Global analysis of muon decay measurements

We have performed a global analysis of muon decay measurements to establish model-independent limits on the space-time structure of the muon decay matrix element. We find limits on the scalar, vector and tensor coupling of right- and left-handed muons to right- and left-handed electrons. The limits on those terms that involve the decay of right-handed muons to left-handed electrons are more restrictive than in previous global analyses, while the limits on the other non-standard model interactions are comparable. The value of the Michel parameter eta found in the global analysis is -0.0036 \pm 0.0069, slightly more precise than the value found in a more restrictive analysis of a recent measurement. This has implications for the Fermi coupling constant G_F.Comment: 5 pages, 3 table

Measurement of the Michel Parameter xi" in Polarized Muon Decay and Implications on Exotic Couplings of the Leptonic Weak Interaction

The Michel parameter xi" has been determined from a measurement of the longitudinal polarization of positrons emitted in the decay of polarized and depolarized muons. The result, xi" = 0.981 +- 0.045stat +- 0.003syst, is consistent with the Standard Model prediction of unity, and provides an order of magnitude improvement in the relative precision of this parameter. This value sets new constraints on exotic couplings beyond the dominant V-A description of the leptonic weak interaction.Comment: 15 pages, 16 figures, 3 tables; submitted to Phys. Rev.

Charakterisierung von Bioporenwandungen mit in situ Endoskopie und chemischer Analyse: Einfluss von Regenwürmern auf Kohlenstoff- und Stickstoffgehalte

Biopores have been shown to be enriched with plant available nutrients as compared to the surrounding bulk soil and therefore are considered hot spots for the nutrient acquisition especially in the otherwise nutrient-poor subsoil. As a result of colonization of biopores by earthworms, pore walls are enriched with nutrients. In this study, a first attempt was made to assess the influence of earthworm abundance on both structural pore wall characteristics as assessed with in situ endoscopy and on pore wall C and N contents. Higher earthworm density resulted in higher N contents and significantly higher C contents in biopore walls as compared to the surrounding bulk soil, regardless whether they showed visible earthworm coatings. In the treatment with lower earthworm density, only biopores with visible earthworm coatings had significantly higher N contents as compared to the surrounding bulk soil. The results of this study highlight the special role of earthworms for enriching biopores with nutrients and underline the value of biopores for the nutrient acquisition from the subsoil

CLEO Results on Tau Michel Parameters

We present measurements of the tau Michel Parameters made by the CLEO experiment. Three different analyses are performed: a spin-independent lepton spectrum analysis and a second spin-dependent analysis using $\ell^\pm$ \vs\ $\pi^\mp\pi^0$ events, and a third spin-dependent analysis using $\pi^+$ \vs\ $\pi^-$ events. the results are used to derive limits on the general four-fermion couplings, the mass of the charged Higgs in the MSSM, and a right-handed $W$ in left-right models. Many of these measurements are more precise than the PDG world averages.Comment: Invited talk at the TAU'98 Workshop, 14-17 September 1998, Santander, Spain. 7 pages, 7 figures, LaTeX -> postscrip

A new experiment to search for the invisible decay of the orthopositronium

We propose an experiment to search for invisible decays of orthopositronium (o-Ps) with a 90% confidence sensitivity in the branching ratio as low as $10^{-8}$. Evidence for this decay mode would unambigously signal new physics: either the existence of extra--dimensions or fractionally charged particles or new light gauge bosons. The experimental approach and the detector components of the proposed experiment are described.Comment: Based on a talk given at Workshop on Positronium Physics, Zurich, Switzerland, 30-31 May 200

Tau Physics: Theoretical Perspective

The leptonic decays of the tau lepton provide relevant tests on the structure of the weak currents and the universality of their couplings to the gauge bosons. The hadronic tau decay modes constitute an ideal tool for studying low--energy effects of the strong interaction in very clean conditions. Accurate determinations of the QCD coupling and the strange quark mass have been obtained with tau decay data. New physics phenomena, such as a non-zero tau neutrino mass or violations of conservation laws can also be searched for with tau decays.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures. Invited talk at the Sixth International Workshop on Tau Lepton Physics (Victoria, Canada, 18-21 September 2000

Tau Lepton Physics: Theory Overview

The pure leptonic or semileptonic character of tau decays makes them a good laboratory to test the structure of the weak currents and the universality of their couplings to the gauge bosons. The hadronic tau decay modes constitute an ideal tool for studying low-energy effects of the strong interactions in very clean conditions; a well-known example is the precise determination of the QCD coupling from tau-decay data. New physics phenomena, such as a non-zero tau-neutrino mass or violations of (flavour / CP) conservation laws can also be searched for with tau decays.Comment: 20 pages, latex, 5 Postscript figures, uses espcrc2.sty, Invited Talk at the Fourth International Workshop on Tau Lepton Physics (TAU96), Colorado, September 199

An Improved Limit on Invisible Decays of Positronium

The results of a new search for positronium decays into invisible final states are reported. Convincing detection of this decay mode would be a strong evid ence for new physics beyond the Standard Model (SM): for example the existence of extra--dimensions, of milli-charged particles, of new light gauge bosons or of mirror particles. Mirror matter could be a relevant dark matter candidate. In this paper the setup and the results of a new experiment are presented. In a collected sample of about $(6.31\pm0.28) \times 10^6$ orthopositronium decay s, no evidence for invisible decays in an energy window [0,80] keV was found and an upper limit on the branching ratio of orthopositronium \invdecay could be set: \binvdecay<4.2\times 10^{-7} (90% C.L.) Our results provide a limit on the photon mirror-photon mixing strength $\epsilon \leq 1.55\times 10^{-7}$ (90% C.L.) and rule out particles lighter than the electron mass with a fraction $Q_x \leq 3.4 \times 10^{-5}$ of the electron charge. Furthermore, upper limits on the branching ratios for the decay of parapositronium $Br(p-Ps\to invisible)\leq 4.3 \times 10^{-7}$ (90% C.L.) and the direct annihilation $Br(e^+e^-\to invisible)\leq 2.1 \times 10^{-8}$ (90% C.L.) could be set.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures, added references, fixed limit on millicharged particles and changed two plots accordingl