Which Experiments Proved CP Violation in Particle Decays?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on the experiments that demonstrated CP violation in particle decays, specifically examining the 1964 Fitch/Cronin experiment, as well as subsequent experiments at CERN and Fermilab. Participants inquire about the nature of these decays and their significance in the context of CP violation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the decay K0 -> π+π- or the oscillations between K0 and K0-bar were responsible for proving CP violation in the Fitch/Cronin experiment, or if both were involved.
  • Another participant asserts that the observation of K_long decaying into two pions was the key evidence for CP violation in the C&F experiment.
  • A follow-up inquiry seeks clarification on whether the observed pions were π+π- or π0π0, noting the ambiguity in available literature.
  • It is clarified that the C&F experiment specifically observed the decay into π+ and π-, while π0π0 decays were observed later and were more challenging to detect.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the significance of the K_long decay into two pions as evidence for CP violation, but there is some uncertainty regarding the specific types of pions involved and the details of other experiments.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects varying levels of detail in the descriptions of the experiments and their findings, with some assumptions about the clarity of the literature on the subject.

ryanwilk
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Hi, I'm currently producing an undergraduate poster on CP violation and I have a few questions:

- Was K0 -> [tex]\pi[/tex]++[tex]\pi[/tex]- the decay which proved CP violation in the 1964 Fitch/Cronin experiment, or was it oscillations between K0 and [tex]\overline{K}[/tex]0, or both? (Answered)

- How were the decays in CERN's NA31/NA48 and Fermilab's KTeV experiments different and what makes them "direct CP violation"?

- Which B meson decays were studied at BaBar and Belle, and in particular, which ones were significant in terms of CP violation?

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!
 
Last edited:
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For C&F it was just the observation of K_long (the long lived neutral K)--> 2 pions that violated CP.
 
Ah ok, just to check, were they [tex]\pi[/tex]+[tex]\pi[/tex]- or [tex]\pi[/tex]0[tex]\pi[/tex]0?
Looking around the internet, the only articles I can find just say "two pions" or "2[tex]\pi[/tex]"...
 
Last edited:
C&F saw only pi+ and pi-.
The two pi0 were harder to see and only were seen several years later.
 
Oh ok, thanks! :smile:
 

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