Abstract:

The charged−particle production ratios p/p, K −/K +, π −/π +, (p + p)/(π ++π −), (K ++K −)/(π + + π −) and (p+ p)/(K + + K −) are measured with the LHCb detector using 0.3 nb−1 of pp collisions delivered by the LHC at √s = 0.9 TeV and 1.8 nb−1 at √s = 7 TeV. The measurements are performed as a function of transverse momentum pT and pseudorapidity η. The production ratios are compared to the predictions of several Monte Carlo generator settings, none of which are able to describe adequately all observables. The ratio p/p is also considered as a function of rapidity loss, Δy ≡ ybeam − y, and is used to constrain models of baryon transport.

Abstract:

Evidence for the hadronic annihilation decay mode $B^{+} \to D_s^{+}\phi$ is found with greater than $3\sigma$ significance. The branching fraction and \CP asymmetry are measured to be \mathcal{B}(B^{+} \to D_s^{+}\phi) &=& (1.87^{+1.25}_{-0.73}({\rm stat}) \pm 0.19 ({\rm syst}) \pm 0.32 ({\rm norm})) \times 10^{-6}, \mathcal{A}_{CP}(B^{+} \to D_s^{+}\phi) &=& -0.01 \pm 0.41 ({\rm stat}) \pm 0.03 ({\rm syst}). The last uncertainty on $\mathcal{B}(B^{+} \to D_s^{+}\phi)$ is from the branching fractions of the $B^+ \to D_s^+ \kern 0.2em\bar{\kern -0.2em D}{}^0$ normalization mode and intermediate resonance decays. Upper limits are also set for the branching fractions of the related decay modes $B^{+}_{(c)} \to D^{+}_{(s)} K^{*0}$, $B^{+}_{(c)} \to D^{+}_{(s)} \kern 0.2em\bar{\kern -0.2em K}{}^{*0}$ and ${B_c^{+} \to D^{+}_{s}\phi}$, including the result ${\mathcal{B}(B^+ \to D^+ K^{*0})} < 1.8 \times 10^{-6}$ at the 90% credibility level.

Abstract:

A precise determination of the effective B s 0→K +K - lifetime can be used to constrain contributions from physics beyond the Standard Model in the Bs0 meson system. Conventional approaches select B meson decay products that are significantly displaced from the B meson production vertex. As a consequence, B mesons with low decay times are suppressed, introducing a bias to the decay time spectrum which must be corrected. This analysis uses a technique that explicitly avoids a lifetime bias by using a neural network based trigger and event selection. Using 1.0 fb -1 of data recorded by the LHCb experiment, the effective B s 0→K +K - lifetime is measured as 1.455±0.046(stat.)±0.006(syst.)ps. © 2012 CERN.

Abstract:

A precise determination of the effective Bs⁰→K⁺K^- lifetime can be used to constrain contributions from physics beyond the Standard Model in the Bs0 meson system. Conventional approaches select B meson decay products that are significantly displaced from the B meson production vertex. As a consequence, B mesons with low decay times are suppressed, introducing a bias to the decay time spectrum which must be corrected. This analysis uses a technique that explicitly avoids a lifetime bias by using a neural network based trigger and event selection. Using 1.0 fb^-1 of data recorded by the LHCb experiment, the effective Bs⁰→K⁺K^- lifetime is measured as 1.455±0.046(stat.)±0.006(syst.)ps. © 2012 CERN.

Abstract:

The first observation of the decay B0→D¯(0)K(+)K(-) is reported from an analysis of 0.62 fb(-1) of pp collision data collected with the LHCb detector. Its branching fraction is measured relative to that of the topologically similar decay B(0)→D ¯(0)π(+)π(-) to be (B(B(0)→D¯(0)K(+)K(-))/B(B(0)→D¯(0)π(+)π(-))=0.056±0.011±0.007,where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The significance of the signal is 5.8σ. Evidence, with 3.8σ significance, for B(s)(0)→D¯(0)K(+)K(-) decays is also presented. The relative branching fraction is measured to be B(B(s)(0)→D¯(0)K(+)K(-))/B(B(0)→D¯(0)K(+)K(-))=0.90±0.27±0.20. These channels are of interest to study the mechanisms behind hadronic B decays, and open new possibilities for CP violation analyses with larger data sets.