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Kunze, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Kunze, J..

Measurement of the $K^{+} → π^{+} γγ$ decay

A sample of 3984 candidates of the $K^{+} → π^{+} γγ$ decay, with an estimated background of 291 ± 14 events, was collected by the NA62 experiment at CERN during 2017–2018. In order to describe the observed di-photon mass spectrum, the next-to-leading order contribution in chiral perturbation theory was found to be necessary. The decay branching ratio in the full kinematic range is measured to be (9.61 ± 0.17) x 10 -7 . The first search for production and prompt decay of an axion-like particle with gluon coupling in the process $K^{+} → π^{+} a$, $a → γγ$ is also reported.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Improved calorimetric particle identification in NA62 using machine learning techniques

Measurement of the ultra-rare $K^+$ → $π$ +$ν$$\overline{ν}$ decay at the NA62 experiment at CERN requires high-performance particle identification to distinguish muons from pions. Calorimetric identification currently in use, based on a boosted decision tree algorithm, achieves a muon misidentification probability of 1.2×10 -5 for a pion identification efficiency of 75% in the momentum range of 15–40 GeV/c. In this work, calorimetric identification performance is improved by developing an algorithm based on a convolutional neural network classifier augmented by a filter. Muon misidentification probability is reduced by a factor of six with respect to the current value for a fixed pion-identification efficiency of 75%. Alternatively, pion identification efficiency is improved from 72% to 91% for a fixed muon misidentification probability of 10 -5 .

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Search for K + decays into the π + e + e - e + e - final state

The first search for ultra-rare K + decays into the π + e + e - e + e - final state is reported, using a dataset collected by the NA62 experiment at CERN in 2017–2018. An upper limit of 1.4 x 10 -8 at 90% CL is obtained for the branching ratio of the K + → π + e + e - e + e - decay, predicted in the Standard Model to be (7.2 ± 0.7) x 10 -11 . Upper limits at 90% CL are obtained at the level of 10 -9 for the branching ratios of two prompt decay chains involving pair-production of hidden-sector mediators: K + → π + aa,a → e + e - and K + → π + S,S → A'A',A' → e + e - .

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗