Search for D0 - D0bar Mixing and Rare Charm Decays

TL;DR

This paper reports on the BaBar experiment's search for D0-D0bar mixing and rare charm decays, setting new limits and comparing results with previous analyses using different decay modes.

Contribution

It provides new limits on D0-D0bar mixing rates and searches for rare decay modes, enhancing understanding of charm quark behavior and flavor-changing neutral currents.

Findings

Limits set on D0-D0bar mixing rate

Search for rare decay modes D0 to e+e-, mu+mu-, e±mu∓

Comparison with previous BaBar analyses

Abstract

Based on a dataset acquired by the BaBar experiment running on and near the $\Upsilon(4S)$ resonance from 1999-2002, limits are set on the rate of $D^0$-- $\kern 0.2em\bar{\kern -0.2em D}{}^0$ mixing using the decay mode $D^{*+} \to D^0 \pi^{+}$, followed by a semi-leptonic decay of the $D^0$. Results are compared to previous BaBar analysis using hadronic decays. We also report on a search for the flavor-changing neutral current decays $D^0 \to e^{+} e^{-}$ ($\mu^{+} \mu^{-}$) and the lepton-flavor violation decays $D^0 \to e^{\pm} \mu^{\mp}$.