Measurement of structure dependent radiative $K^{+} \rightarrow e^{+} \nu \gamma$ decays using stopped positive kaons

TL;DR

This paper measures the structure-dependent radiative decay of positive kaons into positrons, neutrinos, and photons, providing a new experimental ratio that exceeds previous results by about 25%, using stopped kaons and Monte Carlo analysis.

Contribution

The study presents the first measurement of the branching ratio of $K_{e2 ext{(gamma)}}^{ ext{SD}^+}$ decay relative to $K_{e2 ext{(gamma)}}$, revealing a higher value than earlier experiments.

Findings

Measured the ratio $Br(K_{e2 ext{(gamma)}}^{ ext{SD}^+}) / Br(K_{e2 ext{(gamma)}})$ as 1.12±0.07±0.04.

Found the partial branching ratio to be approximately 1.85×10^{-5}, 25% higher than previous results.

Used stopped positive kaons and Monte Carlo simulations for analysis.

Abstract

The structure dependent radiative $K^+ \rightarrow e^+ \nu \gamma$ ($K_{e2\gamma}^{\rm SD^+}$) decay was investigated with stopped positive kaons. The $e^+$ momentum spectra containing 574$\pm$30 $K_{e2\gamma}^{\rm SD^+}$ events with a $K^+ \rightarrow \mu^+ \nu$ ($K_{\mu2}$) background of 28$\pm$19 events were measured with and without a photon in coincidence and analyzed with Monte Carlo simulations for acceptance and detector response to extract the ratio of the branching ratio of the $K_{e2\gamma}^{\rm SD^+}$ decay and the $K^+ \rightarrow e^+ \nu$ decay including the internal bremsstrahlung process ($K_{e2(\gamma)}$). A value of $Br(K_{e2\gamma}^{\rm SD^+}) / Br(K_{e2(\gamma)}) = 1.12\pm0.07_{\rm stat} \pm 0.04_{\rm syst}$ was obtained. This indicates a partial branching ratio, $Br(K_{e2\gamma}^{\rm SD^+}, ~{p_e>200~{\rm MeV}/c}, ~{E_\gamma>10~{\rm MeV}})/Br(K_{\mu2}) =(1.85 \pm 0.11_{\rm{stat}} \pm 0.07_{\rm{syst}}) \times10^{-5}$, which is $25\%(\sim$2.5$\sigma)$ higher than the previous experimental result.