We report four narrow peaks in the Ξb0K− mass spectrum obtained using pp collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1 recorded ...by the LHCb experiment. Referring to these states by their mass, the mass values are mΩb(6316)−=6315.64±0.31±0.07±0.50 MeV, mΩb(6330)−=6330.30±0.28±0.07±0.50 MeV, mΩb(6340)−=6339.71±0.26±0.05±0.50 MeV, mΩb(6350)−=6349.88±0.35±0.05±0.50 MeV, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and the last is due to the knowledge of the Ξb0 mass. The natural widths of the three lower mass states are consistent with zero, and the 90% confidence-level upper limits are determined to be ΓΩb(6316)−<2.8 MeV, ΓΩb(6330)−<3.1 MeV and ΓΩb(6340)−<1.5 MeV. The natural width of the Ωb(6350)− peak is 1.4−0.8+1.0±0.1 MeV, which is 2.5σ from zero and corresponds to an upper limit of 2.8 MeV. The peaks have local significances ranging from 3.6σ to 7.2σ. After accounting for the look-elsewhere effect, the significances of the Ωb(6316)− and Ωb(6330)− peaks are reduced to 2.1σ and 2.6σ, respectively, while the two higher mass peaks exceed 5σ. The observed peaks are consistent with expectations for excited Ωb− resonances.
The quantum numbers of the X(3872) meson are determined to be J(PC)=1(++) based on angular correlations in B(+)→X(3872)K(+) decays, where X(3872)→π(+)π(-)J/ψ and J/ψ→μ(+)μ(-). The data correspond to ...1.0 fb(-1) of pp collisions collected by the LHCb detector. The only alternative assignment allowed by previous measurements J(PC)=2(-+) is rejected with a confidence level equivalent to more than 8 Gaussian standard deviations using a likelihood-ratio test in the full angular phase space. This result favors exotic explanations of the X(3872) state.
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.
Observations are reported of different sources of CP violation from an amplitude analysis of B^{+}→π^{+}π^{+}π^{-} decays, based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 ...fb^{-1} of pp collisions recorded with the LHCb detector. A large CP asymmetry is observed in the decay amplitude involving the tensor f_{2}(1270) resonance, and in addition significant CP violation is found in the π^{+}π^{-}S wave at low invariant mass. The presence of CP violation related to interference between the π^{+}π^{-}S wave and the P wave B^{+}→ρ(770)^{0}π^{+} amplitude is also established; this causes large local asymmetries but cancels when integrated over the phase space of the decay. The results provide both qualitative and quantitative new insights into CP -violation effects in hadronic B decays.
The Dalitz plot analysis technique is used to study the resonant substructures of B−→D+π−π− decays in a data sample corresponding to 3.0 fb−1 of pp collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment ...during 2011 and 2012. A model-independent analysis of the angular moments demonstrates the presence of resonances with spins 1, 2 and 3 at high D+π− mass. The data are fitted with an amplitude model composed of a quasi-model-independent function to describe the D+π− S wave together with virtual contributions from the D*(2007)0 and B*0 states, and components corresponding to the D2*(2460)0, D1*(2680)0, D3*(2760)0 and D2*(3000)0 resonances. The masses and widths of these resonances are determined together with the branching fractions for their production in B−→D+π−π− decays. The D+π− S wave has phase motion consistent with that expected due to the presence of the D0*(2400)0 state. These results constitute the first observations of the D3*(2760)0 and D2*(3000)0 resonances, with significances of 10σ and 6.6σ, respectively.
In the Standard Model of particle physics, the strength of the couplings of the b quark to the u and c quarks, |Vub| and |Vcb|, are governed by the coupling of the quarks to the Higgs boson. Using ...data from the LHCb experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, the probability for the Λb0 baryon to decay into the p final state relative to the final state is measured. Combined with theoretical calculations of the strong interaction and a previously measured value of |Vcb|, the first |Vub| measurement to use a baryonic decay is performed. This measurement is consistent with previous determinations of |Vub| using B meson decays to specific final states and confirms the existing incompatibility with those using an inclusive sample of final states.
Measurements of the cross section for producing b quarks in the reaction pp→bbover ¯X are reported in 7 and 13 TeV collisions at the LHC as a function of the pseudorapidity η in the range 2<η<5 ...covered by the acceptance of the LHCb experiment. The measurements are done using semileptonic decays of b-flavored hadrons decaying into a ground-state charmed hadron in association with a muon. The cross sections in the covered η range are 72.0±0.3±6.8 and 154.3±1.5±14.3 μb for 7 and 13 TeV. The ratio is 2.14±0.02±0.13, where the quoted uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. The agreement with theoretical expectation is good at 7 TeV, but differs somewhat at 13 TeV. The measured ratio of cross sections is larger at lower η than the model prediction.
The first measurement of heavy-flavor production by the LHCb experiment in its fixed-target mode is presented. The production of J/ψ and D^{0} mesons is studied with beams of protons of different ...energies colliding with gaseous targets of helium and argon with nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energies of sqrts_{NN}=86.6 and 110.4 GeV, respectively. The J/ψ and D^{0} production cross sections in pHe collisions in the rapidity range 2, 4.6 are found to be σ_{J/ψ}=652±33(stat)±42(syst) nb/nucleon and σ_{D^{0}}=80.8±2.4(stat)±6.3(syst) μb/nucleon, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. No evidence for a substantial intrinsic charm content of the nucleon is observed in the large Bjorken-x region.
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.
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.