0000000000178309

AUTHOR

Maulik R. Patel

Precision measurement of the ratio BR(KS→π+π−e+e−)/BR(KL→π+π−πD0)

Abstract The K S → π + π − e + e − decay mode was investigated using the data collected in 2002 by the NA48/1 Collaboration. With about 23 k K S → π + π − e + e − events and 59 k K L → π + π − π D 0 normalization decays, the K S → π + π − e + e − branching ratio relative to the K L → π + π − π D 0 one was determined to be BR ( K S → π + π − e + e − ) / BR ( K L → π + π − π D 0 ) = ( 3.28 ± 0.06 stat ± 0.04 syst ) × 10 − 2 . This result was used to set the upper limit | g E1 / g BR | 3.0 at 90% CL on the presence, in the decay amplitude, of an E1 direct emission ( g E1 ) term relative to the dominant inner bremsstrahlung ( g BR ) term. The CP-violating asymmetry A ϕ in the sin ϕ cos ϕ distri…

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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.

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Empirical parameterization of the K±→π±π0π0 decay Dalitz plot

As first observed by the NA48/2 experiment at the CERN SPS, the π0π0 invariant mass (M00) distribution from K±→π±π0π0 decay shows a cusp-like anomaly at M00=2m+, where m+ is the charged pion mass. An analysis to extract the ππ scattering lengths in the isospin I=0 and I=2 states, a0 and a2, respectively, has been recently reported. In the present work the Dalitz plot of this decay is fitted to a new empirical parameterization suitable for practical purposes, such as Monte Carlo simulations of K±→π±π0π0 decays.

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A new measurement of the K±→π±γγ decay at the NA48/2 experiment

Abstract The NA48/2 experiment at CERN collected two data samples with minimum bias trigger conditions in 2003 and 2004. A measurement of the rate and dynamic properties of the rare decay K ± → π ± γ γ from these data sets based on 149 decay candidates with an estimated background of 15.5 ± 0.7 events is reported. The model-independent branching ratio in the kinematic range z = ( m γ γ / m K ) 2 > 0.2 is measured to be B MI ( z > 0.2 ) = ( 0.877 ± 0.089 ) × 10 − 6 , and the branching ratio in the full kinematic range assuming a particular Chiral Perturbation Theory description to be B ( K π γ γ ) = ( 0.910 ± 0.075 ) × 10 − 6 .

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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.

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Search for direct CP violation in the decays K-+/- -> 3 pi(+/-)

Abstract We report a measurement of the direct CP violation asymmetry parameter A g in charged kaon decays K ± → π ± π + π − by the NA48/2 experiment at the CERN SPS. The experiment has been designed not to be limited by systematics in the asymmetry measurement. Using 1.67 × 10 9 such decays collected during the 2003 run, the charge asymmetry in the Dalitz plot linear slope parameter g has been measured to be A g = ( 1.7 ± 2.9 ) × 10 −4 . The precision of the result is limited by the statistics used.

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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.

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First observation and measurement of the decay K±→π±e+e−γ

Abstract Using the full data set of the NA48/2 experiment, the decay K ± → π ± e + e − γ is observed for the first time, selecting 120 candidates with 7.3 ± 1.7 estimated background events. With K ± → π ± π D 0 as normalisation channel, the branching ratio is determined in a model-independent way to be Br ( K ± → π ± e + e − γ , m e e γ > 260  MeV / c 2 ) = ( 1.19 ± 0.12 stat ± 0.04 syst ) × 10 −8 . This measured value and the spectrum of the e + e − γ invariant mass allow a comparison with predictions of chiral perturbation theory.

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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…

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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-*) =…

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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 $\Lambda_b$.

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Search for the dark photon in π0 decays

A sample of $1.69\times 10^7$ fully reconstructed $\pi^0\to\gamma e^+e^-$ decay candidates collected by the NA48/2 experiment at CERN in 2003--2004 is analysed to search for the dark photon ($A'$) production in the $\pi^0\to\gamma A'$ decay followed by the prompt $A'\to e^+e^-$ decay. No signal is observed, and an exclusion region in the plane of the dark photon mass $m_{A'}$ and mixing parameter $\varepsilon^2$ is established. The obtained upper limits on $\varepsilon^2$ are more stringent than the previous limits in the mass range $9~{\rm MeV}/c^2<m_{A'}<70~{\rm MeV}/c^2$. The NA48/2 sensitivity to the dark photon production in the $K^\pm\to\pi^\pm A'$ decay is also evaluated.

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New measurement of the K±→π±μ+μ− decay

Abstract A sample of 3120 K ± → π ± μ + μ − decay candidates with ( 3.3 ± 0.7 ) % background contamination has been collected by the NA48/2 experiment at the CERN SPS, allowing a detailed study of the decay properties. The branching ratio was measured to be BR = ( 9.62 ± 0.25 ) × 10 − 8 . The form factor W ( z ) , where z = ( M μ μ / M K ) 2 , was parameterized according to several models. In particular, the slope of the linear form factor W ( z ) = W 0 ( 1 + δ z ) was measured to be δ = 3.11 ± 0.57 . Upper limits of 2.9 × 10 − 2 and 2.3 × 10 − 2 on possible charge asymmetry and forward–backward asymmetry were established at 90% CL. An upper limit BR ( K ± → π ∓ μ ± μ ± ) 1.1 × 10 − 9 was e…

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New precise measurements of the and decay asymmetries

Abstract The decay asymmetries of the weak radiative hyperon decays Ξ 0 → Λ γ and Ξ 0 → Σ 0 γ have been measured with high precision using data of the NA48/1 experiment at CERN. From about 52 000 Ξ 0 → Λ γ and 15 000 Ξ 0 → Σ 0 γ decays, we obtain for the decay asymmetries α Ξ 0 → Λ γ = − 0.704 ± 0.019 stat ± 0.064 syst and α Ξ 0 → Σ 0 γ = − 0.729 ± 0.030 stat ± 0.076 syst , respectively. These results are in good agreement with previous experiments, but more precise.

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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…

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Search for direct CP-violation in K±→π±π0π0 decays

Abstract A search for direct CP-violation in K ± → π ± π 0 π 0 decay based on 47.14 million events has been performed by the NA48/2 experiment at the CERN SPS. The asymmetry in the Dalitz plot linear slopes A g = ( g + − g − ) / ( g + + g − ) is measured to be A g = ( 1.8 ± 2.6 ) × 10 −4 . The design of the experiment and the method of analysis provide good control of instrumental charge asymmetries in this measurement. The precision of the result is limited by statistics and is almost one order of magnitude better than that of previous measurements by other experiments.

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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) \…

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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^{*}_…

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Precise measurement of the K±→π±e+e− decay

Abstract A sample of 7253 K ± → π ± e + e − ( γ ) decay candidates with 1.0% background contamination has been collected by the NA48/2 experiment at the CERN SPS, which allowed a precise measurement of the decay properties. The branching ratio in the full kinematic range was measured to be BR = ( 3.11 ± 0.12 ) × 10 − 7 , where the uncertainty includes also the model dependence. The shape of the form factor W ( z ) , where z = ( M e e / M K ) 2 , was parameterized according to several models, and, in particular, the slope δ of the linear form factor W ( z ) = W 0 ( 1 + δ z ) was determined to be δ = 2.32 ± 0.18 . A possible CP violating asymmetry of K + and K − decay widths was investigated,…

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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…

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Measurement of the Dalitz plot slope parameters of the K±→π±π+π− decay

Abstract The distribution of the K ± → π ± π + π − decays in the Dalitz plot has been measured by the NA48/2 experiment at the CERN SPS with a sample of 4.71 × 10 8 fully reconstructed events. With the standard Particle Data Group parameterization the following values of the slope parameters were obtained: g = ( − 21.134 ± 0.017 ) % , h = ( 1.848 ± 0.040 ) % , k = ( − 0.463 ± 0.014 ) % . The quality and statistical accuracy of the data have allowed an improvement in precision by more than an order of magnitude, and are such as to warrant a more elaborate theoretical treatment, including pion–pion rescattering, which is in preparation.

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