Dr. Karolos Potamianos

Abstract:

We report an indirect search for nonstandard model physics using the flavor-changing neutral current decays B→K(*) μ+μ-. We reconstruct the decays and measure their angular distributions, as a function of q2=Mμμ2c2, where M μμ is the dimuon mass, in pp̄ collisions at √s=1.96TeV using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6.8fb-1. The transverse polarization asymmetry AT(2) and the time-reversal-odd charge-and-parity asymmetry Aim are measured for the first time, together with the K* longitudinal polarization fraction FL and the muon forward-backward asymmetry AFB for the decays B0→K*0μ+μ- and B+→K*+μ+μ -. The B→K*μ+μ- forward-backward asymmetry in the most sensitive kinematic regime, 1≤q2<6GeV2/c2, is measured to be AFB=0.29-0.23+0.20(stat) ±0.07(syst), the most precise result to date. No deviations from the standard model predictions are observed. © 2012 American Physical Society.

Abstract:

We have observed exclusive γγ production in proton-antiproton collisions at √s=1.96TeV, using data from 1.11±0.07fb-1 integrated luminosity taken by the Run II Collider Detector at Fermilab. We selected events with two electromagnetic showers, each with transverse energy ET>2.5GeV and pseudorapidity |η|<1.0, with no other particles detected in -7.4<η<+7.4. The two showers have similar E T and azimuthal angle separation Δψ∼π; 34 events have two charged particle tracks, consistent with the QED process pp̄→p+e+e-+p̄ by two-photon exchange, while 43 events have no charged tracks. The number of these events that are exclusive π0π0 is consistent with zero and is <15 at 95% C.L. The cross section for pp̄→p+γγ+p̄ with |η(γ)|<1.0 and ET(γ)>2.5GeV is 2.48-0.35+0.40(stat)-0.51+0.40(syst)pb. © 2012 American Physical Society.

Abstract:

We present a search for neutral Higgs bosons decaying into bb̄, produced in association with b quarks in pp̄ collisions. This process could be observable in supersymmetric models with high values of tanβ. The event sample corresponds to 2.6fb -1 of integrated luminosity collected with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. We search for an enhancement in the mass of the two leading jets in events with three jets identified as coming from b quarks using a displaced vertex algorithm. A data-driven procedure is used to estimate the dijet mass spectrum of the nonresonant multijet background. The contributions of backgrounds and a possible Higgs boson signal are determined by a two-dimensional fit of the data, using the dijet mass together with an additional variable which is sensitive to the flavor composition of the three tagged jets. We set mass-dependent limits on σ(pp̄→)×B(→bb̄) which are applicable for a narrow scalar particle produced in association with b quarks. We also set limits on tanβ in supersymmetric Higgs models including the effects of the Higgs boson width. © 2012 American Physical Society.

Abstract:

We report an analysis of the Λb0→Λc+π -π +π - decay in a data sample collected by the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron corresponding to 2.4fb -1 of integrated luminosity. We reconstruct the currently largest samples of the decay modes Λb0→Λ c(2595) +π - (with Λ c(2595) +→Λc+π +π -), Λb0→Λ c(2625) +π - (with Λ c(2625) +→Λc+π +π -), Λb0→Σ c(2455) ++π -π - (with Σ c(2455) ++→Λc+π +), and Λb0→Σ c(2455)0π +π - (with Σ c(2455)0→Λc+π -) and measure the branching fractions relative to the Λb0→Λc+π - branching fraction. We measure the ratio B(Λb0→Λc+π -π +π -)/B(Λb0→Λc+π -)=3.04±0.33(stat)-0.55+0.70(syst) which is used to derive B(Λb0→Λc+π -π +π -)= (26.8-11.2+11.9)×10 -3. © 2012 American Physical Society.

Abstract:

We present a search for the rare radiative decay W ±→ π ±γ using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.3fb -1 of proton-antiproton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV collected by the CDF experiment at Fermilab. As no statistically significant signal is observed, we set a 95%-confidence-level upper limit on the relative branching fraction Γ(W ±→π ±γ)/Γ(W ±→e ±ν) at 6.4×10 -5, a factor of 10 improvement over the previous limit. © 2012 American Physical Society.