Search for hadronic decays of a light Higgs boson in the radiative decay Υ→γA0.

We search for hadronic decays of a light Higgs boson (A(0)) produced in radiative decays of an Υ(2S) or Υ(3S) meson, Υ→γA(0). The data have been recorded by the BABAR experiment at the Υ(3S) and Υ(2S) center-of-mass energies and include (121.3±1.2)×10(6) Υ(3S) and (98.3±0.9)×10(6) Υ(2S) mesons. No significant signal is observed. We set 90% confidence level upper limits on the product branching fractions B(Υ(nS)→γA(0))B(A(0)→hadrons) (n=2 or 3) that range from 1×10(-6) for an A(0) mass of 0.3 GeV/c(2) to 8×10(-5) at 7 GeV/c(2).

Observation of the decay B- → D(s)((*)+) K- ℓ- ν(ℓ).

We report the observation of the decay B- → D(s)((*)+) K- ℓ- ν(ℓ) based on 342 fb(-1) of data collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e+ e- storage rings at SLAC. A simultaneous fit to three D(s)(+) decay chains is performed to extract the signal yield from measurements of the squared missing mass in the B meson decay. We observe the decay B- → D(s)((*)+) K- ℓ- ν(ℓ) with a significance greater than 5 standard deviations (including systematic uncertainties) and measure its branching fraction to be B(B- → D(s)((*)+) K- ℓ- ν(ℓ)) = [6.13(-1.03)(+1.04)(stat)±0.43(syst)±0.51(B(D(s)))]×10(-4), where the last error reflects the limited knowledge of the D(s) branching fractions.

Search for production of invisible final states in single-photon decays of Υ(1S).

We search for single-photon decays of the Υ(1S) resonance, Υ â†’ γ + invisible, where the invisible state is either a particle of definite mass, such as a light Higgs boson A°, or a pair of dark matter particles, χχ. Both A° and χ are assumed to have zero spin. We tag Υ(1S) decays with a dipion transition Υ(2S) → π⁺π⁻Υ(1S) and look for events with a single energetic photon and significant missing energy. We find no evidence for such processes in the mass range m(A°) ≤ 9.2 GeV and m(χ) ≤ 4.5 GeV in the sample of 98 × 106 Υ(2S) decays collected with the BABAR detector and set stringent limits on new physics models that contain light dark matter states.

Test of lepton universality in Υ(1S) decays at BABAR.

The ratio R(τµ)(Υ(1S))=Γ(Υ(1S)→τ+ τ-)/Γ(Υ(1S)→µ+ µ-) is measured using a sample of (121.8±1.2)×10(6)Υ(3S) events recorded by the BABAR detector. This measurement is intended as a test of lepton universality and as a search for a possible light pseudoscalar Higgs boson. In the standard model (SM) this ratio is expected to be close to 1. Any significant deviations would violate lepton universality and could be introduced by the coupling to a light pseudoscalar Higgs boson. The analysis studies the decays Υ(3S)→Υ(1S)π+ π-, Υ(1S)→l+ l-, where l=µ, τ. The result, R(τµ)(Υ(1S))=1.005±0.013(stat)±0.022(syst), shows no deviation from the expected SM value, while improving the precision with respect to previous measurements.

Evidence for direct CP violation in the measurement of the Cabbibo-Kobayashi-Maskawa angle γ with B∓ → D(*)K(*)∓ decays.

We report the measurement of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa CP-violating angle γ through a Dalitz plot analysis of neutral D-meson decays to K(S)(0) π+ π- and K(S)(0) K+ K- produced in the processes B∓ → DK∓, B∓ D* K∓ with D* → Dπ(0), Dγ, and B∓ → DK*∓ with K*∓ → K(S)(0) π∓, using 468 million BB pairs collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e+ e- collider at SLAC. We measure γ = (68 ± 14 ± 4 ± 3)° (modulo 180°), where the first error is statistical, the second is the experimental systematic uncertainty, and the third reflects the uncertainty in the description of the neutral D decay amplitudes. This result is inconsistent with γ = 0 (no direct CP violation) with a significance of 3.5 standard deviations.

Measurement of D0-D0 mixing parameters using D0 → K(S)(0)π+ π- and D0 → K(S)(0)K+ K- decays.

We report a direct measurement of D0-D0 mixing parameters through a time-dependent amplitude analysis of the Dalitz plots of D(0) → K(S)(0) π+ π- and, for the first time, D0 → K(S)(0)K+ K- decays. The low-momentum pion π(s)(+) in the decay D*+ → D0 π(s)(+) identifies the flavor of the neutral D meson at its production. Using 468.5 fb(-1) of e+ e- colliding-beam data recorded near square root(s)=10.6 GeV by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy collider at SLAC, we measure the mixing parameters x = [1.6 ± 2.3(stat) ± 1.2(syst) ± 0.8(model)] × 10(-3), and y = [5.7 ± 2.0(stat) ± 1.3(syst) ± 0.7(model)] × 10(-3). These results provide the best measurement to date of x and y. The knowledge of the value of x, in particular, is crucial for understanding the origin of mixing.

Search for charged lepton flavor violation in narrow upsilon decays.

Charged-lepton flavor-violating processes are unobservable in the standard model, but they are predicted to be enhanced in several extensions to the standard model, including supersymmetry and models with leptoquarks or compositeness. We present a search for such processes in a sample of 99x10(6)Upsilon(2S) decays and 117x10(6)Upsilon(3S) decays collected with the BABAR detector. We place upper limits on the branching fractions B(Upsilon(nS)-->e(+/-)tau(-/+)) and B(Upsilon(nS)-->mu(+/-)tau(-/+)) (n=2,3) at the 10(-6) level and use these results to place lower limits of order 1 TeV on the mass scale of charged-lepton flavor-violating effective operators.

Erosion and perforation of the biliary tree by plastic biliary endoprostheses.

Biliary endoprostheses are increasingly used in the treatment of both benign and malignant pancreaticobiliary disorders. Common bile duct stones are a common clinical problem for which there now exist a range of treatment modalities. Official guidelines in the UK advocate the use of plastic biliary endoprostheses in the treatment of common bile duct stones only as a short-term measure prior to definitive endoscopic or surgical clearance. Long-term use of such stents is associated with several complications related to stent insertion, occlusion, and migration. Organ perforation resulting from plastic biliary stents is very rare and can occur either as an early complication at stent insertion or as a late complication resulting from stent migration and pressure necrosis. Although duodenal, small-bowel, and colonic perforations have been described, we have found no reports of extra-hepatic bile duct perforation occurring as a complication of plastic biliary stents. We present three cases of biliary tree erosion and perforation by plastic stents placed in patients with common bile duct stones cleared endoscopically prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy and discuss the possible implications of this previously unreported phenomenon.

Search for f(J)(2220) in radiative J/ψ decays.

We present a search for f(J)(2220) production in radiative J/ψ→γf(J)(2220) decays using 460 fb⁻¹ of data collected with the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II e(+)e⁻ collider. The f(J)(2220) is searched for in the decays to K(+)K⁻ and K(S)°K(S)°. No evidence of this resonance is observed, and 90% confidence level upper limits on the product of the branching fractions for J/ψ→γf(J)(2220) and f(J)(2220)→K(+)K⁻(K(S)°K(S)°) as a function of spin and helicity are set at the level of 10⁻5, below the central values reported by the Mark III experiment.

Delayed transhiatal herniation of the small bowel after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.

Transhiatal intrathoracic herniation of the intestine after an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy is an unusual occurrence. This complication may present after any form of esophagectomy at varying intervals following primary surgery. Diagnosis is established on the basis of presenting symptoms and radiological features on computed tomography (CT scan). The authors herewith report this rare occurrence 42 months after an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. The patient had herniation of the small bowel into the left pleural cavity , which was treated surgically through an entirely intra-abdominal approach and the defect in the diaphragm was bridged using a prosthetic polypropylene mesh.

Single-shot optical conductivity measurement of dense aluminum plasmas.

The optical conductivity of a dense femtosecond laser-heated aluminum plasma heated to 0.1-1.5 eV was measured using frequency-domain interferometry with chirped pulses, permitting simultaneous observation of optical probe reflectivity and probe pulse phase shift. Coupled with published models of bound-electron contributions to the conductivity, these two independent experimental data yielded a direct measurement of both real and imaginary components of the plasma conductivity.

Resonant frequency-domain interferometry via third-harmonic generation.

A method for measuring resonances using a combination of third-harmonic generation and frequency-domain interferometry is described and demonstrated in an index-matched dielectric material. The phase of the third-harmonic spectrum of a pulse generated from a resonant NdAlO(3) thin film and a temporally displaced sapphire substrate pulse was measured by analyzing the spectral interference pattern. The appropriate combination of substrate and film signals was obtained by translating the sample through the laser focus while observing the third-harmonic intensity.

Cross section for b-Jet production in &pmacr;p collisions at radicals = 1.8 TeV

Bottom-quark production in &pmacr;p collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.8 TeV is studied with 5 pb(-1) of data collected in 1995 by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The differential production cross section for b jets in the central rapidity region ( | y(b)|<1) as a function of jet transverse energy is extracted from a muon-tagged jet sample. Within experimental and theoretical uncertainties, D0 results are found to be higher than, but compatible with, next-to-leading-order QCD predictions.

Isolated photon cross section in p&pmacr; collisions at radicals = 1. 8 TeV

We report a new measurement of the cross section for the production of isolated photons with transverse energies ( E(gamma)(T)) above 10 GeV and pseudorapidities |eta|<2.5 in p&pmacr; collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.8 TeV. The results are based on a data sample of 107.6 pb(-1) recorded during 1992-1995 with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. The background, predominantly from jets which fragment to neutral mesons, was estimated using the longitudinal shower shape of photon candidates in the calorimeter. The measured cross section is in good agreement with the next-to-leading order QCD calculation for E(gamma)(T) greater, similar36 GeV.

Differential production cross section of Z bosons as a function of transverse momentum at sqrt

We present a measurement of the transverse momentum distribution of Z bosons produced in p&pmacr; collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.8 TeV from data collected by the DO experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We find good agreement between our results and current resummation calculations, and also use our data to extract nonperturbative parameters for a particular version of the resummation formalism. The resulting values are significantly more precise than obtained in previous determinations.

Search for second-generation leptoquark pairs in &pmacr;p collisions at radicals = 1.8 TeV

We have searched for second-generation leptoquark (LQ) pairs in the &mgr;&mgr;+jets channel using 94+/-5 pb(-1) of &pmacr;p collider data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron during 1993-1996. No evidence for a signal is observed. These results are combined with those from the &mgr;nu+jets and nunu+jets channels to obtain 95% confidence level (C.L.) upper limits on the LQ pair production cross section as a function of mass and beta, the branching fraction of a LQ decay into a charged lepton and a quark. Lower limits of 200(180) GeV/c(2) for beta = 1(1 / 2) are set at the 95% C.L. on the mass of scalar LQ. Mass limits are also set on vector leptoquarks as a function of beta.

Measurement of the W boson mass using electrons at large rapidities

We report a measurement of the W boson mass based on an integrated luminosity of 82 pb(-1) from p&pmacr; collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.8 TeV recorded in 1994-1995 by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. We identify W bosons by their decays to enu, where the electron is detected in the forward calorimeters. We extract the mass by fitting the transverse mass and the electron and neutrino transverse momentum spectra of 11 089 W boson candidates. We measure M(W) = 80.691+/-0.227 GeV. By combining this measurement with our previously published central calorimeter results from data taken in 1992-1993 and 1994-1995, we obtain M(W) = 80.482+/-0.091 GeV.

Small-angle muon and bottom-quark production in p&pmacr; collisions at radicals = 1.8 TeV

This Letter describes a measurement of the muon cross section originating from b-quark decay in the forward rapidity range 2.4<| y(&mgr;)|<3.2 in p&pmacr; collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.8 TeV. The data used in this analysis were collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron. We find that next-to-leading-order QCD calculations underestimate b-quark production by a factor of 4 in the forward rapidity region.