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J. P. Lees

Publications and source records attributed to J. P. Lees.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Model-independent extraction of form factors and $|V_{cb}|$ in $\overline{B} \rightarrow D \ell^- \overlineν_\ell$ with hadronic tagging at BaBar

Using the entire BaBar $Υ(4S)$ data set, the first two-dimensional unbinned angular analysis of the semileptonic decay $\overline{B} \rightarrow D \ell^- \overlineν_\ell$ is performed, employing hadronic reconstruction of the tag-side $B$ meson from $Υ(4S)\to B\overline{B}$. Here, $\ell$ denotes the light charged leptons $e$ and $μ$. A novel data-driven signal-background separation procedure with minimal dependence on simulation is developed. This procedure preserves all multi-dimensional correlations present in the data. The expected $\sin^2θ_\ell$ dependence of the differential decay rate in the Standard Model is demonstrated, where $θ_\ell$ is the lepton helicity angle. Including input from the latest lattice QCD calculations and previously available experimental data, the underlying form factors are extracted using both model-independent (BGL) and dependent (CLN) methods. Comparisons with lattice calculations show flavor SU(3) symmetry to be a good approximation in the $B_{(s)}\to D_{(s)}$ sector. Using the BGL results, the CKM matrix element $|V_{cb}|=(41.09\pm 1.16)\times 10^{-3}$ and the Standard Model prediction of the lepton-flavor universality violation variable $\mathcal{R}(D)=0.300\pm 0.004$, are extracted. The value of $|V_{cb}|$ from $\overline{B} \rightarrow D \ell^- \overlineν_\ell$ tends to be higher than that extracted using $\overline{B} \rightarrow D \ell^- \overlineν_\ell$. The Standard Model $\mathcal{R}(D)$ calculation is at a $1.97σ$ tension with the latest HFLAV experimental average.

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Search for $B$ Mesogenesis at BABAR

A new mechanism has been proposed to simultaneously explain the presence of dark matter and the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe. This scenario predicts exotic $B$ meson decays into a baryon and a dark sector anti-baryon ($ψ_D$) with branching fractions accessible at $B$ factories. We present a search for $B \rightarrow Λψ_D$ decays using data collected by the $BABAR$ experiment at SLAC. This reaction is identified by fully reconstructing the accompanying $B$ meson and requiring the presence of a single $Λ$ baryon in the remaining particles. No significant signal is observed, and bounds on the $B \rightarrow Λψ_D$ branching fraction are derived in the range $0.13 - 5.2\times 10^{-5}$ for $1.0 < m_{ψ_D} < 4.2$ GeV/$c^{2}$. These results set strong constraints on the parameter space allowed by the theory.

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Light meson spectroscopy from Dalitz plot analyses of $η_c$ decays to $η' K^+ K^-$, $η' π^+ π^-$, and $ηπ^+ π^-$ produced in two-photon interactions

We study the processes $γγ\to η_c \to η' K^+ K^-$, $η' π^+ π^-$, and $ηπ^+ π^-$ using a data sample of 519 $fb^{-1}$ recorded with the BaBar detector operating at the SLAC PEP-II asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider at center-of-mass energies at and near the $Υ(nS)$ ($n = 2,3,4$) resonances. This is the first observation of the decay $η_c \to η' K^+ K^-$ and we measure the branching fraction $Γ(η_c \to η' K^+ K^-)/(Γ(η_c \to η' π^+ π^-)=0.644\pm 0.039_{\rm stat}\pm 0.032_{\rm sys}$. Significant interference is observed between $γγ\to η_c\to ηπ^+ π^-$ and the non-resonant two-photon process $γγ\to ηπ^+ π^-$. A Dalitz plot analysis is performed of $η_c$ decays to $η' K^+ K^-$, $η' π^+ π^-$, and $ηπ^+ π^-$. Combined with our previous analysis of $η_c \to K \bar K π$, we measure the $K^*_0(1430)$ parameters and the ratio between its $η' K$ and $πK$ couplings. The decay $η_c \to η' π^+ π^-$ is dominated by the $f_0(2100)$ resonance, also observed in $J/ψ$ radiative decays. A new $a_0(1700) \to ηπ$ resonance is observed in the $η_c \to ηπ^+ π^-$ channel. We also compare $η_c$ decays to $η$ and $η'$ final states in association with scalar mesons as they relate to the identification of the scalar glueball.

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Measurements of the Absolute Branching Fractions of $B^\pm \to K^\pm X_{c\bar c}$

A study of the two body decays $B^\pm\rightarrow X_{c\bar c}K^\pm$, where X$_{c\bar c}$ refers to one charmonium state, is reported by BaBar collaboration using a data sample of 424 fb$^{-1}$. The absolute determination of branching fractions for these decays are significantly improved compared to previous BaBaR measurements. Evidence is found for the decay $B^+\rightarrow X(3872)K^+$ at the $3σ$ level. The absolute branching fraction ${\cal B}(B^+\rightarrow X(3872)K^+) = (2.1\pm0.6({\rm stat})\pm0.3({\rm syst}))\times 10^{-4}$ is measured for the first time. It follows that ${\cal B}(X(3872)\rightarrow J/ψπ^+π^-)=(4.1\pm1.3)\%$, supporting the hypothesis of a molecular component for this resonance.

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Precision measurement of the ${\cal B}(Υ(3S)\toτ^+τ^-)/{\cal B}(Υ(3S)\toμ^+μ^-)$ ratio

We report on a precision measurement of the ratio ${\cal R}_{τμ}^{Υ(3S)} = {\cal B}(Υ(3S)\toτ^+τ^-)/{\cal B}(Υ(3S)\toμ^+μ^-)$ using data collected with the BaBar detector at the SLAC PEP-II $e^+e^-$ collider. The measurement is based on a 28 fb$^{-1}$ data sample collected at a center-of-mass energy of 10.355 GeV corresponding to a sample of 122 million $Υ(3S)$ mesons. The ratio is measured to be ${\cal R}_{τμ}^{Υ(3S)} = 0.966 \pm 0.008_\mathrm{stat} \pm 0.014_\mathrm{syst}$ and is in agreement with the Standard Model prediction of 0.9948 within 2 standard deviations. The uncertainty in ${\cal R}_{τμ}^{Υ(3S)}$ is almost an order of magnitude smaller than the only previous measurement.

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Search for lepton-flavor violating decays $D^{0}\rightarrow X^{0}e^{\pm}μ^{\mp}$

We present a search for seven lepton-flavor-violating neutral charm decays of the type $D^{0}\rightarrow X^{0} e^{\pm} μ^{\mp}$, where $X^{0}$ represents a $π^{0}$, $K^{0}_{\rm S}$, $\bar{K^{*0}}$, $ρ^{0}$, $ϕ$, $ω$, or $η$ meson. The analysis is based on $468$ fb$^{-1}$ of $e^+e^-$ annihilation data collected at or close to the $Υ(4S)$ resonance with the BaBar detector at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. No significant signals are observed, and we establish 90\% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions in the range $(5.0 - 22.5)\times 10^{-7}$. The limits are between one and two orders of magnitude more stringent than previous measurements.

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Search for rare or forbidden decays of the $D^{0}$ meson

We present a search for nine lepton-number-violating and three lepton-flavor-violating neutral charm decays of the type $D^0\rightarrow h^{\prime -} h^{-}\ell^{\prime +} \ell^{+}$ and $D^0\rightarrow h^{\prime -} h^{+}\ell^{\prime\pm} \ell^{\mp}$, where $h$ and $h^{\prime}$ represent a $K$ or $π$ meson and $\ell$ and $\ell^{\prime}$ an electron or muon. The analysis is based on $468$ fb$^{-1}$ of $e^+e^-$ annihilation data collected at or close to the $Y(4S)$ resonance with the BaBar detector at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. No significant signal is observed for any of the twelve modes and we establish 90% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions in the range $(1.0 - 30.6)\times 10^{-7}$. The limits are between one and three orders of magnitude times more stringent than previous measurements.

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Search for $B^- \to Λ\bar p ν\barν$ with the BABAR experiment

We search for the rare flavor-changing neutral current process $B^- \to Λ{\overline p} ν{\overlineν}$ using data from the BABAR experiment. A total of 424 fb$^{-1}$ of $e^+e^-$ collision data collected at the center-of-mass energy of the $Υ$(4S) resonance is used in this study, corresponding to a sample of ${(471 \pm 3) \times 10^{6}}$ $B\overline{B}$ pairs. Signal $B^- \to Λ{\overline p} ν{\overlineν}$ candidates are identified by first fully reconstructing a $B^+$ decay in one of many possible exclusive decays to hadronic final states, then examining detector activity that is not associated with this reconstructed $B^+$ decay for evidence of a signal $B^- \to Λ{\overline p} ν{\overlineν}$ decay. The data yield is found to be consistent with the expected background contribution under a null signal hypothesis, resulting in an upper limit of ${{\cal B} (B^- \to Λ{\overline p} ν{\overlineν}) < 3.0\times 10^{-5}}$ at the $90\%$ confidence level.

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Observation of the decay $D^0\rightarrow K^-π^+e^+e^-$

We report the observation of the rare charm decay $D^0\rightarrow K^-π^+e^+e^-$, based on $468$ fb$^{-1}$ of $e^+e^-$ annihilation data collected at or close to the center-of-mass energy of the $Y(4S)$ resonance with the BaBar detector at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. We find the branching fraction in the invariant mass range $0.675< m(e^+e^-) < 0.875 GeV/c^2$ of the electron-positron pair to be ${\cal B}(D^0\rightarrow K^-π^+e^+e^-) = (4.0\pm0.5\pm0.2\pm0.1) \times 10^{-6}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third due to the uncertainty in the branching fraction of the decay $D^0\rightarrow K^-π^+π^+π^-$ used as a normalization mode. The significance of the observation corresponds to 9.7 standard deviations including systematic uncertainties. This result is consistent with the recently reported $D^0\rightarrow K^-π^+μ^+μ^-$ branching fraction, measured in the same invariant mass range, and with the value expected in the Standard Model. In a set of regions of $m(e^+e^-)$ where long-distance effects are potentially small, we determine a 90% confidence level upper limit on the branching fraction ${\cal B}(D^0\rightarrow K^-π^+e^+e^-) < 3.1 \times 10^{-6}$.

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Study of the reactions $e^+e^-\toπ^+π^-π^0π^0π^0γ$ and $π^+π^-π^0π^0ηγ$ at center-of-mass energies from threshold to 4.35 GeV using initial-state radiation

We study the processes $e^+e^-\toπ^+π^-π^0π^0π^0γ$ and $π^+π^-π^0π^0ηγ$ in which an energetic photon is radiated from the initial state. The data were collected with the BaBar~ detector at SLAC. About 14\,000 and 4700 events, respectively, are selected from a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 469~$fb^{-1}$. The invariant mass of the hadronic final state defines the effective $e^+e^-$ center-of-mass energy. From the mass spectra, the first precise measurement of the $e^+e^-\toπ^+π^-π^0π^0π^0$ cross section and the first measurement ever of the $e^+e^-\toπ^+π^-π^0π^0η$ cross section are performed. The center-of-mass energies range from threshold to 4.35~GeV. The systematic uncertainty is typically between 10 and 13\%. The contributions from $ωπ^0π^0$, $ηπ^+π^-$, and other intermediate states are presented. We observe the $J/ψ$ and $ψ(2S)$ in most of these final states and measure the corresponding branching fractions, many of them for the first time.

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Study of $Υ(1S)$ Radiative Decays to $γπ^+ π^-$ and $γK^+ K^-$

We study the $Υ(1S)$ radiative decays to $γπ^+ π^-$ and $γK^+ K^-$ using data recorded with the BaBar detector operating at the SLAC PEP-II asymmetric-energy $e^+ e^-$ collider at center-of-mass energies at the $Υ(2S)$ and $Υ(3S)$ resonances. The $Υ(1S)$ resonance is reconstructed from the decay $Υ(nS)\to π^+ π^- Υ(1S)$, $n=2,3$. Branching fraction measurements and spin-parity analyses of $Υ(1S)$ radiative decays are reported for the I=0 $S$-wave and $f_2(1270)$ resonances in the $π^+ π^-$ mass spectrum, the $f_2'(1525)$ and $f_0(1500)$ in the $ K^+ K^-$ mass spectrum, and the $f_0(1710)$ in both.

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Search for Invisible Decays of a Dark Photon Produced in e+e- Collisions at BaBar

We search for single-photon events in 53 fb^-1 of e+e- collision data collected with the BaBar detector at the PEP-II B-factory. We look for events with a single high-energy photon and a large missing momentum and energy, consistent with production of a spin-1 particle A' through the process e+e->gamma A', A'->invisible. Such particles, referred to as "dark photons", are motivated by theories applying a U(1) gauge symmetry to dark matter. We find no evidence for such processes and set 90% confidence level upper limits on the coupling strength of A' to e+e- in the mass range m_A'<=8 GeV. In particular, our limits exclude the values of the A' coupling suggested by the dark-photon interpretation of the muon (g-2) anomaly, as well as a broad range of parameters for the dark-sector models.

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Measurement of the I=1/2 $K π$ $\mathcal{S}$-wave amplitude from Dalitz plot analyses of $η_c \to K \bar K π$ in two-photon interactions

We study the processes $γγ\to K^0_S K^{\pm}π^{\mp}$ and $γγ\to K^+ K^- π^0$ using a data sample of 519~$fb^{-1}$ recorded with the BaBar detector operating at the SLAC PEP-II asymmetric-energy $e^+ e^-$ collider at center-of-mass energies at and near the $Υ(nS)$ ($n = 2,3,4$) resonances. We observe $η_c$ decays to both final states and perform Dalitz plot analyses using a model-independent partial wave analysis technique. This allows a model-independent measurement of the mass-dependence of the $I=1/2$ $K π$ $\mathcal{S}$-wave amplitude and phase. A comparison between the present measurement and those from previous experiments indicates similar behaviour for the phase up to a mass of 1.5 $GeV/c^2$. In contrast, the amplitudes show very marked differences. The data require the presence of a new $a_0(1950)$ resonance with parameters $m=1931 \pm 14 \pm 22 \ MeV/c^2$ and $Γ=271 \pm 22 \pm 29 \ MeV$.

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Search for Long-Lived Particles in $e^+e^-$ Collisions

We present a search for a neutral, long-lived particle $L$ that is produced in $e^+e^-$ collisions and decays at a significant distance from the $e^+e^-$ interaction point into various flavor combinations of two oppositely charged tracks. The analysis uses an $e^+e^-$ data sample with a luminosity of $489.1 \rm{fb}^{-1}$ collected by the BaBar detector at the $Υ$(4S), $Υ$(3S), and $Υ$(2S) resonances and just below the $Υ$(4S). Fitting the two-track mass distribution in search of a signal peak, we do not observe a significant signal, and set 90% confidence level upper limits on the product of the $L$ production cross section, branching fraction, and reconstruction efficiency for six possible two-body $L$ decay modes as a function of the $L$ mass. The efficiency is given for each final state as a function of the mass, lifetime, and transverse momentum of the candidate, allowing application of the upper limits to any production model. In addition, upper limits are provided on the branching fraction $Br(B\to X_s L)$, where $X_s$ is a strange hadronic system.

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Dalitz plot analyses of $B^0 \to D^- D^0 K^+$ and $B^+ \to \overline{D}^0 D^0 K^+$ decays

We present Dalitz plot analyses for the decays of $B$ mesons to $D^- D^0 K^+$ and $\overline{D}^0 D^0 K^+$. We report the observation of the $D^{*}_{s1}(2700)^+$ resonance in these two channels and obtain measurements of the mass $M(D^{*}_{s1}(2700)^+) = 2699 {}^{+14}_{-7} \, \mathrm{MeV}/c^2$ and of the width $Γ(D^{*}_{s1}(2700)^+) = 127 {}^{+24}_{-19} \, \mathrm{MeV}$, including statistical and systematic uncertainties. In addition, we observe an enhancement in the $D^0K^+$ invariant mass around 2350--2500 MeV/$c^2$ in both decays $B^0 \to D^- D^0 K^+$ and $B^+ \to \overline{D}^0 D^0 K^+$, which we are not able to interpret. The results are based on $429~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of data containing $471\times10^6\, B\overline{B}$ pairs collected at the $Υ{(4S)}$ resonance with the BaBar detector at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

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Evidence for $CP$ violation in $B^{+} \to K^{*}(892)^{+} π^{0}$ from a Dalitz plot analysis of $B^{+} \to K^{0}_{\rm S} π^{+} π^{0}$ decays

We report a Dalitz plot analysis of charmless hadronic decays of charged $B$ mesons to the final state $K_{\rm S}^{0}π^{+}π^{0}$ using the full BaBar dataset of $470.9\pm2.8$ million $B\bar{B}$ events collected at the $Υ(4S)$ resonance. We measure the overall branching fraction and $CP$ asymmetry to be ${\cal B}\left(B^{+}\to K^{0}π^{+}π^{0}\right) = \left(45.9 \pm 2.6 \pm 3.0^{+8.6}_{-0.0}\right)\times10^{-6}$ and $A_{CP}\left(B^{+}\to K^{0}π^{+}π^{0}\right) = 0.07 \pm 0.05 \pm 0.03^{+0.02}_{-0.03}$, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the signal model, respectively. This is the first measurement of the branching fraction for $B^{+} \to K^{0}π^{+}π^{0}$. We find first evidence of a $CP$ asymmetry in $B^{+}\to K^{*}(892)^{+}π^{0}$ decays: $A_{CP}\left(B^{+}\to K^{*}(892)^{+}π^{0}\right)=-0.52 \pm 0.14 \pm 0.04^{+0.04}_{-0.02}$. The significance of this asymmetry, including systematic and model uncertainties, is $3.4$ standard deviations. We also measure the branching fractions and $CP$ asymmetries for three other intermediate decay modes.

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Measurement of the $D^0 \to π^- e^+ ν_e$ differential decay branching fraction as a function of $q^2$ and study of form factor parameterizations

Based on a sample of 500 million $e^+e^- \to c\bar c$ events recorded by the BaBar detector at c.m. energies of close to 10.6 GeV, we report on a study of the decay $D^0 \to π^- e^+ ν_e$. We measure the ratio of branching fractions $R_D = {\cal B}(D^0 \to π^- e^+ ν_e)/{\cal B}(D^0 \to K^- π^+) = 0.0713 \pm 0.0017_{stat.} \pm 0.0024_{syst.}$, and use the present world average for ${\cal B}(D^0 \to K^- π^+)$ to obtain ${\cal B}(D^0 \to π^- e^+ ν_e) = (2.770 \pm 0.068_{\rm stat.} \pm 0.092_{\rm syst.} \pm 0.037_{\rm ext.})\times 10^{-3}$ where the third error accounts for the uncertainty on the branching fraction for the reference channel. The measured dependence of the differential branching fraction on $q^2$, the four-momentum transfer squared between the $D$ and the $π$ meson, is compared to various theoretical predictions for the hadronic form factor, $f_{+,D}^π(q^2)$, and the normalization $|V_{cd}| \times f_{+,D}^π(q^2=0)=0.1374\pm0.0038_{\rm stat.} \pm0.0022_{\rm syst.} \pm0.0009_{\rm ext.}$ is extracted from a fit to data. Using the most recent LQCD prediction of $f_{+,D}^π(q^2=0)=0.666 \pm 0.029$, we obtain $|V_{cd}|=0.206 \pm 0.007_{\rm exp.} \pm 0.009_{\rm LQCD}$. Assuming instead, $|V_{cd}|=|V_{us}|=0.2252 \pm 0.0009$, we obtain $f_{+,D}^π(q^2=0)=0.610 \pm 0.020_{\rm exp.} \pm 0.005_{\rm ext.}$. The $q^2$ dependence of $f_{+,D}^π(q^2)$ is compared to a variety of multi-pole parameterizations. This information is applied to $B^0 \to π^- e^+ ν_e$ decays and, combined with an earlier $B^0 \to π^- e^+ ν_e$ measurement by BaBar, is used to derive estimates of $|V_{ub}|$.

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Search for new $π^0$-like particles produced in association with a $τ$-lepton pair

We report on a search in $e^+e^-$ annihilations for new $π^0$-like particles produced in association with a $τ$-lepton pair. These objects, with a similar mass and similar decay modes to $π^0$ mesons, could provide an explanation for the non-asymptotic behavior of the pion-photon transition form factor observed by the Babar Collaboration. No significant signal is observed, and limits on the production cross section at the level of 73 fb or 370 fb, depending on the model parameters, are determined at 90% confidence level. These upper limits lie below the cross section values needed to explain the Babar form factor data.

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