Observation of the radiative kaon decay K − → µ−π0γν

Abstract

Using data collected with the ISTRA+ spectrometer during the 2001 run of the U-70 proton synchrotron in Protvino, the first observation of the radiative kaon decay K − → µ−π0γν is reported. The ratio Br(K µ3γ, 5 < E*γ < 30 MeV)/Br(K µ3) is found to be [0.270 ± 0.029(stat.) ± 0.026(syst.)]% and the ratio Br(K µ3γ, 30 < E*γ < 60 MeV)/Br(K µ3) = [0.0448 ± 0.0068(stat.) ± 0.0099(syst.)]%. These ratios are consistent with the theoretical predictions 0.21 and 0.047%, respectively. The measured angular distribution asymmetry for the region 5 < E*γ < 30 MeV, A(cos ϑ*µγ) = 0.093 ± 0.141, is two standard deviations away from the theoretical prediction of 0.354. The measured asymmetry in the T-odd variable ξ = pγ · (pµ × pπ)/m 3K is −0.03 ± 0.13.