Abstract:

The data sample of Λb0 → J/ψpK- decays acquired with the LHCb detector from 7 and 8 TeV pp collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3  fb^-1, is inspected for the presence of J/ψp or J/ψK- contributions with minimal assumptions about K-p contributions. It is demonstrated at more than nine standard deviations that Λ0b → J/ψpK- decays cannot be described with K-p contributions alone, and that J/ψp contributions play a dominant role in this incompatibility. These model-independent results support the previously obtained model-dependent evidence for P+c → J/ψp charmonium-pentaquark states in the same data sample.

Abstract:

Associated production of bottomonia and open charm hadrons in pp collisions at s=7 and 8 TeV is observed using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb−1 accumulated with the LHCb detector. The observation of five combinations, Y(1S)D0, Y(2S)D0, Y(1S)D+, Y(2S)D+ and Y(1S)Ds+, is reported. Production crosssections are measured for Y(1S)D0 and Y(1S)D+ pairs in the forward region. The measured cross-sections and the differential distributions indicate the dominance of double parton scattering as the main production mechanism.

Abstract:

© 2015 The Authors. The TORCH time-of-flight detector is being developed to provide particle identification between 2 and 10 GeV/c momentum over a flight distance of 10 m. TORCH is designed for large-area coverage, up to 30 m2, and has a DIRC-like construction. The goal is to achieve a 15 ps time-of-flight resolution per incident particle by combining arrival times from multiple Cherenkov photons produced within quartz radiator plates of 10 mm thickness. A four-year R&D programme is underway with an industrial partner (Photek, UK) to produce 53×53 mm2 Micro-Channel Plate (MCP) detectors for the TORCH application. The MCP-PMT will provide a timing accuracy of 40 ps per photon and it will have a lifetime of up to at least 5 Ccm-2 of integrated anode charge by utilizing an Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) coating. The MCP will be read out using charge division with customised electronics incorporating the NINO chipset. Laboratory results on prototype MCPs are presented. The construction of a prototype TORCH module and its simulated performance are also described.

Abstract:

The oscillation frequency, Δ md, of B0 mesons is measured using semileptonic decays with a D- or D∗- meson in the final state. The data sample corresponds to 3.0fb-1 of pp collisions, collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies √s = 7 and 8 TeV. A combination of the two decay modes gives Δmd = (505.0 ± 2.1 ± 1.0) ns-1, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. This is the most precise single measurement of this parameter. It is consistent with the current world average and has similar precision.

Abstract:

The first study is presented of CP violation with an amplitude analysis of the Dalitz plot of B0 → DK+π- decays, with D→K+π-, K+K-, and π+π-. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to 3.0 fb-1 of pp collisions collected with the LHCb detector. No significant CP violation effect is seen, and constraints are placed on the angle γ of the unitarity triangle formed from elements of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa quark mixing matrix. Hadronic parameters associated with the B0→DK∗(892)0 decay are determined for the first time. These measurements can be used to improve the sensitivity to γ of existing and future studies of the B0 → DK∗(892)0 decay.