A search for heavy leptons using a differential Cherenkov counter
A search for heavy leptons has been performed at the Brookhaven National Laboratory Alternating Gradient Synchrotron. Particular emphasis has been placed on the possible existence of leptons with mass slightly less than the K meson mass. The experiment used a high resolution differential Cherenkov counter to identify known beam particles and place upper limits on the abundance of other particles in the beam. The details of the design and performance of this Cherenkov counter are given. Heavy leptons of mass near the K meson mass were sought by looking for anomalous penetration of lead by particles identified as K mesons in the differential Cherenkov counter. The result is presented as the 95% confidence limit that there is no anomalous penetration of lead by K mesons. This limit is compared with an estimate of the number of. heavy leptons expected as a function of their mass and lifetime and under reasonable assumptions about their production. Total cross sections for 3.05 BeV/c rr- and K- and 4.60 BeV/c p interacting with lead are given. A summary of present limits on the existence of heavy leptons is presented.
heavy leptons, differential cherenkov counter, Brookhaven national laboratory alternating gradient synchrotron, beam particles
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
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