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S. Blusk

Publications and source records attributed to S. Blusk.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Search for $B_c^+\toπ^+μ^+μ^-$ decays and measurement of the branching fraction ratio ${\cal B}(B_c^+\toψ(2S)π^+)/{\cal B}(B_c^+\to J/ψπ^+)$

The first search for nonresonant $B_c^+\toπ^+μ^+μ^-$ decays is reported. The analysis uses proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector between 2011 and 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{-1}$. No evidence for an excess of signal events over background is observed and an upper limit is set on the branching fraction ratio ${\cal B}(B_c^+\toπ^+μ^+μ^-)/{\cal B}(B_c^+\to J/ψπ^+) < 2.1\times 10^{-4}$ at $90\%$ confidence level. Additionally, an updated measurement of the ratio of the $B_c^+\toψ(2S)π^+$ and $B_c^+\to J/ψπ^+$ branching fractions is reported. The ratio ${\cal B}(B_c^+\toψ(2S)π^+)/{\cal B}(B_c^+\to J/ψπ^+)$ is measured to be $0.254\pm 0.018 \pm 0.003 \pm 0.005$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third is due to the uncertainties on the branching fractions of the leptonic $J/ψ$ and $ψ(2S)$ decays. This measurement is the most precise to date and is consistent with previous LHCb results.

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Observation of the $B_c^+ \to J/ψπ^+ π^0$ decay

The first observation of the $B_c^+ \to J/ψπ^+ π^0$ decay is reported with high significance using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9fb$^{-1}$, collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. The ratio of its branching fraction relative to the $B_c^+ \to J/ψπ^+$ channel is measured to be $$ \frac{ {\cal{B}}( B_c^+ \to J/ψπ^+π^0 ) } { {\cal{B}}( B_c^+ \to J/ψπ^+ ) } = 2.80 \pm 0.15 \pm 0.11 \pm 0.16 \,, $$ where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third related to imprecise knowledge of the branching fractions for $B^+ \to J/ψK^{*+}$ and $B^+ \to J/ψK^+$ decays, which are used to determine the $π^0$ detection efficiency. The $π^+π^0$ mass spectrum is found to be consistent with the dominance of an intermediate $ρ^+$ contribution in accordance with a model based on QCD factorisation.

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Test of lepton flavour universality using $B^0 \to D^{*-}τ^+ν_τ$ decays with hadronic $τ$ channels

The branching fraction $\mathcal{B}(B^0 \to D^{*-}τ^+ν_τ)$ is measured relative to that of the normalization mode $B^0 \to D^{*-}π^+π^-π^+$ using hadronic $τ^+ \to π^+π^-π^+(π^0)\overlineν_τ$ decays in proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2 fb$^{-1}$. The measured ratio is $\mathcal{B}(B^0 \to D^{*-}τ^+ν_τ)/\mathcal{B}(B^0 \to D^{*-}π^+π^-π^+) = 1.79 \pm 0.11 \pm 0.11$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is related to systematic effects. Using established branching fractions for the $B^0 \to D^{*-}π^+π^-π^+$ and $B^0 \to D^{*-}μ^+ν_μ$ modes, the lepton universality test, $\mathcal{R}(D^{*-}) \equiv \mathcal{B}(B^0 \to D^{*-}τ^+ν_τ)/\mathcal{B}(B^0 \to D^{*-}μ^+ν_μ)$ is calculated, $$ \mathcal{R}(D^{*-}) = 0.260 \pm 0.015 \pm 0.016 \pm 0.012\, , $$ where the third uncertainty is due to the uncertainties on the external branching fractions. This result is consistent with the Standard Model prediction and with previous measurements.

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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.

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Measurement of the CKM angle $γ$ in the $B^0 \to DK^{*0}$ channel using self-conjugate $D \to K_S^0 h^+ h^-$ decays

A model-independent study of CP violation in $B^0 \to DK^{*0}$ decays is presented using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9fb$^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of $\sqrt{s}=7, \, 8$ and $13$TeV. The CKM angle $γ$ is determined by examining the distributions of signal decays in phase-space bins of the self-conjugate $D \to K_S^0 h^+ h^-$ decays, where $h = π, K$. Observables related to CP violation are measured and the angle $γ$ is determined to be $γ=(49^{+ 22}_{-19})^\circ$. Measurements of the amplitude ratio and strong-phase difference between the favoured and suppressed $B^0$ decays are also presented.

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Curvature-bias corrections using a pseudomass method

Momentum measurements for very high momentum charged particles, such as muons from electroweak vector boson decays, are particularly susceptible to charge-dependent curvature biases that arise from misalignments of tracking detectors. Low momentum charged particles used in alignment procedures have limited sensitivity to coherent displacements of such detectors, and therefore are unable to fully constrain these misalignments to the precision necessary for studies of electroweak physics. Additional approaches are therefore required to understand and correct for these effects. In this paper the curvature biases present at the LHCb detector are studied using the pseudomass method in proton-proton collision data recorded at centre of mass energy $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV during 2016, 2017 and 2018. The biases are determined using $Z\toμ^+μ^-$ decays in intervals defined by the data-taking period, magnet polarity and muon direction. Correcting for these biases, which are typically at the $10^{-4}$ GeV$^{-1}$ level, improves the $Z\toμ^+μ^-$ mass resolution by roughly 18% and eliminates several pathological trends in the kinematic-dependence of the mean dimuon invariant mass.

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Search for $CP$ violation in the phase space of $D^0 \to π^-π^+π^0$ decays with the energy test

A search for $CP$ violation in $D^0 \to π^-π^+π^0$ decays is reported, using $pp$ collision data collected by the LHCb experiment from 2015 to 2018 corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6$fb^{-1}$. An unbinned model-independent approach provides sensitivity to local $CP$ violation within the two-dimensional phase space of the decay. The method is validated using the Cabibbo-favoured channel $\D^0 \to \K^-π^+π^0$ and background regions of the signal mode. The results are consistent with $CP$ symmetry in this decay.

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Measurement of the $Z$ boson production cross-section in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV

The first measurement of the $Z$ boson production cross-section at centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = 5.02\,$TeV in the forward region is reported, using $pp$ collision data collected by the LHCb experiment in year 2017, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $100 \pm 2\,\rm{pb^{-1}}$. The production cross-section is measured for final-state muons in the pseudorapidity range $2.0<η<4.5$ with transverse momentum $p_{\rm{T}}> 20\,\rm{GeV/}\it{c}$. The integrated cross-section is determined to be \[ σ_{Z \rightarrow μ^{+}μ^{-}} = 39.6 \pm 0.7\,(\rm{stat}) \pm 0.6\,(\rm{syst}) \pm 0.8\,(\rm{lumi}) \ \rm{pb} \] for the di-muon invariant mass in the range $60<M_{μμ}<120\,\rm{GeV/}\it{c^{2}}$. This result and the differential cross-section results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions at next-to-next-to-leading order in the strong coupling. Based on a previous LHCb measurement of the $Z$ boson production cross-section in $p$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5.02$ TeV, the nuclear modification factor $R_{p\rm{Pb}}$ is measured for the first time at this energy. The measured values are $1.2^{+0.5}_{-0.3}\,(\rm{stat}) \pm 0.1\,(\rm{syst})$ in the forward region ($1.53<y^*_μ<4.03$) and $3.6^{+1.6}_{-0.9}\,(\rm{stat}) \pm 0.2\,(\rm{syst})$ in the backward region ($-4.97<y^*_μ<-2.47$), where $y^*_μ$ represents the muon rapidity in the centre-of-mass frame.

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Study of $B_c^+ \rightarrow χ_c π^+$ decays

A study of $B_c^+ \rightarrow χ_c π^+$ decays is reported using proton-proton collision data, collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9fb$^{-1}$. The decay $B_c^+ \rightarrow χ_{c2} π^+$ is observed for the first time, with a significance exceeding seven standard deviations. The relative branching fraction with respect to the $B_c^+ \rightarrow J/ψπ^+$ decay is measured to be $$ \frac{\mathcal{B}_{B_c^+ \rightarrow χ_{c2} π^+}} {\mathcal{B}_{B_c^+ \rightarrow J/ψπ^+}} = 0.37 \pm 0.06 \pm 0.02 \pm 0.01 , $$ where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is due to the knowledge of the $χ_c \rightarrow J/ψγ$ branching fraction. No significant $B_c^+ \rightarrow χ_{c1} π^+$ signal is observed and an upper limit for the relative branching fraction for the $B_c^+ \rightarrow χ_{c1} π^+$ and $B_c^+ \rightarrow χ_{c2} π^+$ decays of $$ \frac{\mathcal{B}_{B_c^+ \rightarrow χ_{c1} π^+}} {\mathcal{B}_{B_c^+ \rightarrow χ_{c2} π^+}} < 0.49 $$ is set at the 90\% confidence level.

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A search for rare $B \rightarrow D μ^+ μ^-$ decays

A search for rare $B \rightarrow D μ^+ μ^-$ decays is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{-1}$. No significant signals are observed in the non-resonant $μ^+μ^-$ modes, and upper limits of $\mathcal{B}(B^0 \rightarrow \overline{D}^0 μ^+ μ^-) < 5.1 \times 10^{-8}$, $\mathcal{B}(B^+ \rightarrow D_s^+ μ^+ μ^-) < 3.2 \times 10^{-8}$, $\mathcal{B}(B_s^0 \rightarrow \overline{D}^0 μ^+ μ^-) < 1.6 \times 10^{-7}$ and $f_c/f_u \cdot \mathcal{B}(B_c^+ \rightarrow D_s^+ μ^+ μ^-) < 9.6 \times 10^{-8}$ are set at the 95\% confidence level, where $f_c$ and $f_u$ are the fragmentation fractions of a $B$ meson with a $c$ and $u$ quark respectively in proton-proton collisions. Each result is either the first such measurement or an improvement by three orders of magnitude on an existing limit. Separate upper limits are calculated when the muon pair originates from a $J/ψ\rightarrow μ^+ μ^-$ decay. The branching fraction of $B_c^+ \rightarrow D_s^+ J/ψ$ multiplied by the fragmentation-fraction ratio is measured to be $f_c/f_u \cdot \mathcal{B}(B_c^+ \rightarrow D_s^+ J/ψ) = (1.63 \pm 0.15 \pm 0.13) \times 10^{-5}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

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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.

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Momentum scale calibration of the LHCb spectrometer

For accurate determination of particle masses accurate knowledge of the momentum scale of the detectors is crucial. The procedure used to calibrate the momentum scale of the LHCb spectrometer is described and illustrated using the performance obtained with an integrated luminosity of $1.6~ fb^{-1}$ collected during 2016 in $pp$ running. The procedure uses large samples of $J/ψ\rightarrow μ^+ μ^-$ and $B^+ \rightarrow J/ψK^+$ decays and leads to a relative accuracy of $3 \times 10^{-4}$ on the momentum scale.

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Measurement of prompt $D^+$ and $D^+_{s}$ production in $p\mathrm{Pb}$ collisions at $\sqrt {s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02\,$TeV

The production of prompt $D^+$ and $D^+_{s}$ mesons is studied in proton-lead collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt {s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02\,$TeV. The data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $(1.58\pm0.02)\mathrm{nb}^{-1}$ is collected by the LHCb experiment at the LHC. The differential production cross-sections are measured using $D^+$ and $D^+_{s}$ candidates with transverse momentum in the range of $0<p_{\mathrm{T}} <14\,\mathrm{GeV}/c$ and rapidities in the ranges of $1.5<y^*<4.0$ and $-5.0<y^*<-2.5$ in the nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass system. For both particles, the nuclear modification factor and the forward-backward production ratio are determined. These results are compared with theoretical models that include initial-state nuclear effects. In addition, measurements of the cross-section ratios between $D^+$, $D^+_{s}$ and $D^0$ mesons are presented, providing a baseline for studying the charm hadronization in lead-lead collisions at LHC energies.

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Observation of the $B^0_s\rightarrow χ_{c1}(3872)π^+π^-$ decay

The first observation of the $B^0_s \rightarrow \left( χ_{c1}(3872) \rightarrow J/ψπ^+π^-\right) π^+ π^-$ decay is reported using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 1, 2 and 6fb$^{-1}$, collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13TeV, respectively. The ratio of branching fractions relative to the $B^0_s \rightarrow \left( ψ(2S) \rightarrow Jψπ^+π^- \right) π^+ π^-$ decay is measured to be $$ \frac{ \mathcal{B} \left( B^0_s \rightarrow χ_{c1}(3872) π^+π^-\right) \times \mathcal{B} \left( χ_{c1}(3872) \rightarrow Jψπ^+π^-\right)} { \mathcal{B} \left( B^0_s \rightarrow ψ(2S) π^+ π^- \right) \times \mathcal{B} \left( ψ(2S) \rightarrow Jψπ^+π^-\right) } = \left( 6.8 \pm 1.1 \pm 0.2 \right) \times 10^{-2} , $$ where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The mass spectrum of the $π^+π^-$ system recoiling against the $χ_{c1}(3872)$ meson exhibits a large contribution from $B^0_s \rightarrow χ_{c1}(3872) \left( f_0(980) \rightarrow π^+ π^-\right)$ decays.

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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.

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Observation of the $B^+ \rightarrow J/ψη^{\prime} K^+$ decay

The $B^+ \rightarrow J/ψη^{\prime} K^+$ decay is observed for the first time using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13TeV, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 9fb$^{-1}$. The branching fraction of this decay is measured relative to the known branching fraction of the $B^+ \rightarrow ψ(2S) K^+$ decays and found to be $$ \frac{\mathcal{B}( B^+ \rightarrow J/ψη^{\prime}K^+)}{\mathcal{B}( B^+ \rightarrow ψ(2S)K^+)} = \left(4.91\pm 0.47\pm0.29\pm0.07\right)\times10^{-2}, $$ where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic and the third is related to external branching fractions. A first look at the $J/ψη^{\prime}$ mass distribution is performed and no signal of intermediate resonances is observed.

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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.

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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.

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