Search for the rare decays $\pi^+ \to \mu^+\nu_\mu\nu\bar\nu$ and $\pi^+ \to e^+\nu_e\nu\bar\nu$

Abstract

The rare pion decays ${\pi}^+{\rightarrow}{\mu}^+{\nu}_{\mu}{\nu}\bar{\nu}$ and ${\pi}^+{\rightarrow}e^+{\nu}_{e}{\nu}\bar{\nu}$ are allowed in the Standard Model but highly suppressed. These decays were searched for using data from the PIENU experiment. A first result for ${\Gamma}({\pi}^+{\rightarrow}{\mu}^+{\nu}_{\mu}{\nu}\bar{\nu})/{\Gamma}({\pi}^+{\rightarrow}{\mu}^+{\nu}_{\mu})<8.6{\times}10^{-6}$, and an improved measurement ${\Gamma}({\pi}^+{\rightarrow}{e}^+{\nu}_{e}{\nu}\bar{\nu})/{\Gamma}({\pi}^+{\rightarrow}{\mu}^+{\nu}_{\mu})<1.6{\times}10^{-7}$ were obtained.