arXiv subjects

S. Bifani

Publications and source records attributed to S. Bifani.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

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↗

arXiv2023

Observation of the decay $ Λ_b^0\rightarrow Λ_c^+τ^-\overlineν_τ$

The first observation of the semileptonic $b$-baryon decay $ Λ_b^0 \rightarrow Λ_c^+ τ^-\overlineν_τ$, with a significance of $6.1\,σ$, is reported using a data sample corresponding to 3 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity, collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV at the LHC. The $τ^-$ lepton is reconstructed in the hadronic decay to three charged pions. The branching fraction ${\mathcal{B}}(Λ_b^0 \rightarrow Λ_c^+τ^-\overlineν_τ) = (1.50 \pm 0.16\pm 0.25\pm 0.23)\%$ is obtained, where uncertainties are statistical, systematic and from the external branching fraction of the normalisation channel $Λ_b^0\rightarrow Λ_c^+π^-π^+π^-$. The ratio of semileptonic branching fractions ${\mathcal{R}}( Λ_c^+)\equiv {\mathcal{B}}( Λ_b^0 \rightarrow Λ_c^+ τ^-\overlineν_τ)/{\mathcal{B}}( Λ_b^0 \rightarrow Λ_c^+ μ^-\overlineν_μ)$ is derived to be $0.242 \pm 0.026 \pm 0.040\pm 0.059$, where the external branching fraction uncertainty from the channel $Λ_b^0\rightarrow Λ_c^+μ^-\overlineν_μ$ contributes to the last term. This result is in agreement with the Standard Model prediction.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Test of lepton universality in beauty-quark decays

The Standard Model of particle physics currently provides our best description of fundamental particles and their interactions. The theory predicts that the different charged leptons, the electron, muon and tau, have identical electroweak interaction strengths. Previous measurements have shown a wide range of particle decays are consistent with this principle of lepton universality. This article presents evidence for the breaking of lepton universality in beauty-quark decays, with a significance of 3.1 standard deviations, based on proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. The measurements are of processes in which a beauty meson transforms into a strange meson with the emission of either an electron and a positron, or a muon and an antimuon. If confirmed by future measurements, this violation of lepton universality would imply physics beyond the Standard Model, such as a new fundamental interaction between quarks and leptons.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Search for massive long-lived particles decaying semileptonically at sqrt(s)=13 TeV

A search is performed for massive long-lived particles (LLP) decaying semileptonically into a muon and two quarks. Two kinds of LLP production processes were considered. In the first, a Higgs-like boson with mass from 30 to 200 GeV is produced by gluon fusion and decays into two LLPs. The analysis covers LLP mass values from 10 GeV up to about one half the Higgs-like boson mass. The second LLP production mode is directly from quark interactions, with LLP masses from 10 to 90 GeV. The LLP lifetimes considered range from 5 to 200 ps. This study uses LHCb data collected from proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s)=13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 1/fb. No evidence of these long-lived states has been observed, and upper limits on the production cross-section times branching ratio have been set for each model considered.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

First measurement of the $Z\rightarrow μ^+ μ^-$ angular coefficients in the forward region of $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV

The first study of the angular distribution of $μ^+ μ^-$ pairs produced in the forward rapidity region via the Drell-Yan reaction $pp \rightarrow γ^{*}/Z +X \rightarrow l^+ l^- + X$ is presented, using data collected with the LHCb detector at a centre-of-mass energy of 13TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.1 $\rm{fb}^{-1}$. The coefficients of the five leading terms in the angular distribution are determined as a function of the dimuon transverse momentum and rapidity. The results are compared to various theoretical predictions of the $Z$-boson production mechanism and can also be used to probe transverse-momentum-dependent parton distributions within the proton.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Constraints on the CKM angle $γ$ from $B^\pm\to Dh^\pm$ decays using $D\rightarrow h^\pm h^{\prime\mp}π^0$ final states

A data sample collected with the LHCb detector corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{-1}$ is used to measure eleven $CP$ violation observables in $B^\pm\to Dh^\pm$ decays, where $h$ is either a kaon or a pion. The neutral $D$ meson decay is reconstructed in the three-body final states: $K^\pmπ^\mpπ^0$}; $π^+π^-π^0$; $K^+K^-π^0$ and the suppressed $π^\pm K^\mpπ^0$ combination. The mode where a large $CP$ asymmetry is expected, $B^\pm\to [π^\pm K^\mpπ^0]_DK^\pm$, is observed with a significance greater than seven standard deviations. The ratio of the partial width of this mode relative to that of the favoured mode, $B^\pm\to [K^\pmπ^\mpπ^0]_D K^\pm$, is $R_{{\rm ADS}(K)} = (1.27\pm0.16\pm0.02)\times 10^{-2}$. Evidence for a large $CP$ asymmetry is also seen: $A_{{\rm ADS}(K)} = -0.38\pm0.12\pm0.02$. Constraints on the CKM angle $γ$ are calculated from the eleven reported observables.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Precision measurement of forward $Z$ boson production in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV

A precision measurement of the $Z$ boson production cross-section at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV in the forward region is presented, using $pp$ collision data collected by the LHCb detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.1 fb$^{-1}$. The production cross-section is measured using $Z\rightarrowμ^+μ^-$ events within the fiducial region defined as pseudorapidity $2.0<η<4.5$ and transverse momentum $p_{T}>20$ GeV/$c$ for both muons and dimuon invariant mass $60<M_{μμ}<120$ GeV/$c^2$. The integrated cross-section is determined to be \begin{equation*} σ(Z\rightarrowμ^+μ^-) = 196.4 \pm 0.2 \pm 1.6 \pm 3.9~pb, \end{equation*} where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is due to the luminosity determination. The measured results are in agreement with theoretical predictions within uncertainties.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Measurement of the nuclear modification factor and prompt charged particle production in $p\mathrm{Pb}$ and $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\scriptscriptstyle\mathrm{NN}}}=5\,\mathrm{TeV}$

The production of prompt charged particles in proton-lead collisions and in proton-proton collisions at the nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy ${\sqrt{s_{\scriptscriptstyle\mathrm{NN}}}=5\,\mathrm{TeV}}$ is studied at LHCb as a function of pseudorapidity ($η$) and transverse momentum ($p_{\mathrm{T}}$) with respect to the proton beam direction. The nuclear modification factor for charged particles is determined as a function of $η$ between ${-4.8<η<-2.5}$ (backward region) and ${2.0<η<4.8}$ (forward region), and $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ between ${0.2<p_{\mathrm{T}}<8.0\,\mathrm{GeV}/c}$. The results show a suppression of charged particle production in proton-lead collisions relative to proton-proton collisions in the forward region and an enhancement in the backward region for $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ larger than $1.5\,\mathrm{GeV}/c$. This measurement constrains nuclear PDFs and saturation models at previously unexplored values of the parton momentum fraction down to $10^{-6}$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Study of the doubly charmed tetraquark $T_{cc}^+$

An exotic narrow state in the $D^0D^0π^+$ mass spectrum just below the $D^{*+}D^0$ mass threshold is studied using a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{-1}$ acquired with the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV. The state is consistent with the ground isoscalar $T^+_{cc}$ tetraquark with a quark content of $cc\bar{u}\bar{d}$ and spin-parity quantum numbers $\mathrm{J}^{\mathrm{P}}=1^+$. Study of the $DD$ mass spectra disfavours interpretation of the resonance as the isovector state. The decay structure via intermediate off-shell $D^{*+}$ mesons is confirmed by the $D^0π^+$ mass distribution. The mass of the resonance and its coupling to the $D^{*}D$ system are analysed. Resonance parameters including the pole position, scattering length, effective range and compositeness are measured to reveal important information about the nature of the $T^+_{cc}$ state. In addition, an unexpected dependence of the production rate on track multiplicity is observed.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Observation of an exotic narrow doubly charmed tetraquark

Conventional hadronic matter consists of baryons and mesons made of three quarks and quark-antiquark pairs, respectively. The observation of a new type of hadronic state, a doubly charmed tetraquark containing two charm quarks, an anti-$u$ and an anti-$d$ quark, is reported using data collected by the LHCb experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. This exotic state with a mass of about 3875 MeV$/c^2$ manifests itself as a narrow peak in the mass spectrum of $D^0D^0π^+$ mesons just below the $D^{*+}D^0$ mass threshold. The near threshold mass together with a strikingly narrow width reveals the resonance nature of the state.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Evidence for a new structure in the $J/ψp$ and $J/ψ\bar{p}$ systems in $B_s^0 \to J/ψp \bar{p}$ decays

An amplitude analysis of flavour-untagged $B_s^0 \to J/ψp \bar{p}$ decays is performed using a sample of $797\pm31$ decays reconstructed with the LHCb detector. The data, collected in proton-proton collisions between 2011 and 2018, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 9 $\text{fb}^{-1}$. Evidence for a new structure in the $J/ψp$ and $J/ψ\bar{p}$ systems with a mass of $4337 \ ^{+7}_{-4} \ ^{+2}_{-2}~\text{MeV}$ and a width of $29 \ ^{+26}_{-12} \ ^{+14}_{-14}~\text{MeV}$ is found, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic, with a significance in the range of 3.1 to 3.7 $σ$, depending on the assigned $J^P$ hypothesis.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Angular analysis of $D^0 \to π^+π^-μ^+μ^-$ and $D^0 \to K^+K^-μ^+μ^-$ decays and search for $CP$ violation

The first full angular analysis and an updated measurement of the decay-rate $CP$ asymmetry of the $D^0 \to π^+π^-μ^+μ^-$ and $D^0 \to K^+K^-μ^+μ^-$ decays are reported. The analysis uses proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV. The data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{-1}$. The full set of $CP$-averaged angular observables and their $CP$ asymmetries are measured as a function of the dimuon invariant mass. The results are consistent with expectations from the standard model and with $CP$ symmetry.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

$J/ψ$ photo-production in Pb-Pb peripheral collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5 TeV

The photo-production of $J/ψ$ mesons at low transverse momentum is studied in peripheral lead-lead collisions collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 5 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 210 $\rm{μb}^{-1}$. The $J/ψ$ candidates are reconstructed through the prompt decay into two muons of opposite charge in the rapidity region of $2.0<y<4.5$. The results significantly improve previous measurements and are compared to the latest theoretical prediction.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Observation of the doubly charmed baryon decay $\it{Ξ_{cc}^{++}\to Ξ_{c}^{'+}π^{+}}$

The $\it{Ξ_{cc}^{++}\to Ξ_{c}^{'+}π^{+}}$ decay is observed using proton-proton collisions collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of $13\mathrm{\,Te\kern -0.1em V}$, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.4\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The $\it{Ξ_{cc}^{++}\to Ξ_{c}^{'+}π^{+}}$ decay is reconstructed partially, where the photon from the $\it{Ξ_{c}^{'+} \to Ξ_{c}^{+}γ}$ decay is not reconstructed and the $pK^-π^+$ final state of the $\it{Ξ_{c}^{+}}$ baryon is employed. The $\it{Ξ_{cc}^{++}\to Ξ_{c}^{'+}π^{+}}$ branching fraction relative to that of the $\it{Ξ_{cc}^{++}\to Ξ_{c}^{+}π^{+}}$ decay is measured to be $1.41 \pm 0.17 \pm 0.10$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Measurement of the charm mixing parameter $y_{CP} - y_{CP}^{Kπ}$ using two-body $D^0$ meson decays

A measurement of the ratios of the effective decay widths of $D^0 \to π^-π^+$ and $D^0 \to K^-K^+$ decays over that of $D^0 \to K^-π^+$ decays is performed with the LHCb experiment using proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $13 \, \mathrm{TeV}$, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $6 \, \mathrm{fb^{-1}}$. These observables give access to the charm mixing parameters $y_{CP}^{ππ} - y_{CP}^{Kπ}$ and $y_{CP}^{KK} - y_{CP}^{Kπ}$, and are measured as $y_{CP}^{ππ} - y_{CP}^{Kπ} = (6.57 \pm 0.53 \pm 0.16) \times 10^{-3}$, $y_{CP}^{KK} - y_{CP}^{Kπ} = (7.08 \pm 0.30 \pm 0.14) \times 10^{-3}$, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The combination of the two measurements is $y_{CP} - y_{CP}^{Kπ} = (6.96 \pm 0.26 \pm 0.13) \times 10^{-3}$, which is four times more precise than the previous world average.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Study of charmonium and charmonium-like contributions in $B^+ \rightarrow J/ψηK^+$ decays

A study of $B^+ \rightarrow J/ψηK^+$ decays, followed by $J/ψ\rightarrow μ^+ μ^-$ and $η\rightarrow γγ$, is performed using a dataset collected with the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{-1}$. The $J/ψη$ mass spectrum is investigated for contributions from charmonia and charmonium-like states. Evidence is found for the $B^+\rightarrow \left( ψ_2(3823) \rightarrow J/ψη\right) K^+$ and $B^+\rightarrow \left( ψ(4040) \rightarrow J/ψη\right) K^+$ decays with significance of 3.4 and 4.7~standard deviations, respectively. This constitutes the~first~evidence for the $ψ_2(3823) \rightarrow J/ψη$ decay.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Tests of lepton universality using $B^0\to K^0_S \ell^+ \ell^-$ and $B^+\to K^{*+} \ell^+ \ell^-$ decays

Tests of lepton universality in $B^0\to K^0_S \ell^+ \ell^-$ and $B^+\to K^{*+} \ell^+ \ell^-$ decays where $\ell$ is either an electron or a muon are presented. The differential branching fractions of $B^0\to K^0_S e^+ e^-$ and $B^+\to K^{*+} e^+ e^-$ decays are measured in intervals of the dilepton invariant mass squared. The measurements are performed using proton-proton collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\, \mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The results are consistent with the Standard Model and previous tests of lepton universality in related decay modes. The first observation of $B^0 \to K^0_S e^+ e^-$ and $B^+ \to K^{*+} e^+ e^-$ decays is reported.

hep-ex↗