A search for the decay mu -> e gamma, performed at PSI and based on data from the initial three months of operation of the MEG experiment, yields an upper limit on the branching ratio of BR(mu -> e gamma) < 2.8 x 10**-11 (90% C.L.). This corresponds to the measurement of positrons and photons from ~ 10**14 stopped mu-decays by means of a superconducting positron spectrometer and a 900 litre liquid xenon photon detector.
We present a new result based on an analysis of the data collected by the MEG detector at the Paul Scherrer Institut in 2009 and 2010, in search of the lepton flavour violating decay mu->e gamma. The likelihood analysis of the combined data sample, which corresponds to a total of 1.8 x 10**14 muon decays, gives a 90% C.L. upper limit of 2.4 x 10**-12 on the branching ratio of the mu->e gamma decay, constituting the most stringent limit on the existence of this decay to date.
The MEG (Mu to Electron Gamma) experiment has been running at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI), Switzerland since 2008 to search for the decay meg by using one of the most intense continuous $mu^+$ beams in the world. This paper presents the MEG components: the positron spectrometer, including a thin target, a superconducting magnet, a set of drift chambers for measuring the muon decay vertex and the positron momentum, a timing counter for measuring the positron time, and a liquid xenon detector for measuring the photon energy, position and time. The trigger system, the read-out electronics and the data acquisition system are also presented in detail. The paper is completed with a description of the equipment and techniques developed for the calibration in time and energy and the simulation of the whole apparatus.
The MEG experiment took data at the Paul Scherrer Institute in the years 2009--2013 to test the violation of the lepton flavour conservation law, which originates from an accidental symmetry that the Standard Model of elementary particle physics has, and published the most stringent limit on the charged lepton flavour violating decay ${mu}^+ rightarrow {rm e}^+ gamma$: BR(${mu}^+ rightarrow {rm e}^+ gamma$) $<4.2 times 10^{-13}$ at 90% confidence level. The MEG detector has been upgraded in order to reach a sensitivity of $6times10^{-14}$. The basic principle of MEG II is to achieve the highest possible sensitivity using the full muon beam intensity at the Paul Scherrer Institute ($7times10^{7}$ muons/s) with an upgraded detector. The main improvements are better rate capability of all sub-detectors and improved resolutions while keeping the same detector concept. In this paper, we present the current status of the preparation, integration and commissioning of the MEG II detector in the recent engineering runs.
An experiment has been performed to search for the muon- and electron-number non-conserving decay mu+ to e+_gamma. The upper limit for the branching ratio to be GAMMA(mu+ to e+_gamma)/GAMMA(mu+ to e+_nu_nubar) < 1.2e-11 with 90% confidence.
An upper limit on the branching ratio for the decay K+ --> e+ nu mu+ mu- is set at 5.0 x 10^{-7} at 90% confidence level, consistent with predictions from chiral perturbation theory.