Probing lepton flavour violation in $ν_μ + N \to τ+ ...$ scattering and $μ\to tau$ conversion on nucleons

Abstract

We study lepton flavour-violating interactions which could result in the $τ$-lepton production in the $ν_μN$ scattering or in $μ\to τ$ conversion on nucleons at high energies. Phenomenological bounds on the strength of $\barτν_μ\bar{q}q^{'}$ interactions are extracted from the combined result of the NOMAD and CHORUS experiments on searching for $ν_μ - ν_τ$ oscillations. Some of these bounds supersede limits from rare decays. We also propose a ``missing energy'' type experiment searching for $μ- τ$ conversion on nucleons. The experiment can be performed at a present accelerator or at a future neutrino factory.