Search for $π^{0} \to ν_{μ} {\bar{ν}}_{μ}$ Decays in the LSND Detector

We observe a net beam excess of

8.7 \pm 6.3 (s t a t) \pm 2.4 (s y s t)

events, above 160 MeV, resulting from the charged-current reaction of

ν_{μ}

and/or

{\bar{ν}}_{μ}

on C and H in the LSND detector. No beam-related muon background is expected in this energy regime. Within an analysis framework of

π^{0} \to ν_{μ} {\bar{ν}}_{μ}

, we set a direct upper limit for this branching ratio of

Γ (π^{0} \to ν_{μ} {\bar{ν}}_{μ}) / Γ (π^{0} \to a l l) < 1.6 \times 10^{- 6}

at 90% confidence level.

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Search forπ0→νμν¯μDecays in the LSND Detector