Search for $B\to \nu\bar{\nu}$ and related modes with the BABAR detector

Abstract

We establish improved upper limits on branching fractions for $B^{0}$ decays to final states where the decay products are purely invisible (i.e., no observable final state particles) and for final states where the only visible product is a photon. Within the Standard Model, these decays have branching fractions that are below the current experimental sensitivity, but various models of physics beyond the Standard Model predict significant contributions for these channels. Using 471 million $B\bar{B}$ pairs collected at the $\Upsilon(4S)$ resonance by the BABAR experiment at the PEP-II $e^{+}e^{-}$ storage ring at the SLAC National Accelerator Center, we establish upper limits at the 90% confidence level of $2.4 \times 10^{-5}$ for the branching fraction of $B\to\nu\bar{\nu}$ and $1.7 \times 10^{-5}$ for the branching fraction of $B\to\nu\bar{\nu}\gamma$