Search

The extension of Standard Model made by inclusion of additional $U(1)$ gauge $L_\mu-L_\tau$ symmetry can explain the difference between the measured and the predicted value of the muon magnetic moment and solve the tension in $B$ meson decays. This model predicts the existence of a new, light $Z^\prime$ vector boson, predominantly coupled to second and third generation leptons, whose interaction with electrons is due to a loop mechanism involving muons and taus. In this work, we present a rigorous evaluation of the upper limits in the $Z^\prime$ parameter space, obtained from the analysis of the data collected by the NA64-$e$ experiment at CERN SPS, that performed a search for light dark matter with $2.84\times10^{11}$ electrons impinging with 100 GeV on an active thick target. The resulting limits, despite being included in a region already investigated by neutrino experiments,touch the muon $g-2$ preferred band for values of the $Z^\prime$ mass of order of 1 MeV. The sensitivity projections for the future high-statistics NA64-$e$ runs demonstrate the power of the electrons/positron beam approach in this theoretical scenario., Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures. This version was accepted for publication

The extension of Standard Model made by inclusion of additional U (1) gauge L_μ − L_τ symmetry can explain the difference between the measured and the predicted value of the muon magnetic moment and solve the tension in B meson decays. This model predicts the existence of a new, light Z′ vector boson, predominantly coupled to second and third generation leptons, whose interaction with electrons is due to a loop mechanism involving muons and taus. In this work, we present a rigorous evaluation of the upper limits in the Z′ parameter space, obtained from the analysis of the data collected by the NA64-e experiment at CERN SPS, that performed a search for light dark matter with 2.84 × 10^11 electrons impinging with 100 GeV on an active thick target. The resulting limits, despite being included in a region already investigated by neutrino experiments, touch the muon g − 2 preferred band for values of the Z′ mass of order of 1 MeV. The sensitivity projections for the future high-statistics NA64-e runs demonstrate the power of the electrons/positron beam approach in this theoretical scenario.

We report the results of a search for a new vector boson ($$ A'$$ A ′ ) decaying into two dark matter particles $$\chi _1 \chi _2$$ χ 1 χ 2 of different mass. The heavier $$\chi _2$$ χ 2 particle subsequently decays to $$\chi _1$$ χ 1 and an off-shell Dark Photon $$ A'^* \rightarrow e^+e^-$$ A ′ ∗ → e + e - . For a sufficiently large mass splitting, this model can explain in terms of new physics the recently confirmed discrepancy observed in the muon anomalous magnetic moment at Fermilab. Remarkably, it also predicts the observed yield of thermal dark matter relic abundance. A detailed Monte-Carlo simulation was used to determine the signal yield and detection efficiency for this channel in the NA64 setup. The results were obtained re-analyzing the previous NA64 searches for an invisible decay $$A'\rightarrow \chi \overline{\chi }$$ A ′ → χ χ ¯ and axion-like or pseudo-scalar particles $$a \rightarrow \gamma \gamma $$ a → γ γ . With this method, we exclude a significant portion of the parameter space justifying the muon g-2 anomaly and being compatible with the observed dark matter relic density for $$A'$$ A ′ masses from 2$$m_e$$ m e up to 390 MeV and mixing parameter $$\varepsilon $$ ε between $$3\times 10^{-5}$$ 3 × 10 - 5 and $$2\times 10^{-2}$$ 2 × 10 - 2 .

We report the first observation of the Xi- pi+ decay mode of the Xi0(1690), confirming the existence of this resonance. The Xi0(1690) were produced by Sigma- of 345 Gev/c mean momentum in copper and carbon targets. The mass and width are close to those observed earlier for the Xi-(1690) in the Lambda K- decay channel. The product of inclusive production cross section and branching ratio is given relative to that of the Xi0(1530). We report the first observation of the Xi- pi+ decay mode of the Xi0(1690), confirming the existence of this resonance. The Xi0(1690) were produced by Sigma- of 345 Gev/c mean momentum in copper and carbon targets. The mass and width are close to those observed earlier for the Xi-(1690) in the Lambda K- decay channel. The product of inclusive production cross section and branching ratio is given relative to that of the Xi0(1530).

We present the measurement of the lifetime of the Omega_c we have performed using three independent data samples from two different decay modes. Using a Sigma- beam of 340 GeV/c we have obtained clean signals for the Omega_c decaying into Xi- K- pi+ pi+ and Omega- pi+ pi- pi+, avoiding topological cuts normally used in charm analysis. The short but measurable lifetime of the Omega_c is demonstrated by a clear enhancement of the signals at short but finite decay lengths. Using a continuous maximum likelihood method we determined the lifetime to be tau(Omega_c) = 55 +13-11(stat) +18-23(syst) fs. This makes the Omega_c the shortest living weakly decaying particle observed so far. The short value of the lifetime confirms the predicted pattern of the charmed baryon lifetimes and demonstrates that the strong interaction plays a vital role in the lifetimes of charmed hadrons. We present the measurement of the lifetime of the Ω c 0 we have performed using three independent data samples from two different decay modes. Using a Σ − beam of 340 GeV c we have obtained clean signals for the Ω c 0 decaying i Ξ − K − π + π + and Ω − π + π − π + , avoiding topological cuts normally used in charm analysis. The short but measurable lifetime of the Ω c 0 is demonstrated by a clear enhancement of the signals at short but finite decay lengths. Using a continuous maximum likelihood method we determined the lifetime to be τ ω c 0 = 55 −11 +13 (stat) −23 +18 (syst) fs. This makes the Ω c 0 the shortest living weakly decaying particle observed so far. The short value of the lifetime comfirms the predicted pattern of the charmed baryon lifetimes and demonstrates that the strong interaction plays a vital role in the lifetimes of charmed hadrons. We present the measurement of the lifetime of the Omega_c we have performed using three independent data samples from two different decay modes. Using a Sigma- beam of 340 GeV/c we have obtained clean signals for the Omega_c decaying into Xi- K- pi+ pi+ and Omega- pi+ pi- pi+, avoiding topological cuts normally used in charm analysis. The short but measurable lifetime of the Omega_c is demonstrated by a clear enhancement of the signals at short but finite decay lengths. Using a continuous maximum likelihood method we determined the lifetime to be tau(Omega_c) = 55 +13-11(stat) +18-23(syst) fs. This makes the Omega_c the shortest living weakly decaying particle observed so far. The short value of the lifetime confirms the predicted pattern of the charmed baryon lifetimes and demonstrates that the strong interaction plays a vital role in the lifetimes of charmed hadrons.