arXiv subjects

M. T. Hedges

Publications and source records attributed to M. T. Hedges.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

First 3D vector tracking of helium recoils for fast neutron measurements at SuperKEKB

We present results from the first deployment of novel, high definition, compact gas Time Projection Chambers (TPCs) with pixel chip readout as part of the BEAST II beam background measurement project at SuperKEKB. The TPCs provide detailed 3D imaging of ionization from neutron-induced nuclear recoils in a helium and carbon dioxide target gas mixture at standard temperature and pressure. We find excellent electron background rejection, leading to background-free nuclear recoil measurements above 50 keVee, despite the extreme high-background environment. We measure an angular resolution better than 20° for recoil tracks longer than 1.7 mm, corresponding to an average ionization energy of ~100 keVee. We also obtain the 3D vector direction of helium recoils by utilizing charge profile measurements along the recoil axis, with a correct head/tail assignment efficiency of approximately 80%. With this performance, we present comparisons between measured and simulated event rates, recoil energy spectra, and directional distributions originating from beam-gas and Touschek beam losses at SuperKEKB. We utilize head/tail recognition to distinguish neutron components travelling with positive radial velocity in the Belle II coordinate system from those with opposite directionality. Finally, we present a novel method of discriminating beam-gas interactions from Touschek beam losses that can eliminate the need for dedicated accelerator runs for background measurements. This method is still statistics-limited. However, future studies should be able to verify this method, which in turn could lead to neutron background analysis runs symbiotic with normal Belle II operation. The capabilities demonstrated here also suggest that high definition recoil imaging in gas TPCs is applicable to low energy, low-background experiments, such as directional dark matter searches.

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arXiv2021

Search for the Decay $B_s^0 \rightarrow η^\prime η$

We report the results of the first search for the decay $B_s^0 \rightarrow η^\prime η$ using $121.4~\textrm{fb}^{-1}$ of data collected at the $Υ(5S)$ resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider. We observe no significant signal and set a 90\% confidence-level upper limit of %$7.1 \times 10^{-5}$ $6.5 \times 10^{-5}$ on the branching fraction of this decay.

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arXiv2021

Measurement of the energy dependence of the $e^+e^-\to B\bar{B}$, $B\bar{B}^$ and $B^\bar{B}^*$ exclusive cross sections

We report the first measurement of the exclusive cross sections $e^+e^-\to B\bar{B}$, $e^+e^-\to B\bar{B}^*$, and $e^+e^-\to B^*\bar{B}^*$ in the energy range from 10.63 GeV to 11.02 GeV. The $B$ mesons are fully reconstructed in a large number of hadronic final states and the three channels are identified using a beam-constrained-mass variable. The shapes of the exclusive cross sections show oscillatory behavior with several maxima and minima. The results are obtained using data collected by the Belle experiment at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider.

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arXiv2021

Search for $B_{s}^{0} \rightarrow η^{\prime} X_{s\bar{s}}$ at Belle using a semi-inclusive method

We report the first search for the penguin-dominated process $B_{s}^{0} \rightarrow η^{\prime} X_{s\bar{s}}$ using a semi-inclusive method. A 121.4 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ integrated luminosity $Υ(5S)$ data set collected by the Belle experiment, at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider, is used. We observe no statistically significant signal and including all uncertainties, we set a 90\% confidence level upper limit on the partial branching fraction at 1.4 $\times$ 10$^{-3}$ for $M(X_{s\bar{s}})$ $\leq$ 2.4 GeV/$c^{2}$.

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arXiv2021

Measurements of Partial Branching Fractions of Inclusive $B \to X_u \, \ell^+\, ν_{\ell}$ Decays with Hadronic Tagging

We present measurements of partial branching fractions of inclusive semileptonic $B \to X_u \, \ell^+\, ν_{\ell}$ decays using the full Belle data set of 711 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity at the $Υ(4S)$ resonance and for $\ell = e, μ$. Inclusive semileptonic $B \to X_u \, \ell^+\, ν_{\ell}$ decays are CKM suppressed and measurements are complicated by the large background from CKM-favored $B \to X_c \, \ell^+\, ν_{\ell}$ transitions, which have a similar signature. Using machine learning techniques, we reduce this and other backgrounds effectively, whilst retaining access to a large fraction of the $B \to X_u \, \ell^+\, ν_{\ell}$ phase space and high signal efficiency. We measure partial branching fractions in three phase-space regions covering about $31\%$ to $86\%$ of the accessible $B \to X_u \, \ell^+\, ν_{\ell}$ phase space. The most inclusive measurement corresponds to the phase space with lepton energies of $E_\ell^B > 1 $ GeV, and we obtain $Δ\mathcal{B}(B \to X_u \ell^+ \, ν_\ell) = \left( 1.59 \pm 0.07 \pm 0.16 \right) \times 10^{-3}$ from a two-dimensional fit of the hadronic mass spectrum and the four-momentum-transfer squared distribution, with the uncertainties denoting the statistical and systematic error. We find $\left| V_{ub} \right| = \left( 4.10 \pm 0.09 \pm 0.22 \pm 0.15 \right) \times 10^{-3}$ from an average of four calculations for the partial decay rate with the third uncertainty denoting the average theory error. This value is higher but compatible with the determination from exclusive semileptonic decays within 1.3 standard deviations. In addition, we report charmless inclusive partial branching fractions separately for $B^+$ and $B^0$ mesons as well as for electron and muon final states. No isospin breaking or lepton flavor universality violating effects are observed.

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arXiv2021

Search for the dark photon in $B^0 \to A^{\prime} A^{\prime}$, $A^{\prime} \to e^+ e^-$, $μ^+ μ^-$, and $π^+ π^-$ decays at Belle

We present a search for the dark photon $A^{\prime}$ in the $B^0 \to A^{\prime} A^{\prime}$ decays, where $A^{\prime}$ subsequently decays to $e^+ e^-$, $μ^+ μ^-$, and $π^+ π^-$. The search is performed by analyzing $772 \times 10^6$ $B\overline{B}$ events collected by the Belle detector at the KEKB $e^+ e^-$ energy-asymmetric collider at the $Υ(4S)$ resonance. No signal is found in the dark photon mass range $0.01~\mathrm{GeV}/c^2 \le m_{A^{\prime}} \le 2.62~\mathrm{GeV}/c^2$, and we set upper limits of the branching fraction of $B^0 \to A^{\prime} A^{\prime}$ at the 90\% confidence level. The products of branching fractions, $\mathcal{B}(B^0 \to A^{\prime} A^{\prime}) \times \mathcal{B}(A^{\prime} \to e^+ e^-)^2$ and $\mathcal{B}(B^0 \to A^{\prime} A^{\prime}) \times \mathcal{B}(A^{\prime} \to μ^+ μ^-)^2$, have limits of the order of $10^{-8}$ depending on the $A^{\prime}$ mass. Furthermore, considering $A^{\prime}$ decay rate to each pair of charged particles, the upper limits of $\mathcal{B}(B^0 \to A^{\prime} A^{\prime})$ are of the order of $10^{-8}$-$10^{-5}$. From the upper limits of $\mathcal{B}(B^0 \to A^{\prime} A^{\prime})$, we obtain the Higgs portal coupling for each assumed dark photon and dark Higgs mass. The Higgs portal couplings are of the order of $10^{-2}$-$10^{-1}$ at $m_{h'} \simeq m_{B^0} \pm 40~\mathrm{MeV}/c^2$ and $10^{-1}$-$1$ at $m_{h'} \simeq m_{B^0} \pm 3~\mathrm{GeV}/c^2$.

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arXiv2021

Test of lepton flavor universality and search for lepton flavor violation in $B \to K \ell\ell$ decays

We present measurements of the branching fractions for the decays $B\to K μ^{+}μ^{-}$ and $B\to K e^{+}e^{-}$, and their ratio ($R_{K}$), using a data sample of 711 $fb^{-1}$ that contains $772 \times 10^{6}$ $B\bar{B}$ events. The data were collected at the $Υ(4S)$ resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^{+}e^{-}$ collider. The ratio $R_{K}$ is measured in five bins of dilepton invariant-mass-squared ($q^{2}$): $q^{2} \in (0.1, 4.0), (4.0, 8.12), (1.0, 6.0)$, $(10.2, 12.8)$ and ($>14.18) GeV^{2}/c^{4}$, along with the whole $q^2$ region. The $R_{K}$ value for $q^{2} \in (1.0, 6.0) GeV^{2}/c^{4}$ is $1.03^{+0.28}_{-0.24} \pm 0.01$. The first and second uncertainties listed are statistical and systematic, respectively. All results for $R_{K}$ are consistent with Standard Model predictions. We also measure $C\!P$-averaged isospin asymmetries in the same $q^{2}$ bins. The results are consistent with a null asymmetry, with the largest difference of 2.6 standard deviations occurring for the $q^{2}\in(1.0,6.0) GeV^{2}/c^{4}$ bin in the mode with muon final states. The measured differential branching fractions, ${d\cal B}/{dq^{2}}$, are consistent with theoretical predictions for charged $B$ decays, while the corresponding values are below the expectations for neutral $B$ decays. We have also searched for lepton-flavor-violating $B \rightarrow Kμ^{\pm}e^{\mp}$ decays and set $90\%$ confidence-level upper limits on the branching fraction in the range of $10^{-8}$ for $B^{+} \rightarrow K^{+}μ^{\pm}e^{\mp}$, and $B^{0} \rightarrow K^{0}μ^{\pm}e^{\mp}$ modes.

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arXiv2021

Measurements of the branching fractions of $Λ_c^+ \to p η$ and $Λ_c^+ \to p π^0$ decays at Belle

We report measurements of the branching fractions of singly Cabibbo-suppressed decays $Λ_c^+ \to p η$ and $Λ_c^+ \to p π^0$ using the full Belle data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 980.6 $\rm fb^{-1}$. The data were collected by the Belle detector at the KEKB $e^{+}$$e^{-}$ asymmetric-energy collider. A clear $Λ_c^+$ signal is seen in the invariant mass distribution of $p η$. The signal yield of the $Λ_c^+ \to p η$ process is $7734 \pm 263$; from this, we measure the ratio of branching fractions ${\cal B}(Λ_c^+ \to p η)/{\cal B}(Λ_c^+ \to p K^- π^+) = (2.258 \pm 0. 077(\rm stat. ) \pm 0.136(\rm syst. ))\times 10^{-2}$, from which we infer the branching fraction ${\cal B}(Λ_c^+ \to p η) = (1.42 \pm 0.05(\rm stat.) \pm 0.11(\rm syst.)) \times 10^{-3}$. In addition, no significant signal for $Λ_c^+ \to p π^0$ is found so an upper limit on the branching fraction of ${\cal B}(Λ_c^+ \to p π^0)<8.0 \times 10^{-5}$ at 90\% credibility level is set, more than three times better than the best current upper limit.

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arXiv2021

Evidence for $X(3872)\rightarrow J/ψπ^+π^-$ produced in single-tag two-photon interactions

We report the first evidence for $X(3872)$ production in two-photon interactions by tagging either the electron or the position in the final state, exploring the highly virtual photon region. The search is performed in $e^+e^- \rightarrow e^+e^-J/ψπ^+π^-$, using 825 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected by the Belle detector operated at the KEKB $e^+e^-$ collider. We observe three $X(3872)$ candidates with an expected background of $0.11\pm 0.10$ events, with a significance of 3.2$σ$. We obtain an estimated value for $\tildeΓ_{γγ}{\cal B}(X(3872)\rightarrow J/ψπ^+π^-$) assuming the $Q^2$ dependence predicted by a $c\bar{c}$ meson model, where $-Q^2$ is the invariant mass-squared of the virtual photon. No $X(3915)\rightarrow J/ψπ^+π^-$ candidates are found.

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arXiv2021

Search for lepton-number- and baryon-number-violating tau decays at Belle

We search for lepton-number- and baryon-number-violating decays $τ^{-}\to\overline{p}e^{+}e^{-}$, $pe^{-}e^{-}$, $\overline{p}e^{+}μ^{-}$, $\overline{p}e^{-}μ^{+}$, $\overline{p}μ^{+}μ^{-}$, and $pμ^{-}μ^{-}$ using 921 fb$^{-1}$ of data, equivalent to $(841\pm12)\times 10^6$ $τ^{+}τ^{-}$ events, recorded with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^{+}e^{-}$ collider. In the absence of a signal, $90\%$ confidence-level upper limits are set on the branching fractions of these decays in the range $(1.8$-$4.0)\times 10^{-8}$. We set the world's first limits on the first four channels and improve the existing limits by an order of magnitude for the last two channels.

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arXiv2020

Search for a doubly-charged $DDK$ bound state in $Υ(1S,2S)$ inclusive decays and via direct production in $e^+e^-$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 10.520, 10.580, and 10.867 GeV

We report the results of a first search for a doubly-charged $DDK$ bound state, denoted the $R^{++}$, in $Υ(1S)$ and $Υ(2S)$ inclusive decays and via direct production in $e^+e^-$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 10.520, 10.580, and 10.867 GeV. The search uses data accumulated with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider. No significant signals are observed in the $D^{+}D_{s}^{*+}$ invariant-mass spectra of all studied modes. The 90\% credibility level upper limits on their product branching fractions in $Υ(1S)$ and $Υ(2S)$ inclusive decays (${\cal B}(Υ(1S,2S) \to R^{++} + anything) \times {\cal B}(R^{++} \to D^{+} D_{s}^{*+})$), and the product values of Born cross section and branching fraction in $e^+e^-$ collisions ($σ(e^+e^- \to R^{++} + anything) \times {\cal B}(R^{++} \to D^{+} D_{s}^{*+})$) at $\sqrt{s}$ = 10.520, 10.580, and 10.867 GeV under different assumptions of $R^{++}$ masses varying from 4.13 to 4.17 GeV/$c^2$, and widths varying from 0 to 5 MeV are obtained.

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arXiv2020

Study of Electromagnetic Decays of Orbitally Excited $Ξ_c$ Baryons

Using 980 $fb^-1$ of data collected with the Belle detector operating at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^+e^- collider, we report a study of the electromagnetic decays of excited {charmed baryons} $Ξ_c(2790)$ and $Ξ_c(2815)$. A clear signal (8.6 standard deviations) is observed for $Ξ_c(2815)^0 \to Ξ_c^0γ$, and we measure: $B[Ξ_c(2815)^0 \to Ξ_c^0γ]/B[Ξ_c(2815)^0 \to Ξ_c(2645)^+π^- \to Ξ_c^0π^+π^-] = 0.41 \pm 0.05 \pm 0.03$. We also present evidence (3.8 standard deviations) for the similar decay of the $Ξ_c(2790)^0$ and measure: $B[Ξ_c(2790)^{0}\toΞ_c^{0}γ]/B[Ξ_c(2790)^0\toΞ_c^{\prime +}π^{-}\toΞ_c^{+}γπ^-] = 0.13 \pm 0.03 \pm 0.02$. The first quoted uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. We find no hint of the analogous decays of the $Ξ_c(2815)^+$ and $Ξ_c(2790)^+$ baryons and set upper limits at the 90% confidence level of: $B[Ξ_c(2815)^{+}\toΞ_c^{+}γ]/B[Ξ_c(2815)^+\toΞ_c(2645)^0π^+\toΞ_c^+π^-π^+] < 0.09,$ and $B[Ξ_c(2790)^{+}\toΞ_c^{+}γ]/B[Ξ_c(2790)^+\toΞ_c^{\prime 0}π^{+}\toΞ_c^{0}γπ^+] < 0.06.$ Approximate values of the partial widths of the decays are extracted, which can be used to discriminate between models of the underlying quark structure of these excited states.

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arXiv2020

Test of lepton-flavor universality in ${B\to K^\ast\ell^+\ell^-}$ decays at Belle

We present a measurement of $R_{K^{\ast}}$, the branching fraction ratio ${{\cal B}(B\to K^\ast μ^+ μ^-)}$/ ${{\cal B}(B\to K^\ast e^+ e^-)}$, for both charged and neutral $B$ mesons. The ratio for the charged case, $R_{K{^{\ast +}}}$, is the first measurement ever performed. In addition, we report absolute branching fractions for the individual modes in bins of the squared dilepton invariant mass, $q^2$. The analysis is based on a data sample of $711~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$, containing $772\times 10^{6}$ $B\bar B$ events, recorded at the $Υ(4S)$ resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider. The obtained results are consistent with Standard Model expectations.

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arXiv2020

Search for transitions from $Υ(4S)$ and $Υ(5S)$ to $η_b(1S)$ and $η_b(2S)$ with emission of an $ω$ meson

Using data collected in the Belle experiment at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider we search for transitions $Υ(4S) \rightarrow η_b(1S)ω$, $Υ(5S) \rightarrow η_b(1S)ω$ and $Υ(5S) \rightarrow η_b(2S)ω$. No significant signals are observed and we set 90\% confidence level upper limits on the corresponding visible cross sections: $0.2 ~\textrm{pb}, 0.4 ~\textrm{pb}$ and $1.9 ~\textrm{pb}$, respectively.

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arXiv2020

Measurement of Branching Fractions of $Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow ηΛπ^{+}$, $ηΣ^{0} π^{+}$, $Λ(1670) π^{+}$, and $ηΣ(1385)^{+}$

We report branching fraction measurements of four decay modes of the $Λ_{c}^{+}$ baryon, each of which includes an $η$ meson and a $Λ$ baryon in the final state, and all of which are measured relative to the $Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p K^{-} pi^{+}$ decay mode. The results are based on a $980~\mathrm{fb^{-1}}$ data sample collected by the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^{+}e^{-}$ collider. Two decays, $ηΣ^{0} π^{+}$ and $Λ(1670) π^{+}$, are observed for the first time, while the measurements of the other decay modes, $Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow ηΛπ^{+}$ and $ηΣ(1385)^{+}$, are more precise than those made previously. We obtain $\mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow ηΛπ^{+})/\mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p K^{-} π^{+})$ = $0.293 \pm 0.003 \pm 0.014$, $\mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow ηΣ^{0} π^{+})/\mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p K^{-} π^{+})$ = $0.120 \pm 0.006 \pm 0.006$, $\mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow Λ(1670) π^{+}) \times \mathcal{B}(Λ(1670) \rightarrow ηΛ)/\mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p K^{-} π^{+})$ = $(5.54 \pm 0.29 \pm 0.73 ) \times 10^{-2}$, and $\mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow ηΣ(1385)^{+})/\mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p K^{-} π^{+})$ = $0.192 \pm 0.006 \pm 0.016$. The mass and width of the $Λ(1670)$ are also precisely determined to be $1674.3 \pm 0.8 \pm 4.9~{\rm MeV}/c^{2}$ and $36.1 \pm 2.4 \pm 4.8~{\rm MeV}$, respectively, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.

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arXiv2020

First Determination of the Spin and Parity of a Charmed-Strange Baryon, $Ξ_{c}(2970)^+$

We report results from a study of the spin and parity of $Ξ_{c}(2970)^+$ using a $980~\mathrm{fb^{-1}}$ data sample collected by the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^{+}e^{-}$ collider. The decay angle distributions in the chain $Ξ_{c}(2970)^+ \to Ξ_c(2645)^{0}π^{+} \to Ξ_c^{+}π^{-}π^{+}$ are analyzed to determine the spin of this charmed-strange baryon. The angular distributions strongly favor the $Ξ_{c}(2970)^+$ spin $J =1/2$ over $3/2$ or $5/2$, under an assumption that the lowest partial wave dominates in the decay. We also measure the ratio of $Ξ_{c}(2970)^+$ decay branching fractions $R={\mathcal{B}[ Ξ_{c}(2970)^+ \to Ξ_c(2645)^{0}π^{+} ]} / { \mathcal{B}[ Ξ_{c}(2970)^+ \to Ξ_c^{\prime0}π^{+} ]} =1.67 \pm 0.29\mathrm{(stat.)}^{ +0.15}_{ -0.09}\mathrm{(syst.)} \pm 0.25\mathrm{(IS)}$, where the last uncertainty is due to possible isospin-symmetry-breaking effects. This $R$ value favors the spin-parity $J^P=1/2^+$ with the spin of the light-quark degrees of freedom $s_{l}=0$. This is the first determination of the spin and parity of a charmed-strange baryon.

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arXiv2019

Observation of $ τ^- \rightarrow π^- ν_τ e^+ e^-$ and search for $τ^- \rightarrow π^- ν_τ μ^+ μ^-$

We present the first measurements of branching fractions of rare tau-lepton decays, $τ^- \rightarrow π^- ν_τ \ell^+ \ell^-$ ($\ell = e$ or $μ$), using a data sample corresponding to 562 fb$^{-1}$ collected at a center-of-mass energy of 10.58 GeV with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+ e^-$ collider. The $τ^- \rightarrow π^- ν_τe^+ e^-$ decay is observed for the first time with 7.0$σ$ significance. The partial branching fraction determined by the structure-dependent mechanisms mediated by either a vector or an axial-vector current for the mass region $M_{πe e}>1.05$ GeV/$c^2$ is measured to be $\mathcal{B}(τ^-\rightarrow π^- ν_τe^+ e^-)[M_{π^- e^+ e^-}>1.05~{\rm GeV}/c^2] = (5.90 \pm 0.53 \pm 0.85 \pm 0.11) \times 10^{-6}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is due to the model dependence. In the full phase space, due to the different detection efficiencies for the structure-dependent mechanisms mediated by axial-vector and vector currents, the branching fraction varies from $\mathcal{B}_{A}(τ^-\rightarrow π^- ν_τe^+ e^-) = (1.46 \pm 0.13 \pm 0.21) \times 10^{-5}$ to $\mathcal{B}_{V}(τ^-\rightarrow π^- ν_τe^+ e^-) = (3.01 \pm 0.27 \pm 0.43) \times 10^{-5}$, respectively. An upper limit is set on the branching fraction of the $τ^- \rightarrow π^- ν_τμ^+ μ^-$ decay, $\mathcal{B}(τ^-\rightarrow π^- ν_τμ^+ μ^-) < 1.14 \times 10^{-5}$, at the 90% confidence level.

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arXiv2019

Compact, directional neutron detectors capable of high-resolution nuclear recoil imaging

We report on the design, production, and performance of compact 40-cm$^3$ Time Projection Chambers (TPCs) that detect fast neutrons by measuring the three-dimensional (3D) ionization distribution of nuclear recoils in $^4$He:CO$_2$ gas at atmospheric pressure. We use these detectors to characterize the fast-neutron flux inside the Belle II detector at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider in Tsukuba, Japan, where the primary design constraint is a small form factor. We find that the TPCs meet or exceed all design specifications, and are capable of measuring the 3D surface shape and charge density profile of ionization clouds from nuclear recoils and charged tracks in exquisite detail. Scaled-up detectors based on the detection principle demonstrated here may be suitable for directional dark matter searches, measurements of coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering, and other experiments requiring precise detection of neutrons or nuclear recoils.

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