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B Collaboration

Publications and source records attributed to B Collaboration.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

V^0 production in p+A collisions at \sqrt{s} = 41.6 GeV

Inclusive doubly differential cross sections d^2σ_{pA}/dx_Fdp_T^2 as a function of Feynman-x (x_F) and transverse momentum (p_T) for the production of K^0_s, Lambda^0 and anti-Lambda^0 in proton-nucleus interactions at 920 GeV are presented. The measurements were performed by HERA-B in the negative x_F range (-0.12<x_F<0.0) and for transverse momenta up to p_T= 1.6 GeV/c. Results for three target materials: carbon, titanium and tungsten are given. The ratios of production cross sections are presented and discussed. The Cronin effect is clearly observed for all three V^0 species. The atomic number dependence is parameterized as σ_{pA} = σ_{pN} \cdot A^αwhere σ_{pN} is the proton-nucleon cross section. The measured values of αare all near one. The results are compared with EPOS 1.67 and PYTHIA 6.3. EPOS reproduces the data to within \approx 20% except at very low transverse momentum.

hep-ex

Angular distributions of leptons from J/psi's produced in 920 GeV fixed-target proton-nucleus collisions

A study of the angular distributions of leptons from decays of J/psi's produced in p-C and p-W collisions at sqrt{s}=41.6 GeV has been performed in the Feynman-x region -0.34 < x_F < 0.14 and for transverse momentum up to 5.4 GeV/c. The data were collected by the HERA-B experiment at the HERA proton ring of the DESY laboratory. The results, based on a clean selection of 2.3 x 10^5 J/psi's reconstructed in both the e^+ e^- and mu^+ mu^- decay channels, indicate that J/psi's are produced with longitudinal polarization. The magnitude of the effect is maximal at low p_T. For p_T >1 GeV/c a significant dependence on the reference frame is found: the polar anisotropy is more pronounced in the Collins-Soper frame and almost vanishes in the helicity frame, where, instead, a significant azimuthal anisotropy arises.

hep-ex

Kinematic distributions and nuclear effects of $J/ψ$ production in 920 GeV fixed-target proton-nucleus collisions

Measurements of the kinematic distributions of $J/ψ$ mesons produced in $p-$C, $p-$Ti and $p-$W collisions at $\sqrt{s}=41.6 \mathrm{GeV}$ in the Feynman-$x$ region $-0.34 < x_{F} < 0.14$ and for transverse momentum up to $p_T = 5.4 \mathrm{GeV}/c$ are presented. The $x_F$ and $p_T$ dependencies of the nuclear suppression parameter, $α$, are also given. The results are based on $2.4 \cdot 10^{5}$ $J/ψ$ mesons in both the $e^+ e^-$ and $μ^{+}μ^{-}$ decay channels. The data have been collected by the HERA-B experiment at the HERA proton ring of the DESY laboratory. The measurement explores the negative region of $x_{F}$ for the first time. The average value of $α$ in the measured $x_{F}$ region is $0.981 \pm 0.015$. The data suggest that the strong nuclear suppression of $J/ψ$ production previously observed at high $x_F$ turns into an enhancement at negative $x_F$.

hep-ex

Production of the Charmonium States chic_1 and chic_2 in Proton Nucleus Interactions at sqrt{s} = 41.6 GeV

A measurement of the ratio R_chic = (chic -> Jpsi + gam)/ Jpsi in pC, pTi and pW interactions at 920 GeV/c (sqrt{s}=41.6 GeV) in the Feynman-x range -0.35 < x_F(Jpsi) < 0.15 is presented. Both mu+mu- and e+e- Jpsi decay channels are observed with an overall statistics of about 15000 chic events, which is by far the largest available sample in pA collisions. The result is R_chic = 0.188+-0.013(st)(+0.024)(-0.022)(sys) averaged over the different materials, when no Jpsi and chic polarisations are considered. The chic_1 to chic_2 production ratio R_12 = R_chic1/R_chic2 is measured to be 1.02+-0.40, leading to a cross section ratio sigma(chic_1)/sigma(chic_2)=0.57+-0.23. The dependence of R_chic on the Feynman-x of the Jpsi, x_F(Jpsi), and its transverse momentum, p_T(Jpsi), is studied, as well as its dependence on the atomic number, A, of the target. For the first time, an extensive study of possible biases on R_chic and R_12 due to the dependence of acceptance on the polarization states of Jpsi and chic is performed. By varying the polarisation parameter, lambda(obs), of all produced Jpsi's by two sigma around the value measured by HERA-B, and considering the maximum variation due to the possible chic_1 and chic_2 polarisations, it is shown that R_chic could change by a factor between 1.02 and 1.21 and R_12 by a factor between 0.89 and 1.16.

hep-ex

Measurement of D^0, D^+, D_s^+ and D^{*+} Production in Fixed Target 920 GeV Proton-Nucleus Collisions

The inclusive production cross sections of the charmed mesons D^0, D^+, D_s^+ and D^{*+} have been measured in interactions of 920 GeV protons on C, Ti, and W targets with the HERA-B detector at the HERA storage ring. Differential cross sections as a function of transverse momentum and Feynman's x variable are given for the central rapidity region and for transverse momenta up to $\pT=3.5$ GeV/$c$. The atomic mass number dependence and the leading to non-leading particle production asymmetries are presented as well.

hep-ex

Luminosity determination at HERA-B

A detailed description of an original method used to measure the luminosity accumulated by the HERA-B experiment for a data sample taken during the 2002-2003 HERA running period is reported. We show that, with this method, a total luminosity measurement can be achieved with a typical precision, including overall systematic uncertainties, at a level of 5% or better. We also report evidence for the detection of delta-rays generated in the target and comment on the possible use of such delta rays to measure luminosity.

physics.data-an

Bottom production cross section from double muonic decays of b-hadrons in 920 GeV proton-nucleus collision

The b-bbar production cross section in 920 GeV proton-nucleus fixed target collisions is measured by observing double muonic decays of b-flavored hadrons in the kinematic region $-0.3<\xF(\mu)<0.15$. A total number of $76\pm12$ b-bbar events is obtained with a likelihood fit of the signal and background simulated events to the data. The resulting cross section is $\sigbb = 16.2 \pm 2.5_{stat} \pm 2.8_{sys} \nbpn$, or, when combined with a previous Hera-B measurement of similar precision, $\sigbb = 15.4 \pm 1.7_{stat} \pm 1.2_{sys}^{uncorr.} \pm 1.9_{sys}^{corr.} \nbpn$, which is consistent with recent NLO calculations.

hep-ex

A Measurement of the Psi' to J/psi Production Ratio in 920 GeV Proton-Nucleus Interactions

Ratios of the Psi' over the J/psi production cross sections in the dilepton channel for C, Ti and W targets have been measured in 920 GeV proton-nucleus interactions with the HERA-B detector at the HERA storage ring. The Psi' and J/psi states were reconstructed in both the mu+mu- and the e+e- decay modes. The measurements covered the kinematic range -0.35 < x_F < 0.1 with transverse momentum p_T < 4.5 GeV/c. The Psi' to J/psi production ratio is almost constant in the covered x_F range and shows a slow increase with p_T. The angular dependence of the ratio has been used to measure the difference of the Psi' and J/psi polarization. All results for the muon and electron decay channels are in good agreement: their ratio, averaged over all events, is R_psi'(mu)/R_psi'(e)=1.00+-0.08+-0.04. This result constitutes a new, direct experimental constraint on the double ratio of branching fractions, (B'(mu)*B(e))/(B(mu)*B'(e)), of Psi' and J/psi in the two channels.

hep-ex

K*0 and phi Meson Production in Proton-Nucleus Interactions at sqrt(s) = 41.6 GeV

The inclusive production cross sections of the strange vector mesons K*0, K*0bar, and phi have been measured in interactions of 920 GeV protons with C, Ti, and W targets with the HERA-B detector at the HERA storage ring. Differential cross sections as a function of rapidity and transverse momentum have been measured in the central rapidity region and for transverse momenta up to pT=3.5 GeV/c. The atomic number dependence is parametrised as sigma(pA) = sigma(pN)*A**alpha, where sigma(pN) is the proton-nucleon cross section. Within the phase space accessible, alpha(K*0) = 0.86+/-0.03, alpha(K*0bar) = 0.87+/-0.03, and alpha(phi) = 0.96+/-0.02. The total proton-nucleon cross sections, determined by extrapolating the differential measurements to full phase space, are sigma(pN->K*0) = 5.06+/-0.54 mb, sigma(pN->K*0bar) = 4.02+/-0.45 mb, and sigma(pN->phi) = 1.17+/-0.11 mb. The Cronin effect is observed for the first time for vector mesons containing strange quarks; compared to the measurements of Cronin et al. for K+- mesons, the measured values of alpha for phi mesons coincide with those of K- mesons for all transverse momenta, while the enhancement for K*0 / K*0bar mesons is smaller.

hep-ex

Polarization of Lambda and Anti-Lambda in 920 GeV Fixed-Target Proton-Nucleus Collisions

A measurement of the polarization of Lambda and Anti-Lambda baryons produced in pC and pW collisions at sqrt(s)=41.6 GeV has been performed with the HERA-B spectrometer. The measurements cover the kinematic range of 0.6 GeV/c < p_T<1.2 GeV/c in transverse momentum and -0.15<x_F<0.01 in Feynman-x. The polarization results from the two different targets agree within the statistical error. In the combined data set, the largest deviation from zero, +0.054 +- 0.029, is measured for x_F < -0.07. Zero polarization is expected at x_F=0 in the absence of nuclear effects. The polarization results for the Lambda agree with a parametrization of previous measurements which were performed at positive x_F values, where the Lambda polarization is negative. Results of Anti-Lambda polarization measurements are consistent with zero.

hep-ex

Measurement of the Upsilon Production Cross Section in 920 GeV Fixed-Target Proton-Nucleus Collisions

The proton-nucleon cross section ratio $R=Br(Υ\to l^+l^-) dσ(Υ)/dy|_{y=0} / {σ(J/ψ)}$ has been measured with the HERA-B spectrometer in fixed-target proton-nucleus collisions at 920 GeV proton beam energy corresponding to a proton-nucleon cms energy of sqrt{s}=41.6 GeV. The combined results for the Upsilon decay channels Upsilon $\to e^+e^-$ and Upsilon $\toμ^+μ^-$ yield a ratio $R=(9.0 \pm 2.1) 10^{-6}$. The corresponding Upsilon production cross section per nucleon at mid-rapidity (y=0) has been determined to be $Br(Υ\to{}l^+l^-) {dσ(Υ)/dy}|_{y=0}= 4.5 \pm 1.1 $ pb/nucleon.

hep-ex

Improved Measurement of the b-bbar Production Cross Section in 920 GeV Fixed-Target Proton-Nucleus Collisions

A new measurement of the b-bbar production cross section in 920 GeV proton-nucleus collisions is presented by the HERA-B collaboration. The b-bbar production is tagged via inclusive bottom quark decays into J/psi mesons, by exploiting the longitudinal separation of J/psi->ll decay vertices from the primary proton-nucleus interaction point. Both e+e- and mu+mu- channels are reconstructed, for a total of 83 +- 12 inclusive b->J/psi X events found. The combined analysis yields a b-bbar to prompt J/psi cross section ratio of ${\frac{Δσ(bbbar)}{Δσ_{\jpsi}}} = 0.032\pm 0.005 \stat \pm 0.004 \sys$ measured in the x_f acceptance (-0.35 <x_f <0.15), extrapolated to $σ(bbbar) = 14.9 \pm 2.2 \stat \pm 2.4 \sys $ nb/nucleon in the total phase space.

hep-ex

Limits for the central production of Theta^+ and Xi^{--} pentaquarks in 920 GeV pA collisions

We have searched for Theta^+(1540) and Xi^{--}(1862) pentaquark candidates in proton-induced reactions on C, Ti and W targets at mid-rapidity and \sqrt{s} = 41.6 GeV. In 2x10^8 inelastic events we find no evidence for narrow (sigma~5 MeV) signals in the Theta^+ -> pK_s and Xi^{--} -> Xi^-pi^- channels; our 95% CL upper limits (UL) for the inclusive production cross section times branching fraction Bx(dsigma/dy)|_{y~0} are 3.7 and 2.5 microb/N. The UL of the yield ratio of [Theta^+ / Lambda(1520)] < 2.7% is significantly lower than model predictions. Our UL of [BxXi^{--} / Xi(1530)^0] < 4% is at variance with the results that have provided first evidence for the Xi^{--} signal.

hep-ex

Inclusive $V^0$ Production Cross Sections from 920 GeV Fixed Target Proton-Nucleus Collisions

Inclusive differential cross sections $dσ_{pA}/dx_F$ and $dσ_{pA}/dp_t^2$ for the production of \kzeros, \lambdazero, and \antilambda particles are measured at HERA in proton-induced reactions on C, Al, Ti, and W targets. The incident beam energy is 920 GeV, corresponding to $\sqrt {s} = 41.6$ GeV in the proton-nucleon system. The ratios of differential cross sections \rklpa and \rllpa are measured to be $6.2\pm 0.5$ and $0.66\pm 0.07$, respectively, for \xf $\approx-0.06$. No significant dependence upon the target material is observed. Within errors, the slopes of the transverse momentum distributions $dσ_{pA}/dp_t^2$ also show no significant dependence upon the target material. The dependence of the extrapolated total cross sections $σ_{pA}$ on the atomic mass $A$ of the target material is discussed, and the deduced cross sections per nucleon $σ_{pN}$ are compared with results obtained at other energies.

hep-ex

J-ψProduction via χ_c Decays in 920 GeV pA Interactions

Using data collected by the HERA-B experiment, we have measured the fraction of Jψ's produced via radiative chi_c decays in interactions of 920 GeV protons with carbon and titanium targets. We obtained R_{χ_c} = 0.32 \pm 0.06_{stat} \pm 0.04_{sys} for the fraction of Jψfrom chi_c decays averaged over proton-carbon and proton-titanium collisions. This result is in agreement with previous measurements and is compared with theoretical predictions.

hep-ex

Measurement of the $b \bar b$ Production Cross Section in 920 GeV Fixed-Target Proton-Nucleus Collisions

Using the HERA-B detector, the b-bbar production cross section has been measured in 920 GeV proton collisions on carbon and titanium targets. The b-bbar production was tagged via inclusive bottom quark decays into J/psi, by exploiting the longitudinal separation of J/psi->ll decay vertices from the primary proton-nucleus interaction. Both $e^+e^-$ and $\mu^+\mu^-$ channels have been reconstructed and the combined analysis yields the cross section $\sigma(b \bar b) = 32 ^{+14}_{-12} (stat) ^{+6}_{-7} (sys) nb/nucleon$.

hep-ex