Search for the decay D^0 → γγ and measurement of the branching fraction for D^0 → π^0π^0

Creators: Lees, J. P.; Cheng, C. H.; Doll, D. A.; Echenard, B.; Flood, K. T.; Hitlin, D. G.; Ongmongkolkul, P.; Porter, F. C.; Rakitin, A. Y.; BaBar Collaboration

Abstract

We search for the rare decay of the D^0 meson to two photons, D^0→γγ, and present a measurement of the branching fraction for a D^0 meson decaying to two neutral pions, B(D^0→π^0π^0). The data sample analyzed corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 470.5 fb^(-1) collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e^+e^- collider at SLAC. We place an upper limit on the branching fraction, B(D^0→γγ)<2.2×10^(-6), at 90% confidence level. This limit improves on the existing limit by an order of magnitude. We also find B(D^0→π^0π^0)=(8.4±0.1±0.4±0.3)×10^(-4).

Additional Information

© 2012 American Physical Society. Received 28 October 2011; published 18 May 2012. We are grateful for the extraordinary contributions of our PEP-II colleagues in achieving the excellent luminosity and machine conditions that have made this work possible. The success of this project also relies critically on the expertise and dedication of the computing organizations that support BABAR. The collaborating institutions wish to thank S. L. A. C. for its support and the kind hospitality extended to them. This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and National Science Foundation, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (Canada), the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique and Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules (France), the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Germany), the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (Italy), the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (The Netherlands), the Research Council of Norway, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovaciόn (Spain), and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (United Kingdom). Individuals have received support from the Marie-Curie IEF program (European Union), the A.P. Sloan Foundation (USA) and the Binational Science Foundation (USA-Israel).

Attached Files

Published - Lees2012p18516Phys_Rev_D.pdf

Files

Lees2012p18516Phys_Rev_D.pdf

Files (244.4 kB)

Name	Size	Download all
Lees2012p18516Phys_Rev_D.pdf md5:8d0a2a930d4bde0a39d08614617f55c1	244.4 kB	Preview Download

Additional details

	All versions	This version
Views	0	0
Downloads	0	0
Data volume	0 Bytes	0 Bytes