Search for Proton Decay through p [r arrow] [bar [nu]]K[sup +] in a Large Water Cherenkov Detector

We present results of a search for proton decays, p[r arrow][bar [nu]]K[sup +] , using data from a 33 kt[center dot]yr exposure of the Super-Kamiokande detector. Two decay modes of the kaon, K[sup +][r arrow][mu][sup +][nu][sub [mu]] and K[sup +][r arrow][pi][sup +][pi][sup 0] , were studied. The data were consistent with the background expected from atmospheric neutrinos; therefore a lower limit on the partial lifetime of the proton [tau]/B(p[r arrow][bar [nu]] K[sup +]) was found to be 6.7[times]10[sup 32] years at 90[percent] confidence level. [copyright] [ital 1999] [ital The American Physical Society]