Charge-dependent curvature-bias corrections using a pseudomass method

International audienceMomentum measurements for very high momentum charged particles, such as muons from electroweak vector boson decays, are particularly susceptible to charge-dependent curvature biases that arise from misalignments of tracking detectors. Low momentum charged particles used in alignment procedures have limited sensitivity to coherent displacements of such detectors, and therefore are unable to fully constrain these misalignments to the precision necessary for studies of electroweak physics. Additional approaches are therefore required to understand and correct for these effects. In this paper the curvature biases present at the LHCb detector are studied using the pseudomass method in proton-proton collision data recorded at centre of mass energy $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV during 2016, 2017 and 2018. The biases are determined using $Z\to\mu^+\mu^-$ decays in intervals defined by the data-taking period, magnet polarity and muon direction. Correcting for these biases, which are typically at the $10^{-4}$ GeV$^{-1}$ level, improves the $Z\to\mu^+\mu^-$ mass resolution by roughly 20% and eliminates several pathological trends in the kinematic-dependence of the mean dimuon invariant mass

Tracking of charged particles with nanosecond lifetimes at LHCb

A method is presented to reconstruct charged particles with lifetimes between 10 ps and 10 ns, which considers a combination of their decay products and the partial tracks created by the initial charged particle. Using the $\Xi^-$ baryon as a benchmark, the method is demonstrated with simulated events and proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.0 fb${}^{-1}$ collected with the LHCb detector in 2018. Significant improvements in the angular resolution and the signal purity are obtained. The method is implemented as part of the LHCb Run 3 event trigger in a set of requirements to select detached hyperons. This is the first demonstration of the applicability of this approach at the LHC, and the first to show its scaling with instantaneous luminosity

Study of Bc+→χcπ+B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_c \pi^+ decays

International audienceA study of $B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_c \pi^+$ decays is reported using proton-proton collision data, collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9fb$^{-1}$. The decay $B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_{c2} \pi^+$ is observed for the first time, with a significance exceeding seven standard deviations. The relative branching fraction with respect to the $B_c^+ \rightarrow J/\psi \pi^+$ decay is measured to be $$\frac{\mathcal{B}_{B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_{c2} \pi^+}} {\mathcal{B}_{B_c^+ \rightarrow J/\psi \pi^+}} = 0.37 \pm 0.06 \pm 0.02 \pm 0.01 ,$$ where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is due to the knowledge of the $\chi_c \rightarrow J/\psi \gamma$ branching fraction. No significant $B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_{c1} \pi^+$ signal is observed and an upper limit for the relative branching fraction for the $B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_{c1} \pi^+$ and $B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_{c2} \pi^+$ decays of $$\frac{\mathcal{B}_{B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_{c1} \pi^+}} {\mathcal{B}_{B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_{c2} \pi^+}} < 0.49$$ is set at the 90% confidence level

Search for the Bs0→μ+μ−γB_s^0 \rightarrow \mu^+\mu^-\gamma decay

International audienceA search for the fully reconstructed $B_s^0 \rightarrow \mu^+\mu^-\gamma$ decay is performed at the LHCb experiment using proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.4\,\mathrm{fb^{-1}}$. No significant signal is found and upper limits on the branching fraction in intervals of the dimuon mass are set \begin{align} {\cal B}(B_s^0 \rightarrow \mu^+\mu^-\gamma) < 4.2\times10^{-8},~&m(\mu\mu)\in[2m_\mu,~1.70]\,\mathrm{GeV/c^2} ,\nonumber {\cal B}(B_s^0 \rightarrow \mu^+\mu^-\gamma) < 7.7\times10^{-8},~&m(\mu\mu)\in[1.70,~2.88]\,\mathrm{GeV/c^2},\nonumber {\cal B}(B_s^0 \rightarrow \mu^+\mu^-\gamma) < 4.2\times10^{-8},~&m(\mu\mu)\in[3.92 ,~m_{B_s^0}]\,\mathrm{GeV/c^2},\nonumber \end{align} at 95% confidence level. Additionally, upper limits are set on the branching fraction in the $[2m_\mu,~1.70]\,\mathrm{GeV/c^2}$ dimuon mass region excluding the contribution from the intermediate $\phi(1020)$ meson, and in the region combining all dimuon-mass intervals

First observation of Λb0→Σc(∗)++D(∗)−K−\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_c^{(*)++} D^{(*)-} K^{-} decays

International audienceThe four decays, $\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_c^{(*)++} D^{(*)-} K^{-}$, are observed for the first time using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at a centre-of-mass energy of $13\,\rm{TeV}$, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $6\,\rm{fb}^{-1}$. By considering the $\Lambda_b^0 \rightarrow \Lambda_c^{+} \overline{D}^0 K^{-}$ decay as reference channel, the following branching fraction ratios are measured to be, $$\frac{\cal{B} (\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_{c}^{++} \rm{D}^{-} {K}^{-})}{\cal{B}(\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Lambda_c^{+} \rm \overline{D}^0 {K}^{-})} = {0.282}\pm{0.016}\pm{0.016}\pm{0.005}, \frac{\cal{B}(\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_{c}^{*++} \rm {D}^{-} {K}^{-})}{\cal{B}(\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_c^{++} \rm {D}^{-} {K}^{-})} = {0.460}\pm{0.052}\pm{0.028}, \frac{\cal{B}(\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_{c}^{++} \rm {D}^{*-} {K}^{-})}{\cal{B}(\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_c^{++} \rm {D}^{-} {K}^{-})} = {2.261}\pm{0.202}\pm{0.129}\pm{0.046}, \frac{\cal{B}(\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_{c}^{*++} \rm D^{*-} K^{-})}{\cal{B}(\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_c^{++} \rm D^{-} K^{-})} = {0.896}\pm{0.137}\pm{0.066}\pm{0.018},$$ where the first uncertainties are statistical, the second are systematic, and the third are due to uncertainties in the branching fractions of intermediate particle decays. These initial observations mark the beginning of pentaquark searches in these modes, with more data set to become available following the LHCb upgrade

Study of Bc+→χcπ+B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_c \pi^+ decays

International audienceA study of $B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_c \pi^+$ decays is reported using proton-proton collision data, collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9fb$^{-1}$. The decay $B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_{c2} \pi^+$ is observed for the first time, with a significance exceeding seven standard deviations. The relative branching fraction with respect to the $B_c^+ \rightarrow J/\psi \pi^+$ decay is measured to be $$\frac{\mathcal{B}_{B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_{c2} \pi^+}} {\mathcal{B}_{B_c^+ \rightarrow J/\psi \pi^+}} = 0.37 \pm 0.06 \pm 0.02 \pm 0.01 ,$$ where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is due to the knowledge of the $\chi_c \rightarrow J/\psi \gamma$ branching fraction. No significant $B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_{c1} \pi^+$ signal is observed and an upper limit for the relative branching fraction for the $B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_{c1} \pi^+$ and $B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_{c2} \pi^+$ decays of $$\frac{\mathcal{B}_{B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_{c1} \pi^+}} {\mathcal{B}_{B_c^+ \rightarrow \chi_{c2} \pi^+}} < 0.49$$ is set at the 90% confidence level

First observation of Λb0→Σc(∗)++D(∗)−K−\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_c^{(*)++} D^{(*)-} K^{-} decays

International audienceThe four decays, $\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_c^{(*)++} D^{(*)-} K^{-}$, are observed for the first time using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at a centre-of-mass energy of $13\,\rm{TeV}$, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $6\,\rm{fb}^{-1}$. By considering the $\Lambda_b^0 \rightarrow \Lambda_c^{+} \overline{D}^0 K^{-}$ decay as reference channel, the following branching fraction ratios are measured to be, $$\frac{\cal{B} (\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_{c}^{++} \rm{D}^{-} {K}^{-})}{\cal{B}(\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Lambda_c^{+} \rm \overline{D}^0 {K}^{-})} = {0.282}\pm{0.016}\pm{0.016}\pm{0.005}, \frac{\cal{B}(\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_{c}^{*++} \rm {D}^{-} {K}^{-})}{\cal{B}(\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_c^{++} \rm {D}^{-} {K}^{-})} = {0.460}\pm{0.052}\pm{0.028}, \frac{\cal{B}(\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_{c}^{++} \rm {D}^{*-} {K}^{-})}{\cal{B}(\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_c^{++} \rm {D}^{-} {K}^{-})} = {2.261}\pm{0.202}\pm{0.129}\pm{0.046}, \frac{\cal{B}(\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_{c}^{*++} \rm D^{*-} K^{-})}{\cal{B}(\Lambda_{b}^{0} \rightarrow \Sigma_c^{++} \rm D^{-} K^{-})} = {0.896}\pm{0.137}\pm{0.066}\pm{0.018},$$ where the first uncertainties are statistical, the second are systematic, and the third are due to uncertainties in the branching fractions of intermediate particle decays. These initial observations mark the beginning of pentaquark searches in these modes, with more data set to become available following the LHCb upgrade