First Direct Measurement of the Absolute Branching Fraction of $Σ^+ \to Λe^+ ν_{e}$

Abstract

The first direct measurement of the absolute branching fraction of $Σ^+ \to Λe^+ ν_{e}$ is reported based on an $e^+e^-$ annihilation sample of $(10087\pm44) \times 10^6$ $J/ψ$ events collected with the BESIII detector at $\sqrt{s}=3.097$ GeV. The branching fraction is determined to be ${\mathcal B}(Σ^+ \to Λe^+ ν_{e}) = [2.93\pm0.74(\rm stat) \pm 0.13(\rm syst)]\times 10^{-5}$, which is the most precise measurement obtained in a single experiment to date and also the first result obtained at a collider experiment. Combining this result with the world average of ${\mathcal B}(Σ^- \to Λe^- \barν_{e})$ and the lifetimes of $Σ^{\pm}$, the ratio, $\frac{Γ(Σ^- \to Λe^- \barν_{e})}{Γ(Σ^+ \to Λe^+ ν_{e})}$, is determined to be $1.06 \pm 0.28$, which is within 1.8 standard deviations of the value expected in the absence of second-class currents that are forbidden in the Standard Model.

8 pages, 3 figures