We present a search for the decay B+ -> l(+)nu(l) (l = tau, mu, or e) in (458.9 +/- 5.1) x 10(6) B (B) over bar pairs recorded with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II B-factory. We search for these B decays in a sample of B+B- events where one B- meson is reconstructed as B- -> D(0)l(-)(nu) over barX. Using the method of Feldman and Cousins, we obtain B(B+ -> tau(+)nu(tau)) = (1.7 +/- 0.8 +/- 0.2) x 10(-4), which excludes zero at 2.3 sigma. We interpret the central value in the context of the standard model and find the B meson decay constant to be f(B)(2) = (62 +/- 31) x 10(3) MeV2. We find no evidence for B+ -> e(+)nu(e) and B+ -> mu(+)nu(mu) and set upper limits at the 90% C. L. B(B+ -> e(+)nu(e)) mu(+)nu(mu)) < 1.1 x 10(-5).

This work is supported by DOE and NSF (USA), NSERC (Canada), CEA and CNRS-IN2P3 (France), BMBF and DFG (Germany), INFN (Italy), FOM(The Netherlands), NFR (Norway), MES (Russia), MEC (Spain), and STFC (United Kingdom). Individuals have received support from the Marie Curie EIF (European Union) and the A. P. Sloan Foundation.

Peer reviewed