ρ→4π\rho\to 4\pi DECAY

The decay modes $\rho^0 \to 2\pi^+ 2\pi^-$ and $\rho^0 \to 2\pi^0 \pi^+ \pi^-$ are considered in the framework of the low energy effective chiral Lagrangian. The obtained values of the decay widths $\Gamma(\rho^0\to 2 \pi^+ 2 \pi^-)=$ $(16 \pm 1){\rm keV}$ and $\Gamma(\rho^0\to 2 \pi^0 \pi^+ \pi^-)= (6.0 \pm 0.2)$keV do not contradict the existing upper limits and seem to be big enough for the corresponding processes to be observed in future high luminosity experiments.Comment: 6 pages, LaTeX, without figure. Submitted to Phys. Lett.

A new algorithm for automatic photopeak searches

A new, "quantum mechanical" algorithm is proposed for automatic photopeak location in gamma-ray spectra from semiconductor and scintillator detectors.Comment: 9 pages, LaTex, without figures. Sample program and figures (by FAX) can be sent on reques

Soft-photon corrections in multi-body meson decays

The effects due to soft-photon emission (and the related virtual corrections) in multi-body decays of B, D, and K mesons are analysed. We present analytic expressions for the universal O(alpha) correction factors which can be applied to all multi-body decay modes where a tight soft-photon energy cut in the decaying-particle rest-frame is applied. All-order resummations valid in the limit of small and large velocities of the final-state particles are also discussed. The phenomenological implications of these correction factors in the distortion of Dalitz-plot distributions of K -> 3 pi decays are briefly analysed.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures (v2: minor modifications - published version

On the Four--Photon Decay of the Neutral Pion

The dominant contribution to the $\pi^0 \to 4\gamma$ branching ratio, coming from purely electromagnetic photon-splitting graph, is calculated. The result $Br(\pi^0 \to 4\gamma) \simeq (2.6 \pm 0.1) \cdot 10^{-11}$ is about three orders of magnitude below the present experimental limit.Comment: 6 pages, LaTe

Radiative decays of light vector mesons

The new data on $\rho,\omega,\phi$ radiative decays into $\pi^0\gamma,\eta\gamma,\eta'\gamma$ from SND experiment at VEPP-2M $e^+e^-$ collider are presented.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, talk given at 8th International Conference on Hadron Spectroscopy (HADRON 99), Beijing, China, 24-28 Aug 199

Positronium Portal into Hidden Sector: A new Experiment to Search for Mirror Dark Matter

The understanding of the origin of dark matter has great importance for cosmology and particle physics. Several interesting extensions of the standard model dealing with solution of this problem motivate the concept of hidden sectors consisting of SU(3)xSU(2)_LxU(1)_Y singlet fields. Among these models, the mirror matter model is certainly one of the most interesting. The model explains the origin of parity violation in weak interactions, it could also explain the baryon asymmetry of the Universe and provide a natural ground for the explanation of dark matter. The mirror matter could have a portal to our world through photon-mirror photon mixing (epsilon). This mixing would lead to orthopositronium (o-Ps) to mirror orthopositronium oscillations, the experimental signature of which is the apparently invisible decay of o-Ps. In this paper, we describe an experiment to search for the decay o-Ps -> invisible in vacuum by using a pulsed slow positron beam and a massive 4pi BGO crystal calorimeter. The developed high efficiency positron tagging system, the low calorimeter energy threshold and high hermiticity allow the expected sensitivity in mixing strength to be epsilon about 10^-9, which is more than one order of magnitude below the current Big Bang Nucleosynthesis limit and in a region of parameter space of great theoretical and phenomenological interest. The vacuum experiment with such sensitivity is particularly timely in light of the recent DAMA/LIBRA observations of the annual modulation signal consistent with a mirror type dark matter interpretation.Comment: 40 pages, 29 Figures 2 Tables v2: Ref. added, Fig. 29 and some text added to explain idea for backscattering e+ background suppression, corrected typos v3: minor corrections: Eq 2.1 corrected (6 lines-> 5 lines), Eq.2.17: two extra "-" signs remove

Search for direct production of a2(1320) and f2(1270) mesons in e+e- annihilation

A search for direct production of C-even resonances a2(1320) and f2(1270) in e+e- annihilation was performed with SND detector at VEPP-2M e+e- collider. The upper limits of electronic widths of these mesons were obtained at 90% confidence level: Gamma(a2(1320) \to e+e-) < 0.56 eV, Gamma(f2(1270) \to e+e-) < 0.11 eV.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, 1 table. Submitted to Phys. Lett.

New experimental data for the decays ϕ→μ+μ−\phi\to\mu^+\mu^- and ϕ→π+π−\phi\to\pi^+\pi^- from SND detector

The processes $e^+e^-\to\mu^+\mu^-$ and $e^+e^-\to\pi^+\pi^-$ have been studied with SND detector at VEPP-2M $e^+e^-$ collider in the vicinity of $\phi(1020)$ resonance. The branching ratios $B(\phi\to\mu^+\mu^-)=(3.30\pm 0.45\pm 0.32)\times 10^{-4}$ and $B(\phi\to\pi^+\pi^-)=(0.71\pm 0.11\pm 0.09)\times 10^{-4}$ were obtained.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, talk given at 8th International Conference on Hadron Spectroscopy (HADRON 99), Beijing, China, 24-28 Aug 199

The process e+e−→π+π−π0e^+e^-\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0 in the energy range 2E_0=1.04 - 1.38 GeV

In the experiment with the SND detector at VEPP-2M e^+e^- collider the process $e^+e^-\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ was studied in the energy range 2E_0 from 1.04 to 1.38 GeV. A broad peak was observed with the visible mass $M_{vis}=1220\pm 20$ MeV and cross section in the maximum $\sigma_0\simeq 4$ nb. The peak can be interpreted as a $\omega$-like resonance $\omega (1200)$.Comment: 10 pages LATEX and 5 figure

Experimental Study of rho -> pi0 pi0 gamma and omega -> pi0 pi0 gamma Decays

The e+e- -> pi0 pi0 gamma process was studied in the SND experiment at VEPP-2M e+e- collider in the energy region 0.60-0.97 GeV. From the analysis of the energy dependence of measured cross section the branching ratios B(omega -> pi0 pi0 gamma)= (6.6 +1.4-0.8(stat) +-0.6(syst))x10^-5 and B(rho -> pi0 pi0 gamma)=(4.1 +1.0-0.9(stat) +-0.3(syst))x10^-5 were obtained.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Phys. Lett.