Observation of direct CP violation in $B^0 \to K^+ \pi^-$ decays

We present an updated search for direct CP violation in the decay B0 -> K+pi-. Using 227 million Y(4S) -> BBbar decays collected with the BaBar detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e+e- collider at SLAC, we observe a total signal yield of n(K-pi+) + n(K+pi-) = 1606 +- 51 decays and measure the asymmetry [n(K-pi+)-n(K+pi-)]/[n(K-p+-)+n(K+pi-)] = -0.133+-0.030 (stat) +- 0.009 (syst). This measurement establishes direct CP violation in the B0 meson system at the level of 4.2 standard deviations.