Effective-field theory analysis of the $\tau^{-}\to K^{-}(\eta^{(\prime)},K^{0}) \nu_{\tau}$ decays

Abstract

We analyze the decays $\tau^-\to K^-(\eta^{(\prime)},K^0) \nu_\tau$ within an effective field theory that includes the most general interactions between Standard Model fields up to dimension six, assuming left-handed neutrinos. In particular, we examine different interesting phenomenological observables i.e. decay spectra and branching ratio, Dalitz plot distributions and the forward-backward asymmetry, to explore the sensitivity of the corresponding decays to the effects of non-standard interactions. A controlled theoretical input on the Standard Model hadronic form factors, based on chiral symmetry, dispersion relations, data and asymptotic QCD properties, has allowed us to set bounds on the New Physics scalar and tensor effective couplings using the measured branching ratios. These are found to be in line with the findings of our series of previous analyses of two-meson tau decays and less precise than the constraints obtained from semileptonic kaon decays. In order to set stringent limits on these couplings, we will use all available experimental data of all possible di-meson tau decays. This is our next step plan, that we hope to be of interest for future experimental analyses of these decays.