A stacking method to study the gamma-ray emission of source samples based on the co-adding of Fermi LAT count maps

We present a stacking method that makes use of co-added maps of gamma-ray counts produced from data taken with the Fermi Large Area Telescope. Sources with low integrated gamma-ray fluxes that are not detected individually may become detectable when their corresponding count maps are added. The combined data set is analyzed with a maximum likelihood method taking into account the contribution from point-like and diffuse background sources. For both simulated and real data, detection significance and integrated gamma-ray flux are investigated for different numbers of stacked sources using the public Fermi Science Tools for analysis and data preparation. The co-adding is done such that potential source signals add constructively, in contrast to the signals from background sources, which allows the stacked data to be described with simply structured models. We show, for different scenarios, that the stacking method can be used to increase the cumulative significance of a sample of sources and to characterize the corresponding gamma-ray emission. The method can, for instance, help to search for gamma-ray emission from galaxy clusters.Comment: accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 10 pages, 12 figure

A triple GEM detector with two dimensional readout

The triple GEM detector is a micropattern gas detector which consists of a primary ionisation gap and three consecutive gas electron multiplier (GEM) foils. A printed circuit board with readout strips detects the current induced by the drifting electron cloud originating from the last GEM stage. Thus the gas amplification and the signal readout are completely separated. Triple GEM detectors are being developed as a possible technology for the inner tracking in the LHCb experiment. In an earlier note we have reported first experience with such a detector in a test beam at PSI. Here we describe the construction of an improved version (thinner transfer gaps, segmented GEM foils, two dimensional readout). Results from performance measurements are presented using intense hadronic beams as well as cosmic ray data.Comment: 20 pages, 24 figure

Vestibular and auditory deficits in Fabry disease and their response to enzyme replacement therapy

Progressive hearing (pHL) and vestibular (pVL) loss are frequent deficits in Fabry disease (FD). Recently, enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with human α-galactosidase A has become available. Here, we investigate the association between pHL and pVL in FD and their ERT responses. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) and head impulse testing (HIT) were administered at baseline in 47 patients (25 male, 18-0 y; 22 female, 17-4 y), of whom 24 also received caloric irrigation (CI). Of the 47 patients, 38 (24 male) were tested both before and during ERT (follow- up ≤60 months). ERT consisted of agalsidase alfa infusions. At baseline, pHL was present in 88% of males and 86% of females. Over all tested frequencies (range: 0.5- kHz), pHL was significantly (two-way ANOVA: p 0.05). We conclude that pHL and pVL prevalences are similar in FD. To detect pVL, HIT is more sensitive than CI. We speculate that pHL and pVL emerge from lesions within the vestibulocochlear labyrinth, because no specific patterns of vestibulo-cochlear deficits were observed, as expected if lesions were more proximal along the inferior or superior branch of the vestibulo-cochlear nerve or labyrinthine artery. Finally, ERT stabilizes auditory and even improves vestibular functio

Reflections on a Measurement of the Gravitational Constant Using a Beam Balance and 13 Tons of Mercury

In 2006, a final result of a measurement of the gravitational constant $G$ performed by researchers at the University of Z\"urich was published. A value of G=6.674\,252(122)\times 10^{-11}\,\mbox{m}^3\,\mbox{kg}^{-1}\,\mbox{s}^{-2} was obtained after an experimental effort that lasted over one decade. Here, we briefly summarize the measurement and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this approach.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures accepted for publication in Phil. Trans. R. Soc.

Measurement of CPCP violation parameters in B0→DK∗0{B}^{0}\rightarrow{}D{K}^{*0} decays

An analysis of ${B}^{0}\rightarrow{}D{K}^{*0}$ decays is presented, where $D$ represents an admixture of ${D}^{0}$ and ${\overline{D}}^{0}$ mesons reconstructed in four separate final states: ${K}^{-{}}{\pi{}}^{+}$, ${\pi{}}^{-{}}{K}^{+}$, ${K}^{+}{K}^{-{}}$ and ${\pi{}}^{+}{\pi{}}^{-{}}$. The data sample corresponds to $3.0\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{fb}}^{-{}1}$ of proton-proton collision, collected by the LHCb experiment. Measurements of several observables are performed, including $CP$ asymmetries. The most precise determination is presented of ${r}_{B}(D{K}^{*0})$, the magnitude of the ratio of the amplitudes of the decay ${B}^{0}\rightarrow{}D{K}^{+}{\pi{}}^{-{}}$ with a $b\rightarrow{}u$ or a $b\rightarrow{}c$ transition, in a $K\pi{}$ mass region of $\pm50 \text{ }\mathrm{MeV}/{c}^{2}$ around the ${K}^{*}(892)$ mass and for an absolute value of the cosine of the ${K}^{*0}$ helicity angle larger than 0.4

First observation of the decay B+c→J/ψK+

The decay B+c→J/ψK+ is observed for the first time using a data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb−1, collected by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. A yield of 46 ± 12 events is reported, with a significance of 5.0 standard deviations. The ratio of the branching fraction of B+c→J/ψK+ to that of B+c→J/ψπ+ is measured to be 0.069 ± 0.019 ± 0.005, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic

Study of B0(s)→K0Sh+h′− decays with first observation of B0s→K0SK±π∓ and B0s→K0Sπ+π−

A search for charmless three-body decays of B 0 and B0s mesons with a K0S meson in the final state is performed using the pp collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb−1, collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV recorded by the LHCb experiment. Branching fractions of the B0(s)→K0Sh+h′− decay modes (h (′) = π, K), relative to the well measured B0→K0Sπ+π− decay, are obtained. First observation of the decay modes B0s→K0SK±π∓ and B0s→K0Sπ+π− and confirmation of the decay B0→K0SK±π∓ are reported. The following relative branching fraction measurements or limits are obtained B(B0→K0SK±π∓)B(B0→K0Sπ+π−)=0.128±0.017(stat.)±0.009(syst.), B(B0→K0SK+K−)B(B0→K0Sπ+π−)=0.385±0.031(stat.)±0.023(syst.), B(B0s→K0Sπ+π−)B(B0→K0Sπ+π−)=0.29±0.06(stat.)±0.03(syst.)±0.02(fs/fd), B(B0s→K0SK±π∓)B(B0→K0Sπ+π−)=1.48±0.12(stat.)±0.08(syst.)±0.12(fs/fd)B(B0s→K0SK+K−)B(B0→K0Sπ+π−)∈[0.004;0.068]at90%CL

Evidence for exotic hadron contributions to Λb0→J/ψpπ−\Lambda_b^0 \to J/\psi p \pi^- decays

A full amplitude analysis of $\Lambda_b^0 \to J/\psi p \pi^-$ decays is performed with a data sample acquired with the LHCb detector from 7 and 8 TeV $pp$ collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb$^{-1}$. A significantly better description of the data is achieved when, in addition to the previously observed nucleon excitations $N\to p\pi^-$, either the $P_c(4380)^+$ and $P_c(4450)^+\to J/\psi p$ states, previously observed in $\Lambda_b^0 \to J/\psi p K^-$ decays, or the $Z_c(4200)^-\to J/\psi \pi^-$ state, previously reported in $B^0 \to J/\psi K^+ \pi^-$ decays, or all three, are included in the amplitude models. The data support a model containing all three exotic states, with a significance of more than three standard deviations. Within uncertainties, the data are consistent with the $P_c(4380)^+$ and $P_c(4450)^+$ production rates expected from their previous observation taking account of Cabibbo suppression

First observations of the rare decays B+−>K+π+π−μ+μ− and B+−>φK+μ+μ−

First observations of the rare decays $B^+\rightarrow K^+\pi^+\pi^-\mu^+\mu^-$ and $B^+\rightarrow \phi K^+\mu^+\mu^-$ are presented using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3.0\,{fb}^{-1}$, collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of $7$ and $8\mathrm{\,TeV}$. The branching fractions of the decays are \begin{eqnarray*} \mathcal{B}(B^+\rightarrow K^+\pi^+\pi^-\mu^+\mu^-) &=& (4.36\,^{+0.29}_{-0.27}\,\mathrm{(stat)}\pm 0.21\,\mathrm{(syst)}\pm0.18\,\mathrm{(norm)})\times10^{-7},\\ \mathcal{B}(B^+\rightarrow\phi K^+\mu^+\mu^-) &=& (0.82\,^{+0.19}_{-0.17}\,\mathrm{(stat)} ,^{+0.10}_{-0.04}\,\mathrm{(syst)}\pm0.27\,\mathrm{(norm)})\times10^{-7},\end{eqnarray*} where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the uncertainty on the branching fractions of the normalisation modes. A measurement of the differential branching fraction in bins of the invariant mass squared of the dimuon system is also presented for the decay $B^+\rightarrow K^+\pi^+\pi^-\mu^{+}\mu^{-}