Search for Proton Decay via p -> e^+ pi^0 and p -> mu^+ pi^0 in a Large Water Cherenkov Detector

Abstract

We have searched for proton decays via p -> e^+ pi^0 and p -> mu^+ pi^0 using data from a 91.7 kiloton year exposure of Super-Kamiokande-I and a 49.2 kiloton year exposure of Super-Kamiokande-II. No candidate events were observed with expected backgrounds induced by atmospheric neutrinos of 0.3 events for each decay mode. From these results, we set lower limits on the partial lifetime of 8.2$\times10^{33}$ and 6.6$\times10^{33}$ years at 90% confidence level for p -> e^+ pi^0 and p -> mu^+ pi^0 modes, respectively.