A decade-spanning high-resolution asynchronous optical sampling terahertz time-domain and frequency comb spectrometer

We present the design and capabilities of a high-resolution, decade-spanning ASynchronous OPtical Sampling (ASOPS)-based TeraHertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS) instrument. Our system employs dual mode-locked femtosecond Ti:Sapphire oscillators with repetition rates offset locked at 100 Hz via a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) operating at the 60th harmonic of the ∼80 MHz oscillator repetition rates. The respective time delays of the individual laser pulses are scanned across a 12.5 ns window in a laboratory scan time of 10 ms, supporting a time delay resolution as fine as 15.6 fs. The repetition rate of the pump oscillator is synchronized to a Rb frequency standard via a PLL operating at the 12th harmonic of the oscillator repetition rate, achieving milliHertz (mHz) stability. We characterize the timing jitter of the system using an air-spaced etalon, an optical cross correlator, and the phase noise spectrum of the PLL. Spectroscopic applications of ASOPS-THz-TDS are demonstrated by measuring water vapor absorption lines from 0.55 to 3.35 THz and acetonitrile absorption lines from 0.13 to 1.39 THz in a short pathlength gas cell. With 70 min of data acquisition, a 50 dB signal-to-noise ratio is achieved. The achieved root-mean-square deviation is 14.6 MHz, with a mean deviation of 11.6 MHz, for the measured water line center frequencies as compared to the JPL molecular spectroscopy database. Further, with the same instrument and data acquisition hardware, we use the ability to control the repetition rate of the pump oscillator to enable THz frequency comb spectroscopy (THz-FCS). Here, a frequency comb with a tooth width of 5 MHz is generated and used to fully resolve the pure rotational spectrum of acetonitrile with Doppler-limited precision. The oscillator repetition rate stability achieved by our PLL lock circuits enables sub-MHz tooth width generation, if desired. This instrument provides unprecedented decade-spanning, tunable resolution, from 80 MHz down to sub-MHz, and heralds a new generation of gas-phase spectroscopic tools in the THz region

A study of CP violation in B±→DK±B±→DK± and B±→Dπ±B±→Dπ± decays with D→KS0K±π∓ final states

A first study of CP violation in the decay modes B± → [K0S K ±π∓]Dh± and B± → [K0S K ∓π±]Dh±, where h labels a K or π meson and D labels a D0 or D0 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 γ 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 γ using other decay modes

Measurement of the Bc +meson lifetime using Bc +→J/ψμ+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

Searches for Λ0b and Ξ0b decays to K0spπ- and K0spK- final states with first observation of the Λ0b → k0spπ- decay

A search for previously unobserved decays of beauty baryons to the final states K0 spπ- and K0 spK- is reported. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb- of pp collisions. The Λ0 b → ̄K pπ- decay is observed with a significance of 8.6σ, with branching fraction (Equation Presented), where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, from the ratio of fragmentation fractions f Λ 0 b/fd, and from the branching fraction of the B0 → K0π+π - normalisation channel, respectively. A first measurement is made of the CP asymmetry, giving (Equation Presented). No significant signals are seen for Λ0 b → K0 spK - decays, Ξ0 b decays to both the K 0 spπ- and K0 spK - final states, and the Λ0 b → D- s(→ K0 sK-)p decay, and upper limits on their branching fractions are reported

Measurement of Υ production in pp collisions at √s = 2.76 TeV

The production of Υ(1S), Υ(2S) and Υ(3S) mesons decaying into the dimuon final state is studied with the LHCb detector using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.3pb-1 collected in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 2.76 TeV. The differential production cross-sections times dimuon branching fractions are measured as functions of the Υ transverse momentum and rapidity, over the ranges pT < 15 GeV/c and 2.0 < y < 4.5. The total cross-sections in this kinematic region, assuming unpolarised production, are measured to be (Formula presented.) where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic

Studies of beauty baryon decays to D0ph− and Λ+ch− final states

Decays of beauty baryons to the D0ph− and Λ+ch− 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 Λ0b→D0pK− and Λ0b→Λ+cK− are observed, and their branching fractions are measured with respect to the decays Λ0b→D0pπ− and Λ0b→Λ+cπ−. In addition, the first observation is reported of the decay of the neutral beauty-strange baryon Ξ0b to the D0pK− final state, and a measurement of the Ξ0b mass is performed. Evidence of the Ξ0b→Λ+cK− decay is also reported

Precision measurement of the ratio of the Λb0 to B-0 lifetimes

The LHCb measurement of the lifetime ratio of the Λb0 baryon to the B-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 Λb0→J/ψpK- and B-0→J/ψπ+K-, where the π +K - mass is consistent with that of the K-*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-0 lifetime, the Λb0 lifetime is found to be 1.479 ± 0.009 ± 0.010ps

Measurement of resonant and CP components in B0s→J/ψπ+π− decays

Structure of the decay B̄s0→J/ψπ+π- is studied using data corresponding to 3fb-1 of integrated luminosity from pp collisions produced by the LHC and collected by the LHCb detector. Five interfering π+π- states are required to describe the decay: f0(980),f0(1500),f0(1790),f2(1270), and f2′(1525). An alternative model including these states and a nonresonant J/ψπ+π- component also provides a good description of the data. Based on the different transversity components measured for the spin-2 intermediate states, the final state is found to be compatible with being entirely CP odd. The CP-even part is found to be <2.3% at a 95% confidence level. The f0(500) state is not observed, allowing a limit to be set on the absolute value of the mixing angle with the f0(980) of <7.7° at a 90% confidence level, consistent with a tetraquark interpretation of the f0(980) substructure