A study of the K → μ ν_μ γ decay with the NA62 experiment at CERN

Abstract

The following dissertation describes the results obtained from a yearlong research project undertaken at the University of Bristol. Utilising the data collected by the NA62 experiment at CERN in 2016, this thesis presents a study of the Kμνγ decay. An overview of the selection criteria, and simulation of the relevant kaon decays, precedes the analysis of the data and its attempt to
extract form factors.

This study collected results which assessed the kinematic distribution and missing mass, following a selection process, in an attempt to identify events from the Kμνγ decay mode. Prior to the investigation of the decay in the 2016 data, the theoretical framework of the experiment was explored in depth, with particular emphasis on the decay signatures of background modes.

Monte Carlo simulations were used to interrogate a function and its ability to accurately extract form factors from the kinematic distribution of the Kμνγ decay. This study was unable to apply this function to data, due to the lack of events in the final selection.

Date of Award	23 Jan 2020
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bristol
Supervisor	Helen F Heath (Supervisor)