arXiv subjects

C. Betancourt

Publications and source records attributed to C. Betancourt.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

New measurements of $B^+_c$ decays into single charm final states

Using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9 \,\textrm{fb}^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment, searches are performed for $B^+_c$ mesons decaying to a charm and a charmless meson pair. Five products of branching fraction, ${\cal B}(B^+_c\!\to DX)$, and fragmentation ratio $f_c\big/f_u$ are reported, \begin{align*} R_{D^+ K^{*0}} &= ( 1.42 \pm 0.23 \pm 0.07 \pm 0.11 ) \times 10^{-6}, \\ R_{D^{*0} K^+} &= (1.46 \pm 0.30 \pm 0.11 \pm 0.05 ) \times 10^{-6}, \\ R_{D^+_s \phi}\ \ \ &= ( 4.0\pm 1.3 \pm 0.2 \pm 0.5) \times 10^{-7 }, \\ R_{D^0 K^+}\ &= ( 9.7 \pm 1.0 \pm 0.4 \pm 0.3 ) \times 10^{-7}, \\ R_{D^0 \pi^+}\ &<\ 1.4 \times 10^{-7}\ \text{at 95\% CL}. \end{align*} In each case, the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic and the third includes external uncertainties. The first result is a first observation, the second and third exhibit clear evidence and the fourth improves the precision of previous measurements by a factor two. Additionally, the $CP$ asymmetry in $B^+_c\!\to D^0 K^+$ decays is measured and found to be compatible with zero.

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arXiv2026

Measurement of the muon neutrino charged-current cross section with SND@LHC

We report a measurement of the muon neutrino charged-current (CC) interaction cross section on tungsten using the electronic detectors of the SND@LHC experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The analysis uses proton--proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13.6$ TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $68.6 ~\text{fb}^{-1}$ collected during LHC Run 3 in 2022 and 2023. A total of 31 $\nu_\mu$ CC candidates are selected against an expected background of $5.0 \pm 1.1$ events, consistent with a signal expectation of $24^{+10}_{-9}$ events. The signal strength is measured to be $\hat{\mu} = 1.09^{+0.72}_{-0.37}$, and the combined muon neutrino and anti-neutrino CC cross section on tungsten is determined to be $\sigma(\nu_\mu + \bar{\nu}_\mu) = (37^{+24}_{-12})\times 10^{-35}~\text{cm}^2$ at a median energy of $228$ GeV. In addition, a calorimetric measurement of the hadronic energies of the neutrino candidate events is performed, making use of calibration data from dedicated test-beam campaigns.

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arXiv2026

Amplitude analysis of $B^0 \rightarrow η_c(1S) K^+ π^- $ decays

An amplitude analysis of the $B^0 \rightarrow η_{c}(1S) K^+ π^- $ decays with $η_{c}(1S) \to p \bar{p}$ is performed using a sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9$\text{fb}^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data collected by the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of $\sqrt{s}$ = 7, 8 and 13TeV. The data are described with a model including only intermediate contributions from known $K^{0\star}$ resonances. Evidence for an exotic resonance in the $η_{c}(1S) π^{-} $ system, reported in a previous analysis of this decay channel, is not confirmed. The inclusive branching fraction of the $B^0 \rightarrow η_{c}(1S) K^+ π^- $ decays is measured to be \begin{align*} \mathcal{B}(B^0 \rightarrow η_{c}(1S) K^+ π^- ) = (5.82 \pm 0.20 \pm 0.23 \pm 0.55) \times 10^{-4}, \end{align*} where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third arises from the limited knowledge of external branching fractions.

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arXiv2026

Branching fraction measurement of the $\mathitΛ \to p μ^- \overlineν_μ$ decay

A measurement of the branching fraction for the decay $\mathitΛ \to p μ^- \overlineν_μ$ is presented using $\textit{pp}$ collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The analysis is based on data recorded between 2016 and 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.4 \ \text{fb}^{-1}$. The result is obtained using $\mathitΛ \to p π^-$ decays as a normalisation channel. The measured branching fraction is $B(\mathitΛ \to p μ^- \overlineν_μ)= (1.462 \pm 0.016 \pm 0.100 \pm 0.011 ) \times 10^{-4}$, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the limited knowledge of the normalisation mode branching fraction, respectively. This result improves the precision of the branching fraction measurement by a factor of two compared to the previous best measurement and sets a more stringent bound on lepton flavour universality in $s \to u$ quark transitions. It is consistent with previous measurements, and the extracted lepton flavour universality test observable, $R^{μe} = \frac{Γ(\mathitΛ \to p μ^- \overlineν_μ)}{Γ(\mathitΛ \to p e^- \overlineν_e)} = 0.175 \pm 0.012$, agrees with the Standard Model prediction.

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arXiv2026

First observation of $CP$ violation and measurement of polarization in $B^+\toρ(770)^0 K^*(892)^+$ decays

An amplitude analysis of the $B^+\to(π^+π^-)(K^0_{\mathrm{S}}π^+)$ decay is performed in the mass regions $0.30 < m_{π^+π^-} < 1.10\,\mathrm{GeV}/c^2$ and $0.75 < m_{K^0_{\mathrm{S}}π^+} < 1.20\,\mathrm{GeV}/c^2$, using $pp$ collision data recorded with the LHCb detector corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The polarization fractions and $CP$ asymmetries for $B^+\toρ(770)^0K^*(892)^+$ decays are measured. Violation of the $CP$ symmetry in the decay $B^+\toρ(770)^0K^*(892)^+$ is observed for the first time, with a significance exceeding nine standard deviations. The $CP$ asymmetry is measured to be ${\cal A}_{CP} = 0.507 \pm 0.062\ \text{(stat)} \pm 0.024\ \text{(syst)}$ and the $CP$-averaged longitudinal polarization fraction of $f_L = 0.720 \pm 0.028\ \text{(stat)} \pm 0.009\ \text{(syst)}$. The measurements help to shed light on the polarization puzzle of $B$ mesons decaying to two vector mesons.

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arXiv2026

Measurement of the $W \to μν_μ$ cross-sections as a function of the muon transverse momentum in $pp$ collisions at 5.02 TeV

The $pp \to W^{\pm} (\to μ^{\pm} ν_μ) X$ cross-sections are measured at a proton-proton centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 100 pb$^{-1}$ recorded by the LHCb experiment. Considering muons in the pseudorapidity range $2.2 < η< 4.4$, the cross-sections are measured differentially in twelve intervals of muon transverse momentum between $28 < p_\mathrm{T} < 52$ GeV. Integrated over $p_\mathrm{T}$, the measured cross-sections are \begin{align*} σ_{W^+ \to μ^+ ν_μ} &= 300.9 \pm 2.4 \pm 3.8 \pm 6.0~\text{pb}, \\ σ_{W^- \to μ^- \barν_μ} &= 236.9 \pm 2.1 \pm 2.7 \pm 4.7~\text{pb}, \end{align*} where the first uncertainties are statistical, the second are systematic, and the third are associated with the luminosity calibration. These integrated results are consistent with theoretical predictions. This analysis introduces a new method to determine the $W$-boson mass using the measured differential cross-sections corrected for detector effects. The measurement is performed on this statistically limited dataset as a proof of principle and yields \begin{align*} m_W = 80369 \pm 130 \pm 33~\text{MeV}, \end{align*} where the first uncertainty is experimental and the second is theoretical.

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arXiv2026

Measurement of the branching fraction of the $Λ_b^0\to J/ψΛ$ decay and isospin asymmetry of $B\to J/ψK$ decays

This paper describes a measurement of the $Λ_b^0\to J/ψΛ$ branching fraction using data collected with the LHCb experiment in proton-proton collisions from 2016 to 2018. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.4$\,\text{fb}^{-1}$. The branching fraction is determined relative to that of $B^0\to J/ψK^0_\text{S}$ decays, $\frac{\mathcal{B}(Λ_b^0\to J/ψΛ)}{\mathcal{B}(B^0\to J/ψK^0_\text{S}} = 0.750 \pm 0.005 \pm 0.022 \pm 0.005 \pm 0.062\,,$ yielding $\mathcal{B}(Λ_b^0\to J/ψΛ) = (3.34 \pm 0.02 \pm 0.10 \pm 0.08 \pm 0.28)\times 10^{-4}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, the third due to external inputs on branching fractions and the fourth due to the ratio of $Λ_b^0$ baryon and $B^0$ meson hadronisation fractions. In addition, the isospin asymmetry between the rates of $B^0\to J/ψK^0_\text{S}$ and $B^+\to J/ψK^+$ decays is measured to be $A_{\rm I} = -0.0135 \pm 0.0004 \pm 0.0133$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

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arXiv2026

Improved branching-fraction measurements of $B^0_{(s)} \to K_S^0 h^+ h^{'-}$ decays and first observation of $B^0_{s} \to K_S^0 K^+ K^-$

This paper presents a study of the charmless three-body decays ${B^0_{(s)} \to K_{\mathrm{S}}^0 h^+ h^{\prime -}}$ (where $h^{(\prime)} = π, K$), using a sample of $pp$ collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\mbox{\,fb}^{-1}$. The decay ${B^0_s \to K_{\mathrm{S}}^0 K^+ K^-}$ is observed for the first time, and the following ratios of branching fractions are measured: \begin{alignat*}{6} &\frac{{\cal B}(B^0 \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} K^+ K^-)}{{\cal B}(B^0 \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} π^+π^-)} &&= 0.578 &&\pm 0.007 &&\pm 0.017\,, &\frac{{\cal B}(B^0 \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} K^\pmπ^\mp)}{{\cal B}(B^0 \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} π^+π^-)} &&= 0.1363 &&\pm 0.0035 &&\pm 0.0051\,, &\frac{{\cal B}(B^0_s \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} π^+π^-)}{{\cal B}(B^0 \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} π^+π^-)} &&= 0.269 &&\pm 0.011 &&\pm 0.015 && \pm 0.008\,, &\frac{{\cal B}(B^0_s \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} K^+ K^-)}{{\cal B}(B^0 \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} π^+π^-)} &&= 0.0303 &&\pm 0.0041 &&\pm 0.0025 && \pm 0.0009\,, &\frac{{\cal B}(B^0_s \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} K^\pmπ^\mp)}{{\cal B}(B^0 \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} π^+π^-)} &&= 1.818 &&\pm 0.021 &&\pm 0.031 && \pm 0.056\,, \end{alignat*} where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to knowledge of the ratio of hadronisation fractions of the $B^0_s$ and $B^0$ mesons, respectively.

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arXiv2026

A model-independent measurement of the CKM angle $γ$ in the decays $B^\pm\to[K^+K^-π^+π^-]_D h^\pm$ and $B^\pm\to[π^+π^-π^+π^-]_D h^\pm$ ($h = K, π$)

A model-independent determination of the CKM angle $γ$ is presented, using the $B^\pm\to[K^+K^-π^+π^-]_D h^\pm$ and $B^\pm\to[π^+π^-π^+π^-]_D h^\pm$ decays, with $h=K,π$. This measurement is the first phase-space-binned study of these decay modes, and uses a sample of proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9$fb$^{-1}$. The phase-space bins are optimised for sensitivity to $γ$, and in each bin external inputs from the BESIII experiment are used to constrain the charm strong-phase parameters. The result of this binned analysis is $γ= (53.9_{-8.9}^{+9.5})^\circ$, where the uncertainty includes both statistical and systematic contributions. Furthermore, when combining with existing phase-space-integrated measurements of the same decay modes, a value of $γ= (52.6_{-6.4}^{+8.5})^\circ$ is obtained, which is one of the most precise determinations of $γ$ to date.

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arXiv2026

Measurement of $C\!P$ asymmetry in $D^0 \to K^0_{\rm S} K^0_{\rm S}$ decays with Run 3 data

A measurement of $C\!P$ asymmetry in $D^0 \to K^0_{\rm S} K^0_{\rm S}$ decays is reported, based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector in 2024 at a centre-of-mass energy of $13.6\,$TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $6.2\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The $D^0 \to K^0_{\rm S} π^+ π^-$ decay is used as calibration channel to cancel residual detection and production asymmetries. The time-integrated $C\!P$ asymmetry for the $D^0 \to K^0_{\rm S} K^0_{\rm S}$ mode is measured to be $$ {\cal A}^{C\!P} (D^0 \to K^0_{\rm S} K^0_{\rm S}) = (1.86 \pm 1.04\pm 0.41)\%, $$ where the first uncertainty is statistical, and the second is systematic. This measurement represents the most precise single-experiment determination of this quantity to date.

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arXiv2026

First evidence of $CP$ violation in beauty baryon to charmonium decays

A study of the difference in the $CP$ asymmetries between $Λ^0_b \rightarrow J / ψp π^-$ and $Λ^0_b \rightarrow J / ψp K^-$ decays, $Δ{\cal A}_{CP}$, is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment in the years 2015--2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $6 \,{\rm fb}^{-1}$. This quantity is measured to be $ Δ{\cal A}_{CP}=(4.03\pm 1.18\pm 0.23)\%$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. When combined with the previous LHCb result, a value of $Δ{\cal A}_{CP} = (4.31 \pm 1.06 \pm 0.28)\%$ is obtained, corresponding to a significance of $3.9σ$ against the $CP$ symmetry hypothesis. Studies of triple-product asymmetries, which provide an additional probe of $CP$ violation, show no significant deviation from $CP$ symmetry.

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arXiv2026

Measurement of $ψ(2S)$ to $J/ψ$ cross-section ratio as function of multiplicity in $p$Pb collisions at$\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 8.16$ TeV

The production ratio of $ψ(2S)$ to $J/ψ$ charmonium states is presented as a function of multiplicity in proton-lead collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=8.16$ TeV, for both prompt and nonprompt sources. The total luminosity recorded by the LHCb experiment corresponds to 13.6 $pb^{-1}$ for $p$Pb collisions and 20.8 $pb^{-1}$ for Pb$p$ collisions, where the first particle indicates the forward direction of the detector. Measurements are performed in the dimuon final state at forward (backward) centre-of-mass rapidity $1.5<y^*<4.0$ ($-5.0<y^*<-2.5$) for $p$Pb (Pb$p$) collisions.A multiplicity dependence of the prompt production ratio is observed in $p$Pb collisions, whereas no dependence is found in nonprompt production, nor in either prompt or nonprompt production in Pb$p$ collisions. These results suggest that in the Pb-going direction additional suppression mechanisms beyond comover effects may be present, possibly related to the formation of quark-gluon plasma. This highlights a transition from small to large collision systems and provides important insight into the suppression of charmonia in proton-nucleus collisions.

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arXiv2026

Observation of $B_c^+ \to D h^+ h^-$ decays

Searches are presented for $B_{c}^{+} \to D h^+ h^-$ decays, where $D$ is a charmed meson and $h^{\pm}$ is a charged pion or kaon, using $pp$ collision data collected by the LHCb experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9~\text{fb}^{-1}$. The decays $B_c^+\to D^+ K^+π^-$, $B_c^+\to D^{*+} K^+π^-$ and $B_c^+\to D_s^+ K^+ K^-$ are observed for the first time. Their branching fractions, expressed as ratios relative to that of the $B_c^+\to B_s^0π^+$ decay, are determined to be \begin{align*} \mathcal{R}(B_c^+\to D^+ K^+π^-) =(1.96 \pm 0.23\pm 0.08 \pm 0.10)\times 10^{-3},&\\ \mathcal{R}(B_c^+\to D^{*+} K^+π^-) =(3.67 \pm 0.55 \pm 0.24\pm 0.20)\times 10^{-3},&\\ \mathcal{R}(B_c^+\to D_s^+ K^+ K^-) =(1.61 \pm 0.35\pm 0.13\pm 0.07)\times 10^{-3}, \end{align*} where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is due to the limited precision on the $D$-meson branching fractions. The decay channels proceed primarily through excited $K^0$ or $D^0$ resonances or $ϕ$ mesons, and open a new avenue for studies of charge-parity violation in beauty mesons.

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arXiv2026

Machine learning techniques for jet reconstruction at LHCb and application to the search for $H \to b \bar{b}$ and $H \to c \bar{c}$ in $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV $pp$ collisions

Two machine learning techniques for jet measurements at the LHCb experiment are presented: a regression-based method for jet-energy calibration and a deep neural network algorithm for jet flavour tagging, distinguishing between $b$-quark, $c$-quark, and light parton jets. These techniques are applied to a search for inclusive $H \to \bbbar$ and $H \to c\barcc$ decays using a LHCb dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.6\invfb. The observed (expected) 95\% confidence level upper limits correspond to 6.6 (11.1) times the SM cross-section for the $H \to b\bar b$ process, and 1003 (1834) times the SM cross-section for the $H \to c\bar c$ process.

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arXiv2026

Search for lepton-number-violating $B^-\to D^{(*)+}\mu^-\mu^-$ decays

A search is performed for lepton-number-violating $B^-\to D^{(*)+}\mu^-\mu^-$ decays, using data collected by the LHCb experiment in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb$^{-1}$. No significant signal is observed, and upper limits are set on the branching fractions, ${\cal B}(B^-\to D^{+}\mu^-\mu^-) < 4.6 \times 10^{-8}$ and ${\cal B}(B^-\to D^{*+}\mu^-\mu^-) < 5.9 \times 10^{-8}$, at the 95% confidence level.

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arXiv2026

Study of charm mixing and CP violation with $D^0\to K^\pmπ^\mpπ^\pmπ^\mp$ decays

A study of charm mixing and CP violation in $D^0\to K^\pmπ^\mpπ^\pmπ^\mp$ decays is performed using data collected by the LHCb experiment in proton-proton collisions from 2015 to 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6$\text{fb}^{-1}$. The ratio of promptly produced $D^0\to K^+π^- π^+π^-$ to $D^0\to K^-π^+ π^-π^+$ decay rates is measured as a function of $D^0$ decay time, both inclusive over phase space and in bins of phase space. Taking external inputs for the $D^0 -\overline{D}^0$ mixing parameters $x$ and $y$ allows constraints to be obtained on the hadronic parameters of the charm decay. When combined with previous measurements from charm-threshold experiments and at LHCb, improved knowledge is obtained for these parameters, which is valuable for studies of the angle $γ$ of the Unitarity Triangle. An alternative analysis is also performed, in which external inputs are taken for the hadronic parameters, and the mixing parameters are determined, including $Δx$ and $Δy$, which are nonzero in the presence of CP violation. It is found that $x=\left(0.85^{+0.15}_{-0.24}\right)\%$, $y=\left( 0.21^{+0.29}{-0.27} \right)\%$, $Δx=\left( -0.02\pm {0.04} \right)\% $ and $Δy=\left( 0.02^{+0.04}_{-0.03} \right)\%$. These results are consistent with previous measurements and the hypothesis of CP conservation.

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arXiv2026

Measurement of transverse $Λ$ and $\barΛ$ hyperon polarization in $p$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV

The transverse polarization of $Λ$ and $\barΛ$ hyperons is measured in $p$Pb collisions collected by the LHCb experiment at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of $5.02$ TeV. The polarization is averaged over hyperon transverse momentum in the ranges $0.15 < p_{T} < 6.00 $ GeV/$c$, and Feynman-$x$ in the ranges $0.005 < x_{F} < 0.040$ (forward region) and $-0.10 < x_{F} < -0.01$ (backward region) defined relative to the proton beam direction. The transverse polarization is found to be compatible with zero for both $Λ$ and $\barΛ$ hyperons. The results are also measured as a function of $p_{T}$ and $x_{F}$ with no significant dependence on these variables observed. The results are compared with previous experimental measurements at different center-of-mass energies and collision environments.

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arXiv2025

Coherent photoproduction of $ρ^0, ω$ and excited vector mesons in ultraperipheral PbPb collisions

The invariant-mass distribution for the coherent photoproduction of dipions in ultraperipheral PbPb collisions is measured using data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $224.6 \pm 9.6 μ$b$^{-1}$, collected by the LHCb experiment in 2018 at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02$ TeV. In the mass range from 400 to 1200 MeV, the results are consistent with previous experiments, with the spectrum dominated by the $ρ^0$ meson, which interferes with a nonresonant component, together with a smaller $ω$ meson contribution. In an extended mass range up to 2300 MeV, models previously used do not fit the data and a consistent description requires the introduction of two resonances at masses of $1350\pm20$ MeV and $1790\pm20$ MeV with widths of about 300 MeV. The cross-section for each meson is measured differentially in twelve bins of rapidity from 2.05 to 4.90. The $ρ^0$ cross-section increases with rapidity from about 400 to 600 mb and is measured with a typical precision of 8\%, while the cross-section times branching fraction for the $ω,ρ^\prime$ and $ρ^{\prime\prime}$, with the statistical precision of the data, do not have a pronounced rapidity dependence and are between 0.5 and 1.5 mb, with uncertainties up to 30\%. A large nuclear suppression is observed for the $ρ^0$ meson compared to expectations based on photoproduction on the proton that use the impulse approximation. Significant suppression is also observed compared to that predicted by elastic scattering described in the Glauber approach, or with the addition of inelastic scattering in a Gribov--Glauber model.

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