0000000000037548

AUTHOR

Roger Forty

Determination of the LEP centre-of-mass energy from Zγ events

Radiative returns to the Z resonance (Zgamma events) are used to determine the LEP2 centre-of-mass energy from the data collected with the ALEPH detector in 1997. The average centre-of-mass energy is measured to be: E_CM = 182.50 +- 0.19(stat) +- 0.08(syst) GeV in good agreement with the precise determination by the LEP energy working group of 182.652 +- 0.050 GeV. If applied to the measurement of the W mass, its precision translates into a systematic error on M_W which is smaller than the statistical error achieved from the corresponding dataset.

research product

Evidence for the decay X(3872)→ψ(2S)γ

Evidence for the decay mode X(3872) -> psi(2S)gamma in B+ -> X(3872)K+ decays is found with a significance of 4.4 standard deviations. The analysis is based on a data sample of proton proton collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1), collected with the LHCb detector, at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The ratio of the branching fraction of the X(3872) -> psi(2S)gamma decay to that of the X(3872) -> J/psi gamma decay is measured to be B(X(3872) -> psi(2S)gamma)/B(X(3872) -> J/psi gamma) = 2.46 +/- 0.64 +/- 0.29, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The measured value does not support a pure D (D) over bar* molecular interpre…

research product

First observation of a baryonic Bc+ decay

A baryonic decay of the $B_c^+$ meson, $B_c^+\to J/\psi p\overline{p}\pi^+$, is observed for the first time, with a significance of $7.3$ standard deviations, in $pp$ collision data collected with the LHCb detector and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3.0$ fb$^{-1}$ taken at center-of-mass energies of $7$ and $8$ $\mathrm{TeV}$. With the $B_c^+\to J/\psi \pi^+$ decay as normalization channel, the ratio of branching fractions is measured to be \begin{equation*} \frac{\mathcal{B}(B_c^+\to J/\psi p\overline{p}\pi^+)}{\mathcal{B}(B_c^+\to J/\psi \pi^+)} = 0.143^{\,+\,0.039}_{\,-\,0.034}\,(\mathrm{stat})\pm0.013\,(\mathrm{syst}). \end{equation*} The mass of the $B_c^+$ meson is dete…

research product

Search for γγ→ηb in e+e− collisions at LEP 2

A search for the pseudoscalar meson eta_b is performed in two-photon interactions at LEP~2 with an integrated luminosity of 699 pb^-1 collected at e+e- centre-of-mass energies from 181 GeV to 209 GeV. One candidate event is found in the six-charged-particle final state and none in the four-charged-particle final state, in agreement with the total expected background of about one event. Upper limits of Gamma_gammagamma(eta_b) * BR(eta_b -> 4 charged particles) 6 charged particles) < 132 eV are obtained at 95% confidence level, which correspond to 95% confidence level upper limits of 9.0% and 25% on these branching ratios.

research product

Search for theX(4140)state inB+→J/ψϕK+decays

We investigate the decay B+ -> J/psi phi K+ in a search for the X(4140) state, a narrow threshold resonance in the J/psi phi system. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 10.4 fb(-1) of p (p) over bar collisions at root s = 1.96 TeV collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. We observe a mass peak with a statistical significance of 3.1 standard deviations and measure its invariant mass to be M = 4159.0 +/- 4.3(stat) +/- 6.6(syst) MeV and its width to be Gamma = 19.9 +/- 12.6(stat)(-8.0)(+3.0)(syst) MeV.

research product

Four-jet final state production in e+e- collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 130 and 136 GeV

The four-jet final state is analyzed to search for hadronic decays of pair-produced heavy particles. The analysis uses the ALEPH data collected at LEP in November 1995 at centre-of-mass energies of 130 and 136 GeV, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 5.7 pb(-1). An excess of four-jet events is observed with respect to the standard model predictions. In addition, these events exhibit an enhancement in the sum of the two di-jet masses around 105 GeV/c(2). The properties of these events are studied and compared to the expectations from standard processes and to pair production hypotheses. RI ANTONELLI, ANTONELLA/C-6238-2011; Passalacqua, Luca/F-5127-2011; Murtas, Fabrizio/B-5729-…

research product

Study ofB−→DK−π+π−andB−→Dπ−π+π−decays and determination of the CKM angleγ

We report a study of the suppressed B- -> DK-pi(+)pi(-) and favored B- -> D pi(-)pi(+)pi(-) decays, where the neutral D meson is detected through its decays to the K--/+pi(+/-) and CP -even K+K- and pi(+)pi(-) final states. The measurement is carried out using a proton-proton collision data sample collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1). We observe the first significant signals in the CP - even final states of the D meson for both the suppressed B- -> DK-pi(+)pi(-) and favored B- -> D pi(-)pi(+)pi(-) modes, as well as in the doubly Cabibbo suppressed D -> K+pi(-) final state of the B- -> D pi(-)pi(+)pi(-) decay. Evidence for the suppressed d…

research product

Observations of Bs0→ψ(2S)η and B(s)0→ψ(2S)π+π− decays

First observations of the $B^0_s \rightarrow \psi(2S) \eta$, $B^0 \rightarrow \psi(2S) \pi^+ \pi^-$ and $B^0_s \rightarrow \psi(2S) \pi^+ \pi^-$ decays are made using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0~$fb^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV. The ratios of the branching fractions of each of the $\psi(2S)$ modes with respect to the corresponding $J/\psi$ decays are \[ \frac{\mathcal{B}(B^0_s \rightarrow \psi(2S) \eta) }{\mathcal{B}(B^0_s \rightarrow J/\psi \eta)} =0.83\pm0.14\,(stat)\pm0.12\,(syst)\pm0.02\,(\mathcalB}), \] \[ \frac{\mathcal{B}(B^0 \rightarrow \psi(2S) \pi^+ \pi^-)}{\mathcal{…

research product

Amplitude analysis ofB0→D¯0K+π−decays

The Dalitz plot distribution of B-0 -> (D) over bar K-0(+)pi(-) decays is studied using a data sample corresponding to 3.0 fb(-1) of pp collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2011 and 2012. The data are described by an amplitude model that contains contributions from intermediate K* (892)(0), K*(1410)(0), K-2*(1430)(0) and D-2(*)(2460)(-) resonances. The model also contains components to describe broad structures, including the K-0(*)(1430)(0) and D-0(*)(2400)(-) resonances, in the K pi S-wave and the D pi S-and P-waves. The masses and widths of the D-0*(2400)(-) and D-2(*)(2460)(-) resonances are measured, as are the complex amplitudes and fit fractions for all components in…

research product

First observation of the doubly charmed baryon decay Ξcc++→Ξc+π+

The doubly charmed baryon decay Ξcc++→Ξc+π+ is observed for the first time, with a statistical significance of 5.9σ, confirming a recent observation of the baryon in the Λc+K−π+π+ final state. The data sample used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.7 fb−1, collected by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The Ξcc++ mass is measured to be 3620.6±1.5(stat)±0.4(syst)±0.3(Ξc+) MeV/c2 and is consistent with the previous result. The ratio of branching fractions between the decay modes is measured to be [B(Ξcc++→Ξc+π+)×B(Ξc+→pK−π+)]/[B(Ξcc++→Λc+K−π+π+)×B(Λc+→pK−π+)]=0.035±0.009(stat)±0.003(syst).

research product

Model-Independent Evidence forJ/ψpContributions toΛb0→J/ψpK−Decays

The data sample of Lambda(0)(b) -> J/psi pK(-) decays acquired with the LHCb detector from 7 and 8 TeV pp collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1), is inspected for the presence of J/psi p or J/psi K- contributions with minimal assumptions about K(-)p contributions. It is demonstrated at more than nine standard deviations that Lambda(0)(b) -> J/psi pK(-) decays cannot be described with K- p contributions alone, and that J/psi K- contributions play a dominant role in this incompatibility. These model-independent results support the previously obtained model-dependent evidence for P-c(+)-> J/psi p charmonium-pentaquark states in the same data sample.

research product

Measurement ofCPviolation inBs0→ϕϕdecays

A measurement of the decay time-dependent CP-violating asymmetry in B-s(0) -> phi phi decays is presented, along with measurements of the T-odd triple-product asymmetries. In this decay channel, the CP-violating weak phase arises from the interference between B-s(0) -(B) over bar (0)(s) mixing and the loop-induced decay amplitude. Using a sample of proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1) collected with the LHCb detector, a signal yield of approximately 4000 B-s(0) -> phi phi decays is obtained. The CP-violating phase is measured to be phi(s) = -0.17 +/- 0.15(stat) +/- 0.03(syst) rad. The triple-product asymmetries are measured to be A(U) = -0.003…

research product

First Observation ofD0−D¯0Oscillations inD0→K+π−π+π−Decays and Measurement of the Associated Coherence Parameters

Charm meson oscillations are observed in a time-dependent analysis of the ratio of D0→K+π−π+π− to D0→K−π+π−π+ decay rates, using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0fb−1 recorded by the LHCb experiment. The measurements presented are sensitive to the phase-space averaged ratio of doubly Cabibbo-suppressed to Cabibbo-favoured amplitudes rK3πD and the product of the coherence factor RK3πD and a charm mixing parameter y′K3π. The constraints measured are rK3πD=(5.67±0.12)×10−2, which is the most precise determination to date, and RK3πD⋅y′K3π=(0.3±1.8)×10−3, which provides useful input for determinations of the CP-violating phase γ in B±→DK±,D→K∓π±π∓π± decays. The analysis also …

research product

Measurement of the resonant andCPcomponents inB¯0→J/ψπ+π−decays

The resonant structure of the reaction (B) over bar (0) --> J/psi pi(+)pi(-) is studied using data from 3 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected by the LHCb experiment, one third at 7 TeV center-of-mass energy and the remainder at 8 TeV. The invariant mass of the pi(+)pi(-) pair and three decay angular distributions are used to determine the fractions of the resonant and nonresonant components. Six interfering pi(+)pi(-) states, rho(770), f(0)(500), f(2)(1270), rho(1450), omega(782) and rho(1700), are required to give a good description of invariant mass spectra and decay angular distributions. The positive and negative charge parity fractions of each of the resonant final states are det…

research product

Measurement of theB¯s0Meson Lifetime inDs+π−Decays

The first measurement of the effective lifetime of the (B) over bar (o)(s) meson in the decay (B) over bar (o)(s) -> D-s(-) D-s(+) is reported using a proton-proton collision data set, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1), collected by the LHCb experiment. The measured value of the (B) over bar (o)(s) -> D-s(-) D-s(+) effective lifetime is 1.379 +/- 0.026 +/- 0.017 ps, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. This lifetime translates into a measurement of the decay width of the light (B) over bar (o)(s) mass eigenstate of Gamma(L) 0.725 +/- 0.014 +/- 0.009 ps(-1). The (B) over bar (o)(s) lifetime is also measured using the flavor-specific (B) ov…

research product

Search for Hidden-Sector Bosons inB0→K*0μ+μ−Decays

A search is presented for hidden-sector bosons, $\chi$, produced in the decay ${B^0\!\to K^*(892)^0\chi}$, with $K^*(892)^0\!\to K^{+}\pi^{-}$ and $\chi\!\to\mu^+\mu^-$. The search is performed using $pp$-collision data corresponding to 3.0 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the LHCb detector. No significant signal is observed in the accessible mass range $214 \leq m({\chi}) \leq 4350$ MeV, and upper limits are placed on the branching fraction product $\mathcal{B}(B^0\!\to K^*(892)^0\chi)\times\mathcal{B}(\chi\!\to\mu^+\mu^-)$ as a function of the mass and lifetime of the $\chi$ boson. These limits are of the order of $10^{-9}$ for $\chi$ lifetimes less than 100 ps over most of the $m(\chi)$ range, a…

research product

Measurement ofBc+Production in Proton-Proton Collisions ats=8  TeV

Production of B+c mesons in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 8~TeV is studied with data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.0 fb−1 recorded by the LHCb experiment. The ratio of production cross-sections times branching fractions between the B+c→J/ψπ+ and B+→J/ψK+ decays is measured as a function of transverse momentum and rapidity in the regions 0<pT<20 GeV/c and 2.0<y<4.5. The ratio integrated within this kinematic range is measured to be (0.683±0.018±0.009)%, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

research product

Search for $\gamma\gamma$ decays of a Higgs boson produced in association with a fermion pair in $e^+ e^-$ collisions at LEP

A serach for gamma gamma decays of Higgs boson is performed in the data sample collected at LEP with the ALEPH detector between 1991 and 1999. This corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 672 pb-1 centre-of-mass energies ranging from 88 to 202 GeV. The search is based on topologies arising from a Higgs boson produced in association with a fermion pair via the Higgs-strahlung process e+e- -&gt; Hffbar, with ffbar = nunubar, e+e-, mu+mu-, tau+tau- or qqbar... (CERN)

research product

Study of Beauty Hadron Decays into Pairs of Charm Hadrons

First observations of the decays Λ[0 over b] → Λ[+ over c]D[− over (s)] are reported using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3  fb[superscript −1] collected at 7 and 8 TeV center-of-mass energies in proton-proton collisions with the LHCb detector. In addition, the most precise measurement of the branching fraction B(B[0 over s] → D[superscript +]D[− over s]) is made and a search is performed for the decays B[0 over (s)] → Λ[+ over c]Λ[− over c]. The results obtained are B(Λ[0 over b] → Λ[+ over c]D[superscript −])/B(Λ[0 over b] → Λ[+ over c]D[− over s]) = 0.042 ± 0.003(stat) ± 0.003(syst), ⎡⎣B(Λ[0 over b] → Λ[+ over c]D[− over s]) over B([¯ over B[superscript 0] → D[superscr…

research product

Studies of QCD in ${\rm e^+ e^-}\to $ hadrons at $E_{\rm cm} = 130$ and 136 GeV

Studies of QCD in $\mbox{e}^+\mbox{e}^- \rightarrow$ Hadrons at $E_{cm} = $} 130 and 136 GeV The ALEPH Collaboration An analysis of the properties of hadronic final states produced in electron-positron annihilation at centre-of-mass energies of 130 and 136 GeV is presented. The measurements are based on a data sample of 5.7 $\mbox{pb}^{-1}$ collected in November 1995 with the \Aleph detector at LEP. Inclusive charged particle distributions, jet rates and event-shape distributions are measured and the results are compared with the predictions of QCD-based models. From the measured distributions quantities are determined for which the dependence on the centre-of-mass energy can be predicted b…

research product

Searches for neutral Higgs bosons in e+e− collisions at centre-of-mass energies from 192 to 202 GeV

Searches for neutral Higgs bosons are performed with the 237 pb-1 of data collected in 1999 by the ALEPH detector at LEP, for centre-of-mass energies between 191.6 and 201.6 GeV. These searches apply to Higgs bosons within the context of the Standard Model and its minimal supersymmetric extension (MSSM) as well as to invisibly decaying Higgs bosons. No evidence of a signal is seen. A lower limit on the mass of the Standard Model Higgs boson of 107.7 GeV/c2 at 95% confidence level is set. In the MSSM, lower limits of 91.2 and 91.6 GeV/c2 are derived for the masses of the neutral Higgs bosons h and A, respectively. For a Higgs boson decaying invisibly and produced with the Standard Model cros…

research product

Updated determination of D0–D¯0 mixing and CP violation parameters with D0→K+π− decays

We report measurements of charm-mixing parameters based on the decay-time-dependent ratio of D0→K+π- to D0→K-π+ rates. The analysis uses a data sample of proton-proton collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.0  fb-1 recorded by the LHCb experiment from 2011 through 2016. Assuming charge-parity (CP) symmetry, the mixing parameters are determined to be x′2=(3.9±2.7)×10-5, y′=(5.28±0.52)×10-3, and RD=(3.454±0.031)×10-3. Without this assumption, the measurement is performed separately for D0 and D¯0 mesons, yielding a direct CP-violating asymmetry AD=(-0.1±9.1)×10-3, and magnitude of the ratio of mixing parameters 1.00<|q/p|<1.35 at the 68.3% confidence level. All results incl…

research product

A flavour-independent Higgs boson search in e+e- collisions at sqrt(s) up to 209GeV

A search for the Higgsstrahlung process e+e- → HZ is carried out, covering decays of the Higgs boson into any quark pair, a gluon pair or a tau pair. The analysis is based on the 630 pb-1 of data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies from 189 to 209 GeV. A 95% C.L. lower mass limit of 109.1 GeV/c2 is obtained for a Higgs boson cross section equal to that expected from the Standard Model if the Higgs boson decays exclusively into hadrons and/or taus, irrespective of the relative branching fractions. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

research product

Inclusive production of neutral vector mesons in hadronic Z decays

Data on the inclusive production of the neutral vector mesons rho(0)(770), omega(782), K*(0)(892), and phi (1020) in hadronic Z decays recorded with the ALEPH detector at LEP are presented and compared to Monte Carlo model predictions. Bose-Einstein effects are found to be important in extracting a reliable value for the p(0) production rate. An average p(0) multiplicity of 1.45 +/- 0.21 per event is obtained. The omega is detected via its three pion decay mode omega --> pi(+)pi(-)pi(0) and has a total rate of 1.07 +/- 0.14 per event. The multiplicity of the K*(0) is 0.83 +/- 0.09, whilst that of the phi is 0.122 +/- 0.009, both measured using their charged decay modes. The measurements pro…

research product

Precision luminosity measurements at LHCb

Measuring cross-sections at the LHC requires the luminosity to be determined accurately at each centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}$. In this paper results are reported from the luminosity calibrations carried out at the LHC interaction point 8 with the LHCb detector for $\sqrt{s}$ = 2.76, 7 and 8 TeV (proton-proton collisions) and for $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5 TeV (proton-lead collisions). Both the "van der Meer scan" and "beam-gas imaging" luminosity calibration methods were employed. It is observed that the beam density profile cannot always be described by a function that is factorizable in the two transverse coordinates. The introduction of a two-dimensional description of the beams improves sig…

research product

First observation of the rareB+→D+K+π−decay

The B+→D+K+π- decay is observed in a data sample corresponding to 3.0 fb-1 of pp collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2011 and 2012. The signal significance is 8σ and the branching fraction is measured to be B(B+→D+K+π-)=(5.31±0.90±0.48±0.35)×10-6, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic and due to the normalization mode B+→D-K+π+, respectively. The Dalitz plot appears to be dominated by broad structures. Angular distributions are exploited to search for quasi-two-body contributions from B+→D2∗(2460)0K+ and B+→D+K∗(892)0 decays. No significant signals are observed and upper limits are set on their branching fractions.

research product

Dalitz plot analysis ofBs0→D¯0K−π+decays

The resonant substructure of B-s(0) -> (D) over bar K-0(-)pi(+) decays is studied with the Dalitz plot analysis technique. The study is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1) of pp collision data recorded by LHCb. A structure at m((D) over bar K-0(-)) approximate to 2.86 GeV/c(2) is found to be an admixture of spin-1 and spin-3 resonances. The masses and widths of these states and of the D-s2*(2573)(-) meson are measured, as are the complex amplitudes and fit fractions for all the (D) over bar K-0(-) and K-pi(-) components included in the amplitude model. In addition, the D-s2*(2573)(-) resonance is confirmed to be spin 2.

research product

Measurement of W-pair production in $e^+ e^-$ collisions at 189 GeV

The production of W-pairs is analysed in a data sample collected by ALEPH at a mean centre-of-mass energy of 188.6 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 174.2 pb^-1. Cross sections are given for different topologies of W decays into leptons or hadrons. Combining all final states and assuming Standard Model branching fractions, the total W-pair cross section is measured to be 15.71 +- 0.34 (stat) +- 0.18 (syst) pb. Using also the W-pair data samples collected by ALEPH at lower centre-of-mass energies, the decay branching fraction of the W boson into hadrons is measured to be BR (W &gt; hadrons) = 66.97 +- 0.65 (stat) +- 0.32 (syst) %, allowing a determination of the CKM matrix el…

research product

Observation of charmless baryonic decays B(s)0→pp¯h+h′−

Decays of B0 and Bs0 mesons to the charmless baryonic final states pp¯h+h′-, where h and h′ each denote a kaon or a pion, are searched for using the LHCb detector. The analysis is based on a sample of proton-proton collision data collected at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3  fb-1. Four-body charmless baryonic Bs0 decays are observed for the first time. The decays Bs0→pp¯K+K-, Bs0→pp¯K±π∓, B0→pp¯K±π∓ and B0→pp¯π+π- are observed with a significance greater than 5 standard deviations; evidence at 4.1 standard deviations is found for the B0→pp¯K+K- decay and an upper limit is set on the branching fraction for Bs0→pp¯π+π-. Branching fraction…

research product

Search for Structure in theBs0π±Invariant Mass Spectrum

The $B_s^0\pi^\pm$ invariant mass distribution is investigated in order to search for possible exotic meson states. The analysis is based on a data sample recorded with the LHCb detector corresponding to $3$ fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ and $8$ TeV. No significant excess is found, and upper limits are set on the production rate of the claimed $X(5568)$ state. Upper limits are also set as a function of the mass and width of a possible exotic meson decaying to the $B_s^0\pi^\pm$ final state.

research product

Measurement of the hadronic photon structure function at LEP 1 for 〈Q2〉 values between 9.9 and 284 GeV2

Inclusive γ*γ interactions to hadronic final states where one scattered electron or positron is detected in the electromagnetic calorimeters have been studied in the LEP 1 data taken by ALEPH from 1991 to 1995. The event sample has been used to measure the hadronic structure function of the photon F2γ in three bins with of 9.9, 20.7 and 284 GeV2.

research product

First observation and amplitude analysis of theB−→D+K−π−decay

The B- -> D+K-pi(-) decay is observed in a data sample corresponding to 3.0 fb(-1) of pp collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2011 and 2012. Its branching fraction is measured to be B(B- -> D+K-pi(-)) = (7.31 +/- 0.19 +/- 0.22 +/- 0.39) x 10(-5) where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic and from the branching fraction of the normalization channel B- -> D+pi(-)pi(-), respectively. An amplitude analysis of the resonant structure of the B- -> D+K-pi(-) decay is used to measure the contributions from quasi-two-body B- -> D-0* (2400)K-0(-), B- -> D-2* (2460)K-0(-), and B- -> D-J* (2760)K-0(-) decays, as well as from nonresonant sources. The D-J* (2760)(0) resonance is …

research product

Study of D0– mixing and D0 doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decays

Abstract Using a sample of four million hadronic Z events collected in ALEPH from 1991 to 1995, the decays D ∗+ → D 0 π s + , with D0 decaying to K−π+ or to K+π−, are studied. The relative branching ratio B(D0→K+π−)/B(D0→K−π+) is measured to be 1.84±0.59( stat. ) ±0.34( syst. ) %. The two possible contributions to the D0→K+π− decay, doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decays and D0– D 0 mixing, are disentangled by measuring the proper-time distribution of the reconstructed D0's. Assuming no interference between the two processes, the upper limit obtained on the mixing rate is 0.92% at 95% CL . The possible effect of interference between the two amplitudes is also assessed.

research product

Measurement of the lifetime of theBc+meson using theBc+→J/ψπ+decay mode

The difference in total widths between the B+c and B+ mesons is measured using 3.0fb−1 of data collected by the LHCb experiment in 7 and 8 TeV centre-of-mass energy proton-proton collisions at the LHC. Through the study of the time evolution of B+c→J/ψπ+ and B+→J/ψK+ decays, the width difference is measured to beΔΓ≡ΓB+c−ΓB+=4.46±0.14±0.07mm−1c,where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The known lifetime of the B+ meson is used to convert this to a precise measurement of the B+c lifetime,τB+c=513.4±11.0±5.7fs,where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

research product

Measurement of the SemileptonicCPAsymmetry inB0-B¯0Mixing

The semileptonic $CP$ asymmetry in $B^0-\overline{B}{}^0$ mixing, $a_{\rm sl}^d$, is measured in proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb$^{-1}$, recorded by the LHCb experiment. Semileptonic $B^0$ decays are reconstructed in the inclusive final states $D^-\mu^+$ and $D^{*-}\mu^+$, where the $D^-$ meson decays into the $K^+\pi^-\pi^-$ final state, and the $D^{*-}$ meson into the $\overline{D}{}^0(\rightarrow K^+\pi^-)\pi^-$ final state. The asymmetry between the numbers of $D^{(*)-}\mu^+$ and $D^{(*)+}\mu^-$ decays is measured as a function of the decay time of the $B^0$ mesons. The $CP$ asymmetry is measured to be $a_{\rm sl}^d = (-0.02 \pm 0.19 \pm…

research product

First experimental study of photon polarization in radiative B0s decays.

The polarization of photons produced in radiative $B^{0}_{s}$ decays is studied for the first time. The data are recorded by the LHCb experiment in $pp$ collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3fb$^{-1}$ at center-of-mass energies of $7$ and $8$TeV. A time-dependent analysis of the $B^{0}_{s} \to \phi \gamma$ decay rate is conducted to determine the parameter ${\mathcal{A}}^\Delta$, which is related to the ratio of right- over left-handed photon polarization amplitudes in $b \to s \gamma$ transitions. A value of ${\mathcal{A}}^\Delta=-0.98^{\,+0.46\,+0.23}_{\,-0.52\,-0.20}$ is measured. This result is consistent with the Standard Model prediction within two standard deviatio…

research product

Measurement ofCPviolation parameters inB0→DK*0decays

An analysis of B0→DK*0 decays is presented, where D represents an admixture of D0 and D¯0 mesons reconstructed in four separate final states: K−π+, π−K+, K+K− and π+π−. The data sample corresponds to 3.0  fb−1 of proton-proton collision, collected by the LHCb experiment. Measurements of several observables are performed, including CP asymmetries. The most precise determination is presented of rB(DK*0), the magnitude of the ratio of the amplitudes of the decay B0→DK+π− with a b→u or a b→c transition, in a Kπ mass region of ±50  MeV/c2 around the K∗(892) mass and for an absolute value of the cosine of the K*0 helicity angle larger than 0.4.

research product

Search for CP violation inD0→π−π+π0decays with the energy test

A search for time-integrated CP violation in the Cabibbo-suppressed decay D-0 -> pi(-)pi(+)pi(0) ir is performed using for the first time an unbinned model-independent technique known as the energy test. Using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.0 fb(-1) collected by the LHCb detector at a centre-of-mass energy of root s = 8 TeV, the world's best sensitivity to CP violation in this decay is obtained. The data are found to be consistent with the hypothesis of CP symmetry with a p-value of (2.6 +/- 0.5)%. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

research product

Evidence for Exotic Hadron Contributions toΛb0→J/ψpπ−Decays

A full amplitude analysis of $\Lambda_b^0 \to J/\psi p \pi^-$ decays is performed with a data sample acquired with the LHCb detector from 7 and 8 TeV $pp$ collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb$^{-1}$. A significantly better description of the data is achieved when, in addition to the previously observed nucleon excitations $N\to p\pi^-$, either the $P_c(4380)^+$ and $P_c(4450)^+\to J/\psi p$ states, previously observed in $\Lambda_b^0 \to J/\psi p K^-$ decays, or the $Z_c(4200)^-\to J/\psi \pi^-$ state, previously reported in $B^0 \to J/\psi K^+ \pi^-$ decays, or all three, are included in the amplitude models. The data support a model containing all three exotic sta…

research product

Fermion pair production in e+e- collisions at 189-209 GeV and constraints on physics beyond the Standard Model

Cross sections, angular distributions and forward-backward asymmetries are presented, of two-fermion events produced in e+e- collisions at centre-of-mass energies from 189 to 209 GeV at LEP, measured with the ALEPH detector. Results for e+e-, mu+mu-, tau+tau-, qq, bb and cc production are in agreement with the Standard Model predictions. Constraints are set on scenarios of new physics such as four-fermion contact interactions, leptoquarks, Z' bosons, TeV-scale quantum gravity and R-parity violating squarks and sneutrinos.

research product

Measurement of resonant andCPcomponents inB¯s0→J/ψπ+π−decays

Structure of the decay Bs0→J/ψπ+π- is studied using data corresponding to 3fb-1 of integrated luminosity from pp collisions produced by the LHC and collected by the LHCb detector. Five interfering π+π- states are required to describe the decay: f0(980),f0(1500),f0(1790),f2(1270), and f2′(1525). An alternative model including these states and a nonresonant J/ψπ+π- component also provides a good description of the data. Based on the different transversity components measured for the spin-2 intermediate states, the final state is found to be compatible with being entirely CP odd. The CP-even part is found to be <2.3% at a 95% confidence level. The f0(500) state is not observed, allowing a limi…

research product

Study of the rare Bs0 and B0 decays into the π+π−μ+μ− final state

A search for the rare decays B0s→π+π−μ+μ− and B0→π+π−μ+μ− is performed in a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb−1 collected by the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. Decay candidates with pion pairs that have invariant mass in the range 0.5-1.3 GeV/c2 and with muon pairs that do not originate from a resonance are considered. The first observation of the decay B0s→π+π−μ+μ− and the first evidence of the decay B0→π+π−μ+μ− are obtained and the branching fractions are measured to be B(B0s→π+π−μ+μ−)=(8.6±1.5(stat)±0.7(syst)±0.7(norm))×10−8 and B(B0→π+π−μ+μ−)=(2.11±0.51(stat)±0.15(syst)±0.16(norm))×10−8, where the third unc…

research product

Observation ofJ/ψpResonances Consistent with Pentaquark States inΛb0→J/ψK−pDecays

Observations of exotic structures in the J/ψp channel, that we refer to as pentaquark-charmonium states, in Λ0b→J/ψK−p decays are presented. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 3/fb acquired with the LHCb detector from 7 and 8 TeV pp collisions. An amplitude analysis is performed on the three-body final-state that reproduces the two-body mass and angular distributions. To obtain a satisfactory fit of the structures seen in the J/ψp mass spectrum, it is necessary to include two Breit-Wigner amplitudes that each describe a resonant state. The significance of each of these resonances is more than 9 standard deviations. One has a mass of 4380±8±29 MeV and a width of 205±1…

research product

Improved search for $B_{s}^{0} - \overline{B}_{s}^{0}$ oscillations

An improved search for Bs oscillations is performed in the ALEPH data sample collected during the first phase of LEP, and reprocessed in 1998. Three analyses based on complementary event selections are presented. First, decays of Bs mesons into hadronic flavour eigenstates are fully reconstructed. This selection yields a small sample of candidates with excellent decay length and momentum resolution and high average Bs purity. Semileptonic decays with a reconstructed Ds- meson provide a second sample with larger statistics, high average Bs purity, but a poorer momentum and decay length resolution due to the partial decay reconstruction. Finally, semileptonic b-hadron decays are inclusively s…

research product

Search for charged Higgs bosons in $e^+ e^-$ collisions at energies up to $\sqrt{s}$ = 189 GeV

The data collected at centre-of-mass energies of 188.6 GeV by ALEPH at LEP, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 176.2 pb-1, are analysed in a search for pair-produced charged Higgs bosons H+/-. Three analyses are employed to select the taunutaunu, taunucs and cscs final states. No evidence for a signal is found. Upper limits are set on the production cross section as a function of the branching fraction BR(H+ to tau nu) and of the mass M(H+), assuming that the sum of the branching ratios is equal to one. In the framework of a two-Higgs-doublet model, charged Higgs bosons with masses below 65.4 GeV/c2 are excluded at 95% confidence level independently of the decay mode.

research product

Effective lifetime measurements in theBs0→K+K−,B0→K+π−andBs0→π+K−decays

Measurements of the effective lifetimes in the B-s(0) -> K+K-, B-0 -> K+pi(-) and B-s(0) -> pi K-+(-) decays are presented using 1.0 fb(-1)of pp collision data collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV by the LHCb experiment. The analysis uses a data-driven approach to correct for the decay time acceptance. The measured effective lifetimes are tau(Bs0 -> K+K-) = 1.407 +/- 0.016 (stat) +/- 0.007 (syst) ps, tau(Bs0 -> K+pi-) = 1.524 +/- 0.011 (stat) +/- 0.004 (syst) ps, tau(Bs0 ->pi+K-) = 1.60 +/- 0.06 (stat) +/- 0.01 (syst) ps. This is the most precise determination to date of the effective lifetime in the B-s(0) -> K+K- decay and provides constraints on contributions from physics beyond…

research product

First measurement of the quark-to-photon fragmentation function

Earlier measurements at LEP of isolated hard photons in hadronic Z decays, attributed to radiation from primary quark pairs, have been extended in the ALEPH experiment to include hard photon production inside hadron jets. Events are selected where all particles combine democratically to form hadron jets, one of which contains a photon with a fractional energy z greater than or equal to 0.7. After statistical subtraction of non-prompt photons, the quark-to-photon fragmentation function, D(z), is extracted directly from the measured 2-jet rate. By taking into account the perturbative contributions to D(z) obtained from an O(alpha alpha(s)) QCD calculation, the unknown non-perturbative compone…

research product

Studies of the resonance structure inD0→KS0K±π∓decays

Amplitude models are constructed to describe the resonance structure of D0→ K-π+π+π- and D0→ K+π-π-π+ decays using pp collision data collected at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV with the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb- 1. The largest contributions to both decay amplitudes are found to come from axial resonances, with decay modes D0→ a1(1260) +K- and D0→ K1(1270 / 1400) +π- being prominent in D0→ K-π+π+π- and D0→ K+π-π-π+, respectively. Precise measurements of the lineshape parameters and couplings of the a1(1260) +, K1(1270) - and K(1460) - resonances are made, and a quasi model-independent study of the K(1460) - resonance is performed. The coher…

research product

Production of orbitally excited charm mesons in semileptonic B decays

A sample of 3.6 million hadronic Z decays recorded between 1991 and 1995 with the ALEPH detector at LEP is used to investigate semileptonic decays of B mesons into final states involving orbitally excited charm mesons. Topological vertex criteria are used to search for decays involving narrow D** states as well as wide D** resonances and non-resonant D(*)pi final states. The sum of the branching ratios for these processes is measured to be Br((B) over bar --> D pi l(-)(v) over bar) + Br((B) over bar --> D*pi l(-)(v) over bar) = (2.26 +/-t 0.29(stat) +/- 0.33(syst))%, which accounts for a significant fraction of the deficit between inclusive measurements and the sum of exclusive semileptonic…

research product

Precision Measurement ofCPViolation inBS0→J/ΨK+K−Decays

The time-dependent CP asymmetry in B-S(0) -> J/Psi K+K- decays is measured using pp collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1), collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. In a sample of 96 000 B-S(0) -> J/Psi K+K- decays, the CP-violating phase phi(s) is measured, as well as the decay widths GL and GH of the light and heavy mass eigenstates of the B-s(0)-(B) over bar (0)(s) system. The values obtained are phi(s) = -0.058 +/- 0.049 +/- 0.006 rad, Gamma(s) equivalent to (Gamma(L) + Gamma(H))/2 = 0.6603 +/- 0.0027 +/- 0.0015 ps(-1), and Delta Gamma(s) equivalent to Gamma(L)-Gamma(H) = 0.0805 +/- 0.0091 +/- 0.0032 ps(-1), where the f…

research product

Search for a scalar top almost degenerate with the lightest neutralino e(+)e(-) collisions at root s up to 202 GeV

Data collected at centre-of-mass energies from 189 GeV to 202 GeV by the ALEPH detector at LEP corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 411 pb(-1), are analysed in a search for the scalar top in the decay channels (t) over tilde --> c/u chi for small mass differences between the stop and the lightest neutralino. No evidence for deviations from the Standard Model expectation is found and a lower limit of 59 GeV/c(2) is set for the stop mass, independent of the stop to neutralino mass difference and of the stop lifetime. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

research product

Evidence for the Strangeness-Changing Weak DecayΞb−→Λb0π−

Using a pp collision data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0  fb^{-1}, collected by the LHCb detector, we present the first search for the strangeness-changing weak decay Ξ_{b}^{-}→Λ_{b}^{0}π^{-}. No b hadron decay of this type has been seen before. A signal for this decay, corresponding to a significance of 3.2 standard deviations, is reported. The relative rate is measured to be f_{Ξ_{b}^{-}}/f_{Λ_{b}^{0}}B(Ξ_{b}^{-}→Λ_{b}^{0}π^{-})=(5.7±1.8_{-0.9}^{+0.8})×10^{-4},where f_{Ξ_{b}^{-}} and f_{Λ_{b}^{0}} are the b→Ξ_{b}^{-} and b→Λ_{b}^{0} fragmentation fractions, and B(Ξ_{b}^{-}→Λ_{b}^{0}π^{-}) is the branching fraction. Assuming f_{Ξ_{b}^{-}}/f_{Λ_{b}^{0}} is bounded b…

research product

Measurement of the Ratio of Branching FractionsB(B¯0→D*+τ−ν¯τ)/B(B¯0→D*+μ−ν¯μ)

The branching fraction ratio R(D-*) = B((B) over bar (0) -> D-*(+)tau(-)(nu) over bar (tau))/B((B) over bar (0) -> D-*(+)mu(-)(nu) over bar (mu)) is measured using a sample of proton-proton collision data corresponding to 3.0 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2011 and 2012. The tau lepton is identified in the decay mode tau(-) -> mu(-)(nu) over bar (mu)nu(tau). The semitauonic decay is sensitive to contributions from non-standard-model particles that preferentially couple to the third generation of fermions, in particular, Higgs-like charged scalars. A multidimensional fit to kinematic distributions of the candidate (B) over bar (0) decays gives R(D-*) =…

research product

Search for weakly decaying b -flavored pentaquarks

Investigations of the existence of pentaquark states containing a single $b$ (anti)quark decaying weakly into four specific final states J/$\psi K^+\pi^- p$, J/$\psi K^- \pi^- p$, J/$\psi K^- \pi^+ p$, and $J/\psi \phi (1020) p$ are reported. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 3.0/fb in 7 and 8 TeV pp collisions acquired with the LHCb detector. Signals are not observed and upper limits are set on the product of the production cross section times branching fraction with respect to that of the $\Lambda_b$.

research product

Model-independent confirmation of theZ(4430)−state

The decay $B^0\to \psi(2S) K^+\pi^-$ is analyzed using $\rm 3~fb^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data collected with the LHCb detector. A model-independent description of the $\psi(2S) \pi$ mass spectrum is obtained, using as input the $K\pi$ mass spectrum and angular distribution derived directly from data, without requiring a theoretical description of resonance shapes or their interference. The hypothesis that the $\psi(2S)\pi$ mass spectrum can be described in terms of $K\pi$ reflections alone is rejected with more than 8$\sigma$ significance. This provides confirmation, in a model-independent way, of the need for an additional resonant component in the mass region of the $Z(4430)^-$ exotic sta…

research product

Improved measurement of theB 0 andB + meson lifetimes

The lifetimes of the B 0 and B + mesons have been measured with the Aleph detector at LEP, using approximately 3 million hadronic Z decays collected in the period 1991 1994. In the first of three methods, semileptonic decays of B 0 and B + mesons were partially reconstructed by identifying events containing a lepton with an associated D*- orbar D^0 meson. The second method used fully reconstructed B 0 and B + mesons. The third method, used to measure the B 0 lifetime, employed a partial reconstruction technique to identify B 0→ D*- π + X decays. The combined results are begin{gathered} tau _0 = 1.55 ± 0.06 ± 0.03 ps, \ tau _ + = 1.58 ± 0.09 ± 0.03 ps, \ tfrac{{tau _ + }}{{tau _0 }} = 1.03 ±…

research product

Dalitz plot analysis ofB0→D¯0π+π−decays

The resonant substructures of $B^0 \to \overline{D}^0 \pi^+\pi^-$ decays are studied with the Dalitz plot technique. In this study a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions collected by the LHCb detector is used. The branching fraction of the $B^0 \to \overline{D}^0 \pi^+\pi^-$ decay in the region $m(\overline{D}^0\pi^{\pm})>2.1$ GeV$/c^2$ is measured to be $(8.46 \pm 0.14 \pm 0.29 \pm 0.40) \times 10^{-4}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic and the last arises from the normalisation channel $B^0 \to D^*(2010)^-\pi^+$. The $\pi^+\pi^-$ S-wave components are modelled with the Isobar and K-matrix formalisms. …

research product

Production of excited beauty states in Z decays

A data sample of about 3.0 million hadronicZ decays collected by the ALEPH experiment at LEP in the years 1991 through 1994 is used to make an inclusive selection of B hadron events. In this event sample 4227±140±252B* mesons in the decayB*→Bγ and 1944±108±161B** u,d mesons decaying into a B meson and a charged pion are reconstructed. Here and in the followingB** u,d denotes the eightL=1(bū) and (bd) states and their charge conjugate. For the well establishedB* meson the following quantities are obtained:ΔM=M B*−MB=(45.30±0.35±0.87) MeV/c2 andN B*/(N B+N B*)=(77.1±2.6±7.0)%. The angular distribution of the photons in theB* rest frame is used to measure the relative contribution of longitudi…

research product

Determination of γ and−2βsfrom charmless two-body decays of beauty mesons

Using the latest LHCb measurements of time-dependent CP violation in the B-s(0) -> K+K- decay, a U-spin relation between the decay amplitudes of B-s(0) -> K+K- and B-0 -> p(+)p(-) decay processes allows constraints to be placed on the angle gamma of the unitarity triangle and on the B-s(0) mixing phase -2 beta(s). Results from an extended approach, which uses additional inputs on B-0 -> pi(0)pi(0) and B+ -> pi(+)pi(0) decays from other experiments and exploits isospin symmetry, are also presented. The dependence of the results on the maximum allowed amount of U-spin breaking is studied. At 68% probability, the value gamma =( 63.5(-6.7)(+7.2))degrees modulo 180 degrees is determined. In an a…

research product

Search for direct CP violation in D0→h−h+ modes using semileptonic B decays

A search for direct CP violation in D0 -> h- h+ (where h=K or pi) is presented using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb^-1 collected in 2011 by LHCb in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. The analysis uses D0 mesons produced in inclusive semileptonic b-hadron decays to the D0 mu X final state, where the charge of the accompanying muon is used to tag the flavour of the D0 meson. The difference in the CP-violating asymmetries between the two decay channels is measured to be Delta A_CP = A_CP(K-K+) - A_CP(pi-pi+) = (0.49 +- 0.30 (stat) +- 0.14 (syst)) % . This result does not confirm the evidence for direct CP violation in the charm sector reported in other…

research product

Determination of sin^2(theta(eff)(w)) using jet charge measurements in hadronic Z decays

The electroweak mixing angle is determined with high precision from measurements of the mean difference between forward and backward hemisphere charges in hadronic decays of the Z. A data sample of 2.5 million hadronic Z decays recorded over the period 1990 to 1994 in the ALEPH detector at LEP is used. The mean charge separation between event hemispheres containing the original quark and antiquark is measured for b (b) over bar and c (c) over bar events in subsamples selected by their long lifetimes or using fast D*'s. The corresponding average charge separation for light quarks is measured in an inclusive sample from the anticorrelation between charges of opposite hemispheres and agrees wi…

research product

Measurement of CP asymmetries in two-body B(s)0 -meson decays to charged pions and kaons

The time-dependent CP asymmetries in B0→π+π− and B0s→K+K− decays are measured using a data sample of p p collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0  fb−1, collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The same data sample is used to measure the time-integrated CP asymmetries in B0→K+π− and B0s→π+K− decays. The results are Cπ+π−=−0.34±0.06±0.01, Sπ+π−=−0.63±0.05±0.01, CK+K−=0.20±0.06±0.02, SK+K−=0.18±0.06±0.02, AΔΓK+K−=−0.79±0.07±0.10, AB0CP=−0.084±0.004±0.003, and AB0sCP=0.213±0.015±0.007, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. Evidence for CP violation is found in the B0s→K+K− decay for the first time.

research product

Measurements of the Λb0→J/ψΛ decay amplitudes and the Λb0 polarisation in pp collisions at s=7 TeV

An angular analysis of Λ0b→J/ψΛ decays is performed using a data sample corresponding to 1.0 fb−1 collected in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV with the LHCb detector at the LHC. A parity violating asymmetry parameter characterising the Λ0b→J/ψΛ decay of 0.05±0.17±0.07 and a Λ0b transverse production polarisation of 0.06±0.07±0.02 are measured, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

research product

Measurement of the branching fraction of the decay Bs0→KS0KS0

A measurement of the branching fraction of the decay Bs0→KS0KS0 is performed using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 fb-1 collected by the LHCb experiment between 2011 and 2016. The branching fraction is determined to be B(Bs0→KS0KS0)=[8.3±1.6(stat)±0.9(syst)±0.8(norm)±0.3(fs/fd)]×10-6, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third and fourth are due to uncertainties on the branching fraction of the normalization mode B0→φKS0 and the ratio of hadronization fractions fs/fd. This is the most precise measurement of this branching fraction to date. Furthermore, a measurement of the branching fraction of the decay B0…

research product

Search for pentaquarks states in Z decays

Exotic hadrons made of five quarks (pentaquarks) are searched for in hadronic Z decays collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP. No significant signal is observed. At 95% C.L. upper limits are set on the production rates N of such particles and their charge-conjugate state per Z decay: N Θ(1535)+·BR(Θ(1535)+→pK S0)<6.2×10-4, N Ε(1862)-·BR(Ε(1862)-→Ε -π-)<4.5×10-4, N Ε(1862)0·BR(Ε(1862)0→Ε -π+)<8.9×10-4, N Θc(3100)0·BR(Θc(3100) 0→D*-p)<6.3×10-4, N Θc(3100)0·BR(Θc(3100) 0→D-p)<31×10-4. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

research product

Quantum numbers of theX(3872)state and orbital angular momentum in itsρ0J/ψdecay

Angular correlations in B+→X(3872)K+ decays, with X(3872)→ρ0J/ψ, ρ0→π+π− and J/ψ→μ+μ−, are used to measure orbital angular momentum contributions and to determine the JPC value of the X(3872) meson. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb−1 of proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector. This determination, for the first time performed without assuming a value for the orbital angular momentum, confirms the quantum numbers to be JPC=1++. The X(3872) is found to decay predominantly through S wave and an upper limit of 4% at 95% C.L. is set on the fraction of D wave.

research product

Search for sleptons in e(+)e(-) collisions at centre-of-mass energies up to 184 GeV

The data collected by the ALEPH experiment at LEP at centre-of-mass energies around 183 GeV are analysed to search for sleptons, the partners of leptons in supersymmetric theories. The previously published search for acoplanar leptons and missing energy has been updated. New searches have been developed to cover a wider range of slepton signals. These include single electrons, acoplanar leptons accompanied by two photons plus missing energy as well as particles with lifetime. No evidence for the production of any such particles is found. Slepton mass limits are reported within gravity mediated and gauge mediated SUSY breaking scenarios. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

research product

Measurement of triple gauge-boson couplings at 172 GeV

The triple gauge-boson couplings, αWΦ, αW and αBΦ, have been measured using 34 semileptonically and 54 hadronically decaying W+W- candidate events. The events were selected in the data recorded during 1996 with the ALEPH detector at 172 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 10.65 pb-1. The triple gauge-boson couplings have been measured using optimal observables constructed from kinematic information of W+W- events. The results are in agreement with the Standard Model expectation.

research product

Fermi-Dirac correlations in Lambda pairs in hadronic Z decays

Two-particle correlations of Lambda Lambda and pairs have been studied in multihadronic Z decays recorded with the ALEPH detector at LEP in the years from 1992 to 1995. The correlations were measured as a function of the four-momentum difference Q of the pair. A depletion of events is observed in the region Q 2 GeV the fraction of pairs with spin one is consistent with the value of 0.75 expected for a statistical spin mixture, whilst for Q pairs, where no Fermi-Dirac correlations are expected, the spin one fraction is measured to be consistent with 0.75 over the entire analysed Q range. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

research product

Tau hadronic branching ratios

From 64492 selected tau-pair events, produced at the Zeta(o) resonance, the measurement of the tau decays into hadrons from a global analysis using 1991, 1992 and 1993 ALEPH data is presented. Special emphasis is given to the reconstruction of photons and pi(o)'s, and the removal of fake photons. A detailed study of the systematics entering the pi(o) reconstruction is also given. A complete and consistent set of tau hadronic branching ratios is presented for 18 exclusive modes. Most measurements are more precise than the present world average. The new level of precision reached allows a stringent test of tau - mu universality in hadronic decays, g(tau)/g(mu) = 1.0013 +/- 0.0095, and the fir…

research product

Observation of Photon Polarization in theb→sγTransition

This Letter presents a study of the flavor-changing neutral current radiative $B^{\pm} \to K^{\pm}\pi^{\mp}\pi^{\pm}\gamma$ decays performed using data collected in proton-proton collisions with the LHCb detector at $7$ and $8\,$TeV center-of-mass energies. In this sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3\,\text{fb}^{-1}$, nearly $14\,000$ signal events are reconstructed and selected, containing all possible intermediate resonances with a $K^{\pm}\pi^{\mp}\pi^{\pm}$ final state in the $[1.1, 1.9]\,$GeV/$c^{2}$ mass range. The distribution of the angle of the photon direction with respect to the plane defined by the final-state hadrons in their rest frame is studied in interva…

research product

Measurements ofCPviolation in the three-body phase space of charmlessB±decays

The charmless three-body decay modes B±→K±π+π−, B±→K±K+K−, B±→π±K+K− and B±→π±π+π− are reconstructed using data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0  fb−1, collected by the LHCb detector. The inclusive CP asymmetries of these modes are measured to be ACP(B±→K±π+π−)=+0.025±0.004±0.004±0.007,ACP(B±→K±K+K−)=−0.036±0.004±0.002±0.007,ACP(B±→π±π+π−)=+0.058±0.008±0.009±0.007,ACP(B±→π±K+K−)=−0.123±0.017±0.012±0.007, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third is due to the CP asymmetry of the B±→J/ψK± reference mode. The distributions of these asymmetries are also studied as functions of position in the Dalitz plot and suggest contributions from res…

research product

Characterisation and compensation of magnetic distortions for the pixel Hybrid Photon Detectors of the LHCb RICH

Abstract The LHCb experiment at LHC, optimised for the study of CP violation, has two RICH detectors to provide particle identification in the momentum range ∼ 2 – 100 GeV / c . The stringent requirements on the photon detectors are met by the custom-made pixel Hybrid Photon Detector. The photon detectors need to operate in the fringe field of the LHCb dipole magnet which will produce distortions of the image detected on the pixel chip which is encapsulated inside the HPD. This paper reports on the experimental characterisation of the image distortions caused by an external magnetic flux density. These measurements allow for the development of a parameterisation of the effects and a compens…

research product

Measurement of the c0 Baryon Lifetime

We report a measurement of the lifetime of the $��_c^0$ baryon using proton-proton collision data at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8~TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment. The sample consists of about 1000 $��_b^-\to��_c^0��^-\bar��_�� X$ signal decays, where the $��_c^0$ baryon is detected in the $pK^-K^-��^+$ final state and $X$ represents possible additional undetected particles in the decay. The $��_c^0$ lifetime is measured to be $��_{��_c^0} = 268\pm24\pm10\pm2$ fs, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and from the uncertainty in the $D^+$ lifetime, respectively. This value is nearly four times larger than, …

research product

Study ofCPviolation inB∓→Dh∓(h=K,π) with the modesD→K∓π±π0,D→π+π−π0andD→K+K−π0

An analysis of the decays of B--/+ -> DK -/+ and B--/+ -> D pi(-/+) is presented in which the D meson is reconstructed in the three-body final states K--/+pi(+/-)pi(0), pi(+)pi(-)pi(0) and K+K-pi(0). Using data from LHCb corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1) of pp collisions, measurements of several CP observables are performed. First observations are obtained of the suppressed Atwood-Dunietz-Soni decay B--/+ -> [pi K-+(+/-)pi(0)](D)pi(-/+) and the quasi-Gronau-London-Wyler decay B--/+ -> [K+K-pi(0)](D)pi(-/+). The results are interpreted in the context of the unitarity triangle angle gamma and related parameters.

research product

Precision Measurement of the Mass and Lifetime of the Ξ[0 over b] Baryon

Using a proton-proton collision data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb$^{-1}$ collected by LHCb at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, about 3800 $\Xi_b^0\to\Xi_c^+\pi^-$, $\Xi_c^+\to pK^-\pi^+$ signal decays are reconstructed. From this sample, the first measurement of the $\Xi_b^0$ baryon lifetime is made, relative to that of the $\Lambda_b^0$ baryon. The mass differences $M(\Xi_b^0)-M(\Lambda_b^0)$ and $M(\Xi_c^+)-M(\Lambda_c^+)$ are also measured with precision more than four times better than the current world averages. The resulting values are $\frac{\tau_{\Xi_b^0}}{\tau_{\Lambda_b^0}} = 1.006\pm0.018\pm0.010$, $M(\Xi_b^0) - M(\Lambda_b^0) = 172.44\pm0.39\pm…

research product

First measurement of the charge asymmetry in beauty-quark pair production.

The difference in the angular distributions between beauty quarks and antiquarks, referred to as the charge asymmetry, is measured for the first time in b[bar over b] pair production at a hadron collider. The data used correspond to an integrated luminosity of 1.0  fb[superscript −1] collected at 7 TeV center-of-mass energy in proton-proton collisions with the LHCb detector. The measurement is performed in three regions of the invariant mass of the b[bar over b] system. The results obtained are A[b[bar over b] over C](40 105  GeV/c[superscript 2]) = 1.6 ± 1.7 ± 0.6%, where A[b[bar over b] over C] is defined as the asymmetry in the difference in rapidity between jets formed from the beauty q…

research product

Search for γγ decays of a Higgs boson in e+e- collisions at √s up to 209 GeV

A search for events with a photon pair arising from the decay of a Higgs boson produced in association with a fermion pair, is performed in 893 pb-1 of data recorded by the ALEPH detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV. No excess of such events is found over the expected background, An upper limit is derived on the product of the e+e- → HZ cross section and the H → γγ branching fraction as a function of the Higgs boson mass. A fermiophobic Higgs boson produced with the Standard Model cross section is excluded at 95% confidence level for all masses below 105.4 GeV/c2. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

research product

Measurement ofD s + meson production inZ decays and of theB s 0 lifetime

D + mesons produced inZ 0→bb events were separated from theZ 0→cc component using a lifetime tag. Using a sample of 1.5 million hadronicZ decays collected with theAleph detector theB 0 andD s + yields have been measured: $$\begin{gathered} \hfill B(b \to \bar B_s^0 )B(\bar B_s^0 \to D_s^ + ) = 0.088 \pm 0.020(stat.) \\ \hfill \pm 0.020(stat.) \\ \hfill B(c \to D_s^ + ) = 0.088 \pm 0.020(stat.)_{ - 0.016}^{ + 0.019} (syst.) \\ \end{gathered} $$ TheB 0 lifetime was measured in aB 0 enriched sample reconstructing the decay length from the vertex of theD + with a hadron from theB 0 decay. The result obtained is: $$\tau _{B_s } = 1.61_{ - 0.29}^{ + 0.30} (stat.)_{ - 0.016}^{ + 0.018} (syst.)$$ p…

research product

Searches for the neutral Higgs bosons of the MSSM in e+e− collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 181–184 GeV

The data collected by ALEPH at LEP at centre-of-mass energies ranging from 181 to 184 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 57 pb(-1), are analysed to search for pair-produced neutral Higgs bosons h and A, in the b (b) over bar b (b) over bar and tau(+)tau(-)b (b) over bar final states. Two events are found in the data with 2.5 expected from standard model processes. When combined with the lower energy data collected by ALEPH and with earlier reported searches for associated hZ production, these analyses are interpreted in the context of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model (MSSM). For standard choices of MSSM parameter sets, this combination results in 95%…

research product

Observation of the rare B(s)(0) + decay from the combined analysis of CMS and LHCb data.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported licence.-- et al.

research product

Amplitude analysis ofB+→J/ψϕK+decays

The first full amplitude analysis of B+→J/ψϕK+ with J/ψ→μ+μ−, ϕ→K+K− decays is performed with a data sample of 3 fb−1 of pp collision data collected at s√=7 and 8 TeV with the LHCb detector. The data cannot be described by a model that contains only excited kaon states decaying into ϕK+, and four J/ψϕ structures are observed, each with significance over 5 standard deviations. The quantum numbers of these structures are determined with significance of at least 4 standard deviations. The lightest is best described as a D±sD∗∓s cusp, but a resonant interpretation is also possible with mass consistent with, but width much larger than, previous measurements of the claimed X(4140) state. The mode…

research product

Measurement of the W mass by direct reconstruction in e+e- collisions at 172 GeV

The mass of the W boson is obtained from reconstructed invariant mass distributions in W-pair events. The sample of W pairs is selected from 10.65 pb(-1) collected with the ALEPH detector at a mean centre-of-mass energy of 172.09 GeV. The invariant mass distribution of simulated events are fitted to the experimental; distributions and the following W masses are obtained: WW --> , m(W) = 81.30 +/- 0.47(stat.) +/- 0.11(syst.)GeV/c(2), WW --> l nu (l=e,mu), m(W) = 80.54 +/- 0.47(stat.) +/- 0.11(syst.)GeV/c(2), WW --> tau nu, m(W) = 79.56 +/- 1.08(stat.) +/- 0.23(syst.) GeV/c(2). The statistical errors are the expected errors for Monte Carlo samples of the same integrated luminosity as the data…

research product

Constraints on the unitarity triangle angleγfrom Dalitz plot analysis ofB0→DK+π−decays

The first study is presented of CP violation with an amplitude analysis of the Dalitz plot of B0→DK+π- decays, with D→K+π-, K+K-, and π+π-. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to 3.0 fb-1 of pp collisions collected with the LHCb detector. No significant CP violation effect is seen, and constraints are placed on the angle γ of the unitarity triangle formed from elements of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa quark mixing matrix. Hadronic parameters associated with the B0→DK∗(892)0 decay are determined for the first time. These measurements can be used to improve the sensitivity to γ of existing and future studies of the B0→DK∗(892)0 decay.

research product

Measurement of the Difference of Time-IntegratedCPAsymmetries inD0→K−K+andD0→π−π+Decays

A search for CP violation in $D^0 \rightarrow K^{-} K^{+} $ and $D^0 \rightarrow \pi^{-} \pi^{+} $ decays is performed using $pp$ collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3~fb^{-1}$, collected using the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and $8~$TeV. The flavour of the charm meson is inferred from the charge of the pion in $D^{*+}\rightarrow D^0\pi^+$ and $D^{*-}\rightarrow \bar{D^0}\pi^{-}$ decays. The difference between the CP asymmetries in $D^0 \rightarrow K^{-} K^{+} $ and $D^0 \rightarrow \pi^{-} \pi^{+} $ decays, $\Delta A_{CP} \equiv A_{CP}(K^{-} K^{+}) - A_{CP}(\pi^{-} \pi^{+})$, is measured to be $\left( -0.10 \pm 0.08(stat) \pm 0.03(syst) \right) \…

research product

Measurement of the W boson mass

The W boson mass is measured using proton-proton collision data at root s = 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.7fb(-1) recorded during 2016 by the LHCb experiment. With a simultaneous fit of the muon q/p(T) distribution of a sample of W ->mu y decays and the phi* distribution of a sample of Z -> mu mu decays the W boson mass is determined to be

research product

Amplitude analysis ofB−→D+π−π−decays

The Dalitz plot analysis technique is used to study the resonant substructures of $B^{-} \to D^{+} \pi^{-} \pi^{-}$ decays in a data sample corresponding to 3.0 ${\rm fb}^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2011 and 2012. A model-independent analysis of the angular moments demonstrates the presence of resonances with spins 1, 2 and 3 at high $D^{+}\pi^{-}$ mass. The data are fitted with an amplitude model composed of a quasi-model-independent function to describe the $D^{+}\pi^{-}$ S-wave together with virtual contributions from the $D^{*}(2007)^{0}$ and $B^{*0}$ states, and components corresponding to the $D^{*}_{2}(2460)^{0}$, $D^{*}_{1}(2680)^{0}$, $D^{*}_…

research product

Observation of the Resonant Character of theZ(4430)−State

Resonant structures in B-0 -> psi'pi K--(+) decays are analyzed by performing a four-dimensional fit of the decay amplitude, using pp collision data corresponding to 3 fb(-1) collected with the LHCb detector. The data cannot be described with K+pi(-) resonances alone, which is confirmed with a model-independent approach. A highly significant Z(4430)(-) -> psi'pi(-) component is required, thus confirming the existence of this state. The observed evolution of the Z(4430)(-) amplitude with the psi'pi(-) mass establishes the resonant nature of this particle. The mass and width measurements are substantially improved. The spin parity is determined unambiguously to be 1(+).

research product

Observation of Bc+→J/ψD(*)K(*) decays

A search for the decays B + c → J / ψ D ( * ) 0 K + and B + c → J / ψ D ( * ) + K * 0 is performed with data collected at the LHCb experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3     fb − 1 . The decays B + c → J / ψ D 0 K + and B + c → J / ψ D * 0 K + are observed for the first time, while first evidence is reported for the B + c → J / ψ D * + K * 0 and B + c → J / ψ D + K * 0 decays. The branching fractions of these decays are determined relative to the B + c → J / ψ π + decay. The B + c mass is measured, using the J / ψ D 0 K + final state, to be 6274.28 ± 1.40 ( stat ) ± 0.32 ( syst )     MeV / c 2 . This is the most precise single measurement of the B + c mass to date.

research product

Study of J/ψ Production in Jets

The production of $J/\psi$ mesons in jets is studied in the forward region of proton-proton collisions using data collected with the LHCb detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The fraction of the jet transverse momentum carried by the $J/\psi$ meson, $z \equiv p_{\rm T}(J/\psi)/p_{\rm T}({\rm jet})$, is measured using jets with $p_{\rm T}({\rm jet}) > 20$ GeV in the pseudorapidity range $2.5 < \eta({\rm jet}) < 4.0$. The observed $z$ distribution for $J/\psi$ mesons produced in $b$-hadron decays is consistent with expectations. However, the results for prompt $J/\psi$ production do not agree with predictions based on fixed-order non-relativistic QCD. This is the first measurement o…

research product

Observation of the suppressed ADS modes B±→[π±K∓π+π−]DK± and B±→[π±K∓π+π−]Dπ±

An analysis of and B-+/- -> DK +/- and B-+/- -> D pi(+/-) decays is presented where the D meson is reconstructed in the four-body final state K-+/-pi(-/+)pi(+)pi(-). Using LHCb data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb(-1), first observations are made of the suppressed ADS modes B-+/- ->[pi K-+/-(-/+)pi(+)pi(-)](D)K-+/- and B +/- -> [pi K-+/-(-/+)pi(+)pi(-)](D)pi(+/-) with a significance of 5.1 sigma and greater than 10 sigma, respectively. Measurements of CP asymmetries and CP-conserving ratios of partial widths from this family of decays are also performed. The magnitude of the ratio between the suppressed and favoured B-+/- -> DK +/- amplitudes is determined to be r(B)(K) …

research product

Measurement of the ratio ofBc+branching fractions toJ/ψπ+andJ/ψμ+νμfinal states

The first measurement that relates semileptonic and hadronic decay rates of the B-c(+) meson is performed using proton-proton collision data corresponding to 1.0 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected with the LHCb detector. The measured value of the ratio of branching fractions, B(B-c(+) -> J/psi pi(+))/B(B-c(+) -> J/psi mu(+)nu(mu)) = 0.0469 +/- 0.0028(stat) +/- 0.0046(syst), is at the lower end of available theoretical predictions.

research product

Search for charginos nearly mass degenerate with the lightest neutralino in e+e− collisions at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV

A search for charginos nearly mass degenerate with the lightest neutralino is performed with the data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP, at centre-of-mass energies between 189 and 209 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 628 pb-1. The analysis is based on the detection of isolated and energetic initial state radiation photons, produced in association with chargino pairs whose decay products have little visible energy. The number of candidate events observed is in agreement with that expected from Standard Model background sources. These results are combined with those of other direct searches for charginos, and a lower limit of 88 GeV/c2 at 95 % confidence level is derived…

research product

Measurement of the e+e- → ZZ production cross section at centre-of-mass energies of 183 and 189 GeV

The ee -> ZZ cross section at sqrt(s)=182.7 and 188.6 GeV has been measured using the ALEPH detector. The analysis covers all of the visible ZZ final states and yields cross section measurements of sigma_ZZ(182.7 GeV) = 0.11 +- (0.16,0.11) (stat.) +- 0.04 (syst.) pb and sigma_ZZ(188.6 GeV) = 0.67 +- 0.13 (stat.) +- 0.04 (syst.) pb consistent with the Standard Model expectations.

research product

Exclusive production of pion and kaon meson pairs in two photon collisions at LEP

Exclusive production of pi and K meson pairs in two photon collisions is measured with ALEPH data collected between 1992 and 2000. Cross-sections are presented as a function of cos theta* and invariant mass, for \ cos theta* \ < 0.6 and invariant masses between 2.0 and 6.0 GeV/c(2) (2.25 and 4.0 GeV/c(2)) for pions (kaons). The shape of the distributions are found to be well described by QCD predictions but the data have a significantly higher normalization. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.

research product

Observation of Two NewΞb−Baryon Resonances

Two structures are observed close to the kinematic threshold in the Ξb0π- mass spectrum in a sample of proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0fb-1, recorded by the LHCb experiment. In the quark model, two baryonic resonances with quark content bds are expected in this mass region: the spin-parity JP=(1/2)+ and JP=(3/2)+ states, denoted Ξb′- and Ξb∗-. Interpreting the structures as these resonances, we measure the mass differences and the width of the heavier state to be m(Ξb′-)-m(Ξb0)-m(π-)=3.653±0.018±0.006MeV/c2, m(Ξb∗-)-m(Ξb0)-m(π-)=23.96±0.12±0.06MeV/c2, Γ(Ξb∗-)=1.65±0.31±0.10MeV, where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systema…

research product

Measurements of charm mixing and CP violation using D0→K±π∓ decays

Measurements of charm mixing and CP violation parameters from the decay-time-dependent ratio of D0→K+π− to D0→K−π+ decay rates and the charge-conjugate ratio are reported. The analysis uses B¯¯¯¯→D∗+μ−X, and charge-conjugate decays, where D∗+→D0π+, and D0→K∓π±. The pp collision data are recorded by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies s√ = 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb−1. The data are analyzed under three hypotheses: (i) mixing assuming CP symmetry, (ii) mixing assuming no direct CP violation in the Cabibbo-favored or doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decay amplitudes, and (iii) mixing allowing either direct CP violation and/or CP violation in the superpos…

research product

Inclusive semileptonic branching ratios of b hadrons produced in Z decays

A measurement of the inclusive semileptonic branching ratios of b hadrons produced in Z decay is presented, using four million hadronic events collected by the ALEPH detector from 1991 to 1995. Electrons and muons are selected opposite to b-tagged hemispheres. Two different methods are explored to distinguish the contributions from direct $\bl$ and cascade $\bcl$ decays to the total lepton yield. One is based on the lepton transverse momentum spectrum, the other makes use of the correlation between the charge of the lepton and charge estimators built from tracks in the opposite hemisphere of the event. The latter method reduces the dependence on the modelling of semileptonic b decays. The r…

research product

Measurement of the effective Bs0→K+K− lifetime

A precise determination of the effective $B_s^0 \rightarrow K^+ K^-$ lifetime can be used to constrain contributions from physics beyond the Standard Model in the $B_s^0$ meson system. Conventional approaches select $B$ meson decay products that are significantly displaced from the $B$ meson production vertex. As a consequence, $B$ mesons with low decay times are suppressed, introducing a bias to the decay time spectrum which must be corrected. This analysis uses a technique that explicitly avoids a lifetime bias by using a neural network based trigger and event selection. Using 1.0 fb$^{-1}$ of data recorded by the LHCb experiment, the effective $B_s^0 \rightarrow K^+ K^-$ lifetime is meas…

research product