arXiv subjects

M. Baalouch

Publications and source records attributed to M. Baalouch.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2019

First measurement of near-threshold J/$ψ$ exclusive photoproduction off the proton

We report on the measurement of the $γp \rightarrow J/ψp$ cross section from $E_γ= 11.8$ GeV down to the threshold at $8.2$ GeV using a tagged photon beam with the GlueX experiment. We find the total cross section falls toward the threshold less steeply than expected from two-gluon exchange models. The differential cross section $dσ/dt$ has an exponential slope of $1.67 \pm 0.39$ GeV$^{-2}$ at $10.7$ GeV average energy. The LHCb pentaquark candidates $P_c^+$ can be produced in the $s$-channel of this reaction. We see no evidence for them and set model-dependent upper limits on their branching fractions $\mathcal{B}(P_c^+ \rightarrow J/ψp)$ and cross sections $σ(γp \to P_c^+)\times\mathcal{B}(P_c^+ \to J/ψp) $.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2019

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↗

arXiv2019

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↗

arXiv2018

Differential branching fraction and angular analysis of $Λ^{0}_{b} \rightarrow Λμ^+μ^-$ decays

The differential branching fraction of the rare decay $Λ^{0}_{b} \rightarrow Λμ^+μ^-$ is measured as a function of $q^{2}$, the square of the dimuon invariant mass. The analysis is performed using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3.0 \mbox{ fb}^{-1}$, collected by the LHCb experiment. Evidence of signal is observed in the $q^2$ region below the square of the $J/ψ$ mass. Integrating over $15 < q^{2} < 20 \mbox{ GeV}^2/c^4$ the branching fraction is measured as $d\mathcal{B}(Λ^{0}_{b} \rightarrow Λμ^+μ^-)/dq^2 = (1.18 ^{+ 0.09} _{-0.08} \pm 0.03 \pm 0.27) \times 10^{-7} ( \mbox{GeV}^{2}/c^{4})^{-1}$, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic and due to the normalisation mode, $Λ^{0}_{b} \rightarrow J/ψΛ$, respectively. In the $q^2$ intervals where the signal is observed, angular distributions are studied and the forward-backward asymmetries in the dimuon ($A^{l}_{\rm FB}$) and hadron ($A^{h}_{\rm FB}$) systems are measured for the first time. In the range $15 < q^2 < 20 \mbox{ GeV}^2/c^4$ they are found to be $A^{l}_{\rm FB} = -0.05 \pm 0.09 \mbox{ (stat)} \pm 0.03 \mbox{ (syst)}$ and $A^{h}_{\rm FB} = -0.29 \pm 0.07 \mbox{ (stat)} \pm 0.03 \mbox{ (syst)}$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Measurement of the relative rate of prompt $χ_{c0}$, $χ_{c1}$ and $χ_{c2}$ production at $\sqrt{s}=7$TeV

Prompt production of charmonium $χ_{c0}$, $χ_{c1}$ and $χ_{c2}$ mesons is studied using proton-proton collisions at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=7$TeV. The $χ_{c}$ mesons are identified through their decay to $J/ψγ$, with $J/ψ\toμ^+μ^-$ using photons that converted in the detector. A data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $1.0\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb detector, is used to measure the relative prompt production rate of $χ_{c1}$ and $χ_{c2}$ in the rapidity range $2.0<y<4.5$ as a function of the $J/ψ$ transverse momentum from 3 to 20 GeV$/c$. First evidence for $χ_{c0}$ meson production at a high-energy hadron collider is also presented.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Search for $B_c^+$ decays to two charm mesons

A search for decays of $B_c^+$ mesons to two charm mesons is performed for the first time using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb$^{-1}$, collected by the LHCb experiment in $pp$ collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The decays considered are $B_c^+\to D^{(*)+}_{(s)} \overline{D}^{(*)0}$ and $B_c^+\to D^{(*)+}_{(s)} D^{(*)0}$, which are normalised to high-yield $B^+\to D^+_{(s)} \overline{D}^0$ decays. No evidence for a signal is found and limits are set on twelve $B_c^+$ decay modes.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Studies of the resonance structure in $D^{0} \to K^\mp π^\pm π^\pm π^\mp$ decays

Amplitude models are constructed to describe the resonance structure of ${D^{0}\to K^{-}π^{+}π^{+}π^{-}}$ and ${D^{0} \to K^{+}π^{-}π^{-}π^{+}}$ decays using $pp$ collision data collected at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV with the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3.0\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The largest contributions to both decay amplitudes are found to come from axial resonances, with decay modes $D^{0} \to a_1(1260)^{+} K^{-}$ and $D^{0} \to K_1(1270/1400)^{+} π^{-}$ being prominent in ${D^{0}\to K^{-}π^{+}π^{+}π^{-}}$ and $D^{0}\to K^{+}π^{-}π^{-}π^{+}$, respectively. Precise measurements of the lineshape parameters and couplings of the $a_1(1260)^{+}$, $K_1(1270)^{-}$ and $K(1460)^{-}$ resonances are made, and a quasi model-independent study of the $K(1460)^{-}$ resonance is performed. The coherence factor of the decays is calculated from the amplitude models to be $R_{K3π} = 0.459\pm 0.010\,(\mathrm{stat}) \pm 0.012\,(\mathrm{syst}) \pm 0.020\,(\mathrm{model})$, which is consistent with direct measurements. These models will be useful in future measurements of the unitary-triangle angle $γ$ and studies of charm mixing and $C\!P$ violation.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Evidence for the rare decay $Σ^+ \to p μ^+ μ^-$

A search for the rare decay $Σ^+ \to p μ^+ μ^-$ is performed using $pp$ collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies $\sqrt{s} = 7$ and $8$ TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3 fb^{-1}$. An excess of events is observed with respect to the background expectation, with a signal significance of 4.1 standard deviations. No significant structure is observed in the dimuon invariant mass distribution, in contrast with a previous result from the HyperCP experiment. The measured $Σ^+ \to p μ^+ μ^-$ branching fraction is $(2.2\,^{+\,1.8}_{-\,1.3})\times 10^{-8}$, where statistical and systematic uncertainties are included, which is consistent with the Standard Model prediction.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Search for massive long-lived particles decaying semileptonically in the LHCb detector

A search is presented for massive long-lived particles decaying into a muon and two quarks. The dataset consists of proton-proton interactions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 1 and 2 1/fb, respectively. The analysis is performed assuming a set of production mechanisms with simple topologies, including the production of a Higgs-like particle decaying into two long-lived particles. The mass range from 20 to 80 GeV and lifetimes from 5 to 100 ps are explored. Results are also interpreted in terms of neutralino production in different supersymmetric models, with masses in the 23-198 GeV range. No excess above the background expectation is observed and upper limits are set on the production cross-section for various points in the parameter space of theoretical models.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Observation of the $Λ_b^0\toΛϕ$ decay

The $Λ_b^0\toΛϕ$ decay is observed using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the LHCb experiment. The decay proceeds at leading order via a $b\to s\bar{s}s$ loop transition and is therefore sensitive to the possible presence of particles beyond the Standard Model. A first observation is reported with a significance of $5.9$ standard deviations. The value of the branching fraction is measured to be $(5.18\pm1.04\pm0.35\,^{+0.67}_{-0.62})\times10^{-6}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is related to external inputs. Triple-product asymmetries are measured to be consistent with zero.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Search for the rare decay $Λ_{c}^{+} \to pμ^+μ^-$

A search for the flavor-changing neutral-current decay $Λ_{c}^{+} \to pμ^+μ^-$ is reported using a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3.0\rm fb^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb collaboration. No significant signal is observed outside of the dimuon mass regions around the $ϕ$ and $ω$ resonances and an upper limit is placed on the branching fraction of $\mathcal{B} (Λ_{c}^{+} \to pμ^+μ^-) < 7.7~(9.6)\times 10^{-8}~{\rm at}~90\%~(95\%)$ confidence level. A significant signal is observed in the $ω$ dimuon mass region for the first time.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Test of Lepton Flavor Universality by the measurement of the $B^0 \to D^{*-} τ^+ ν_τ$ branching fraction using three-prong $τ$ decays

The ratio of branching fractions ${\cal{R}}(D^{*-})\equiv {\cal{B}}(B^0 \to D^{*-} τ^+ ν_τ)/{\cal{B}}(B^0 \to D^{*-} μ^+ν_μ)$ is measured using a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3$~$fb$^{-1}$. The $τ$ lepton is reconstructed with three charged pions in the final state. A novel method is used that exploits the different vertex topologies of signal and backgrounds to isolate samples of semitauonic decays of $b$ hadrons with high purity. Using the $B^0 \to D^{*-}π^+π^-π^+$ decay as the normalization channel, the ratio ${\cal{B}}(B^0 \to D^{*-} τ^+ ν_τ)/{\cal{B}}(B^0 \to D^{*-}π^+π^-π^+)$ is measured to be $1.97 \pm 0.13 \pm 0.18$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. An average of branching fraction measurements for the normalization channel is used to derive ${\cal{B}}(B^0 \to D^{*-} τ^+ ν_τ) = (1.42 \pm 0.094 \pm 0.129 \pm 0.054) \%$, where the third uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of ${\cal{B}}(B^0\to D^{*-}π^+π^-π^+)$. A test of lepton flavor universality is performed using the well-measured branching fraction ${\cal{B}}(B^0 \to D^{*-} μ^+ν_μ)$ to compute ${\cal{R}}(D^{*-}) = 0.291 \pm 0.019 \pm 0.026 \pm 0.013$, where the third uncertainty originates from the uncertainties on ${\cal{B}}(B^0 \to D^{*-}π^+π^-π^+)$ and ${\cal{B}}(B^0 \to D^{*-} μ^+ν_μ)$. This measurement is in agreement with the Standard Model prediction and with previous measurements.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Measurement of the ratio of the $B^0 \to D^{-} τ^+ ν_τ$ and $B^0 \to D^{-} μ^+ ν_μ$ branching fractions using three-prong $τ$-lepton decays

The ratio of branching fractions ${\cal{R}}(D^{*-})\equiv {\cal{B}}(B^0 \to D^{*-} τ^+ ν_τ)/{\cal{B}}(B^0 \to D^{*-} μ^+ν_μ)$ is measured using a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 Tev, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3$~$fb$^{-1}$. For the first time ${\cal{R}}(D^{*-})$ is determined using the $τ$ lepton decays with three charged pions in the final state. The $B^0 \to D^{*-} τ^+ν_τ$ yield is normalized to that of the $B^0\to D^{*-} π^+π^-π^+$ mode, providing a measurement of ${\cal{B}}(B^0\to D^{*-}τ^+ν_τ)/{\cal{B}}(B^0\to D^{*-}π^+π^-π^+) = 1.97 \pm 0.13 \pm 0.18$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The value of ${\cal{B}}(B^0 \to D^{*-} τ^+ ν_τ) = (1.42 \pm 0.094 \pm 0.129 \pm 0.054)\% $ is obtained, where the third uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the branching fraction of the normalization mode. Using the well-measured branching fraction of the $B^0 \to D^{*-} μ^+ν_μ$ decay, a value of ${\cal{R}}(D^{*-}) = 0.291 \pm 0.019 \pm 0.026 \pm 0.013$ is established, where the third uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the branching fractions of the normalization and $B^0\to D^{*-}μ^+ν_μ$ modes. This measurement is in agreement with the Standard Model prediction and with previous results.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Measurements of the branching fractions of $Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p π^{-} π^{+}$, $Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p K^{-} K^{+}$, and $Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p π^{-} K^{+}$

The ratios of the branching fractions of the decays $Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p π^{-} π^{+}$, $Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p K^{-} K^{+}$, and $Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p π^{-} K^{+}$ with respect to the Cabibbo-favoured $Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p K^{-} π^{+}$ decay are measured using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb experiment at a 7 TeV centre-of-mass energy and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb$^{-1}$: \begin{align*} \frac{\mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p π^{-} π^{+})}{\mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p K^{-} π^{+})} & = (7.44 \pm 0.08 \pm 0.18)\,\%, \frac{\mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p K^{-} K^{+})}{\mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p K^{-} π^{+})} &= (1.70 \pm 0.03 \pm 0.03)\,\%, \frac{\mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p π^{-} K^{+})}{\mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p K^{-} π^{+})} & = (0.165 \pm 0.015 \pm 0.005 )\,\%, \end{align*} where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. These results are the most precise measurements of these quantities to date. When multiplied by the world-average value for $\mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p K^{-} π^{+})$, the corresponding branching fractions are \begin{align*} \mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p π^{-} π^{+}) &= (4.72 \pm 0.05 \pm 0.11 \pm 0.25) \times 10^{-3}, \mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p K^{-} K^{+}) &= (1.08 \pm 0.02 \pm 0.02 \pm 0.06) \times 10^{-3}, \mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p π^{-} K^{+}) &= (1.04 \pm 0.09 \pm 0.03 \pm 0.05) \times 10^{-4}, \end{align*} where the final uncertainty is due to $\mathcal{B}(Λ_{c}^{+} \rightarrow p K^{-} π^{+})$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

A measurement of the $CP$ asymmetry difference in $\varLambda_{c}^{+} \to pK^{-}K^{+}$ and $pπ^{-}π^{+}$ decays

The difference between the $CP$ asymmetries in the decays $\varLambda_{c}^{+} \to pK^{-}K^{+}$ and $\varLambda_{c}^{+} \to pπ^{-}π^{+}$ is presented. Proton-proton collision data taken at centre-of-mass energies of $7$ and $8\,\mathrm{TeV}$ collected by the LHCb detector in 2011 and 2012 are used, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The $\varLambda_{c}^{+}$ candidates are reconstructed as part of the $\varLambda_{b}^{0} \to \varLambda_{c}^{+}μ^{-}X$ decay chain. In order to maximize the cancellation of production and detection asymmetries in the difference, the final-state kinematic distributions of the two samples are aligned by applying phase-space-dependent weights to the $\varLambda_{c}^{+} \to pπ^{-}π^{+}$ sample. This alters the definition of the integrated $CP$ asymmetry to $A_{CP}^{\text{wgt}}(pπ^{-}π^{+})$. Both samples are corrected for reconstruction and selection efficiencies across the five-dimensional $\varLambda_{c}^{+}$ decay phase space. The difference in $CP$ asymmetries is found to be \begin{align*} Δ{A^{\text{wgt}}_{CP}} &= A_{CP}(pK^{-}K^{+}) - A_{CP}^{\text{wgt}}(pπ^{-}π^{+})\\ &= (0.30 \pm 0.91 \pm 0.61)\,\%, \end{align*} where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Workshop on Pion-Kaon Interactions (PKI2018) Mini-Proceedings. Editors: M. Amaryan, Ulf-G. Meißner, C. Meyer, J. Ritman, and I. Strakovsky

This volume is a short summary of talks given at the PKI2018 Workshop organized to discuss current status and future prospects of pi-K interactions. The precise data on pi-K interaction will have a strong impact on strange meson spectroscopy and form factors that are important ingredients in the Dalitz plot analysis of a decays of heavy mesons as well as precision measurement of Vus matrix element and therefore on a test of unitarity in the first raw of the CKM matrix. The workshop has combined the efforts of experimentalists, Lattice QCD, and phenomenology communities. Experimental data relevant to the topic of the workshop were presented from the broad range of different collaborations like CLAS, GlueX, COMPASS, BaBar, BELLE, BESIII, VEPP-2000, and LHCb. One of the main goals of this workshop was to outline a need for a new high intensity and high precision secondary KL beam facility at JLab produced with the 12 GeV electron beam of CEBAF accelerator. This workshop is a successor of the workshops Physics with Neutral Kaon Beam at JLab [1] held at JLab, February, 2016; Excited Hyperons in QCD Thermodynamics at Freeze-Out [2] held at JLab, November, 2016; New Opportunities with High-Intensity Photon Sources [3] held at CUA, February, 2017. Further details about the PKI2018 Workshop can be found on the web page of the conference: http://www.jlab.org/conferences/pki2018/ .

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Measurement of the $b$-quark production cross-section in 7 and 13 TeV $pp$ collisions

Measurements of the cross-section for producing \bquark quarks in the reaction $pp\to b\bar{b} X$ are reported in 7 and 13 TeV collisions at the LHC as a function of the pseudorapidity $η$ in the range $2<η<5$ covered by the acceptance of the LHCb experiment. The measurements are done using semileptonic decays of $b$-flavored hadrons decaying into a ground-state charmed hadron in association with a muon. The cross-sections in the covered $η$ range are $72.0\pm 0.3\pm6.8~μ$b and $144\pm 1\pm 21~μ$b for 7 and 13 TeV. The ratio is $2.00\pm0.02\pm0.26$, where the quoted uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. The agreement with theoretical expectation is good at 7 TeV, but differs somewhat at 13 TeV. The measured ratio of cross-sections is larger at lower $η$ than the model prediction.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Observation of the decay $Λ^0_b \to p K^- μ^+ μ^-$ and a search for $C\!P$ violation

A search for $C\!P$ violation in the decay $Λ^0_b \to p K^- μ^+ μ^-$ is presented. This decay is mediated by flavour-changing neutral-current transitions in the Standard Model and is potentially sensitive to new sources of $C\!P$ violation. The study is based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions recorded with the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3$ $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The $Λ^0_b \to p K^- μ^+ μ^-$ decay is observed for the first time, and two observables that are sensitive to different manifestations of $C\!P$ violation are measured, $Δ\mathcal{A}_{C\!P} \equiv \mathcal{A}_{C\!P}(Λ^0_b \to p K^- μ^+ μ^-)-\mathcal{A}_{C\!P}(Λ^0_b\to pK^- J/ψ)$ and $a_{C\!P}^{\widehat{T}-odd}$, where the latter is based on asymmetries in the angle between the $μ^+μ^-$ and $p K^-$ decay planes. These are measured to be $Δ\mathcal{A}_{C\!P} = (-3.5 \pm 5.0(stat) \pm 0.2(syst))\times 10^{-2}$, $a_{C\!P}^{\widehat{T}-odd} = (1.2 \pm 5.0(stat) \pm 0.7(syst))\times 10^{-2}$, and no evidence for $C\!P$ violation is found.

hep-ex↗