M. E. Nelson

Observation of the radiative transition ψ → γE(1420)

Abstract We have observed a radiative transition from the ψ to a state decaying into K S K ± π ∓ , with mass M = 1.44 −0.015 +0.01 GeV/ c 2 and width Γ = 0.05 −0.02 +0.03 GeV/ c 2 . We tentatively identify this state as the E(1420). Assuming that this state is an isospin singlet, we have determined the branching fraction product B(ψ → γ E ) × B( E × K K π) = (3.6 ± 1.4) × 10 −3 .

A measurement of the cross section for four-pion production in λλ collisions at spear☆

Abstract We present a measurement of the cross section for the reaction e + e − → e + e − π + π − π + π − at SPEAR. This channel is found to be large and dominated by the process γγ → ϱ 0 ϱ 0 → π + π − π + π − . The cross section, which is small just above the four-pion threshold, exhibits a large enhancement near the ϱ 0 ϱ 0 threshold.

Pion pair production in photon-photon collisions at spear

Abstract We report a measurement of the cross section for the process γγ → π + π − at invariant masses 500 MeV/ c 2 m ππ c 2 . A value for the radiative width of the f(1270) tensor meson Γ f→ γγ = 3.6 ± 0.3 ± 0.5 KeV (helicity λ = 2) has been obtained from a fit to the observed ππ mass spectrum.

Observations of S∗ → π+π−in ψ decay

Abstract Copious production of S ∗ decaying into π + π − is observed in ψ decay. (974 ± 4 - i 14 ± 5) MeV, consistent with the parameters extracted from couplede channel; fits to pheripheral π + π − and K + K − production experiments. The inclusive branching ratio for ψ → S ∗ + X is found to be (0.42 ± 0.08)%.

Observation of the Decay 00

The prompt photon decay psi(3095)..--> gamma pi../sup +/..pi../sup -/..pi../sup +/..pi../sup -/ has been studied with the Mark II detector at SPEAR. This channel is found to contain a ..gamma..rho/sup 0/rho/sup 0/ component with rho/sup 0/rho/sup 0/ masses concentrated between 1.4 and 2.0 GeV/c/sup 2/. The branching fraction for the psi..--> gamma..rho/sup 0/rho/sup 0/ decay with masses less than 2.0 GeV/c/sup 2/ is measured to be (1.25 +- 0.35 +- 0.40) x 10/sup -3/.The prompt photon decay (3095)+-+- has been studied with the Mark II detector at SPEAR. This channel is found to contain a 00 component with 00 masses concentrated between 1.4 and 2.0 GeV/c2. The branching fraction for the 00 decay with masses less than 2.0 GeV/c2 is measured to be (1.25±0.35±0.40)×10-3.

A study of the decayτ−→π−μτ

We present a high statistics measurement of the branching ratio for the decay τ-→π-μτ using data obtained with the Mark II detector at the SLAC e+e- storage ring SPEAR. We have used events from the center-of-mass energy region 3.52 to 6.7 GeV to determine that B(τ-→π-μτ)=0.117±0.004±0.018. From electron-muon events in the same data sample, we have determined that B(τ-→π-μτ) B(τ-→e--μeμτ)=0.66±0.03±0.11. We present measurements of the mass and spin of the τ and the mass of the τ neutrino based, for the first time, on a hadronic decay mode of the τ.

Measurement of the branching fraction for tau --->5 pi +/-( pi 0) nu tau and an upper limit on the nu tau mass.

The branching fraction for tau/sup -/..-->..5..pi../sup + -/(..pi../sup 0/)..nu../sub tau/ is measured from data accumulated with the Mark II detector at PEP. Four events are observed with an estimated hadronic background of (0.03/sub -0.02//sup +0.04/) events and a background from tau/sup -/..-->..e..pi../sup + -/..pi../sup 0/..nu../sub tau/ of (0.05/sub -0.04//sup +0.07/) events. This results in a measured branching fraction of (0.16 +- 0.08 +- 0.04)%. The candidate events are used to establish an upper limit of 125 MeV/c/sup 2/ on the ..nu../sub tau/ mass at the 95% confidence level.

A search for stable particles heavier than the proton and for q = 2/3 quarks produced in e+ e- annihilation

Abstract We have searched 1.4 × 10 6 e + e − annihilation events for particles with 1–3 GeV/ c 2 mass and charge Q = − 2 3 from the processes e + e − →q q X and e + e − → q q . Upper limits of RQ ∼ 10 −4 for each process are presented which improve the previous limits on free quark production in electromagnetic interactions by 2 orders of magnitude.

Refined measurement of theB-hadron lifetime

We report a new measurement of the average lifetime of hadrons containing bottom quarks. The B hadron decays are tagged by identifying leptons at high transverse momentum. From a fit to the lepton impact parameter distribution, the average B hadron lifetime is found to be (0.98 f 0.12 f 0.13) x lo-l2 sec. The lifetime of hadrons containing bottom quarks is a measure of the strength of the weak transitions between the bottom quark and the charm and up quarks. In terms of the 3 x 3 quark mixing matrix proposed by Kobayashi and Maskawaf the B hadron lifetime depends on the magnitude of the matrix elements Vub and &b. Studies of B semileptonic decay’ have shown that Iv&l is small compared to I&l, and therefore the B lifetime essentially measures II&l and limits lvUbl. The data used in this measurement were collected with the Mark II detector at the e+estorage ring PEP (EC, = 29 GeV). We have previously reported a B lifetime measurement3 based on a data sample of 80 pb-l. The present work: based on a data sample of 204 pb-l, includes the previous data and supersedes our earlier analysis. We use the same procedure of measuring the impact parameters of leptons produced in B decay. However, we have improved upon the previous result through direct measurement of the experimental resolution function, a more precise determination of the B production point, and a comprehensive analysis of inclusive lepton production. These improvements combined with the increased statistics make this measurement of the B lifetime the most precise from any experiment to date. The Mark II detector has been described in detail elsewhere.5 A high resolution drift chamber, known as the vertex chamber, is situated inside the main tracking chamber. The two drift chambers are immersed in a solenoidal magnetic field of 2.3 kG. Particle trajectories are measured with high precision in the (2, y) plane perpendicular to th e b earns, and the impact parameter is accurately determined in that plane. Electrons are identified over 64 % of the solid angle with a lead-liquid-argon calorimeter. Muons are identified over 44 % of the solid angle by-a system of hadron absorbers and proportional tubes.

A Refined Measurement of the

We report a new measurement of the average lifetime of hadrons containing bottom quarks. The B hadron decays are tagged by identifying leptons at high transverse momentum. From a fit to the lepton impact parameter distribution, the average B hadron lifetime is found to be (0.98 f 0.12 f 0.13) x lo-l2 sec. The lifetime of hadrons containing bottom quarks is a measure of the strength of the weak transitions between the bottom quark and the charm and up quarks. In terms of the 3 x 3 quark mixing matrix proposed by Kobayashi and Maskawaf the B hadron lifetime depends on the magnitude of the matrix elements Vub and &b. Studies of B semileptonic decay’ have shown that Iv&l is small compared to I&l, and therefore the B lifetime essentially measures II&l and limits lvUbl. The data used in this measurement were collected with the Mark II detector at the e+estorage ring PEP (EC, = 29 GeV). We have previously reported a B lifetime measurement3 based on a data sample of 80 pb-l. The present work: based on a data sample of 204 pb-l, includes the previous data and supersedes our earlier analysis. We use the same procedure of measuring the impact parameters of leptons produced in B decay. However, we have improved upon the previous result through direct measurement of the experimental resolution function, a more precise determination of the B production point, and a comprehensive analysis of inclusive lepton production. These improvements combined with the increased statistics make this measurement of the B lifetime the most precise from any experiment to date. The Mark II detector has been described in detail elsewhere.5 A high resolution drift chamber, known as the vertex chamber, is situated inside the main tracking chamber. The two drift chambers are immersed in a solenoidal magnetic field of 2.3 kG. Particle trajectories are measured with high precision in the (2, y) plane perpendicular to th e b earns, and the impact parameter is accurately determined in that plane. Electrons are identified over 64 % of the solid angle with a lead-liquid-argon calorimeter. Muons are identified over 44 % of the solid angle by-a system of hadron absorbers and proportional tubes.