@article{84c293abcb7048e684e55b82731278bb,
title = "Constraints on short-lived axions from the decay π+→e+e-e+ν",
abstract = "Using chiral lagrangian techniques an expected branching ratio of 3×10-6 (mu/md)(ma/1.8 MeV)2 is calculated for the decay mode π+ → ae+ν, where a is a recently proposed short-lived axion variant, and thus earlier estimates of this rate are corrected. A recent measurement limits the decay π+ → e+e-e+ ν at the 10-10 level, which clearly rules out such an axion.",
author = "Krauss, {Lawrence M.} and Wise, {Mark B.}",
note = "Funding Information: Recently, as a result of the observation by the EPOS Collaboration at GSI \[1\]o f narrow peaks in the e ÷ e-spectrum in a variety of heavy ion collisions, there has been a great deal of interest in the possible existence of axions in the relevant mass range (-1.8 MeV). While the standard axion \[2,3\] is convincingly ruled out \[4,5\], a seemingly viable short-lived axion variant has been proposed which does not couple to heavy quarks \[6,7\], and thus avoids constraints from observations of the radiative decay of heavy vector mesons \[4,5\]. As described in ref. \[5\]i f such an axion exists, it could have measurable consequences in a variety of experiments, including beam dumps, K decays, and ~r decays. Here we examine in detail the decay ~-+~ ae+~, where a is a short-lived axion. This 1 Also Visiting Scientist, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA. e Visiting scientist Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. 3 Research supported in part by DOE contract ~DE-AC02-76ER03075 and by a Presidential Young Investigator Award. 4 Work supported in part by the DOE under contracts DE-AC03-81-ER40050 and DE-FG03-84ER40172 and by an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship.",
year = "1986",
month = aug,
day = "28",
doi = "10.1016/0370-2693(86)90201-7",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "176",
pages = "483--485",
journal = "Physics Letters B",
issn = "0370-2693",
publisher = "Elsevier",
number = "3-4",
}