arXiv subjects

N. Akopov

Publications and source records attributed to N. Akopov.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

A calibration of the Belle II hadronic tag-side reconstruction algorithm with $B \rightarrow X\ell ν$ decays

Tag-side reconstruction is an important method for reconstructing $B$ meson decays with missing energy. The Belle II tag-side reconstruction algorithm, Full Event Interpretation, relies on a hierarchical reconstruction of $B$ meson decays with multivariate classification employed at each stage of reconstruction. Given the large numbers of classifiers employed and decay chains reconstructed, the performance of the algorithm on data and simulation differs significantly. Here, calibration factors are derived for hadronic tag-side $B$ decays by measuring a signal side decay, $B \rightarrow X\ell ν$, in $34.6$ fb$^{-1}$ of Belle II data. For a very loose selection on the tag-side $B$ multivariate classifier, the calibration factors are $0.65 \pm 0.02$ and $0.83 \pm 0.03$ for tag-side $B^{+}$ and $B^{0}$ mesons, respectively.

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arXiv2020

Rediscovery of $B \to ϕK^{()}$ decays and measurement of the longitudinal polarization fraction $f_L$ in $B \to ϕK^{}$ decays using the Summer 2020 Belle II dataset

We utilize a sample of 34.6 fb$^{-1}$, collected by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB asymmetric energy $e^+e^-$ collider, to search for the $B^+ \to ϕK^+$, $B^+ \to ϕK^{*+}$, $B^0 \to ϕK^0_S$, and $B^0 \to ϕK^{*0}$ decays. Charmless hadronic $B$ decays represent an important part of the Belle II physics program, and are an ideal benchmark to test the detector capabilities in terms of tracking efficiency, charged particle identification, vertexing, and advanced analysis techniques. Each channel is observed with a significance that exceeds 5 standard deviations, and we obtain measurements of their branching ratios that are in good agreement with the world averages. For the $B \to ϕK^*$ modes, we also perform a measurement of the longitudinal polarization fraction $f_L$.

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arXiv2020

First flavor tagging calibration using 2019 Belle II data

We report on the first calibration of the standard Belle II $B$-flavor tagger using the full data set collected at the $Υ(4{\rm S})$ resonance in 2019 with the Belle II detector at the SuperKEKB collider, corresponding to 8.7 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. The calibration is performed by reconstructing various hadronic charmed $B$-meson decays with flavor-specific final states. We use simulation to optimize our event selection criteria and to train the flavor tagging algorithm. We determine the tagging efficiency and the fraction of wrongly identified tag-side $B$~candidates from a measurement of the time-integrated $B^0-\overline{B}^0$ mixing probability. The total effective efficiency is measured to be $\varepsilon_{\rm eff} = \big(33.8 \pm 3.6(\text{stat}) \pm 1.6(\text{sys})\big)\%$, which is in good agreement with the predictions from simulation and comparable with the best one obtained by the Belle experiment. The results show a good understanding of the detector performance and offer a basis for future calibrations.

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arXiv2020

Azimuthal single- and double-spin asymmetries in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic lepton scattering by transversely polarized protons

A comprehensive set of azimuthal single-spin and double-spin asymmetries in semi-inclusive leptoproduction of pions, charged kaons, protons, and antiprotons from transversely polarized protons is presented. These asymmetries include the previously published HERMES results on Collins and Sivers asymmetries, the analysis of which has been extended to include protons and antiprotons and also to an extraction in a three-dimensional kinematic binning and enlarged phase space. They are complemented by corresponding results for the remaining four single-spin and four double-spin asymmetries allowed in the one-photon-exchange approximation of the semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering process for target-polarization orientation perpendicular to the direction of the incoming lepton beam. Among those results, significant non-vanishing $\cos{ϕ-ϕ_S}$ modulations provide evidence for a sizable worm-gear (II) distribution, $g_{1T}$. Most of the other modulations are found to be consistent with zero with the notable exception of large $\sin{ϕ_S}$ modulations for charged pions and positive kaons.

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arXiv2020

Measurement of the branching fraction ${\cal B}(\bar B^0\to D^{*+}\ell^-\barν_\ell)$ with early Belle II data

We measure the branching fractions for the decays $\bar{B}^0 \to D^{*+} e^{-} \barν_e$ and $\bar{B}^0 \to D^{*+} μ^{-} \barν_μ$ using $8.70 \pm 0.09~{\rm fb}^{-1}$ of data collected by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+ e^-$ collider. Candidate signal decays are reconstructed with the subsequent decays $D^{*+}\to D^0 π^+$ and $D^0\to K^-π^+$. We obtain the results ${\cal B}(\bar{B}^0 \to D^{*+} e^{-} \barν_e)$ = $(4.55\pm0.14(\mathrm{stat})\pm0.35 (\mathrm{syst})) \%$ and ${\cal B}(\bar{B}^0 \to D^{*+} μ^{-} \barν_μ)$ = $(4.84\pm 0.13(\mathrm{stat})\pm0.37(\mathrm{syst})) \%$, in agreement with the world averages. The measurements serve to validate the full chain of detector operation and calibration, data collection and processing, and production of physics results in the case of semileptonic $B$-meson decays.

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arXiv2020

Charmless $B$ decay reconstruction in 2019 Belle II data

We report on the reconstruction of various charmless $B$ decays from electron-positron collisions at the energy corresponding to the $Υ(4S)$ resonance collected with the Belle II detector at the SuperKEKB collider. We use simulation to devise optimized event selections and apply them to the full data set collected in 2019, corresponding to 8.7\,fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. We fit the difference between half of the collision energy and the $B$ candidate energy (in the $Υ(4S)$ frame) for events restricted to a signal-rich range in beam-energy-constrained mass to search for charmless signals. Signal yields of approximately 80, 15, 20, 30, 90, and 160 decays are reconstructed for the channels $B^0 \to K^+π^-$, $B^0 \to π^+π^-$, $B^+ \to K^0_S(\to π^+π^-)π^+$, $B^+ \to K^+π^0(\to γγ)$, $B^+ \to K^+K^-K^+$, and $B^+ \to K^+π^-π^+$, respectively. Yields and background contaminations are compatible with those expected from simulation and comparable with those obtained by the Belle experiment. The results show a good understanding of the detector performance and offer a reliable basis to assess projections for future reach.

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arXiv2020

Measurement of the $B^0$ lifetime using fully reconstructed hadronic decays in the 2019 Belle II dataset

This document presents the measurement of $B^0$ meson lifetimes using the 2019 Belle II dataset that corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $8.7 \pm 0.2$ fb$^{-1}$. Each candidate is fully reconstructed with hadronic decay final states on the signal side, while the rest-of-event technique allows to infer the decay vertex position on the other (tag) side. $B^0$ lifetime is extracted from an unbinned maximum likelihood fit to the distribution of the difference between the signal side $B^0$ candidate and the tag side decay times. The measured lifetime is $τ_{B^0} = 1.48 \pm 0.28 \pm 0.06 $ ps, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.

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arXiv2020

Search for an invisibly decaying $Z^{\prime}$ boson at Belle II in $e^+ e^- \to μ^+ μ^- (e^{\pm} μ^{\mp})$ plus missing energy final states

Theories beyond the standard model often predict the existence of an additional neutral boson, the $Z^{\prime}$. Using data collected by the Belle II experiment during 2018 at the SuperKEKB collider, we perform the first searches for the invisible decay of a $Z^{\prime}$ in the process $e^+ e^- \to μ^+ μ^- Z^{\prime}$ and of a lepton-flavor-violating $Z^{\prime}$ in $e^+ e^- \to e^{\pm} μ^{\mp} Z^{\prime}$. We do not find any excess of events and set 90\% credibility level upper limits on the cross sections of these processes. We translate the former, in the framework of an $L_μ-L_τ$ theory, into upper limits on the $Z^{\prime}$ coupling constant at the level of $5 \times 10^{-2}$ -- $1$ $M_{Z^\prime}\leq 6$ GeV/$c^2$.

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arXiv2019

Measurement of the integrated luminosity of the Phase 2 data of the Belle II experiment

From April to July 2018, a data sample at the peak energy of the $Υ(4S)$ resonance was collected with the Belle~II detector at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider. This is the first data sample of the Belle~II experiment. Using Bhabha and digamma events, we measure the integrated luminosity of the data sample to be ($496.3 \pm 0.3 \pm 3.0$)~pb$^{-1}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. This work provides a basis for future luminosity measurements at Belle~II.

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arXiv2019

Beam-helicity asymmetries for single-hadron production in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering from unpolarized hydrogen and deuterium targets

A measurement of beam-helicity asymmetries for single-hadron production in deep-inelastic scattering is presented. Data from the scattering of 27.6 GeV electrons and positrons off gaseous hydrogen and deuterium targets were collected by the HERMES experiment. The asymmetries are presented separately as a function of the Bjorken scaling variable, the hadron transverse momentum, and the fractional energy for charged pions and kaons as well as for protons and anti-protons. These asymmetries are also presented as a function of the three aforementioned kinematic variables simultaneously.

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arXiv2018

Longitudinal double-spin asymmetries in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering of electrons and positrons by protons and deuterons

A comprehensive collection of results on longitudinal double-spin asymmetries is presented for charged pions and kaons produced in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering of electrons and positrons on the proton and deuteron, based on the full HERMES data set. The dependence of the asymmetries on hadron transverse momentum and azimuthal angle extends the sensitivity to the flavor structure of the nucleon beyond the distribution functions accessible in the collinear framework. No strong dependence on those variables is observed. In addition, the hadron charge-difference asymmetry is presented, which under certain model assumptions provides access to the helicity distributions of valence quarks.

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arXiv2017

Ratios of helicity amplitudes for exclusive $ρ^0$ electroproduction on transversely polarized protons

Exclusive $ρ^0$-meson electroproduction is studied by the HERMES experiment, using the 27.6 GeV longitudinally polarized electron/positron beam of HERA and a transversely polarized hydrogen target, in the kinematic region 1.0 GeV$^2$<Q$^2$<7.0 GeV$^2$, 3.0 GeV<W<6.3 GeV, and -t'<0.4 GeV$^2$. Using an unbinned maximum-likelihood method, 25 parameters are extracted. These determine the real and imaginary parts of the ratios of several helicity amplitudes describing $ρ^0$-meson production by a virtual photon. The denominator of those ratios is the dominant amplitude, the nucleon-helicity-non-flip amplitude $F_{0\frac{1}{2}0\frac{1}{2}}$, which describes the production of a longitudinal $ρ^{0}$-meson by a longitudinal virtual photon. The ratios of nucleon-helicity-non-flip amplitudes are found to be in good agreement with those from the previous HERMES analysis. The transverse target polarization allows for the first time the extraction of ratios of a number of nucleon-helicity-flip amplitudes to $F_{0\frac{1}{2}0\frac{1}{2}}$. Results obtained in a handbag approach based on generalized parton distributions taking into account the contribution from pion exchange are found to be in good agreement with these ratios. Within the model, the data favor a positive sign for the $π-ρ$ transition form factor. By also exploiting the longitudinal beam polarization, a total of 71 $ρ^0$ spin-density matrix elements is determined from the extracted 25 parameters, in contrast to only 53 elements as directly determined in earlier analyses.

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arXiv2016

Hard Two-Photon Contribution to Elastic Lepton-Proton Scattering: Determined by the OLYMPUS Experiment

The OLYMPUS collaboration reports on a precision measurement of the positron-proton to electron-proton elastic cross section ratio, $R_{2γ}$, a direct measure of the contribution of hard two-photon exchange to the elastic cross section. In the OLYMPUS measurement, 2.01~GeV electron and positron beams were directed through a hydrogen gas target internal to the DORIS storage ring at DESY. A toroidal magnetic spectrometer instrumented with drift chambers and time-of-flight scintillators detected elastically scattered leptons in coincidence with recoiling protons over a scattering angle range of $\approx 20\degree$ to $80\degree$. The relative luminosity between the two beam species was monitored using tracking telescopes of interleaved GEM and MWPC detectors at $12\degree$, as well as symmetric Møller/Bhabha calorimeters at $1.29\degree$. A total integrated luminosity of 4.5~fb$^{-1}$ was collected. In the extraction of $R_{2γ}$, radiative effects were taken into account using a Monte Carlo generator to simulate the convolutions of internal bremsstrahlung with experiment-specific conditions such as detector acceptance and reconstruction efficiency. The resulting values of $R_{2γ}$, presented here for a wide range of virtual photon polarization $0.456<ε<0.978$, are smaller than some hadronic two-photon exchange calculations predict, but are in reasonable agreement with a subtracted dispersion model and a phenomenological fit to the form factor data.

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arXiv2016

Spin density matrix elements in exclusive $ω$ electroproduction on $^1$H and $^2$H targets at 27.5 GeV beam energy

Exclusive electroproduction of $ω$ mesons on unpolarized hydrogen and deuterium targets is studied in the kinematic region of Q$^2$>1.0 GeV$^2$, 3.0 GeV < W < 6.3 GeV, and -t'< 0.2 GeV$^2$. Results on the angular distribution of the $ω$ meson, including its decay products, are presented. The data were accumulated with the HERMES forward spectrometer during the 1996-2007 running period using the 27.6 GeV longitudinally polarized electron or positron beam of HERA. The determination of the virtual-photon longitudinal-to-transverse cross-section ratio reveals that a considerable part of the cross section arises from transversely polarized photons. Spin density matrix elements are presented in projections of Q$^2$ or -t'. Violation of s-channel helicity conservation is observed for some of these elements. A sizable contribution from unnatural-parity-exchange amplitudes is found and the phase shift between those amplitudes that describe transverse $ω$ production by longitudinal and transverse virtual photons, $γ^{*}_{L} \to ω_{T}$ and $γ^{*}_{T} \to ω_{T}$, is determined for the first time. A hierarchy of helicity amplitudes is established, which mainly means that the unnatural-parity-exchange amplitude describing the $γ^*_T \to ω_T$ transition dominates over the two natural-parity-exchange amplitudes describing the $γ^*_L \to ω_L$ and $γ^*_T \to ω_T$ transitions, with the latter two being of similar magnitude. Good agreement is found between the HERMES proton data and results of a pQCD-inspired phenomenological model that includes pion-pole contributions, which are of unnatural parity.

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arXiv2015

Transverse-target-spin asymmetry in exclusive $ω$-meson electroproduction

Hard exclusive electroproduction of $ω$ mesons is studied with the HERMES spectrometer at the DESY laboratory by scattering 27.6 GeV positron and electron beams off a transversely polarized hydrogen target. The amplitudes of five azimuthal modulations of the single-spin asymmetry of the cross section with respect to the transverse proton polarization are measured. They are determined in the entire kinematic region as well as for two bins in photon virtuality and momentum transfer to the nucleon. Also, a separation of asymmetry amplitudes into longitudinal and transverse components is done. These results are compared to a phenomenological model that includes the pion pole contribution. Within this model, the data favor a positive $πω$ transition form factor.

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arXiv2015

Bose-Einstein correlations in hadron-pairs from lepto-production on nuclei ranging from hydrogen to xenon

Bose-Einstein correlations of like-sign charged hadrons produced in deep-inelastic electron and positron scattering are studied in the HERMES experiment using nuclear targets of $^1$H, $^2$H, $^3$He, $^4$He, N, Ne, Kr, and Xe. A Gaussian approach is used to parametrize a two-particle correlation function determined from events with at least two charged hadrons of the same sign charge. This correlation function is compared to two different empirical distributions that do not include the Bose-Einstein correlations. One distribution is derived from unlike-sign hadron pairs, and the second is derived from mixing like-sign pairs from different events. The extraction procedure used simulations incorporating the experimental setup in order to correct the results for spectrometer acceptance effects, and was tested using the distribution of unlike-sign hadron pairs. Clear signals of Bose-Einstein correlations for all target nuclei without a significant variation with the nuclear target mass are found. Also, no evidence for a dependence on the invariant mass W of the photon-nucleon system is found when the results are compared to those of previous experiments.

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arXiv2015

Pentaquark $Θ^+$ search at HERMES

The earlier search at HERMES for narrow baryon states excited in quasi-real photoproduction, decaying through the channel $pK_S^0\rightarrow pπ^+π^-$, has been extended with improved decay-particle reconstruction, more advanced particle identification, and increased event samples. The structure observed earlier at an invariant mass of 1528 MeV shifts to 1522 MeV and the statistical significance drops to about 2$σ$ for data taken with a deuterium target. The number of events above background is $68_{-31}^{+98}\text{(stat)}\pm13\text{(sys)}$. No such structure is observed in the hydrogen data set.

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arXiv2014

Transverse polarization of $Λ$ hyperons from quasireal photoproduction on nuclei

The transverse polarization of $Λ$ hyperons was measured in inclusive quasireal photoproduction for various target nuclei ranging from hydrogen to xenon. The data were obtained by the HERMES experiment at HERA using the 27.6 GeV lepton beam and nuclear gas targets internal to the lepton storage ring. The polarization observed is positive for light target nuclei and is compatible with zero for krypton and xenon.

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