Eur. Phys. J. C (2004) 35: 195-196
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s2004-01813-6

theoretical physics

Evidence for time-reversal violation?

Institute for Particle Physics, ETH, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland

Abstract

The experiment CPLEAR at CERN has measured an asymmetry between the transition rates of the antikaon to kaon process, and its reverse, kaon to antikaon. The present note shows, based on a criterion by Wolfenstein, that this observation constitutes direct evidence for time-reversal violation. Experiments at FNAL (KTEV) and CERN (NA48) have measured a T-odd asymmetry in the K _L decay. Based on an analysis by Sehgal and van Leusen, it is demonstrated that this asymmetry is well described by a (hypothetical) kaon time evolution, which is time-reversal invariant.