arXiv subjects

M. Akthar

Publications and source records attributed to M. Akthar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Associated $Z$ + $J/\psi$ production as a probe of multiparton interactions in the forward region

This letter reports a study of associated $Z$ boson and prompt $J/\psi$ production in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the LHCb detector in the forward rapidity region, using a data sample taken during 2016 to 2018 corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.1 \mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The measured fiducial cross-section is $5.5 \pm 1.5$ pb, significantly exceeding the single-parton scattering expectation of $0.10 \pm 0.08$ pb, indicating that multiparton interactions dominate this process in the explored phase space. Interpreted within the standard double-parton scattering framework, the data yields an effective cross-section $\sigma_{\mathrm{eff}} = 16.6 \pm 4.7$ mb. This provides a direct experimental constraint on the transverse spatial structure of the proton in a kinematic regime characterized simultaneously by small Bjorken-$x$ and an electroweak hard scale set by the $Z$ boson mass.

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arXiv2026

First evidence of the decay $B^+\to\pi^+ e^+ e^-$

The first evidence for the decay $B^+\to\pi^+ e^+ e^-$ is reported using proton-proton collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{-1}$. A signal excess with a significance of 3.2$\sigma$ is observed and the branching fraction is measured to be $\cal{BR}(B^+\to\pi^+ e^+ e^-) = (2.4\,{}^{+0.9}_{-0.8} \,{}^{+0.4}_{-0.2}) \times 10^{-8}$, where the first set of uncertainties is statistical and the second is systematic. The result is consistent with the Standard Model expectation.

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arXiv2026

Measurement of CP asymmetries in $\kern 0.18em\overline{\kern -0.18em B}^0 \to D_s^- D^+$ and $\kern 0.18em\overline{\kern -0.18em B}_s^0 \to D_s^+ D^-$ decays

Measurements of the combined CP asymmetries in $\kern 0.18em\overline{\kern -0.18em B}^0 \to D_s^- D^+$ and $\kern 0.18em\overline{\kern -0.18em B}_s^0 \to D_s^+ D^-$ decays are made using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9fb$^{-1}$. The measurements are found to be \begin{aligned} A_{CP}(\kern 0.18em\overline{\kern -0.18em B}^0 \to D_s^- D^+) &= 0.0009 \pm 0.0053 \pm 0.0040, \\ A_{CP}(\kern 0.18em\overline{\kern -0.18em B}_s^0 \to D_s^+ D^-) &= 0.103\phantom{0} \pm 0.053\phantom{0} \pm 0.010, \end{aligned} where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. This is the first measurement of this asymmetry in $\kern 0.18em\overline{\kern -0.18em B}_s^0$ decays, and the most precise measurement to date for $\kern 0.18em\overline{\kern -0.18em B}^0$ decays. Both measurements are found to be consistent with CP symmetry.

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arXiv2026

Search for $\tau^-\to \mu^-\mu^+\mu^-$ decays at the LHCb experiment with Run 2 data

A search for the lepton-flavour-violating decay $\tau^-\to \mu^-\mu^+\mu^-$ is carried out using data collected by the LHCb experiment between 2016 and 2018 in proton-proton collisions at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb$^{-1}$. An upper limit of $1.9\,(2.3)\times 10^{-8}$ is set at the 90% (95%) confidence level on the branching fraction of the decay.

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arXiv2026

Observation of the decay $\chi_{c1}(3872)\rightarrow J\mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \mu^+\mu^-$

The first observation of the $\chi_{c1}(3872)\rightarrow J\mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \mu^+\mu^-$ decay is reported using proton-proton collision data recorded with the LHCb detector corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9fb^{-1}$. The decay mode is observed for the first time, with a significance of $6.5\sigma$. Its branching fraction is measured relative to the $\chi_{c1}(3872)\rightarrow J\mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \pi^+\pi^-$ decay mode \begin{align*} \frac{\cal{BF}(\chi_{c1}(3872)\rightarrow J\mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \mu^+\mu^-)}{\cal{BF}(\chi_{c1}(3872)\rightarrow J\mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \pi^+\pi^-)} = \left(1.68\pm 0.32\pm 0.05\right)\times10^{-3}, \end{align*} where the first uncertainty includes both statistical contributions and systematic contributions which are uncorrelated between data-taking periods, and the second represents the systematic contributions that are correlated between data-taking periods.

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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

Observation of $CP$ violation in $B^{0}\!\to{J\mskip-3mu/\mskip-2mu\psi}\rho(770)^0$ decays

The time-dependent $CP$ asymmetry in $B^{0}\!\to{J\mskip-3mu/\mskip-2mu\psi}\rho(770)^0$ decays is measured using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $6\,\text{fb}^{-1}$, collected with the LHCb detector at a center-of-mass energy of $13\,\text{TeV}$ during the years 2015-2018. The $CP$-violation parameters for this process are determined to be $2\beta^{\rm eff}_{c\bar{c}d} = 0.710 \pm 0.084 \pm 0.051\,\text{rad}$ and $|\lambda| = 1.019 \pm 0.034 \pm 0.024$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This constitutes the first observation of time-dependent $CP$ violation in $B^{0}\!\to{J\mskip-3mu/\mskip-2mu\psi}\rho(770)^0$ decays. Assuming approximate SU(3) flavor symmetry, these results are combined with the previous consistent LHCb measurement to set the most stringent constraint on the penguin contribution, $\Delta\phi_{s}$, to the $CP$-violating phase $\phi_{s}$ in $B^{0}_{s}\!\to{J\mskip-3mu/\mskip-2mu\psi}\phi(1020)$ decays, yielding $\Delta\phi_{s} = 5.0 \pm 4.6\,\text{mrad}$.

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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

First evidence of the $B_s^0\rightarrow K^-\pi^+\gamma$ decay

The first search for the $B_s^0\rightarrow K^-\pi^+\gamma$ decay in the range $796<m(K^-\pi^+)<1800\,\text{MeV/}c^2$ is performed using data from proton-proton collisions collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{-1}$. The photons are reconstructed through their conversion into an electron-positron pair, which significantly improves the mass resolution of the reconstructed decays with respect to decays with an unconverted photon. A signal excess with a significance of 3.5 standard deviations is measured, constituting the first experimental evidence for this decay. In the range $796<m(K^-\pi^+)<996\,\text{MeV/}c^2$, the ratio ${\cal R}$ between the branching fractions of the signal decay and the favoured $\kern 0.18em\overline{\kern -0.18em B}{}^0\rightarrow K^- \pi^+\gamma$ decay is measured to be ${\cal R} = (3.7\pm1.2\pm0.4)\times10^{-2}$ where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. This measurement is consistent with the value predicted in the Standard Model. In the range $996<m(K^-\pi^+)<1800\,\text{MeV/}c^2$, the ratio ${\cal R} = (0.2\pm2.7\pm1.3)\times10^{-2}$ is measured.

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arXiv2025

Measurement of the top-quark production cross-section and charge asymmetry at LHCb

The first measurements of the top- and antitop-quark differential production cross-sections and the top-quark charge asymmetry in the forward region are presented, using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 $fb^{-1}$. The total production cross-sections of top and antitop quarks are also determined. Measurements are performed using the $\mu+b\text{-jet}$ final state within a fiducial region defined by a $b\text{-jet}$ $p_{\text{T, jet}}>50$ GeV and pseudorapidity $2.2<\eta_{\text{jet}}<4.0$,, with the muon from the $W$-boson decay required to have $p_{\text{T},\mu}>25$ GeV and pseudorapidity $2.0<\eta_{\mu}<4.5$. The muon and $b$-jet system must satisfy $p_{T}(\mu+\text{jet}) > 20$ GeV. The measured integrated production cross-sections for the top and antitop quarks are $\sigma_{t} = 0.95 \pm 0.04 \pm 0.08 \pm 0.02$ pb, $\sigma_{\bar{t}} = 0.81 \pm 0.03 \pm 0.07 \pm 0.02$ pb, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third accounts for the luminosity uncertainty. The top-quark charge asymmetry is measured to be $A_C^{t} = 0.08 \pm 0.03 \pm 0.01$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. These results are consistent with next-to-leading-order Standard Model predictions.

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arXiv2025

Precision measurement of CP violation and branching fractions in $B^{\pm} \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} h^{\pm}$ $(h = \pi, K)$ decays and search for the rare decay $B_c^{\pm} \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} K^{\pm}$

The decay $B^{\pm} \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} \pi^{\pm}$, with a $CP$ asymmetry expected to be close to zero in the Standard Model, is theoretically clean and sensitive to potential new physics. An analysis of the decays $B^{\pm} \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} \pi^{\pm}$ and $B^{\pm} \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} K^{\pm}$ is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at a center-of-mass energy of $13\,\mathrm{TeV}$, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.4\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The \CP asymmetries are determined to be ${\cal A}^{CP}(B^{\pm} \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} \pi^{\pm})=-0.028\pm 0.009\pm 0.009$ and ${\cal A}^{CP}(B^{\pm} \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} K^{\pm})=0.118\pm 0.062 \pm 0.031$, and the branching fraction ratio is measured to be ${\cal B}(B^{\pm} \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} K^{\pm})/{\cal B}(B^{\pm} \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} \pi^{\pm})=0.055\pm 0.004 \pm 0.002$, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. These results are the most precise measurements of these quantities to date. A search for the rare decay $B_c^{\pm} \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} K^{\pm}$ is also performed. No significant signal is observed, and the upper limit on the product of the branching fraction ratio ${\cal B}(B_c^{\pm} \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} K^{\pm})/{\cal B}(B^{\pm} \to K^0_{\mathrm{S}} \pi^{\pm})$ and the fragmentation-fraction ratio $f_c/f_u$ is set to be 0.015 (0.016) at the 90\% (95\%) confidence level.

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arXiv2025

First observation of the $\overline{B}_{s}^{0}\to\Lambda_{c}^{+}\overline{\Lambda}_{c}{}^{-}$ decay and evidence for the $\overline{B}^{0}\to\Lambda_{c}^{+}\overline{\Lambda}_{c}{}^{-}$ decay

A search is presented for the two-body charmed baryonic decays $\overline{B}_{(s)}^{0}\to\Lambda_{c}^{+}\overline{\Lambda}_{c}{}^{-}$, using a data sample collected by the LHCb experiment during 2011--2012 and 2015--2018 corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The first observation of the $\overline{B}_{s}^{0}\to\Lambda_{c}^{+}\overline{\Lambda}_{c}{}^{-}$ decay is reported with $6.2\sigma$ significance, along with $4.3\sigma$ evidence for the $\overline{B}^{0}\to\Lambda_{c}^{+}\overline{\Lambda}_{c}{}^{-}$ decay. The branching fractions are measured to be $\mathcal{B}{}(\overline{B}^{0}\to\Lambda_{c}^{+}\overline{\Lambda}_{c}{}^{-}) = (1.01^{+0.27}_{-0.28} \pm 0.08 \pm 0.15) \times 10^{-5}$ and $\mathcal{B}{}(\overline{B}_{s}^{0}\to\Lambda_{c}^{+}\overline{\Lambda}_{c}{}^{-}) = (5.0 \pm 1.3 \pm 0.5 \pm 0.8) \times 10^{-5}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third due to external inputs. These results provide novel experimental inputs for the theoretical framework describing two-body baryonic decays of $B$ mesons via $W$-emission and $W$-exchange mechanisms.

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arXiv2025

Observation and investigation of the $T_{c\bar{c}1}(4430)^{+}$ structure in $B^{+} \to \psi(2S) K_{\text{S}}^{0} \pi^{+}$ decays

The first four-dimensional amplitude analysis of the $B^{+} \to \psi(2S) K_{\text{S}}^{0} \pi^{+}$ decay is performed with proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at $\sqrt{s} = 13~\rm{TeV}$, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.4~\rm{fb^{-1}}$. The data cannot be fully explained by $B^{+} \to \psi(2S) K^{*+}$ contributions alone. A significantly better description of the data is obtained by adding a $T_{c\bar{c}}^{+}$ contribution decaying to $\psi(2S)\pi^{+}$. The properties of the $T_{c\bar{c}}^{+}$ structure are consistent with the exotic state $T_{c\bar{c}1}(4430)^{+}$ reported in the isospin-related $\bar{B}^{0} \to \psi(2S) K^{-} \pi^{+}$ decay. Effects of a possible $T_{c\bar{c}1}(4430)^{+} \to \bar{D}_{1}^{*}(2600)^{0} D^{+}$ decay mode on the $T_{c\bar{c}1}(4430)^{+} \to \psi(2S)\pi^{+}$ mass distribution are investigated through a Flatt\'e parametrization, providing constraints on the relative decay strength. A description of the $T_{c\bar{c}1}(4430)^{+}$ structure using the triangle singularity mechanism is studied and also found to be consistent with the data.

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arXiv2025

Differential decay rate of $B^+ \to J/\psi K^+$ with the LHCb Upgrade I experiment

The normalised decay rate of $B^+ \to J/\psi(\to \mu^+\mu^-) K^+$ is measured as a function of the lepton helicity angle using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $1.1 \text{fb}^{-1}$ collected during October 2024 with the upgraded (Upgrade I) LHCb detector. This angular distribution can be parameterised by two coefficients, the forward-backward asymmetry, $A_{FB}$, and the flatness parameter, $F_{H}$, whose values are constrained by conservation of angular momentum. These coefficients are measured both integrated and differentially across various kinematic and detector-response variables, and the results are found to be in good agreement with expectations. These measurements show that the detector response of the LHCb Upgrade I experiment is understood to the precision required to reliably extract the angular coefficients associated with rare $b \to s \mu^+\mu^-$ and $b \to d \mu^+\mu^-$ transitions, which are particularly sensitive to physics beyond the Standard Model.

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arXiv2025

Measurement of charged-hadron distributions in heavy-flavor jets in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=13 TeV

Charged-hadron distributions in heavy-flavor jets are measured in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected by the LHCb experiment. Distributions of the longitudinal momentum fraction, transverse momentum, and radial profile of charged hadrons are measured separately in beauty and charm jets. The distributions are compared to those previously measured by the LHCb collaboration in jets produced back-to-back with a $Z$ boson, which in the forward region are primarily light-quark-initiated, to compare the hadronization mechanisms of heavy and light quarks. The observed differences between the heavy- and light-jet distributions are consistent with the heavy-quark dynamics expected to arise from the dead-cone effect, as well as with a hard fragmentation of the heavy-flavor hadron as previously measured in single-hadron fragmentation functions. This measurement provides additional constraints for the extraction of collinear and transverse-momentum-dependent heavy-flavor fragmentation functions and offers another approach to probing the mechanisms that govern heavy-flavor hadronization.

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arXiv2025

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 $D^0 \to K^0_{\rm S} \pi^+ \pi^-$ 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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arXiv2025

Searches for $B^0\to K^+\pi^-\tau^+\tau^-$ and $B_s^0\to K^+K^-\tau^+\tau^-$ decays

The first searches for $B^0\to K^+\pi^-\tau^+\tau^-$ and $B^0_s\to K^+K^-\tau^+\tau^-$ decays at the LHCb experiment are conducted with $pp$ collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.4\textrm{ fb}^{-1}$. The tau leptons are reconstructed using the $\tau^+\to \mu^+\overline{\nu}_\tau\nu_\mu$ decay and the results are presented in bins of $K^+\pi^-$ or $K^+K^-$ mass. No signal is observed and upper limits are set on the branching fractions. The searches result in the first upper limits for $B^0\to K^+\pi^-\tau^+\tau^-$ decays outside the $K^*(892)^0$ region in $K^+\pi^-$ mass and the first limits for $B^0_s\to K^+K^-\tau^+\tau^-$ decays. The searches are recast into limits on the decays $B^0\to K^*(892)^0\tau^+\tau^-$ and $B^0_s\to \phi(1020)\tau^+\tau^-$, yielding $2.8\times10^{-4}$ ($2.5\times10^{-4}$) and $4.7\times10^{-4}$ ($4.1\times10^{-4}$) at the $95\%$ ($90\%$) confidence level, respectively. For the decay $B^0\to K^*(892)^0\tau^+\tau^-$, this result improves on the current best upper limit by an order of magnitude.

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arXiv2025

Measurement of the branching fraction of the $\Lambda_b^0\to J/\psi\Lambda$ decay and isospin asymmetry of $B\to J/\psi K$ decays

This paper describes a measurement of the $\Lambda_b^0\to J/\psi\Lambda$ 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 $B^0\to J/\psi K^0_\text{S}$ decays, $\frac{\mathcal{B}(\Lambda_b^0\to J/\psi\Lambda)}{\mathcal{B}(B^0\to J/\psi K^0_\text{S}} = 0.750 \pm 0.005 \pm 0.022 \pm 0.005 \pm 0.062\,,$ yielding $\mathcal{B}(\Lambda_b^0\to J/\psi\Lambda) = (3.34 \pm 0.02 \pm 0.10 \pm 0.08 \pm 0.28)\times 10^{-4}$, 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 $\Lambda_b^0$ baryon and $B^0$ meson hadronisation fractions. In addition, the isospin asymmetry between the rates of $B^0\to J/\psi K^0_\text{S}$ and $B^+\to J/\psi K^+$ 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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