Production ofμ − e + pairs in neutrino interactions in the SKAT bubble chamber experiment

Abstract

The production of μe-pairs is studied in interactions of neutrinos with nuclei of heavy freon in the SKAT bubble chamber experiment. A rate of μ−e+ to charged current interactions above the charm threshold of\(R^{\mu ^ - e^ + } = (4.6 \pm 1.2) \cdot 10^{ - 3} \) is found. The properties of the observed μ−e+ events can be well described by assuming them to originate from the semileptonic decay of quasielastic produced charmed baryonsΛc and inclusive charmedD-meson production. The rates for these reactions are found to be (6.7±3.5)×10−2 and (2.5±0.9)×10−2, respectively. A total charmed particle production rate of (9.2±3.6)×10−2 is calculated.