Review of Kaon Physics at CERN and in Europe

The Kaon physics program at CERN and in Europe will be presented. I will first give a short review of recent results form the NA48/2 and NA62 experiments, with special emphasis to the measurement of RK , the ratio of Kaon leptonic decays rates, K → eν and K → μν, using the full minimum bias data sample collected in 2007-2008. The main subject of the talk will be the study of the highly suppressed decay K → πνν. While its rate can be predicted with minimal theoretical uncertainty in the Standard Model (BR ∼ 8 × 10−11), the smallness of BR and the challenging experimental signature make it very difficult to measure. The branching ratio for this decay is thus a sensitive probe of the flavour sector of the SM. The aim of NA62 is the measurement of the K → πνν BR with ∼ 10% precision in two years of data taking. This will require the observation of 10K decays in the experiment's fiducial volume, as well as the use of high-performance systems for precision tracking, particle identification, and photon vetoing. These aspects of the experiment will also allow NA62 to carry out a rich program of searches for lepton flavour and/or number violating K decays. Data taking will start in October 2014. The physics prospects and the status of the construction and commissioning of the NA62 experiment will be presented. In the last part of the talk I will report on Kaon physics results and prospects from other experiments at CERN (e.g. LHCb) and in Europe (e.g. KLOE and KLOE-2) and briefly mention the status in US

Impact of mining on the sediment geochemistry and Mineralogy of the Helford river, Cornwall

The geochemistry and mineralogy of the intertidal sediments of the Helford River, Cornwall have been examined to assess the potential impact of mining activity on sediment supply. Cores from Polpenwith and Polwheveral creeks show a pulse in Sn (1000-1100 ppm), Cu (800-900 ppm) and Zn (500-600 ppm) at a depth of 30 cm below the present day sediment surface; As and Pb values are typically low and show little down-core variation (<130 ppm As and <78 ppm Pb). Two cores recovered near Gweek have generally low and invariant down-core geochemical signatures, except for a single sample from the base of Core 2 which shows a sudden increase in Sn to >1800 ppm. In addition, two cores were collected from the mouth of Mawgan Creek. Core 4 shows a low but invariant geochemical signature but Core 3 shows a significant down-core increase in Sn (>1900 ppm Sn), Cu (588 ppm) and Zn (1297 ppm). The heavy mineral assemblage is dominated by cassiterite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite, along with less abundant zircon, monazite, ilmenite, rutile/anatase, sphene, wolframite, barite and rare slag products. Diagenetic pyrite, bornite and Fe oxides also occur. The geochemistry and mineralogy are consistent with the historical release of mine waste tailings into the Helford River. 210Pb dating of two cores suggests that the sediments are younger than 1880. Based on these data the most likely sources of the mine waste are from Wheal Caroline and Wheal Vyvyan to the north of the Helford River which are documented as being active between 1827 and 1864

An experimental study of the K+ → πoμ+ν decay dalitz plot

A sample of K+μ3 events, detected in the CERN 1.1 m3 heavy-liquid bubble chamber, has been used to investigate the q2 dependence of the form factors, giving ξ(0) = -1.1 ± 1.0 and ξ(6.6m2π) = -0.34 ± 0.20, for λ+ = 0.027. A three parameter fit gives a value for λ+ = 0.025 ± 0.017 in good agreement with the preceding Ke3 analysis. © 1973.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

An experimental study of the form factor in the decay K+ → πoe+ν

The q2 variation of the factor f{hook}+(q2) in the decay K+→π0e+ν has been studied using a sample of even detected in the CERN 1.1 m3 heavy-liquid bubble chamber. The data are consistent with a linear development f{hook}+(q2)=f{hook}+(0) (1+λ+q/m2π) with λ+=0.027±0.008. © 1973.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe