$K^0_S$ production in $\tau$ decays

From a sample of about 160k \(\mbox{Z}\!\!\to\!\!\tau^+\tau^-\) candidates collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP between 1991 and 1995, \(\tau\) lepton decays involving \(K^0_S\!\to\!\pi^+\pi^-\) are studied. The \(K^0_SK^0_L\) associated production in \(\tau\) decays is also investigated. The branching ratios are measured for the inclusive decay \(B(\tau^-\!\!\to\!\!K^0_SX^-\nu_\tau)=(9.70\!\p m\!0.58\!\pm\!0.62)\times10^{-3}\), where \(X^-\) can be anything, and for the exclusive decays \(\) The decay \(\tau^-\!\!\to\!\!K^0_SK^0_L\pi^-\nu_\tau\) is studied for the first time, giving a branching ratio \(\) The channels \(\tau^- \!\!\!\to\!\!\! K^0_SK^0_S\pi^-\nu_\tau \), \(\tau^- \!\!\!\to\!\!\! K^0_SK^0_S\pi^-\pi^0\nu_\tau \), \(\tau^-\!\!\!\to\!\!\! K^0_SK^0_L\pi^-\pi^0\nu_\tau \), \(\tau^- \!\!\!\to\!\!\! \overline{K}^0\pi^-\pi^0\pi^0\nu_\tau\), \(\tau^- \!\!\!\to\!\!\! K^0K^-\pi^0\pi^0\nu_\tau\) and \(\tau^- \!\!\!\to\!\!\! K^0h^+h^-h^-\nu_\tau\) are also investigated. In addition, mass spectra in the \(K^0_Sh^-\) and \(K^0_Sh^-\pi^0\) final states are analysed to provide information on the intermediate states produced in the decays.