Measurements of the $\Xi^0$ lifetime and the $\overline{\Xi^0}/\Xi^0$ flux ratio in a neutral beam

A total of 235 698 Xi0 -> Lambda pi0 and 21 527 anti-Xi0 -> anti-Lambda pi0 decays were selected from data obtained by the NA48/1 experiment at CERN. From this sample, the lifetime of the Xi0 hyperon was measured to be (3.065 +- 0.012(stat) +- 0.014(syst)) x 10^-10 s. This result is about two standard deviations above the world average and an order of magnitude more precise than the previous best measurement. With the same data sample, we have measured the ratio of anti-Xi0 and Xi0 fluxes in proton collisions at 400 GeV/c on a beryllium target.