ECOC comparison exercise with identical thermal protocols after temperature offset correction - Instrument diagnostics by in-depth evaluation of operational parameters

© Author(s) 2015. A comparison exercise on thermal-optical elemental carbon/organic carbon (ECOC) analysers was carried out among 17 European laboratories. Contrary to previous comparison exercises, the 17 participants made use of an identical instrument set-up, after correcting for temperature offsets with the application of a recently developed temperature calibration kit (Sunset Laboratory Inc, OR, US). Temperature offsets reported by participants ranged from -93 to +100 °C per temperature step. Five filter samples and two sucrose solutions were analysed with both the EUSAAR2 and NIOSH870 thermal protocols. z scores were calculated for total carbon (TC); nine outliers and three stragglers were identified. Three outliers and eight stragglers were found for EC. Overall, the participants provided results between the warning levels with the exception of two laboratories that showed poor performance, the causes of which were identified and corrected through the course of the comparison exercise. The TC repeatability and reproducibility (expressed as relative standard deviations) were 11 and 15% for EUSAAR2 and 9.2 and 12% for NIOSH870; the standard deviations for EC were 15 and 20% for EUSAAR2 and 20 and 26% for NIOSH870. TC was in good agreement between the two protocols, TCNIOSH870 =0.98 × TCEUSAAR2 (R2 = 1.00, robust means). Transmittance (TOT) calculated EC for NIOSH870 was found to be 20% lower than for EUSAAR2, ECNIOSH870 = 0.80 × ECEUSAAR2 (R2 = 0.96, robust means). The thermograms and laser signal values were compared and similar peak patterns were observed per sample and protocol for most participants. Notable deviations from the typical patterns indicated either the absence or inaccurate application of the temperature calibration procedure and/or pre-oxidation during the inert phase of the analysis. Low or zero pyrolytic organic carbon (POC), as reported by a few participants, is suggested as an indicator of an instrument-specific pre-oxidation. A sample-specific pre-oxidation effect was observed for filter G, for all participants and both thermal protocols, indicating the presence of oxygen donors on the suspended particulate matter. POC (TOT) levels were lower for NIOSH870 than for EUSAAR2, which is related to the heating profile differences of the two thermal protocols

Observation of associated production of a ZZ boson with a DD meson in the~forward region

A search for associated production of a $Z$ boson with an open charm meson is presented using a data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $1.0\,\mathrm{fb}^{-`}$ of proton--proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7\,TeV, collected by the LHCb experiment. %% Seven candidate events for associated production of a $Z$ boson with a $D^0$ meson and four candidate events for a $Z$ boson with a $D^+$ meson are observed with a combined significance of 5.1standard deviations. The production cross-sections in the forward region are measured to be $$\sigma_{Z\rightarrow\mu^+\mu^-\!,D^0} = 2.50\pm1.12\pm0.22pb$$ $$\sigma_{Z\rightarrow\mu^+\mu^-\!,D^+} = 0.44\pm0.23\pm0.03pb,$$ where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figure

Measurements of the B+B^+, B0B^0, Bs0B_s^0 meson and Λb0\Lambda_b^0 baryon lifetimes

Measurements of $b$-hadron lifetimes are reported using $pp$ collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0fb$^{-1}$, collected by the LHCb detector at a centre-of-mass energy of $7$Tev. Using the exclusive decays $B^+\to J/\psi K^+$, $B^0\to J/\psi K^*(892)^0$, $B^0\to J/\psi K^0_{\rm S}$, $\Lambda_b^0\to J/\psi \Lambda$ and $B^0_s\to J/\psi \phi$ the average decay times in these modes are measured to be $\tau_{B^+\to J/\psi K^+}$ = $1.637 \pm$ 0.004 $\pm$ 0.003 ps, $\tau_{B^0\to J/\psi K^*(892)^0}$ = $1.524 \pm$ 0.006 $\pm$ 0.004 ps, $\tau_{B^0\to J/\psi K^0_{\rm S}}$ = $1.499 \pm$ 0.013 $\pm$ 0.005 ps, $\tau_{\Lambda_b^0\to J/\psi \Lambda}$ = $1.415 \pm$ 0.027 $\pm$ 0.006 ps and $\tau_{B^0_s\to J/\psi \phi}$ = $1.480 \pm$ 0.011 $\pm$ 0.005 ps, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. These represent the most precise lifetime measurements in these decay modes. In addition, ratios of these lifetimes, and the ratio of the decay-width difference, $\Delta\Gamma_d$, to the average width, $\Gamma_d$, in the $B^0$ system, $\Delta \Gamma_d/\Gamma_d = -0.044 \pm 0.025 \pm 0.011$, are reported. All quantities are found to be consistent with Standard Model expectations.Comment: 28 pages, 4 figures. Updated reference

The Clausius-Mossotti formula and its nonlocal generalization for a dielectric suspension of spherical inclusions

Employing a recently developed cluster expansion for the effective dielectric constant of a suspension of spherical inclusions, we show which parts of the cluster integrals give rise to the Clausius-Mossotti formula. The same selection of terms is then used to obtain an approximate expression for the wave-vector-dependent effective dielectric tensor. For a system of hard spheres with only dipole polarizability this expression is evaluated in closed form. This last result is then used to derive the form of the electrostatic potential due to a point charge in the effective medium. For physically reasonable values of the polarizability, the potential has asymptotically the form corresponding to a medium with the Clausius-Mossotti dielectric constant, while at short range it oscillates about this form. For values of the polarizability beyond the physical range critical points are found at which the oscillations become long range.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45147/1/10955_2005_Article_BF01009796.pd

Measurement of charged particle multiplicities and densities in pp collisions root s=7 TeV in the forward region

Charged particle multiplicities are studied in proton-proton collisions in the forward region at a centre-of-mass energy of TeV with data collected by the LHCb detector. The forward spectrometer allows access to a kinematic range of in pseudorapidity, momenta greater than and transverse momenta greater than . The measurements are performed using events with at least one charged particle in the kinematic acceptance. The results are presented as functions of pseudorapidity and transverse momentum and are compared to predictions from several Monte Carlo event generators

Measurement of the B¯s0→Ds−Ds+ and B¯s0→D−Ds+ effective lifetimes

The first measurement of the effective lifetime of the B¯0s meson in the decay B¯0s→D−sD+s is reported using a proton-proton collision data set, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3  fb−1, collected by the LHCb experiment. The measured value of the B¯0s→D−sD+s effective lifetime is 1.379±0.026±0.017  ps, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. This lifetime translates into a measurement of the decay width of the light B¯0s mass eigenstate of ΓL=0.725±0.014±0.009  ps−1. The B¯0s lifetime is also measured using the flavor-specific B¯0s→D−D+s decay to be 1.52±0.15±0.01  ps

Measurements of indirect CP asymmetries in D0→K−K+D^0\to K^-K^+ and D0→π−π+D^0\to\pi^-\pi^+ decays

A study of indirect CP violation in $D^0$ mesons through the determination of the parameter $A_\Gamma$ is presented using a data sample of $pp$ collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb$^{-1}$, collected with the LHCb detector and recorded at the centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV at the LHC. The parameter $A_\Gamma$ is the asymmetry of the effective lifetimes measured in decays of $D^0$ and $\bar{D}^0$ mesons to the CP eigenstates $K^-K^+$ and $\pi^-\pi^+$. Fits to the data sample yield $A_\Gamma(KK)=(-0.35\pm0.62\pm0.12)\times 10^{-3}$ and $A_\Gamma(\pi\pi)=(0.33\pm1.06\pm0.14)\times 10^{-3}$, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The results represent the world's best measurements of these quantities. They show no difference in $A_\Gamma$ between the two final states and no indication of CP violation

Measurement of the B+c meson lifetime using B+c → J/ψ μ+νμX decays

The lifetime of the B+ c meson is measured using semileptonic decays having a J/ψ meson and a muon in the final state. The data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2 fb−1, are collected by the LHCb detector in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. The measured lifetime is τ = 509 ± 8 ± 12 fs, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic

Studies of beauty baryon decays to D⁰ph^- and Λ⁺_c h⁺ final states

Decays of beauty baryons to the $D^0 p h^-$ and $\Lambda_c^+ h^-$ final states (where $h$ indicates a pion or a kaon) are studied using a data sample of $pp$ collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb$^{-1}$, collected by the LHCb detector. The Cabibbo-suppressed decays $\Lambda_b^0\to D^0 p K^-$ and $\Lambda_b^0\to \Lambda_c^+ K^-$ are observed and their branching fractions are measured with respect to the decays $\Lambda_b^0\to D^0 p \pi^-$ and $\Lambda_b^0\to \Lambda_c^+ \pi^-$. In addition, the first observation is reported of the decay of the neutral beauty-strange baryon $\Xi_b^0$ to the $D^0 p K^-$ final state, and a measurement of the $\Xi_b^0$ mass is performed. Evidence of the $\Xi_b^0\to \Lambda_c^+ K^-$ decay is also reported

Search for Majorana neutrinos in B−→π+μ−μ−B^- \to \pi^+\mu^-\mu^- decays

A search for heavy Majorana neutrinos produced in the $B^- \to \pi^+\mu^-\mu^-$ decay mode is performed using 3 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity collected with the LHCb detector in $pp$ collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 TeV and 8 TeV at the LHC. Neutrinos with masses in the range 250-5000 MeV and lifetimes from zero to 1000 ps are probed. In the absence of a signal, upper limits are set on the branching fraction ${\cal{B}}(B^- \to \pi^+\mu^-\mu^-)$ as functions of neutrino mass and lifetime. These limits are on the order of $10^{-9}$ for short neutrino lifetimes of 1 ps or less. Limits are also set on the coupling between the muon and a possible fourth-generation neutrino.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure