RESUMO
Search results for nucleon decays pâe^{+}X, pâµ^{+}X, nâνγ (where X is an invisible, massless particle) as well as dinucleon decays npâe^{+}ν, npâµ^{+}ν, and npâτ^{+}ν in the Super-Kamiokande experiment are presented. Using single-ring data from an exposure of 273.4 kton·yr, a search for these decays yields a result consistent with no signal. Accordingly, lower limits on the partial lifetimes of τ_{pâe^{+}X}>7.9×10^{32} yr, τ_{pâµ^{+}X}>4.1×10^{32} yr, τ_{nâνγ}>5.5×10^{32} yr, τ_{npâe^{+}ν}>2.6×10^{32} yr, τ_{npâµ^{+}ν}>2.2×10^{32} yr, and τ_{npâτ^{+}ν}>2.9×10^{31} yr at a 90% confidence level are obtained. Some of these searches are novel.
RESUMO
Super-Kamiokande (SK) can search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) by detecting neutrinos produced from WIMP annihilations occurring inside the Sun. In this analysis, we include neutrino events with interaction vertices in the detector in addition to upward-going muons produced in the surrounding rock. Compared to the previous result, which used the upward-going muons only, the signal acceptances for light (few-GeV/c^{2}-200-GeV/c^{2}) WIMPs are significantly increased. We fit 3903 days of SK data to search for the contribution of neutrinos from WIMP annihilation in the Sun. We found no significant excess over expected atmospheric-neutrino background and the result is interpreted in terms of upper limits on WIMP-nucleon elastic scattering cross sections under different assumptions about the annihilation channel. We set the current best limits on the spin-dependent WIMP-proton cross section for WIMP masses below 200 GeV/c^{2} (at 10 GeV/c^{2}, 1.49×10^{-39} cm^{2} for χχâbb[over ¯] and 1.31×10^{-40} cm^{2} for χχâτ^{+}τ^{-} annihilation channels), also ruling out some fraction of WIMP candidates with spin-independent coupling in the few-GeV/c^{2} mass range.
RESUMO
The trilepton nucleon decay modes pâe+νν and pâµ+νν violate |Δ(B-L)| by two units. Using data from a 273.4 kt yr exposure of Super-Kamiokande a search for these decays yields a fit consistent with no signal. Accordingly, lower limits on the partial lifetimes of τpâe+νν>1.7×10(32) years and τpâµ+νν>2.2×10(32) years at a 90% confidence level are obtained. These limits can constrain Grand Unified Theories which allow for such processes.
RESUMO
We report an indication that the elastic scattering rate of solar B8 neutrinos with electrons in the Super-Kamiokande detector is larger when the neutrinos pass through Earth during nighttime. We determine the day-night asymmetry, defined as the difference of the average day rate and average night rate divided by the average of those two rates, to be [-3.2 ± 1.1(stat) ± 0.5(syst)]%, which deviates from zero by 2.7 σ. Since the elastic scattering process is mostly sensitive to electron-flavored solar neutrinos, a nonzero day-night asymmetry implies that the flavor oscillations of solar neutrinos are affected by the presence of matter within the neutrinos' flight path. Super-Kamiokande's day-night asymmetry is consistent with neutrino oscillations for 4 × 10(-5) eV(2) ≤ Δm 2(21) ≤ 7 × 10(-5) eV(2) and large mixing values of θ12, at the 68% C.L.