Elliptic flow of charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at 2.76 TeV

We report the first measurement of charged particle elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at 2.76 TeV with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The measurement is performed in the central pseudorapidity region (|$\eta$|<0.8) and transverse momentum range 0.2< $p_{\rm T}$< 5.0 GeV/$c$. The elliptic flow signal v$_2$, measured using the 4-particle correlation method, averaged over transverse momentum and pseudorapidity is 0.087 $\pm$ 0.002 (stat) $\pm$ 0.004 (syst) in the 40-50% centrality class. The differential elliptic flow v$_2(p_{\rm T})$ reaches a maximum of 0.2 near $p_{\rm T}$ = 3 GeV/$c$. Compared to RHIC Au-Au collisions at 200 GeV, the elliptic flow increases by about 30%. Some hydrodynamic model predictions which include viscous corrections are in agreement with the observed increase.Comment: 10 pages, 4 captioned figures, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/389

Higher harmonic anisotropic flow measurements of charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at 2.76 TeV

We report on the first measurement of the triangular $v_3$, quadrangular $v_4$, and pentagonal $v_5$ charged particle flow in Pb-Pb collisions at 2.76 TeV measured with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. We show that the triangular flow can be described in terms of the initial spatial anisotropy and its fluctuations, which provides strong constraints on its origin. In the most central events, where the elliptic flow $v_2$ and $v_3$ have similar magnitude, a double peaked structure in the two-particle azimuthal correlations is observed, which is often interpreted as a Mach cone response to fast partons. We show that this structure can be naturally explained from the measured anisotropic flow Fourier coefficients.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/387

Search for the decay D-0 -> pi(+)pi(-)mu(+)mu(-)

A search for the D-0 -> pi(+)pi(-)mu(+)mu(-) decay, where the muon pair does not originate from a resonance, is performed using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb(-1) recorded by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. No signal is observed and an upper limit on the relative branching fraction with respect to the resonant decay mode D-0 -> pi(+)pi(-)phi(-> mu(+)mu(-)), under the assumption of a phase-space model, is found to be B(D-0 -> pi(+)pi(-)mu(+)mu(-))/B(D-0 -> pi(+)pi(-)phi(-> mu(+)mu(-))) pi(+)pi(-)mu(+)mu(-)) < 5.5 x 10(-7) at 90% confidence level. This is the most stringent to date

Precision measurement of the ratio of the Lambda(0)(b) to (B)over-bar(0) lifetimes

The LHCb measurement of the lifetime ratio of the Lambda(0)(b) baryon to the (B) over bar (0) meson is updated using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1) collected using 7 and 8 TeV centre-of-mass energy pp collisions at the LHC. The decay modes used are Lambda(0)(b) -> J/psi pK(-) and (B) over bar (0) -> J/psi pi K-+(-), where the pi K-+(-) mass is consistent with that of the (K) over bar*(0)(892) meson. The lifetime ratio is determined with unprecedented precision to be 0.974 +/- 0.006 +/- 0.004, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This result is in agreement with original theoretical predictions based on the heavy quark expansion. Using the current world average of the (B) over bar (0) lifetime, the Lambda(0)(b) lifetime is found to be 1.479 +/- 0.009 +/- 0.010 ps. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V

Evidence for the decay X(3872) -> psi(2S)gamma

Evidence for the decay mode X(3872) -> psi(2S)gamma in B+ -> X(3872)K+ decays is found with a significance of 4.4 standard deviations. The analysis is based on a data sample of proton proton collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1), collected with the LHCb detector, at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The ratio of the branching fraction of the X(3872) -> psi(2S)gamma decay to that of the X(3872) -> J/psi gamma decay is measured to be B(X(3872) -> psi(2S)gamma)/B(X(3872) -> J/psi gamma) = 2.46 +/- 0.64 +/- 0.29, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The measured value does not support a pure D (D) over bar* molecular interpretation of the X(3872) state. (C) 2014 CERN for the benefit of the LHCb Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V

A study of CP violation in B-+/- -> DK +/- and B-+/- -> D pi(+/-) decays with D -> (KSK +/-)-K-0 pi(-/+) final states

A first study of CP violation in the decay modes B-+/- -> [(KSK +/-)-K-0 pi(-/+)](D)h(+/-) and B-+/- -> [(KSK +/-)-K-0 pi(-/+)](D)h(+/-), where h labels a K or pi meson and D labels a D-0 or (D) over bar (0) meson, is performed. The analysis uses the LHCb data set collected in pp collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1). The analysis is sensitive to the CP-violating CKM phase gamma through seven observables: one charge asymmetry in each of the four modes and three ratios of the charge-integrated yields. The results are consistent with measurements of gamma using other decay modes. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V

Measurement of the CP-violating phase beta in B-0 -> J/psi pi(+)pi(-) decays and limits on penguin effects

Time-dependent CP violation is measured in the (B-0) over bar -> J/psi pi(+)pi(-) p-channel for each pi(+)pi(-) resonant final state using data collected with an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1) in pp collisions using the LHCb detector. The final state with the largest rate, J/psi rho(0)(770), is used to measure the CP-violating angle 2 beta(eff) to be (41.7 +/- 9.6(-6.3)(+2.8)).. This result can be used to limit the size of penguin amplitude contributions to CPviolation measurements in, for example, (B-0) over bar -> J/psi pi(+)pi(-) decays. Assuming approximate SU(3) flavour symmetry and neglecting higher order diagrams, the shift in the CP-violating phase phi(s) limited to be within the interval [-1.05 degrees, + 1.18 degrees] at 95% confidence level. Changes to the limit due to SU(3) symmetry breaking effects are also discussed. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V

Measurement of charm production at central rapidity in proton-proton collisions at ps = 7 TeV

The p t-differential inclusive production cross sections of the prompt charmed mesons D0, D+, and D*+ in the rapidity range |y| < 0.5 were measured in proton-proton collisions at Ös = 7 TeVs=7TeV at the LHC using the ALICE detector. Reconstructing the decays D0 → K−π+, D+ → K−π+π+, D*+ → D0π+, and their charge conjugates, about 8,400 D0, 2,900 D+, and 2,600 D*+ mesons with 1 < p t < 24 GeV/c were counted, after selection cuts, in a data sample of 3.14 × 108 events collected with a minimum-bias trigger (integrated luminosity L int = 5 nb−1). The results are described within uncertainties by predictions based on perturbative QCD

Measurement of CP violation and constraints on the CKM angle gamma in B-+/- -> DK +/- with D -> K-s(0)pi(+)pi(-) decays

A model-dependent amplitude analysis of B-+/- -> DK +/- with D -> K-s(0)pi(+)pi(-) decays is performed using proton proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1 fb(-1), recorded by LHCb at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV in 2011. Values of the CP violation observables x +/- and y +/-, which are sensitive to the CKM angle gamma, are measured to be x- = +0.027 +/- 0.0441(-0.008)(+0.010) +/- 0.001, y- = +0.013 +/- 0.0481(-0.007)(+0.009) +/- 0.003, x+ = -0.084 +/- 0.045 +/- 0.009 +/- 0.005, y+ = -0.032 +/- 0.048(-0.009)(+0.010) +/- 0.008, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third arises from the uncertainty of the D -> K-S(0)pi(+)pi(-) amplitude model. The value of gamma is determined to be (84(-42)(+49))degrees including all sources of uncertainty. Neutral D meson mixing is found to have negligible effect. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V

Measurement of the Xi(-)(b) and Omega(-)(b) baryon lifetimes

Using a data sample of pp collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1), the Xi(-)(b) and Omega(-)(b) baryons are reconstructed in the Xi(-)(b) -> J/psi Xi(-) and Omega(-)(b) -> J/psi Omega(-) decay modes and their lifetimes measured to be tau(Xi(-)(b)) = 1.55(-0.09)(+0.10) (stat) +/- 0.03 (syst) ps, tau(Omega(-)(b)) = 1.54(-0.21)(+0.26) (stat) +/- 0.05 (syst) ps. These are the most precise determinations to date. Both measurements are in good agreement with previous experimental results and with theoretical predictions. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V