Observation of an Excited Bc+ State

Using pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 8.5 fb-1 recorded by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of s=7, 8, and 13 TeV, the observation of an excited Bc+ state in the Bc+π+π- invariant-mass spectrum is reported. The observed peak has a mass of 6841.2±0.6(stat)±0.1(syst)±0.8(Bc+) MeV/c2, where the last uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the Bc+ mass. It is consistent with expectations of the Bc∗(2S31)+ state reconstructed without the low-energy photon from the Bc∗(1S31)+→Bc+γ decay following Bc∗(2S31)+→Bc∗(1S31)+π+π-. A second state is seen with a global (local) statistical significance of 2.2σ (3.2σ) and a mass of 6872.1±1.3(stat)±0.1(syst)±0.8(Bc+) MeV/c2, and is consistent with the Bc(2S10)+ state. These mass measurements are the most precise to date

Observation of the Decay Λ0b→Λ+cτ−¯ν

The first observation of the semileptonic b-baryon decay Λb0→Λc+τ-ν¯τ, with a significance of 6.1σ, is reported using a data sample corresponding to 3 fb-1 of integrated luminosity, collected by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV at the LHC. The τ- lepton is reconstructed in the hadronic decay to three charged pions. The ratio K=B(Λb0→Λc+τ-ν¯τ)/B(Λb0→Λc+π-π+π-) is measured to be 2.46±0.27±0.40, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The branching fraction B(Λb0→Λc+τ-ν¯τ)=(1.50±0.16±0.25±0.23)% is obtained, where the third uncertainty is from the external branching fraction of the normalization channel Λb0→Λc+π-π+π-. The ratio of semileptonic branching fractions R(Λc+)B(Λb0→Λc+τ-ν¯τ)/B(Λb0→Λc+μ-ν¯μ) is derived to be 0.242±0.026±0.040±0.059, where the external branching fraction uncertainty from the channel Λb0→Λc+μ-ν¯μ contributes to the last term. This result is in agreement with the standard model prediction

Measurement of the photon polarization in Λb→Λγ\Lambda_b \to \Lambda \gamma decays

The photon polarization in $b \to s \gamma$ transitions is measured for the first time in radiative b-baryon decays exploiting the unique spin structure of $\Lambda_b \to \Lambda \gamma$ decays. A data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $6\;fb^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment in $pp$ collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $13\;TeV$ is used. The photon polarization is measured to be $\alpha_{\gamma}= 0.82^{\,+\,0.17\,+\,0.04}_{\,-\,0.26\,-\,0.13}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This result is in agreement with the Standard Model prediction and previous measurements in b-meson decays. Charge-parity breaking effects are studied for the first time in this observable and found to be consistent with $CP$ symmetry.Comment: All figures and tables, along with machine-readable versions and any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2021-030.html (LHCb public pages

Searches for rare Bs0 and B 0 decays into four muons

Searches for rare Bs0 and B0 decays into four muons are performed using proton-proton collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1. Direct decays and decays via light scalar and J/ψ resonances are considered. No evidence for the six decays searched for is found and upper limits at the 95% confidence level on their branching fractions ranging between 1.8 × 10−10 and 2.6 × 10−9 are set. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Search for CP\textit{CP} violation in the phase space of D0→KS0K±π∓D^{0} \rightarrow K_{S}^{0} K^{\pm} \pi^{\mp} decays with the energy test

A search for $\textit{CP}$ violation in $D^{0} \rightarrow K_{S}^{0} K^{+} \pi^{-}$ and $D^{0} \rightarrow K_{S}^{0} K^{-} \pi^{+}$ decays is reported. The search is performed using an unbinned model-independent method known as the energy test that probes local $\textit{CP}$ violation in the phase space of the decays. The data analysed correspond to an integrated luminosity of $5.4~$fb$^{-1}$ collected in proton-proton collisions by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13$~TeV, amounting to approximately 950000 and 620000 signal candidates for the $D^{0} \rightarrow K_{S}^{0} K^{-} \pi^{+}$ and $D^{0} \rightarrow K_{S}^{0} K^{+} \pi^{-}$ modes, respectively. The method is validated using $D^{0} \rightarrow K^{-} \pi^{+} \pi^{-} \pi^{+}$ and $D^{0} \rightarrow K_{S}^{0} \pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ decays, where $\textit{CP}$-violating effects are expected to be negligible, and using background-enhanced regions of the signal decays. The results are consistent with $\textit{CP}$ symmetry in both the $D^{0} \rightarrow K_{S}^{0} K^{-} \pi^{+}$ and the $D^{0} \rightarrow K_{S}^{0} K^{+} \pi^{-}$ decays, with $p$-values for the hypothesis of no $\textit{CP}$ violation of 70% and 66%, respectively.Comment: All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2023-019.html (LHCb public pages

Studies of η\eta and η′\eta' production in pppp and ppPb collisions

The production of $\eta$ and $\eta'$ mesons is studied in proton-proton and proton-lead collisions collected with the LHCb detector. Proton-proton collisions are studied at center-of-mass energies of $5.02$ and $13~{\rm TeV}$, and proton-lead collisions are studied at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon of $8.16~{\rm TeV}$. The studies are performed in center-of-mass rapidity regions $2.5<y_{\rm c.m.}<3.5$ (forward rapidity) and $-4.0<y_{\rm c.m.}<-3.0$ (backward rapidity) defined relative to the proton beam direction. The $\eta$ and $\eta'$ production cross sections are measured differentially as a function of transverse momentum for $1.5<p_{\rm T}<10~{\rm GeV}$ and $3<p_{\rm T}<10~{\rm GeV}$, respectively. The differential cross sections are used to calculate nuclear modification factors. The nuclear modification factors for $\eta$ and $\eta'$ mesons agree at both forward and backward rapidity, showing no significant evidence of mass dependence. The differential cross sections of $\eta$ mesons are also used to calculate $\eta/\pi^0$ cross section ratios, which show evidence of a deviation from the world average. These studies offer new constraints on mass-dependent nuclear effects in heavy-ion collisions, as well as $\eta$ and $\eta'$ meson fragmentation.Comment: All figures and tables, along with machine-readable versions and any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://lhcbproject.web.cern.ch/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2023-030.html (LHCb public pages

Amplitude analysis of the Λb0→pK−γ decay

The resonant structure of the radiative decay Λb0→pK−γ in the region of proton-kaon invariant-mass up to 2.5 GeV/c2 is studied using proton-proton collision data recorded at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV collected with the LHCb detector, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1. Results are given in terms of fit and interference fractions between the different components contributing to this final state. Only Λ resonances decaying to pK− are found to be relevant, where the largest contributions stem from the Λ(1520), Λ(1600), Λ(1800), and Λ(1890) states

Observation of strangeness enhancement with charmed mesons in high-multiplicity pPbp\mathrm{Pb} collisions at sNN=8.16 \sqrt {s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=8.16\,TeV

The production of prompt $D^+_{s}$ and $D^+$ mesons is measured by the LHCb experiment in proton-lead ($p\mathrm{Pb}$) collisions in both the forward ($1.5<y^*<4.0$) and backward ($-5.0<y^*<-2.5$) rapidity regions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt {s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=8.16\,$TeV. The nuclear modification factors of both $D^+_{s}$ and $D^+$ mesons are determined as a function of transverse momentum, $p_{\mathrm{T}}$, and rapidity. In addition, the $D^+_{s}$ to $D^+$ cross-section ratio is measured as a function of the charged particle multiplicity in the event. An enhanced $D^+_{s}$ to $D^+$ production in high-multiplicity events is observed for the whole measured $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ range, in particular at low $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ and backward rapidity, where the significance exceeds six standard deviations. This constitutes the first observation of strangeness enhancement in charm quark hadronization in high-multiplicity $p\mathrm{Pb}$ collisions. The results are also qualitatively consistent with the presence of quark coalescence as an additional charm quark hadronization mechanism in high-multiplicity proton-lead collisions.Comment: All figures and tables, along with machine-readable versions and any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2023-021.html (LHCb public pages

Observation of Two New Excited Ξb0 States Decaying to Λb0 K-π+

Two narrow resonant states are observed in the Λb0K-π+ mass spectrum using a data sample of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected by the LHCb experiment and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6 fb-1. The minimal quark content of the Λb0K-π+ system indicates that these are excited Ξb0 baryons. The masses of the Ξb(6327)0 and Ξb(6333)0 states are m[Ξb(6327)0]=6327.28-0.21+0.23±0.12±0.24 and m[Ξb(6333)0]=6332.69-0.18+0.17±0.03±0.22 MeV, respectively, with a mass splitting of Δm=5.41-0.27+0.26±0.12 MeV, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the Λb0 mass measurement. The measured natural widths of these states are consistent with zero, with upper limits of Γ[Ξb(6327)0]&lt;2.20(2.56) and Γ[Ξb(6333)0]&lt;1.60(1.92) MeV at a 90% (95%) credibility level. The significance of the two-peak hypothesis is larger than nine (five) Gaussian standard deviations compared to the no-peak (one-peak) hypothesis. The masses, widths, and resonant structure of the new states are in good agreement with the expectations for a doublet of 1D Ξb0 resonances