arXiv subjects

Z. Aliouche

Publications and source records attributed to Z. Aliouche.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2025

Measurement of the branching fraction ratio $R_K$ at large dilepton invariant mass

A test of lepton universality between muons and electrons is performed using $B^+\to K^+\ell^+\ell^-$ decays (where $\ell$ = $e$, $μ$), in the dilepton invariant-mass-squared region above 14.3 GeV$^2/c^4$. The data used for the measurement consists of beauty meson decays produced in proton-proton collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 $\text{fb}^{-1}$, collected by the LHCb experiment between 2011 and 2018. The ratio of branching fractions for $B^+\to K^+μ^+μ^-$ and $B^+\to K^+e^+e^-$ decays is measured to be $R_K = 1.08^{+0.11}_{-0.09}\;(\text{stat})\;^{+0.04}_{-0.04}\;(\text{syst})$, which is consistent with the Standard Model prediction of unity. This constitutes the most precise test of lepton flavour universality using $B^+\to K^+\ell^+\ell^-$ decays with dilepton invariant-mass-squared above the $ψ(2S)$ mass, whilst being the first of its kind at a hadron collider.

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arXiv2025

Search for resonances decaying to photon pairs with masses between 4.9 and 19.4 GeV

A search is presented for axion-like particles (ALPs) with masses between 4.9 and 19.4 GeV decaying to a pair of photons, using proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector during 2018 at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.1 fb$^{-1}$. The same strategy and sample is used to search for the decays of the $B^0_s$, $B^0$ and $η_b$ mesons into photon pairs. No significant excess is found. Upper limits on the photon-pair branching fraction times the cross-section of ALP production are determined as a function of the ALP mass. Limits on the branching fractions of the beauty states are determined to be $\mathcal{B}(B^0_s\toγγ)<2.7\times10^{-5}$, $\mathcal{B}(B^0\toγγ)<0.83\times10^{-5}$, and $ σ(pp\toη_b X)\times\mathcal{B}(η_b\toγγ)<765\,\text{pb}$ at 95 % confidence level.

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arXiv2025

Angular analysis of the decay $B_{s}^{0}\toϕe^+e^-$

An angular analysis of the decay $B^0_s\toϕe^+e^-$ is presented, using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector between 2011 and 2018 at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13$\,\mathrm{Te\kern -0.1em V}$. The combined dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $9\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. Observables are determined by fitting time-integrated projections of the angular distribution in three bins of dielectron mass squared, $q^2$, corresponding to $[0.1,1.1]$, $[1.1,6.0]$ and $[15.0,19.0]\,\mathrm{Ge\kern -0.1em V}^2\!/c^4$. The results are compatible with predictions based on the Standard Model of particle physics.

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arXiv2025

Observation of the decay $B^0_{s}\to K^0 p \bar{p}$ and measurement of the $B^0_{(s)} \to K^0 p \bar{p}$ branching fractions

A study of the charmless baryonic decays $B^0_{(s)} \to K^0 p \bar{p}$ is presented, where $B^0_{(s)}$ denotes either a $B^0$ or a $B^0_s$ meson. The analysis is based on proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and $13~\mathrm{Tev}$, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The decay $B^0_s \to K^0 p \bar{p}$ is observed for the first time, with a measured branching fraction of $(9.14 \pm 1.69 \pm 0.90 \pm 0.33 \pm 0.20) \times 10^{-7}$ and a significance of $5.6σ$. The uncertainties respectively account for statistical and systematic contributions, the precision of the branching fraction of the normalisation channel $B^0 \to K^0 π^{+} π^{-}$ and the fragmentation fraction ratio ${f_s}/{f_d}$. The branching fraction determined for $B^0 \to K^0 p \bar{p}$ is $(2.82 \pm 0.08 \pm 0.12 \pm 0.10) \times 10^{-6}$, which is the most precise measurement to date.

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arXiv2025

Evidence for $B^-\rightarrow D^{**0}τ^-\overline{ν_τ}$ decays

The first evidence for the decay $B^-\rightarrow D^{**0}τ^-\overline{ν_τ}$ is obtained using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{-1}$ , at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 Tev. Here, the $D^{**0}$ meson represents any of the three excited charm mesons $D_{1}(2420)^{0}$, $D_{2}^{*}(2460)^{0}$, and $D_{1}^{'}(2400)^{0}$. The $B^-\rightarrow D^{**0}τ^-\overline{ν_τ}$ signal is measured with a significance of 3.5 $σ$, including systematic uncertainties. The combined branching fraction $BR(B^-\rightarrow D^{**0}_{1,2}τ^-\overline{ν_τ})\times BR(D^{**0}_{1,2}\rightarrow D^{*+}π^-)$, where $D^{**0}_{1,2}$ denotes both $D_{1}(2420)^{0}$ and $D_{2}^{*}(2460)^{0}$ contributions, is measured to be $(0.051\pm0.013(stat)\pm 0.006(syst)\pm 0.009(\rm{ext}) )\%$, where the last uncertainty reflects that of the branching fraction of the normalisation channel $B^-\rightarrow D^{**0}_{1,2}D_s^{(*)-}$. The ratio between the tauonic and muonic semileptonic $B$ decays, with the latter taken from world average values, is also determined and found to be ${\cal R}(D^{**0}_{1,2})=0.13\pm0.03(stat)\pm0.01(syst)\pm0.02\,(\rm{ext})$.

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arXiv2025

Measurement of $CP$ asymmetry in $B_s^0 \to D_s^{\mp} K^{\pm}$ decays

A measurement of the $CP$-violating parameters in $B_s^0 \to D_s^{\mp} K^{\pm}$ decays is reported, based on the analysis of proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $6\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at a centre-of-mass energy of $13 \,\mathrm{TeV}$. The measured parameters are obtained with a decay-time dependent analysis yielding $C_f = 0.791 \pm 0.061 \pm 0.022$, $A_f^{ΔΓ} = -0.051 \pm 0.134 \pm 0.058$, $A_{\overline{f}}^{ΔΓ} = -0.303 \pm 0.125 \pm 0.055$, $S_f = -0.571 \pm 0.084 \pm 0.023$ and $S_{\overline{f}} = -0.503 \pm 0.084 \pm 0.025$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This corresponds to $CP$ violation in the interference between mixing and decay of about $8.6\,σ$. Together with the value of the Bs mixing phase $-2β_s$, these parameters are used to obtain a measurement of the CKM angle $γ$ equal to $ (74\pm12)^\circ$ modulo $180^{\circ}$, where the uncertainty contains both statistical and systematic contributions. This result is combined with the previous LHCb measurement in this channel using $3\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ resulting in a determination of $γ= (81^{+12}_{-11})^\circ$.

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arXiv2025

Search for charge-parity violation in semileptonically tagged $D^{0} \to K^{+} π^{-}$ decays

An analysis of the flavour oscillations of the charmed neutral meson is presented. The ratio of $D^{0} \to K^{+} π^{-}$ and $D^{0} \to K^{-} π^{+}$ decay rates is measured as a function of the decay time of the $D^{0}$ meson and compared with the charge-conjugated system to search for charge-parity violation. The meson flavour at production is double-tagged by the charges of the muon and pion in the preceding $\overline{B} \to D^{*}(2010)^{+} μ^{-} X$ and ${{D^{*}(2010)^{+}} \to D^{0}π^{+}}$ decays, respectively. These decays are selected from proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of ${13\,\text{TeV}}$ and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of ${5.4\,\text{fb}^{-1}}$. The flavour oscillation parameters, relating to the differences in mass and width of the mass eigenstates, are found to be ${y^\prime=(5.8\pm1.6)\times10^{-3}}$ and ${(x^\prime)^2=(0.0\pm1.2)\times10^{-4}}$. No evidence for charge-parity violation is seen either in the flavour oscillations or in the decay, where the direct charge-parity asymmetry is measured to be ${A_{D}=(2.3\pm1.7)\,{\%}}$.

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arXiv2025

Study of $\itΛ_{\it{b}}^\rm{0}$ and $\itΞ_{\it{b}}^\rm{0}$ decays to $\itΛ h^+h^{'-}$ and evidence for $CP$ violation in $\itΛ_{\it{b}}^\rm{0}\to\itΛ K^+K^-$ decays

A study of $\itΛ_{\it{b}}^\rm{0}$ and $\itΞ_{\it{b}}^\rm{0}$ decays to $\itΛ h^{+} h^{\prime -}$ $(h^{(\prime)}=π, K)$ is performed using $pp$ collision data collected by the LHCb experiment during LHC Runs 1$-$2, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9~\rm{fb}^{-1}$. The branching fractions for these decays are measured using the $\itΛ_{\it{b}}^\rm{0}\to\itΛ_{\it{c}}^+(\to\itΛπ^+)π^-$ decay as control channel. The decays $\itΛ_{\it{b}}^\rm{0}\to\itΛπ^+π^-$ and $\itΞ_{\it{b}}^\rm{0}\to\itΛK^-π^+$ are observed for the first time. For decay modes with sufficient signal yields, $CP$ asymmetries are measured in the full and localized regions of the final-state phase space. Evidence is found for $CP$ violation in the $\itΛ_{\it{b}}^\rm{0}\to\itΛK^+K^-$ decay, interpreted as originating primarily from an asymmetric $\itΛ_{\it{b}}^\rm{0} \to \it{N}^{*+} \it{K}^-$ decay amplitude. The measured $CP$ asymmetries for the other decays are compatible with zero.

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arXiv2025

Study of $D_{s1}(2460)^{+}\to D_{s}^{+}π^{+}π^{-}$ in $B\to {\bar{D}}^{(*)}D_{s}^{+}π^{+}π^{-}$ decays

An amplitude analysis of the $D_{s1}(2460)^+\to D_{s}^{+}π^{+}π^{-}$ transition is performed simultaneously in $B^{0}\to D^{-}D_{s}^{+}π^{+}π^{-}$, $B^{+}\to{\bar{D}}^{0} D_{s}^{+}π^{+}π^{-}$, and $B^{0}\to D^{*-}D_{s}^{+}π^{+}π^{-}$ decays. The study is based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions recorded with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of $\sqrt{s}=7,8,$ and $13\,$TeV, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of $9\,\rm{fb}^{-1}$. A clear double-peak structure is observed in the $m(π^{+}π^{-})$ spectrum of the $D_{s1}(2460)^{+}\to D_{s}^{+}π^{+}π^{-}$ decay. The data can be described either with a model including $f_0(500)$, $f_0(980)$ and $f_2(1270)$ resonances, in which the contributions of $f_0(980)$ and $f_2(1270)$ are unexpectedly large, or with a model including $f_0(500)$, a doubly charged open-charm tetraquark state $T_{c\bar{s}}^{++}$ and its isospin partner $T_{c\bar{s}}^{0}$. If the former is considered implausible, the $T_{c\bar{s}}$ states are observed with high significance, and the data are consistent with isospin symmetry. When imposing isospin constraints between the two $T_{c\bar{s}}$ states, their mass and width are determined to be $2327\pm13\pm13\,$MeV and $96\pm16\,^{+170}_{-23}\,$MeV, respectively, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The mass is slightly below the $DK$ threshold, and a spin-parity of $0^+$ is favoured with high significance.

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arXiv2025

Search for resonance-enhanced $CP$ and angular asymmetries in the $Λ^+_{c}\to pμ^+μ^-$ decay at LHCb

The first measurement of the $CP$ asymmetry of the decay rate ($A_{CP}$) and the $CP$ average ($ΣA_{\text{FB}}$) and $CP$ asymmetry ($ΔA_{\text{FB}}$) of the forward-backward asymmetry in the muon system of $\mathitΛ^+_c\to pμ^+μ^-$ decays is reported. The measurement is performed using a data sample of proton-proton collisions, recorded by the LHCb experiment from 2016 to 2018 at a center-of-mass energy of 13$\text{ TeV}$, which corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.4$\text{ fb}^{-1}$. The asymmetries are measured in two regions of dimuon mass near the $ϕ$-meson mass peak. The dimuon-mass integrated results are \begin{align*} A_{CP} &= (-1.1 \pm 4.0 \pm 0.5)\%,\\ ΣA_{\text{FB}} &= (\phantom{-}3.9 \pm 4.0 \pm 0.6)\%,\\ ΔA_{\text{FB}} &= (\phantom{-}3.1 \pm 4.0 \pm 0.4)\%, \end{align*} where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The results are consistent with the conservation of $CP$ symmetry and the Standard Model expectations.

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arXiv2025

Comprehensive analysis of local and nonlocal amplitudes in the $B^0\rightarrow K^{*0}μ^+μ^-$ decay

A comprehensive study of the local and nonlocal amplitudes contributing to the decay $B^0\rightarrow K^{*0}(\to K^+π^-) μ^+μ^-$ is performed by analysing the phase-space distribution of the decay products. The analysis is based on $pp$ collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 8.4fb$^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment. This measurement employs for the first time a model of both one-particle and two-particle nonlocal amplitudes, and utilises the complete dimuon mass spectrum without any veto regions around the narrow charmonium resonances. In this way it is possible to explicitly isolate the local and nonlocal contributions and capture the interference between them. The results show that interference with nonlocal contributions, although larger than predicted, only has a minor impact on the Wilson Coefficients determined from the fit to the data. For the local contributions, the Wilson Coefficient $C_9$, responsible for vector dimuon currents, exhibits a $2.1σ$ deviation from the Standard Model expectation. The Wilson Coefficients $C_{10}$, $C_{9}'$ and $C_{10}'$ are all in better agreement than $C_{9}$ with the Standard Model and the global significance is at the level of $1.5σ$. The model used also accounts for nonlocal contributions from $B^{0}\to K^{*0}\left[τ^+τ^-\to μ^+μ^-\right]$ rescattering, resulting in the first direct measurement of the $b sττ$ vector effective-coupling $C_{9τ}$.

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arXiv2025

Search for $D^0$ meson decays to $π^+ π^- e^+ e^-$ and $K^+ K^- e^+ e^-$ final states

A search for $D^0$ meson decays to the $π^+π^-e^+e^-$ and $K^+K^-e^+e^-$ final states is reported using a sample of proton-proton collisions collected by the LHCb experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6 fb$^{-1}$. The decay $D^0 \rightarrow π^+π^-e^+e^-$ is observed for the first time when requiring that the two electrons are consistent with coming from the decay of a $ϕ$ or $ρ^0/ω$ meson. The corresponding branching fractions are measured relative to the $D^0 \rightarrow K^-π^-[e^+e^-]_{ρ^0/ω}$ decay, where the two electrons are consistent with coming from the decay of a $ρ^0$ or $ω$ meson. No evidence is found for the $D^0 \rightarrow K^+K^-e^+e^-$ decay and world-best limits are set on its branching fraction. The results are compared to, and found to be consistent with, the branching fractions of the $D^0 \rightarrow π^+π^-μ^+μ^-$ and $D^0 \rightarrow K^+K^-μ^+μ^-$ decays recently measured by LHCb and confirm lepton universality at the current precision.

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arXiv2025

Study of light-meson resonances decaying to $K^0_{\rm S} K π$ in the $B \to (K^0_{\rm S} K π) K$ channels

A study is presented of $B^+ \to K^0_{\rm S} K^- π^+ K^-$ and $B^+ \to K^0_{\rm S} K^+ π^- K^+$ decays based on the analysis of 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 $9 fb^{-1}$. The $K^0_{\rm S} K π$ invariant-mass distributions of both $B^+$ decay modes show, in the $m(K^0_{\rm S} K π)<1.85$ GeV mass region, large activity which is resolved using an amplitude analysis. A simple model, were $J^{PC}$ amplitudes are described by multiple Breit--Wigner functions with appropriate angular distributions provides a good description of the experimental data. In this approach a complex mixture of $J^{PC}=0^{-+}, 1^{++}$ and $1^{+-}$ amplitudes is observed that is dominated by $η(1405)$, $η(1470)$, $η(1760)$, $f_1(1285)$, $f_1(1420)$ and $h_1(1405)$ resonances. The $K^0_{\rm S} K π$ Dalitz plots are dominated by asymmetric crossing $K^* \bar{K}$ bands which are different for the two $B^+$ decay modes. This is due to a different interference pattern between the $1^{++}$ and $1^{+-}$ amplitudes in the two channels. Branching fractions are measured for each resonant contribution.

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arXiv2025

Measurement of the multiplicity dependence of $\mitΥ$ production ratios in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV

The $\mitΥ(\mathrm{2}S)$ and $\mitΥ(\mathrm{3}S)$ production cross-sections are measured relative to that of the $\mitΥ(\mathrm{1}S)$ meson, as a function of charged-particle multiplicity in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $13$ TeV. The measurement uses data collected by the LHCb experiment in 2018 corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2 $\text{fb}^{-1}$. Both the $\mitΥ(\mathrm{2}S)$-to-$\mitΥ(\mathrm{1}S)$ and $\mitΥ(\mathrm{3}S)$-to-$\mitΥ(\mathrm{1}S)$ cross-section ratios are found to decrease significantly as a function of event multiplicity, with the $\mitΥ(\mathrm{3}S)$-to-$\mitΥ(\mathrm{1}S)$ ratio showing a steeper decline towards high multiplicity. This hierarchy is qualitatively consistent with the comover model predictions, indicating that final-state interactions play an important role in bottomonia production in high-multiplicity events.

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arXiv2025

Branching fraction measurement of the decay $B^+ \to ψ(2S) ϕ(1020) K^+$

The branching fraction of the decay $B^+\to ψ(2S)ϕ(1020)K^+$, relative to the topologically similar decay $B^+\to J/ψϕ(1020) K^+$, is measured using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The ratio is found to be $0.061 \pm 0.004 \pm 0.009$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. Using the world-average branching fraction for $B^+ \to J/ψϕ(1020) K^+$, the branching fraction for the decay $B^+\to ψ(2S) ϕ(1020) K^+$ is found to be $ (3.0 \pm 0.2 \pm 0.5 \pm 0.2) \times 10^{-6}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third is due to the branching fraction of the normalization channel.

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arXiv2025

Test of lepton flavour universality with $B^+ \to K^+π^+π^-\ell^+\ell^-$ decays

The first test of lepton flavor universality between muons and electrons using $B^+ \to K^+π^+π^-\ell^+\ell^-$ ($\ell=e,μ$) decays is presented. The measurement is performed with data from proton-proton collisions collected by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$. The ratio of branching fractions between $B^+ \to K^+π^+π^-e^+e^-$ and $B^+ \to K^+π^+π^-μ^+μ^-$decays is measured in the dilepton invariant-mass-squared range $1.1 < q^2 < 7.0~\mathrm{GeV}^2/c^4$ and is found to be $R_{Kππ}^{-1} = 1.31^{+0.18}_{-0.17} \;(\mathrm{stat})\;^{+0.12}_{-0.09} \;(\mathrm{syst})$, in agreement with the standard model prediction. The first observation of the $B^+ \to K^+π^+π^-e^+e^-$ decay is also reported.

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arXiv2025

Measurement of $CP$ asymmetries in $Λ_b^0\to ph^{-}$ decays

A search for $CP$ violation in $Λ_b^0\rightarrow pK^-$ and $Λ_b^0\rightarrow pπ^-$ decays is presented using the full Run 1 and Run 2 data samples of $pp$ collisions collected with the LHCb detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. For the Run 2 data sample, the $CP$-violating asymmetries are measured to be $A_{CP}^{pK^-} = (-1.4 \pm 0.7 \pm 0.4)\%$ and $A_{CP}^{pπ^-} = (0.4 \pm 0.9 \pm 0.4)\%$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. Following significant improvements in the evaluation of systematic uncertainties compared to the previous LHCb measurement, the Run 1 dataset is reanalyzed to update the corresponding results. When combining the Run 2 and updated Run 1 measurements, the final results are found to be $A_{CP}^{pK^-} = (-1.1 \pm 0.7 \pm 0.4)\%$ and $A_{CP}^{pπ^-} = (0.2 \pm 0.8 \pm 0.4)\%$, constituting the most precise measurements of these asymmetries to date.

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arXiv2025

Amplitude analysis of $B^+ \to ψ(2S) K^+ π^+ π^-$ decays

The first full amplitude analysis of $B^+ \to ψ(2S) K^+ π^+ π^-$ decays is performed using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\,\text{fb}^{-1}$ recorded with the LHCb detector. The rich $K^+ π^+ π^-$ spectrum is studied and the branching fractions of the resonant substructure associated with the prominent $K_1(1270)^+$ contribution are measured. The data cannot be described by conventional strange and charmonium resonances only. An amplitude model with 53 components is developed comprising 11 hidden-charm exotic hadrons. New production mechanisms for charged charmonium-like states are observed. Significant resonant activity with spin-parity $J^P = 1^+$ in the $ψ(2S) π^+$ system is confirmed and a multi-pole structure is demonstrated. The spectral decomposition of the $ψ(2S) π^+ π^-$ invariant-mass structure, dominated by $X^0 \to ψ(2S) ρ(770)^0$ decays, broadly resembles the $J/ψϕ$ spectrum observed in $B^+ \to J/ψϕK^+$ decays. Exotic $ψ(2S) K^+ π^-$ resonances are observed for the first time.

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