N. Doble

First Evidence for Direct CP Violation

Since CP violation was first observed in the decay of the long-lived neutral kaon into two pions [1], it remains one of the enigmas in particle physics. Whilst CP violation is manifest in neutral kaon decays, the search for CP-violating effects has elsewhere been unsuccessful. In the phenomenology of CP violation in the neutral kaon system [2], the short- and long-lived mass eigenstates are usually defined in terms of the CP eigenstates K1 (CP = + 1) and K2 (CP = - 1) as Ks ≈ K1 + ?K2 and KL ≈ K2 + ?K1. The parameter ? describes CP violation induced by kaon state-mixing. Direct CP violation may also occur in the decay of K2 into two pions with a relative amplitude ?′, which is non-zero in the case of a phase difference between the amplitudes A0 and A2 for the decay into isospin O and 2 states of two pions. Before the present measurement, all experimental results were compatible with ? = 2.27 × 10-3 exp (i 43.70) and with the Superweak Model [3], in which state-mixing is the only source of CP violation and ?′ = 0. In the Standard Model with six weakly interacting quarks [4], direct CP violation as well as state-mixing is introduced by transitions via heavy-quark intermediate states. Based on this, a small, but non-zero, value of ?′ is predicted [5]. To a good approximation, ?′ /? is related to the double ratio R of the relative decay rates of the long- and short-lived neutral kaons into two neutral and two charged pions as Re (?′/?) = 1/6 × (1 - R).

A measurement of the phases of the CP-violating amplitudes in K0→2π decays and a test of CPT invariance

Abstract The phases of the CP-violating amplitudes in K0→π+π− and K0→2π0 decays, φ+−=46.9°±2.2° and φ00=47.1°±2.8°, have been measured in the same experiment, and a direct comparison gives the phase difference φ00−φ+−=0.2°±2.9°. This result leads to an upper limit on possible CPT violation in the K0 mass matrix, of |(m K 0 −m K 0 )/m K 0 | −18 at the 95% confidence level and is the most stringent test of the equality of particle and antiparticle masses.

Performance of an electromagnetic liquid krypton calorimeter based on a ribbon electrode tower structure

The NA48 collaboration is preparing a new experiment at CERN aiming to study CP violation in the K0-K0 system with an accuracy of 2 × 10−4 in the parameter Re(ϵ′/ϵ). Decays in two π0s will be recorded by a quasi-homogeneous liquid krypton calorimeter. A liquid krypton calorimeter has been chosen to combine good energy, position and time resolution with precise charge calibration and long-term stability. The prototype calorimeter incorporating the final design of the electrode read-out structure is presented in this paper. An energy resolution of ≃3.5%√E with a constant term smaller than 0.5% has been obtained. The time resolution was found to be better than 300 ps above 15 GeV.

The Beam and Detector for a High Precision Measurement of {CP} Violation in Neutral Kaon Decays

The K0 beam and detector used for a high-precision measurement of the CP-violation parameter ϵ′ at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) are described. The beam provides KL and KS alternately through a common decay region. The detection of the decays is based on wire chambers and calorimeters without employing a magnet. The trigger and readout system achieve a high selectively for the suppressed, CP-violating, two-pion decays of the KL by incorporation of hard-wired processors. The readout is based on Fastbus for maximum data rates.

Channeling of high-energy particles in bent crystals - Experiments at the CERN SPS

Abstract During the latest decade, experiments have been performed at the CERN SPS to investigate the use of high-energy channeled nuclei in bent crystals for extraction, beam splitting and beam bending. An understanding of channeling in a bent crystal with extraction and deflection efficiencies for different energies, crystal types and ions has been developed. Furthermore, the long-standing question of radiation damage has been addressed with encouraging outcome. This makes extrapolations possible for the construction of, e.g., an extraction device for the LHC at CERN, RHIC at Brookhaven or new splitting elements in high-energy beams.We present the main results obtained and discuss existing and future applications of bent crystals in high-energy physics.

A Novel application of bent crystal channeling to the production of simultaneous particle beams

Abstract Channeling of a 450 GeV/c proton beam through a bent silicon crystal has found a novel application to the production of simultaneous particle beams. A pair of simultaneous, nearly-collinear beams of long- and short-lived neutral kaons has thereby been derived. These beams form an integral part of an experiment, NA48, at CERN, designed to measure the CP-violation parameter ϵ′ ϵ with high precision.

Observation of the decay KL→π0γγ

Abstract The decay mode K L → π 0 γγ has been observed with a signal of 21 events and an expected background of 1.5±0.9 events. A branching ratio for decays with invariant γγ masses above 280 MeV of (2.1±0.6)×10 −6 is calculated. This result is compared with the values estimated from theoretical models and has implications for the CP conserving contribution to K L → π 0 e + e − decay.

Observation of the decay Ks → 2γ and measurement of the decay rates KL → 2γ and KS → 2γ

Abstract The decay rates of K L → 2γ and K S → 2γ have been measured at the CERN SPS. The results are Γ (K L →2 γ )/ χ (K L →2 π 0 )=0.632±0.004±0.008 and Γ (K S →2 γ )/ Γ (K L →2 γ )=2.3 ±1.0±0.4. This is the first observation of K S →2γ decays.

Observation of high deflection efficiency and narrow energy loss distributions for 450 GeV protons channeled in a bent silicon crystal

Abstract A 450 GeV proton beam has been deflected by various angles from 1 to 11 mrad using planar channeling in a (111) silicon crystal which was mechanically bent to achieve the desired beam deflection. High deflection efficiencies of up to 50% have been measured, in good agreement with present theoretical estimates. It is shown that bent crystals are also a unique tool for measurements of energy loss and straggling of channeled particles, without any influence from random particles: Selecting protons which are deflected by increasing angles corresponds to decreasing the transverse energy at the crystal entrance. With this technique energy loss and straggling was measured for protons channeled in the wide and narrow (111) planes in silicon for the first time.

Observation of the decay K(L) ---> pi0 gamma gamma

Abstract The decay mode K L → π 0 γγ has been observed with a signal of 21 events and an expected background of 1.5±0.9 events. A branching ratio for decays with invariant γγ masses above 280 MeV of (2.1±0.6)×10 −6 is calculated. This result is compared with the values estimated from theoretical models and has implications for the CP conserving contribution to K L → π 0 e + e − decay.