Searches for lepton number violating K+ decays

The NA62 experiment at CERN reports a search for the lepton number violating decays K+→π−e+e+ and K+→π−μ+μ+ using a data sample collected in 2017. No signals are observed, and upper limits on the branching fractions of these decays of 2.2 x 10^-10 and 4.2 x 10^-11 are obtained, respectively, at 90% confidence level. These upper limits improve on previously reported measurements by factors of 3 and 2, respectively

Search for heavy neutral lepton production in K+ decays to positrons

A search for heavy neutral lepton (N) production in K+→e+N decays using the data sample collected by the NA62 experiment at CERN in 2017-2018 is reported. Upper limits of the extended neutrino mixing matrix element |Ue4|^2 are established at the level of 10^−9 over most of the accessible heavy neutral lepton mass range 144-462 MeV/c^2, with the assumption that the lifetime exceeds 50 ns. These limits improve significantly upon those of previous production and decay searches. The |Ue4|^2 range favoured by Big Bang Nucleosynthesis is excluded up to a mass of about 340 MeV/c^2

HIKE, High Intensity Kaon Experiments at the CERN SPS: Letter of Intent

A timely and long-term programme of kaon decay measurements at a new level of precision is presented, leveraging the capabilities of the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS). The proposed programme is firmly anchored on the experience built up studying kaon decays at the SPS over the past four decades, and includes rare processes, CP violation, dark sectors, symmetry tests and other tests of the Standard Model. The experimental programme is based on a staged approach involving experiments with charged and neutral kaon beams, as well as operation in beam-dump mode. The various phases will rely on a common infrastructure and set of detectors

High Intensity Kaon Experiments (HIKE) at the CERN SPS Proposal for Phases 1 and 2

International audienceA timely and long-term programme of kaon decay measurements at an unprecedented level of precision is presented, leveraging the capabilities of the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS). The proposed HIKE programme is firmly anchored on the experience built up studying kaon decays at the SPS over the past four decades, and includes rare processes, CP violation, dark sectors, symmetry tests and other tests of the Standard Model. The programme is based on a staged approach involving experiments with charged and neutral kaon beams, as well as operation in beam-dump mode. The various phases will rely on a common infrastructure and set of detectors

High Intensity Kaon Experiments (HIKE) at the CERN SPS Proposal for Phases 1 and 2

International audienceA timely and long-term programme of kaon decay measurements at an unprecedented level of precision is presented, leveraging the capabilities of the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS). The proposed HIKE programme is firmly anchored on the experience built up studying kaon decays at the SPS over the past four decades, and includes rare processes, CP violation, dark sectors, symmetry tests and other tests of the Standard Model. The programme is based on a staged approach involving experiments with charged and neutral kaon beams, as well as operation in beam-dump mode. The various phases will rely on a common infrastructure and set of detectors

Measurement of the K+ → π+γγ decay

A sample of 3984 candidates of the K+→π+γγ decay, with an estimated background of 291±14 events, was collected by the NA62 experiment at CERN during 2017–2018. In order to describe the observed di-photon mass spectrum, the next-to-leading order contribution in chiral perturbation theory was found to be necessary. The decay branching ratio in the full kinematic range is measured to be (9.61±0.17)×10−7. The first search for production and prompt decay of an axion-like particle with gluon coupling in the process K+→π+a, a→γγ is also reported