arXiv subjects

V. Aushev

Publications and source records attributed to V. Aushev.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Search for the lepton-flavor-violating decay $ \tau^{\pm} \to \mu^{\pm} \gamma$ at Belle II

We present a search for the lepton-flavor-violating decay $\tau^{\pm}\to\mu^{\pm}\gamma$ using a data sample that corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 428 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy $e^{+}e^{-}$ collider. We employ a multivariate classifier to suppress the backgrounds from the Standard Model processes, and the signal extraction is performed using an extended maximum-likelihood fit. Since no significant excess over the expected background is observed, we set an upper limit on the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}(\tau^{\pm}\to\mu^{\pm}\gamma) < 9.5$ $ (12.2)\times10^{-8}$ at the 90\% (95\%) confidence level, using the CL${_s}$ technique.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

A Bayesian approach to the long-baseline neutrino oscillation sensitivity of DUNE

The sensitivity of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) to neutrino oscillation is evaluated using a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach. This analysis uses the same underlying sensitivity inputs as previous DUNE studies [Eur. Phys. J. C 80, 978 (2020)], and therefore does not present updated DUNE sensitivities, but instead explores the additional inferences accessible using a Bayesian approach. We present four-dimensional posterior probability distributions of the oscillation parameters, highlighting the breadth of correlation in the parameter space of interest, especially between $\sin^2 \theta_{23}$ and $\sin^2 \theta_{13}$. We exploit the flexibility of the Bayesian framework to incorporate parameter constraints post hoc and assess the impact of applying a reactor short-baseline $\theta_{13}$ constraint. A significant increase in the sensitivity to the $\theta_{23}$ octant is found when including the constraint. Posterior distributions of derived quantities can be easily constructed from MCMC results. This work presents the first study of DUNE's sensitivity to the Jarlskog invariant, $J$, a quantity that provides a parametrisation-independent measure of charge-parity violation in the leptonic sector.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Search for the $\boldsymbol{B^0 \to K^0_{\rm S} \tau^+ \tau^-}$ decay

We present the first search for $B^0 \to K^0_{\rm S} \tau^+\tau^-$ decays. We look for signal decays in $B^0\bar B^0$ events produced in asymmetric-energy electron-positron collisions. This work uses samples from the Belle and Belle~II detectors, comprising 1.16 billion $\Upsilon(4S)$ events. In $\Upsilon(4S)\to B^0\bar{B}^0$ decays, the non-signal $\bar{B}^0$ meson is fully reconstructed in a hadronic channel. For the signal $B^0$ meson, $\tau$-lepton decays into final states with a single charged particle are selected. A multivariate classifier is used to combine several discriminating inputs into a single fit observable. We observe no evidence for the signal and set an upper limit on the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}(B^0\to K^0_{\rm S} \tau^+\tau^-) < 8.3 \times 10^{-4}$ at the 90\% confidence level. Combining this with the recent measurement of the isospin-partner decay $B^+\to K^+\tau^+\tau^-$, we determine an upper limit $\mathcal{B}(B\to K\tau^+\tau^-) < 5.4\times10^{-4}$ at the 90\% confidence level.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Operation and performance of ProtoDUNE Dual Phase liquid argon time projection chamber

ProtoDUNE-DP was the largest ever built Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) operating in Dual-Phase (DP) mode, with a liquid target and charge read-out placed in the gas. It had an active volume of $6\times6\times6$\,m$^3$ corresponding to an active mass of 300\,t (total LAr mass of 720\,t), constructed at the CERN Neutrino Platform and took data from 2019 to 2020 with cosmic muons. In ProtoDUNE-DP the electric drift field is oriented in the vertical direction, causing the electrons to drift vertically towards the anode at the top. The ionization charge is then extracted into the gaseous argon above the liquid surface, amplified by Townsend avalanches, and collected by the charge readout planes. The detector experienced significant technical problems affecting the long-term operation of the Charge Readout Planes, formed by the Large Electron Multipliers, but other critical segments demonstrated required performance including the delivery of -300 kV to the TPC cathode, verification of replaceable charge read-out electronics, and operation of the photon detection system. ProtoDUNE-DP experience resulted in improved designs of the Vertical Drift LArTPC.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2026

Search for axion-like particles decaying to two photons at Belle II

Axion-like particles (ALPs) are predicted in many extensions of the Standard Model and provide a well-motivated portal between visible and hidden sectors through their coupling to photons. We search for ALPs produced in the process $e^{+}e^{-}\to\gamma a$, $a\to\gamma\gamma$, using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $408~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ recorded by the Belle~II detector at the SuperKEKB $e^{+}e^{-}$ collider. Events containing three photons are used to reconstruct the ALP as a narrow peak in the di-photon invariant mass spectrum over the range $0.17 < m_{a} < 9.80~\mathrm{GeV}/c^{2}$. No significant excess above background is observed. We set 95\% confidence level upper limits on the production cross section and on the ALP-photon coupling $g_{a\gamma\gamma}$, reaching sensitivities at the level of $10^{-4}~\mathrm{GeV}^{-1}$. The limits are the most restrictive to date over nearly the entire mass range $0.17 < m_{a} < 5.00~\mathrm{GeV}/c^{2}$, and improve upon previous results by up to a factor 9.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

First measurement of the masses of the $\Upsilon_1(1D)$ and $\Upsilon_3(1D)$ states and the energy dependence of the cross sections for $e^+e^-\to\Upsilon_J(1D)\eta$ and $e^+e^-\to\Upsilon_J(1D)\pi^+\pi^-$

We study the processes $e^+e^-\to\Upsilon_J(1D)\eta$ and $e^+e^-\to\Upsilon_J(1D)\pi^+\pi^-$ at center-of-mass energies $\sqrt{s}$=(10.73 -- 11.02) GeV using a $142.5\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ data sample, including 122~fb$^{-1}$ near the $\Upsilon$(10860) peak ($\sqrt{s}$ = 10.866 GeV), collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider. From the peak sample, the products of Born cross section times branching fraction are obtained for $\sigma_{\rm Born}(e^+e^-\to\Upsilon_J(1D)\eta)$ or $\sigma_{\rm Born}(e^+e^-\to\Upsilon_J(1D)\pi^+\pi^-)$ and ${\cal B}(\Upsilon_J(1D)\to\chi_{b1}\gamma)$ or ${\cal B}(\Upsilon_J(1D)\to\chi_{b2}\gamma)$ for each $\Upsilon_J(1D)$ state. The corresponding branching fractions for $\Upsilon(10860)$ decays are also obtained. The significances of the $\Upsilon_1(1D)$, $\Upsilon_2(1D)$, and $\Upsilon_3(1D)$ signals are 4.8$\sigma$, ${>}10\sigma$, and 3.0$\sigma$, respectively, including systematic uncertainties. The mass for $\Upsilon_2(1D)$ is measured to be $(10167.0\pm 1.0\pm 0.2)$ MeV/$c^2$, where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic. The mass splittings $\Delta m_{12}=m(\Upsilon_2(1D))-m(\Upsilon_1(1D))$ and $\Delta m_{23}=m(\Upsilon_3(1D))-m(\Upsilon_2(1D))$ are $(11.8\pm1.5\pm0.4)$ MeV/$c^2$ and $(7.6\pm2.4\pm0.6)$ MeV/$c^2$, respectively.~We determine the energy dependence of the cross sections for $e^+e^-\to\Upsilon_J(1D)\eta$ and $e^+e^-\to\Upsilon_J(1D)\pi^+\pi^-$ for the $\Upsilon_1(1D)$, $\Upsilon_2(1D)$, and $\Upsilon_3(1D)$ states, combined.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Charged-lepton identification at Belle~II

Effective particle identification capabilities are a strategic priority for the physics program of the Belle~II experiment. We describe the algorithms used at Belle~II for identifying electrons and muons and separating them from charged hadrons. We present the performance obtained by the experiment during Run 1, which consists of 428 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected at the energy-asymmetric $e^+e^-$ collider SuperKEKB between 2019 and 2022 at center-of-mass energies near the mass of the $\Upsilon(4S)$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

First evidence of $X(3872)\to\pi^0\chi_{c0}(1P)$ and search for $X(3915)\to\pi^0\chi_{c1}(1P)$

We search for the pionic transitions $X(3872)\to\pi^0\chi_{cJ}(1P)$ $(J = 0,~1,~2)$ and $X(3915)\to\pi^0\chi_{c1}$ in $B^+\to \pi^0\chi_{cJ}K^+$ decays using the Belle and Belle~II data samples collected at the $\Upsilon(4S)$ resonance, corresponding to integrated luminosities of $711~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ and $492~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$, respectively. We report the first evidence for the decay $X(3872)\to\pi^0\chi_{c0}$ with a significance of $3.4\sigma$, including systematic uncertainties. We measure the product of branching fractions ${\cal B}(B^+\to X(3872)K^+)\times{\cal B}(X(3872)\to\pi^0\chi_{c0})=(20.0\pm6.8\pm2.3)\times10^{-6}$ and the branching fraction ratio ${\cal B}(X(3872)\to\pi^0\chi_{c0})/{\cal B}(X(3872)\to\pi^+\pi^-J/\psi)=2.3\pm0.8\pm0.4$, where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. The upper limits at 90\% credibility on the products of branching fractions for the $\pi^0\chi_{c1}$ and $\pi^0\chi_{c2}$ modes are $7.5\times10^{-6}$ and $15.3\times10^{-6}$, respectively. The corresponding upper limits on the branching fraction ratios relative to the $\pi^+\pi^-J/\psi$ decay are $0.9$ and $1.8$. The measured branching fractions for $X(3872)\to\pi^0\chi_{cJ}$ are consistent with several theoretical predictions based on the hadronic molecular interpretation of the $X(3872)$. No significant signal is seen for the $X(3915)\to\pi^0\chi_{c1}$ decay, and we set the 90\% credibility upper limit of ${\cal B}(B^+\to X(3915)K^+)\times{\cal B}(X(3915)\to\pi^0\chi_{c1})<6.6\times10^{-6}$, while the decays for $J=0$ and 2 are forbidden by parity conservation.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Measurement of mixing-induced CP violation in the decay $B^0 \to \pi^0 \pi^0$

Measurements of charge-parity (CP) violation in quark transitions provide stringent tests of the current theory and sensitive probes of particles or interactions beyond it. We report the first measurement of mixing-induced CP violation in $B^0\to\pi^0\pi^0$ decays. The measurement uses 190 million $\Upsilon(4S)\to B^{0}\overline{B}{}^0$ events collected with the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy electron-positron collider. A new approach that exploits the quantum entanglement of the $B^{0}\overline{B}{}^0$ pair enables a decay-time-dependent analysis without reconstructing the $B^0 \to \pi^0\pi^0$ decay position. We measure the mixing-induced CP-violating coefficient to be $S_{\pi^{0}\pi^{0}} = 0.61^{+0.75}_{-0.79}\,(\mathrm{stat}) \pm 0.11\,(\mathrm{syst})$, attaining a precision that would require a data set twenty times as large with a conventional analysis. We also measure the direct CP-violating coefficient to be $C_{\pi^{0}\pi^{0}} = 0.05 \pm 0.28\,(\mathrm{stat}) \pm 0.07\,(\mathrm{syst})$. These results substantially improve the constraints from $B \to \pi\pi$ decays on the CP-violating phase $\phi_2$ of the quark-mixing matrix using far less data than had previously been assumed necessary.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Observation of the decays $B^{+} \to \Sigma_{c}(2455)^{++} \bar{\Xi}_{c}^{\prime-}$ and $B^{0} \to \Sigma_{c}(2455)^{0} \bar{\Xi}_{c}^{\prime0}$

We report the first observation of the decays $B^{+} \to \Sigma_{c}(2455)^{++} \bar{\Xi}_{c}^{\prime-}$ and $B^{0} \to \Sigma_{c}(2455)^{0} \bar{\Xi}_{c}^{\prime0}$, with significances of $6.4\,\sigma$ and $5.3\, \sigma$, respectively, including systematic uncertainties. This analysis is based on data samples containing $771.6 \times 10^{6}$ $\Upsilon(4S)$ decays collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB collider and $520.6 \times 10^{6}$ $\Upsilon(4S)$ decays collected with the Belle~II detector at the SuperKEKB collider. The branching fractions are measured to be $\mathcal{B}(B^+ \to \Sigma_c(2455)^{++} \bar{\Xi}_c^{\prime -}) = (1.68 \pm 0.31 \pm 0.12^{+1.49}_{-0.54}) \times 10^{-3}$ and $\mathcal{B}(B^0 \to \Sigma_c(2455)^{0} \bar{\Xi}_c^{\prime 0}) = (1.28 \pm 0.32 \pm 0.10^{+0.30}_{-0.21}) \times 10^{-3}$, where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively, and the third arises from the uncertainties in the absolute branching fractions of $\bar{\Xi}_{c}^{-}$ and $\bar{\Xi}_{c}^{0}$ decays. This result represents the first observation of $B$-meson decays into a pair of charmed baryon-antibaryon states belonging to the same $SU(3)$ flavor sextet.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Measurement of time-dependent $CP$ violation parameters in $B^{0} \to K_{S}^{0} \pi^{0} \gamma$ decays at Belle and Belle II

We perform a measurement of time-dependent $CP$ violation parameters in $B^{0} \to K_{S}^{0} \pi^{0} \gamma$ decays using a dataset of approximately $772 \times 10^6$ and $521 \times 10^6$ $\Upsilon(4S)$ decays collected by the Belle and Belle II experiments, respectively. The measured parameters for the combined dataset in the $K^{*0}(892)$ dominated region ($M_{K_{S}^{0} \pi^{0}} \in [0.8,1.0] \mathrm{GeV}/c^2$) are $S = 0.09 \pm 0.16 \pm 0.02$ and $C = -0.09 \pm 0.08 \pm 0.04$. For the non-$K^{*0}(892)$ region ($M_{K_{S}^{0} \pi^{0}} \in [1.0,1.8] \mathrm{GeV}/c^2$), the corresponding values are $S = -0.32 \pm 0.33 \pm 0.09$ and $C = -0.07 \pm 0.17 \pm 0.08$. The first quoted uncertainties are statistical, while the second ones are systematic. These results are consistent with Standard Model predictions and more precise than previous measurements.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Search for $\Xi^0p$, $\Omega^- p$, and $\Omega^- n$ dibaryons in $\Upsilon(1S)$ and $\Upsilon(2S)$ decays at Belle

We search for $\Xi^0p$, $\Omega^-p$, and $\Omega^-n$ dibaryon states in $\Upsilon(1S)$ and $\Upsilon(2S)$ decays, probing mass regions near the corresponding baryon-pair thresholds. Multistrange baryon-baryon interactions are relevant to neutron-star matter but remain largely unconstrained. Experimental and theoretical studies supporting attractive $\Xi N$ and $\Omega N$ interactions, where $N$ denotes a nucleon, motivate searches for weakly bound states. We use samples of $102$ million $\Upsilon(1S)$ and $158$ million $\Upsilon(2S)$ decays collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider. No significant signals are observed, and the first $90$% confidence-level upper limits are set on the branching fractions of $\Upsilon(1S)$ and $\Upsilon(2S)$ decays to $\Xi^0p$, $\Omega^-p$, and $\Omega^-n$ dibaryon states, at the level of $O(10^{-7})$-$O(10^{-6})$, depending on the channel and the assumed mass difference from the corresponding baryon-pair threshold.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Charge readout electronics for the DUNE horizontal drift far detector: design and performance in ProtoDUNE-HD

DUNE (Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment) is a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment currently under construction, whose far detectors will be the largest liquid argon time projection chambers ever built. This detector design calls for custom-built cryogenic front-end electronics to meet its performance requirements. This paper describes the charge readout electronics that will be used in the DUNE horizontal drift (HD) far detector and presents performance results using data from the ProtoDUNE-HD detector, a 770 ton liquid argon time projection chamber operated at the CERN Neutrino Platform in 2024 that served as the final prototype of the DUNE HD design.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2026

Reconstruction of atmospheric neutrinos in DUNE's horizontal-drift far-detector module

This paper reports on the capabilities in reconstructing and identifying atmospheric neutrino interactions in one of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment's (DUNE) far detector modules, a liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) with horizontal drift (FD-HD) of ionization electrons. The reconstruction is based upon the workflow developed for DUNE's long-baseline oscillation analysis, with some necessary machine-learning models' retraining and the addition of features relevant only to atmospheric neutrinos such as the neutrino direction reconstruction. Where relevant, the impact of the detection of the charged particles of the hadronic system is emphasized, and comparisons are carried out between the case when lepton-only information is considered in the reconstruction (as is the case for many neutrino oscillation experiments), versus when all particles identified in the LArTPC were included. Three neutrino direction reconstruction methods have been developed and studied for the atmospheric analyses: using lepton-only information, using all reconstructed particles, and using only correlations from reconstructed hits. The results indicate that incorporating more than just lepton information significantly improves the resolution of both neutrino direction and energy reconstruction. The angle reconstruction algorithms developed in this work result in no strong dependence on particle direction for reconstruction efficiencies or neutrino flavor identification. This comprehensive review of the reconstruction of atmospheric neutrinos in DUNE's FD-HD LArTPC is the first step towards developing a first neutrino oscillation sensitivity analysis, which will ready DUNE for its first measurements.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Measurement of Exclusive $\pi^+$--argon Interactions Using ProtoDUNE-SP

We present the measurement of $\pi^{+}$--argon inelastic cross sections using the ProtoDUNE Single-Phase liquid argon time projection chamber in the incident $\pi^+$ kinetic energy range of 500 -- 800 MeV in multiple exclusive channels (absorption, charge exchange, and the remaining inelastic interactions). The results of this analysis are important inputs to simulations of liquid argon neutrino experiments such as the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment and the Short Baseline Neutrino program at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. They will be employed to improve the modeling of final state interactions within neutrino event generators used by these experiments, as well as the modeling of $\pi^{+}$--argon secondary interactions within the liquid argon. This is the first measurement of $\pi^+$--argon absorption at this kinetic energy range as well as the first ever measurement of $\pi^{+}$--argon charge exchange.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

First Measurement of $\pi^+$-Ar and $p$-Ar Total Inelastic Cross Sections in the Sub-GeV Energy Regime with ProtoDUNE-SP Data

The ProtoDUNE-SP detector, a kiloton-scale prototype for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) far detector, is the largest liquid argon time projection chamber built to date. Operated at CERN from 2018 to 2020, it collected both cosmic-ray data and a beam consisting of positively-charged particles with discrete momentum settings across a range of 0.3 GeV/$c$ to 7 GeV/$c$. In this letter, we report the total inelastic cross section measurements for $\pi^+$--Ar and $p$--Ar interactions using selected $\pi^+$ and proton samples from the 1 GeV/$c$ beam data, spanning kinetic energies of 500--900~MeV and below 450~MeV, respectively. These energy ranges are directly relevant to hadrons produced in DUNE. The measured cross sections are consistent with predictions and provide a dataset that was previously unavailable for argon targets. These measurements are essential for constraining neutrino-argon interaction models and achieving the precision physics goals of the upcoming DUNE experiment.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Improved measurement of Born cross sections for $\chi_{bJ}\,\omega$ and $\chi_{bJ}\,(\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0)_{\rm non-\omega}$ ($J$ = 0, 1, 2) at Belle and Belle II

We study the processes $\chi_{bJ}\,\omega$ and $\chi_{bJ}\,(\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0)_{\rm non-\omega}$ ($J$ = 0, 1, 2) at center-of-mass energies $\sqrt{s}$ from 10.73 to 11.02 GeV using a $142.5\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ data sample collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+ e^-$ collider; and at $\sqrt{s}\sim10.75$ GeV using a $19.8\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ sample collected with Belle II at SuperKEKB. We find that the $\Upsilon(10753)$ state decays into $\chi_{bJ}\,\omega$ but not into $\chi_{bJ}\,(\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0)_{\rm non-\omega}$, while the $\Upsilon(10860)$ state, in contrast, decays into $\chi_{bJ}\,(\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0)_{\rm non-\omega}$ but not into $\chi_{bJ}\,\omega$. The mass and width of the $\Upsilon(10753)$ state are measured to be $(10756.1\pm3.4({\rm stat.})\pm2.7({\rm syst.}))$ MeV/$c^2$ and $(32.2\pm11.3({\rm stat.})\pm14.9({\rm syst.}))$ MeV. The products of the partial width to $e^+e^-$ and branching fractions for $\Upsilon(10753)\to\chi_{b1}\,\omega$ and $\Upsilon(10753)\to\chi_{b2}\,\omega$ are ($1.57\pm0.27({\rm stat.})\pm 0.22({\rm syst.})$) eV and ($1.39\pm0.41({\rm stat.})\pm 0.33({\rm syst.})$) eV.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Identification of low-energy kaons in the ProtoDUNE-SP detector

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a next-generation neutrino experiment with a rich physics program that includes searches for the hypothetical phenomenon of proton decay. Utilizing liquid-argon time-projection chamber technology, DUNE is expected to achieve world-leading sensitivity in the proton decay channels that involve charged kaons in their final states. The first DUNE demonstrator, ProtoDUNE Single-Phase, was a 0.77 kt detector that operated from 2018 to 2020 at the CERN Neutrino Platform, exposed to a mixed hadron and electron test-beam with momenta ranging from 0.3 to 7 GeV/c. We present a selection of low-energy kaons among the secondary particles produced in hadronic reactions, using data from the 6 and 7 GeV/c beam runs. The selection efficiency is 1\% and the sample purity 92\%. The initial energies of the selected kaon candidates encompass the expected energy range of kaons originating from proton decay events in DUNE (below $\sim$200 MeV). In addition, we demonstrate the capability of this detector technology to discriminate between kaons and other particles such as protons and muons, and provide a comprehensive description of their energy loss in liquid argon, which shows good agreement with the simulation. These results pave the way for future proton decay searches at DUNE.

hep-ex↗