Search for the rare decays $π^+ \to μ^+ν_μν\barν$ and $π^+ \to e^+ν_eν\barν$

Abstract

The rare pion decays $π^+{\rightarrow}μ^+ν_μν\barν$ and $π^+{\rightarrow}e^+ν_{e}ν\barν$ are allowed in the Standard Model but highly suppressed. These decays were searched for using data from the PIENU experiment. A first result for $Γ(π^+{\rightarrow}μ^+ν_μν\barν)/Γ(π^+{\rightarrow}μ^+ν_μ)<8.6{\times}10^{-6}$, and an improved measurement $Γ(π^+{\rightarrow}{e}^+ν_{e}ν\barν)/Γ(π^+{\rightarrow}μ^+ν_μ)<1.6{\times}10^{-7}$ were obtained.

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