Precision Measurement of the Ds∗+−Ds+D_s^{*+}- D_s^+ Mass Difference

We have measured the vector-pseudoscalar mass splitting $M(D_s^{*+})-M(D_s^+) = 144.22\pm 0.47\pm 0.37 MeV$, significantly more precise than the previous world average. We minimize the systematic errors by also measuring the vector-pseudoscalar mass difference $M(D^{*0})-M(D^0)$ using the radiative decay $D^{*0}\rightarrow D^0\gamma$, obtaining $[M(D_s^{*+})-M(D_s^+)]-[M(D^{*0})-M(D^0)] = 2.09\pm 0.47\pm 0.37 MeV$. This is then combined with our previous high-precision measurement of $M(D^{*0})-M(D^0)$, which used the decay $D^{*0}\rightarrow D^0\pi^0$. We also measure the mass difference $M(D_s^+)-M(D^+)=99.5\pm 0.6\pm 0.3$ MeV, using the $\phi\pi^+$ decay modes of the $D_s^+$ and $D^+$ mesons.Comment: 18 pages uuencoded compressed postscript (process with uudecode then gunzip). hardcopies with figures can be obtained by sending mail to: [email protected]

Latest Miocene restriction of the Mediterranean Outflow Water:a perspective from the Gulf of Cádiz

The Mediterranean-Atlantic water mass exchange provides the ideal setting for deciphering the role of gateway evolution in ocean circulation. However, the dynamics of Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) during the closure of the Late Miocene Mediterranean-Atlantic gateways are poorly understood. Here, we define the sedimentary evolution of Neogene basins from the Gulf of Cádiz to the West Iberian margin to investigate MOW circulation during the latest Miocene. Seismic interpretation highlights a middle to upper Messinian seismic unit of transparent facies, whose base predates the onset of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC). Its facies and distribution imply a predominantly hemipelagic environment along the Atlantic margins, suggesting an absence or intermittence of MOW preceding evaporite precipitation in the Mediterranean, simultaneous to progressive gateway restriction. The removal of MOW from the Mediterranean-Atlantic water mass exchange reorganized the Atlantic water masses and is correlated to a severe weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and a period of further cooling in the North Atlantic during the latest Miocene

Search for Exclusive Charmless Hadronic B Decays

We have searched for two-body charmless hadronic decays of $B$ mesons. Final states include $\pi\pi$, $K \pi$, and $KK$ with both charged and neutral kaons and pions; $\pi\rho$, $K \rho$, and $K^*\pi$; and $K\phi$, $K^*\phi$, and $\phi\phi$. The data used in this analysis consist of 2.6~million $B\bar{B}$~pairs produced at the $\Upsilon(4S)$ taken with the CLEO-II detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR). We measure the branching fraction of the sum of $B^0 \rightarrow \pi^+\pi^-$ and $B^0 \rightarrow K^+\pi^-$ to be $(1.8^{+0.6+0.2}_{-0.5-0.3}\pm0.2) \times 10^{-5}$. In addition, we place upper limits on individual branching fractions in the range from $10^{-4}$ to $10^{-6}$.Comment: 33 page LATEX file, uses REVTEX and psfig, 14 figures in a separate uuencoded postscript file, postscript version also available through http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLN

Observation of a New Charmed Strange Meson

Using the CLEO-II detector, we have obtained evidence for a new meson decaying to $D^0 K^+$. Its mass is $2573.2^{+1.7}_{-1.6}\pm 0.8\pm 0.5$ {}~MeV/$c^2$ and its width is $16^{+5}_{-4}\pm 3$~MeV/$c^2$. Although we do not establish its spin and parity, the new meson is consistent with predictions for an $L=1$, $S=1$, $J_P=2^+$ charmed strange state.Comment: 9 pages uuencoded compressed postscript (process with uudecode then gunzip). hardcopies with figures can be obtained by sending mail to: [email protected]

Measurement of the Branching Ratios for the Decays of Ds+→ηπ+,η′π+,ηρ+D_{s}^{+}\to \eta\pi^{+}, \eta^{'}\pi^{+}, \eta\rho^{+}, and eta′ρ+eta^{'}\rho^{+}

Using a data sample with integrated luminosity of about 3.9 fb^{-1} collected in e+ e- annihilation with the CLEO-II detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring, we have measured the branching ratios for the decay modes Ds -> (eta, eta') pi and Ds -> (eta, eta') rho relative to Ds -> phi pi. These decay modes are among the most common hadronic decays of the Ds's and can be related by factorization to the semileptonic decays Ds -> (eta,eta') l nu. The results obtained are compared with previous CLEO results and with the branching ratios measured for the related semileptonic decays. We also report results on the Cabibbo-suppressed decays of the D+ to the same final states.Comment: 18 page postscript file, postscript file also available through http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLN

Determination of the Michel Parameters and the tau Neutrino Helicity in tau Decay

Using the CLEO II detector at the $e^+e^-$ storage ring CESR, we have determined the Michel parameters $\rho$, $\xi$, and $\delta$ in $\tau^\mp \to l^\mp\nu\bar{\nu}$ decay as well as the tau neutrino helicity parameter $h_{\nu_\tau}$ in $\tau^\mp \to \pi^\mp\pi^0\nu$ decay. From a data sample of $3.02\times 10^6$ tau pairs produced at $\sqrt{s}=10.6 GeV$, using events of the topology $e^+e^- \to \tau^+\tau^- \to (l^\pm\nu\bar{\nu}) (\pi^\mp\pi^0\nu)$ and $e^+e^- \to \tau^+\tau^- \to (\pi^\pm\pi^0\bar{\nu}) (\pi^\mp\pi^0\nu)$, and the determined sign of $h_{\nu_\tau}$, the combined result of the three samples is: $\rho = 0.747\pm 0.010\pm 0.006$, $\xi = 1.007\pm 0.040\pm 0.015$, $\xi\delta = 0.745\pm 0.026\pm 0.009$, and $h_{\nu_\tau} = -0.995\pm 0.010\pm 0.003$. The results are in agreement with the Standard Model V-A interaction.Comment: 18 page postscript file, postscript file also available through http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLN

Tau Neutrino Helicity from h±h^{\pm} Energy Correlations

We report a measurement of the magnitude of the tau neutrino helicity from tau-pair events taken with the CLEO detector at the CESR electron-positron storage ring. Events in which each tau undergoes the decay tau -> h nu, with h a charged pion or kaon, are analyzed for energy correlations between the daughter hadrons, yielding |xi| = 2*|h_nu| = 1.03 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.04, with the first error statistical and the second systematic.Comment: 11 pages, postscript file also available through http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLN

Study of 3-prong Hadronic τ\tau Decays with Charged Kaons

Using a sample of 4.7/fb integrated luminosity accumulated with the CLEO-II detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR), we have measured the branching fractions of the tau lepton into $K^- h^+ \pi^- \nu_\tau$ and $K^- K^+ \pi^- \nu_\tau$ relative to $h^- h^+ h^- \nu_\tau; K^- h^+ \pi^- \pi^0\nu_\tau$ and $K^- K^+ \pi^- \pi^0\nu_\tau$ relative to $h^- h^+ h^- \pi^0 \nu_\tau$. The relative branching fractions are: (5.16+-0.20+-0.50)*$10^{-2}$, (1.52+-0.14+-0.29)*$10^{-2}$, (2.54+-0.44+-0.39)*$10^{-2}$ and $<0.0154$ at 95% C.L., respectively. Coupled with additional experimental information, we use our results to extract information on the structure of three-prong tau decays to charged kaons.Comment: 16 pages postscript file also available through http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLN

Search for the Decay τ−→4pi−3π+(π0)ντ\tau^{-}\to 4pi^{-}3\pi^{+}(\pi^{0})\nu_{\tau}

We have searched for the decay of the tau lepton into seven charged particles and zero or one pi0. The data used in the search were collected with the CLEO II detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR) and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.61 fb^(-1). No evidence for a signal is found. Assuming all the charged particles are pions, we set an upper limit on the branching fraction, B(tau- -> 4pi- 3pi+ (pi0) nu_tau) < 2.4 x 10^(-6) at the 90% confidence level. This limit represents a significant improvement over the previous limit.Comment: 9 page postscript file, postscript file also available through http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLN

Resonant Structure of τ→3ππ0ντ\tau\to 3\pi\pi^{0}\nu_{\tau} and τ→ωπντ\tau\to \omega\pi\nu_{\tau} Decays

The resonant structure of the four pion final state in the decay $\tau \to 3\pi\pi^0\nu_\tau$ is analyzed using 4.27 million $\tau^+\tau^-$ pairs collected by the CLEO II experiment. We search for second class currents in the decay $\tau \to \omega\pi\nu_\tau$ using spin-parity analysis and establish an upper limit on the non-vector current contribution. The mass and width of the $\rho'$ resonance are extracted from a fit to the $\tau \to \omega\pi\nu_\tau$ spectral function. A partial wave analysis of the resonant structure of the $\tau \to 3\pi\pi^0\nu_\tau$ decay is performed; the spectral decomposition of the four pion system is dominated by the $\omega\pi$ and $a_1 \pi$ final states.Comment: 34 pages postscript, also available through http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLN