arXiv subjects

M. Boubdir

Publications and source records attributed to M. Boubdir.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2019

Determination of quantum numbers for several excited charmed mesons observed in $B^- \to D^{*+} \pi^- \pi^-$ decays

A four-body amplitude analysis of the $B^- \to D^{*+} \pi^- \pi^-$ decay is performed, where fractions and relative phases of the various resonances contributing to the decay are measured. Several quasi-model-independent analyses are performed aimed at searching for the presence of new states and establishing the quantum numbers of previously observed charmed meson resonances. In particular the resonance parameters and quantum numbers are determined for the $D_1(2420)$, $D_1(2430)$, $D_0(2550)$, $D^*_1(2600)$, $D_2(2740)$ and $D^*_3(2750)$ states. The mixing between the $D_1(2420)$ and $D_1(2430)$ resonances is studied and the mixing parameters are measured. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 4.7 $fb^{-1}$, collected in proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV with the LHCb detector.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Amplitude analysis of the $B^+ \rightarrow \pi^+\pi^+\pi^-$ decay

The results of an amplitude analysis of the charmless three-body decay $B^+ \rightarrow \pi^+\pi^+\pi^-$, in which $C\!P$-violation effects are taken into account, are reported. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3 \text{fb}^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions recorded with the LHCb detector. The most challenging aspect of the analysis is the description of the behaviour of the $\pi^+ \pi^-$ S-wave contribution, which is achieved by using three complementary approaches based on the isobar model, the K-matrix formalism, and a quasi-model-independent procedure. Additional resonant contributions for all three methods are described using a common isobar model, and include the $\rho(770)^0$, $\omega(782)$ and $\rho(1450)^0$ resonances in the $\pi^+\pi^-$ P-wave, the $f_2(1270)$ resonance in the $\pi^+\pi^-$ D-wave, and the $\rho_3(1690)^0$ resonance in the $\pi^+\pi^-$ F-wave. Significant $C\!P$-violation effects are observed in both S- and D-waves, as well as in the interference between the S- and P-waves. The results from all three approaches agree and provide new insight into the dynamics and the origin of $C\!P$-violation effects in $B^+ \rightarrow \pi^+\pi^+\pi^-$ decays.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Observation of several sources of $CP$ violation in $B^+ \to \pi^+ \pi^+ \pi^-$ decays

Observations are reported of different sources of $CP$ violation from an amplitude analysis of $B^+ \to \pi^+ \pi^+ \pi^-$ decays, based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3 \; {\rm fb}^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions recorded with the LHCb detector. A large $CP$ asymmetry is observed in the decay amplitude involving the tensor $f_2(1270)$ resonance, and in addition significant $CP$ violation is found in the $\pi^+ \pi^-$ S-wave at low invariant mass. The presence of $CP$ violation related to interference between the $\pi^+ \pi^-$ S-wave and the P-wave $B^+ \to \rho(770)^0 \pi^+$ amplitude is also established; this causes large local asymmetries but cancels when integrated over the phase space of the decay. The results provide both qualitative and quantitative new insights into $CP$-violation effects in hadronic $B$ decays.

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 $B^+\to J/\psi (e^+e^-)K^+$ 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 lepton-flavour violating decays $B^+ \to K^+ {\mu}^{\pm} e^{\mp}$

A search for the lepton-flavour violating decays $B^+ \to K^+ {\mu}^{\pm} e^{\mp}$ 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 $\mathcal{B}(B^+ \to K^+ {\mu}^- e^+) < 7.0~(9.5) \times 10^{-9}$ and $\mathcal{B}(B^+ \to K^+ {\mu}^+ e^-) < 6.4~(8.8) \times 10^{-9}$ 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

Measurement of psi(2S) production cross-sections in proton-proton collisions at 7 and 13 TeV

The cross-sections of $\psi(2S)$ meson production in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13~\mathrm{TeV}$ are measured with a data sample collected by the LHCb detector corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $275~p\mathrm{b}^{-1}$. The production cross-sections for prompt $\psi(2S)$ mesons and those for $\psi(2S)$ mesons from $b$-hadron decays ($\psi{(2S)}\mathrm{-from-}b$) are determined as functions of the transverse momentum, $p_{\mathrm{T}}$, and the rapidity, $y$, of the $\psi(2S)$ meson in the kinematic range $2<p_{\mathrm{T}}<20~\mathrm{GeV}/c$ and $2.0<y<4.5$. The production cross-sections integrated over this kinematic region are \begin{equation*} \begin{split} \sigma(\mbox{prompt }\psi(2S),13~\mathrm{TeV}) &= {1.430 \pm 0.005(\mathrm{stat}) \pm 0.099 (\mathrm{syst})\mu\mathrm{b}},\\ \sigma(\psi(2S)\mathrm{-from-}b,13~\mathrm{TeV})&={0.426 \pm 0.002(\mathrm{stat}) \pm0.030 (\mathrm{syst})\mu\mathrm{b}}. \end{split} \end{equation*} A new measurement of $\psi(2S)$ production cross-sections in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7~\mathrm{TeV}$ is also performed using data collected in 2011, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $614~{p\mathrm{b}^{-1}}$.The integrated production cross-sections in the kinematic range $3.5<p_{\mathrm{T}}<14~\mathrm{GeV}/c$ and $2.0<y<4.5$ are \begin{equation*} \begin{split} \sigma(\mbox{prompt }\psi(2S),7~\mathrm{TeV}) &={0.471 \pm0.001 (\mathrm{stat}) \pm 0.025 (\mathrm{syst})\mu\mathrm{b}},\\ \sigma(\psi(2S)\mathrm{-from-}b,7~\mathrm{TeV}) &={0.126\pm0.001 (\mathrm{stat}) \pm0.008 (\mathrm{syst})\mu\mathrm{b}}. \end{split} \end{equation*} All results show reasonable agreement with theoretical calculations.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Observation of new resonances in the $\Lambda_{b}^0\pi^+\pi^-$ system

We report the observation of a new structure in the $\Lambda_b^0 \pi^+\pi^-$ spectrum using the full LHCb data set of $pp$ collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$, collected at $\sqrt{s}=7$, 8 and $13\,\mathrm{TeV}$. A study of the structure suggests its interpretation as a superposition of two almost degenerate narrow states. The masses and widths of these states are measured to be \begin{eqnarray*} m_{\Lambda_{b}\mathrm{(6146)}^0} &=&6146.17 \pm 0.33 \pm 0.22 \pm 0.16\,\mathrm{MeV} \,, m_{\Lambda_{b}\mathrm{(6152)}^0} &=&6152.51 \pm 0.26 \pm 0.22 \pm 0.16\,\mathrm{MeV} \,, \Gamma_{\Lambda_{b}\mathrm{(6146)}^0}&=&\phantom{615}2.9\phantom{0}\pm 1.3\phantom{0} \pm 0.3\phantom{0}\,\mathrm{MeV}\,, \Gamma_{\Lambda_{b}\mathrm{(6152)}^0} &=&\phantom{615}2.1\phantom{0}\pm 0.8\phantom{0} \pm 0.3\phantom{0}\,\mathrm{MeV}\,, \end{eqnarray*} with a mass splitting of $\Delta m = 6.34 \pm 0.32 \pm 0.02\,\mathrm{MeV}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third derives from the knowledge of the mass of the $\Lambda_b^0$ baryon. The measured masses and widths of these new excited states suggest their possible interpretation as a doublet of $\Lambda_{b}\mathrm{(1D)}^0$ states.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Measurement of CP violation in the $B_s^0\rightarrow\phi\phi$ decay and search for the $B^0\rightarrow \phi\phi$ decay

A measurement of the time-dependent CP-violating asymmetry in $B_s^0\rightarrow\phi\phi$ decays is presented. Using a sample of proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.0$fb$^{-1}$ collected by the $\mbox{LHCb}$ experiment at centre-of-mass energies $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV in 2011, 8 TeV in 2012 and 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016, a signal yield of around 9000 $B_s^0\rightarrow\phi\phi$ decays is obtained. The CP-violating phase $\phi_s^{s\bar{s}s}$ is measured to be $-0.073 \pm 0.115$(stat)$\pm 0.027$(syst) rad, under the assumption it is independent on the helicity of the $\phi\phi$ decay. In addition, the CP-violating phases of the transverse polarisations under the assumption of CP conservation of the longitudinal phase are measured. The helicity-independent direct CP-violation parameter is also measured, and is found to be $|\lambda|=0.99 \pm 0.05 $(stat)$ \pm 0.01 $(syst). In addition, $T$-odd triple-product asymmetries are measured. The results obtained are consistent with the hypothesis of CP conservation in $b\rightarrow\bar{s}s\bar{s}$ transitions. Finally, a limit on the branching fraction of the $B^0\rightarrow \phi\phi$ decay is determined to be $\mathcal{B}(B^0\rightarrow \phi\phi)<2.7\times 10^{-8}$ at 90% confidence level.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Observation of the $\Lambda_b^0\rightarrow \chi_{c1}(3872)pK^-$ 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 $\Lambda_b^0\to \chi_{c1}(3872)pK^-$ with $\chi_{c1}\to J/\psi\pi^+\pi^-$ 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 $\chi_{c1}(3872)\Lambda(1520)$. The~branching fraction with respect to that of the $\Lambda_b\rightarrow\psi(2S)p K^{-}$ decay mode, where the $\psi(2S)$~meson is reconstructed in the $J/\psi \pi^+\pi^-$ final state, is measured to be: \begin{equation*} \frac{\Lambda_b^0\to\chi_{c1}(3872)pK^-}{\Lambda_b\to\psi(2S)p K^-} \times \frac{\mathcal{B}(\chi_{c1} \to J/\psi \pi^+\pi^-)}{\mathcal{B}(\psi(2S)\to J/\psi \pi^+\pi^-)} = \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

Measurement of $C\!P$ observables in the process $B^0 \to DK^{*0}$ with two- and four-body $D$ decays

Measurements of $C\!P$ observables in $B^0 \to DK^{*0}$ decays are presented, where $D$ represents a superposition of $D^0$ and $\bar{D}^0$ states. The $D$ meson is reconstructed in the two-body final states $K^+\pi^-$, $\pi^+ K^-$, $K^+K^-$ and $\pi^+\pi^-$, and, for the first time, in the four-body final states $K^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-$, $\pi^+ K^-\pi^+\pi^-$ and $\pi^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-$. The analysis uses a sample of neutral $B$ mesons produced in proton-proton collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0, 2.0 and 1.8 $\rm fb^{-1}$ collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of $\sqrt{s} = $ 7, 8 and 13 TeV, respectively. First observations of the decays $B^0 \to D(\pi^+ K^-)K^{*0}$ and $B^0 \to D(\pi^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-)K^{*0}$ are obtained. The measured observables are interpreted in terms of the $C\!P$-violating weak phase $\gamma$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Precision measurement of the $\Lambda_c^+$, $\Xi_c^+$ and $\Xi_c^0$ baryon lifetimes

We report measurements of the lifetimes of the $\Lambda_c^+$, $\Xi_c^+$ and $\Xi_c^0$ charm baryons using proton-proton collision data at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8\tev, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb$^{-1}$, collected by the LHCb experiment. The charm baryons are reconstructed through the decays $\Lambda_c^+\to pK^-\pi^+$, $\Xi_c^+\to pK^-\pi^+$ and $\Xi_c^0\to pK^-K^-\pi^+$, and originate from semimuonic decays of beauty baryons. The lifetimes are measured relative to that of the $D^+$ meson, and are determined to be \begin{align*} \tau_{\Lambda_c^+} &= 203.5\pm1.0\pm1.3\pm1.4~{\rm fs}, \newline \tau_{\Xi_c^+} &= 456.8\pm3.5\pm2.9\pm3.1~{\rm fs}, \newline \tau_{\Xi_c^0} &= 154.5\pm1.7\pm1.6\pm1.0~{\rm fs}, \end{align*} where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the uncertainty in the $D^+$ lifetime. The measurements are approximately 3--4 times more precise than the current world average values. The $\Lambda_c^+$ and $\Xi_c^+$ lifetimes are in agreement with previous measurements; however, the $\Xi_c^0$ baryon lifetime is approximately 3.3 standard deviations larger than the world average value.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Updated measurement of time-dependent $CP$-violating observables in $B^{0}_{s}\to J/\psi K^+ K^-$ decays

The decay-time-dependent $CP$ asymmetry in $B^{0}_{s}\to J/\psi K^{+} K^{-}$ decays is measured using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $1.9\,\mathrm{fb^{-1}}$, collected with the LHCb detector at a centre-of-mass energy of $13\,\mathrm{TeV}$ in 2015 and 2016. Using a sample of approximately 117\,000 signal decays with an invariant $K^{+} K^{-}$ mass in the vicinity of the $\phi(1020)$ resonance, the $CP$-violating phase $\phi_s$ is measured, along with the difference in decay widths of the light and heavy mass eigenstates of the $B^{0}_{s}$-$\bar{B}^{0}_{s}$ system, $\Delta\Gamma_s$. The difference of the average $B^{0}_{s}$ and $B^{0}$ meson decay widths, $\Gamma_s-\Gamma_d$, is determined using in addition a sample of $B^{0} \to J/\psi K^{+} \pi^{-}$ decays. The values obtained are $\phi_s = -0.083\pm0.041\pm0.006\,\mathrm{rad}$, $\Delta\Gamma_s = 0.077 \pm 0.008 \pm 0.003\, \mathrm{ps^{-1}}$ and $\Gamma_s-\Gamma_d = -0.0041 \pm 0.0024 \pm 0.0015\,\mathrm{ps^{-1}}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. These are the most precise single measurements of these quantities to date and are consistent with expectations based on the Standard Model and with a previous LHCb analysis of this decay using data recorded at centre-of-mass energies 7 and 8 TeV. Finally, the results are combined with recent results from $B^{0}_{s}\to J/\psi \pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ decays obtained using the same dataset as this analysis, and with previous independent LHCb results.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Amplitude analysis of $B^\pm \to \pi^\pm K^+ K^-$ decays

The first amplitude analysis of the $B^\pm \to \pi^\pm K^+ K^-$ decay is reported based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions recorded in 2011 and 2012 with the LHCb detector. The data is found to be best described by a coherent sum of five resonant structures plus a nonresonant component and a contribution from $\pi\pi \leftrightarrow KK$ $S$-wave rescattering. The dominant contributions in the $\pi^\pm K^\mp$ and $K^{+}K^{-}$ systems are the nonresonant and the $B^\pm \to \rho(1450)^{0}\pi^{\pm}$ amplitudes, respectively, with fit fractions around $30\%$. For the rescattering contribution, a sizeable fit fraction is observed. This component has the largest $CP$ asymmetry reported to date for a single amplitude of $(-66 \pm 4 \pm 2)\%$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. No significant $CP$ violation is observed in the other contributions.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Amplitude analysis of the $B_{(s)} \to K^{0} \overline{K}^{0}$ decays and measurement of the branching fraction of the $B \to K^{0} \overline{K}^{0}$ decay

The $B^0 \to K^{*0} \overline{K}^{*0}$ and $B^0_s \to K^{*0} \overline{K}^{*0}$ decays are studied using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3fb$^{-1}$. An untagged and time-integrated amplitude analysis of $B^0_{(s)} \to (K^+\pi^-)(K^-\pi^+) $ decays in two-body invariant mass regions of 150 MeV$/c^2$ around the $K^{*0}$ mass is performed. A stronger longitudinal polarisation fraction in the ${B^0 \to K^{*0} \overline{K}^{*0}}$ decay, ${f_L = 0.724 \pm 0.051 \,({\rm stat}) \pm 0.016 \,({\rm syst})}$, is observed as compared to ${f_L = 0.240 \pm 0.031 \,({\rm stat}) \pm 0.025 \,({\rm syst})}$ in the ${B^0_s\to K^{*0} \overline{K}^{*0}}$ decay. The ratio of branching fractions of the two decays is measured and used to determine $\mathcal{B}(B^0 \to K^{*0} \overline{K}^{*0}) = (8.0 \pm 0.9 \,({\rm stat}) \pm 0.4 \,({\rm syst})) \times 10^{-7}$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Search for the lepton-flavour-violating decays $B^{0}_{s}\to\tau^{\pm}\mu^{\mp}$ and $B^{0}\to\tau^{\pm}\mu^{\mp}$

A search for $B^{0}_{s}\to\tau^{\pm}\mu^{\mp}$ and $B^{0}\to\tau^{\pm}\mu^{\mp}$ decays is performed using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions, recorded with the LHCb detector in 2011 and 2012. For this search, the $\tau$ lepton is reconstructed in the $\tau^{-}\to\pi^{-}\pi^{+}\pi^{-}\nu_{\tau}$ channel. No significant signal is observed. Assuming no contribution from $B^{0}\to\tau^{\pm}\mu^{\mp}$ decays, an upper limit is set on the $B^{0}_{s}\to\tau^{\pm}\mu^{\mp}$ branching fraction of $\mathcal{B}\left( B^{0}_{s}\to\tau^{\pm}\mu^{\mp}\right) < 4.2\times 10^{-5}$ at $95\%$ confidence level. If instead no contribution from $B^{0}_{s}\to\tau^{\pm}\mu^{\mp}$ decays is assumed, a limit of $\mathcal{B}\left( B^{0}\to\tau^{\pm}\mu^{\mp}\right) < 1.4\times 10^{-5}$ is obtained at $95\%$ confidence level. These are the first limit on $\mathcal{B}\left( B^{0}_{s}\to\tau^{\pm}\mu^{\mp}\right)$ and the world's best limit on $\mathcal{B}\left( B^{0}\to\tau^{\pm}\mu^{\mp}\right)$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Measurement of $CP$-violating and mixing-induced observables in $B_s^0 \to \phi\gamma$ decays

A time-dependent analysis of the $B_s^0 \to \phi\gamma$ decay rate is performed to determine the $CP$-violating observables $S_{\phi\gamma}$ and $C_{\phi\gamma}$, and the mixing-induced observable $\mathcal{A}^{\Delta}_{\phi\gamma}$. The measurement is based on a sample of $pp$ collision data recorded with the LHCb detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb$^{-1}$ at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The measured values are \begin{align*} S_{\phi\gamma} &= 0.43 \pm 0.30 \pm 0.11, \\ C_{\phi\gamma} &= 0.11 \pm 0.29 \pm 0.11, \\ \mathcal{A}^{\Delta}_{\phi\gamma} &= -0.67 \, ^{+0.37}_{-0.41} \pm 0.17, \end{align*} where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This is the first measurement of the observables $S$ and $C$ in radiative $B_s^0$ decays. The results are consistent with the Standard Model predictions.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

A search for $\it{\Xi}^{++}_{cc} \rightarrow D^{+} p K^{-} \pi^{+}$ decays

A search for the $\it{\Xi}^{++}_{cc}$ baryon through the $\it{\Xi}^{++}_{cc} \rightarrow D^{+} p K^{-} \pi^{+}$ decay is performed with a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.7 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ recorded by the LHCb experiment in $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. No significant signal is observed in the mass range from the kinematic threshold of the decay to 3800 $\mathrm{MeV}/c^{2}$. An upper limit is set on the ratio of branching fractions $\mathcal{R} = \frac{\mathcal{B}(\it{\Xi}^{++}_{cc} \rightarrow D^{+} p K^{-} \pi^{+})}{\mathcal{B}(\it{\Xi}^{++}_{cc} \rightarrow \Lambda^{+}_{c} K^{-} \pi^{+}\pi^{+})}$ with $\mathcal{R} < 1.7 \hspace{2pt} (2.1) \times 10^{-2}$ at the 90% (95%) confidence level at the known mass of the $\it{\Xi}^{++}_{cc}$ state.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Measurement of charged hadron production in $Z$-tagged jets in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV

The production of charged hadrons within jets recoiling against a $Z$ boson is measured in proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV recorded by the LHCb experiment. The charged-hadron structure of the jet is studied longitudinally and transverse to the jet axis for jets with transverse momentum $p_{\mathrm{T}}>20$ GeV and in the pseudorapidity range $2.5<\eta<4$. These are the first measurements of jet hadronization at these forward rapidities and also the first where the jet is produced in association with a $Z$ boson. In contrast to previous hadronization measurements at the Large Hadron Collider, which are dominated by gluon jets, these measurements probe predominantly light-quark jets which are found to be more longitudinally and transversely collimated with respect to the jet axis when compared to the previous gluon dominated measurements. Therefore, these results provide valuable information on differences between quarks and gluons regarding nonperturbative hadronization dynamics.

hep-ex↗