Professor Daniela Bortoletto

Abstract:

We present a search for the standard model Higgs boson produced in association with a W ± boson. This search uses data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 7.5fb -1 collected by the CDF detector at the Tevatron. We select WH→νbb̄ candidate events with two jets, large missing transverse energy, and exactly one charged lepton. We further require that at least one jet be identified to originate from a bottom quark. Discrimination between the signal and the large background is achieved through the use of a Bayesian artificial neural network. The number of tagged events and their distributions are consistent with the standard model expectations. We observe no evidence for a Higgs boson signal and set 95% C.L. upper limits on the WH production cross section times the branching ratio to decay to bb̄ pairs, σ(pp̄→W ±H) ×B(H→bb̄), relative to the rate predicted by the standard model. For the Higgs boson mass range of 100 to 150GeV/c2 we set observed (expected) upper limits from 1.34 (1.83) to 38.8 (23.4). For 115GeV/c2 the upper limit is 3.64 (2.78). The combination of the present search with an independent analysis that selects events with three jets yields more stringent limits ranging from 1.12 (1.79) to 34.4 (21.6) in the same mass range. For 115 and 125GeV/c2 the upper limits are 2.65 (2.60) and 4.36 (3.69), respectively. © 2012 American Physical Society.

Abstract:

We report on a study of diffractive dijet production in p̄p collisions at √s=1.96TeV using the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron p̄p collider. A data sample from 310pb -1 of integrated luminosity collected by triggering on a high transverse energy jet, ETjet, in coincidence with a recoil antiproton detected in a Roman pot spectrometer is used to measure the ratio of single-diffractive to inclusive-dijet event rates as a function of xp ̄ of the interacting parton in the antiproton, the Bjorken-x, xBjp̄, and a Q2(ETjet)2 in the ranges 10 -3-4GeV2. The t p̄ dependence is measured as a function of Q2 and xBjp̄ and compared with that of inclusive single diffraction dissociation. We find weak xBjp̄ and Q2 dependencies in the ratio of single diffractive to inclusive event rates, and no significant Q2 dependence in the diffractive t p̄ distributions. © 2012 American Physical Society.

Abstract:

The Λb differential production cross section and the cross section ratio σ(Λ-b)/σ(Λb) are measured as functions of transverse momentum pTΛb and rapidity |yΛb| in pp collisions at s=7 TeV using data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The measurements are based on Λb decays reconstructed in the exclusive final state J/ψΛ, with the subsequent decays J/ψ→μ+μ- and Λ→pπ, using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.9 fb-1. The product σ(Λb)×B(Λb→J/ψΛ) versus pTΛb falls faster than that of b mesons. The measured value of σ(Λb)×B(Λb→J/ψΛ) for pTΛb>10 GeV and |yΛb|<2.0 is 1.16±0.06±0.12nb, and the integrated σ(Λ-b)/σ(Λb) ratio is 1.02±0.07±0.09, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. © 2012 CERN.