Structure Functions and Distributions in Semileptonic Tau Decays

Abstract

Semileptonic decays of polarized $τ$ leptons are investigated. The most general angular distribution of three meson final states ($τ\rightarrow ππν,\,Kπν,\, πππν,\\ \,Kππν,\, KKπν,\, KKKν,\, ηππν,\,\ldots{}$) is discussed. It is shown, that the most general distribution can be characterized by 16 structure functions, most of which can be determined in currently ongoing high statistics experiments. Emphasis is put on $τ$ decays in $e^{+}e^{-}$ experiments where the neutrino escapes detection and the $τ$ rest frame cannot be reconstructed. The structure of the hadronic matrix elements, based on CVC and chiral lagrangians, is discussed.

Presented by E. Mirkes at DPF94 Meeting, Albuquerque, New Mexico, August 2-6,1994. 5 pages (LaTex), 2 uuencoded figures appended, MAD/PH/848