arXiv subjects

M. Becker

Publications and source records attributed to M. Becker.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

arXiv2025

Measurement of $ϕ(1020)$ meson production in fixed-target $\textit{p}$Ne collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 68.5 GeV

The first measurement of $ϕ(1020)$ meson production in fixed-target $p$Ne collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=68.5$ GeV is presented. The $ϕ(1020)$ mesons are reconstructed in their $K^{+}K^{-}$ decay in a data sample consisting of proton collisions on neon nuclei at rest, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $21.7 \pm 1.4$ nb$^{-1}$, collected by the LHCb detector at CERN. The $ϕ(1020)$ production cross-section in the centre-of-mass rapidity range of $-1.8<y^*<0$ and transverse momentum range of $800<p_{T}<6500$ MeV/c is found to be $σ=182.7\pm2.7~\text{(stat.)}\pm14.1~\text{(syst)}~μ$b/nucleon. A double-differential measurement of the cross-section is also provided in four regions of rapidity and six regions of transverse momentum of the $ϕ(1020)$ meson and compared with the predictions from Pythia and EPOS4, which are found to underestimate the experimental values.

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arXiv2025

First evidence for direct CP violation in beauty to charmonium decays

The $C\!P$ asymmetry and branching fraction of the CKM-suppressed decay $B^+\!\to J\mskip -3mu/\mskip -2muψ\,π^+$ are precisely measured relative to the favoured decay $B^+\!\to J\mskip -3mu/\mskip -2muψ\,K^+$, using a sample of proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.4~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ recorded at center-of-mass energy of $13~\mathrm{TeV}$ during 2016--2018. The results of the $C\!P$ asymmetry difference and branching fraction ratio are \begin{align*} Δ\mathcal{A}^{C\!P} &\equiv \mathcal{A}^{C\!P}(B^+ \to J\mskip -3mu/\mskip -2muψ\,π^+) - \mathcal{A}^{C\!P}(B^+ \to J\mskip -3mu/\mskip -2muψ\,K^+) = (1.29 \pm 0.49 \pm 0.08) \times 10^{-2}, \end{align*} \begin{equation*} \mathcal{R}_{π/K} \equiv \frac{\mathcal{B}(B^+ \!\to J\mskip -3mu/\mskip -2muψ\,π^+)}{\mathcal{B}(B^+ \!\to J\mskip -3mu/\mskip -2muψ\,K^+)} = (3.852 \pm 0.022 \pm 0.018) \times 10^{-2}. \end{equation*} where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. A combination with previous LHCb results based on data collected at $7$ and $8~\mathrm{TeV}$ in 2011 and 2012 yields $Δ\mathcal{A}^{C\!P} = (1.42 \pm 0.43 \pm 0.08) \times 10^{-2}$ and $\mathcal{R}_{π/K} = (3.846 \pm 0.018 \pm 0.018) \times 10^{-2}$. The combined $Δ\mathcal{A}^{C\!P}$ value deviates from zero by 3.2 standard deviations, providing the first evidence for direct $C\!P$ violation in the amplitudes of beauty decays to charmonium final states.

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arXiv2025

Constraints on the photon polarisation in $b \to s γ$ transitions using $B_s^0 \rightarrow ϕe^+e^-$ decays

An angular analysis of the $B_s^0 \rightarrow ϕe^+e^-$ decay is performed using the proton-proton collision dataset collected between 2011 and 2018 by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\,{\rm fb}^{-1}$ at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and $13\,{\rm TeV}$. The analysis is performed in the very low dielectron invariant mass-squared region between $0.0009$ and $0.2615\,{\rm GeV}^2\!/c^4$. The longitudinal polarisation fraction of the $ϕ$ meson is measured to be less than $11.5\%$ at $90\%$ confidence level. The $A_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathcal{R}e C\!P}$ observable, which is related to the lepton forward-backward asymmetry, is measured to be $0.116 \pm 0.155 \pm 0.006$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The transverse asymmetries, $A_{\mathrm{T}}^{(2)}$ and $A_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathcal{I}m C\!P}$, which are sensitive to the virtual photon polarisation, are found to be $-0.045 \pm 0.235 \pm 0.014$ and $0.002 \pm 0.247 \pm 0.016$, respectively. The results are consistent with Standard Model predictions.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Measurement of the CKM angle $γ$ in $B^{\pm} \to D K^*(892)^{\pm}$ decays

Measurements of $CP$ observables and the CKM angle $γ$ are performed in $B^{\pm} \to D K^*(892)^{\pm}$ decays, where $D$ represents a superposition of $D^0$ and $\overline{D}{}^0$ states, using the LHCb dataset collected during Run 1 (2011-2012) and Run 2 (2015-2018). A study of this channel is presented with the $D$ meson reconstructed in two-body final states $K^{\pm}π^{\mp}$, $K^+K^-$ and $π^+π^-$; four-body final states $K^{\pm}π^{\mp}π^{\pm}π^{\mp}$ and $π^+π^-π^+π^-$; and three-body final states $K^0_{S} π^+π^-$ and $K^0_{S} K^+ K^-$. This analysis includes the first observation of the suppressed $B^{\pm} \to [π^{\pm}K^{\mp}]_D K^{*\pm}$ and $B^{\pm} \to [π^{\pm}K^{\mp}π^{\pm}π^{\mp}]_D K^{*\pm}$ decays. The combined result gives $γ=(63\pm 13)^\circ$.

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arXiv2025

Measurement of exclusive $J/ψ$ and $ψ(2S)$ production at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV

Measurements are presented of the cross-section for the central exclusive production of $J/ψ\toμ^+μ^-$ and $ψ(2S)\toμ^+μ^-$ processes in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13 $ TeV with 2016-2018 data. They are performed by requiring both muons to be in the LHCb acceptance (with pseudorapidity $2<η_{μ^\pm} < 4.5$) and mesons in the rapidity range $2.0 < y < 4.5$. The integrated cross-section results are \begin{equation*} σ_{J/ψ\toμ^+μ^-}(2.0<y_{J/ψ}<4.5,2.0<η_{μ^\pm} < 4.5) = 400 \pm 2 \pm 5 \pm 12 \,{\rm pb}\,, \end{equation*} \begin{equation*} σ_{ψ(2S)\toμ^+μ^-}(2.0<y_{ψ(2S)}<4.5,2.0<η_{μ^\pm} < 4.5) = 9.40 \pm 0.15 \pm 0.13 \pm 0.27 \,{\rm pb}\,, \end{equation*} where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic and due to the luminosity determination. In addition, a measurement of the ratio of $ψ(2S)$ and $J/ψ$ cross-sections, at an average photon-proton centre-of-mass energy of 1 TeV, is performed, giving \begin{equation*} \frac{σ_{ψ(2S)}}{σ_{J/ψ}} = 0.1763 \pm 0.0029 \pm 0.0008 \pm 0.0039 \,, \end{equation*} where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third due to the knowledge of the involved branching fractions. For the first time, the dependence of the $J/ψ$ and $ψ(2S)$ cross-sections on the total transverse momentum transfer is determined in $pp$ collisions and is found consistent with the behaviour observed in electron-proton collisions.

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arXiv2025

Long-lived particle reconstruction downstream of the LHCb magnet

Charged-particle trajectories are usually reconstructed with the LHCb detector using combined information from the tracking devices placed upstream and downstream of the 4\,T\,m dipole magnet. Trajectories reconstructed using only information from the tracker downstream of the dipole magnet, which are referred to as T tracks, have not been used for physics analysis to date. The challenges of the reconstruction of long-lived particles using T tracks for use in physics analyses are discussed and solutions are proposed. The feasibility and the tracking performance are studied using samples of long-lived $\varLambda$ and $K_S^0$ hadrons decaying between 6.0 and 7.6 metres downstream of the proton-proton collision point, thereby traversing most of the magnetic field region and providing maximal sensitivity to magnetic and electric dipole moments. The reconstruction can be expanded upstream to about 2.5 meters for use in direct searches of exotic long-lived particles. The data used in this analysis have been recorded between 2015 and 2018 and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 6\,fb$^{-1}$. The results obtained demonstrate the possibility to further extend the decay volume and the physics reach of the LHCb experiment.

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arXiv2025

Measurement of the branching fraction ratios $R(D^{+})$ and $R(D^{*+})$ using muonic $τ$ decays

The branching fraction ratios of $\overline{B}^0\to D^+τ^-\overlineν_τ$ and $\overline{B}^0\to D^{*+}τ^-\overlineν_τ$ decays are measured with respect to their muonic counterparts, using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.0 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV. The reconstructed final states are formed by combining $D^+$ mesons with $τ^-\toμ^-\overlineν_μν_τ$ candidates, where the $D^+$ is reconstructed via the $D^+\to K^-π^+π^+$ decay. The results are \begin{align*} R(D^{+}) &= 0.249 \pm 0.043 \pm 0.047, R(D^{*+}) &= 0.402 \pm 0.081\pm 0.085, \end{align*} where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The two measurements have a correlation coefficient of $-0.39$ and are compatible with the Standard Model.

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arXiv2025

Production of $η$ and $η'$ mesons in $pp$ and $p$Pb collisions

The production of $η$ and $η'$ mesons is studied in proton-proton and proton-lead collisions collected with the LHCb detector. Proton-proton collisions are studied at center-of-mass energies of $5.02$ and $13~{\rm TeV}$, and proton-lead collisions are studied at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon of $8.16~{\rm TeV}$. The studies are performed in center-of-mass rapidity regions $2.5<y_{\rm c.m.}<3.5$ (forward rapidity) and $-4.0<y_{\rm c.m.}<-3.0$ (backward rapidity) defined relative to the proton beam direction. The $η$ and $η'$ production cross sections are measured differentially as a function of transverse momentum for $1.5<p_{\rm T}<10~{\rm GeV}$ and $3<p_{\rm T}<10~{\rm GeV}$, respectively. The differential cross sections are used to calculate nuclear modification factors. The nuclear modification factors for $η$ and $η'$ mesons agree at both forward and backward rapidity, showing no significant evidence of mass dependence. The differential cross sections of $η$ mesons are also used to calculate $η/π^0$ cross section ratios, which show evidence of a deviation from the world average. These studies offer new constraints on mass-dependent nuclear effects in heavy-ion collisions, as well as $η$ and $η'$ meson fragmentation.

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arXiv2025

A measurement of $ΔΓ_{s}$

Using a dataset corresponding to $9~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity collected with the LHCb detector between 2011 and 2018 in proton-proton collisions, the decay-time distributions of the decay modes $B_s^0 \rightarrow J/ψη'$ and $B_s^0 \rightarrow J/ψπ^{+} π^{-}$ are studied. The decay-width difference between the light and heavy mass eigenstates of the $B_s^0$ meson is measured to be $ΔΓ_s = 0.087 \pm 0.012 \pm 0.009 \, \mathrm{ps}^{-1}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

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arXiv2025

Measurement of $C\!P$ violation observables in $D^+\rightarrow K^-K^+π^+$ decays

A search for violation of the charge-parity $C\!P$ symmetry in the $D^+\rightarrow K^-K^+π^+$ decay is presented, with proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb$^{-1}$, collected at a center-of-mass energy of $13$ TeV with the LHCb detector. A novel model-independent technique is used to compare the $D^+$ and $D^-$ phase-space distributions, with instrumental asymmetries subtracted using the $D^+_{s}\rightarrow K^-K^+π^+$ decay as a control channel. The $p$-value for the hypothesis of $C\!P$ conservation is $8.1\%$. The $C\!P$ asymmetry observables $A_{C\!P|S}^{ϕπ^+} = (0.95 \pm 0.43_{stat} \pm 0.26_{syst})\times 10^{-3}$ and $A_{C\!P|S}^{\overline{K}^{*0}K^+} = (-0.26 \pm 0.56_{ stat} \pm 0.18_{syst})\times 10^{-3}$ are also measured. These results show no evidence of $C\!P$ violation and represent the most sensitive search performed through the phase space of a multibody decay.

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arXiv2025

Study of charmonium production via the decay to $p\bar{p}$ at $\sqrt{s} = 13 TeV$

Charmonium production cross-section in proton-proton collisions is measured at the centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=13\,TeV$ using decays to $p\bar{p}$ final state. The study is performed using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $2.2\,{fb}^{-1}$ collected in 2018 with the $LHCb$ detector. The production cross-section of the $η_c$ meson is measured in a rapidity range of $2.0 < y < 4.0$ and in a transverse momentum range of $5.0 < p_{T} < 20.0\,{GeV/\it{c}}$, which is extended compared with previous $LHCb$ analyses. The differential cross-section is measured in bins of $p_{T}$ and, for the first time, of $y$. Upper limits, at 90% and 95% confidence levels, on the $η_c(2S)$ and $h_c(1P)$ prompt production cross-sections are determined for the first time.

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arXiv2025

Study of the rare decay $J/ψ\to μ^+μ^-μ^+μ^-$

The rare electromagnetic $J/ψ\to μ^+μ^-μ^+μ^-$ decay is observed with a significance greatly exceeding the discovery threshold, using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment during 2016-2018 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.4\,\text{fb}^{-1}$. The rate of this decay is measured relative to that of the $J/ψ\to μ^+μ^-$ mode. Using the QED model for the four-muon decay in the efficiency estimation, its branching fraction is determined to be \begin{equation*} {\mathcal{B}}(J/ψ\to μ^+μ^-μ^+μ^-) = (1.13\pm0.10\pm0.05\pm0.01)\times 10^{-6}, \end{equation*} where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic and due to the uncertainty on the branching fraction of the $J/ψ\to μ^+μ^-$ decay.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Measurement of $D^0-\overline{D}^0$ mixing and search for $CP$ violation with $D^0\rightarrow K^+π^-$ decays

A measurement of the time-dependent ratio of the $D^0\rightarrow K^+π^-$ to $\overline{D}^0\rightarrow K^+π^-$ decay rates is reported. The analysis uses a sample of proton-proton collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the LHCb experiment from 2015 through 2018 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The $D^0$ meson is required to originate from a $D^{*+}\rightarrow D^0π^+$ decay, such that its flavor at production is inferred from the charge of the accompanying pion. The measurement is performed simultaneously for the $K^+π^-$ and $K^-π^+$ final states, allowing both mixing and $CP$-violation parameters to be determined. The value of the ratio of the decay rates at production is determined to be $R_{Kπ} = (343.1 \pm 2.0) \times 10^{-5}$. The mixing parameters are measured to be $c_{Kπ} = (51.4 \pm 3.5) \times 10^{-4}$ and $c_{Kπ}^{\prime} = (13 \pm 4) \times 10^{-6}$, where $\sqrt{R_{Kπ}}c_{Kπ}$ is the linear coefficient of the expansion of the ratio as a function of decay time in units of the $D^0$ lifetime, and $c_{Kπ}^{\prime}$ is the quadratic coefficient, both averaged between the $K^+π^-$ and $K^-π^+$ final states. The precision is improved relative to the previous best measurement by approximately 60%. No evidence for $CP$ violation is found.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Observation of new charmonium(-like) states in $B^+ \to D^{*\pm} D^{\mp} K^+$ decays

A study of resonant structures in $B^{+}\rightarrow{D^{\ast+}D^{-}K^{+}}$ and $B^{+}\rightarrow{D^{\ast-}D^{+}K^{+}}$ decays is performed, using proton-proton collision data at centre-of-mass energies of $\sqrt{s}=7, 8$, and $13$ TeV recorded by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{-1}$. A simultaneous amplitude fit is performed to the two channels with contributions from resonances decaying to $D^{\ast-}D^{+}$ and $D^{\ast+}D^{-}$ states linked by $C$ parity. This procedure allows the $C$-parities of resonances in the $D^{\ast\pm}D^{\mp}$ mass spectra to be determined. Four charmonium(-like) states are observed decaying into $D^{\ast\pm}D^{\mp}$: $η_c(3945)$, $h_c(4000)$, $χ_{c1}(4010)$ and $h_c(4300)$, with quantum numbers $J^{PC}$ equal to $0^{-+}$, $1^{+-}$, $1^{++}$ and $1^{+-}$, respectively. At least three of these states have not been observed previously. In addition, the existence of the $T_{\bar{c}\bar{s}0}^{*}(2870)^{0}$ and $T_{\bar{c}\bar{s}1}^{*}(2900)^{0}$ resonances in the $D^-K^+$ mass spectrum, already observed in the $B^+ \to D^+ D^- K^+$ decay, is confirmed in a different production channel.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Measurements of the branching fraction ratio $\cal{B}(ϕ\to μ^+μ^-)/\cal{B}(ϕ\to e^+e^-)$ with charm meson decays

Measurements of the branching fraction ratio ${\cal{B}(ϕ\to μ^+ μ^-)/\cal{B}(ϕ\to e^+e^-)}$ with ${D_{s}^{+} \to π^{+} ϕ}$ and ${D^{+} \to π^{+} ϕ}$ decays, denoted $R^{s}_{ϕπ}$ and $R^{d}_{ϕπ}$, are presented. The analysis is performed using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4$\,\rm{fb}^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data collected with the LHCb experiment. The branching fractions are normalised with respect to the ${B^{+} \to K^{+} J/ψ(\to e^+e^-)}$ and ${B^{+} \to K^{+} J/ψ(\to μ^+μ^-)}$ decay modes. The combination of the results yields $$ R_{ϕπ} = 1.022 \pm 0.012 \,({\rm stat}) \, \pm 0.048 \,({\rm syst}). $$ The result is compatible with previous measurements of the $ϕ\to \ell^{+}\ell^{-}$ branching fractions and predictions based on the Standard Model.

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arXiv2025

Measurement of $CP$ violation in ${B^0}\rightarrow{D^{+}D^{-}}$ and ${B^{0}_{s}}\rightarrow{D^{+}_{s}D^{-}_{s}}$ decays

A time-dependent, flavour-tagged measurement of $CP$ violation is performed with ${B^0}\rightarrow{D^{+}D^{-}}$ and ${B^{0}_{s}}\rightarrow{D^{+}_{s}D^{-}_{s}}$ decays, using data collected by the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6 fb$^{-1}$. In ${B^0}\rightarrow{D^{+}D^{-}}$ decays the $CP$-violation parameters are measured to be \begin{align} S_{D^{+}D^{-}} & = -0.552 \pm 0.100\,\text{(stat)} \pm 0.010\,\text{(syst)}, \nonumber \newline C_{D^{+}D^{-}} & = \phantom{-}0.128 \pm0.103\,\text{(stat)} \pm 0.010\,\text{(syst)}. \nonumber \end{align} In $B^{0}_{s} \rightarrow D^{+}_{s}D^{-}_{s}$ decays the $CP$-violating parameter formulation in terms of $ϕ_{s}$ and $|λ|$ results in \begin{align} ϕ_{s} & = -0.086 \pm 0.106 \,\text{(stat)} \pm 0.028\,\text{(syst)} \,\text{rad}, \nonumber \newline |λ_{D^{+}_{s}D^{-}_{s}}| & = \phantom{-}1.145 \pm 0.126\,\text{(stat)} \pm 0.031\,\text{(syst)}. \nonumber \end{align} These results represent the most precise single measurement of the $CP$-violation parameters in their respective channels. For the first time in a single measurement, $CP$ symmetry is observed to be violated in ${B^0}\rightarrow{D^{+}D^{-}}$ decays with a significance exceeding six standard deviations.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Amplitude analysis of the radiative decay $B^0_s\to K^+K^-γ$

A search for radiative decay of $B^0_s$ mesons to orbitally excited $K^+K^-$ states is performed using proton proton collisions recorded by the \mbox{LHCb}\xspace experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9~fb$^{-1}$. The dikaon spectrum in the mass range $m_{KK}<2400$~{\ensuremath{\,\text{Me\kern -0.1em V\!/}c^2}\xspace} is dominated by the $ϕ(1020)$ resonance that accounts for almost 70$\%$ of the decay rate. Considering the possible contributions of $f_2{(1270)}$, $f'_2{(1525)}$ and $f_2{(2010)}$ meson states, the overall tensor contribution to the amplitude is measured to be \begin{equation} {\cal F}_{\{f_2\}}=16.8\pm 0.5\mathrm{~(stat.)}\pm0.7\mathrm{~(syst.)}\%,\nonumber \end{equation} mostly dominated by the $f'_2(1525)$ 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 measurement \begin{equation} \frac{{\cal B}(B^0_s\to f'_2γ)}{{\cal B}(B^0_s\toϕγ)}= 19.4^{+0.9}_{-0.8}\mathrm{~(stat.)}{}^{+1.4}_{-0.5}\mathrm{~(syst.)}\pm0.5\mathrm{~(\cal{B})}\%\nonumber, \end{equation} 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 $B^0_s\to f'_2(1525)γ$ decay, which is the second radiative transition observed in the $B^0_s$ sector.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Search for $B_{(s)}^{*0}\toμ^+μ^-$ in $B_c^+\toπ^+μ^+μ^-$ decays

A search for the very rare $B^{*0}\toμ^+μ^-$ and $B_{s}^{*0}\toμ^+μ^-$ decays is conducted by analysing the $B_c^+\to π^+μ^+μ^-$ process. The analysis uses proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector between 2011 and 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9$\text{\,fb}^{-1}$. The signal signatures correspond to simultaneous peaks in the $μ^+μ^-$ and $π^+μ^+μ^-$ invariant masses. No evidence for an excess of events over background is observed for either signal decay mode. Upper limits at the $90\%$ confidence level are set on the branching fractions relative to that for $B_c^+\to J\mskip -3mu/\mskip -2muψπ^+$ decays, \begin{equation*} {\cal R}_{B^{*0}(μ^+μ^-)π^+/J\mskip -3mu/\mskip -2muψπ^+} < 3.8\times 10^{-5}\ \text{ and }\: {\cal R}_{B_{s}^{*0}(μ^+μ^-)π^+/J\mskip -3mu/\mskip -2muψπ^+} < 5.0\times 10^{-5}\,. \end{equation*}

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