Improved limits on nu(e) emission from mu+ decay.

We investigated mu(+) decays at rest produced at the ISIS beam stop target. Lepton flavor (LF) conservation has been tested by searching for nu(e) via the detection reaction p(nu(e),e(+))n. No nu(e) signal from LF violating mu(+) decays was identified. We extract upper limits of the branching ratio (BR) for the LF violating decay mu(+)-->e(+)+nu(e)+nu(-) compared to the standard model (SM) mu(+)-->e(+)+nu(e)+nu(mu) decay: BR<0.9(1.7) x 10(-3) (90% C.L.) depending on the spectral distribution of nu(e) characterized by the Michel parameter rho=0.75(0.0). These results improve earlier limits by one order of magnitude and restrict extensions of the SM in which nu(e) emission from mu(+) decay is allowed with considerable strength. The decay mu(+)-->e(+)+nu(e)+nu(mu) often proposed as a potential source for the nu(e) signal observed in the LSND experiment can be excluded.

Luminescence and thermoluminescence induced by bombardment with protons of 159 million electron volts.

We have observed a red luminescence, qualitatively similar to that of enstatite achondrites, in unsorted fines, their separated mineral phases, and rock chips. The energy efficiency of the plagioclase fraction is approximately 1 percent. At -196 degrees C the effect is enhanced by a factor between 1 and 2. All fractions except ilmenite exhibit blue thermoluminescence with a glow peak near -135 degrees C and an energy efficiency approximately 4 x 10(-6). Unlike the thermoluminescence of terrestrial and meteoritic material, it is nonrepeatable even after annealing at 200 degrees C. Similar thermoluminescence is seen in rock chips, but in unsorted fines it is masked by the opaque fractions.