Abstract
We present the results of a search for the rare flavor-changing neutral-current decays B -> pi l(+)l(-) (pi = pi(+), pi(0) and l = e, mu) and B-0 -> eta l(+)l(-) using a sample of e(+)e(-) -> Upsilon(4S) -> B (B) over bar decays corresponding to 428 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected by the BABAR detector. No significant signal is observed, and we set an upper limit on the isospin and lepton-flavor averaged branching fraction of B(B -> pi l(+)l(-)) < 5.9 x 10(-8) and a lepton-flavor averaged upper limit of B(B-0 -> eta l(+)l(-)) < 6.4 x 10(-8), both at the 90% confidence level. We also report 90% confidence level branching fraction upper limits for the individual modes B+ -> pi(+)e(+)e(-), B-0 -> pi(0)e(+)e(-), B-0 -> pi(+)mu(+)mu(-), B-0 -> pi(+)mu(+)mu(-), B-0 -> pi(0)mu(+)mu(-), B-0 -> eta e(+)e(-), and B-0 ->eta mu(+)mu(-).
We are grateful for the extraordinary contributions of our PEP-II colleagues in achieving the excellent luminosity and machine conditions that have made this work possible. The success of this project also relies critically on the expertise and dedication of the computing organizations that support BABAR. The collaborating institutions wish to thank SLAC for its support and the kind hospitality extended to them. This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and National Science Foundation, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (Canada), the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique and Institut National de Physique Nucleaire et de Physique des Particules (France), the Bundesministerium fur Bildung und Forschung and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Germany), the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (Italy), the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (Netherlands), the Research Council of Norway, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Spain), and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (United Kingdom). Individuals have received support from the Marie-Curie IEF program (European Union) and the A. P. Sloan Foundation (USA).
Peer reviewed