PROBING LEPTON FLAVOUR VIOLATION IN νμ + N → τ + ⋯ SCATTERING AND μ → τ CONVERSION ON NUCLEONS

We study lepton flavour-violating interactions which could result in the τ-lepton production in the νμN scattering or in μ → τ conversion on nucleons at high energies. Phenomenological bounds on the strength of interactions are extracted from the combined result of the NOMAD and CHORUS experiments on searching for νμ - ντ oscillations. Some of these bounds supersede limits from rare decays. We also propose a "missing energy" type experiment searching for μ → τ conversion on nucleons. The experiment can be performed at a present accelerator or at a future neutrino factory.