arXiv subjects

M. -Z. Wang

Publications and source records attributed to M. -Z. Wang.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Evidence for Semileptonic B- to p pbar l nubar Decays

We find evidence for the semileptonic baryonic decay $B^-\to p\bar p\ell^-\barν_\ell$ ($\ell=e,μ$), based on a data sample of 772 million $B\bar B$ pairs collected at the $Υ(4S)$ resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy electron-positron collider. A neural-network based hadronic $B$-meson tagging method is used in this study. The branching fraction of $B^-\to p\bar p\ell^-\barν_\ell$ is measured to be $(5.8^{+2.4}_{-2.1}\textrm{(stat.)}\pm 0.9\textrm{(syst.)})\times 10^{-6}$ with a significance of 3.2$σ$, where lepton universality is assumed. We also estimate the corresponding upper limit: $\mathcal{B}(B^-\to p\bar p\ell^-\barν_\ell) < 9.6\times 10^{-6}$ at the 90% confidence level. This measurement helps constrain the baryonic transition form factor in B decays.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2012

A next generation Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory (UFFO-100) for IR/optical observations of the rise phase of gamma-ray bursts

The Swift Gamma-ray Burst (GRB) observatory responds to GRB triggers with optical observations in ~ 100 s, but cannot respond faster than ~ 60 s. While some ground-based telescopes respond quickly, the number of sub-60 s detections remains small. In mid- to late-2013, the Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory-Pathfinder is to be launched on the Lomonosov spacecraft to investigate early optical GRB emission. This pathfinder mission is necessarily limited in sensitivity and event rate; here we discuss a next generation rapid-response space observatory. We list science topics motivating our instruments, those that require rapid optical-IR GRB response, including: A survey of GRB rise shapes/times, measurements of optical bulk Lorentz factors, investigation of magnetic dominated (vs. non-magnetic) jet models, internal vs. external shock origin of prompt optical emission, the use of GRBs for cosmology, and dust evaporation in the GRB environment. We also address the impacts of the characteristics of GRB observing on our instrument and observatory design. We describe our instrument designs and choices for a next generation observatory as a second instrument on a low-earth orbit spacecraft, with a 120 kg instrument mass budget. Restricted to relatively modest mass and power, we find that a coded mask X-ray camera with 1024 cm2 of detector area could rapidly locate about 64 GRB triggers/year. Responding to the locations from the X-ray camera, a 30 cm aperture telescope with a beam-steering system for rapid (~ 1 s) response and a near-IR camera should detect ~ 29 GRB, given Swift GRB properties. Am additional optical camera would give a broadband optical-IR slope, allowing dynamic measurement of dust extinction at the source, for the first time.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2011

Observation of B- to pbar Lambda D0 at Belle

We study B- meson decays to pbar Lambda D(*)0 final states using a sample of 657 * 10^6 B Bbar events collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+ e- collider. The observed branching fraction for B- to pbar Lambda D0 is (1.43^ +0.28_-0.25 +- 0.18)*10^-5. with a significance of 8.1 standard deviations, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. Most of the signal events have the pbarLambda mass peaking near threshold. No significant signal is observed for B- to pbar Lambda D*0 and the corresponding upper limit on the branching fraction is 4.8 * 10^-5 at the 90% confidence level.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2011

Design and Initial Performance of the Askaryan Radio Array Prototype EeV Neutrino Detector at the South Pole

We report on studies of the viability and sensitivity of the Askaryan Radio Array (ARA), a new initiative to develop a Teraton-scale ultra-high energy neutrino detector in deep, radio-transparent ice near Amundsen-Scott station at the South Pole. An initial prototype ARA detector system was installed in January 2011, and has been operating continuously since then. We report on studies of the background radio noise levels, the radio clarity of the ice, and the estimated sensitivity of the planned ARA array given these results, based on the first five months of operation. Anthropogenic radio interference in the vicinity of the South Pole currently leads to a few-percent loss of data, but no overall effect on the background noise levels, which are dominated by the thermal noise floor of the cold polar ice, and galactic noise at lower frequencies. We have also successfully detected signals originating from a 2.5 km deep impulse generator at a distance of over 3 km from our prototype detector, confirming prior estimates of kilometer-scale attenuation lengths for cold polar ice. These are also the first such measurements for propagation over such large slant distances in ice. Based on these data, ARA-37, the 200 km^2 array now under construction, will achieve the highest sensitivity of any planned or existing neutrino detector in the 10^{16}-10^{19} eV energy range.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2011

Observation of transverse polarization asymmetries of charged pion pairs in e+e- annihilation near sqrt s=10.58 GeV

The interference fragmentation function translates the fragmentation of a quark with a transverse projection of the spin into an azimuthal asymmetry of two final-state hadrons. In e+e- annihilation the product of two interference fragmentation functions is measured. We report nonzero asymmetries for pairs of charge-ordered pi+pi- pairs, which indicate a significant interference fragmentation function in this channel. The results are obtained from a 672 fb-1 data sample that contains 711 \times 106 pi+pi- pairs and was collected at and near the ?(4S) resonance, with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2009

Observation of B+ to p Lambdabar pi+ pi- at Belle

We study charmless $B^+$ meson decays to the $p \barΛ π^+ π^-$ final state using a $605 {\rm fb}^{-1}$ data sample collected at the $Υ(4S)$ resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+ e^-$ collider. There are significant signals found with the $p\barΛ$ mass peaking near threshold. The observed branching fraction for non-resonant $ B^+ \to p \barΛ} π^+ π^-$ is $(5.92^{+0.88}_{-0.84} (stat.) \pm 0.69 (syst.)) \times 10^{-6}$ with a significance of 9.1 standard deviations. We also observe the intermediate three-body decay $B^+ \to p \barΛ ρ^0$ with a branching fraction of $(4.78^{+0.67}_{-0.64} (stat.) \pm 0.60 (syst.)) \times 10^{-6}$ and a significance of 9.5 standard deviations, and find a hint of a $B^+ \to p \barΛ f_2(1270)$ signal. No other intermediate three-body decay is found in this study.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2009

Observation of B0 to Lambda Lambdabar K0 and B0 to Lambda Lambdabar K*0 at Belle

We study the charmless decays B to Lambda Lambdabar h, where h stands for pi^+, K^+,K^0,K^{*+}, or K^{*0}, using a 605 fb^{-1} data sample collected at the Upsilon(4S)resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric energy e^+ e^- collider. We observe B0 to Lambda Lambdabar K0 and B0 to Lambda Lambdabar K*0 with branching fractions of (4.76^{+0.84}_{-0.68} (stat.) \pm 0.61 (syst.)) \times 10^{-6} and (2.46^{+0.87}_{-0.72} \pm 0.34) \times 10^{-6}, respectively. The significances of these signals in the threshold-mass enhanced mass region are 12.4 sigma and 9.3 sigma, respectively. We also update the branching fraction BF(B+ to Lambda Lambdabar K+) = (3.38^{+0.41}_{-0.36} \pm 0.41)\times 10^{-6} with better accuracy,and report the following measurement or 90% confidence level upper limit in the threshold-mass-enhanced region: BF(B+ to Lambda Lambdabar K*+) = (2.19^{+1.13}_{-0.89} \pm 0.33) \times 10^{-6} with 3.7 sigma significance; BF(B+ to Lambda Lambdabar pi+) < 0.94 \times 10^{-6}. A related search for B0 to Lambda Lambdabar D0bar yields a branching fraction BF(B0 to Lambda Lambdabar D0bar) = (1.05_{-0.44}^{+0.57} \pm 0.13)\times 10^{-5}. This may be compared with the large, ~10^{-4}, branching fraction observed for B0 to p pbar D0bar. The m_{Lambda Lambdabar} enhancements near threshold and related angular distributions for the observed modes are also reported. PACS:13.25.Hw, 14.40.Nd

hep-ex↗

arXiv2008

Simulation Study of the Beam Calorimeter in the GLD Configuration for the Next Generation Linear Collider

The beam calorimeter, located in the very forward and backward region of the next generation electron-positron linear accelerator, will be an important apparatus to search for or identify new particles beyond Standard Model. One of its key design issues is to estimate the radiation dosage due to beam related backgrounds. We used the geant-based package, Jupiter, for the proposed GLD detector in this study. The dosage received per year for the inner most ring will be around 10 Mrad. An algorithm for electron identification with beam calorimeter under nominal background condition is developed and is used for the feasibility study of smuon search. The result is satisfactory.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2008

Observation of B0 to p pbar K0 with a large K0 polarization

We observe the decay B0 to p pbar K*0 with a branching fraction of (1.18^{+0.29}_{-0.25} (stat.) \pm 0.11 (syst.)) \times 10^{-6}. The statistical significance is 7.2 sigma for the signal in the low ppbar mass region. We study the decay dynamics of B0 to p pbar K*0 and compare it with B+ to p pbar K*+. The K*0 meson is found to be almost 100% polarized (with a fraction of (101 \pm 13 \pm 3)% in the helicity zero state), while the K*+ meson has a (32 \pm 17 \pm 9)% fraction in the helicity zero state. The direct CP asymmetries for B0 to p pbar K*0 and B+ to p pbar K*+ are measured to be -0.08\pm 0.20\pm 0.02 and -0.01\pm 0.19\pm 0.02, respectively. We also study the characteristics of the low mass ppbar enhancements near threshold and the associated angular distributions. In addition, we report improved measurements of the branching fractions BF(B+ to p pbar K*+) = (3.38^{+0.73}_{-0.60} \pm 0.39) \times 10^{-6} and BF(B0 to p pbar K0) = (2.51^{+0.35}_{-0.29} \pm 0.21) \times 10^{-6}, which supersede our previous measurements. These results are obtained from a 492 fb^{-1} data sample collected near the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^+ e^- collider.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2007

Study of the decay mechanism for B+ to p pbar K+ and B+ to p pbar pi+

We study the characteristics of the low mass ppbar enhancements near threshold in the three-body decays B+ to p pbar K+ and B+ to p pbar pi+. We observe that the proton polar angle distributions in the ppbar helicity frame in the two decays have the opposite polarity, and measure the forward-backward asymmetries as a function of the ppbar mass for the p pbar K+ mode. We also search for the intermediate two-body decays, B+ to pbar Delta++ and B+ to p Delta0bar, and set upper limits on their branching fractions. These results are obtained from a 414 fb^{-1} data sample that contains 449 times 10^6 BBbar events collected near the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+ e- collider.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2007

Study of B+ to p Lambdabar gamma, p Lambdabar pi0 and B0 to p Lambdabar pi-

We study the charmless baryonic three-body decays of B mesons: B+ to p Lambdabar gamma, B+ to p Lambdabar pi0 and B0 to p Lambdabar pi-. The partial branching fractions as a function of the baryon-antibaryon mass and the polar angle distributions of the proton in the baryon-antibaryon system are presented. This study includes the first observation of B+ to p Lambdabar pi0, which is measured to have a branching fraction of (3.00^{+0.61}_{-0.53}\pm 0.33) times 10^{-6}. We also set upper limits on branching fractions of the two-body decays B0 to p Sigmabar^{*-}, B0 to Delta^0 Lambdabar, B+ to p Sigmabar^{*0}, and B+ to Delta^+ Lambdabar at the 90% confidence level. These results are obtained from a 414fb^{-1} data sample collected near the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+ e- collider.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2006

Study of J/psi to p pbar, Lambda Lambdabar and observation of eta_c to Lambda Lambdabar at Belle

We study the baryonic charmonium decays of B mesons, B+ to etac K+ and B+ to J/psi K+, where the etac and J/psi subsequently decay into a p pbar or Lambda Lambdabar pair. We measure the J/psi to p pbar, Lambda Lambdabar anisotropy parameters, alpha_B = -0.60 +- 0.13 +-0.14 (p pbar), -0.44 +- 0.51 +- 0.31 (Lambda Lambdabar) and compare to results from e+e- to J/psi formation experiments. We also report the first observation of etac to Lambda Lambdabar. The measured branching fraction is B(etac to Lambda Lambdabar) = (0.87 +0.24 -0.21(stat) +0.09 -0.14(syst) +- 0.27 (PDG)) x 10^-3. This study is based on a 357 fb^-1 data sample recorded on the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2005

Study of the Baryon-Antibaryon Low-Mass Enhancements in Charmless Three-body Baryonic B Decays

The angular distributions of the baryon-antibaryon low-mass enhancements seen in the charmless three-body baryonic B decays B+ -> p pbar K+, B0 -> p pbar Ks, and B0 -> p Lambdabar pi- are reported. A quark fragmentation interpretation is supported, while the gluonic resonance picture is disfavored. Searches for the Theta+ and Theta++ pentaquarks in the relevant decay modes and possible glueball states G with 2.2 GeV/c2 < M-ppbar < 2.4 GeV/c2 in the ppbar systems give null results. We set upper limits on the products of branching fractions, B(B0 -> Theta+ p)\times B(Theta+ -> p Ks) < 2.3 \times 10^{-7}, B(B+ -> Theta++ pbar) \times B(Theta++ -> p K+) < 9.1 \times 10^{-8}, and B(B+ -> G K+) \times B(G -> p pbar) < 4.1 \times 10^{-7} at the 90% confidence level. The analysis is based on a 140 fb^{-1} data sample recorded on the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2004

Observation of B+ -> proton Lambdabar gamma

We report the first observation of the radiative hyperonic B decay B+ -> proton Lambdabar gamma, using a 140 fb-1 data sample recorded on the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric energy e+e- collider. The measured branching fraction is B(B+ -> proton Lambdabar gamma) = (2.16 ^{+0.58}_{-0.53} +- 0.20) times 10^{-6}. A search for B+ -> proton Sigmabar gamma yields no significant signal, so we set a 90% confidence-level upper limit on the branching fraction of B(B+ -> proton Sigmabar gamma) < 3.3 times 10^{-6}.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2004

Observation of B+ to Lambda Lambdabar K+

We report the first observation of the charmless hyperonic B decay, B^+ --> Lambda Lambdabar K^+, using a 140 fb^-1 data sample recorded at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e^+e^- collider. The measured branching fraction is B(B^+ --> Lambda Lambdabar K^+) = 2.91 ^{+0.90}_{-0.70} +/- 0.38 *10^-6 . We also perform a search for the related decay mode B^+ --> Lambda Lambdabar pi^+, but do not find a significant signal. We set a 90% confidence-level upper limit of B(B^+ --> Lambda Lambdabar pi^+) < 2.8 * 10^-6.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2004

Observation of B+ -> p pbar pi+, B0 -> p pbar K0, and B+ -> p pbar K*+

We report the first observation of a b -> u type charmless baryonic B decay, B+ -> p pbar pi+, as well as b -> s type B0 -> p pbar K0 and B+ -> p pbar K*+ decays. The analysis is based on a 78fb^{-1} data sample recorded on the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at KEKB. We find BF(B+ -> p pbar pi+) = (3.06^{+0.73}_{-0.62} \pm 0.37)*10^{-6}, BF(B0 -> p pbar K0) =(1.88^{+0.77}_{-0.60} \pm 0.23)*10^{-6}, and BF(B+ -> p pbar K*+) = (10.3^{+3.6 + 1.3}_{-2.8 -1.7})*10^{-6}. We also update BF(B+ -> p pbar K+) = (5.66^{+0.67}_{-0.57} \pm 0.62)* 10^{-6}, and present an upper limit on BF(B0 -> p pbar K*0) at the 90% confidence level. A common feature of the observed decay modes is threshold peaking in baryon pair invariant mass.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2003

Observation of B0 to p Lambdabar pi-

We report the first observation of the charmless hyperonic B decay, B0 -> p Lambdabar pi-, using a 78 fb^-1 data sample recorded on the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at KEKB. The measured branching fraction is B(B0 -> p Lambdabar pi-) = (3.97 ^{+1.00}_{-0.80} +- 0.56) * 10^-6. Searches for B0 -> p Lambdabar K- and p Sigmabar0 pi- yield no significant signals and we set 90% confidence level upper limits of B(B0 -> p Lambdabar K-) < 8.2 * 10^-7 and B(B0 -> p Sigmabar0 pi-) < 3.8 * 10^-6.

hep-ex↗