Rare K and B Decays in the Littlest Higgs Model without T-Parity

We analyze rare K and B decays in the Littlest Higgs (LH) model without T-parity. We find that the final result for the Z^0-penguin contribution contains a divergence that is generated by the one-loop radiative corrections to the currents corresponding to the dynamically broken generators. Including an estimate of these logarithmically enhanced terms, we calculate the branching ratios for the decays K^+ -> pi^+ nu bar nu, K_L -> pi^0 nu bar nu, B_{s,d} -> mu^+ mu^- and B -> X_{s,d} nu bar nu. We find that for the high energy scale f=O(2-3) TeV, as required by the electroweak precision studies, the enhancement of all branching ratios amounts to at most 15% over the SM values. On the technical side we identify a number of errors in the existing Feynman rules in the LH model without T-parity that could have some impact on other analyses present in the literature. Calculating penguin and box diagrams in the unitary gauge, we find divergences in both contributions that are cancelled in the sum except for the divergence mentioned above.Comment: 39 pages, 8 figures, typos corrected, comment on (2.17) and (2.18) added, references added, results unchange

Particle-Antiparticle Mixing, epsilon_K, Delta Gamma_q, A_SL^q, A_CP(B_d -> psi K_S), A_CP(B_s -> psi phi) and B -> X_{s,d} gamma in the Littlest Higgs Model with T-Parity

We calculate a number of observables related to particle-antiparticle mixing in the Littlest Higgs model with T-parity (LHT). The resulting effective Hamiltonian for Delta F=2 transitions agrees with the one of Hubisz et al., but our phenomenological analysis goes far beyond the one of these authors. In particular, we point out that the presence of mirror fermions with new flavour and CP-violating interactions allows to remove the possible Standard Model (SM) discrepancy between the CP asymmetry S_{psi K_S} and large values of |V_ub| and to obtain for the mass difference Delta M_s < (Delta M_s)_SM as suggested by the recent result by the CDF collaboration. We also identify a scenario in which simultaneously significant enhancements of the CP asymmetries S_{phi psi} and A_SL^q relative to the SM are possible, while satisfying all existing constraints, in particular from the B -> X_s gamma decay and A_CP(B -> X_s gamma) that are presented in the LHT model here for the first time. In another scenario the second, non-SM, value for the angle gamma=-(109+-6) from tree level decays, although unlikely, can be made consistent with all existing data with the help of mirror fermions. We present a number of correlations between the observables in question and study the implications of our results for the mass spectrum and the weak mixing matrix of mirror fermions. In the most interesting scenarios, the latter one turns out to have a hierarchical structure that differs significantly from the CKM one.Comment: 51 pages, 20 figures, 1 table. Extended discussion of the phases in the new mixing matrix V_Hd, some references added or updated, conclusions unchanged. Final version published in JHE

Search for the Rare Decay K_{L}\to\pi^{0}\pi^{0}\gamma

The KTeV E799 experiment has conducted a search for the rare decay $K_{L}\to\pi^{0}\pi^{0}\gamma$ via the topology $K_{L}\to\pi^{0}\pi^{0}_D\gamma$ (where $\pi^0_D\to\gamma e^+e^-$). Due to Bose statistics of the $\pi^0$ pair and the real nature of the photon, the $K_{L}\to\pi^{0}\pi^{0}\gamma$ decay is restricted to proceed at lowest order by the CP conserving direct emission (DE) of an E2 electric quadrupole photon. The rate of this decay is interesting theoretically since chiral perturbation theory predicts that this process vanishes at level $O(p^4)$. Therefore, this mode probes chiral perturbation theory at $O(p^6)$. In this paper we report a determination of an upper limit of $2.43\times 10^{-7}$ (90% CL) for $K_{L}\to\pi^{0}\pi^{0}\gamma$. This is approximately a factor of 20 lower than previous results.Comment: six pages and six figures in the submission. Reformatted for Physics Review

Search for the Rare Decays KL->pi0pi0mu+mu- and KL->pi0pi0X0->pi0pi0mu+mu-

The KTeV E799 experiment has conducted a search for the rare decays KL->pi0pi0mu+mu- and KL->pi0pi0X0->pi0pi0mu+mu-, where the X0 is a possible new neutral boson that was reported by the HyperCP experiment with a mass of (214.3 pm 0.5) MeV/c^{2}. We find no evidence for either decay. We obtain upper limits of Br(KL->pi0pi0X0->pi0pi0mu+mu-) pi0pi0mu+mu-) < 9.2 x 10^{-11} at the 90% confidence level. This result rules out the pseudoscalar X0 as an explanation of the HyperCP result under the scenario that the \bar{d}sX0 coupling is completely real

A Measurement of the K0 Charge Radius and a CP Violating Asymmetry Together with a Search for CP Violating E1 Direct Photon Emission in the Rare Decay KL->pi+pi-e+e-

Using the complete KTeV data set of 5241 candidate KL->pi+pi-e+e- decays (including an estimated background of 204+-14 events), we have measured the coupling gCR=0.163+- 0.014(stat)+-0.023(syst) of the CP conserving charge radius process and from it determined a K0 charge radius of (K0)=(-0.077+-0.007(stat)+-0.011(syst)) fm**2. We have also determined a first experimental upper limit of 0.04 (90% CL) for the ratio |g_{E1}|/|g_{M1}| of the coupling for the E1 direct photon emission process relative to the coupling for M1 direct photon emission process. We also report the measurement of its associated vector form factor |gM1`|(1+ (a_1/a_2)/(M(rho)**2-M(K)**2)+2M(K)E(gamma*)) where |gM1`|=(1.11+- 0.12(stat)+-0.08(syst) and a_1/a_2 = (-0.744+-0.027(stat)0.032(syst)) GeV**2/c**2. In addition, a measurement of the manifestly CP violating asymmetry of magnitude (13.6+- 1.4+-(stat)+-1.5(syst))% in the CP and T odd angle phi between the decay planes of the e+e- and pi+pi- pairs in the KL center of mass system is reported

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

We present a new determination of the parity of the neutral pion via the double Dalitz decay pi^0 -> e+ e- e+ e-. Our sample, which consists of 30511 candidate decays, was collected from K_L -> pi0 pi0 pi0 decays in flight at the KTeV-E799 experiment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. We confirm the negative pi^0 parity, and place a limit on scalar contributions to the pi^0 -> e+ e- e+ e- decay amplitude of less than 3.3% assuming CPT conservation. The pi^0 gamma* 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(pi^0 -> e+ e- e+ e-) = (3.26 +- 0.18) x 10^(-5).Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Typographical error in radiative branching ratio (Eq. 6) correcte

Measurement of the rare decay pi0 -> e+ e-

The branching ratio of the rare decay pi0 -> e+ e- has been measured precisely, using the complete data set from the KTeV E799-II experiment at Fermilab. We observe 794 candidate pi0 -> e+ e- events using K0_L -> 3pi0 as a source of tagged pi0's. The expected background is 52.7 +- 11.2 events, predominantly from high e+ e- mass pi0 -> e+ e- gamma decays. We have measured B[(pi0 -> e+ e-), (m_e+e-/m_pi0)^2 > 0.95] = 6.44 +- 0.25(stat) +- 0.22(syst) x10^(-8), which is above the unitary bound from pi0 -> gamma gamma and within the range of theoretical expectations from the standard model.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Detailed Study of the KL -> 3pi0 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.Comment: accepted by Phys. Rev