Observation of the DecayK+→π+γγ

Abstract

The first observation of the decay K{sup +}{r_arrow}{pi}{sup +}{gamma}{gamma} is reported. A total of 31 events was observed with an estimated background of 5.1{plus_minus}3.3 events in the {pi}{sup +} momentum range from 100 to 180 MeV/{ital c}. The corresponding partial branching ratio, B(K{sup +}{r_arrow}{pi}{sup +}{gamma}{gamma} ,100 MeV/c{lt}P{sub {pi}{sup +} }{lt}180 MeV/c) , is [6.0{plus_minus}1.5(stat){plus_minus}0.7 (syst)]{times}10{sup {minus}7} . No K{sup +}{r_arrow}{pi}{sup +}{gamma}{gamma} decay was observed in the {pi}{sup +} momentum region greater than 215 MeV/{ital c}. The observed {pi}{sup +} momentum spectrum is compared with the predictions of chiral perturbation theory. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}