Production properties of K*(892) vector mesons and their spin alignment as measured in the NOMAD experiment

First measurements of K*(892) mesons production properties and their spin alignment in nu_mu charged current (CC) and neutral current (NC) interactions are presented. The analysis of the full data sample of the NOMAD experiment is performed in different kinematic regions. For K*+ and K*- mesons produced in nu_mu CC interactions and decaying into K0 pi+/- we have found the following yields per event: (2.6 +/- 0.2 (stat.) +/- 0.2 (syst.))% and (1.6 +/- 0.1 (stat.) +/- 0.1 (syst.))% respectively, while for the K*+ and K*- mesons produced in nu NC interactions the corresponding yields per event are: (2.5 +/- 0.3 (stat.) +/- 0.3 (syst.))% and (1.0 +/- 0.3 (stat.) +/- 0.2 (syst.))%. The results obtained for the rho00 parameter, 0.40 +/- 0.06 (stat) +/- 0.03 (syst) and 0.28 +/- 0.07 (stat) +/- 0.03 (syst) for K*+ and K*- produced in nu_mu CC interactions, are compared to theoretical predictions tuned on LEP measurements in e+e- annihilation at the Z0 pole. For K*+ mesons produced in nu NC interactions the measured rho00 parameter is 0.66 +/- 0.10 (stat) +/- 0.05 (syst).Comment: 20 p

Search for a new gauge boson in π0\pi^{0} decays

A search was made for a new light gauge boson $X$ which might be produced in $\pi^{0}\to\gamma + X$ decay from neutral pions generated by 450-GeV protons in the CERN SPS neutrino target. The X's would penetrate the downstream shielding and be observed in the NOMAD detector via the Primakoff effect, in the process of $X \to\pi^{0}$ conversion in the external Coulomb field of a nucleus. With $1.45\times10^{18}$ protons on target, 20 candidate events with energy between 8 and 140 GeV were found from the analysis of neutrino data. This number is in agreement with the expectation of 18.1$\pm$2.8 background events from standard neutrino processes. A new 90% C.L. upper limit on the branching ratio $Br(\pi^{0}\to\gamma + X)< (3.3 to 1.9) \times10^{-5}$ for $X$ masses ranging from 0 to 120 MeV/c^2 is obtained.Comment: 15 pages, LaTex, 6 eps figures included, submitted to Physics Letters

A study of quasi-elastic muon neutrino and antineutrino scattering in the NOMAD experiment

We have studied the muon neutrino and antineutrino quasi-elastic (QEL) scattering reactions (v(mu)n -> mu(-)p and (v) over bar mu p -> mu(+)n) using a set of experimental data collected by the NOMAD Collaboration. We have performed measurements of the cross-section of these processes on a nuclear target (mainly carbon) normalizing it to the total v(mu) ((v) over bar mu) charged-current cross section. The results for the flux-averaged QEL cross sections in the (anti) neutrino energy interval 3-100 GeV are v(mu) = (0.92 +/- 0.02(stat) +/- 0.06(syst)) x 10(-38) cm(2) and (v) over bar (mu) = (0.81 +/- 0.05(stat) +/- 0.09(syst)) x 10(-38) cm(2) for neutrino and antineutrino, respectively. The axial mass parameter M(A) was extracted from the measured quasi-elastic neutrino cross section. The corresponding result is M(A) = 1.05 +/- 0.02(stat)+/- 0.06(syst) GeV. It is consistent with the axial mass values recalculated from the antineutrino cross section and extracted from the pure Q(2) shape analysis of the high purity sample of v(mu) quasi-elastic 2-track events, but has smaller systematic error and should be quoted as the main result of this work. Our measured MA is found to be in good agreement with the world average value obtained in previous deuterium filled bubble chamber experiments. The NOMAD measurement of MA is lower than those recently published by K2K and Mini-BooNE Collaborations. However, within the large errors quoted by these experiments on MA, these results are compatible with the more precise NOMAD value

Search for a new gauge boson in pi(0) decays RID B-6634-2009 RID C-6672-2008

A search was made for a new light gauge boson X which might be produced in pi(0) -->, gamma + X decay from neutral pions generated by 450 GeV protons in the CERN SPS neutrino target. The X's would penetrate the downstream shielding and be observed in the NOMAD detector via the Primakoff effect, in the process of X --> pi(0) conversion in the external Coulomb field of a nucleus. With 1.45 x 10(18) protons on target, 20 candidate events with energy between 8 and 140 GeV were found from the analysis of neutrino data. This number is in agreement with the expectation of 18.1 +/- 2.8 background events from standard neutrino processes. A new 90% C.L. upper limit on the branching ratio Br(pi(0) --> Y + X)< (3.3 to 1.9)X 10(-5) for X masses ranging from 0 to 120 MeV/c(2) is obtained. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Measurements of hadron production in π++C and π++Be interactions at 60 GeV/c

Precise knowledge of hadron production rates in the generation of neutrino beams is necessary for accelerator-based neutrino experiments to achieve their physics goals. NA61/SHINE, a large-acceptance hadron spectrometer, has recorded hadron+nucleus interactions relevant to ongoing and future long-baseline neutrino experiments at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. This paper presents three analyses of interactions of 60  GeV/c π+ with thin, fixed carbon and beryllium targets. Integrated production and inelastic cross sections were measured for both of these reactions. In an analysis of strange, neutral hadron production, differential production multiplicities of K0S, Λ and ¯Λ were measured. Lastly, in an analysis of charged hadron production, differential production multiplicities of π+, π−, K+, K− and protons were measured. These measurements will enable long-baseline neutrino experiments to better constrain predictions of their neutrino flux in order to achieve better precision on their neutrino cross section and oscillation measurements

Inclusive production of ρ0(770), f0(980) and f2(1270) mesons in νμ charged current interaction

The inclusive production of the meson resonances p(0)(770), f(0)(980) and f(2)(1270) in neutrino- nucleus charged current interactions has been studied with the NOMAD detector exposed to the wide band neutrino beam generated by 450 GeV protons at the CERN SPS. For the first time the f0(980) meson is observed in neutrino interactions. The statistical significance of its observation is 6 standard deviations. The presence of f(2)(1270) in neutrino interactions is reliably established, The average multiplicity of these three resonances is measured as a function of several kinematic variables, The experimental results are compared to the multiplicities obtained from a simulation based on the Lund model, In addition, the average multiplicity of rho (0)(770) in antineutrino-nucleus interactions is measured