A Search for $B\to \tau\nu$

Abstract

We report results of a search for $B\to\tau\nu$ in a sample of 9.7 million charged $B$ meson decays. The search uses both $\pi\nu$ and $\ell\nu\bar\nu$ decay modes of the $\tau$, and demands exclusive reconstruction of the companion $\bar B$ decay to suppress background. We set an upper limit on the branching fraction ${\cal B}(B\to \tau\nu) < 8.4\times 10^{-4}$ at 90% confidence level. With slight modification to the analysis we also establish ${\cal B}(B^\pm\to K^\pm\nu\bar\nu) < 2.4\times 10^{-4}$ at 90% confidence level.