Search for the decay τ-→3π-2π+2π0ντ

Aubert, B. et al. (2006) Search for the decay τ-→3π-2π+2π0ντ. Physical Review D, 73 (11). p. 112003. ISSN 1550-7998

Abstract

A search for the decay of the τ lepton to five charged and two neutral pions is performed using data collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e+e- collider. The analysis uses 232 fb-1 of data at center-of-mass energies on or near the Υ(4S) resonance. We observe 10 events with an expected background of 6.5-1.4+2.0 events. In the absence of a signal, we set the limit on the branching ratio B(τ-→3π-2π+2π0ντ)<3.4×10-6 at the 90% confidence level. This is a significant improvement over the previously established limit. In addition, we search for the decay mode τ-→2ωπ-ντ. We observe 1 event with an expected background of 0.4+1.0/-0.4 events and calculate the upper limit B(τ-→2ωπ-ντ)<5.4×10-7 at the 90% confidence level. This is the first upper limit for this mode.

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