Dr Farrukh Azfar

Abstract:

We search for high-mass resonances decaying into Z boson pairs using data corresponding to 6 fb^-1 collected by the CDF experiment in p\bar{p} collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV. The search is performed in three distinct final states: ZZ --> l^+l^-l^+l^-, ZZ --> l^+l^-\nu\nu, and ZZ --> l^+l^-jj. For a Randall-Sundrum graviton G*, the 95% CL upper limits on the production cross section times branching ratio to ZZ, sigma(p\bar{p} --> G^* --> ZZ), vary between 0.26 pb and 0.045 pb in the mass range 300 < M_{G*} < 1000 GeV/c^2.

Abstract:

We report the first observation of the baryonic flavor-changing neutral current decay Λb0→Λμ+μ- with 24 signal events and a statistical significance of 5.8 Gaussian standard deviations. This measurement uses a pp̄ collisions data sample corresponding to 6.8fb-1 at √s=1.96TeV collected by the CDF II detector at the Tevatron collider. The total and differential branching ratios for Λb0→Λμ+μ- are measured. We find B(Λb0→Λμ+μ-)=[1.73±0. 42(stat)±(syst)]×10-6. We also report the first measurement of the differential branching ratio of Bs0→μ+μ -, using 49 signal events. In addition, we report branching ratios for B+→K+μ+μ-, B0→K0μ+μ-, and B→K*(892) μ+μ- decays. © 2011 American Physical Society.

Abstract:

A search has been performed for Bs0→μ+μ- and B0→μ+μ- decays using 7fb-1 of integrated luminosity collected by the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. The observed number of B0 candidates is consistent with background-only expectations and yields an upper limit on the branching fraction of B(B0→μ+μ-)<6.0×10-9 at 95% confidence level. We observe an excess of Bs0 candidates. The probability that the background processes alone could produce such an excess or larger is 0.27%. The probability that the combination of background and the expected standard model rate of Bs0→μ+μ- could produce such an excess or larger is 1.9%. These data are used to determine B(Bs0→μ+μ-)=(1.8-0.9+1.1)×10 -8 and provide an upper limit of B(Bs0→μ+μ -)<4.0×10-8 at 95% confidence level. © 2011 American Physical Society.

Abstract:

We present a search for a new particle T′ decaying to a top quark via T′→t+X, where X goes undetected. We use a data sample corresponding to 5.7fb-1 of integrated luminosity of pp̄ collisions with √s=1.96TeV, collected at Fermilab Tevatron by the CDF II detector. Our search for pair production of T′ is focused on the hadronic decay channel, pp̄→T′T ̄′→tt̄+XX̄→bqq̄b̄ qq̄+XX̄. We interpret our results in terms of a model where T ′ is an exotic fourth generation quark and X is a dark matter particle. The data are consistent with standard model expectations. We set a limit on the generic production of T′T̄′→tt̄+XX̄, excluding the fourth generation exotic quarks T′ at 95% confidence level up to m T′=400GeV/c2 for mX≤70GeV/c2. © 2011 American Physical Society.

Abstract:

We search for resonant production of tt̄ pairs in 4.8fb-1 integrated luminosity of pp̄ collision data at √s=1.96TeV in the lepton+jets decay channel, where one top quark decays leptonically and the other hadronically. A matrix-element reconstruction technique is used; for each event a probability density function of the tt̄ candidate invariant mass is sampled. These probability density functions are used to construct a likelihood function, whereby the cross section for resonant tt̄ production is estimated, given a hypothetical resonance mass and width. The data indicate no evidence of resonant production of tt̄ pairs. A benchmark model of leptophobic Z′→tt̄ is excluded with m Z′<900GeV/c2 at 95% confidence level. © 2011 American Physical Society.