Measurement of the absolute branching fraction for D(0) -> K- pi+

Abstract

Using 1.79 fb-1 of data recorded by the CLEO II detector we have measured the absolute branching fraction for D0 --> K-pi+. The angular correlation between the pi+ emitted in the decay D*+ --> D0pi+, and the jet direction in e+e- --> ccBAR events, is used to determine the total number of inclusive D0 mesons produced from this source. The subsequent reconstruction of the decay chain D*+ --> D0pi+, D0 --> K-pi+ allows a measurement of the absolute D0 --> K-pi+ branching fraction. Correcting for decay radiation in the final state, we find B(D0 --> K-pi+) = [3.95 +/- 0.08(stat)+/-0.17(syst)]%.