Measurement of the very rare K+→π+ννˉK^+ \to \pi^+ \nu \bar\nu decay

The decay K+→π+νν¯ , with a very precisely predicted branching ratio of less than 10−10 , is among the best processes to reveal indirect effects of new physics. The NA62 experiment at CERN SPS is designed to study the K+→π+νν¯ decay and to measure its branching ratio using a decay-in-flight technique. NA62 took data in 2016, 2017 and 2018, reaching the sensitivity of the Standard Model for the K+→π+νν¯ decay by the analysis of the 2016 and 2017 data, and providing the most precise measurement of the branching ratio to date by the analysis of the 2018 data. This measurement is also used to set limits on BR(K+→π+X ), where X is a scalar or pseudo-scalar particle. The final result of the BR(K+→π+νν¯ ) measurement and its interpretation in terms of the K+→π+X decay from the analysis of the full 2016-2018 data set is presented, and future plans and prospects are reviewed

Search for heavy neutrinos in K+→μ+νμK^+ \rightarrow \mu^+ \nu_{\mu} decays

International audienceThe NA62 experiment recorded a large sample of K+→μ+νμ decays in 2007. A peak search has been performed in the reconstructed missing mass spectrum. In the absence of a signal, limits in the range 2×10−6 to 10−5 have been set on the squared mixing matrix element |Uμ4|2 between muon and heavy neutrino states, for heavy neutrino masses in the range 300–375 MeV/ c2 . The result extends the range of masses for which upper limits have been set on the value of |Uμ4|2 in previous production search experiments

Search for dark photon decays to μ+μ−\mu^+\mu^- at NA62

International audienceThe NA62 experiment at CERN, designed to study the ultra-rare decay $K^+ \to \pi^+\nu\overline{\nu}$, has also collected data in beam-dump mode. In this configuration, dark photons may be produced by protons dumped on an absorber and reach a decay volume beginning 80 m downstream. A search for dark photons decaying in flight to $\mu^+\mu^-$ pairs is reported, based on a sample of $1.4 \times 10^{17}$ protons on dump collected in 2021. No evidence for a dark photon signal is observed. A region of the parameter space is excluded at 90% CL, improving on previous experimental limits for dark photon masses between 215 and 550 MeV$/c^2$

Search for lepton number and flavour violation in K+K^+ and π0\pi^0 decays

Searches for the lepton number violating $K^+ \to \pi^− \mu^+ e^+$ decay and the lepton flavour violating $K^+ \to \pi^+ \mu^- e^+$ and $\pi^0 \to \mu^- e^+$ decays are reported using data collected by the NA62 experiment at CERN in 2017$-$2018. No evidence for these decays is found and upper limits of the branching ratios are obtained at 90% confidence level: B($K^+ \to \pi^− \mu^+ e^+$) $K+→π-μ+e+ decay and the lepton flavor violating K+→π+μ-e+ and π0→μ-e+ decays are reported using data collected by the NA62 experiment at CERN in 2017–2018. No evidence for these decays is found and upper limits of the branching ratios are obtained at 90$K^{+} \rightarrow \pi^{-} \mu^{+} e^{+}$decay and the lepton flavour violating$K^{+} \rightarrow \pi^{+} \mu^{-} e^{+}$and$\pi^{0} \rightarrow \mu^{-} e^{+}$decays are reported using data collected by the NA62 experiment at CERN in$2017$-$2018$. No evidence for these decays is found and upper limits of the branching ratios are obtained at 90$\mathcal{B}(K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{-}\mu^{+}e^{+})<4.2\times 10^{-11}$,$\mathcal{B}(K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}\mu^{-}e^{+})<6.6\times10^{-11}$and$\mathcal{B}(\pi^{0}\rightarrow\mu^{-}e^{+})<3.2\times 10^{-10}$. These results improve by one order of magnitude over previous results for these decay modes

Measurement of the form factors of charged kaon semileptonic decays

International audienceA measurement of the form factors of charged kaon semileptonic decays is presented, based on 4.4 × 10$^{6}$K$^{±}$ → π$^{0}$e$^{±}$ν$_{e}$ (K$_{e3}^{±}$ ) and 2.3 × 10$^{6}$K$^{±}$ → π$^{0}$μ±ν$_{μ}$ (K$_{μ3}^{±}$ ) decays collected in 2004 by the NA48/2 experiment. The results are obtained with improved precision as compared to earlier measurements. The combination of measurements in the K$_{e3}^{±}$ and K$_{μ3}^{±}$ modes is also presented

Performance of the NA62 trigger system

International audienceThe NA62 experiment at CERN targets the measurement of the ultra-rare ${K}^{+}\to {\pi}^{+}\nu \overline{\nu}$ decay, and carries out a broad physics programme that includes probes for symmetry violations and searches for exotic particles. Data were collected in 2016–2018 using a multi-level trigger system, which is described highlighting performance studies based on 2018 data

A measurement of the K+→π+μ+μ−K^{+} \to \pi^{+} \mu^{+} \mu^{-} decay

International audienceA sample of 2.8 × 10$^{4}$K$^{+}$ → π$^{+}$μ$^{+}$μ$^{−}$ candidates with negligible background was collected by the NA62 experiment at the CERN SPS in 2017–2018. The model-independent branching fraction is measured to be (9.15 ± 0.08) × 10$^{−8}$, a factor three more precise than previous measurements. The decay form factor is presented as a function of the squared dimuon mass. A measurement of the form factor parameters and their uncertainties is performed using a description based on Chiral Perturbation Theory at $\mathcal{O}$(p$^{6}$)

A study of the K+→π0e+νγK^+ \to \pi^0 e^+ \nu \gamma decay

International audienceA sample of $1.3 \times 10^5$$K^+ \to \pi^0 e^+ \nu \gamma$ candidates with less than 1% background was collected by the NA62 experiment at the CERN SPS in 2017-2018. Branching fraction measurements are obtained at percent relative precision in three restricted kinematic regions, improving on existing results by a factor larger than two. An asymmetry, possibly related to T-violation, is investigated with no evidence observed within the achieved precision

Search for heavy neutral lepton production in K+K^+ decays

A search for heavy neutral lepton production in $K^+$ decays using a data sample collected with a minimum bias trigger by the NA62 experiment at CERN in 2015 is reported. Upper limits at the $10^{-7}$ to $10^{-6}$ level are established on the elements of the extended neutrino mixing matrix $|U_{\ell 4}|^2$ ($\ell=e,\mu$) for heavy neutral lepton mass in the range $170-448~{\rm MeV}/c^2$. This improves on the results from previous production searches in $K^+$ decays, setting more stringent limits and extending the mass range.A search for heavy neutral lepton production in K+ decays using a data sample collected with a minimum bias trigger by the NA62 experiment at CERN in 2015 is reported. Upper limits at the 10−7 to 10−6 level are established on the elements of the extended neutrino mixing matrix |Ue4|2 and |Uμ4|2 for heavy neutral lepton mass in the ranges 170–448 MeV/ c2 and 250–373 MeV/ c2 , respectively. This improves on the previous limits from HNL production searches over the whole mass range considered for |Ue4|2 , and above 300 MeV/ c2 for |Uμ4|2