Malcolm John

Abstract:

The decays of the B+ meson to the final state D∗−Ds+π+ are studied in proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1. The ratio of branching fractions of the B+→D∗−Ds+π+ and B0→D∗−Ds+ decays is measured to be 0.173 ± 0.006 ± 0.010, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. Using partially reconstructed Ds∗+→Ds+γ and Ds+π0 decays, the ratio of branching fractions between the B+→D∗−Ds∗+π+ and B+→D∗−Ds+π+ decays is determined as 1.31 ± 0.07 ± 0.14. An amplitude analysis of the B+→D∗−Ds+π+ decay is performed for the first time, revealing dominant contributions from known excited charm resonances decaying to the D*−π+ final state. No significant evidence of exotic contributions in the Ds+π+ or D∗−Ds+ channels is found. The fit fraction of the scalar state Tcs¯0∗2900++ observed in the B+→D−Ds+π+ decay is determined to be less than 2.3% at a 90% confidence level.

Abstract:

Decays of Ξb− and Ωb− baryons to Λc+h−h′− final states, with h−h′− being π−π−, K−π− and K−K− meson pairs, are searched for using data collected with the LHCb detector. The data sample studied corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 8.7 fb−1 of pp collisions collected at centre-of-mass energies s = 7, 8 and 13 TeV. The products of the relative branching fractions and fragmentation fractions for each signal mode, relative to the B−→Λc+p¯π− mode, are measured, with Ξb−→Λc+K−π−, Ξb−→Λc+K−K− and Ωb−→Λc+K−K− decays being observed at over 5 σ significance. The Ξb−→Λc+K−π− mode is also used to measure the Ξb− production asymmetry, which is found to be consistent with zero. In addition, the B−→Λc+p¯K− decay is observed for the first time, and its branching fraction is measured relative to that of the B−→Λc+p¯π− mode.

Abstract:

A search for radiative decay of Bs0 mesons to orbitally excited K+K− states is performed using proton proton collisions recorded by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1. The dikaon spectrum in the mass range mKK < 2400 MeV/c2 is dominated by the ϕ(1020) resonance that accounts for almost 70% of the decay rate. Considering the possible contributions of f2(1270), f2′(1525) and f2(2010) meson states, the overall tensor contribution to the amplitude is measured to beFf2=16.8±0.5stat.±0.7syst.%, mostly dominated by the f2′(1525) state. Several statistically equivalent solutions are obtained for the detailed resonant structure depending on whether the smaller amplitudes interfere destructively or constructively with the dominant amplitude. The preferred solution that corresponds to the lowest values of the fit fractions along with constructive interference leads to the relative branching ratio measurementBBs0→f2′γBBs0→ϕγ=19.4−0.8+0.9stat.−0.5+1.4syst.±0.5B%, where the last uncertainty is due to the ratio of measured branching fractions to the K+K− final state. This result represents the first observation of the radiative Bs0→f2′1525γ decay, which is the second radiative transition observed in the Bs0 sector.