The specialists from the Institute of Nuclear Physics are participating in the international NA62 collaboration, hosted by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), and are contributing to new results in the study of one of the rare processes in particle physics—kaon decay.
Since 2023, Kazakhstani scientists have been involved in the operation and technical support of the experimental setup, including work with the straw spectrometer, and are also participating in the collection and analysis of experimental data.
In the latest analysis, based on the full data set, including 2023–2024, the NA62 collaboration obtained a refined value for the probability of the ultra-rare decay K⁺ → π⁺ ν ν̄, which occurs approximately once in ten billion events. The measured value was: 9.6 × 10⁻¹¹, while the accuracy of the result increased significantly—the uncertainty was reduced by 40%.
This process is of particular value for fundamental science, as it is one of the most sensitive tests of the Standard Model—the key theory describing the structure of elementary particles and their interactions.
The results obtained are fully consistent with theoretical predictions and strengthen constraints on the possible manifestations of "new physics" beyond existing scientific models.
The Institute of Nuclear Physics's participation in the NA62 project provides access to the CERN's advanced research infrastructure and technologies, and allows Kazakhstani scientists to participate in global scientific discoveries and contribute to the development of fundamental science worldwide.
https://home.cern/news/news/physics/na62-collaboration-refines-measurement-rare-particle-decay
