arXiv subjects

V. Niess

Publications and source records attributed to V. Niess.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

Calibration and performance of the LHCb calorimeters in Run 1 and 2 at the LHC

The calibration and performance of the LHCb Calorimeter system in Run 1 and 2 at the LHC are described. After a brief description of the sub-detectors and of their role in the trigger, the calibration methods used for each part of the system are reviewed. The changes which occurred with the increase of beam energy in Run 2 are explained. The performances of the calorimetry for $γ$ and $π^0$ are detailed. A few results from collisions recorded at $\sqrt {s}$ = 7, 8 and 13 TeV are shown.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

Isospin analysis of charmless B-meson decays

We discuss the determination of the CKM angle $α$ using the non-leptonic two-body decays $B\to ππ$, $B\to ρρ$ and $B\to ρπ$ using the latest data available. We illustrate the methods used in each case and extract the corresponding value of $α$. Combining all these elements, we obtain the following determination of $α_{\rm dir}=( 86.2^{+4.4}_{-4.0}~~ \cup~~ 178.4^{+3.9}_{-5.1})^\circ$. We assess the uncertainties associated to the breakdown of the isospin hypothesis and the choice of statistical framework in detail. We also determine the hadronic amplitudes (tree and penguin) describing the QCD dynamics involved in these decays, briefly comparing our results with theoretical expectations. For each observable of interest in the $B\to ππ$, $B\to ρρ$ and $B\to ρπ$ systems, we perform an indirect determination based on the constraints from all the other observables available and we discuss the compatibility between indirect and direct determinations. Finally, we review the impact of future improved measurements on the determination of $α$.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Current status of the Standard Model CKM fit and constraints on $ΔF=2$ New Physics

This letter summarises the status of the global fit of the CKM parameters within the Standard Model performed by the CKMfitter group. Special attention is paid to the inputs for the CKM angles $α$ and $γ$ and the status of $B_s\toμμ$ and $B_d\to μμ$ decays. We illustrate the current situation for other unitarity triangles. We also discuss the constraints on generic $ΔF=2$ New Physics. All results have been obtained with the CKMfitter analysis package, featuring the frequentist statistical approach and using Rfit to handle theoretical uncertainties.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

The LHCb Trigger and its Performance in 2011

This paper presents the design of the LHCb trigger and its performance on data taken at the LHC in 2011. A principal goal of LHCb is to perform flavour physics measurements, and the trigger is designed to distinguish charm and beauty decays from the light quark background. Using a combination of lepton identification and measurements of the particles' transverse momenta the trigger selects particles originating from charm and beauty hadrons, which typically fly a finite distance before decaying. The trigger reduces the roughly 11\,MHz of bunch-bunch crossings that contain at least one inelastic $pp$ interaction to 3\,kHz. This reduction takes place in two stages; the first stage is implemented in hardware and the second stage is a software application that runs on a large computer farm. A data-driven method is used to evaluate the performance of the trigger on several charm and beauty decay modes.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2012

New Physics in B-Bbar mixing in the light of recent LHCb data

We perform model-independent statistical analyses of three scenarios accommodating New Physics (NP) in Delta F=2 flavour-changing neutral current amplitudes. In a scenario in which NP in B_d-B_d-bar and B_s-B_s-bar is uncorrelated, we find the parameter point representing the Standard-Model disfavoured by 2.4 standard deviations. However, recent LHCb data on B_s neutral-meson mixing forbid a good accommodation of the D0 data on the semileptonic CP asymmetry A_SL. We introduce a fourth scenario with NP in both M_12^d,s and Gamma_12^d,s, which can accommodate all data. We discuss the viability of this possibility and emphasise the importance of separate measurements of the CP asymmetries in semileptonic B_d and B_s decays. All results have been obtained with the CKMfitter analysis package, featuring the frequentist statistical approach and using Rfit to handle theoretical uncertainties.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2011

Predictions of selected flavour observables within the Standard Model

This letter gathers a selection of Standard Model predictions issued from the metrology of the CKM parameters performed by the CKMfitter group. The selection includes purely leptonic decays of neutral and charged B, D and K mesons. In the light of the expected measurements from the LHCb experiment, a special attention is given to the radiative decay modes of B mesons as well as to the B-meson mixing observables, in particular the semileptonic charge asymmetries a^d,s_SL which have been recently investigated by the D0 experiment at Tevatron. Constraints arising from rare kaon decays are addressed, in light of both current results and expected performances of future rare kaon experiments. All results have been obtained with the CKMfitter analysis package, featuring the frequentist statistical approach and using Rfit to handle theoretical uncertainties.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2011

Anatomy of New Physics in B-Bbar mixing

We analyse three different New Physics scenarios for Delta F=2 flavour-changing neutral currents in the quark sector in the light of recent data on neutral-meson mixing. We parametrise generic New Physics contributions to B_q-Bbar_q mixing (q=d,s), in terms of one complex quantity Delta_q, while three parameters Delta_K^tt, Delta_K^ct and Delta_K^cc are needed to describe K-Kbar mixing. In Scenario I, we consider uncorrelated New Physics contributions in the B_d, B_s, and K sectors. In this scenario, it is only possible to constrain the parameters Delta_d and Delta_s whereas there are no non-trivial constraints on the kaon parameters. In Scenario II, we study the case of Minimal Flavour Violation (MFV) and small bottom Yukawa coupling and Scenario III is the generic MFV case with large bottom Yukawa couplings. Our quantitative analyses consist of global CKM fits within the Rfit frequentist statistical approach, determining the Standard Model parameters and the new physics parameters of the studied scenarios simultaneously. We find that the recent measurements indicating discrepancies with the Standard Model are well accomodated in Scenarios I and III with new mixing phases, with a slight preference for Scenario I that permits different new CP phases in the B_d and B_s systems. Within our statistical framework, we find evidence of New Physics in both B_d and B_s systems. The Standard-Model hypothesis Delta_d=Delta_s=1 is disfavoured with p-values of 3.6 sigma and 3.3 sigma in Scenarios I and III, respectively. We also present an exhaustive list of numerical predictions in each scenario. In particular, we predict the CP phase in B_s -> J psi phi and the difference between the B_s and B_d semileptonic asymmetries, which will be both measured by the LHCb experiment.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2011

The TIANSHAN Radio Experiment for Neutrino Detection

An antenna array devoted to the autonomous radio-detection of high energy cosmic rays is being deployed on the site of the 21 cm array radio telescope in XinJiang, China. Thanks in particular to the very good electromagnetic environment of this remote experimental site, self-triggering on extensive air showers induced by cosmic rays has been achieved with a small scale prototype of the foreseen antenna array. We give here a detailed description of the detector and present the first detection of extensive air showers with this prototype.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2010

The Two Higgs Doublet of Type II facing flavour physics data

We discuss tests of the charged Higgs sector of the Two Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM) of Type II in the light of recent flavour physics data. Particular attention is paid to recent measurement of purely leptonic decays of heavy-light mesons, which depart more or less significantly from the Standard Model (SM) predictions. We derive constraints on the parameters of the 2HDM type II from leptonic and semileptonic $ΔF=1$ decays as well as loop processes ($b \to s γ$, $B\bar{B}$ mixing or $Z\to\bar{b}b$) sensitive to charged Higgs contributions. The outcome of this work is that while 2HDM Type II can fit individual observable through fine-tuning schemes, in a combined analysis it does not perform better than the SM by favouring a decoupling solution. Assuming that 2HDM Type II is realized in Nature, constraints on its parameters ($m_{H^+}$ and $\tan β$) are derived. A limit on the charged Higgs mass $m_{H^+} > 316 \; {\rm GeV}$ at $95\%$~CL is obtained irrespective of the value of $\tan β$. This limit is dominated by the $b\rightarrow s γ$ branching ratio measurement. All results have been obtained with the \ckmfitter\ analysis package, featuring the frequentist statistical approach \rfit\ to handle theoretical uncertainties.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2006

Underwater Acoustic Detection of Ultra High Energy Neutrinos

We investigate the acoustic detection method of 10^18-20 eV neutrinos in a Mediterranean Sea environment. The acoustic signal is re-evaluated according to dedicated cascade simulations and a complex phase dependant absorption model, and compared to previous studies. We detail the evolution of the acoustic signal as function of the primary shower characteristics and of the acoustic propagation range. The effective volume of detection for a single hydrophone is given taking into account the limitations due to sea bed and surface boundaries as well as refraction effects. For this 'benchmark detector' we present sensitivity limits to astrophysical neutrino fluxes, from which sensitivity bounds for a larger acoustic detector can be derived. Results suggest that with a limited instrumentation the acoustic method would be more efficient at extreme energies, above 10^20 eV.

astro-ph↗