Measurements of the rare decay K_{L} -> e^{+} e^{-} e^{+} e^{-}

We observe 441 K_{L} -> e^{+} e^{-} e^{+} e^{-} candidate events with a background of 4.2 events and measure B(K_{L} -> e^{+} e^{-} e^{+} e^{-}) = (3.72 \pm 0.18(stat) \pm 0.23(syst)) \times 10^{-8} in the KTeV/E799II experiment at Fermilab. Using the distribution of the angle between the planes of the e^{+} e^{-} pairs, we measure the CP parameters beta_{CP} = -0.23 \pm 0.09(stat) \pm 0.02(syst) and gamma_{CP} = -0.09 \pm 0.09(stat) \pm 0.02(syst). We also present the first detailed study of the e^{+} e^{-} invariant mass spectrum in this decay mode.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

The cellular and synaptic architecture of the mechanosensory dorsal horn

The deep dorsal horn is a poorly characterized spinal cord region implicated in processing low-threshold mechanoreceptor (LTMR) information. We report an array of mouse genetic tools for defining neuronal components and functions of the dorsal horn LTMR-recipient zone (LTMR-RZ), a role for LTMR-RZ processing in tactile perception, and the basic logic of LTMR-RZ organization. We found an unexpectedly high degree of neuronal diversity in the LTMR-RZ: seven excitatory and four inhibitory subtypes of interneurons exhibiting unique morphological, physiological, and synaptic properties. Remarkably, LTMRs form synapses on between four and 11 LTMR-RZ interneuron subtypes, while each LTMR-RZ interneuron subtype samples inputs from at least one to three LTMR classes, as well as spinal cord interneurons and corticospinal neurons. Thus, the LTMR-RZ is a somatosensory processing region endowed with a neuronal complexity that rivals the retina and functions to pattern the activity of ascending touch pathways that underlie tactile perception

Measurement of the branching ratio of pi^0 -> e^+e^- using K_L -> 3 pi^0 decays in flight

The branching ratio of the rare decay pi^0 -> e^+e^- has been measured in E799-II, a rare kaon decay experiment using the KTeV detector at Fermilab. The pi^0's were produced in fully-reconstructed K_L -> 3 pi^0 decays in flight. We observed 275 candidate pi^0 -> e^+e^- events, with an expected background of 21.4 +- 6.2 events which includes the contribution from Dalitz decays. We measured BR(pi^0 -> e^+e^-, x>0.95) = (6.09 +- 0.40 +- 0.24) times 10^{-8}, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. This result is the first significant observation of the excess rate for this decay above the unitarity lower bound.Comment: New version shortened to PRL length limit. 5 pages, 4 figures. Published in Phys. Rev. Let

A Measurement of the Branching Ratio of KL→e+e−γγK_L \to e^+e^-\gamma\gamma

We report on a study of the decay $K_L \to e^+e^-\gamma\gamma$ carried out as a part of the KTeV/E799 experiment at Fermilab. The 1997 data yielded a sample of 1543 events, including an expected background of $56 \pm 8$ events. An effective form factor was determined from the observed distribution of the $e^+e^-$ invariant mass. Using this form factor in the calculation of the detector acceptance, the branching ratio was measured to be ${\mathcal B}(K_L \to e^+ e^- \gamma \gamma, E^*_\gamma > 5 {MeV}) = (5.84 \pm 0.15 {\rm ~(stat)} \pm 0.32 {\rm ~(sys)})\times 10^{-7}$.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

First Observation of the decay KL -> pi0 e e gamma

We report on the first observation of the decay KL -> pi0 ee gamma by the KTeV E799 experiment at Fermilab. Based upon a sample of 48 events with an estimated background of 3.6 +/- 1.1 events, we measure the KL -> pi0 ee gamma branching ratio to be (2.34 +/- 0.35 +/- 0.13)x10^{-8}. Our data agree with recent O(p^6) calculations in chiral perturbation theory that include contributions from vector meson exchange through the parameter a_V. A fit was made to the KL -> pi0 ee gamma data for a_V with the result -0.67 +/- 0.21 +/- 0.12, which is consistent with previous results from KTeV.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review Letters, 5 pages, 5 figure

A New Measurement of the Radiative Ke3 Branching Ratio and Photon Spectrum

We present a preliminary report on a new measurement of the radiative neutral Ke3 branching ratio and the first study of the photon spectrum in this decay. We find BR(Ke3g, E*_g>30 GeV, Th*_eg>20 deg)/BR(Ke3) = 0.911+-0.009(stat)+0.021-0.010(syst)%. Our measurement of the spectrum is consistent with inner bremsstrahlung only as the source of photons at the 2 sigma level.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, proceedings paper from Meson 2000, Cracow, Poland, May 200

Search for the Decay KL→π0μ+μ−K_L \to \pi^0 \mu^+ \mu^-

We report on a search for the decay \klpimumu carried out as a part of the KTeV experiment at Fermilab. This decay is expected to have a significant $CP$ violating contribution and a direct measurement will either support the CKM mechanism for CP violation or point to new physics. Two events were observed in the 1997 data with an expected background of $0.87 \pm 0.15$ events, and we set an upper limit \BR{\klpimumu} $<3.8 \times 10^{-10}$ at the 90% confidence level.Comment: See also "Observation of the Decay $K_L\to \mu^+\mu^- \gamma \gamma$", also by the KTeV collaboratio

Light Gluino Search for Decays Containing pi+pi- or pi0 from a Neutral Hadron Beam at Fermilab

We report on two null searches, one for the spontaneous appearance of $\pi^+\pi^-$ pairs, another for a single $\pi^0$, consistent with the decay of a long-lived neutral particle into hadrons and an unseen neutral particle. For the lowest level gluon-gluino bound state, known as the $R^0$, we exclude the decays $R^0\to \pi^+\pi^-\tilde{\gamma}$ and $R^0\to \pi^0\tilde{\gamma}$ for the masses of $R^0$ and $\tilde{\gamma}$ in the theoretically allowed range. In the most interesting $R^0$ mass range, $\leq 3 GeV/c^2$, we exclude $R^0$ lifetimes from $3\times 10^{-10}$ seconds to as high as $10^{-3}$ seconds, assuming perturbative QCD production for the $R^0$.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figure

Search for Light Gluinos via the Spontaneous Appearance of pi+pi- Pairs with an 800 GeV/c Proton Beam at Fermilab

We searched for the appearance of pi+pi- pairs with invariant mass greater than 648 MeV in a neutral beam. Such an observation could signify the decay of a long-lived light neutral particle. We find no evidence for this decay. Our null result severely constrains the existence of an R0 hadron, which is the lightest bound state of a gluon and a light gluino, and thereby also the possibility of a light gluino. Depending on the photino mass, we exclude the R0 in the mass and lifetime ranges of 1.2 -- 4.6 GeV and 2E-10 -- 7E-4 seconds, respectively. (To Appear in Phys. Rev. Lett.)Comment: Documentstyle aps,epsfig,prl (revtex), 6 pages, 7 figure

Observation of the Decay KL→μ+μ−γγK_L\to \mu^+\mu^- \gamma \gamma

We have observed the decay $K_L\to \mu^+\mu^- \gamma \gamma$ at the KTeV experiment at Fermilab. This decay presents a formidable background to the search for new physics in $K_L\to\pi^0\mu^+\mu^-$. The 1997 data yielded a sample of 4 signal events, with an expected background of 0.155 $\pm$ 0.081 events. The branching ratio is ${\mathcal B}(K_L\to \mu^+\mu^- \gamma \gamma$) $= (10.4^{+7.5}_{-5.9} {\rm (stat)} \pm 0.7 {\rm (sys)})\times 10^{-9}$ with $m_{\gamma\gamma} \geq 1 {\rm MeV/c}^2$, consistent with a QED calculation which predicts $(9.1\pm 0.8)\times 10^{-9}$.Comment: See also the paper "Search for the Decay $K_L \to \pi^0 \mu^+ \mu^-$", also by the KTeV collaboratio