arXiv subjects

V. Bocci

Publications and source records attributed to V. Bocci.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Search for low-mass dark matter WIMPs with 12 ton-day exposure of DarkSide-50

We report on the search for dark matter WIMPs in the mass range below 10 GeV/c$^2$, from the analysis of the entire dataset acquired with a low-radioactivity argon target by the DarkSide-50 experiment at LNGS. The new analysis benefits from more accurate calibration of the detector response, improved background model, and better determination of systematic uncertainties, allowing us to accurately model the background rate and spectra down to 0.06 keV$_{er}$. A 90% C.L. exclusion limit for the spin-independent cross section of 3 GeV/c$^2$ mass WIMP on nucleons is set at 6$\times$10$^{-43}$ cm$^2$, about a factor 10 better than the previous DarkSide-50 limit. This analysis extends the exclusion region for spin-independent dark matter interactions below the current experimental constraints in the $[1.2, 3.6]$ GeV/c$^2$ WIMP mass range.

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arXiv2023

Search for dark matter-nucleon interactions via Migdal effect with DarkSide-50

Dark matter elastic scattering off nuclei can result in the excitation and ionization of the recoiling atom through the so-called Migdal effect. The energy deposition from the ionization electron adds to the energy deposited by the recoiling nuclear system and allows for the detection of interactions of sub-GeV/c$^2$ mass dark matter. We present new constraints for sub-GeV/c$^2$ dark matter using the dual-phase liquid argon time projection chamber of the DarkSide-50 experiment with an exposure of (12306 $\pm$ 184) kg d. The analysis is based on the ionization signal alone and significantly enhances the sensitivity of DarkSide-50, enabling sensitivity to dark matter with masses down to 40 MeV/c$^2$. Furthermore, it sets the most stringent upper limit on the spin independent dark matter nucleon cross section for masses below $3.6$ GeV/c$^2$.

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arXiv2023

Search for dark matter particle interactions with electron final states with DarkSide-50

We present a search for dark matter particles with sub-GeV/$c^2$ masses whose interactions have final state electrons using the DarkSide-50 experiment's (12306 $\pm$ 184) kg d low-radioactivity liquid argon exposure. By analyzing the ionization signals, we exclude new parameter space for the dark matter-electron cross section $\barσ_e$, the axioelectric coupling constant $g_{Ae}$, and the dark photon kinetic mixing parameter $κ$. We also set the first dark matter direct-detection constraints on the mixing angle $\left|U_{e4}\right|^2$ for keV sterile neutrinos.

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arXiv2021

A study of events with photoelectric emission in the DarkSide-50 liquid argon Time Projection Chamber

Finding unequivocal evidence of dark matter interactions in a particle detector is a major objective of physics research. Liquid argon time projection chambers offer a path to probe Weakly Interacting Massive Particles scattering cross sections on nucleus down to the so-called neutrino floor, in a mass range from few GeV's to hundredths of TeV's. Based on the successful operation of the DarkSide-50 detector at LNGS, a new and more sensitive experiment, DarkSide-20k, has been designed and is now under construction. A thorough understanding of the DarkSide-50 detector response and, therefore, of all kind of observed events, is essential for an optimal design of the new experiment. In this paper, we report on a particular set of events, which were not used for dark matter searches. Namely, standard two-pulse scintillation-ionization signals accompanied by a small amplitude third pulse, originating from single or few electrons, in a time window of less than a maximum drift time. We compare our findings to those of a recent paper of the LUX Collaboration (D.S.Akerib et al. Phys.Rev.D 102, 092004). Indeed, both experiments observe events related to photoionization of the cathode. From the measured rate of these events, we estimate for the first time the quantum efficiency of the tetraphenyl butadiene deposited on the DarkSide-50 cathode at wavelengths around 128 nm, in liquid argon. Also, both experiments observe events likely related to photoionization of impurities in the liquid. The probability of photoelectron emission per unit length turns out to be one order of magnitude smaller in DarkSide-50 than in LUX. This result, together with the much larger measured electron lifetime, coherently hints toward a lower concentration of contaminants in DarkSide-50 than in LUX.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Study of the $ψ_2(3823)$ and $χ_{c1}(3872)$ states in $B^+ \rightarrow \left( Jψπ^+π^-\right)K^+$ decays

The decays $B^+\rightarrow J/ψπ^+ π^- K^+$ are studied using a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9fb$^{-1}$ collected with the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions between 2011 and 2018. Precise measurements of the ratios of branching fractions with the intermediate $ψ_2(3823)$, $χ_{c1}(3872)$ and $ψ(2S)$ states are reported. The decay of $B^+\rightarrow ψ_2(3823)K^+$ with $ψ_2(3823)\rightarrow Jψπ^+π^-$ is observed for the first time with a significance of 5.1 standard deviations. The mass differences between the $ψ_2(3823)$, $χ_{c1}(3872)$ and $ψ(2S)$ states are measured to be $$ \begin{array}{rcl} m_{χ_{c1(3872)}} - m_{ψ_2(3823)} &= & 47.50 \pm 0.53 \pm 0.13\,\mathrm{MeV/}c^2\,, \\ m_{ψ_2(3823)} - m_{ψ(2S)} &= & 137.98 \pm 0.53 \pm 0.14\,\mathrm{MeV/}c^2\,, \\ m_{χ_{c1}(3872)} - m_{ψ(2S)} &= & 185.49 \pm 0.06 \pm 0.03\,\mathrm{MeV/}c^2\,, \end{array} $$ resulting in the most precise determination of the $χ_{c1}(3782)$ mass. The width of the $ψ_2(3823)$ state is found to be below 5.2MeV at 90\% confidence level. The Breit-Wigner width of the $χ_{c1}(3872)$ state is measured to be $$ Γ^{\mathrm{BW}}_{χ_{c1}(3872)} = 0.96^{+0.19}_{-0.18}\pm0.21 \mathrm{MeV},$$ which is inconsistent with zero by 5.5 standard deviations.

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arXiv2021

Calibration of the liquid argon ionization response to low energy electronic and nuclear recoils with DarkSide-50

DarkSide-50 has demonstrated the high potential of dual-phase liquid argon time projection chambers in exploring interactions of WIMPs in the GeV/c$^2$ mass range. The technique, based on the detection of the ionization signal amplified via electroluminescence in the gas phase, allows to explore recoil energies down to the sub-keV range. We report here on the DarkSide-50 measurement of the ionization yield of electronic recoils down to $\sim$180~eV$_{er}$, exploiting $^{37}$Ar and $^{39}$Ar decays, and extrapolated to a few ionization electrons with the Thomas-Imel box model. Moreover, we present a model-dependent determination of the ionization response to nuclear recoils down to $\sim$500~eV$_{nr}$, the lowest ever achieved in liquid argon, using \textit{in situ} neutron calibration sources and external datasets from neutron beam experiments.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Search for the doubly heavy baryons $\itΩ_{bc}^{\rm0}$ and $\itΞ_{bc}^{\rm0}$ decaying to $\it{Λ_{c}^{+}π^{-}}$ and $\it{Ξ_{c}^{+}π^{-}}$

The first search for the doubly heavy $\itΩ_{bc}^{\rm0}$ baryon and a search for $\itΞ_{bc}^{\rm0}$ baryon are performed using $pp$ collision data collected via the LHCb experiment from 2016 to 2018 at a centre-of-mass energy of $13TeV$, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.2$fb^{-1}$. The baryons are reconstructed via their decays to $\it{Λ_{c}^{+}π^{-}}$ and $\it{Ξ_{c}^{+}π^{-}}$. No significant excess is found for invariant masses between 6700 and 7300$MeV/c^2$, in a rapidity range from 2.0 to 4.5 and a transverse momentum range from 2 to 20$GeV/c$. Upper limits are set on the ratio of the $\itΩ_{bc}^{\rm0}$ and $\itΞ_{bc}^{\rm0}$ production cross-section times the branching fraction to $\it{Λ_{c}^{+}π^{-}}$ ($\it{Ξ_{c}^{+}π^{-}}$) relative to that of the $\it{Λ_b^{\rm0}}$ ($\it{Ξ_b^{\rm0}}$) baryon, for different lifetime hypotheses, at $95\%$ confidence level. The upper limits range from $0.5\times10^{-4}$ to $2.5\times10^{-4}$ for the $\itΩ_{bc}^{\rm0}\rightarrow\it{Λ_{c}^{+}π^{-}}$ ($\itΞ_{bc}^{\rm0}\rightarrow\it{Λ_{c}^{+}π^{-}}$) decay, and from $1.4\times10^{-3}$ to $6.9\times10^{-3}$ for the $\itΩ_{bc}^{\rm0}\rightarrow\it{Ξ_{c}^{+}π^{-}}$ ($\itΞ_{bc}^{\rm0}\rightarrow\it{Ξ_{c}^{+}π^{-}}$) decay, depending on the considered mass and lifetime of the $\itΩ_{bc}^{\rm0}$ ($\itΞ_{bc}^{\rm0}$) baryon.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

Search for heavy neutral leptons in $W^+\toμ^{+}μ^{\pm}\text{jet}$ decays

A search is performed for heavy neutrinos in the decay of a $W$ boson into two muons and a jet. The data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of approximately $3.0 \text{ fb}^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and $8 \text{ TeV}$ collected with the LHCb experiment. Both same-sign and opposite-sign muons in the final state are considered. Data are found to be consistent with the expected background. Upper limits on the coupling of a heavy neutrino with the Standard Model neutrino are set at $95\%$ confidence level in the heavy-neutrino mass range from 5 to $50 \text{ GeV}/c^2$. These are of the order of $10^{-3}$ for lepton-number-conserving decays and of the order of $10^{-4}$ for lepton-number-violating heavy-neutrino decays.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

Study of the lineshape of the $χ_{c1}(3872)$ state

A study of the lineshape of the $χ_{c1}(3872)$ state is made using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3\,$fb$^{-1}$ collected in $pp$ collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8\,TeV with the LHCb detector. Candidate $χ_{c1}(3872)$ and $ψ(2S)$ mesons from b-hadron decays are selected in the $ J/ψπ^+ π^-$ decay mode. Describing the {\mbox{lineshape}} with a Breit--Wigner function, the mass splitting between the $χ_{c1}(3872)$ and $ψ(2S)$ states, $Δm$, and the width of the $χ_{c1}(3872)$ state, $Γ_{\mathrm{BW}}$, are determined to be \begin{eqnarray*} Δm & = & 185.598 \pm 0.067 \pm 0.068\, \mathrm{MeV} \,, \\ Γ_{\mathrm{BW}} & = & \phantom{00}1.39\phantom{0} \pm 0.24\phantom{0} \pm 0.10\phantom{0} \mathrm{MeV} \,, \end{eqnarray*} where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. Using a Flatté-inspired model, the mode and full width at half maximum of the lineshape are determined to be \begin{eqnarray*} \mathrm{mode} & = 3871.69^{\,+\,0.00\,+\,0.05}_{\,-\,0.04\,-\,0.13} &\mathrm{MeV} \\ \mathrm{FWHM} & = 0.22^{\,+\,0.07\,+\,0.11}_{\,-\,0.06\,-\,0.13}& \mathrm{MeV} . \end{eqnarray*} An investigation of the analytic structure of the Flatté amplitude reveals a pole structure, which is compatible with a quasi-bound $D^0\bar{D}^{*0}$ state but a quasi-virtual state is still allowed at the level of $2$ standard deviations.

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arXiv2021

Measurement of the CKM angle $γ$ in $B^\pm\to D K^\pm$ and $B^\pm \to D π^\pm$ decays with $D \to K_\mathrm S^0 h^+ h^-$

A measurement of $CP$-violating observables is performed using the decays $B^\pm\to D K^\pm$ and $B^\pm\to D π^\pm$, where the $D$ meson is reconstructed in one of the self-conjugate three-body final states $K_{\mathrm S}π^+π^-$ and $K_{\mathrm S}K^+K^-$ (commonly denoted $K_{\mathrm S} h^+h^-$). The decays are analysed in bins of the $D$-decay phase space, leading to a measurement that is independent of the modelling of the $D$-decay amplitude. The observables are interpreted in terms of the CKM angle $γ$. Using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\,\text{fb}^{-1}$ collected in proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of $7$, $8$, and $13\,\text{TeV}$ with the LHCb experiment, $γ$ is measured to be $\left(68.7^{+5.2}_{-5.1}\right)^\circ$. The hadronic parameters $r_B^{DK}$, $r_B^{Dπ}$, $δ_B^{DK}$, and $δ_B^{Dπ}$, which are the ratios and strong-phase differences of the suppressed and favoured $B^\pm$ decays, are also reported.

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arXiv2021

SiPM-matrix readout of two-phase argon detectors using electroluminescence in the visible and near infrared range

Proportional electroluminescence (EL) in noble gases is used in two-phase detectors for dark matter searches to record (in the gas phase) the ionization signal induced by particle scattering in the liquid phase. The "standard" EL mechanism is considered to be due to noble gas excimer emission in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV). In addition, there are two alternative mechanisms, producing light in the visible and near infrared (NIR) ranges. The first is due to bremsstrahlung of electrons scattered on neutral atoms ("neutral bremsstrahlung", NBrS). The second, responsible for electron avalanche scintillation in the NIR at higher electric fields, is due to transitions between excited atomic states. In this work, we have for the first time demonstrated two alternative techniques of the optical readout of two-phase argon detectors, in the visible and NIR range, using a silicon photomultiplier matrix and electroluminescence due to either neutral bremsstrahlung or avalanche scintillation. The amplitude yield and position resolution were measured for these readout techniques, which allowed to assess the detection threshold for electron and nuclear recoils in two-phase argon detectors for dark matter searches. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first practical application of the NBrS effect in detection science.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Measurement of differential $b\bar{b}$- and $c\bar{c}$-dijet cross-sections in the forward region of $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13 ~ \mathrm{TeV}$

The inclusive $b \bar{b}$- and $c \bar{c}$-dijet production cross-sections in the forward region of $pp$ collisions are measured using a data sample collected with the LHCb detector at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV in 2016. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.6 fb$^{-1}$. Differential cross-sections are measured as a function of the transverse momentum and of the pseudorapidity of the leading jet, of the rapidity difference between the jets, and of the dijet invariant mass. A fiducial region for the measurement is defined by requiring that the two jets originating from the two $b$ or $c$ quarks are emitted with transverse momentum greater than 20 GeV$/c$, pseudorapidity in the range $2.2 < η< 4.2$, and with a difference in the azimuthal angle between the two jets greater than 1.5. The integrated $b \bar{b}$-dijet cross-section is measured to be $53.0 \pm 9.7$ nb, and the total $c \bar{c}$-dijet cross-section is measured to be $73 \pm 16$ nb. The ratio between $c \bar{c}$- and $b \bar{b}$-dijet cross-sections is also measured and found to be $1.37 \pm 0.27$. The results are in agreement with theoretical predictions at next-to-leading order.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

Constraints on the $K^0_{\mathrm{S}}\rightarrowμ^{+}μ^{-}$ branching fraction

A search for the decay $K^0_{\mathrm{S}}\rightarrowμ^{+}μ^{-}$ is performed using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.6\,\text{fb}^{-1}$ and collected with the LHCb experiment during 2016, 2017 and 2018 at a center-of-mass energy of $13\,\mathrm{TeV}$. The observed signal yield is consistent with zero, yielding an upper limit of ${\cal B}(K^0_{\mathrm{S}}\rightarrowμ^{+}μ^{-}) < 2.2 \times 10^{-10}$ at 90% CL. The limit reduces to ${\cal B}(K^0_{\mathrm{S}}\rightarrowμ^{+}μ^{-}) < 2.1 \times 10^{-10}$ at 90% CL once combined with the result from data taken in 2011 and 2012.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

Measurement of the shape of the $B_s^0\rightarrow D_s^{*-}μ^{+}ν_μ$ differential decay rate

The shape of the $B_s^0\rightarrow D_s^{*-}μ^+ν_μ$ differential decay rate is obtained as a function of the hadron recoil using proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.7 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb detector. The $B_s^0\rightarrow D_s^{*-}μ^+ν_μ$ decay is reconstructed through the decays $D_s^{*-}\rightarrow D_s^{-}γ$ and $D_s^{-}\rightarrow K^-K^+π^-$. The differential decay rate is fitted with the Caprini-Lellouch-Neubert (CLN) and Boyd-Grinstein-Lebed (BGL) parametrisations of the form factors, and the relevant quantities for both are extracted.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

Measurement of branching fraction ratios for $B^+\to D^{+}D^-K^+$, $B^+\to D^{-}D^+K^+$, and $B^0\to D^{*-}D^0K^+$ decays

A measurement of four branching-fraction ratios for three-body decays of $B$ mesons involving two open-charm hadrons in the final state is presented. Run 1 and Run 2 $pp$ collision data are used, recorded by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies $7$, $8$, and $13$ TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9$ fb$^{-1}$. The measured branching-fraction ratios are \[ \begin{eqnarray} \frac{\mathcal{B} (B^+\to D^{*+}D^-K^+)}{\mathcal{B} (B^+\to \kern 0.2em\overline{\kern -0.2em D}{}^0 D^0 K^+)} &=& 0.517 \pm 0.015 \pm 0.013 \pm 0.011 , \\ \frac{\mathcal{B} (B^+\to D^{*-}D^+K^+)}{\mathcal{B} (B^+\to \kern 0.2em\overline{\kern -0.2em D}{}^0 D^0 K^+)} &=& 0.577 \pm 0.016 \pm 0.013 \pm 0.013 , \\ \frac{\mathcal{B} (B^0\to D^{*-}D^0K^+)}{\mathcal{B} (B^0\to D^- D^0 K^+)} &=& 1.754 \pm 0.028 \pm 0.016 \pm 0.035 , \\ \frac{\mathcal{B} (B^+\to D^{*+}D^-K^+)}{\mathcal{B} (B^+\to D^{*-}D^+K^+)} &=& 0.907 \pm 0.033 \pm 0.014 ,\end{eqnarray} \] where the first of the uncertainties is statistical, the second systematic, and the third is due to the uncertainties on the $D$-meson branching fractions. These are the most accurate measurements of these ratios to date.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

First observation of the decay $Λ_b^0 \to η_c(1S) p K^-$

The decay $Λ_b^0 \to η_c(1S) p K^-$ is observed for the first time using a data sample of proton-proton collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.5 $fb^{-1}$, collected with the LHCb experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The branching fraction of the decay is measured, using the $Λ_b^0 \to J/ψp K^-$ decay as a normalization mode, to be $\mathcal{B}(Λ_b^0 \to η_c(1S) p K^-)=(1.06\pm0.16\pm0.06^{+0.22}_{-0.19})\times10^{-4}$, where the quoted uncertainties are statistical, systematic and due to external inputs, respectively. A study of the $η_c(1S) p$ mass spectrum is performed to search for the $P_c(4312)^+$ pentaquark state. No evidence is observed and an upper limit of \begin{equation*} \frac{\mathcal{B}(Λ_b^0 \to P_c(4312)^+ K^-)\times \mathcal{B}(P_c(4312)^+ \to η_c(1S) p)}{\mathcal{B}(Λ_b^0 \to η_c(1S) p K^-)} < 0.24 \end{equation*} is obtained at the 95% confidence level.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

Strong constraints on the $b \to sγ$ photon polarisation from $B^0 \to K^{*0} e^+ e^-$ decays

An angular analysis of the $B^0 \to K^{*0} e^+ e^-$ decay is performed using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9~{\rm fb}^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions collected with the LHCb experiment. The analysis is conducted in the very low dielectron mass squared ($q^2$) interval between $0.0008$ and $0.257~{\rm GeV}^2$, where the rate is dominated by the $B^0\to K^{\ast 0}γ$ transition with a virtual photon. The fraction of longitudinal polarisation of the $K^{\ast 0}$ meson, $F_{\rm L}$, is measured to be $F_{\rm L} = (4.4 \pm 2.6 \pm 1.4)\%$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The $A_{\rm T}^{\rm Re}$ observable, which is related to the lepton forward-backward asymmetry, is measured to be $A_{\rm T}^{\rm Re}=-0.06 \pm 0.08 \pm 0.02$. The $A_{\rm T}^{(2)}$ and $A_{\rm T}^{\rm Im}$ transverse asymmetries, which are sensitive to the virtual photon polarisation, are found to be $A_{\rm T}^{(2)} = 0.11 \pm 0.10 \ \pm 0.02$ and $A_{\rm T}^{\rm Im} = 0.02 \pm 0.10 \pm 0.01$. The results are consistent with Standard Model predictions and provide the world's best constraint on the $b\to sγ$ photon polarisation.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

Observation of enhanced double parton scattering in proton-lead collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}=8.16$ TeV

A study of prompt charm-hadron pair production in proton-lead collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}= 8.16$ TeV is performed using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 30 nb${}^{-1}$, collected with the LHCb experiment. Production cross-sections for different pairs of charm hadrons are measured and kinematic correlations between the two charm hadrons are investigated. This is the first measurement of associated production of two charm hadrons in proton-lead collisions. The results confirm the predicted enhancement of double parton scattering production in proton-lead collisions compared to the single parton scattering production.

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