About the decay of the neutral Kaon into three Pions in the book: The Feynman Lectures on Physics

Abstract

In this article we present a mathematical solution that extends and explores the solution found in chapter 11 of the book “Quantum Mechanics”, from “The Feynman Lectures on Physics”, about the neutral Kaon. The extension is built within the context of the CP symmetry for the two neutral Kaon decays considered in this chapter: (i) In two Pions, starting in the |K1⟩ state; (ii) In three Pions, from the |K2⟩ state. We found two mathematical expressions that allow to accommodate, separately, each one of the mean lifetime for these decays, unlike the solution given by Feynman that allows to accommodate only one of these mean lifetime. The extended solution is approximate because a small break in CPT symmetry is assumed in these decays; however, it has the advantage of avoiding the colloquially commented situation by Feynman of remaining “forever” from the neutral Kaon in the |K2⟩ state in the situation in which the only possible decay channel was in two Pions.

Keywords

• Neutral K meson
• CP and CPT symmetry
• Decay of the neutral Kaon into three Pions