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F. Bossu

Publications and source records attributed to F. Bossu.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Photoproduction of $η$ mesons off the proton for $1.2 < E_γ< 4.7$ GeV using CLAS at Jefferson Laboratory

Photoproduction cross sections are reported for the reaction $γp\to pη$ using energy-tagged photons and the CLAS spectrometer at Jefferson Laboratory. The $η$ mesons are detected in their dominant charged decay mode, $η\to π^+π^-π^0$, and results on differential cross sections are presented for incident photon energies between 1.2 and 4.7 GeV. These new $η$ photoproduction data are consistent with earlier CLAS results but extend the energy range beyond the nucleon resonance region into the Regge regime. The normalized angular distributions are also compared with the experimental results from several other experiments, and with predictions of $η$ MAID\,2018 and the latest solution of the Bonn-Gatchina coupled-channel analysis. Differential cross sections $dσ/dt$ are presented for incident photon energies $E_γ> 2.9$ GeV ($W > 2.5$ GeV), and compared with predictions which are based on Regge trajectories exchange in the $t$-channel (Regge models). The data confirm the expected dominance of $ρ$, $ω$ vector-meson exchange in an analysis by the Joint Physics Analysis Center.

nucl-ex↗

Probing the core of the strong nuclear interaction

The strong nuclear interaction between nucleons (protons and neutrons) is the effective force that holds the atomic nucleus together. This force stems from fundamental interactions between quarks and gluons (the constituents of nucleons) that are described by the equations of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). However, as these equations cannot be solved directly, physicists resort to describing nuclear interactions using effective models that are well constrained at typical inter-nucleon distances in nuclei but not at shorter distances. This limits our ability to describe high-density nuclear matter such as in the cores of neutron stars. Here we use high-energy electron scattering measurements that isolate nucleon pairs in short-distance, high-momentum configurations thereby accessing a kinematical regime that has not been previously explored by experiments, corresponding to relative momenta above 400 MeV/c. As the relative momentum between two nucleons increases and their separation thereby decreases, we observe a transition from a spin-dependent tensor-force to a predominantly spin-independent scalar-force. These results demonstrate the power of using such measurements to study the nuclear interaction at short-distances and also support the use of point-like nucleons with two- and three-body effective interactions to describe nuclear systems up to densities several times higher than the central density of atomic nuclei.

nucl-ex↗

Study of $Υ$ production in $p$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=8.16$ TeV

The production of $Υ(nS)$ mesons ($n=1,2,3$) in $p$Pb and Pb$p$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=8.16$ TeV is measured by the LHCb experiment, using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 31.8 nb$^{-1}$. The $Υ(nS)$ mesons are reconstructed through their decays into two opposite-sign muons. The measurements comprise the differential production cross-sections of the $Υ(1S)$ and $Υ(2S)$ states, their forward-to-backward ratios and nuclear modification factors, performed as a function of the transverse momentum \pt and rapidity in the nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass frame $y^*$ of the $Υ(nS)$ states, in the kinematic range $p_{\rm{T}}<25$ GeV/$c$ and $1.5<y^*<4.0$ ($-5.0<y^*<-2.5$) for $p$Pb (Pb$p$) collisions. In addition, production cross-sections for $Υ(3S)$ are measured integrated over phase space and the production ratios between all three $Υ(nS)$ states are determined. The measurements are compared to theoretical predictions and suppressions for quarkonium in $p$Pb collisions are observed.

hep-ex↗

First measurement of charm production in fixed-target configuration at the LHC

The first measurement of heavy-flavour production by the LHCb experiment in its fixed-target mode is presented. The production of $J/ψ$ and $D^0$ mesons is studied with beams of protons of different energies colliding with gaseous targets of helium and argon with nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energies of $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 86.6 $ and $ 110.4$ ${\rm GeV}$, respectively. The $J/ψ$ and $D^0$ (including charge conjugate) production cross sections in $p{\rm He}$ collisions in the rapidity range $[2,4.6]$ are found to be $σ_{J/ψ} = 652 \pm 33$ (stat) $\pm 42$ (syst) nb$/$nucleon and $σ_{D^0} = 80.8 \pm 2.4$ (stat) $\pm 6.3$ (syst) $μ$b$/$nucleon, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. No evidence for a substantial intrinsic charm content of the nucleon is observed in the large Bjorken-$x$ region.

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Measurements of $CP$ asymmetries in charmless four-body $Λ_b$ and $Ξ_b^0$ decays

A search for $CP$ violation in charmless four-body decays of $Λ_b$ and $Ξ_b^0$ baryons with a proton and three charged mesons in the final state is performed. To cancel out production and detection charge-asymmetry effects, the search is carried out by measuring the difference between the $CP$ asymmetries in a charmless decay and in a decay with an intermediate charmed baryon with the same particles in the final state. The data sample used was recorded in 2011 and 2012 with the LHCb detector and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $3 {\rm fb}^{-1}$. A total of 18 $CP$ asymmetries are considered, either accounting for the full phase space of the decays or exploring specific regions of the decay kinematics. No significant $CP$-violation effect is observed in any of the measurements.

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Search for the rare decay $B^{+} \rightarrow μ^{+}μ^{-}μ^{+}ν_{μ}$

A search for the rare leptonic decay $B^{+} \rightarrow μ^{+}μ^{-}μ^{+}ν_{μ}$ is performed using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $4.7$ fb$^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment. The search is carried out in the region where the lowest of the two $μ^{+}μ^{-}$ mass combinations is below $980$MeV/c$^{2}$. The data are consistent with the background-only hypothesis and an upper limit of $1.6 \times 10^{-8}$ at 95% confidence level is set on the branching fraction in the stated kinematic region.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of the branching fraction and $C\!P$ asymmetry in $B^{+}\rightarrow J/ψρ^{+}$ decays

The branching fraction and direct $C\!P$ asymmetry of the decay $B^{+}\rightarrow J/ψρ^{+}$ are measured using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 3$\mbox{fb}^{-1}$. The following results are obtained: \begin{align} \mathcal{B}(B^{+}\rightarrow J/ψρ^{+}) &= (3.81 ^{+0.25}_{-0.24} \pm 0.35) \times 10^{-5}, \nonumber \\ \mathcal{A}^{C\!P} (B^{+}\rightarrow J/ψρ^{+}) &= -0.045^{+0.056}_{-0.057} \pm 0.008, \nonumber \end{align} where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. Both measurements are the most precise to date.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of the relative $B^{-} \!\rightarrow D^{0} / D^{*0} / D^{**0} μ^{-} \overlineν_μ$ branching fractions using $B^{-}$ mesons from $\overline{B}{}_{s2}^{*0}$ decays

The decay of the narrow resonance $\overline{B}{}_{s2}^{*0}\!\rightarrow B^- K^+$ can be used to determine the $B^-$ momentum in partially reconstructed decays without any assumptions on the decay products of the $B^-$ meson. This technique is employed for the first time to distinguish contributions from $D^0$, $D^{*0}$, and higher-mass charmed states ($D^{**0}$) in semileptonic $B^-$ decays by using the missing-mass distribution. The measurement is performed using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb${}^{-1}$ collected with the LHCb detector in $pp$ collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The resulting branching fractions relative to the inclusive $B^- \!\rightarrow D^0 X μ^- \overlineν_μ$ are $f_{D^0} = \mathcal{B}( B^- \rightarrow D^0μ^-\overlineν_μ)/\mathcal{B}( B^- \rightarrow D^0 X μ^- \overlineν_μ) = 0.25 \pm 0.06$, $f_{D^{**0}} = \mathcal{B}( B^- \rightarrow ( D^{**0} \rightarrow D^0 X)μ^-\overlineν_μ)/\mathcal{B}( B^- \rightarrow D^0 X μ^- \overlineν_μ) = 0.21 \pm 0.07$, with $f_{D^{*0}} = 1 - f_{D^0} - f_{D^{**0}}$ making up the remainder.

hep-ex↗

Study of the $B^0\to ρ(770)^0 K^*(892)^0$ decay with an amplitude analysis of $B^0\to (π^+π^-) (K^+π^-)$ decays

An amplitude analysis of ${B^0\to (π^+π^-) (K^+π^-)}$ decays is performed in the two-body invariant mass regions ${300 < m(π^+π^-)<1100}$ MeV/$c^2$, accounting for the $ρ^0$, $ω$, $f_0(500)$, $f_0(980)$ and $f_0(1370)$ resonances, and ${750 < m(K^+π^-)<1200}$ MeV/$c^2$, which is dominated by the $K^{*}(892)^0$ meson. The analysis uses 3 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The $CP$ averages and asymmetries are measured for the magnitudes and phase differences of the contributing amplitudes. The $CP$-averaged longitudinal polarisation fractions of the vector-vector modes are found to be $\tilde{f}^0_{ρK^{*}} = 0.164 \pm 0.015 \pm 0.022$ and $\tilde{f}^0_{ωK^{*}} = 0.68 \pm 0.17 \pm 0.16$, and their $CP$ asymmetries, $\mathcal{A}^0_{ρK^{*}} = -0.62 \pm 0.09 \pm 0.09$ and $\mathcal{A}^0_{ωK^{*}} = -0.13 \pm 0.27 \pm 0.13$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

hep-ex↗

Model-independent observation of exotic contributions to $B^0\to J/ψK^+π^-$ decays

An angular analysis of $B^0\to J/ψK^+π^-$ decays is performed, using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3~${\rm fb}^{-1}$ collected with the LHCb detector. The $m(K^+π^-)$ spectrum is divided into fine bins. In each $m(K^+π^-)$ bin, the hypothesis that the three-dimensional angular distribution can be described by structures induced only by $K^\ast$ resonances is examined, making minimal assumptions about the $K^+π^-$ system. The data reject the $K^\ast$-only hypothesis with a large significance, implying the observation of exotic contributions in a model-independent fashion. Inspection of the $m(J/ψπ^-)$ versus $m(K^+π^-)$ plane suggests structures near $m(J/ψπ^-)=4200$~MeV and 4600~MeV.

hep-ex↗

Dalitz plot analysis of the $D^+\to K^-K^+K^+$ decay

The resonant structure of the doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decay $D^+ \to K^-K^+K^+$ is studied for the first time. The measurement is based on a sample of pp-collision data, collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV with the LHCb detector and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2 fb$^-1$. The amplitude analysis of this decay is performed with the isobar model and a phenomenological model based on an effective chiral Lagrangian. In both models the S-wave component in the $K^-K^+$ system is dominant, with a small contribution of the $ϕ(1020)$ meson and a negligible contribution from tensor resonances. The $K^-K^+$ scattering amplitudes for the considered combinations of spin (0,1) and isospin (0,1) of the two-body system are obtained from the Dalitz plot fit with the phenomenological decay amplitude.

hep-ex↗

Observation of the doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decay $Ξ_{c}^{+}\to pϕ$

The doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decay $Ξ_{c}^{+}\to pϕ$ with $ϕ\to K^{+}K^{-}$ is observed for the first time, with a statistical significance of more than fifteen standard deviations. The data sample used in this analysis corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 2 fb$^{-1}$ recorded with the LHCb detector in $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. The ratio of branching fractions between the decay $Ξ_{c}^{+}\to pϕ$ and the singly Cabibbo-suppressed decay $Ξ_{c}^{+}\to pK^{-}π^{+}$ is measured to be \begin{equation*} \frac{\mathcal{B}(Ξ_{c}^{+}\to pϕ)}{\mathcal{B}(Ξ_{c}^{+}\to pK^{-}π^{+})} = (19.8 \pm 0.7 \pm 0.9 \pm 0.2) \times 10^{-3}, \end{equation*} where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third due to the knowledge of the $ϕ\to K^{+}K^{-}$ branching fraction.

hep-ex↗

Physics case for an LHCb Upgrade II - Opportunities in flavour physics, and beyond, in the HL-LHC era

The LHCb Upgrade II will fully exploit the flavour-physics opportunities of the HL-LHC, and study additional physics topics that take advantage of the forward acceptance of the LHCb spectrometer. The LHCb Upgrade I will begin operation in 2020. Consolidation will occur, and modest enhancements of the Upgrade I detector will be installed, in Long Shutdown 3 of the LHC (2025) and these are discussed here. The main Upgrade II detector will be installed in long shutdown 4 of the LHC (2030) and will build on the strengths of the current LHCb experiment and the Upgrade I. It will operate at a luminosity up to $ 2 \times 10^{34} \rm cm^{-2}s^{-1}$, ten times that of the Upgrade I detector. New detector components will improve the intrinsic performance of the experiment in certain key areas. An Expression Of Interest proposing Upgrade II was submitted in February 2017. The physics case for the Upgrade II is presented here in more depth. $CP$-violating phases will be measured with precisions unattainable at any other envisaged facility. The experiment will probe $b\to s \ell^+\ell^-$ and $b\to d \ell^+\ell^-$ transitions in both muon and electron decays in modes not accessible at Upgrade I. Minimal flavour violation will be tested with a precision measurement of the ratio of $B(B^0\toμ^+μ^-)/B(B_s^0\to μ^+μ^-)$. Probing charm $CP$ violation at the $10^{-5}$ level may result in its long sought discovery. Major advances in hadron spectroscopy will be possible, which will be powerful probes of low energy QCD. Upgrade II potentially will have the highest sensitivity of all the LHC experiments on the Higgs to charm-quark couplings. Generically, the new physics mass scale probed, for fixed couplings, will almost double compared with the pre-HL-LHC era; this extended reach for flavour physics is similar to that which would be achieved by the HE-LHC proposal for the energy frontier.

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Measurement of the branching fractions of the decays $D^+\rightarrow K^-K ^+K^+$, $D^+\rightarrow π^-π^+K^+$ and $D^+_s\rightarrow π^-K^+K^+$

The branching fractions of the doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decays $D^+\rightarrow K^-K^+K^+$, $D^+\rightarrow π^-π^+K^+$ and $D^+_s\rightarrowπ^-K^+K^+$ are measured using the decays $D^+\rightarrow K^-π^+π^+$ and $D^+_s\rightarrow K^-K^+π^+$ as normalisation channels. The measurements are performed using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.0 fb$^{-1}$. The results are \begin{align} \frac {\mathcal{B}(D^+\rightarrow K^-K^+K^+)} {\mathcal{B}(D^+\rightarrow K^-π^+π^+)}& = (6.541 \pm 0.025 \pm 0.042) \times 10^{-4},\nonumber \frac {\mathcal{B}(D^+\rightarrow π^-π^+K^+)} {\mathcal{B}(D^+\rightarrow K^-π^+π^+)}& = (5.231 \pm 0.009 \pm 0.023) \times 10^{-3}, \nonumber \frac {\mathcal{B}(D^+_s\rightarrowπ^-K^+K^+)} {\mathcal{B}(D^+_s\rightarrow K^-K^+π^+)}& = (2.372 \pm 0.024 \pm 0.025) \times 10^{-3},\nonumber \end{align} where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. These are the most precise measurements up to date.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of the ratio of branching fractions of the decays $Λ^0_b\!\toψ(2S) Λ$ and $Λ^0_b\!\to J/ψΛ$

Using $pp$ collisions corresponding to 3$\,\text{fb}^{-1}$ integrated luminosity, recorded by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8$\,\text{TeV}$, the ratio of branching fractions \begin{align*} \mathcal{B}(Λ^0_b\!\toψ(2S) Λ)/\mathcal{B}(Λ^0_b\!\to J/ψΛ)= 0.513 \pm 0.023\, (\text{stat}) \pm 0.016 \, (\text{syst}) \pm 0.011\, (\mathcal{B}) \end{align*} is determined. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic and the third is due to the external branching fractions used.

hep-ex↗

Prompt $Λ^+_c$ production in $p\mathrm{Pb}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV

The production of $Λ^+_c$ baryons produced directly at the interacting point is studied in proton-lead collisions collected with the LHCb detector at the LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $1.58\mathrm{nb}^{-1}$ recorded at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5.02$ TeV. Measurements of the differential cross-section and the forward-backward production ratio are reported for $Λ^+_c$ baryons with transverse momenta in the range $2<p_{T}<10$GeV/$c$ and rapidities in the ranges $1.5<y^*<4.0$ and $-4.5<y^*<-2.5$ in the nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass system. The ratio of cross-sections of $Λ^+_c$ baryons and $D^0$ mesons is also reported. The results are compared with next-to-leading order calculations that use nuclear parton distribution functions.

hep-ex↗

Search for $CP$ violation through an amplitude analysis of $D^0 \rightarrow K^+ K^- π^+ π^-$ decays

A search for $CP$ violation in the Cabibbo-suppressed $D^0 \rightarrow K^+ K^- π^+ π^-$ decay mode is performed using an amplitude analysis. The measurement uses a sample of $pp$ collisions recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2011 and 2012, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb$^{-1}$. The $D^0$ mesons are reconstructed from semileptonic $b$-hadron decays into $D^0μ^- X$ final states. The selected sample contains more than 160000 signal decays, allowing the most precise amplitude modelling of this $D^0$ decay to date. The obtained amplitude model is used to perform the search for $CP$ violation. The result is compatible with $CP$ symmetry, with a sensitivity ranging from 1% to 15% depending on the amplitude considered.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of the charm-mixing parameter $y_{CP}$

A measurement of the charm-mixing parameter $y_{CP}$ using $D^0 \to K^+ K^-$, $D^0 \to π^+ π^-$, and $D^0 \to K^- π^+$ decays is reported. The $D^0$ mesons are required to originate from semimuonic decays of $B^-$ and $\overline{B}^0$ mesons. These decays are partially reconstructed in a data set of proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV collected with the LHCb experiment and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb$^{-1}$. The $y_{CP}$ parameter is measured to be $(0.57 \pm 0.13(\rm{stat.}) \pm 0.09(\rm{syst.}))\%$, in agreement with, and as precise as, the current world-average value.

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