Inclusive Weak Decays of Charmed Mesons

Citation

Matthews, Christopher Gerald (1993) Inclusive Weak Decays of Charmed Mesons. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/v7vw-np18. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:01042013-100942921

Abstract

Inclusive analyses provide a different insight into our understanding of weak decay physics. In this thesis, I experimentally determine inclusive decay properties of charmed D mesons. I also use exclusive decay predictions from a variety of theoretical models to make predictions about inclusive properties. Both experimental and theoretical realms benefit from the new techniques presented in this thesis.

Inclusive properties derived are the multiplicity distributions, average multiplicities and inclusive branching ratios of charged particles, charged and neutral kaons, and charged pions. The center-of-mass momentum spectra of charged and neutral kaons are also obtained. Additionally, in the theoretical realm only, the inclusive properties of neutral pions, and the center-of-mass momentum spectra of charged and neutral pions are determined.

The experimental analysis, which uses data from the Mark III experiment at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, employs an unfold technique utilizing fold matrices to obtain the charged particle and kaon properties. A new, enhanced unfold technique involving fold tensors obtains the first-ever results for the inclusive charged pion properties. The average strange quark contents and the average charged lepton multiplicities of the D⁺, D⁰ , and D⁺_s are also presented.

In the theoretical analysis, the exclusive decay mode predictions from the factorization model of Bauer, Stech and Wirbel; the quark diagram scheme of Chau and Cheng; and the QCD sum rules model of Blok and Shifman are processed to determine inclusive properties. It is hoped that an examination of a model's inclusive predictions will lead to a better understanding of the model. I also derive inclusive predictions from the D meson exclusive branching ratios compiled by the Particle Data Group.

Thesis Files