Plans for Kaon Physics at BNL

I give an overview of current plans for kaon physics at BNL. The program is centered on the rare decay modes K+ --> pi+ nu nubar and KL --> pi0 nu nubar.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures. Uses espcrc2.sty. For the proceedings of HIF04: High Intensity Frontier Workshop, La Biodola, Isola D'Elba, June 5-8, 200

Graviton collider effects in one and more large extra dimensions

Astrophysical bounds severely limit the possibility of observing collider signals of gravity with less than 3 flat extra dimensions. However, small distortions of the compactified space can lift the masses of the lightest graviton excitations, evading astrophysical bounds without affecting collider signals of quantum gravity. Following this procedure we reconsider theories with one large extra dimension. A slight space warping gives a model which is safe in the infrared against astrophysical and observational bounds, and which has the ultraviolet properties of gravity with a single flat extra dimension. We extend collider studies to the case of one extra dimension, pointing out its peculiarities. Finally, for a generic number of extra dimensions, we compare different channels in LHC searches for quantum gravity, introducing an ultraviolet cutoff as an additional parameter besides the Planck mass.Comment: 24 pages, 10 figures. v2: erratum added at the end of the pape

D−DˉD-\bar{D} mixing constraints on FCNC with a non-universal Z′Z^\prime

The BaBar and Belle collaborations have recently reported evidence for $D^0-\bar D^0$ mixing. This measurement provides the first significant constraint on FCNC in the up-quark sector for non-universal $Z^\prime$ models. Attributing the observed $D-\bar D$ mixing to new physics, we comment on the resulting rare $D$ and $t$ decays. We also show that a CP violating semileptonic asymmetry as large as $\sim 30$ is allowed by the experimental results.Comment: RevTex, 10 pages, 1 figure. Several typoes correcte

Upper Bounds on Rare K and B Decays from Minimal Flavour Violation

We study the branching ratios of rare K and B decays in models with minimal flavour violation, using the presently available information from the universal unitarity triangle analysis and from the measurements of Br(B -> X_s gamma), Br(B -> X_s l^+l^-) and Br(K^+ -> pi^+ nu nubar). We find the following upper bounds: Br(K^+ -> pi^+ nu nubar) pi^0 nu nubar)< 4.6 10^{-11}, Br(K_L -> mu mubar)_{SD} X_s nu nubar)< 5.2 10^{-5}, Br(B -> X_d nu nubar) mu mubar)< 7.4 10^{-9}, Br(B_d -> mu mubar)< 2.2 10^{-10} at 95 % probability. We analyze in detail various possible scenarios with positive or negative interference of Standard Model and New Physics contributions, and show how an improvement of experimental data corresponding to the projected 2010 B factory integrated luminosities will allow to disentangle and test these different possibilities. Finally, anticipating that subsequently the leading role in constraining this kind of new physics will be taken over by the rare decays K^+ -> pi^+ nu nubar, K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar and B_{s,d} -> mu mubar, that are dominated by the Z^0 -penguin function C, we also present plots for several branching ratios as functions of C . We point out an interesting triple correlation between K^+ -> pi^+ nu nubar, B -> X_s gamma and B -> X_s l^+l^- present in MFV models.Comment: 26 pages, 12 figure

Improved measurement of the K+->pi+nu(nu)over-bar branching ratio

An additional event near the upper kinematic limit for K+-->pi(+)nu(nu) over bar has been observed by experiment E949 at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Combining previously reported and new data, the branching ratio is B(K+-->pi(+)nu(nu) over bar)=(1.47(-0.89)(+1.30))x10(-10) based on three events observed in the pion momentum region 211<P<229 MeV/c. At the measured central value of the branching ratio, the additional event had a signal-to-background ratio of 0.9

Mass Bounds on a Very Light Neutralino

Within the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) we systematically investigate the bounds on the mass of the lightest neutralino. We allow for non-universal gaugino masses and thus even consider massless neutralinos, while assuming in general that R-parity is conserved. Our main focus are laboratory constraints. We consider collider data, precision observables, and also rare meson decays to very light neutralinos. We then discuss the astrophysical and cosmological implications. We find that a massless neutralino is allowed by all existing experimental data and astrophysical and cosmological observations.Comment: 36 pages, 13 figures, minor modification in astro-physical bounds. EPJC versio

Search for the decay K+ to pi+ gamma gamma in the pi+ momentum region P>213 MeV/c

We have searched for the K+ to pi+ gamma gamma decay in the kinematic region with pi+ momentum close to the end point. No events were observed, and the 90% confidence-level upper limit on the partial branching ratio was obtained, B(K+ to pi+ gamma gamma, P>213 MeV/c) < 8.3 x 10-9 under the assumption of chiral perturbation theory including next-to-leading order ``unitarity'' corrections. The same data were used to determine an upper limit on the K+ to pi+ gamma branching ratio of 2.3 x 10-9 at the 90% confidence level.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures; no change in the results, accepted for publication in Physics Letters

Improved Measurement of the K+ to pi+ nu nubar Branching Ratio

An additional event near the upper kinematic limit for K+ to pi+ nu nubar has been observed by Experiment E949 at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Combining previously reported and new data, the branching ratio is B(K+ to pi+ nu nubar)= 1.47 (+1.30, - 0.89) x 10-10 based on three events observed in the pion momentum region 211<P<229 MeV/c. At the measured central value of the branching ratio, the additional event had a signal-to-background ratio of 0.9

Further search for the decay K+→π+ννˉK^+ \to \pi^+ \nu \bar \nu in the momentum region P < 195 MeV/c

We report the results of a search for the decay $K^+ \to \pi^+ \nu \bar \nu$ in the kinematic region with $\pi^+$ momentum $140 < P < 195$ MeV/c using the data collected by the E787 experiment at BNL. No events were observed. When combined with our previous search in this region, one candidate event with an expected background of $1.22 \pm 0.24$ events results in a 90% C.L. upper limit of $2.2 \times 10^{-9}$ on the branching ratio of $K^+ \to \pi^+ \nu \bar \nu$. We also report improved limits on the rates of $K^+ \to \pi^+ X^0$ and $K^+ \to \pi^+ X^1 X^2$ where $X^0, X^1, X^2$ are hypothetical, massless, long-lived neutral particles.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Towards the european strategy for particle physics: The briefing book

This document was prepared as part of the briefing material for the Workshop of the CERN Council Strategy Group, held in DESY Zeuthen from 2nd to 6th May 2006. It gives an overview of the physics issues and of the technological challenges that will shape the future of the field, and incorporates material presented and discussed during the Symposium on the European Strategy for Particle Physics, held in Orsay from 30th January to 2nd February 2006, reflecting the various opinions of the European community as recorded in written submissions to the Strategy Group and in the discussions at the Symposium