Quark Mixing Matrix Studies and Lepton Flavor Violation Searches Using Rare Decays of Kaons

I review recent results from experiments on rare decays of kaons, concentrating on searches for lepton flavor violation (LFV) and on measurements of quark mixing (CKM) matrix elements. The LFV results are the culmination of 15 years of experimentation at Brookhaven National Laboratory and are unlikely to be improved upon soon. The CKM studies derive from measurements of decay rates of charged and neutral kaons into lepton anti-lepton pairs, both with and without a charged or neutral pion. I discuss recent results and prospects for improved measurements that could provide an unambiguous test of the Standard Model explanation for CP violation. This paper is the written version of a talk presented at the Lepton-Photon Conference in August 1999.Comment: Written version of a talk at the 1999 Lepton Photon Conferenc

Neural Network Applications to Improve Drift Chamber Track Position Measurements

This paper describes applications of two neural networks to improve drift chamber position measurements. One network calculates a data-driven estimate of the drift cell time-to-distance relationship that is conventionally estimated by a numerical calculation based on the anode and cathode wire geometry, wire potentials, and gas properties. The second network additionally uses the full digital waveform of the signal in the drift chamber, hence accessing information on the full ensemble of ionization clusters. This network uses more information than the conventional position estimate that relies exclusively on the arrival time of the first drift electron. In principle, this technique improves resolution even when multiple ionization clusters cannot be separated, in contrast with a cluster-counting technique. The performance of both networks when applied to MEG II drift chamber data is reported and compared to that of a conventional approach.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figure

A maximum likelihood method for particle momentum determination

We discuss a maximum likelihood method for determining a charged particle's momentum as it moves in a magnetic field. The formalism is presented in both rigorous and approximate forms. The rigorous form is valid when random processes include multiple scattering, energy loss and detector spatial resolution. When the measurement error is dominated by multiple scattering, it takes a particularly simple approximate form. The validity of both formalisms extends to include non-Gaussian multiple scattering distribution. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

The physics of kaon decays: CP violation and lepton flavor nonconservation

OAK B188 The physics of kaon decays: CP violation and lepton flavor nonconservation. We discuss here the research that is likely to be done in the 1990's in the study of kaon decays. We concentrate on searches for direct CP violation and for the violation of electron- and muon-number, including approved and proposed experiments at existing facilities, and those which could be done at a facility using the proposed Fermilab Main Injector

New initiatives on lepton flavor violation and neutrino oscillation with high intense muon and neutrino sources

The area of physics involving muons and neutrinos has become exciting in particle physics. Using their high intensity sources, physicists undertake, in various ways, extensive searches for new physics beyond the Standard Model, such as tests of supersymmetric grand unification (SUSY-GUT) and precision measurements of the muon and neutrino properties, which will in future extend to ambitious studies such as determination of the three-generation neutrino mixing matrix elements and CP violation in the lepton sector. The physics of this field is advancing, with potential improvements of the sourc

The search for \ub5+ \u2192 e+\u3b3 with 10 1214 sensitivity: The upgrade of the meg experiment

The MEG experiment took data at the Paul Scherrer Institute in the years 2009\u20132013 to test the violation of the lepton flavor conservation law, which originates from an accidental symmetry that the Standard Model of elementary particle physics has, and published the most stringent limit on the charged lepton flavor violating decay \ub5+ \u2192 e+\u3b3: BR(\ub5+ \u2192 e+\u3b3) < 4.2 7 10 1213 at 90% confidence level. The MEG detector has been upgraded in order to reach a sensitivity of 6 7 10 1214 . The basic principle of MEG II is to achieve the highest possible sensitivity using the full muon beam intensity at the Paul Scherrer Institute (7 7 107 muons/s) with an upgraded detector. The main improvements are better rate capability of all sub-detectors and improved resolutions while keeping the same detector concept. In this paper, we present the current status of the preparation, integration and commissioning of the MEG II detector in the recent engineering runs

Recent progress in neutrino factory and muon collider research within the Muon collaboration

We describe the status of our effort to realize a first neutrino factory and the progress made in understanding the problems associated with the collection and cooling of muons towards that end. We summarize the physics that can be done with neutrino factories as well as with intense cold beams of muons. The physics potential of muon colliders is reviewed, both as Higgs Factories and compact high energy lepton colliders. The status and timescale of our research and development effort is reviewed as well as the latest designs in cooling channels including the promise of ring coolers in achieving longitudinal and transverse cooling simultaneously. We detail the efforts being made to mount an international cooling experiment to demonstrate the ionization cooling of muons