Measurement of Partial Widths and Search for Direct CP Violation in $D^0$ Meson Decays to $K^-K^+$ and $\pi^-\pi^+$

TL;DR

This paper measures the decay rates and searches for direct CP violation in $D^0$ meson decays to $K^-K^+$ and $\pi^-\pi^+$, using data from Fermilab's Tevatron, finding no significant CP violation.

Contribution

It provides new measurements of partial widths and CP asymmetries in $D^0$ decays, with improved precision and no evidence of direct CP violation.

Findings

Measured $rac{ ext{decay rate of } D^0 o K^-K^+}{D^0 o K^-\pi^+}$ as 0.0992 ± 0.0011 ± 0.0012

Measured CP asymmetry in $K^-K^+$ as (2.0 ± 1.2 ± 0.6)%

Measured CP asymmetry in $\pi^-\pi^+$ as (1.0 ± 1.3 ± 0.6)%

Abstract

We present a measurement of relative partial widths and decay rate CP asymmetries in $K^-K^+$ and $\pi^-\pi^+$ decays of $\Do$ mesons produced in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 1.96 \TeV$. We use a sample of $2\times10^5$ $D^{\ast+}\myto D^0\pi^+$ (and charge conjugate) decays with the $D^0$ decaying to $K^-\pi^+$, $K^-K^+$, and $\pi^-\pi^+$, corresponding to $123 {\rm pb}^{-1}$ of data collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab II experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. No significant direct CP violation is observed. We measure $\KKtokpi = 0.0992 \pm 0.0011 \pm 0.0012$, $\PIpitokpi = 0.03594 \pm 0.00054 \pm 0.00040$, $A_{CP}(K^-K^+) = (2.0 \pm 1.2 \pm 0.6) %$, and $A_{CP}(\pi^-\pi^+) = (1.0 \pm 1.3 \pm 0.6) %$, where, in all cases, the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.