arXiv subjects

J. E. Blank

Publications and source records attributed to J. E. Blank.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Angular analysis of the $B^+\toπ^+μ^+μ^-$ decay

This paper presents the first measurement of the forward-backward asymmetry, $A_{\rm FB}$, and the flat term, $F_{H}$, that parameterise the angular distribution of the $B^+\toπ^+μ^+μ^-$ decay. The proton-proton collision dataset used in the analysis corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{-1}$, collected with the LHCb experiment between 2011 and 2018. The analysis is performed in two intervals of dimuon mass squared, one above and one below the region containing the $J\mskip -3mu/\mskip -2muψ$ and $ψ(2S)$ narrow charmonium resonances. The Standard Model predictions lie within the obtained $68\%$ confidence level interval in the high-mass and within the $99\%$ interval in the low-mass region.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Measurement of the $W$-boson production cross-sections in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV in the forward region

A precision measurement of the $W$-boson production cross-section is performed using the $W \to μν$ decay channel, based on a sample of proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.1 $fb^{-1}$. The cross-section is measured for muons with transverse momentum between 25 and 55 GeV and pseudorapidity between 2.0 and 4.5. The integrated production cross-sections of $W$ bosons are measured to be $$ \begin{array}{lcl} σ_{W^+ \to μ^+ν} &=& 1754.2 \pm 1.5 \pm 11.9 \pm 35.1\text{ pb} \\ σ_{W^- \to μ^-\barν} &=& 1178.1 \pm 1.3 \pm 9.7 \pm 23.6\text{ pb} \end{array} $$ where uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the luminosity determination, respectively. Results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics. This measurement is significantly more precise than previous results in this kinematic regime.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Precision measurement of the muon charge asymmetry from $W$-boson decays in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV in the forward region

A precision measurement of the muon charge asymmetry from $W$-boson decays in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV is presented. The analysis utilizes data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.1 $fb^{-1}$, recorded by the LHCb detector during 2016, 2017 and 2018. The asymmetry is measured for muons with transverse momentum between 25 and 55 GeV and pseudorapidity between 2.0 and 4.5. This result represents the most precise determination of the muon charge asymmetry in the forward region to date, exhibiting excellent agreement with next-to-next-to-leading-order predictions in perturbative quantum chromodynamics.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Search for the decays $B_{(s)}^0\to J/ψγ$ at LHCb

A search for the rare decays $B_{(s)}^0\to J/ψγ$ is performed with proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to integrated luminosities of $3~\rm{fb}^{-1}$ at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, and $6~\rm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13 TeV. Assuming no contribution from $B^0\to J/ψγ$ decay, an upper limit is set on the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}(B_{s}^0\to J/ψγ)<2.9\times10^{-6}$ at the 90% confidence level. If instead no contribution from $B_{s}^0\to J/ψγ$ decay is assumed, the limit is $\mathcal{B}(B^0\to J/ψγ)<2.5\times10^{-6}$ at the 90% confidence level. These results supersede the previous LHCb results, with the limit for $B_{s}^0\to J/ψγ$ improved by a factor of 2.5.

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arXiv2026

First measurement of the decay-time-integrated $C\!P$ asymmetry in $B_s^0 \to D_s^- π^+$ decays

A measurement of the flavor-untagged decay-time-integrated ${C\!P}$ asymmetry in the flavor-specific decay ${B_s^0 \to D_s^-π^+}$, ${\langle A^s_{\rm untagged}\rangle}$, is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment between 2016 and 2018 at a center-of-mass energy of ${13\,{\rm TeV}}$, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of ${5.4\,{\rm fb}^{-1}}$. The ${C\!P}$ asymmetry is measured in two $D_s^-$ meson decay modes, ${D_s^- \to K^-K^+π^-}$ and ${D_s^- \to π^-π^+π^-}$. The combined result, $\langle A^s_{\rm untagged}\rangle = ( -1.4 \pm 5.9\,\rm{(stat)} \pm 1.1\,\rm{(syst)}) \times 10^{-3}$, is consistent with the Standard Model expectation and provides a direct constraint on new physics in tree-level $b$-hadron decays.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Measurement of the average transverse momentum of forward prompt charged particles in $pp$ and $p\mathrm{Pb}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02\; \mathrm{TeV}$

This letter presents the first measurements of the average transverse momentum of prompt charged particles in $pp$ and $p\mathrm{Pb}$ collisions as a function of collision multiplicity and pseudorapidity. The data were recorded at nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02\; \mathrm{TeV}$ with the LHCb experiment. The pseudorapidity dependence of the multiplicity distribution is also measured. The average transverse momentum results show a decreasing trend with pseudorapidity, more pronounced in high-multiplicity events, consistent with the collective behaviour of the produced matter. The measurements are reproduced by state-of-the-art (3+1D) hydrodynamic calculations, while saturation models are not compatible with the data.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2026

Search for $B$ meson decays to multimuon final states

A search for decays of $B$ mesons to final states with four or six muons using $pp$ collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.4~\text{fb}^{-1}$ is presented. The decay modes of interest are $B_{(s)}^0 \rightarrow μ^+μ^-μ^+μ^-$, $B^+ \rightarrow K^+μ^+μ^-μ^+μ^-$, $B_{(s)}^0 \rightarrow μ^+μ^-μ^+μ^-μ^+μ^-$ and $B^+ \rightarrow K^+μ^+μ^-μ^+μ^-μ^+μ^-$, proceeding via both prompt and long-lived intermediate particles. No evidence for any of the signal modes is found, and upper limits spanning the range of $0.6\times10^{-9}$ to $5.4\times10^{-7}$ at the $95\%$ confidence level are set on their branching fractions, depending on the intermediate-particle masses and lifetimes. In addition, mass-integrated limits across the intermediate-particle lifetime ranges considered in this analysis are determined.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Study of muon-tagged $D_{s1}(2460)^+$ and $D_{s1}(2536)^+$ decays to the $D_s^{+}π^+π^-$ final state

Decays of the pseudovector $D_{s1}(2460)^+$ and $D_{s1}(2536)^+$ mesons to the three-body $D_{s}^+π^+π^-$ final state are studied. The data sample is based on decays of beauty hadrons into $D_{s1}^+$ states accompanied by a muon from the $b$-hadron decay chain collected by the LHCb detector during 2016--2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb${}^{-1}$. The \mbox{$D_{s1}(2536)^+\to D_s^+π^+π^-$} branching fraction is measured for the first time, with the $D_{s1}(2536)^+\to D^+K^+π^-$ decay used as a reference. A simultaneous amplitude analysis of the $D_{s1}(2460)^+$ and $D_{s1}(2536)^+\to D_s^+π^+π^-$ decays is performed. The Dalitz-plot distributions of the two decays are found to be significantly different, suggesting differences in the internal structure of the two states, with evidence of exotic contributions to the $D_{s}^+π^{\pm}$ channel with the pole below the $DK$ threshold. Measurements of the masses of the $D_{s1}(2460)^+$ and $D_{s1}(2536)^+$ states are performed, and an upper limit on the $D_{s1}(2460)^+$ width is set.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Amplitude analysis of $B^+ \!\to K^+ π^+ π^-$ decays

The branching fractions and quasi-two-body $C\!P$-violating asymmetries of intermediate states obtained through an amplitude analysis of the charmless three-body decay $B^+ \!\to K^+ π^+ π^-$ are reported. The analysis is based on $pp$ collision data at centre-of-mass energies $\sqrt{s}=7$ and $8\,\text{TeV}$ recorded with the LHCb detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3\,\text{fb}^{-1}$. The most challenging aspect of the amplitude modelling lies in the description of the dominant $K^+ π^-$ and $π^+ π^-$ S-wave contributions. This is achieved by three complementary approaches based on a physically motivated analytic model built on the isobar approximation, the K-matrix formalism, and a quasi-model-independent procedure in which overlapping crossing partial waves are simultaneously studied. In addition, alternative sets of results are presented, considering the $π^+ π^-$ final state to manifest either through direct $ω(782)$ decays or $ρ(770)^0\textrm{-}ω(782)$ mixing. The most precise measurements of branching fractions and $C\!P$ asymmetries are obtained for the vast majority of intermediate states, establishing firmer reference points against which to cleanly probe model-independent physics beyond the Standard Model. The results from all three approaches agree and provide new insight into strong dynamics and the origin of $C\!P$-violation effects in $B^+ \!\to K^+ π^+ π^-$ decays.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Resolution of outstanding puzzles in $B^+ \!\to K^+ π^+ π^-$ decays

An amplitude analysis of $B^+ \!\to K^+ π^+ π^-$ decays is presented, based on $pp$ collision data recorded with the LHCb detector in 2011--2012, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3\,\text{fb}^{-1}$. Previous studies of the $B \!\to K ππ$ sector have left key unresolved questions concerning the model of the S-wave contributions. A pivotal finding is that relaxing unitarity-based assumptions about the relation between the $K^*_0(1430)^0$ resonance and the slowly varying scalar part in $K^+π^-$ leads to considerably better agreement between the model and data. The $B^+ \!\to K^*_0(1430)^0 π^+$ branching fraction now challenges the experimental consensus that $B \!\to K^*_0(1430) π$ decays dominate the $B \!\to K ππ$ phase space, aligning with the predictions of QCD factorisation rather than perturbative QCD, thus reversing the agreement found in previous measurements. With this increased flexibility, it also becomes possible to model the scalar $π^+ π^-$ amplitude using established states, eliminating the need for the ad-hoc ``$f_X(1300)$'' component included in previous analyses of the $B \!\to Kππ$ sector. These advances facilitate the discovery of ten intermediate decays.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Observation of several sources of $C\!P$ violation in $B^+ \!\to K^+ π^+ π^-$ decays

An amplitude analysis of $B^+ \!\to K^+ π^+ π^-$ decays is presented in which six $C\!P$-violating phenomena are judged to be of significance for the first time. This analysis is based on $pp$ collision data recorded with the LHCb detector in 2011-2012, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3\,\text{fb}^{-1}$. Quasi-two-body $C\!P$ violation in $B^+ \!\to ρ(770)^0 K^+$ decays is discovered, while $C\!P$ violation at amplitude level is established in $B^+ \!\to f_2(1270) K^+$ decays. First evidence for $C\!P$ violation is reported in both the fully elastic S-wave $ππ$-$ππ$ rescattering region and also for any decay involving a spin-3 resonance. Additionally, significant $C\!P$-violation effects are identified in the interference between different $ππ$ partial waves, with observation in S-P wave interference and evidence in S-D wave interference, both of which must be driven by long-distance interactions.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Improved measurement of $C\!P$ violation in $B^{0}_{s} \!\to J/ψπ^{+}π^{-}$ decays

The time-dependent $C\!P$ asymmetry in $B^{0}_{s} \!\to J/ψπ^{+}π^{-}$ decays is measured using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $6\,\text{fb}^{-1}$, collected with the LHCb detector at a centre-of-mass energy of $13\,\text{TeV}$ during $\mbox{2015--2018}$. The $C\!P$-violating phase, $ϕ_{s}$, the direct $C\!P$-violation parameter, $\left|λ\right|$, and the decay width of the heavy mass eigenstate in the $B^{0}_{s}$ system, $Γ_{\mathrm{ H}}$, are measured respectively to be $ϕ_{s} = -0.077 \pm 0.034 \pm 0.007\,\text{rad}$, $\left|λ\right| = 0.993 \pm 0.026 \pm 0.007$ and $Γ_{\mathrm{ H}} = 0.610 \pm 0.002 \pm 0.004\,\text{ps}^{-1}$, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. These results are consistent with previous measurements and the expectation based on the Standard Model. The combination with previous measurements in $B^{0}_{s} \!\to J/ψπ^{+}π^{-}$ decays using $7\,\text{TeV}$ and $8\,\text{TeV}$ proton-proton collision data yields $ϕ_{s} = -0.046 \pm 0.031\,\text{rad}$, $\left|λ\right| = 0.975 \pm 0.024$ and $Γ_{\mathrm{ H}} = 0.610 \pm 0.004\,\text{ps}^{-1}$, while the combination including all other LHCb measurements gives $ϕ_{s} = -0.041 \pm 0.017\,\text{rad}$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Observation of the charmless purely baryonic decay $\mathinner{\mathitΛ^0_b\!\to \mathitΛ p \overline{p}}$

A search for the charmless purely baryonic decay $\mathinner{\mathitΛ^0_b\!\to \mathitΛ p \overline{p}}$ is performed using proton-proton collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13\,\text{TeV}$ and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $6.0\,\text{fb}^{-1}$. The signal decay is observed with a significance of 5.1 standard deviations. Its branching fraction is measured for the first time, relative to that of the topologically similar decay $\mathinner{\mathitΛ^0_b\!\to \mathitΛ K^+ K^-}$. Contributions from intermediate charmonium resonances decaying to the $p \overline{p}$ and $K^+ K^-$ final states are explicitly excluded with a requirement on the invariant mass of the companion hadron system, $m(h\bar{h}) < 2.85\,\text{GeV}$, where $h$ stands for a proton or a charged kaon. The relative branching fraction is found to be $$ \frac{B(\mathinner{\mathitΛ^0_b\!\to \mathitΛ p \overline{p}})}{B(\mathinner{\mathitΛ^0_b\!\to \mathitΛ K^+ K^-})} = (5.1 \pm 1.3_{\text{(stat)}} \pm 0.3_{\text{(syst)}}) \times 10^{-2} \,. $$

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Measurement of $γ$ using $B^{\pm}\rightarrow DK^{\pm}$ and $B^{\pm}\rightarrow Dπ^{\pm}$ decays with $D\rightarrow K_{\rm S}^{0}π^{+}π^{-}$ and $D\rightarrow K_{\rm S}^{0}K^{+}K^{-}$

A measurement of the CKM angle $γ$ using the decay channels $B^{\pm}\rightarrow DK^{\pm}$ and $B^{\pm}\rightarrow Dπ^{\pm}$, where the $D$ meson decays to $D\rightarrow K_{\rm S}^{0}π^{+}π^{-}$ or $D\rightarrow K_{\rm S}^{0}K^{+}K^{-}$, is performed with a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.8 fb$^{-1}$, collected during 2024 by the upgraded LHCb experiment. $C\!P$ violation is observed through a difference in the distributions of the Dalitz plot of the $D$ decay between the $B^{+}$ and $B^{-}$ mesons. The CKM angle $γ$ is determined to be $γ=(68.1\pm 6.7)^{\circ}$. Other parameters related to the examined $B$ meson decay modes are also measured. This is the first measurement of the CKM angle $γ$ using the upgraded LHCb detector.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

$C\!P$ violation analysis of local and nonlocal amplitudes in the $\overline{B}^0 \to \overline{K}^{*0}μ^+μ^-$ decay

A search for $C\!P$ violation in the $\overline{B}^0 \to \overline{K}^{*0}μ^+μ^-$ decay is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment during Run 1 and Run 2, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 8.4 fb$^{-1}$. The analysis exploits the full angular distribution of the decay, providing sensitivity to $C\!P$-violating effects in both vector and axial-vector contributions to this flavour-changing neutral-current process. The complex Wilson coefficients are determined within the Weak Effective Theory through an unbinned maximum-likelihood fit to the angular observables, incorporating nonlocal hadronic amplitudes across the full dimuon mass spectrum. The precision of the $C\!P$-violation observables is improved by an order of magnitude relative to previous measurements, with the imaginary parts of the Wilson coefficients now determined more precisely than the real parts. No significant $C\!P$ violation is observed, and the results are consistent with Standard Model.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Test of lepton flavour universality with $B^0\to K^{*0}\ell^+\ell^-$ decays at large dilepton invariant mass

Muon-electron universality is tested in $B^0 \to K^{*0} \ \ell^+ \ell^-$ decays, in the dilepton-invariant-mass region above the $ψ(2S)$ resonance. The analysis uses beauty mesons produced in proton-proton collisions recorded by the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 $\text{TeV}$, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 $\text{fb}^{-1}$. The ratio of branching fractions between the muon and electron channels $R_{K^{*0}}$ is measured to be $1.08\,^{+0.14}_{-0.12}\text{(stat)} \ \pm 0.07\text{(syst)}$ for a dilepton-invariant-mass squared above 14.0 $\text{GeV}^{2}/\text{c}^{4}$, consistent with the standard model prediction. This result represents the most precise measurement of $R_{K^{*0}}$ in this region and the first such measurement performed at a hadron collider.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Search for $C\!P$ violation in $D^+ \to ϕπ^+$ decays

A search for charge-parity ($C\!P$) violation in the Cabibbo-suppressed $D^+ \to ϕπ^+$ decay is presented, using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $6\text{ fb}^{-1}$, collected at a centre-of-mass energy of $13\text{ TeV}$ with the LHCb detector during Run 2. An abundant sample of $D^+ \to K_{\rm S}^0 π^+$ decays is employed to correct for asymmetries arising from the production of the charmed meson and from detection effects associated with the charged pion accompanying the $ϕ$ meson. Asymmetries induced by interference of multiple processes, such as neutral kaon mixing, regeneration of neutral kaons, and interference between the Cabibbo-favoured $D^+ \to \overline{K}^0 π^+$ and the doubly Cabibbo-suppressed $D^+ \to {K}^0 π^+$ decay, are subtracted. The direct $C\!P$ asymmetry in the $D^+ \to ϕπ^+$ decay is measured to be \begin{equation*} a_{C\!P}(D^+ \to ϕπ^+) = \left(0.1 \pm 4.9\text{ (stat)} \pm 2.4\text{ (syst)} \right)\times 10^{-4}. \end{equation*} For the first time at a hadron collider, the modulus of the ratio and the relative strong phase of the $D^+ \to {K}^0 π^+$ to $D^+ \to \overline{ K}^0 π^+$ decay amplitudes are also investigated. Two-dimensional confidence intervals are reported for these parameters.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Search for the decays $B^+_{(c)} \to μ^+ ν_μγ$

A search for the radiative leptonic decays $B^+\toμ^+ν_μγ$ and $B^+_c\toμ^+ν_μγ$ is performed using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb experiment at a center-of-mass energy of $13~{\rm TeV}$, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.4~{\rm fb}^{-1}$. No evidence for an excess of events over background is observed for either signal decay. Upper limits at 90% confidence level are set on the branching fractions: \begin{align} {\cal{B}}(B^+\toμ^+ν_μγ)_{E_γ^\ast > 1\,\rm{GeV}} &< 4.0 \times 10^{-6},\\ {\cal{B}}(B_c^+\toμ^+ν_μγ)_{E_γ^\ast > 1\,\rm{GeV}} &< 1.6 \times 10^{-3}, \end{align} where the photon energy in the $B$-meson rest frame, $E_γ^\ast$, is required to be greater than $1~{\rm GeV}$. This constitutes the first search for these decays at a hadron collider and the first experimental investigation of the $B_c^+\toμ^+ν_μγ$ decay to date.

hep-ex↗