Measurement of the absolute branching ratio of the $K^+ \rightarrow \pi^+\pi^-\pi^+(\gamma)$ decay with the KLOE detector

Abstract

The absolute branching ratio of the $K^+ \rightarrow \pi^+\pi^-\pi^+(\gamma)$ decay, inclusive of final-state radiation, has been measured using $\sim$17 million tagged $K^+$ mesons collected with the KLOE detector at DA$\Phi$NE, the Frascati $\phi$-factory. The result is: \[ BR(K^+ \rightarrow \pi^+\pi^-\pi^+(\gamma)) = 0.05565 \pm 0.00031_{stat} \pm 0.00025_{syst} \] a factor $\simeq$ 5 more precise with respect to the previous result. This work completes the program of precision measurements of the dominant kaon branching ratios at KLOE.