A Co-evolutionary, Nature-Inspired Algorithm for the Concurrent Generation of Alternatives

Engineering optimization problems usually contain multifaceted performance requirements that can be riddled with unquantifiable specifications and incompatible performance objectives. Such problems typically possess competing design requirements which are very difficult – if not impossible – to quantify and capture at the time of model formulation. There are invariably unmodelled design issues, not apparent at the time of model construction, which can greatly impact the acceptability of the model’s solutions. Consequently, when solving many “real life” mathematical programming applications, it is generally preferable to formulate several quantifiably good alternatives that provide very different perspectives to the problem. These alternatives should possess near-optimal objective measures with respect to all known modelled objective(s), but be fundamentally different from each other in terms of the system structures characterized by their decision variables. This solution approach is referred to as modelling-to-generate-alternatives (MGA). This study demonstrates how the nature-inspired, Firefly Algorithm can be used to concurrently create multiple solution alternatives that both satisfy required system performance criteria and yet are maximally different in their decision spaces. This new co-evolutionary approach is very computationally efficient, since it permits the concurrent generation of multiple, good solution alternatives in a single computational run rather than the multiple implementations required in previous MGA procedures

Stochastic Modelling to Generate Alternatives Using the Firefly Algorithm: A Simulation- Optimization Approach

In solving many practical mathematicalprogramming applications, it is generally preferable to formulateseveral quantifiably good alternatives that provide very differentapproaches to the particular problem. This is because decisionmakingtypically involves complex problems that are riddled withincompatible performance objectives and possess competingdesign requirements which are very difficult – if not impossible –to quantify and capture at the time that the supporting decisionmodels are constructed. There are invariably unmodelled designissues, not apparent at the time of model construction, which cangreatly impact the acceptability of the model’s solutions.Consequently, it is preferable to generate several alternativesthat provide multiple, disparate perspectives to the problem.These alternatives should possess near-optimal objectivemeasures with respect to all known modelled objective(s), but befundamentally different from each other in terms of the systemstructures characterized by their decision variables. This solutionapproach is referred to as modelling to generate-alternatives(MGA). This paper provides a biologically-inspired simulationoptimizationMGA approach that uses the Firefly Algorithm toefficiently create multiple solution alternatives to stochasticproblems that satisfy required system performance criteria andyet remain maximally different in their decision spaces. Theefficacy of this stochastic MGA method is demonstrated using awaste facility expansion case study

Search for CPCP violation through an amplitude analysis of D0→K+K−π+π−D^0 \to K^+ K^- \pi^+ \pi^- decays

International audienceA search for CP violation in the Cabibbo-suppressed D$^{0}$ → K$^{+}$K$^{−}$π$^{+}$π$^{−}$ decay mode is performed using an amplitude analysis. The measurement uses a sample of pp collisions recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2011 and 2012, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb$^{−1}$. The D$^{0}$ mesons are reconstructed from semileptonic b-hadron decays into D$^{0}$μ$^{−}$X final states. The selected sample contains more than 160 000 signal decays, allowing the most precise amplitude modelling of this D$^{0}$ decay to date. The obtained amplitude model is used to perform the search for CP violation. The result is compatible with CP symmetry, with a sensitivity ranging from 1% to 15% depending on the amplitude considered

Measurement of the Omega(0)(c) Baryon Lifetime

We report a measurement of the lifetime of the $\Omega_c^0$ baryon using proton-proton collision data at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8~TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment. The sample consists of about 1000 $\Omega_b^-\to\Omega_c^0\mu^-\bar{\nu}_{\mu} X$ signal decays, where the $\Omega_c^0$ baryon is detected in the $pK^-K^-\pi^+$ final state and $X$ represents possible additional undetected particles in the decay. The $\Omega_c^0$ lifetime is measured to be $\tau_{\Omega_c^0} = 268\pm24\pm10\pm2$ fs, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and from the uncertainty in the $D^+$ lifetime, respectively. This value is nearly four times larger than, and inconsistent with, the current world-average value.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-2018-028.htm

Measurement of the Ω_c^0 Baryon Lifetime

We report a measurement of the lifetime of the Ω_c^0 baryon using proton-proton collision data at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0  fb^-1 collected by the LHCb experiment. The sample consists of about 1000  Ω_b^-→Ω_c^0μ^-ν[over ¯]_μX signal decays, where the Ω_c^0 baryon is detected in the pK^-K^-π^+ final state and X represents possible additional undetected particles in the decay. The Ω_c^0 lifetime is measured to be τ_Ω_c^0=268±24±10±2  fs, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and from the uncertainty in the D^+ lifetime, respectively. This value is nearly four times larger than, and inconsistent with, the current world-average value

Measurement of the omega(0)(c) baryon lifetime

We report a measurement of the lifetime of the Ω0c baryon using proton-proton collision data at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0  fb−1 collected by the LHCb experiment. The sample consists of about 1000  Ω−b→Ω0cμ−¯νμX signal decays, where the Ω0c baryon is detected in the pK−K−π+ final state and X represents possible additional undetected particles in the decay. The Ω0c lifetime is measured to be τΩ0c=268±24±10±2  fs, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and from the uncertainty in the D+ lifetime, respectively. This value is nearly four times larger than, and inconsistent with, the current world-average value

Search for the rare hadronic decay Bs0→ppˉB_s^0\to p \bar{p}

A search for the rare hadronic decay Bs0→pp¯ is performed using proton-proton collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6  fb-1. No evidence of the decay is found and an upper limit on its branching fraction is set at B(Bs0→pp¯)&lt;4.4(5.1)×10-9 at 90% (95%) confidence level; this is currently the world’s best upper limit. The decay mode B0→pp¯ is measured with very large significance, confirming the first observation by the LHCb experiment in 2017. The branching fraction is determined to be B(B0→pp¯)=(1.27±0.15±0.05±0.04)×10-8, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic and the third is due to the external branching fraction of the normalization channel B0→K+π-. The combination of the two LHCb measurements of the B0→pp¯ branching fraction yields B(B0→pp¯)=(1.27±0.13±0.05±0.03)×10-8.A search for the rare hadronic decay $B_s^0\to p \bar{p}$ is performed using proton-proton collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6 fb$^{-1}$. No evidence of the decay is found and an upper limit on its branching fraction is set at ${\cal B}(B_s^0\to p \bar{p}) < 4.4~(5.1) \times 10^{-9}$ at 90% (95%) confidence level; this is currently the world's best upper limit. The decay mode $B^0\to p \bar{p}$ is measured with very large significance, confirming the first observation by the LHCb experiment in 2017. The branching fraction is determined to be ${\cal B}(B^0\to p \bar{p}) = \rm (1.27 \pm 0.15 \pm 0.05 \pm 0.04) \times 10^{-8}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic and the third is due to the external branching fraction of the normalization channel $B^0\to K^+\pi^-$. The combination of the two LHCb measurements of the $B^0\to p \bar{p}$ branching fraction yields ${\cal B}(B^0\to p \bar{p}) = \rm (1.27 \pm 0.13 \pm 0.05 \pm 0.03) \times 10^{-8}$

Nuclear modification factor of neutral pions in the forward and backward regions in ppPb collisions

The nuclear modification factor of neutral pions is measured in proton-lead collisions collected at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon of $8.16$ TeV with the LHCb detector. The $\pi^0$ production cross section is measured differentially in transverse momentum ($p_{T}$) for 1.5π0 production cross section is measured differentially in transverse momentum (pT) for 1.5<pT<10.0  GeV and in center-of-mass pseudorapidity (ηc.m.) regions 2.5<ηc.m.<3.5 (forward) and -4.0<ηc.m.<-3.0 (backward) defined relative to the proton beam direction. The forward measurement shows a sizable suppression of π0 production, while the backward measurement shows the first evidence of π0 enhancement in proton-lead collisions at the LHC. Together, these measurements provide precise constraints on models of nuclear structure and particle production in high-energy nuclear collisions.The nuclear modification factor of neutral pions is measured in proton-lead collisions collected at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon of 8.16~{\rm TeV}$with the LHCb detector. The$\pi^0$production cross section is measured differentially in transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) for$1.5<p_{\rm T}<10.0~{\rm GeV}$and in center-of-mass pseudorapidity ($\eta_{\rm c.m.}$) regions$2.5<\eta_{\rm c.m.}<3.5$(forward) and$-4.0<\eta_{\rm c.m.}<-3.0$(backward) defined relative to the proton beam direction. The forward measurement shows a sizable suppression of$\pi^0$production, while the backward measurement shows the first evidence of$\pi^0$ enhancement in proton-lead collisions at the LHC. Together, these measurements provide precise constraints on models of nuclear structure and particle production in high-energy nuclear collisions

Observation of sizeable ω\omega contribution to χc1(3872)→π+π−J/ψ\chi_{c1}(3872) \to \pi^+\pi^- J/\psi decays

Resonant structures in the dipion mass spectrum from $\chi_{c1}(3872)\to\pi^+\pi^- J/\psi$ decays, produced via $B^+\to K^+\chi_{c1}(3872)$ decays, are analyzed using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{-1}$. A sizeable contribution from the isospin conserving $\chi_{c1}(3872)\to\omega J/\psi$ decay is established for the first time, $(21.4\pm2.3\pm2.0)\%$, with a significance of more than $7.1\sigma$. The amplitude of isospin violating decay, $\chi_{c1}(3872)\to\rho^0 J/\psi$, relative to isospin conserving decay, $\chi_{c1}(3872)\to\omega J/\psi$, is properly determined, and it is a factor of six larger than expected for a pure charmonium state.Resonant structures in the dipion mass spectrum from χc1(3872)→π+π-J/ψ decays, produced via B+→K+χc1(3872) decays, are analyzed using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb-1. A sizeable contribution from the isospin conserving χc1(3872)→ωJ/ψ decay is established for the first time, (21.4±2.3±2.0)%, with a significance of more than 7.1σ. The amplitude of isospin violating decay, χc1(3872)→ρ0J/ψ, relative to isospin conserving decay, χc1(3872)→ωJ/ψ, is properly determined, and it is a factor of 6 larger than expected for a pure charmonium state.Resonant structures in the dipion mass spectrum from $\chi_{c1}(3872)\to\pi^+\pi^- J/\psi$ decays, produced via $B^+\to K^+\chi_{c1}(3872)$ decays, are analyzed using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 $fb^{-1}$. A sizeable contribution from the isospin conserving $\chi_{c1}(3872)\to\omega J/\psi$ decay is established for the first time, $(21.4\pm2.3\pm2.0)\%$, with a significance of more than $7.1\sigma$. The amplitude of isospin violating decay, $\chi_{c1}(3872)\to\rho^0 J/\psi$, relative to isospin conserving decay, $\chi_{c1}(3872)\to\omega J/\psi$, is properly determined, and it is a factor of six larger than expected for a pure charmonium state