1,161 research outputs found

    Subdegree Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Signal from Multifrequency BOOMERanG observations

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    The Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect is the inverse Compton-scattering of cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons by hot electrons in the intervening gas throughout the universe. The effect has a distinct spectral signature that allows its separation from other signals in multifrequency CMB datasets. Using CMB anisotropies measured at three frequencies by the BOOMERanG 2003 flight we constrain SZ fluctuations in the 10 arcmin to 1 deg angular range. Propagating errors and potential systematic effects through simulations, we obtain an overall upper limit of 15.3 uK (2 sigma) for rms SZ fluctuations in a broad bin between multipoles of of 250 and 1200 at the Rayleigh-Jeans (RJ) end of the spectrum. When combined with other CMB anisotropy and SZ measurements, we find that the local universe normalization of the density perturbations is sigma-8(SZ) < 0.96 at the 95% confidence level, consistent with sigma-8 determined from primordial perturbations.Comment: accepted for publication in ApJ. Letter

    Radon and material radiopurity assessment for the NEXT double beta decay experiment

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    The Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon TPC (NEXT), intended to investigate the neutrinoless double beta decay using a high-pressure xenon gas TPC filled with Xe enriched in 136Xe at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory in Spain, requires ultra-low background conditions demanding an exhaustive control of material radiopurity and environmental radon levels. An extensive material screening process is underway for several years based mainly on gamma-ray spectroscopy using ultra-low background germanium detectors in Canfranc but also on mass spectrometry techniques like GDMS and ICPMS. Components from shielding, pressure vessel, electroluminescence and high voltage elements and energy and tracking readout planes have been analyzed, helping in the final design of the experiment and in the construction of the background model. The latest measurements carried out will be presented and the implication on NEXT of their results will be discussed. The commissioning of the NEW detector, as a first step towards NEXT, has started in Canfranc; in-situ measurements of airborne radon levels were taken there to optimize the system for radon mitigation and will be shown too.Comment: Proceedings of the Low Radioactivity Techniques 2015 workshop (LRT2015), Seattle, March 201

    Evidence for the strangeness-changing weak decay Ξb−→Λb0π−\Xi_b^-\to\Lambda_b^0\pi^-

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    Using a pppp collision data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0~fb−1^{-1}, collected by the LHCb detector, we present the first search for the strangeness-changing weak decay Ξb−→Λb0π−\Xi_b^-\to\Lambda_b^0\pi^-. No bb hadron decay of this type has been seen before. A signal for this decay, corresponding to a significance of 3.2 standard deviations, is reported. The relative rate is measured to be fΞb−fΛb0B(Ξb−→Λb0π−)=(5.7±1.8−0.9+0.8)×10−4{{f_{\Xi_b^-}}\over{f_{\Lambda_b^0}}}{\cal{B}}(\Xi_b^-\to\Lambda_b^0\pi^-) = (5.7\pm1.8^{+0.8}_{-0.9})\times10^{-4}, where fΞb−f_{\Xi_b^-} and fΛb0f_{\Lambda_b^0} are the b→Ξb−b\to\Xi_b^- and b→Λb0b\to\Lambda_b^0 fragmentation fractions, and B(Ξb−→Λb0π−){\cal{B}}(\Xi_b^-\to\Lambda_b^0\pi^-) is the branching fraction. Assuming fΞb−/fΛb0f_{\Xi_b^-}/f_{\Lambda_b^0} is bounded between 0.1 and 0.3, the branching fraction B(Ξb−→Λb0π−){\cal{B}}(\Xi_b^-\to\Lambda_b^0\pi^-) would lie in the range from (0.57±0.21)%(0.57\pm0.21)\% to (0.19±0.07)%(0.19\pm0.07)\%.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://lhcbproject.web.cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/LHCbProjectPublic/LHCb-PAPER-2015-047.htm

    Search for the rare decays B0→J/ÏˆÎłB^{0}\to J/\psi \gamma and Bs0→J/ÏˆÎłB^{0}_{s} \to J/\psi \gamma

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    A search for the rare decay of a B0B^{0} or Bs0B^{0}_{s} meson into the final state J/ÏˆÎłJ/\psi\gamma is performed, using data collected by the LHCb experiment in pppp collisions at s=7\sqrt{s}=7 and 88 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb−1^{-1}. The observed number of signal candidates is consistent with a background-only hypothesis. Branching fraction values larger than 1.7×10−61.7\times 10^{-6} for the B0→J/ÏˆÎłB^{0}\to J/\psi\gamma decay mode are excluded at 90% confidence level. For the Bs0→J/ÏˆÎłB^{0}_{s}\to J/\psi\gamma decay mode, branching fraction values larger than 7.4×10−67.4\times 10^{-6} are excluded at 90% confidence level, this is the first branching fraction limit for this decay.Comment: All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://lhcbproject.web.cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/LHCbProjectPublic/LHCb-PAPER-2015-044.htm

    Study of the production of Λb0\Lambda_b^0 and B‟0\overline{B}^0 hadrons in pppp collisions and first measurement of the Λb0→J/ψpK−\Lambda_b^0\rightarrow J/\psi pK^- branching fraction

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    The product of the Λb0\Lambda_b^0 (B‟0\overline{B}^0) differential production cross-section and the branching fraction of the decay Λb0→J/ψpK−\Lambda_b^0\rightarrow J/\psi pK^- (B‟0→J/ψK‟∗(892)0\overline{B}^0\rightarrow J/\psi\overline{K}^*(892)^0) is measured as a function of the beauty hadron transverse momentum, pTp_{\rm T}, and rapidity, yy. The kinematic region of the measurements is pT<20 GeV/cp_{\rm T}<20~{\rm GeV}/c and 2.0<y<4.52.0<y<4.5. The measurements use a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb−13~{\rm fb}^{-1} collected by the LHCb detector in pppp collisions at centre-of-mass energies s=7 TeV\sqrt{s}=7~{\rm TeV} in 2011 and s=8 TeV\sqrt{s}=8~{\rm TeV} in 2012. Based on previous LHCb results of the fragmentation fraction ratio, fΛB0/fdf_{\Lambda_B^0}/f_d, the branching fraction of the decay Λb0→J/ψpK−\Lambda_b^0\rightarrow J/\psi pK^- is measured to be \begin{equation*} \mathcal{B}(\Lambda_b^0\rightarrow J/\psi pK^-)= (3.17\pm0.04\pm0.07\pm0.34^{+0.45}_{-0.28})\times10^{-4}, \end{equation*} where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, the third is due to the uncertainty on the branching fraction of the decay B‟0→J/ψK‟∗(892)0\overline{B}^0\rightarrow J/\psi\overline{K}^*(892)^0, and the fourth is due to the knowledge of fΛb0/fdf_{\Lambda_b^0}/f_d. The sum of the asymmetries in the production and decay between Λb0\Lambda_b^0 and Λ‟b0\overline{\Lambda}_b^0 is also measured as a function of pTp_{\rm T} and yy. The previously published branching fraction of Λb0→J/ψpπ−\Lambda_b^0\rightarrow J/\psi p\pi^-, relative to that of Λb0→J/ψpK−\Lambda_b^0\rightarrow J/\psi pK^-, is updated. The branching fractions of Λb0→Pc+(→J/ψp)K−\Lambda_b^0\rightarrow P_c^+(\rightarrow J/\psi p)K^- are determined.Comment: 29 pages, 19figures. All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://lhcbproject.web.cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/LHCbProjectPublic/LHCb-PAPER-2015-032.htm

    A model-independent confirmation of the Z(4430)−Z(4430)^- state

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    The decay B0→ψ(2S)K+π−B^0\to \psi(2S) K^+\pi^- is analyzed using 3 fb−1\rm 3~fb^{-1} of pppp collision data collected with the LHCb detector. A model-independent description of the ψ(2S)π\psi(2S) \pi mass spectrum is obtained, using as input the KπK\pi mass spectrum and angular distribution derived directly from data, without requiring a theoretical description of resonance shapes or their interference. The hypothesis that the ψ(2S)π\psi(2S)\pi mass spectrum can be described in terms of KπK\pi reflections alone is rejected with more than 8σ\sigma significance. This provides confirmation, in a model-independent way, of the need for an additional resonant component in the mass region of the Z(4430)−Z(4430)^- exotic state.Comment: All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://lhcbproject.web.cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/LHCbProjectPublic/LHCb-PAPER-2015-038.htm

    Search for hidden-sector bosons in B0 ⁣→K∗0ÎŒ+Ό−B^0 \!\to K^{*0}\mu^+\mu^- decays

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    A search is presented for hidden-sector bosons, χ\chi, produced in the decay B0 ⁣→K∗(892)0χ{B^0\!\to K^*(892)^0\chi}, with K∗(892)0 ⁣→K+π−K^*(892)^0\!\to K^{+}\pi^{-} and Ï‡â€‰âŁâ†’ÎŒ+Ό−\chi\!\to\mu^+\mu^-. The search is performed using pppp-collision data corresponding to 3.0 fb−1^{-1} collected with the LHCb detector. No significant signal is observed in the accessible mass range 214≀m(χ)≀4350214 \leq m({\chi}) \leq 4350 MeV, and upper limits are placed on the branching fraction product B(B0 ⁣→K∗(892)0χ)×B(Ï‡â€‰âŁâ†’ÎŒ+Ό−)\mathcal{B}(B^0\!\to K^*(892)^0\chi)\times\mathcal{B}(\chi\!\to\mu^+\mu^-) as a function of the mass and lifetime of the χ\chi boson. These limits are of the order of 10−910^{-9} for χ\chi lifetimes less than 100 ps over most of the m(χ)m(\chi) range, and place the most stringent constraints to date on many theories that predict the existence of additional low-mass bosons.Comment: All figures and tables, along with supplementary material, are available at https://lhcbproject.web.cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/LHCbProjectPublic/LHCb-PAPER-2015-036.htm

    Measurement of the mass and lifetime of the Ωb−\Omega_b^- baryon

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    A proton-proton collision data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb−1^{-1} collected by LHCb at s=7\sqrt{s}=7 and 8 TeV, is used to reconstruct 63±963\pm9 Ωb−→Ωc0π−\Omega_b^-\to\Omega_c^0\pi^-, Ωc0→pK−K−π+\Omega_c^0\to pK^-K^-\pi^+ decays. Using the Ξb−→Ξc0π−\Xi_b^-\to\Xi_c^0\pi^-, Ξc0→pK−K−π+\Xi_c^0\to pK^-K^-\pi^+ decay mode for calibration, the lifetime ratio and absolute lifetime of the Ωb−\Omega_b^- baryon are measured to be \begin{align*} \frac{\tau_{\Omega_b^-}}{\tau_{\Xi_b^-}} &= 1.11\pm0.16\pm0.03, \\ \tau_{\Omega_b^-} &= 1.78\pm0.26\pm0.05\pm0.06~{\rm ps}, \end{align*} where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic and from the calibration mode (for τΩb−\tau_{\Omega_b^-} only). A measurement is also made of the mass difference, mΩb−−mΞb−m_{\Omega_b^-}-m_{\Xi_b^-}, and the corresponding Ωb−\Omega_b^- mass, which yields \begin{align*} m_{\Omega_b^-}-m_{\Xi_b^-} &= 247.4\pm3.2\pm0.5~{\rm MeV}/c^2, \\ m_{\Omega_b^-} &= 6045.1\pm3.2\pm 0.5\pm0.6~{\rm MeV}/c^2. \end{align*} These results are consistent with previous measurements.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://lhcbproject.web.cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/LHCbProjectPublic/LHCb-PAPER-2016-008.htm

    Measurements of long-range near-side angular correlations in sNN=5\sqrt{s_{\text{NN}}}=5TeV proton-lead collisions in the forward region

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    Two-particle angular correlations are studied in proton-lead collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of sNN=5\sqrt{s_{\text{NN}}}=5TeV, collected with the LHCb detector at the LHC. The analysis is based on data recorded in two beam configurations, in which either the direction of the proton or that of the lead ion is analysed. The correlations are measured in the laboratory system as a function of relative pseudorapidity, Δη\Delta\eta, and relative azimuthal angle, Δϕ\Delta\phi, for events in different classes of event activity and for different bins of particle transverse momentum. In high-activity events a long-range correlation on the near side, Δϕ≈0\Delta\phi \approx 0, is observed in the pseudorapidity range 2.0<η<4.92.0<\eta<4.9. This measurement of long-range correlations on the near side in proton-lead collisions extends previous observations into the forward region up to η=4.9\eta=4.9. The correlation increases with growing event activity and is found to be more pronounced in the direction of the lead beam. However, the correlation in the direction of the lead and proton beams are found to be compatible when comparing events with similar absolute activity in the direction analysed.Comment: All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://lhcbproject.web.cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/LHCbProjectPublic/LHCb-PAPER-2015-040.htm
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