Search for new physics in Bs→μ+μ−B_s \rightarrow \mu^+ \mu^- and B→K(∗)μ+μ−B \rightarrow K^{(*)} \mu^+ \mu^-

Transitions of the type $b \to s l^+ l^-$ are flavour changing neutral current processes where new physics can enter in competing loop diagrams with respect to the Standard Model contributions. In these decays several observables sensitive to new physics, and where theoretical uncertainties are under control, can be constructed. Particularly interesting are the angular asymmetries in the decay $B_d \to K^* \mu^+ \mu^-$ and the measurement of the branching fraction of the decays $B_{s,d} \to \mu^+ \mu^-$. Recent measurements of these observables and the measurement of the isospin asymmetry in the decays $B \to K^{(*)} \mu^+ \mu^-$ are presented.Comment: Presented at Flavor Physics and CP Violation (FPCP 2012), Hefei, China, May 21-25, 201

A new relation between the zero of AFBA_{FB} in B0→K∗μ+μ−B^0 \to K^* \mu^+\mu^- and the anomaly in P5′P_5^\prime

We present two exact relations, valid for any dilepton invariant mass region (large and low-recoil) and independent of any effective Hamiltonian computation, between the observables $P_i$ and $P_i^{CP}$ of the angular distribution of the 4-body decay $B \to K^*(\to K\pi) l^+l^-$. These relations emerge out of the symmetries of the angular distribution. We discuss the implications of these relations under the (testable) hypotheses of no scalar or tensor contributions and no New Physics weak phases in the Wilson coefficients. Under these hypotheses there is a direct relation among the observables $P_{1}$,$P_2$ and $P_{4,5}^\prime$. This can be used as an independent consistency test of the measurements of the angular observables. Alternatively, these relations can be applied directly in the fit to data, reducing the number of free parameters in the fit. This opens up the possibility to perform a full angular fit of the observables with existing datasets. An important consequence of the found relations is that a priori two different measurements, namely the measured position of the zero ($q_0^2$) of the forward-backward asymmetry $A_{FB}$ and the value of $P_5^\prime$ evaluated at this same point, are related by $P_4^2(q_0^{2})+P_5^2(q_0^{2})=1$. Under the hypotheses of real Wilson coefficients and $P_4^\prime$ being SM-like, we show that the higher the position of $q_0^{2}$ the smaller should be the value of $P_5^\prime$ evaluated at the same point. A precise determination of the position of the zero of $A_{FB}$ together with a measurement of $P_4^\prime$ (and $P_1$) at this position can be used as an independent experimental test of the anomaly in $P_5^\prime$. We also point out the existence of upper and lower bounds for $P_1$, namely $P_5^{\prime 2}-1 \leq P_1 \leq 1-P_4^{\prime 2}$, which constraints the physical region of the observables.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Search for New Physics in SHiP and at future colliders

SHiP is a newly proposed fixed-target experiment at the CERN SPS with the aim of searching for hidden particles that interact very weakly with SM particles. The work presented in this document investigates SHiP's physics reach in the parameter space of the Neutrino Minimal Standard Model ($\nu$MSM), which is a theory that could solve most problems left open by the Standard Model with sterile neutrinos. A model introducing an extra $U(1)$ symmetry in the hidden sector, providing a natural candidate for dark matter, is also explored. This work shows that the SHiP experiment can improve by several orders of magnitude the sensitivity to Heavy Neutral Leptons below 2 GeV, scanning a large part of the parameter space below the $B$ meson mass. The remainder of the $\nu$MSM parameter space, dominated by right-handed neutrinos with masses above 2 GeV, can be explored at a future $e^+e^-$ collider. Similarly, SHiP can greatly improve present constraints on $U(1)$ dark photons.Comment: Proceedings for the INFIERI 2014 schoo

Towards establishing Lepton Flavour Universality violation in Bˉ→Kˉ∗ℓ+ℓ−\bar{B}\to \bar{K}^*\ell^+\ell^- decays

Rare semileptonic $b \to s \ell^+ \ell^-$ transitions provide some of the most promising frameworks to search for new physics effects. Recent analyses of these decays have indicated an anomalous behaviour in measurements of angular distributions of the decay $B^0\to K^*\mu^+\mu^-$ and lepton-flavour-universality observables. Unambiguously establishing if these deviations have a common nature is of paramount importance in order to understand the observed pattern. We propose a novel approach to independently and complementary probe this hypothesis by performing a simultaneous amplitude analysis of $\bar{B}^0 \to \bar{K}^{*0} \mu^+\mu^-$ and $\bar{B}^0 \to \bar{K}^{*0} e^+e^-$ decays. This method enables the direct determination of observables that encode potential non-equal couplings of muons and electrons, and are found to be insensitive to nonperturbative QCD effects. If current hints of new physics are confirmed, our approach could allow an early discovery of physics beyond the standard model with LHCb run II data sets.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures. Matching the journal versio

A simple and fast exact clustering algorithm defined for complex networks and based on the properties of primes

In this paper a new clustering method based on primes is proposed. This method define a nodes cluster of any complex network, considering the nodes with same input/output number and same number of paths with equal length, so all the network nodes with analogous functions will be possible to identify. The clustering algorithm proposed, results very efficient because it is defined on simple computations with primes. For example, with our algorithm the analysis of a network with 500 nodes and 124750 connections is performed in 80 seconds on Pentium 4 with CPU 2Ghz and 1Gb ram. Keywords: Complex network, clustering method, graph theory, unidirectional/bidirectional network, complete path

A significant minimization of Pearson’s X2 statistics in 2x2 contingency tables: preliminary results for small samples

  The Pearson’s chi-square test or X2 test represents a nonparametric test more used in Medicine, Biology and Social Sciences, but it introduces some error for 2x2 contingency tables, therefore Yates introduces a continuity correction. This correction produces a very conservative result of X2 statistics with overestimation of p-value and consequently a type II error is very likely. The goal of this paper is to define, with a statistical approach, a significant minimization of Pearson’s X2 statistics for small data sample, based on concept of arithmetic mean, that could be a possible efficient statistic for reducing the type II error in the calculation of p-value

Bs→μ+μ−B_s\to \mu^{+}\mu^{-} the at LHC

The ATLAS, CMS and LHCb experiments will perform extensive searches for physics Beyond the Standard Model (BSM). The investigation of decays of beauty hadrons represents an alternative and complementary approach to the direct BSM searches. A particularly promising observable for the search of New Physics (NP) in $B-$hadron decays, is the measurement of the branching ratio of the decay $B_S\to \mu^{+} \mu^{-}$. This observable is sensitive to physics BSM with new scalar or pseudoscalar effective operators, such as theories involving an extended Higgs sector. Here the prospects of the ATLAS, CMS and the LHCb experiments for such a measurement are discussed. In particular the LHCb experiment, thanks to its good particle identification and momentum resolution, has the potential for an early discovery of this decay.Comment: Proceeding of the CKM 2010 worksho

Tests of Factorization and SU(3) Relations in B Decays into Heavy-Light Final States

Using data from the B factories and the Tevatron, we perform tests of how well non-leptonic B decays of the kind B -> D^{(*)}_{(s)} P, where P is a pion or kaon, are described within the factorization framework. We find that factorization works well - as is theoretically expected - for color-allowed, tree-diagram-like topologies. Moreover, also exchange topologies, which have a non-factorizable character, do not show any anomalous behavior. We discuss also isospin triangles between the B -> D^{(*)} pi decay amplitudes, and determine the corresponding amplitudes in the complex plane, which show a significant enhancement of the color-suppressed tree contribution with respect to the factorization picture. Using data for B -> D^{(*)} K decays, we determine SU(3)-breaking effects and cannot resolve any non-factorizable SU(3)-breaking corrections larger than \sim 5%. In view of these results, we point out that a comparison between the \bar B^0_d -> D^+\pi^- and \bar B^0_s -> D_s^+\pi^- decays offers an interesting new determination of f_d/f_s. Using CDF data, we obtain the most precise value of this ratio at CDF, and discuss the prospects for a corresponding measurement at LHCb.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, matches published version in Physical Review

Extracting Angular Observables without a Likelihood and Applications to Rare Decays

Our goal is to obtain a complete set of angular observables arising in a generic multi-body process. We show how this can be achieved without the need to carry out a likelihood fit of the angular distribution to the measured events. Instead, we apply the method of moments that relies both on the orthogonality of angular functions and the estimation of integrals by Monte Carlo techniques. The big advantage of this method is that the joint distribution of all observables can be easily extracted, even for very few events. The method of moments is shown to be robust against mismodeling of the angular distribution. Our main result is an explicit algorithm that accounts for systematic uncertainties from detector-resolution and acceptance effects. Finally, we present the necessary process-dependent formulae needed for direct application of the method to several rare decays of interest.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure

zfit: scalable pythonic fitting

Statistical modeling is a key element in many scientific fields and especially in High-Energy Physics (HEP) analysis. The standard framework to perform this task in HEP is the C++ ROOT/RooFit toolkit; with Python bindings that are only loosely integrated into the scientific Python ecosystem. In this paper, zfit, a new alternative to RooFit written in pure Python, is presented. Most of all, zfit provides a well defined high-level API and workflow for advanced model building and fitting, together with an implementation on top of TensorFlow, allowing a transparent usage of CPUs and GPUs. It is designed to be extendable in a very simple fashion, allowing the usage of cutting-edge developments from the scientific Python ecosystem in a transparent way. The main features of zfit are introduced, and its extension to data analysis, especially in the context of HEP experiments, is discussed.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure