The B 0 s π ± invariant mass distribution is investigated in order to search for possible exotic meson states. The analysis is based on a data sample recorded with the LHCb detector corresponding to ...3 fb − 1 of p p collision data at √ s = 7 and 8 TeV. No significant excess is found, and upper limits are set on the production rate of the claimed X ( 5568 ) state within the LHCb acceptance. Upper limits are also set as a function of the mass and width of a possible exotic meson decaying to the B 0 s π ± final state. The same limits also apply to a possible exotic meson decaying through the chain B * 0 s π ± , B * 0 s → B 0 s γ where the photon is excluded from the reconstructed decays.
Quantum chromodynamics, the theory of the strong force, describes interactions of coloured quarks and gluons and the formation of hadronic matter. Conventional hadronic matter consists of baryons and ...mesons made of three quarks and quark-antiquark pairs, respectively. Particles with an alternative quark content are known as exotic states. Here a study is reported of an exotic narrow state in the (DD0)-D-0 pi(+) mass spectrum just below the D*+D-0 mass threshold produced in proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The state is consistent with the ground isoscalar T-cc(+), tetraquark with a quark content of cc (u) over bar(d) over bar and spin-parity quantum numbers J(P) =1(+). Study of the DD mass spectra disfavours interpretation of the resonance as the isovector state. The decay structure via intermediate off-shell D*(+) mesons is consistent with the observed D-0 pi(+) mass distribution. To analyse the mass of the resonance and its coupling to the DID system, a dedicated model is developed under the assumption of an isoscalar axial-vector T-cc(+), state decaying to the D*D channel. Using this model, resonance parameters including the pole position, scattering length, effective range and compositeness are determined to reveal important information about the nature of the T-cc(+), state. In addition, an unexpected dependence of the production rate on track multiplicity is observed.
The first amplitude analysis of the B^{±}→π^{±}K^{+}K^{-} decay is reported based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb^{-1} of pp collisions recorded in 2011 and 2012 ...with the LHCb detector. The data are found to be best described by a coherent sum of five resonant structures plus a nonresonant component and a contribution from ππ↔KK S-wave rescattering. The dominant contributions in the π^{±} K^{∓} and K^{+} K^{-} systems are the nonresonant and the B^{±}→ρ(1450)^{0}π^{±} amplitudes, respectively, with fit fractions around 30%. For the rescattering contribution, a sizable fit fraction is observed. This component has the largest CP asymmetry reported to date for a single amplitude of (-66±4±2)%, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. No significant CP violation is observed in the other contributions.
The doubly charmed baryon decay Ξ_{cc}^{++}→Ξ_{c}^{+}π^{+} is observed for the first time, with a statistical significance of 5.9σ, confirming a recent observation of the baryon in the ...Λ_{c}^{+}K^{-}π^{+}π^{+} final state. The data sample used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.7 fb^{-1}, collected by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The Ξ_{cc}^{++} mass is measured to be 3620.6±1.5(stat)±0.4(syst)±0.3(Ξ_{c}^{+}) MeV/c^{2} and is consistent with the previous result. The ratio of branching fractions between the decay modes is measured to be B(Ξ_{cc}^{++}→Ξ_{c}^{+}π^{+})×B(Ξ_{c}^{+}→pK^{-}π^{+})/B(Ξ_{cc}^{++}→Λ_{c}^{+}K^{-}π^{+}π^{+})×B(Λ_{c}^{+}→pK^{-}π^{+})=0.035±0.009(stat)±0.003(syst).
The cross section for prompt antiproton production in collisions of protons with an energy of 6.5 TeV incident on helium nuclei at rest is measured with the LHCb experiment from a data set ...corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.5 nb−1. The target is provided by injecting helium gas into the LHC beam line at the LHCb interaction point. The reported results, covering antiproton momenta between 12 and 110 GeV/c, represent the first direct determination of the antiproton production cross section in p−He collisions, and impact the interpretation of recent results on antiproton cosmic rays from space-borne experiments.
Two-particle angular correlations are studied in proton-lead collisions at a nucleon–nucleon centre-of-mass energy of sNN=5 TeV, 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, and relative azimuthal angle, Δϕ, 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, is observed in the pseudorapidity range 2.0<η<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. 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.
The production of J/ψ mesons is studied in proton-lead collisions at the centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair sNN=8.16 TeV with the LHCb detector at the LHC. The double differential cross-sections ...of prompt and nonprompt J/ψ production are measured as a function of the J/ψ transverse momentum and rapidity in the nucleon–nucleon centre-of-mass frame. Forward-to-backward ratios and nuclear modification factors are determined. The results are compared with theoretical calculations based on collinear factorisation using nuclear parton distribution functions, on the colour glass condensate or on coherent energy loss models.
A
bstract
Measurements are reported of the central exclusive production of
J/ψ
and
ψ
(2
S
) mesons in
pp
collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. Backgrounds are significantly reduced ...compared to previous measurements made at lower energies through the use of new forward shower counters. The products of the cross-sections and the branching fractions for the decays to dimuons, where both muons are within the pseudorapidity range 2
.
0
< η <
4
.
5, are measured to be
σ
J
/
ψ
→
μ
+
μ
−
=
435
±
18
±
11
±
17
p
b
σ
ψ
2
S
→
μ
+
μ
−
=
11.1
±
1.1
±
0.3
±
0.4
p
b
.
The first uncertainties are statistical, the second are systematic, and the third are due to the luminosity determination. The cross-sections are also measured differentially for meson rapidities between 2.0 and 4.5. Good agreement is observed with theoretical predictions. Photoproduction cross-sections are derived and compared to previous experiments, and a deviation from a pure power-law extrapolation of lower energy data is observed.