Observation of τ−→π−ντe+e− and search for τ−→π−ντμ+μ−
Department
Physics
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2019
Abstract
We present the first measurements of branching fractions of rare tau-lepton decays, τ− → π−ντlþl−(l ¼ e or μ), using a data sample corresponding to 562 fb−1 collected at a center-of-mass energy of 10.58 GeV with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy eþe− collider. The τ− → π−ντeþe−decay is observed for the first time with 7.0σ significance. The partial branching fraction determined by the structure-dependent mechanisms mediated by either a vector or an axial-vector current for the mass region Mπee > 1.05 GeV=c2 is measured to be Bðτ− → π−ντeþe−Þ½Mπ−eþe− > 1.05 GeV=c2 ¼ ð5.90 0.53 0.85 0.11Þ × 10−6, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is due to model dependence. In the full phase space, due to the different detection efficiencies for the structure-dependent mechanisms mediated by axial-vector and vector currents, the branching fraction varies from BAðτ− → π−ντeþe−Þ¼ð1.46 0.13 0.21Þ × 10−5 to BVðτ− → π−ντeþe−Þ ¼ ð3.01 0.27 0.43Þ × 10−5, respectively. An upper limit is set on the branching fraction of the τ− → π−ντμþμ− decay, Bðτ− → π−ντμþμ−Þ < 1.14 × 10−5, at the 90% confidence level.
Journal Title
Physical Review D
Journal ISSN
2470-0010,2470-0029
Volume
100
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1103/PhysRevD.100.071101