arXiv subjects

M. Becker

Publications and source records attributed to M. Becker.

At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

Precision measurement of the $Ξ_{cc}^{++}$ mass

A measurement of the $Ξ_{cc}^{++}$ mass is performed using data collected by the LHCb experiment between 2016 and 2018 in $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.6 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The $Ξ_{cc}^{++}$ candidates are reconstructed via the decay modes $Ξ_{cc}^{++}\toΛ_c^+K^-π^+π^+$ and $Ξ_{cc}^{++}\toΞ_c^+π^+$. The result, $3621.55 \pm 0.23{\rm\,(stat)\,} \pm 0.30 {\rm\,(syst)\,}{\rm MeV}/c^2$, is the most precise measurement of the $Ξ_{cc}^{++}$ mass to date.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

Measurement of $\mathitΞ_{cc}^{++}$ production in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV

The production of $\mathitΞ_{cc}^{++}$ baryons in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV is measured in the transverse-momentum range $4<p_\mathrm{T}<15~\mathrm{GeV}$/$c$ and the rapidity range $2.0<y<4.5$. The data used in this measurement correspond to an integrated luminosity of 1.7 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$, recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2016. The ratio of the $\mathitΞ_{cc}^{++}$ production cross-section times the branching fraction of the $\mathit{Ξ_{cc}^{++} \to Λ_{c}^{+} K^- π^+ π^+}$ decay relative to the prompt $\mathit{Λ_c^{+}}$ production cross-section is found to be $(2.22\pm 0.27 \pm 0.29)\times 10^{-4}$, assuming the central value of the measured $\mathit{Ξ_{cc}^{++}}$ lifetime, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

Search for $A'\!\to\!μ^+μ^-$ decays

Searches are performed for both prompt-like and long-lived dark photons, $A'$, produced in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. These searches look for $A'\!\to\!μ^+μ^-$ decays using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.5/fb collected with the LHCb detector. Neither search finds evidence for a signal, and 90% confidence-level exclusion limits are placed on the $γ$-$A'$ kinetic-mixing strength. The prompt-like $A'$ search explores the mass region from near the dimuon threshold up to 70 GeV, and places the most stringent constraints to date on dark photons with $214 < m(A') \lesssim 740$ MeV and $10.6 < m(A') \lesssim 30$ GeV. The search for long-lived $A'\!\to\!μ^+μ^-$ decays places world-leading constraints on low-mass dark photons with lifetimes $\mathcal{O}(1)$ ps.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

Updated measurement of decay-time-dependent CP asymmetries in $D^0 \to K^+K^-$ and $D^0 \to π^+π^-$ decays

A search for decay-time-dependent charge-parity ($CP$) asymmetry in $D^0 \to K^+K^-$ and $D^0 \to π^+π^-$ decays is performed at the LHCb experiment using proton-proton collision data recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 13TeV, and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4fb$^{-1}$. The $D^0$ mesons are required to originate from semileptonic decays of $b$ hadrons, such that the charge of the muon identifies the flavor of the neutral $D$ meson at production. The asymmetries in the effective decay widths of $D^0$ and $\overline{D}^0$ mesons are determined to be $A_Γ(K^+K^-) = ( -4.3 \pm 3.6 \pm 0.5 )\times 10^{-4}$ and $A_Γ(π^+π^-) = ( 2.2 \pm 7.0 \pm 0.8)\times 10^{-4}$, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. The results are consistent with $CP$ symmetry and, when combined with previous LHCb results, yield $A_Γ(K^+K^-) = ( -4.4 \pm 2.3 \pm 0.6 )\times 10^{-4}$ and $A_Γ(π^+π^-) = ( 2.5 \pm 4.3 \pm 0.7)\times 10^{-4}$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Measurement of the $B_c^-$ meson production fraction and asymmetry in 7 and 13 TeV $pp$ collisions

The production fraction of the $B_c^-$ meson with respect to the sum of $B^-$ and $\bar{B}^0$ mesons is measured in both 7 and 13 TeV center-of-mass energy $pp$ collisions produced by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), using the LHCb detector. The rate, approximately 3.7 per mille, does not change with energy, but shows a transverse momentum dependence. The $B_c^- - B_c^+$ production asymmetry is also measured, and is consistent with zero within the determined statistical and systematic uncertainties of a few percent.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Measurement of the electron reconstruction efficiency at LHCb

The single electron track-reconstruction efficiency is calibrated using a sample corresponding to $1.3~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$of $pp$ collision data recorded with the LHCb detector in 2017. This measurement exploits $B^+\to J/ψ(e^+e^-)K^+$ decays, where one of the electrons is fully reconstructed and paired with the kaon, while the other electron is reconstructed using only the information of the vertex detector. Despite this partial reconstruction, kinematic and geometric constraints allow the $B^+$-meson mass to be reconstructed and the signal to be well separated from backgrounds. This in turn allows the electron reconstruction efficiency to be measured by matching the partial track segment found in the vertex detector to tracks found by LHCb's regular reconstruction algorithms. The agreement between data and simulation is evaluated, and corrections are derived for simulated electrons in bins of kinematics. These correction factors allow LHCb to measure branching fractions involving single electrons with a systematic uncertainty below $1\%$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Search for the doubly charmed baryon $Ξ_{cc}^{+}$

A search for the doubly charmed baryon $Ξ_{cc}^{+}$ is performed through its decay to the $Λ_c^+ K^- π^+$ final state, using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13$\mathrm{\,Te\kern -0.1em V}$. The data correspond to a total integrated luminosity of $9\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. No significant signal is observed in the mass range from 3.4 to 3.8$\mathrm{\,Ge\kern -0.1em V}/c^2$. Upper limits are set at $95\%$ credibility level on the ratio of the $Ξ_{cc}^{+}$ production cross-section times the branching fraction to that of $Λ_c^+$ and $Ξ_{cc}^{++}$ baryons. The limits are determined as functions of the $Ξ_{cc}^{+}$ mass for different lifetime hypotheses, in the rapidity range from 2.0 to 4.5 and the transverse momentum range from 4 to 15$\mathrm{\,Ge\kern -0.1em V}/c$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

New data on $\vecγ \vec{p}\rightarrow ηp$ with polarized photons and protons and their implications for $N^* \to Nη$ decays

The polarization observables $T, E, P, H$, and $G$ in photoproduction of $η$ mesons off protons are measured for photon energies from threshold to $W=2400\,$MeV ($T$), 2280 MeV ($E$), 1620 MeV ($P, H$), or 1820 MeV ($G$), covering nearly the full solid angle. The data are compared to predictions from the SAID, MAID, JüBo, and BnGa partial-wave analyses. A refit within the BnGa approach including further data yields precise branching ratios for the $Nη$ decay of nucleon resonances. A $Nη$-branching ratio of $0.33\pm 0.04$ for $N(1650)1/2^-$ is found, which reduces the large and controversially discussed $Nη$-branching ratio difference of the two lowest mass $J^P=1/2^-$-resonances significantly.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2019

Observation of the $Λ_b^0\rightarrow χ_{c1}(3872)pK^-$ decay

Using proton-proton collision data, collected with the LHCb detector and corresponding to 1.0, 2.0 and 1.9fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity at the centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, respectively, the decay $Λ_b^0\to χ_{c1}(3872)pK^-$ with $χ_{c1}\to J/ψπ^+π^-$ is observed for the first time. The significance of the observed signal is in excess of seven standard deviations. It is found that $(58\pm15)\%$ of the decays proceed via the two-body intermediate state $χ_{c1}(3872)Λ(1520)$. The~branching fraction with respect to that of the $Λ_b\rightarrowψ(2S)p K^{-}$ decay mode, where the $ψ(2S)$~meson is reconstructed in the $J/ψπ^+π^-$ final state, is measured to be: \begin{equation*} \frac{Λ_b^0\toχ_{c1}(3872)pK^-}{Λ_b\toψ(2S)p K^-} \times \frac{\mathcal{B}(χ_{c1} \to J/ψπ^+π^-)}{\mathcal{B}(ψ(2S)\to J/ψπ^+π^-)} = \left(5.4 \pm 1.1 \pm 0.2\right)\times 10^{-2}\,, \end{equation*} where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Search for the lepton-flavour violating decays $B^+ \to K^+ μ^{\pm} e^{\mp}$

A search for the lepton-flavour violating decays $B^+ \to K^+ μ^{\pm} e^{\mp}$ is performed using a sample of proton-proton collision data, collected with the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of $7$ and $8~{\rm TeV}$ and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3$\rm~fb^{-1}$. No significant signal is observed, and upper limits on the branching fractions are set as $\mathcal{B}(B^+ \to K^+ μ^- e^+) < 7.0~(9.5) \times 10^{-9}$ and $\mathcal{B}(B^+ \to K^+ μ^+ e^-) < 6.4~(8.8) \times 10^{-9}$ at 90 (95) % confidence level. The results improve the current best limits on these decays by more than one order of magnitude.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Josephson junctions and SQUIDs created by focused helium ion beam irradiation of YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_7$

By scanning with a $30\, \mathrm{keV}$ focused He ion beam (He-FIB) across YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_7$ (YBCO) thin film microbridges, we create Josephson barriers with critical current density $j_\mathrm{c}$ adjustable by irradiation dose $D$. The dependence $j_\mathrm{c} (D)$ yields an exponential decay. At $4.2\, \mathrm{K}$, a transition from flux-flow to Josephson behavior occurs when $j_\mathrm{c}$ decreases below $\approx 2\, \mathrm{MA/cm^2}$. The Josephson junctions exhibit current-voltage characteristics (IVCs) that are well described by the resistively and capacitively shunted junction model, without excess current for characteristic voltages $V_\mathrm{c} \lesssim 1\, \mathrm{mV}$. Devices on MgO and LSAT substrates show non-hysteretic IVCs, while devices on SrTiO$_3$ show a small hysteresis. For all junctions an approximate scaling $V_\mathrm{c} \propto j_\mathrm{c}^{1/2}$ is found. He-FIB irradiation with high dose produces barriers with $j_\mathrm{c}=0$ and high resistances of $10\, \mathrm{kΩ} \ldots 1\, \mathrm{GΩ}$. This provides the possibility to write highly resistive walls or areas into YBCO using a He-FIB. Transmission electron microscopy reveals an amorphous phase within the walls, whereas for lower doses the YBCO stays crystalline. We have also ``drawn'' superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) by using a He-FIB for definition of the SQUID hole and the junctions. The SQUIDs show high performance, with flux noise $< 500\, \mathrm{n Φ_0/Hz^{1/2}}$ in the thermal white noise limit for a device with $19\, \mathrm{pH}$ inductance.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

The η'-carbon potential at low meson momenta

The production of $η^\prime$ mesons in coincidence with forward-going protons has been studied in photon-induced reactions on $^{12}$C and on a liquid hydrogen (LH$_2$) target for incoming photon energies of 1.3-2.6 GeV at the electron accelerator ELSA. The $η^\prime$ mesons have been identified via the $η^\prime\rightarrow π^0 π^0η\rightarrow 6 γ$ decay registered with the CBELSA/TAPS detector system. Coincident protons have been identified in the MiniTAPS BaF$_2$ array at polar angles of $2^{\circ} \le θ_{p} \le 11^{\circ}$. Under these kinematic constraints the $η^\prime$ mesons are produced with relatively low kinetic energy ($\approx$ 150 MeV) since the coincident protons take over most of the momentum of the incident-photon beam. For the C-target this allows the determination of the real part of the $η^\prime$-carbon potential at low meson momenta by comparing with collision model calculations of the $η^\prime$ kinetic energy distribution and excitation function. Fitting the latter data for $η^\prime$ mesons going backwards in the center-of-mass system yields a potential depth of V = $-$(44 $\pm$ 16(stat)$\pm$15(syst)) MeV, consistent with earlier determinations of the potential depth in inclusive measurements for average $η^\prime$ momenta of $\approx$ 1.1 GeV/$c$. Within the experimental uncertainties, there is no indication of a momentum dependence of the $η^\prime$-carbon potential. The LH$_2$ data, taken as a reference to check the data analysis and the model calculations, provide differential and integral cross sections in good agreement with previous results for $η^\prime$ photoproduction off the free proton.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2018

Coexistence of weak and strong coupling with a quantum dot in a photonic molecule

We study the emission from a molecular photonic cavity formed by two proximal photonic crystal defect cavities containing a small number (<3) of In(Ga)As quantum dots. Under strong excitation we observe photoluminescence from the bonding and antibonding modes in excellent agreement with expectations from numerical simulations. Power dependent measurements reveal an unexpected peak, emerging at an energy between the bonding and antibonding modes of the molecule. Temperature dependent measurements show that this unexpected feature is photonic in origin. Time-resolved measurements show the emergent peak exhibits a lifetime $τ_M=0.75 \, \pm 0.1 \, ns $, similar to both bonding and antibonding coupled modes. Comparison of experimental results with theoretical expectations reveal that this new feature arises from a coexistence of weak- and strong-coupling, due to the molecule emitting in an environment whose configuration permits or, on the contrary, impedes its strong-coupling. This scenario is reproduced theoretically for our particular geometry with a master equation reduced to the key ingredients of its dynamics. Excellent qualitative agreement is obtained between experiment and theory, showing how solid-state cavity QED can reveal new regimes of light-matter interaction.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Momentum dependence of the imaginary part of the $ω$- and $η^\prime$-nucleus optical potential

The photoproduction of $ω$ and $η^\prime$ mesons off carbon and niobium nuclei has been measured as a function of the meson momentum for incident photon energies of 1.2-2.9 GeV at the electron accelerator ELSA. The mesons have been identified via the $ω\rightarrow π^0 γ\rightarrow 3 γ$ and $η^\prime\rightarrow π^0 π^0η\rightarrow 6 γ$ decays, respectively, registered with the CBELSA/TAPS detector system. From the measured meson momentum distributions the momentum dependence of the transparency ratio has been determined for both mesons. Within a Glauber analysis the in-medium $ω$ and $η^\prime$ widths and the corresponding absorption cross sections have been deduced as a function of the meson momentum. The results are compared to recent theoretical predictions for the in-medium $ω$ width and $η^\prime$-N absorption cross sections. The energy dependence of the imaginary part of the $ω$- and $η^\prime$-nucleus optical potential has been extracted. The finer binning of the present data compared to the existing data allows a more reliable extrapolation towards the production threshold. The modulus of the imaginary part of the $η^\prime$ nucleus potential is found to be about three times smaller than recently determined values of the real part of the $η^\prime$-nucleus potential, which makes the $η^\prime$ meson a suitable candidate for the search for meson-nucleus bound states. For the $ω$ meson, the modulus of the imaginary part near threshold is comparable to the modulus of the real part of the potential. As a consequence, only broad structures can be expected which makes the observation of $ω$ mesic states very difficult experimentally.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2016

Determination of the real part of the η'-Nb optical potential

The excitation function and momentum distribution of η' mesons have been measured in photoproduction off 93^Nb in the energy range of 1.2-2.9 GeV. The experiment has been performed with the combined Crystal Barrel and MiniTAPS detector system, using tagged photon beams from the ELSA electron accelerator. Information on the sign and magnitude of the real part of the η'-Nb potential has been extracted from a comparison of the data with model calculations. An attractive potential of -(41 \pm 10(stat) \pm 15(syst)) MeV depth at normal nuclear matter density is deduced within model uncertainties. This value is consistent with the potential depth of -(37 \pm 10(stat) \pm 10(syst)) MeV obtained in an earlier measurement for a light nucleus (carbon). This relatively shallow η'-nucleus potential will make the search for η'-nucleus bound states more difficult.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2015

Strangeness Photoproduction at the BGO-OD Experiment

BGO-OD is a newly commissioned experiment to investigate the internal structure of the nucleon, using an energy tagged bremsstrahlung photon beam at the ELSA electron facility. The setup consists of a highly segmented BGO calorimeter surrounding the target, with a particle tracking magnetic spectrometer at forward angles. BGO-OD is ideal for investigating meson photoproduction. The extensive physics programme for open strangeness photoproduction is introduced, and preliminary analysis presented.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2015

The polarization observables T, P, and H and their impact on $γp \to pπ^0$ multipoles

Data on the polarization observables T, P, and H for the reaction $γp\to pπ^0$ are reported. Compared to earlier data from other experiments, our data are more precise and extend the covered range in energy and angle substantially. The results were extracted from azimuthal asymmetries measured using a transversely polarized target and linearly polarized photons. The data were taken at the Bonn electron stretcher accelerator ELSA with the CBELSA/TAPS detector. Within the Bonn-Gatchina partial wave analysis, the new polarization data lead to a significant narrowing of the error band for the multipoles for neutral-pion photoproduction.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2014

The N(1520) 3/2- helicity amplitudes from an energy-independent multipole analysis based on new polarization data on photoproduction of neutral pions

New data on the polarization observables T, P, and H for the reaction $γp \to pπ^0$ are reported. The results are extracted from azimuthal asymmetries when a transversely polarized butanol target and a linearly polarized photon beam are used. The data were taken at the Bonn electron stretcher accelerator ELSA using the CBELSA/TAPS detector. These and earlier data are used to perform a truncated energy-independent partial wave analysis in sliced-energy bins. This energy-independent analysis is compared to the results from energy-dependent partial wave analyses.

nucl-ex↗