Invisible $K_L$ decays as a probe of new physics

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of the rare and untested decay $K_L o invisible$ as a sensitive probe for new physics beyond the Standard Model, predicting possible branching ratios accessible to upcoming experiments.

Contribution

It introduces models where $K_L o invisible$ decay is enhanced, avoiding helicity suppression, and shows this decay can reveal new physics at scales above 100 TeV.

Findings

$Br(K_L o invisible)$ could be as high as 10^{-8} to 10^{-6}

$K_L o invisible$ decay is a clean probe of high-scale new physics

Future experiments could detect this decay, testing beyond Standard Model theories

Abstract

The decay $K_L \to invisible$ has never been experimentally tested. In the Standard Model (SM) its branching ratio for the decay into two neutrinos is helicity suppressed and predicted to be $Br(K_L \to \nu \bar{\nu}) \lesssim 10^{-10}$. We consider several natural extensions of the SM, such as two-Higgs-doublet (2HDM), 2HDM and light scalar, and mirror dark matter models, those main feature is that they allow to avoid the helicity suppression factor and lead to an enhanced $Br(K_L \to invisible)$. For the decay $K_L \to \nu \bar{\nu}$ the smallness of the neutrino mass in the considered 2HDM model is explained by the smallness of the second Higgs doublet vacuum expectation value. The small nonzero value of the second Higgs isodoublet can arise as a consequence of nonzero quark condensate. We show that taking into account the most stringent constraints from the $K \to \pi +invisible$ decay, this process could be in the region of $Br(K_L \to invisible) \simeq 10^{-8}-10^{-6}$, which is experimentally accessible. In some scenarios the $K_L \to invisible$ decay could still be allowed while the $K \to \pi +invisible$ decay is forbidden. The results obtained show that the $K_L \to invisible$ decay is a clean probe of new physics scales well above 100 TeV, that is complementary to rare $K \to \pi+invisible$ decay, and provide a strong motivation for its sensitive search in a near future experiment.