Abstract
The branching ratio R of pi /sup +/-e/sup +/ to pi /sup +/-- mu /sup +/ decays is shown to be a sensitive test for the presence of the Fermi A type of lepton-nonconserving interaction. For lepton conservation and equal coupling constants for beta decay and mu absorption, R is calculated to be R/sub 0/ = 1.28 x 10/sup -4/ for the A case, which is in excellent agreement with the experimental value of 1 x 10/sup -4/ observed by Anderson et al. If a small lepton-nonconserving interaction strength epsilon = D/sup 2//C/sup 2/ is present, R = 1 + N epsilon )R/sub 0/, where N = 7.45 x 10/sup 4/;thus an admixture of 10/sup -5/ of lepton-nonconserving A interaction would almost double R, and it is concluded that any such admixture must be considerably smaller or nonexistent. (D.L.C.)
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