Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

M. Baalouch

Publications and source records attributed to M. Baalouch.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Study of beauty hadron decays into pairs of charm hadrons

First observations of the decays $Λ_b^0 \to Λ_c^+ D_{(s)}^-$ are reported using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3\,{\rm fb}^{-1}$ collected at 7 and 8 TeV center-of-mass energy in proton-proton collisions with the LHCb detector. In addition, the most precise measurement of the branching fraction ${\mathcal{B}(B_s^0 \to D^+D_s^-)}$ is made and a search is performed for the decays $B^0_{(s)} \to Λ_c^+ Λ_c^-$. The results obtained are \begin{eqnarray*} \mathcal{B}(Λ_b^0 \to Λ_c^+ D^-)/\mathcal{B}(Λ_b^0 \to Λ_c^+ D_{s}^-) &=& 0.042 \pm 0.003({\rm stat}) \pm 0.003({\rm syst}), \left[\frac{\mathcal{B}(Λ_b^0 \to Λ_c^+ D_{s}^-)}{\mathcal{B}({\kern 0.2em}\overline{\kern -0.2em B}_d^0 \to D^+D_s^-)}\right]\big/\left[\frac{\mathcal{B}(Λ_b^0 \to Λ_c^+π^-)}{\mathcal{B}({\kern 0.2em}\overline{\kern -0.2em B}_d^0 \to D^+π^-)}\right] &=& 0.96 \pm 0.02({\rm stat}) \pm 0.06({\rm syst}), \mathcal{B}(B_s^0 \to D^+D_s^-)/\mathcal{B}({\kern 0.2em}\overline{\kern -0.2em B}_d^0 \to D^+D_s^-) &=& 0.038\pm0.004({\rm stat})\pm0.003({\rm syst}), \mathcal{B}({\kern 0.2em}\overline{\kern -0.2em B}^0 \to Λ_c^+ Λ_c^-)/\mathcal{B}({\kern 0.2em}\overline{\kern -0.2em B}_d^0 \to D^+D_s^-) & < & 0.0022\; [95\% \; {\rm C.L.}], \mathcal{B}(B^0_{s} \to Λ_c^+ Λ_c^-)/\mathcal{B}(B_s^0 \to D^+D_s^-) & < & 0.30\; [95\% \; {\rm C.L.}]. \end{eqnarray*} Measurement of the mass of the $Λ_b^0$ baryon relative to the $B^0$ meson gives ${M(Λ_b^0) -M(B^0) = 339.72\pm 0.24({\rm stat}) \pm 0.18({\rm syst})}$ MeV$/c^2$. This result provides the most precise measurement of the mass of the $Λ_b^0$ baryon to date.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of polarization amplitudes and CP asymmetries in $B^0 \to ϕK^*(892)^0$

An angular analysis of the decay $B^0 \to ϕK^*(892)^0$ is reported based on a $pp$ collision data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb$^{-1}$, collected at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV with the LHCb detector. The P-wave amplitudes and phases are measured with a greater precision than by previous experiments, and confirm about equal amounts of longitudinal and transverse polarization. The S-wave $K^+ π^-$ and $K^+K^-$ contributions are taken into account and found to be significant. A comparison of the $B^0 \to ϕK^*(892)^0$ and $\bar{B}^0 \to ϕ\bar{K}^*(892)^0$ results shows no evidence for direct CP violation in the rate asymmetry, in the triple-product asymmetries or in the polarization amplitudes and phases.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of $ψ(2S)$ polarisation in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV

The polarisation of prompt $ψ(2S)$ mesons is measured by performing an angular analysis of $ψ(2S)\rightarrow μ^{+} μ^{-}$ decays using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb$^{-1}$, collected by the LHCb detector at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. The polarisation is measured in bins of transverse momentum $p_\mathrm{T}$ and rapidity $y$ in the kinematic region $3.5<p_\mathrm{T}<15$ GeV$/c$ and $2.0<y<4.5$, and is compared to theoretical models. No significant polarisation is observed.

hep-ex↗

Search for Majorana neutrinos in $B^- \to π^+μ^-μ^-$ decays

A search for heavy Majorana neutrinos produced in the $B^- \to π^+μ^-μ^-$ decay mode is performed using 3 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity collected with the LHCb detector in $pp$ collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 TeV and 8 TeV at the LHC. Neutrinos with masses in the range 250-5000 MeV and lifetimes from zero to 1000 ps are probed. In the absence of a signal, upper limits are set on the branching fraction ${\cal{B}}(B^- \to π^+μ^-μ^-)$ as functions of neutrino mass and lifetime. These limits are on the order of $10^{-9}$ for short neutrino lifetimes of 1 ps or less. Limits are also set on the coupling between the muon and a possible fourth-generation neutrino.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of resonant and $CP$ components in $\overline{B}_s^0\rightarrow J/ψπ^+π^-$ decays

The resonant structure of the decay $\overline{B}_s^0\to J/ψπ^+π^-$ is studied using data corresponding to 3 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity from $pp$ collisions by the LHC and collected by the LHCb detector. Five interfering $π^+π^-$ states are required to describe the decay: $f_0(980),f_0(1500),f_0(1790),f_2(1270)$, and $f_2^{\prime}(1525)$. An alternative model including these states and a non-resonant $J/ψπ^+π^-$ component also provides a good description of the data. Based on the different transversity components measured for the spin-2 intermediate states, the final state is found to be compatible with being entirely $CP$-odd. The $CP$-even part is found to be $<2.3$% at 95% confidence level. The $f_0(500)$ state is not observed, allowing a limit to be set on the absolute value of the mixing angle with the $f_0(980)$ of $<7.7^{\circ}$ at 90% confidence level, consistent with a tetraquark interpretation of the $f_0(980)$ substructure.

hep-ex↗

Searches for $B^{0}_{(s)} \rightarrow J/ψ p \overline{p}$ and $B^{+} \to J/ψ p \overline{p} π^{+}$ decays

The results of searches for $B^{0}_{(s)} \rightarrow J/ψ p \overline{p}$ and $B^{+} \to J/ψ p \overline{p} π^{+}$ decays are reported. The analysis is based on a data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions, collected with the LHCb detector. An excess with 2.8$\,σ$ significance is seen for the decay $B^{0}_{s} \to J/ψ p \overline{p}$ and an upper limit on the branching fraction is set at the 90 % confidence level: ${\cal B}(B^{0}_{s} \to J/ψ p \overline{p}) < 4.8 \times 10^{-6}$, which is the first such limit. No significant signals are seen for $B^{0} \to J/ψ p \overline{p}$ and $B^{+} \to J/ψ p \overline{p} π^{+}$ decays, for which the corresponding limits are set: ${\cal{B}}(B^{0} \to J/ψ p \overline{p}) < 5.2 \times 10^{-7}$, which significantly improves the existing limit; and ${\cal{B}}(B^{+} \to J/ψ p \overline{p} π^{+}) < 5.0 \times 10^{-7}$, which is the first limit on this branching fraction.

hep-ex↗

Measurements of indirect CP asymmetries in $D^0\to K^-K^+$ and $D^0\toπ^-π^+$ decays

A study of indirect CP violation in $D^0$ mesons through the determination of the parameter $A_Γ$ is presented using a data sample of $pp$ collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb$^{-1}$, collected with the LHCb detector and recorded at the centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV at the LHC. The parameter $A_Γ$ is the asymmetry of the effective lifetimes measured in decays of $D^0$ and $\bar{D}^0$ mesons to the CP eigenstates $K^-K^+$ and $π^-π^+$. Fits to the data sample yield $A_Γ(KK)=(-0.35\pm0.62\pm0.12)\times 10^{-3}$ and $A_Γ(ππ)=(0.33\pm1.06\pm0.14)\times 10^{-3}$, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The results represent the world's best measurements of these quantities. They show no difference in $A_Γ$ between the two final states and no indication of CP violation.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of the $B_c^+$ meson lifetime using $B_c^+ \to J\!/\!ψμ^+ ν_μ X$ decays

The lifetime of the $B_c^+$ meson is measured using semileptonic decays having a $J\!/\!ψ$ meson and a muon in the final state. The data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $2\mathrm{~fb^{-1}}$, are collected by the LHCb detector in $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $8\,\mathrm{TeV}$. The measured lifetime is $$τ= 509 \pm 8 \pm 12 \mathrm{~fs},$$ where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.

hep-ex↗

Updated measurements of exclusive $J/ψ$ and $ψ(2S)$ production cross-sections in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV

The differential cross-section as a function of rapidity has been measured for the exclusive production of $J/ψ$ and $ψ(2S)$ mesons in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV, using data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 930 pb$^{-1}$. The cross-sections times branching fractions to two muons having pseudorapidities between 2.0 and 4.5 are measured to be $$\begin{array}{rl} σ_{pp\rightarrow J/ψ\rightarrow{μ^+}{μ^-}}(2.0<η_{μ^\pm }<4.5)=&291\pm 7\pm19 {\rm \ pb},\\ σ_{pp\rightarrowψ(2S)\rightarrow{μ^+}{μ^-}}(2.0<η_{μ^\pm}<4.5)=&6.5\pm 0.9\pm 0.4 {\rm \ pb},\end{array}$$ where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The measurements agree with next-to-leading order QCD predictions as well as with models that include saturation effects.

hep-ex↗

Observation of B^0_(s) -> J/ψf_1(1285) decays and measurement of the f_1(1285) mixing angle

Decays of Bs and B0 mesons into J/ψπ+π-π+π- final states, produced in pp collisions at the LHC, are investigated using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3/fb collected with the LHCb detector. B^0_(s) -> Jψf_1(1285) decays are seen for the first time, and the branching fractions are measured. Using these rates, the f_1(1285) mixing angle between strange and non-strange components of its wave function in the q-qbar structure model is determined to be \pm (24.0^{+3.1+0.6}_{-2.6-0.8}) degrees. Implications on the possible tetraquark nature of the f_1(1285) are discussed.

hep-ex↗

Observation of associated production of a $Z$ boson with a $D$ meson in the~forward region

A search for associated production of a $Z$ boson with an open charm meson is presented using a data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $1.0\,\mathrm{fb}^{-`}$ of proton--proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7\,TeV, collected by the LHCb experiment. %% Seven candidate events for associated production of a $Z$ boson with a $D^0$ meson and four candidate events for a $Z$ boson with a $D^+$ meson are observed with a combined significance of 5.1standard deviations. The production cross-sections in the forward region are measured to be $$σ_{Z\rightarrowμ^+μ^-\!,D^0} = 2.50\pm1.12\pm0.22pb$$ $$σ_{Z\rightarrowμ^+μ^-\!,D^+} = 0.44\pm0.23\pm0.03pb,$$ where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of the flavour-specific CP-violating asymmetry $a_{\rm sl}^s$ in $B_s^0$ decays

The CP-violating asymmetry a_{sl}^s is studied using semileptonic decays of Bs and anti-Bs mesons produced in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV at the LHC, exploiting a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0/fb. The reconstructed final states are Ds^(+/-)μ^(-/+), with the Ds^(+/-) particle decaying in the ϕπ^(+/-) mode. The Ds^(+/-)μ^{-/+) yields are summed over Bs and anti-Bs initial states, and integrated with respect to decay time. Data-driven methods are used to measure efficiency ratios. We obtain $a_{sl}^s$ = (-0.06 +/- 0.50 +/- 0.36)%, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

hep-ex↗

Search for CP violation in the decay $D^+ \to π^-π^+π^+$

A search for CP violation in the phase space of the decay $D^+\toπ^-π^+π^+$ is reported using $pp$ collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb$^{-1}$, collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. The Dalitz plot distributions for $3.1\times 10^6$ $D^+$ and $D^-$ candidates are compared with binned and unbinned model-independent techniques. No evidence for CP violation is found.

hep-ex↗

Search for the doubly charmed baryon Xi_cc^+

A search for the doubly charmed baryon Xi_cc^+ in the decay mode Xi_cc^+ -> Lambda_c^+ K^- pi^+ is performed with a data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.65/fb, of pp collisions recorded at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. No significant signal is found in the mass range 3300-3800 MeV/c^2. Upper limits at the 95% confidence level on the ratio of the Xi_cc^+ production cross-section times branching fraction to that of the Lambda_c^+, R, are given as a function of the Xi_cc^+ mass and lifetime. The largest upper limits range from R < 1.5 x 10^-2 for a lifetime of 100 fs to R < 3.9 x 10^-4 for a lifetime of 400 fs.

hep-ex↗

Observation of the decay $B_s^0\to\bar{D}^0ϕ$

First observation of the decay Bs -> D0bar phi is reported using pp collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb^-1, collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. The significance of the signal is 6.2 standard deviations. The branching fraction is measured relative to that of the decay Bs -> D0bar K*0bar to be 0.069 +/- 0.013 (stat) +/- 0.007 (syst). The first measurement of the ratio of branching fractions for the decays Bs -> D0bar K*0bar and Bd->D0bar K*0 is found to be 7.8 +/- 0.7 (stat) +/- 0.3 (syst) +/- 0.6 (f_s/f_d), where the last uncertainty is due to the ratio of the Bs and Bd fragmentation fractions.

hep-ex↗

Search for the decay D0 to π+ π- μ+ μ-

A search for the D0 to π+ π- μ+ μ- decay, where the muon pair does not originate from a resonance, is performed using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb-1 recorded by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. No signal is observed and an upper limit on the relative branching fraction with respect to the resonant decay mode D0 to π+ π- ϕ(to μ+ μ-), under the assumption of a phase-space model, is found to be B(D0 to π+ π- mu+ mu-)/B(D0 to π+ π- ϕ(to μ+ μ-)) < 0.96 at the 90% confidence level. The upper limit on the absolute branching fraction is evaluated to be B(D0 to π+ π- μ+ μ-) < 5.5 x 10-7 at 90% confidence level. This is the most stringent to date.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of the charge asymmetry in $B^{\pm}\rightarrow ϕK^{\pm}$ and search for $B^{\pm}\rightarrow ϕπ^{\pm}$ decays

The \CP-violating charge asymmetry in $B^{\pm}\rightarrow ϕK^{\pm}$ decays is measured in a sample of $pp$ collisions at 7 TeV centre-of-mass energy, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment. The result is $\mathcal{A}_{CP}(B^{\pm}\rightarrow ϕK^{\pm}) = \rm 0.022\pm 0.021 \pm 0.009$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. In addition, a search for the $B^{\pm}\rightarrow ϕπ^{\pm}$ decay mode is performed, using the $B^{\pm}\rightarrow ϕK^{\pm}$ decay rate for normalization. An upper limit on the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}(B^{\pm}\rightarrow ϕπ^{\pm})< 1.5\times 10^{-7}$ is set at 90% confidence level.

hep-ex↗

Study of forward Z+jet production in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV

A measurement of the $Z(\rightarrowμ^+μ^-)$+jet production cross-section in $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV is presented. The analysis is based on an integrated luminosity of $1.0\,\text{fb}^{-1}$ recorded by the LHCb experiment. Results are shown with two jet transverse momentum thresholds, 10 and 20 GeV, for both the overall cross-section within the fiducial volume, and for six differential cross-section measurements. The fiducial volume requires that both the jet and the muons from the Z boson decay are produced in the forward direction ($2.0<η<4.5$). The results show good agreement with theoretical predictions at the second-order expansion in the coupling of the strong interaction.

hep-ex↗