Observation of the ${K}^{+}\to {\pi}^{+}\nu \overline{\nu}$ decay and measurement of its branching ratio
A measurement of the ${K}^{+}\to {\pi}^{+}\nu \overline{\nu}$ decay by the NA62 experiment at the CERN SPS is presented, using data collected in 2021 and 2022. This dataset was recorded, after modifications to the beamline and detectors, at a higher instantaneous beam intensity with respect to the 2016–2018 data taking. Combining NA62 data collected in 2016–2022, a measurement $\mathcal{B} ({K}^{+}\to {\pi}^{+}\nu \overline{\nu}) = \large{(}13.0^{+3.3}_{-3.0}\large{)}$ x $10^{-11}$ of is reported. With 51 signal candidates observed and an expected background of $18^{+3}_{-2}$ events, $\mathcal{B} ({K}^{+}\to {\pi}^{+}\nu \overline{\nu})$ becomes the smallest branching ratio measured with a signal significance above 5σ.