Searching for the μ⁺ → e⁺ γ decay as a sensitive probe for physics beyond the Standard Model: first results from the MEG experiment at PSI

by Dr Giovanni Signorelli (INFN Pisa)

Thursday 3 Dec 2009, 16:00 → 17:15 Europe/Brussels

E/3rd floor-E.349 - Seminar room (E.349) (Marc de Hemptinne (chemin du Cyclotron, 2, Louvain-la-Neuve))

The μ →e γ decay, whose rate is negligibly small in the Standard Model, is instead foreseen to occur in supersymmetric grand unified theories (SUSY-GUT) with a branching ratio which might be detectable by the MEG experiment. In this apparatus muons from the most intense continuous muon source available are stopped on a thin target. Photons are measured by a large (~1 m³) innovative liquid xenon detector while positrons are measured by a spectrometer immersed in a non-homogeneous magnetic field. After the SUSY-GUT predictions for the μ → e γ decay rate, the MEG experiment design will be illustrated and results from a first period of data taking, which took place in the last three months of 2008, will be shown. The current status of the experiment and the foreseen sensitivity to the μ → e γ decay will be also presented.

Slides Signorelli_Lovanio_lowres.pdf