Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

S. Bifani

Publications and source records attributed to S. Bifani.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2024

Study of coherent $J/ψ$ production in lead-lead collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5 TeV$

Coherent production of $J/ψ$ mesons is studied in ultraperipheral lead-lead collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 5 TeV, using a data sample collected by the LHCb experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about $10 μb^{-1}$. The $J/ψ$ mesons are reconstructed in the dimuon final state and are required to have transverse momentum below 1 GeV. The cross-section within the rapidity range of $2.0 < y < 4.5$ is measured to be $4.45\pm0.24\pm0.18\pm0.58$ mb, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third originates from the luminosity determination. The cross-section is also measured in $J/ψ$ rapidity intervals. The results are compared to predictions from phenomenological models.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2024

Open charm production and asymmetry in $p$Ne collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\scriptscriptstyle\rm NN}} =$ 68.5 GeV

A measurement of $D^0$ meson production by the LHCb experiment in its fixed-target configuration is presented. The production of $D^0$ mesons is studied with a beam of 2.5 TeV protons colliding on a gaseous neon target at rest, corresponding to a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 68.5 GeV. The sum of the $D^0$ and ${\overline D^0}$ production cross-section in $p$Ne collisions in the centre-of-mass rapidity range $y^{\star}\in [-2.29, 0]$ is found to be $σ_{D^{0}}^{y^\star \in [-2.29, 0]} = 48.2 \pm 0.3 \pm 4.5 \,μ\textrm{b/nucleon}$ where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The $D^0-{\overline D^0}$ production asymmetry is also evaluated and suggests a trend towards negative values at large negative $y^{\star}$. The considered models do not account precisely for all the features observed in the LHCb data, but theoretical predictions including 1$\%$ intrinsic charm and 10$\%$ recombination contributions better describe the data than the other models considered.

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

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

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 of a resonant structure near the $D_s^+ D_s^-$ threshold in the $B^+\to D_s^+ D_s^- K^+$ decay

An amplitude analysis of the $B^+\to D_s^+ D_s^- K^+$ decay is carried out to study for the first time its intermediate resonant contributions, using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV. A near-threshold peaking structure, referred to as $X(3960)$, is observed in the $D_s^+ D_s^-$ invariant-mass spectrum with significance greater than 12 standard deviations. The mass, width and the quantum numbers of the structure are measured to be $3956\pm5\pm10$ MeV, $43\pm13\pm8$ MeV and $J^{PC}=0^{++}$, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The properties of the new structure are consistent with recent theoretical predictions for a state composed of $c\bar{c}s\bar{s}$ quarks. Evidence for an additional structure is found around 4140 MeV in the $D_s^+ D_s^-$ invariant mass, which might be caused either by a new resonance with the $0^{++}$ assignment or by a $J/ψϕ\leftrightarrow D_s^+ D_s^-$ coupled-channel effect.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Observation of the mass difference between neutral charm-meson eigenstates

A measurement of mixing and $C\!P$ violation in neutral charm mesons is performed using data reconstructed in proton-proton collisions collected by the LHCb experiment from 2016 to 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4$\textrm{fb}^{-1}$. A total of $30.6$ million $D^{0}\rightarrow K^{0}_{\mathrm{S}}π^{+}π^{-}$ decays are analyzed using a method optimized for the measurement of the mass difference between neutral charm-meson eigenstates. Allowing for $C\!P$ violation in mixing and in the interference between mixing and decay, the mass and decay-width differences are measured to be $x_{C\!P} = \left[3.97\pm0.46\textrm{(stat)}\pm 0.29\textrm{(syst)}\right]\times10^{-3}$ and $y_{C\!P} = \left[4.59\pm1.20\textrm{(stat)}\pm0.85\textrm{(syst)}\right]\times10^{-3}$, respectively. The $C\!P$-violating parameters are measured as $Δx = \left[-0.27\pm0.18\textrm{(stat)}\pm0.01\textrm{(syst)}\right]\times10^{-3}$ and $Δy = \left[0.20\pm0.36\textrm{(stat)}\pm0.13\textrm{(syst)}\right]\times10^{-3}$. This is the first observation of a nonzero mass difference in the $D^0$ meson system, with a significance exceeding seven standard deviations. The data are consistent with $C\!P$ symmetry, and improve existing constraints on the associated parameters.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Observation of sizeable $ω$ contribution to $χ_{c1}(3872)\toπ^+π^-J/ψ$ decays

Resonant structures in the dipion mass spectrum from $χ_{c1}(3872)\toπ^+π^- J/ψ$ decays, produced via $B^+\to K^+χ_{c1}(3872)$ decays, are analyzed using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 $fb^{-1}$. A sizeable contribution from the isospin conserving $χ_{c1}(3872)\toωJ/ψ$ decay is established for the first time, $(21.4\pm2.3\pm2.0)\%$, with a significance of more than $7.1σ$. The amplitude of isospin violating decay, $χ_{c1}(3872)\toρ^0 J/ψ$, relative to isospin conserving decay, $χ_{c1}(3872)\toωJ/ψ$, is properly determined, and it is a factor of six larger than expected for a pure charmonium state.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Search for the lepton-flavour violating decays $B^0 \to K^{*0} μ^\pm e^\mp$ and $B_s^0 \to ϕμ^\pm e^\mp$

A search for the lepton-flavour violating decays $B^0 \to K^{*0} μ^\pm e^\mp$ and $B_s^0 \to ϕμ^\pm e^\mp$ is presented, using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\,\text{fb}^{-1}$. No significant signals are observed and upper limits of \begin{align} {\cal B}( B^0 \to K^{*0} μ^+ e^- ) &< \phantom{1}5.7\times 10^{-9}~(6.9\times 10^{-9}),\newline {\cal B}( B^0 \to K^{*0} μ^- e^+ ) &< \phantom{1}6.8\times 10^{-9}~(7.9\times 10^{-9}),\newline {\cal B}( B^0 \to K^{*0} μ^\pm e^\mp ) &< 10.1\times 10^{-9}~(11.7\times 10^{-9}),\newline {\cal B}( B_s^0 \to ϕμ^\pm e^\mp ) &< 16.0\times 10^{-9}~(19.8\times 10^{-9}) \end{align} are set at $90\%~(95\%)$ confidence level. These results constitute the world's most stringent limits to date, with the limit on the decay $B_s^0 \to ϕμ^\pm e^\mp$ the first being set. In addition, limits are reported for scalar and left-handed lepton-flavour violating New Physics scenarios.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Search for the doubly heavy baryon $\itΞ_{bc}^{+}$ decaying to $J/\itψ \itΞ_{c}^{+}$

A first search for the $\itΞ_{bc}^{+}\to J/\itψ\itΞ_{c}^{+}$ decay is performed by the LHCb experiment with a data sample of proton-proton collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ recorded at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and $13\mathrm{\,Te\kern -0.1em V}$. Two peaking structures are seen with a local (global) significance of $4.3\,(2.8)$ and $4.1\,(2.4)$ standard deviations at masses of $6571\,\mathrm{Me\kern -0.1em V\!/}c^2$ and $6694\,\mathrm{Me\kern -0.1em V\!/}c^2$, respectively. Upper limits are set on the $\itΞ_{bc}^{+}$ baryon production cross-section times the branching fraction relative to that of the $B_{c}^{+}\to J/\itψ D_{s}^{+}$ decay at centre-of-mass energies of 8 and $13\mathrm{\,Te\kern -0.1em V}$, in the $\itΞ_{bc}^{+}$ and in the $B_{c}^{+}$ rapidity and transverse-momentum ranges from 2.0 to 4.5 and 0 to $20\,\mathrm{Ge\kern -0.1em V\!/}c$, respectively. Upper limits are presented as a function of the $\itΞ_{bc}^{+}$ mass and lifetime.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Amplitude analysis of $B^0 \rightarrow \overline{D}^0 D_s^+ π^-$ and $B^+ \rightarrow D^- D_s^+ π^+$ decays

Resonant contributions in $B^0 \rightarrow \overline{D}^0 D^+_sπ^-$ and $B^+\rightarrow D^- D^+_sπ^+$ decays are determined with an amplitude analysis, which is performed both separately and simultaneously, where in the latter case isospin symmetry between the decays is assumed. The analysis is based on data collected by the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 $\rm{TeV}$. The full data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 9 $\rm fb^{-1}$. A doubly charged spin-0 open-charm tetraquark candidate together with a neutral partner, both with masses near $2.9\,\rm{GeV}$, are observed in the $D_sπ$ decay channel.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

First observation of a doubly charged tetraquark and its neutral partner

A combined amplitude analysis is performed for the decays $B^0 \rightarrow \overline{D}^0 D^+_sπ^-$ and $B^+\rightarrow D^- D^+_sπ^+$, which are related by isospin symmetry. The analysis is based on data collected by the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13$\,\rm{TeV}$. The full data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 9$\,\rm{fb^{-1}}$. Two new resonant states with masses of $2.908\pm0.011\pm0.020\,\rm{GeV}$ and widths of $0.136\pm0.023\pm0.011\,\rm{GeV}$ are observed, which decay to $D^+_sπ^+$ and $D^+_sπ^-$ respectively. The former state indicates the first observation of a doubly charged open-charm tetraquark state with minimal quark content $[c\bar{s}u\bar{d}]$, and the latter state is a neutral tetraquark composed of $[c\bar{s}\bar{u}d]$ quarks. Both states are found to have spin-parity $0^+$, and their resonant parameters are consistent with each other, which suggests that they belong to an isospin triplet.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Amplitude analysis of the $Λ^+_c\to pK^-π^+$ decay and $Λ^+_c$ baryon polarization measurement in semileptonic beauty hadron decays

An amplitude analysis of $Λ^+_c \to pK^-π^+$ decays together with a measurement of the $Λ^+_c$ polarization vector in semileptonic beauty hadron decays is presented. A sample of $400\,000$ candidates is selected from proton-proton collisions recorded by the LHCb detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. An amplitude model is developed and the resonance fractions as well as two- and three-body decay parameters are reported. The mass and width of the $Λ(2000)$ state are also determined. A significant $Λ^+_c$ polarization is found. A large sensitivity of the $Λ^+_c \to pK^-π^+$ decay to the polarization is seen, making the amplitude model suitable for $Λ^+_c$ polarization measurements in other systems.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Nuclear modification factor of neutral pions in the forward and backward regions in $p$-Pb collisions

The nuclear modification factor of neutral pions is measured in proton-lead collisions collected at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon of $8.16~{\rm TeV}$ with the LHCb detector. The $π^0$ production cross section is measured differentially in transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) for $1.5<p_{\rm T}<10.0~{\rm GeV}$ and in center-of-mass pseudorapidity ($η_{\rm c.m.}$) regions $2.5<η_{\rm c.m.}<3.5$ (forward) and $-4.0<η_{\rm c.m.}<-3.0$ (backward) defined relative to the proton beam direction. The forward measurement shows a sizable suppression of $π^0$ production, while the backward measurement shows the first evidence of $π^0$ enhancement in proton-lead collisions at the LHC. Together, these measurements provide precise constraints on models of nuclear structure and particle production in high-energy nuclear collisions.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv2023

Measurement of the ratio of branching fractions $\mathcal{B}(B_c^+ \to B_s^0 π^+)/\mathcal{B}(B_c^+ \to J/ψπ^+)$

The ratio of branching fractions of $B_c^+ \to B_s^0 π^+$ and $B_c^+ \to J/ψπ^+$ decays is measured with proton-proton collision data of a centre-of-mass energy of $13\text{TeV}$. The data were collected with the LHCb experiment during 2016--2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.4 \text{fb}^{-1}$. The $B_s^0$ mesons are reconstructed via the decays $B_s^0 \to J/ψϕ$ and $B_s^0 \to D_s^- π^+$. The ratio of branching fractions is measured to be $\mathcal{B}(B_c^+ \to B_s^0 π^+)/\mathcal{B}(B_c^+ \to J/ψπ^+) = 91 \pm 10 \pm 8 \pm 3$ where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic and the third is due to the knowledge of the branching fractions of the intermediate state decays.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Observation of the $B^0_s\!\to D^{*+}D^{*-}$ decay

The first observation of the $B^0_s\!\to D^{*+}D^{*-}$ decay and the measurement of its branching ratio relative to the $B^0\!\to D^{*+}D^{*-}$ decay are presented. The data sample used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $9\,\text{fb}^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions recorded by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and $13\,\text{TeV}$ between 2011 and 2018. The decay is observed with more than $10$ standard deviations and the time-integrated ratio of branching fractions is determined to be \begin{align*} \frac{\mathcal{B}(B^0_s\!\to D^{*+}D^{*-})}{\mathcal{B}(B^0\!\to D^{*+}D^{*-})} = 0.269 \pm 0.032 \pm 0.011 \pm 0.008\, , \end{align*} where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third due to the uncertainty of the fragmentation fraction ratio $f_s/f_d$. The $B^0_s\!\to D^{*+}D^{*-}$ branching fraction is calculated to be \begin{align*} \mathcal{B}(B^0_s\!\to D^{*+}D^{*-}) = (2.15 \pm 0.26 \pm 0.09 \pm 0.06 \pm 0.16)\times 10^{-4} \,, \end{align*} where the fourth uncertainty is due to the $B^0\!\to D^{*+}D^{*-}$branching fraction. These results are calculated using the average $B^0_s$ meson lifetime in simulation. Correction factors are reported for scenarios where either a purely heavy or a purely light $B^0_s$ eigenstate is considered.

hep-ex↗