forbidden transition to the normal transition is −57 (90% CL).

A limit on massive neutrino dark matter from Kamiokande

Abstract We have searched for possible high-energy neutrino signals expected from massive neutrino dark matter captured by the earth and the sun, by making use of upward-going muon samples collected in the seven years of operation of the Kamiokande detector. No excess of events was found from the earth or the sun, thus giving an excluded mass range of Dirac-(Majorana-) type neutrinos, 6 (24) ⩽ m ν ⩽ several hundred GeV, as the dark matter which consitutes the halo of the galaxy. The upper bounds extend to a mass range never before analyzed in previous indirect searches.

Survey of atmospheric neutrino data and implications for neutrino mass and mixing

Abstract A detailed comparison is made of the atmospheric neutrino results obtained by the Frejus, IMB-3, and Kamiokande detectors. The implications of these results for vacuum neutrino oscillations are presented, and juxtaposed with the results for matter neutrino oscillations from the solar neutrino data.

A limit on spontaneous R parity breaking from Kamiokande

Abstract If R parity is not an exact symmetry in supersymmetric theories, the lightest supersymmetric partner, most favorably the neutralino, would not be stable, but may decay to produce energetic neutrinos. We show that a lack of excess neutrino events above the atmospheric neutrino background, obtained from upward-going muon data in Kamiokande, places a severe constraint on models of R parity breaking if the neutralino is a dark-matter particle.

Time Variation of the Cosmic Ray Muon Flux in Underground Detectors and Correlation with Atmospheric Temperature

Time variations of the cosmic ray muon flux observed during the period from January 1987 to April 1990 in the Matsushiro underground muon observatory and the Kamiokande-II detector are compared. A significant correlation between the two observations is found. The observed variations are well explained as a temperature effect in the atmosphere based on precise atmospheric temperature measurements by the Wajima Observatory of the Japan Meteorological Agency.