Y. W. Wah

Search for the decay

Abstract Data collected in Fermilab experiment E731 was used to perform the first search for the decay K L →π 0 ν ν . This decay is dominated by short distance effects and is almost entirely direct CP violating within the standard model. Cuts were developed to reject the background processes Λ→nπ0 and KL→π+e−γν. No candidate events were seen. We find BR (K L →π 0 ν ν ) −4 at the 90% confidence level.We report on a search for the rare decay K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar in the KTeV experiment at Fermilab. We searched for two-photon events whose kinematics were consistent with an isolated pi^0 coming from the decay K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar. One candidate event was observed, which was consistent with the expected level of background. An upper limit on the branching ratio was determined to be B(K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar) < 1.6E-6 at the 90% confidence level.We report on a search for the rare decay K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar in the KTeV experiment at Fermilab. We searched for two-photon events whose kinematics were consistent with an isolated pi^0 coming from the decay K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar. One candidate event was observed, which was consistent with the expected level of background. An upper limit on the branching ratio was determined to be B(K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar) < 1.6E-6 at the 90% confidence level.

Measurements of direct CP violation, CPT symmetry, and other parameters in the neutral kaon system

The authors present precision measurements of the direct CP violation parameter, Re({epsilon}{prime}/{epsilon}), the kaon parameters, {Delta}m and {tau}{sub S}, and the CPT tests, {phi}{sub {+-}} and {Delta}{phi}, in neutral kaon decays. These results are based on the full dataset collected by the KTeV experiment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory during 1996, 1997, and 1999. This dataset contains {approx} 15 million K {yields} {pi}{sup 0}{pi}{sup 0} decays and {approx} 69 million K {yields} {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} decays. They describe significant improvements to the precision of these measurements relative to previous KTeV analyses. They find Re({epsilon}{prime}/{epsilon}) = [19.2 {+-} 1.1(stat) {+-} 1.8(syst)] x 10{sup -4}, {Delta}m = (5265 {+-} 10) x 10{sup 6} hs{sup -1}, and {tau}{sub S} = (89.62 {+-} 0.05) x 10{sup -12} s. They measure {phi}{sub {+-}} = (44.09 {+-} 1.00){sup o} and {Delta}{phi} = (0.29 {+-} 0.31){sup o}; these results are consistent with CPT symmetry.

Observation of CP violation in K(L) ---> pi+ pi- e+ e- decays

We report the first observation of a manifestly CP violating effect in the K(L)->pi+pi-e+e- decay mode. A large asymmetry was observed in the distribution of these decays in the CP-odd and T-odd angle phi between the decay planes of the e+e- and pi+pi- pairs in the K(L) center of mass system. After acceptance corrections, the overall asymmetry is found to be 13.6+-2.5 (stat) +-1.2 (syst)%. This is the largest CP-violating effect yet observed integrating over the entire phase space of a mode and the first such effect observed in an angular variable.

A determination of the cabibbo-kobayashi-maskawa parameter |VUS| using KL decays

We present a determination of the CKM parameter |Vus| based on new measurements of the six largest KL branching fractions and semileptonic form factors by the KTeV (E832) experiment at Fermilab. We find |Vus| = 0.2252 +- 0.0008(KTeV) +- 0.0021(ext), where the errors are from KTeV measurements and from external sources. We also use the measured branching fractions to determine the CP violation parameter |eta+-| = [2.228 +- 0.005(KTeV) +- 0.009(ext)]E-3.

Polarization of Λ and Λ produced by 800-GeV protons☆

Abstract We have measured the polarization of Λ and Λ hyperons produced by 800 GeV protons on a Be target at a fixed targeting angle of 4.8 mrad. Comparison with previous data at 400 GeV production energy and twice the targeting angle shows no significant energy dependence for the Λ polarization. This is in striking contrast to the energy dependence found for σ+ and Ξ− polarizations. We find no evidence for Λ polarization at 800 GeV.

Simultaneous measurement of KS and KL decays into π+π-γ

With the E731 apparatus at Fermilab, we have simultaneously collected 6859 [ital K][sub [ital L]] and [ital K][sub [ital S]] decays into [pi][sup +][pi][sup [minus]][gamma]. Using our sample of over 370 000 [pi][sup +][pi][sup [minus]] decays for normalization we have determined that the ratio [Gamma]([ital K][sup 0][r arrow][pi][sup +][pi][sup [minus]][gamma])/[Gamma]([ital K][sup 0][r arrow][pi][sup +][pi][sup [minus]]) is (23.0[plus minus]0.7)[times]10[sup [minus]3] for [ital K][sub [ital L]] and (7.10[plus minus]0.22)[times]10[sup [minus]3] for [ital K][sub [ital S]], for photon energies greater than 20 MeV in the kaon center of mass. After removing the inner-bremsstrahlung contribution, we find that the photon energy spectrum of the direct emission decay of the [ital K][sub [ital L]] is consistent with the presence of a vector meson propagator in the form factor.

Measurements of K(L) branching fractions and the CP violation parameter |eta+-|

We present new measurements of the six largest branching fractions of the KL using data collected in 1997 by the KTeV experiment (E832) at Fermilab. The results are B(KL -> pi e nu) = 0.4067 +- 0.0011 B(KL -> pi mu nu) = 0.2701 +- 0.0009 B(KL -> pi+ pi- pi0) = 0.1252 +- 0.0007 B(KL -> pi0 pi0 pi0) = 0.1945 +- 0.0018 B(KL -> pi+ pi-) = (1.975 +- 0.012)E-3, and B(KL -> pi0 pi0) = (0.865 +- 0.010)E-3, where statistical and systematic errors have been summed in quadrature. We also determine the CP violation parameter |eta+-| to be (2.228 +- 0.010)E-3. Several of these results are not in good agreement with averages of previous measurements.

Determination of the Parity of the Neutral Pion via Its Four-Electron Decay

We present a new determination of the parity of the neutral pion via the double Dalitz decay pi0-->e+e-e+e-. Our sample, which consists of 30,511 candidate decays, was collected from KL-->pi0pi0pi0 decays in flight at the KTeV-E799 experiment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. We confirm the negative pi0 parity and place a limit on scalar contributions to the pi0-->e+e-e+e- decay amplitude of less than 3.3% assuming CPT conservation. The pi0gamma*gamma* form factor is well described by a momentum-dependent model with a slope parameter fit to the final state phase-space distribution. Additionally, we have measured the branching ratio of this mode to be B(pi0-->e+e-e+e-)=(3.26+/-0.18)x10(-5).

New limits on KL,S--> pi 0e+e-

Data taken in a Fermilab experiment designed to measure to CP-violation parameter epsilon/epsilonfrom a study of K..-->..2..pi.. decays were used to look for the as yet unseen decay modes K/sub L//sub ,//sub S/..--> pi../sup 0/e/sup +/e/sup -/. The detector was optimized for the detection of kaon decays with four electromagnetic showers in the final state. The results (90% confidence) are branching ratios pi../sup 0/e/sup +/e/sup -/ and K/sub S/..--> pi../sup 0/e/sup +/e/sup -/, respectively.

Detailed study of the KL→π0π0π0 Dalitz plot

Using a sample of 68 million KL -> 3pi0 decays collected in 1996-1999 by the KTeV (E832) experiment at Fermilab, we present a detailed study of the KL -> 3pi0 Dalitz plot density. We report the first observation of interference from KL->pi+pi-pi0 decays in which pi+pi- rescatters to 2pi0 in a final-state interaction. This rescattering effect is described by the Cabibbo-Isidori model, and it depends on the difference in pion scattering lengths between the isospin I=0 and I=2 states, a0-a2. Using the Cabibbo-Isidori model, we present the first measurement of the KL-> 3pi0 quadratic slope parameter that accounts for the rescattering effect.