Measurement of the Ds lifetime

We report precise measurement of the Ds meson lifetime. The data were taken by the SELEX experiment (E781) spectrometer using 600 GeV/c Sigma-, pi- and p beams. The measurement has been done using 918 reconstructed Ds. The lifetime of the Ds is measured to be 472.5 +- 17.2 +- 6.6 fs, using K*(892)0K+- and phi pi+- decay modes. The lifetime ratio of Ds to D0 is 1.145+-0.049.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures submitted to Phys. Lett.

Confirmation of the Double Charm Baryon Xi_cc+ via its Decay to p D+ K-

We observes a signal for the double charm baryon Xi_cc+ in the charged decay mode Xi_cc+ -> p D+ K- to complement the previously reported decay Xi_cc+ -> Lambda_c K- pi+ in data from SELEX, the charm hadro-production experiment (E781) at Fermilab. In this new decay mode we observe an excess of 5.62 events over an expected background estimated by event mixing to be 1.38+/-0.13 events. The Poisson probability that a background fluctuation can produce the apparent signal is less than 6.4E-4. The observed mass of this state is (3518+/-3)MeV/c^2, consistent with the published result. Averaging the two results gives a mass of (3518.7+/-1.7)MeV/c^2. The observation of this new weak decay mode confirms the previous SELEX suggestion that this state is a double charm baryon. The relative branching ratio Gamma(Xi_cc+ -> pD+K-)/Gamma(Xi_cc+ -> Lambda_c K- pi+) = 0.36+/-0.21.Comment: 11 pages, 6 included eps figures. v2 includes improved statistical method to determine significance of observation. Submitted to PL

Hadronic Production of Lambda_c from 600 GeV/c pion, sigma and proton beams

We present data from Fermilab experiment E781 (SELEX) on the hadroproduction asymmetry for anti-Lambda_c compared to Lambda_c+ as a function of xF and pt2 distributions for Lambda_c+. These data were measured in the same apparatus using incident pi-, sigma- beams at 600 GeV/c and proton beam at 540 GeV/c. The asymmetry is studied as a function of xF. In the forward hemisphere with xF >= 0.2 both baryon beams exhibit very strong preference for producing charm baryons rather than charm antibaryons, while the pion beam asymmetry is much smaller. In this energy regime the results show that beam fragments play a major role in the kinematics of Lambda_c formation, as suggested by the leading quark picture.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures (postscript), RevTeX, submitted to Phy. Rev. Let

First Observation of the Cabibbo-suppressed Decays Xi_c+ -> Sigma+ pi- pi+ and Xi_c+ -> Sigma- pi+ pi+ and Measurement of their Branching Ratios

We report the first observation of two Cabibbo-suppressed decay modes, Xi_c+ -> Sigma+ pi- pi+ and Xi_c+ -> Sigma- pi+ pi+. We observe 59+/-14 over a background of 87, and 22+/-8 over a background of 13 events, respectively, for the signals. The data were accumulated using the SELEX spectrometer during the 1996-1997 fixed target run at Fermilab, chiefly from a 600GeV/c Sigma- beam. The branching ratios of the decays relative to the Cabibbo--favored Xi_c+ -> Xi- pi+ pi+ are measured to be B(Xi_c+ -> Sigma+ pi- pi+)/B(Xi_c+ -> Xi- pi+ pi+) = 0.48+/-0.20, and B(Xi_c+ -> Sigma- pi+ pi+)/B(Xi_c+ -> Xi- pi+ pi+) = 0.18+/-0.09, respectively. We also report branching ratios for the same decay modes of the Lambda_c+ relative to Lambda_c+ -> p K- pi+.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, version 2 as accepted in PL

Total Cross Section Measurements With π- , Σ- And Protons On Nuclei And Nucleons Around 600 Gev/c

Total cross sections for Σ- and π- on beryllium, carbon, polyethylene and copper as well as total cross sections for protons on beryllium and carbon have been measured in a broad momentum range around 600GeV/c . These measurements were performed with a transmission technique in the SELEX hyperon-beam experiment at Fermilab. We report on results obtained for hadron-nucleus cross sections and on results for σtot(Σ-N) and σtot(π-N) , which were deduced from nuclear cross sections. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.57901/02/15277312Langland, J.L., (1995) Ph.D. Thesis, , University of IowaKleinfelder, S.A., (1988) IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., 35 (1)Dersch, U., (1998) Ph.D. Thesis, HeidelbergBiagi, S.F., (1981) Nucl. Phys. B, 186, pp. 1-21Bellettini, G., (1966) Nucl. Phys., 79, pp. 609-624Schiz, A.M., (1980) Phys. Rev. D, 21, pp. 3010-3022Murthy, P.V.R., (1975) Nucl. Phys. B, 92, pp. 269-308Caso, C., (1998) Eur. Phys. J. C, 3. , http://pdg.lbl.gov/1998/contents_plots.html, and data on total cross sections from computer readable filesSchiz, A.M., (1979) Ph.D. Thesis, , Yale University(1973) Landolt Börnstein Tables, 7. , Springer editionEngler, J., (1970) Phys. Lett. B, 32, pp. 716-719Babaev, A., (1974) Phys. Lett. B, 51, pp. 501-504Glauber, R.J., (1959) Boulder Lectures, pp. 315-413Franco, V., (1972) Phys. Rev. C, 6, pp. 748-757Karmanov, V.A., Kondratyuk, L.A., (1973) JETP Lett., 18, pp. 266-268Burq, J.P., (1983) Nucl. Phys. B, 217, pp. 285-335Gross, D., (1978) Phys. Rev. Lett., 41, pp. 217-220Beznogikh, G.G., (1972) Phys. Lett. B, 39, pp. 411-413Vorobyov, A.A., (1972) Phys. Lett. B, 41, pp. 639-641Foley, K.J., (1967) Phys. Rev. Lett., 19, pp. 857-859Fajardo, L.A., (1981) Phys. Rev. D, 24, pp. 46-65Jenni, P., (1977) Nucl. Phys. B, 129, pp. 232-252Breedon, R.E., (1989) Phys. Rev. Lett. B, 216, pp. 459-465Amos, N., (1983) Phys. Rev. Lett. B, 128, pp. 343-348Amaldi, U., (1977) Phys. Rev. Lett. B, 66, pp. 390-394Amos, N., (1985) Nucl. Phys. B, 262, pp. 689-714Akopin, V.D., (1977) Sov. J. Nucl. Phys., 25, pp. 51-55Amirkhanov, I.V., (1973) Sov. J. Nucl. Phys., 17, pp. 636-637Foley, K.J., (1969) Phys. Rev., 181, pp. 1775-1793Apokin, V.D., (1976) Nucl. Phys. B, 106, pp. 413-429Burq, J.P., (1982) Phys. Lett. B, 109, pp. 124-127Dakhno, L.G., (1983) Sov. J. Nucl. Phys., 37, pp. 590-598Kazarinov, M., (1976) Sov. Phys. JETP, 43, pp. 598-606De Jager, C.W., (1974) At. Data Nucl. Data Tables, 14, pp. 479-508Donnachie, A., Landshoff, P.V., (1992) Phys. Lett. B, 296, pp. 227-232Lipkin, H., (1975) Phys. Rev. D, 11, pp. 1827-1831Barnett, R.M., (1996) Phys. Rev. D, 54, pp. 191-192Carroll, A.S., (1979) Phys. Lett. B, 80, pp. 423-427Badier, J., (1972) Phys. Lett. B, 41, pp. 387-39

Total Cross Section Measurements with pi-, Sigma- and Protons on Nuclei and Nucleons around 600 GeV/c

Total cross sections for Sigma- and pi- on beryllium, carbon, polyethylene and copper as well as total cross sections for protons on beryllium and carbon have been measured in a broad momentum range around 600GeV/c. These measurements were performed with a transmission technique adapted to the SELEX hyperon-beam experiment at Fermilab. We report on results obtained for hadron-nucleus cross sections and on results for sigma_tot(Sigma- N) and sigma_tot(pi- N), which were deduced from nuclear cross sections.Comment: 42 pages, submitted to Nucl.Phys.

Nuclear Dependence Of Charm Production

Using data taken by SELEX during the 1996-1997 fixed target run at Fermilab, we study the production of charmed hadrons on copper and carbon targets with ∑ -, p, π -, and π + beams. Parametrizing the dependence of the inclusive production cross section on the atomic number A as A α, we determine α for D +, D 0, D s +, D +(2010), Λ c +, and their respective anti-particles, as a function of their transverse momentum p t and scaled longitudinal momentum x F . Within our statistics there is no dependence of α on x F for any charm species for the interval 0.1<x F <1.0. The average value of α for charm production by pion beams is α meson=0.850±0.028. This is somewhat larger than the corresponding average α baryon=0.755±0.016 for charm production by baryon beams (∑ -, p). © 2009 Springer-Verlag/Società Italiana di Fisica.644637644Cobbaert, H., (1987) Phys. Lett. B, 191, p. 456. , 10.1016/0370-2693(87)90639-3 1987PhLB.191.456CCobbaert, H., (1988) Phys. Lett. B, 206, p. 546. , 10.1016/0370-2693(88)91627-9Cobbaert, H., (1988) Phys. Lett. B, 213, p. 395. , 10.1016/0370-2693(88)91783-2 1988PhLB.213.395CLeitch, M.J., (2000) Phys. Rev. Lett., 84, p. 3256. , 10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.3256 2000PhRvL.84.3256L arXiv:nucl-ex/9909007Alessandro, B., Alexa, C., Arnaldi, R., Atayan, M., Baglin, C., Baldit, A., Beole, S., Willis, N., Charmonium production and nuclear absorption in p-A interactions at 450 GeV (2004) European Physical Journal C, 33 (1), pp. 31-40. , DOI 10.1140/epjc/s2003-01539-yAbt, I., (2009) Eur. Phys. J. C, 60, p. 525. , 10.1140/epjc/s10052-009-0965-7 2009EPJC.60.525A arXiv:0812.0734 [hep-ex]Heller, K.J., (1977) Phys. Rev. D, 16, p. 2737. , 10.1103/PhysRevD.16.2737 1977PhRvD.16.2737HSkubic, P., (1978) Phys. Rev. D, 18, p. 3115. , 10.1103/PhysRevD.18.3115 1978PhRvD.18.3115SAleev, A.N., (1987) Sov. J. Nucl. Phys., 46, p. 657. , [Yad. Fiz. 46, 1127 (1987)]Vecko, M., (1989) Czech. J. Phys. B, 39, p. 297. , 10.1007/BF01597781 1989CzJPh.39.297VAdamovich, M., (1992) Phys. Lett. B, 284, p. 453. , 10.1016/0370-2693(92)90460-L 1992PhLB.284.453AAlves, G.A., (1993) Phys. Rev. Lett., 70, p. 722. , 10.1103/PhysRevLett.70.722 1993PhRvL.70.722AAlves, G.A., (1994) Phys. Rev. D, 49, p. 4317. , 10.1103/PhysRevD.49.R4317 1994PhRvD.49.4317ALeitch, M.J., (1994) Phys. Rev. Lett., 72, p. 2542. , 10.1103/PhysRevLett.72.2542 1994PhRvL.72.2542LAdamovich, M., (1997) Nucl. Phys. B, 495, p. 3. , 10.1016/S0550-3213(97)00223-X 1997NuPhB.495.3AApanasevich, L., (1997) Phys. Rev. D, 56, p. 1391. , 10.1103/PhysRevD.56.1391 1997PhRvD.56.1391A arXiv:hep-ex/9702014Abt, I., (2007) Eur. Phys. J. C, 52, p. 531. , 10.1140/epjc/s10052-007-0427-z 2007EPJC.52.531A arXiv:0708.1443 [hep-ex]Duffy, M.E., (1985) Phys. Rev. Lett., 55, p. 1816. , 10.1103/PhysRevLett.55.1816 1985PhRvL.55.1816DVogt, R., The A dependence of open charm and bottom production (2003) International Journal of Modern Physics E, 12 (2), pp. 211-269. , DOI 10.1142/S0218301303001272Lourenco, C., Wohri, H.K., Heavy-flavour hadro-production from fixed-target to collider energies (2006) Physics Reports, 433 (3), pp. 127-180. , DOI 10.1016/j.physrep.2006.05.005, PII S0370157306001815Frawley, A.D., Ullrich, T., Vogt, R., (2008) Phys. Rept., 462, p. 125. , 10.1016/j.physrep.2008.04.002 2008PhR.462.125F arXiv:0806.1013 [nucl-ex]Russ, J.S., (1998) Proceedings of the 29th International Conference on High Energy Physics II World Scientific Singapore, 1259. , A. Astbury (eds), et al. arXiv:hep-ex/9812031Russ, J.S., (1998) Proceedings of the 29th International Conference on High Energy Physics, 2, p. 1259. , ed. by A. Astbury, et al. (World Scientific, Singapore) arXiv:hep-ex/9812031Engelfried, J., (1999) Nucl. Instrum. Methods A, 431, p. 53. , 10.1016/S0168-9002(99)00043-1 1999NIMPA.431.53E arXiv:hep-ex/9811001Kushnirenko, A., Alkhazov, G., Atamantchouk, A.G., Balatz, M.Y., Bondar, N.F., Cooper, P.S., Dauwe, L.J., Vishnyakov, V.E., Precision measurements of the ∧c+ and D 0 lifetimes (2001) Physical Review Letters, 86 (23), pp. 5243-5246. , DOI 10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.5243Garcia, F.G., (2002) Phys. Lett. B, 528, p. 49. , 10.1016/S0370-2693(01)01484-8 2002PhLB.528.49S arXiv:hep-ex/0109017Kaya, M., (2003) Phys. Lett. B, 558, p. 34. , 10.1016/S0370-2693(03)00246-6 2003PhLB.558.34S arXiv:hep-ex/0302039Brodsky, S.J., Kopeliovich, B., Schmidt, I., Soffer, J., (2006) Phys. Rev. D, 73, p. 113005. , 2006PhRvD.73k3005B arXiv:hep-ph/0603238Adamovich, M.I., (2003) Eur. Phys. J. C, 26, p. 357. , 10.1140/epjc/s2002-01073-6 2003EPJC.26.357WA. Blanco-Covarrubias, et al. (SELEX Collaboration), in preparatio

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries