0000000000038727
AUTHOR
J. F. J. Van Den Brand
GW170817: Implications for the Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background from Compact Binary Coalescences
The LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations have announced the first detection of gravitational waves from the coalescence of two neutron stars. The merger rate of binary neutron stars estimated from this event suggests that distant, unresolvable binary neutron stars create a significant astrophysical stochastic gravitational-wave background. The binary neutron star background will add to the background from binary black holes, increasing the amplitude of the total astrophysical background relative to previous expectations. In the Advanced LIGO-Virgo frequency band most sensitive to stochastic backgrounds (near 25 Hz), we predict a total astrophysical background with amplitude $\Omega_{\rm…
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…
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…
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.
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{…
All-sky search in early O3 LIGO data for continuous gravitational-wave signals from unknown neutron stars in binary systems
Rapidly spinning neutron stars are promising sources of continuous gravitational waves. Detecting such a signal would allow probing of the physical properties of matter under extreme conditions. A significant fraction of the known pulsar population belongs to binary systems. Searching for unknown neutron stars in binary systems requires specialized algorithms to address unknown orbital frequency modulations. We present a search for continuous gravitational waves emitted by neutron stars in binary systems in early data from the third observing run of the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors using the semicoherent, GPU-accelerated, binaryskyhough pipeline. The search analyzes the most s…
Search for Tensor, Vector, and Scalar Polarizations in the Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background
The detection of gravitational waves with Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo has enabled novel tests of general relativity, including direct study of the polarization of gravitational waves. While general relativity allows for only two tensor gravitational-wave polarizations, general metric theories can additionally predict two vector and two scalar polarizations. The polarization of gravitational waves is encoded in the spectral shape of the stochastic gravitational-wave background, formed by the superposition of cosmological and individually-unresolved astrophysical sources. Using data recorded by Advanced LIGO during its first observing run, we search for a stochastic background of generic…
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…
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…
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…
Search for anisotropic gravitational-wave backgrounds using data from Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo's first three observing runs
We report results from searches for anisotropic stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds using data from the first three observing runs of the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. For the first time, we include Virgo data in our analysis and run our search with a new efficient pipeline called {\tt PyStoch} on data folded over one sidereal day. We use gravitational-wave radiometry (broadband and narrow band) to produce sky maps of stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds and to search for gravitational waves from point sources. A spherical harmonic decomposition method is employed to look for gravitational-wave emission from spatially-extended sources. Neither technique found eviden…
All-sky search for long-duration gravitational wave transients in the first Advanced LIGO observing run
Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T17:45:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-03-22 Australian Research Council Council of Scientific and Industrial Research of India Department of Science and Technology, India Science AMP; Engineering Research Board (SERB), India Ministry of Human Resource Development, India Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigacion Vicepresidencia i Conselleria d'Innovacio, Recerca i Turisme Conselleria d'Educacio i Universitat del Govern de les Illes Balears Conselleria d'Educacio, Investigacio, Cultura i Esport de la Generalitat Valenciana National Science Centre of Poland Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Russian Foundation for Basic Rese…
Tensor and Vector Analyzing Powers in the Reaction 2H(e,e’p)
The first experiment to be performed an the internal target facility of NIKHEF-K will be a study of eleclron-induced quasi-elastic proton knock-out from tensor-polarized deuterium. Here, we present the first results from the experimental tests as well as the results of a Monte Carlo simulation, which show the feasibility of the proposed experiment, even at modest luminosities.
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…
Tests of General Relativity with GW170817
The recent discovery by Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo of a gravitational wave signal from a binary neutron star inspiral has enabled tests of general relativity (GR) with this new type of source. This source, for the first time, permits tests of strong-field dynamics of compact binaries in presence of matter. In this paper, we place constraints on the dipole radiation and possible deviations from GR in the post-Newtonian coefficients that govern the inspiral regime. Bounds on modified dispersion of gravitational waves are obtained; in combination with information from the observed electromagnetic counterpart we can also constrain effects due to large extra dimensions. Finally, the polari…
Erratum: “Searches for Gravitational Waves from Known Pulsars at Two Harmonics in 2015–2017 LIGO Data” (2019, ApJ, 879, 10)
Two analysis errors have been identified that affect the results for a handful of the high-value pulsars given in Table 1 of Abbott et al. (2019). One affects the Bayesian analysis for the five pulsars that glitched during the analysis period, and the other affects the 5n-vector analysis for J0711-6830. Updated results after correcting the errors are shown in Table 1, which now supersedes the results given for those pulsars in Table 1 of Abbott et al. (2019). Updated versions of figures can be seen in Figures 1-4. Bayesian analysis.-For the glitching pulsars, the signal phase evolution caused by the glitch was wrongly applied twice and was therefore not consistent with our expected model of…
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.
Status of Advanced Virgo
The LIGO and the Virgo collaborations have recently announced the first detections of Gravitational Waves. Due to their weak amplitude, Gravitational Waves are expected to produce a very small effect on free-falling masses, which undergo a displacement of the order of 10-18 m for a Km-scale mutual distance. This discovery showed that interferometric detectors are suitable to reveal such a feeble effect, and therefore represent a new tool for astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology in the understanding of the Universe. To better reconstruct the position of the Gravitational Wave source and increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the events by means of multiple coincidence, a network of detectors…
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.
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…
GW190521: A Binary Black Hole Merger with a Total Mass of 150 M⊙
LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration: et al.
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…
Advanced Virgo Status
Abstract The detection of a gravitational wave signal in September 2015 by LIGO interferometers, announced jointly by LIGO collaboration and Virgo collaboration in February 2016, opened a new era in Astrophysics and brought to the whole community a new way to look at - or “listen” to - the Universe. In this regard, the next big step was the joint observation with at least three detectors at the same time. This configuration provides a twofold benefit: it increases the signal-to-noise ratio of the events by means of triple coincidence and allows a narrower pinpointing of GW sources, and, in turn, the search for Electromagnetic counterparts to GW signals. Advanced Virgo (AdV) is the second ge…
First narrow-band search for continuous gravitational waves from known pulsars in advanced detector data
Spinning neutron stars asymmetric with respect to their rotation axis are potential sources of continuous gravitational waves for ground-based interferometric detectors. In the case of known pulsars a fully coherent search, based on matched filtering, which uses the position and rotational parameters obtained from electromagnetic observations, can be carried out. Matched filtering maximizes the signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio, but a large sensitivity loss is expected in case of even a very small mismatch between the assumed and the true signal parameters. For this reason, {\it narrow-band} analyses methods have been developed, allowing a fully coherent search for gravitational waves from known …
GW170814: A Three-Detector Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Coalescence
On August 14, 2017 at 10 30:43 UTC, the Advanced Virgo detector and the two Advanced LIGO detectors coherently observed a transient gravitational-wave signal produced by the coalescence of two stellar mass black holes, with a false-alarm rate of 1 in 27 000 years. The signal was observed with a three-detector network matched-filter signal-to-noise ratio of 18. The inferred masses of the initial black holes are 30.5-3.0+5.7M and 25.3-4.2+2.8M (at the 90% credible level). The luminosity distance of the source is 540-210+130 Mpc, corresponding to a redshift of z=0.11-0.04+0.03. A network of three detectors improves the sky localization of the source, reducing the area of the 90% credible regio…
Constraining the p -Mode– g -Mode Tidal Instability with GW170817
We analyze the impact of a proposed tidal instability coupling p modes and g modes within neutron stars on GW170817. This nonresonant instability transfers energy from the orbit of the binary to internal modes of the stars, accelerating the gravitational-wave driven inspiral. We model the impact of this instability on the phasing of the gravitational wave signal using three parameters per star: An overall amplitude, a saturation frequency, and a spectral index. Incorporating these additional parameters, we compute the Bayes factor (lnB!pgpg) comparing our p-g model to a standard one. We find that the observed signal is consistent with waveform models that neglect p-g effects, with lnB!pgpg=…
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…
The advanced Virgo longitudinal control system for the O2 observing run
Following a successful period of data-taking between 2006 and 2011, the Virgo gravitational-wave detector was taken offline for a major upgrade. The changes made to the instrument significantly increased the complexity of the control systems and meant that an extended period of commissioning was required to reach a sensitivity appropriate for science data-taking. This commissioning period was completed in July of 2017 and the second-generation Advanced Virgo detector went on to join the Advanced LIGO detectors in the O2 science run in August of the same year. The upgraded detector was approximately twice as sensitive to binary neutron star mergers as the first-generation instrument. During …
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…
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.
Tensor Analyzing Powers for Quasi-Elastic Electron Scattering from Deuterium
We report on a first measurement of tensor analyzing powers in quasi-elastic electron-deuteron scattering at an average three-momentum transfer of 1.7 fm$^{-1}$. Data sensitive to the spin-dependent nucleon density in the deuteron were obtained for missing momenta up to 150 MeV/$c$ with a tensor polarized $^2$H target internal to an electron storage ring. The data are well described by a calculation that includes the effects of final-state interaction, meson-exchange and isobar currents, and leading-order relativistic contributions.
All-sky search for continuous gravitational waves from isolated neutron stars using Advanced LIGO O2 data
We present results of an all-sky search for continuous gravitational waves (CWs), which can be produced by fast-spinning neutron stars with an asymmetry around their rotation axis, using data from the second observing run of the Advanced LIGO detectors. We employ three different semi-coherent methods ($\textit{FrequencyHough}$, $\textit{SkyHough}$, and $\textit{Time-Domain $\mathcal{F}$-statistic}$) to search in a gravitational-wave frequency band from 20 to 1922 Hz and a first frequency derivative from $-1\times10^{-8}$ to $2\times10^{-9}$ Hz/s. None of these searches has found clear evidence for a CW signal, so we present upper limits on the gravitational-wave strain amplitude $h_0$ (the …
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…
GW190412: Observation of a binary-black-hole coalescence with asymmetric masses
LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration: et al.
The BLAST experiment
The Bates large acceptance spectrometer toroid (BLAST) experiment was operated at the MIT-Bates Linear Accelerator Center from 2003 until 2005. The detector and experimental program were designed to study, in a systematic manner, the spin-dependent electromagnetic interaction in few-nucleon systems. As such the data will provide improved measurements for neutron, proton, and deuteron form factors. The data will also allow details of the reaction mechanism, such as the role of final state interactions, pion production, and resonances to be studied. The experiment used: a longitudinally polarized electron beam stored in the South Hall Storage Ring; a highly polarized, isotopically pure, inter…
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…
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…
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…
Gravitational-wave Constraints on the Equatorial Ellipticity of Millisecond Pulsars
We present a search for continuous gravitational waves from five radio pulsars, comprising three recycled pulsars (PSR J0437-4715, PSR J0711-6830, and PSR J0737-3039A) and two young pulsars: the Crab pulsar (J0534+2200) and the Vela pulsar (J0835-4510). We use data from the third observing run of Advanced LIGO and Virgo combined with data from their first and second observing runs. For the first time, we are able to match (for PSR J0437-4715) or surpass (for PSR J0711-6830) the indirect limits on gravitational-wave emission from recycled pulsars inferred from their observed spin-downs, and constrain their equatorial ellipticities to be less than 10-8. For each of the five pulsars, we perfor…
GW170817: Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Neutron Star Inspiral
On August 17, 2017 at 12-41:04 UTC the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo gravitational-wave detectors made their first observation of a binary neutron star inspiral. The signal, GW170817, was detected with a combined signal-to-noise ratio of 32.4 and a false-alarm-rate estimate of less than one per 8.0×104 years. We infer the component masses of the binary to be between 0.86 and 2.26 M, in agreement with masses of known neutron stars. Restricting the component spins to the range inferred in binary neutron stars, we find the component masses to be in the range 1.17-1.60 M, with the total mass of the system 2.74-0.01+0.04M. The source was localized within a sky region of 28 deg2 (90% probabili…
Search for Gravitational Waves Associated with Gamma-Ray Bursts Detected by Fermi and Swift during the LIGO-Virgo Run O3a
Abbott, R., et al. (LIGO and VIRGO Collaboration)
A Gravitational-wave Measurement of the Hubble Constant Following the Second Observing Run of Advanced LIGO and Virgo
This paper presents the gravitational-wave measurement of the Hubble constant (H 0) using the detections from the first and second observing runs of the Advanced LIGO and Virgo detector network. The presence of the transient electromagnetic counterpart of the binary neutron star GW170817 led to the first standard-siren measurement of H 0. Here we additionally use binary black hole detections in conjunction with galaxy catalogs and report a joint measurement. Our updated measurement is H 0 = km s-1 Mpc-1 (68.3% of the highest density posterior interval with a flat-in-log prior) which is an improvement by a factor of 1.04 (about 4%) over the GW170817-only value of km s-1 Mpc-1. A significant …
All-sky search for short gravitational-wave bursts in the second Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo run
We present the results of a search for short-duration gravitational-wave transients in the data from the second observing run of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. We search for gravitational-wave transients with a duration of milliseconds to approximately one second in the 32-4096 Hz frequency band with minimal assumptions about the signal properties, thus targeting a wide variety of sources. We also perform a matched-filter search for gravitational-wave transients from cosmic string cusps for which the waveform is well-modeled. The unmodeled search detected gravitational waves from several binary black hole mergers which have been identified by previous analyses. No other significant event…
Search for Subsolar-Mass Ultracompact Binaries in Advanced LIGO's First Observing Run
We present the first Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo search for ultracompact binary systems with component masses between 0.2 $M_\odot$ - 1.0 $M_\odot$ using data taken between September 12, 2015 and January 19, 2016. We find no viable gravitational wave candidates. Our null result constrains the coalescence rate of monochromatic (delta function) distributions of non-spinning (0.2 $M_\odot$, 0.2 $M_\odot$) ultracompact binaries to be less than $1.0 \times 10^6 \text{Gpc}^{-3} \text{yr}^{-1}$ and the coalescence rate of a similar distribution of (1.0 $M_\odot$, 1.0 $M_\odot$) ultracompact binaries to be less than $1.9 \times 10^4 \text{Gpc}^{-3} \text{yr}^{-1}$ (at 90 percent confidence). N…
Search for Gravitational-wave Signals Associated with Gamma-Ray Bursts during the Second Observing Run of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo
We present the results of targeted searches for gravitational-wave transients associated with gamma-ray bursts during the second observing run of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo, which took place from 2016 November to 2017 August. We have analyzed 98 gamma-ray bursts using an unmodeled search method that searches for generic transient gravitational waves and 42 with a modeled search method that targets compact-binary mergers as progenitors of short gamma-ray bursts. Both methods clearly detect the previously reported binary merger signal GW170817, with p-values of <9.38 10-6 (modeled) and 3.1 10-4 (unmodeled). We do not find any significant evidence for gravitational-wave signals associate…
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(+).
Electron elastic scattering off a Tensor-polarized Deuterium Internal Target
The tensor analyzing power Γ20 in elastic electron-deuteron scattering has been measured in the four momentum transfer region between 1.4 and 3.2 fm~l using the Internal Target Facility at NIKHEF. Tensor-polarized deuterium is produced in an Atomic Beam Source and injected into a storage cell. Scattered electrons and recoil deuterons were detected in coincidence with two large acceptance nonmagnetic detectors.
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) …
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.
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…
GW170817: Measurements of Neutron Star Radii and Equation of State
On 17 August 2017, the LIGO and Virgo observatories made the first direct detection of gravitational waves from the coalescence of a neutron star binary system. The detection of this gravitational-wave signal, GW170817, offers a novel opportunity to directly probe the properties of matter at the extreme conditions found in the interior of these stars. The initial, minimal-assumption analysis of the LIGO and Virgo data placed constraints on the tidal effects of the coalescing bodies, which were then translated to constraints on neutron star radii. Here, we expand upon previous analyses by working under the hypothesis that both bodies were neutron stars that are described by the same equation…