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M. Becker

Publications and source records attributed to M. Becker.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
arXiv2023

Observation of the $B^0_s\rightarrow χ_{c1}(3872)π^+π^-$ decay

The first observation of the $B^0_s \rightarrow \left( χ_{c1}(3872) \rightarrow J/ψπ^+π^-\right) π^+ π^-$ decay is reported using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 1, 2 and 6fb$^{-1}$, collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13TeV, respectively. The ratio of branching fractions relative to the $B^0_s \rightarrow \left( ψ(2S) \rightarrow Jψπ^+π^- \right) π^+ π^-$ decay is measured to be $$ \frac{ \mathcal{B} \left( B^0_s \rightarrow χ_{c1}(3872) π^+π^-\right) \times \mathcal{B} \left( χ_{c1}(3872) \rightarrow Jψπ^+π^-\right)} { \mathcal{B} \left( B^0_s \rightarrow ψ(2S) π^+ π^- \right) \times \mathcal{B} \left( ψ(2S) \rightarrow Jψπ^+π^-\right) } = \left( 6.8 \pm 1.1 \pm 0.2 \right) \times 10^{-2} , $$ where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The mass spectrum of the $π^+π^-$ system recoiling against the $χ_{c1}(3872)$ meson exhibits a large contribution from $B^0_s \rightarrow χ_{c1}(3872) \left( f_0(980) \rightarrow π^+ π^-\right)$ decays.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Study of $B_c^+$ meson decays to charmonia plus multihadron final states

Four decay modes of the $B_c^+$ meson into a $J/ψ$ meson and multiple charged kaons or pions are studied using proton-proton collision data, collected with the~LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13~TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9$~fb$^{-1}$. The decay $B_c^+\to J/ψK^+ K^- π^+ π^+ π^-$ is observed for the first time, and evidence for the $B_c^+\to J/ψ4π^+ 3π^-$ decay is found. The decay $B_c^+\to J/ψ3π^+ 2π^-$ is observedand and the previous observation of the $B_c^+\toψ(2S) π^+ π^+ π^-$ decay is confirmed using the $ψ(2S) \to J/ψπ^+ π^-$ decay mode. Ratios of the branching fractions of these four $B_c^+$ decay channels are measured.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Observation of the $B^+ \rightarrow J/ψη^{\prime} K^+$ decay

The $B^+ \rightarrow J/ψη^{\prime} K^+$ decay is observed for the first time using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13TeV, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 9fb$^{-1}$. The branching fraction of this decay is measured relative to the known branching fraction of the $B^+ \rightarrow ψ(2S) K^+$ decays and found to be $$ \frac{\mathcal{B}( B^+ \rightarrow J/ψη^{\prime}K^+)}{\mathcal{B}( B^+ \rightarrow ψ(2S)K^+)} = \left(4.91\pm 0.47\pm0.29\pm0.07\right)\times10^{-2}, $$ where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic and the third is related to external branching fractions. A first look at the $J/ψη^{\prime}$ mass distribution is performed and no signal of intermediate resonances is observed.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Measurement of lepton universality parameters in $B^+\to K^+\ell^+\ell^-$ and $B^0\to K^{*0}\ell^+\ell^-$ decays

A simultaneous analysis of the $B^+\to K^+\ell^+\ell^-$ and $B^0\to K^{*0}\ell^+\ell^-$ decays is performed to test muon-electron universality in two ranges of the square of the dilepton invariant mass, $q^2$. The measurement uses a sample of beauty meson decays produced in proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector between 2011 and 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9$ $\text{fb}^{-1}$. A sequence of multivariate selections and strict particle identification requirements produce a higher signal purity and a better statistical sensitivity per unit luminosity than previous LHCb lepton universality tests using the same decay modes. Residual backgrounds due to misidentified hadronic decays are studied using data and included in the fit model. Each of the four lepton universality measurements reported is either the first in the given $q^2$ interval or supersedes previous LHCb measurements. The results are compatible with the predictions of the Standard Model.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

First observation of the $B^+ \rightarrow D_s^+ D_s^- K^+$ decay

The $B^+ \rightarrow D_s^+ D_s^- K^+$ decay is observed for the first time using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of $7$, $8$ and $13\, \text{TeV}$, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\,\text{fb}^{-1}$. Its branching fraction relative to that of the $B^{+} \rightarrow D^{+} D^{-} K^{+}$ decay is measured to be $$\frac{B\left(B^{+} \rightarrow D_s^{+} D_s^{-} K^{+}\right)}{B\left(B^{+} \rightarrow D^{+} D^{-} K^{+}\right)}=0.525 \pm 0.033 \pm 0.027 \pm 0.034,$$ where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third is due to the uncertainties on the branching fractions of the $D_s^{\pm} \rightarrow K^{\mp} K^{\pm} π^{\pm}$ and $D^{\pm} \rightarrow K^{\mp} π^{\pm} π^{\pm}$ decays. This measurement fills an experimental gap in the knowledge of the family of Cabibbo$-$favoured $\bar{b} \rightarrow \bar{c} c \bar{s}$ transitions and opens the path for unique studies of spectroscopy in future.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Test of lepton universality in $b \rightarrow s \ell^+ \ell^-$ decays

The first simultaneous test of muon-electron universality using $B^{+}\rightarrow K^{+}\ell^{+}\ell^{-}$ and $B^{0}\rightarrow K^{*0}\ell^{+}\ell^{-}$ decays is performed, in two ranges of the dilepton invariant-mass squared, $q^{2}$. The analysis uses beauty mesons produced in proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector between 2011 and 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. Each of the four lepton universality measurements reported is either the first in the given $q^{2}$ interval or supersedes previous LHCb measurements. The results are compatible with the predictions of the Standard Model.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Dark Energy Survey Year 3 results: simulation-based cosmological inference with wavelet harmonics, scattering transforms, and moments of weak lensing mass maps I: validation on simulations

Beyond-two-point statistics contain additional information on cosmological as well as astrophysical and observational (systematics) parameters. In this methodology paper we provide an end-to-end simulation-based analysis of a set of Gaussian and non-Gaussian weak lensing statistics using detailed mock catalogues of the Dark Energy Survey. We implement: 1) second and third moments; 2) wavelet phase harmonics (WPH); 3) the scattering transform (ST). Our analysis is fully based on simulations, it spans a space of seven $νw$CDM cosmological parameters, and it forward models the most relevant sources of systematics of the data (masks, noise variations, clustering of the sources, intrinsic alignments, and shear and redshift calibration). We implement a neural network compression of the summary statistics, and we estimate the parameter posteriors using a likelihood-free-inference approach. We validate the pipeline extensively, and we find that WPH exhibits the strongest performance when combined with second moments, followed by ST. and then by third moments. The combination of all the different statistics further enhances constraints with respect to second moments, up to 25 per cent, 15 per cent, and 90 per cent for $S_8$, $Ω_{\rm m}$, and the Figure-Of-Merit ${\rm FoM_{S_8,Ω_{\rm m}}}$, respectively. We further find that non-Gaussian statistics improve constraints on $w$ and on the amplitude of intrinsic alignment with respect to second moments constraints. The methodological advances presented here are suitable for application to Stage IV surveys from Euclid, Rubin-LSST, and Roman with additional validation on mock catalogues for each survey. In a companion paper we present an application to DES Year 3 data.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2023

Fraction of $χ_c$ decays in prompt $J/ψ$ production measured in pPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=8.16$ TeV

The fraction of $χ_{c1}$ and $χ_{c2}$ decays in the prompt $J/ψ$ yield, $F_{χc}=σ_{χ_c \to J/ψ}/σ_{J/ψ}$, is measured by the LHCb detector in pPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=8.16$ TeV. The study covers the forward ($1.5<y^*<4.0$) and backward ($-5.0<y^*<-2.5$) rapidity regions, where $y^*$ is the $J/ψ$ rapidity in the nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass system. Forward and backward rapidity samples correspond to integrated luminosities of 13.6 $\pm$ 0.3 nb$^{-1}$ and 20.8 $\pm$ 0.5 nb$^{-1}$, respectively. The result is presented as a function of the $J/ψ$ transverse momentum $p_{T,J/ψ}$ in the range 1$<p_{T, J/ψ}<20$ GeV/$c$. The $F_{χc}$ fraction at forward rapidity is compatible with the LHCb measurement performed in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV, whereas the result at backward rapidity is 2.4 $σ$ larger than in the forward region for $1<p_{T, J/ψ}<3$ GeV/$c$. The increase of $F_{χc}$ at low $p_{T, J/ψ}$ at backward rapidity is compatible with the suppression of the $ψ$(2S) contribution to the prompt $J/ψ$ yield. The lack of in-medium dissociation of $χ_c$ states observed in this study sets an upper limit of 180 MeV on the free energy available in these pPb collisions to dissociate or inhibit charmonium state formation.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Precision measurement of $\it{CP} $ violation in the penguin-mediated decay $B_s^{0}\rightarrowϕϕ$

A flavor-tagged time-dependent angular analysis of the decay $B_s^{0}\rightarrowϕϕ$ is performed using $pp$ collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV, the center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6 fb^{-1}. The $\it{CP}$-violating phase and direct $\it{CP}$-violation parameter are measured to be $ϕ_{s\bar{s}s} = -0.042 \pm 0.075 \pm 0.009 $ rad and $|λ|=1.004\pm 0.030 \pm 0.009 $, respectively, assuming the same values for all polarization states of the $ϕϕ$ system. In these results, the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. These parameters are also determined separately for each polarization state, showing no evidence for polarization dependence. The results are combined with previous LHCb measurements using $pp$ collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, yielding $ϕ_{s\bar{s}s} = -0.074 \pm 0.069 $ rad and $|λ|=1.009 \pm 0.030$. This is the most precise study of time-dependent $\it{CP} $ violation in a penguin-dominated $B$ meson decay. The results are consistent with $\it{CP} $ symmetry and with the Standard Model predictions.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Observation of the decays $B_{(s)}^{0}\to D_{s1}(2536)^{\mp}K^{\pm}$

This paper reports the observation of the decays $B_{(s)}^{0}\to D_{s1}(2536)^{\mp}K^{\pm}$ using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The branching fractions of these decays are measured relative to the normalisation channel $B^{0}\to \overline{D}^{0}K^{+}K^{-}$. The $D_{s1}(2536)^{-}$ meson is reconstructed in the $\overline{D}^{*}(2007)^{0}K^{-}$ decay channel and the products of branching fractions are measured to be $$\mathcal{B}(B_{s}^{0}\to D_{s1}(2536)^{\mp}K^{\pm})\times\mathcal{B}(D_{s1}(2536)^{-}\to\overline{D}^{*}(2007)^{0}K^{-})=(2.49\pm0.11\pm0.12\pm0.25\pm0.06)\times 10^{-5}, $$ $$\mathcal{B}(B^{0}\to D_{s1}(2536)^{\mp}K^{\pm})\times\mathcal{B}(D_{s1}(2536)^{-}\to\overline{D}^{*}(2007)^{0}K^{-}) = (0.510\pm0.021\pm0.036\pm0.050)\times 10^{-5}.$$ The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third arises from the uncertainty of the branching fraction of the $B^{0}\to \overline{D}^{0}K^{+}K^{-}$ normalisation channel. The last uncertainty in the $B_{s}^{0}$ result is due to the limited knowledge of the fragmentation fraction ratio, $f_{s}/f_{d}$. The significance for the $B_{s}^{0}$ and $B^{0}$ signals is larger than $10\,σ$. The ratio of the helicity amplitudes which governs the angular distribution of the $D_{s1}(2536)^{-}\to\overline{D}^{*}(2007)^{0}K^{-}$ decay is determined from the data. The ratio of the $S$- and $D$-wave amplitudes is found to be $1.11\pm0.15\pm 0.06$ and its phase $0.70\pm0.09\pm 0.04$ rad, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Measurement of the $Λ_{b}^{0}\to Λ(1520) μ^{+}μ^{-}$ differential branching fraction

The branching fraction of the rare decay $Λ_{b}^{0}\to Λ(1520) μ^{+}μ^{-}$ is measured for the first time, in the squared dimuon mass intervals, $q^2$, excluding the $J/ψ$ and $ψ(2S)$ regions. The data sample analyzed was collected by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of $9\ \mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The result in the highest $q^{2}$ interval, $q^{2} >15.0\ \mathrm{GeV}^2/c^4$, where theoretical predictions have the smallest model dependence, agrees with the predictions.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Observation of $Ξ_b^0 \rightarrow Ξ_c^+ D_s^-$ and $Ξ_b^- \rightarrow Ξ_c^0 D_s^-$ decays

The $Ξ_b^0 \rightarrow Ξ_c^+ D_s^-$ and $Ξ_b^- \rightarrow Ξ_c^0 D_s^-$ decays are observed for the first time using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13\mathrm{TeV}$, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.1\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The relative branching fractions times the beauty-baryon production cross-sections are measured to be \begin{align*} \mathcal{R}\left(\frac{Ξ_b^0}{Λ_b^0}\right) \equiv \frac{σ\left(Ξ_b^0\right)}{σ\left(Λ_b^0\right)} \times \frac{\mathcal{B}\left(Ξ_b^0 \rightarrow Ξ_c^+ D_s^-\right)}{\mathcal{B}\left(Λ_b^0 \rightarrow Λ_c^0 D_s^-\right)} =(15.8\pm1.1\pm0.6\pm7.7)\%, \mathcal{R}\left(\frac{Ξ_b^-}{Λ_b^0}\right) \equiv \frac{σ\left(Ξ_b^-\right)}{σ\left(Λ_b^0\right)} \times \frac{\mathcal{B}\left(Ξ_b^- \rightarrow Ξ_c^0 D_s^-\right)}{\mathcal{B}\left(Λ_b^0 \rightarrow Λ_c^0 D_s^-\right)} =(16.9\pm1.3\pm0.9\pm4.3)\%, \end{align*} where the first uncertainties are statistical, the second systematic, and the third due to the uncertainties on the branching fractions of relevant charm-baryon decays. The masses of $Ξ_b^0$ and $Ξ_b^-$ baryons are measured to be $m_{Ξ_b^0}=5791.12\pm0.60\pm0.45\pm0.24\mathrm{MeV}/c^2$ and $m_{Ξ_b^-}=5797.02\pm0.63\pm0.49\pm0.29\mathrm{MeV}/c^2$, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and those due to charm-hadron masses, respectively.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Evidence for modification of $b$ quark hadronization in high-multiplicity $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV

The production rate of $B^{0}_{s}$ mesons relative to $B^{0}$ mesons is measured by the LHCb experiment in $pp$ collisions at a center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV over the forward rapidity interval $2<y<4.5$ as a function of the charged particle multiplicity measured in the event. Evidence at the 3.4$σ$ level is found for an increase of the ratio of $B^{0}_{s}$ to $B^{0}$ cross-sections with multiplicity at transverse momenta below 6 GeV/$c$, with no significant multiplicity dependence at higher transverse momentum. Comparison with data from $e^{+}e^{-}$ collisions implies that the density of the hadronic medium may affect the production rates of $B$ mesons. This is qualitatively consistent with the emergence of quark coalescence as an additional hadronization mechanism in high-multiplicity collisions.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Observation and branching fraction measurement of the decay $Ξ_b^-\toΛ_b^0π^-$

The decay $Ξ_b^-\toΛ_b^0π^-$ is observed using a proton-proton collision data sample collected at center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the LHCb detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.5 fb$^{-1}$. This process is mediated by the $s\to u\bar{u}d$ quark-level transition, where the $b$ quark in the $Ξ_b^-$ baryon is a spectator in the decay. Averaging the results obtained using the two $Λ_b^0$ decay modes, $Λ_b^0\toΛ_c^+π^-$ and $Λ_b^0\toΛ_c^+π^-π^+π^-$, the relative production ratio is measured to be $(f_{Ξ_b^-}/f_{Λ_b^0}){\cal{B}}(Ξ_b^-\toΛ_b^0π^-)=(7.3\pm0.8\pm0.6)\times10^{-4}$. Here the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively, and $f_{Ξ_b^-}(f_{Λ_b^0})$ is the fragmentation fraction for a $b$ quark into a $Ξ_b^-$ ($Λ_b^0$) baryon. Using an independent measurement of $f_{Ξ_b^-}/f_{Λ_b^0}$, the branching fraction ${\cal{B}}(Ξ_b^-\toΛ_b^0π^-)=(0.89\pm0.10\pm0.07\pm0.29)\%$ is obtained, where the last uncertainty is due to the assumed SU(3) flavor symmetry in the determination of $f_{Ξ_b^-}/f_{Λ_b^0}$.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Study of the Bose-Einstein correlations of same-sign pions in proton-lead collisions

Correlations of same-sign charged particles are analysed using proton-lead collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.06 nb-1. Bose-Einstein correlations are observed in the form of an enhancement of pair production for same-sign charged pions with a small four-momentum difference squared. The dependence of the correlation radius and the intercept parameter on the reconstructed charged-particle multiplicity is investigated. The measured correlation radii scale linearly with the cube root of the reconstructed charged-particle multiplicity, being compatible with predictions of hydrodynamic models on the collision system evolution.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Measurements of $CP$ asymmetries and branching fraction ratios of $B^-$ decays to two charm mesons

The $CP$ asymmetries of seven $B^-$ decays to two charm mesons are measured using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\text{ fb}^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions collected by the LHCb experiment. Decays involving a $D^{*0}$ or $D^{*-}_s$ meson are analysed by reconstructing only the $D^0$ or $D^-_s$ decay products. This paper presents the first measurement of $\mathcal{A}^{CP}(B^- \rightarrow D^{*-}_s D^0)$ and $\mathcal{A}^{CP}(B^- \rightarrow D^{-}_s D^{*0})$, and the most precise measurement of the other five $CP$ asymmetries. There is no evidence of $CP$ violation in any of the analysed decays. Additionally, two ratios between branching fractions of selected decays are measured.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Inclusive e$^+$e$^-$ production in collisions of pions with protons and nuclei in the second resonance region of baryons

Inclusive e$^+$e$^-$ production has been studied with HADES in $π^-$ + p, $π^-$ + C and $π^- + \mathrm{CH}_2$ reactions, using the GSI pion beam at $\sqrt{s_{πp}}$ = 1.49 GeV. Invariant mass and transverse momentum distributions have been measured and reveal contributions from Dalitz decays of $π^0$, $η$ mesons and baryon resonances. The transverse momentum distributions are very sensitive to the underlying kinematics of the various processes. The baryon contribution exhibits a deviation up to a factor seven from the QED reference expected for the dielectron decay of a hypothetical point-like baryon with the production cross section constrained from the inverse $γ$ n$\rightarrow π^-$ p reaction. The enhancement is attributed to a strong four-momentum squared dependence of the time-like electromagnetic transition form factors as suggested by Vector Meson Dominance (VMD). Two versions of the VMD, that differ in the photon-baryon coupling, have been applied in simulations and compared to data. VMD1 (or two-component VMD) assumes a coupling via the $ρ$ meson and a direct coupling of the photon, while in VMD2 (or strict VMD) the coupling is only mediated via the $ρ$ meson. The VMD2 model, frequently used in transport calculations for dilepton decays, is found to overestimate the measured dielectron yields, while a good description of the data can be obtained with the VMD1 model assuming no phase difference between the two amplitudes. Similar descriptions have also been obtained using a time-like baryon transition form factor model where the pion cloud plays the major role.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv2023

Associated production of prompt $J/ψ$ and $\mathitΥ$ mesons in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13\,\mathrm{TeV}$

The associated production of prompt $J/ψ$ and $\mathit{\mathitΥ}$ mesons in $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13\,\mathrm{TeV}$ is studied using LHCb data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $4\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The measurement is performed for $J/ψ$ ($\mathitΥ$) mesons with a transverse momentum $p_{\mathrm{T}}<10\,(30)\,\mathrm{GeV}/c$ in the rapidity range $2.0<y<4.5$. In this kinematic range, the cross-section of the associated production of prompt $J/ψ$ and $\mathitΥ(1S)$ mesons is measured to be $133 \pm 22 \pm 7 \pm 3 \, \mathrm{pb}$, with a significance of $7.9\,σ$, and that of prompt $J/ψ$ and $\mathitΥ(2S)$ mesons to be $76\pm 21 \pm 4 \pm 7 \, \mathrm{pb}$, with a significance of $4.9\,σ$. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third due to uncertainties on the used branching fractions. This is the first observation of the associated production of $J/ψ$ and $\mathitΥ(1S)$ in proton-proton collisions. Differential cross-sections are measured as functions of variables that are sensitive to kinematic correlations between the $J/ψ$ and $\mathitΥ(1S)$ mesons. The effective cross-sections of the associated production of prompt $J/ψ$ and $\mathitΥ$ mesons are obtained and found to be compatible with measurements using other particle productions.

hep-ex↗