A search for direct electron production in $\text{p}$p interactions at 2.0 GeV/c

Abstract

A search for prompt electron production in $\text{p}$p annihilations from an exposure of 2 GeV/c$\text{p}$'s in a bubble chamber with a track-sensitive target is presented. Subtracting the expected Dalitz decay of η and ω for pair masses m_e + _e − >m_π0 we obtain 95% confidence level upper limits for the ratio $\text{R =}\text{N}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>e</mtext>}}\text{−}\text{N}{}_{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{−}\text{=}\text{N}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>e</mtext>}}\text{+}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>e</mtext>}}\text{−}\text{N}{}_{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{0}$ as 7 × 10⁻⁵.