Yield of prompt like-sign dimuons from neutrino interactions

Abstract

We present data on the production by neutrinos of a prompt ${\mu }^{-}{\mu }^{-}$ signal with a rate relative to the ${\mu }^{-}{\mu }^{+}$ rate (single charm production) of 0.07±0.04, 0.12±0.03, and 0.12±0.03 for $p_{\mu }>5, >10,\mathrm{and}>15\mathrm{}$ GeV/c, respectively. The energy dependence of the ratio $N^{\mathrm{pr}}\frac{\left({\mu }^{-}{\mu }^{-}\right)}{N\left({\mu }^{-}\right)}$ is also presented. Like-sign dimuon data from various experiments are summarized and discussed. Our observed ${\mu }^{-}{\mu }^{-}$ rate is roughly two orders of magnitude larger than that expected from leading-order quantum-chromodynamic calculations of associated charm production.