Production properties of K*(892) vector mesons and their spin alignment as measured in the NOMAD experiment

First measurements of K*(892)(+/-): mesons production properties and their spin alignment in upsilon(mu) charged current (CC) and neutral current (NC) interactions are presented. The analysis of the full data sample of the NOMAD experiment is performed in different kinematic regions. For K*(+) and K* mesons produced in nu(mu) CC interactions and decaying into K-0 pi(+): we have found the following yields per event: (2.6 +/- 0.2 (stat.) +/- 0.2 (syst.))% and (1.6 +/- 0.1 (stat.) 0.1 (syst.))% respectively, while for the K*+ and K* mesons produced in v NC interactions the corresponding yields per event are: (2.5 +/- 0.3 (stat.) +/- 0.3 (syst.))% and (1.0 +/- 0.3 (stat.) +/- 0.2 (syst.))%. The results obtained for the rho(00) parameter, 0.40 +/- 0.06(stat.)+/- 0.03(syst.) and 0.28 +/- 0.07(stat.)+/- 0.03(syst.) for K* (892)(+) and K*(892)(-) produced in vi, CC interactions, are compared to theoretical predictions tuned on LEP measurements in e(+)e(-) annihilation at the Z(0) pole. For K*(892)(+) mesons produced in nu NC interactions the measured rho(00) parameter is 0.66 +/- 0.10 (stat.) +/- 0.05 (syst.).