arXiv subjects

T. Blake

Publications and source records attributed to T. Blake.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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arXiv2025

Measurement of $\itΛ_\it{b}^0$, $\itΛ_\it{c}^+$ and $\itΛ$ decay parameters using $\itΛ_\it{b}^0 \to \itΛ_\it{c}^+ h^-$ decays

A comprehensive study of the angular distributions in the bottom-baryon decays $\itΛ^\mathrm{0}_b\to\itΛ_c^+ h^-(h=π, K)$, followed by $\itΛ_c^+\to\itΛ h^+$ with $\itΛ\to \it{p} π^-$ or $\itΛ_c^+\to\it{p}\it{K}^0_\mathrm{S}$ decays, is performed using a data sample of proton-proton collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 $\mathrm{Te\kern -0.1em V}$. The decay parameters and the associated charge-parity ($C\!P$) asymmetries are measured, with no significant $C\!P$ violation observed. For the first time, the $\itΛ^\mathrm{0}_b \to \itΛ_c^+ h^-$ decay parameters are measured. The most precise measurements of the decay parameters $α, β$ and $γ$ are obtained for $\itΛ_c^+$ decays and an independent measurement of the decay parameters for the strange-baryon $\itΛ$ decay is provided. The results deepen our understanding of weak decay dynamics in baryon decays.

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arXiv2024

Measurement of the $D^{}$ longitudinal polarization in $B^0\to D^{-}τ^{+}ν_τ$ decays

The longitudinal polarization fraction of the $D^{*}$ meson is measured in $B^0\to D^{*-}τ^{+}ν_τ$ decays, where the $τ$ lepton decays to three charged pions and a neutrino, using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 fb$^{-1}$. The $D^{*}$ polarization fraction $F_{L}^{D^{*}}$ is measured in two $q^{2}$ regions, below and above 7 GeV$^{2}/c^{4}$, where $q^{2}$ is defined as the squared invariant mass of the $τν_τ$ system. The $F_{L}^{D^{*}}$ values are measured to be $0.52 \pm 0.07 \pm 0.04$ and $0.34 \pm 0.08 \pm 0.02$ for the lower and higher $q^{2}$ regions, respectively. The first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The average value over the whole $q^{2}$ range is: $$F_{L}^{D^{*}} = 0.41 \pm 0.06 \pm 0.03.$$ These results are compatible with the Standard Model predictions.

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arXiv2024

Measurement of the effective leptonic weak mixing angle

Using $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV, recorded by the LHCb experiment between 2016 and 2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.4$ fb$^{-1}$, the forward-backward asymmetry in the $pp \to Z/γ^{*} \to μ^+μ^-$ process is measured. The measurement is carried out in ten intervals of the difference between the muon pseudorapidities, within a fiducial region covering dimuon masses between $66$ and $116$ GeV, muon pseudorapidities between $2.0$ and $4.5$ and muon transverse momenta above $20$ GeV. These forward-backward asymmetries are compared with predictions, at next-to-leading order in the strong and electroweak couplings. The measured effective leptonic weak mixing angle is $\sin^2θ_{\rm eff}^\ell = 0.23147 \pm 0.00044 \pm 0.00005 \pm 0.00023$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second arises from systematic uncertainties associated with the asymmetry measurement, and the third arises from uncertainties in the fit model used to extract $\sin^2θ_{\rm eff}^\ell$ from the asymmetry measurement. This result is based on an arithmetic average of results using the CT18, MSHT20, and NNPDF31 parameterisations of the proton internal structure, and is consistent with previous measurements and with predictions from the global electroweak fit.

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arXiv2024

Search for the lepton-flavor violating decay $B^0_s\toϕμ^\pmτ^\mp$

A search for the lepton-flavor violating decays $B^0_s\toϕμ^\pmτ^\mp$ is presented, using a sample of proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, collected with the LHCb detector and corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of $9\,\text{fb}^{-1}$. The $τ$ leptons are selected using decays with three charged pions. No significant excess is observed, and an upper limit on the branching fraction is determined to be ${\cal B}( B^0_s\toϕμ^\pmτ^\mp) < 1.0\times 10^{-5}$ at 90% confidence level.

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arXiv2024

Observation of muonic Dalitz decays of $χ_{b}$ mesons and precise spectroscopy of hidden-beauty states

The decays of the $χ_{b1}(1P)$, $χ_{b2}(1P)$, $χ_{b1}(2P)$ and $χ_{b2}(2P)$ mesons into the $Υ(1S)μ^+μ^-$ final state are observed with a high significance using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9fb$^{-1}$. The newly observed decays together with the $Υ(2S)\rightarrow Υ(1S)π^+π^-$ and $Υ(3S)\rightarrow Υ(2S)π^+π^-$ decay modes are used for precision measurements of the mass and mass splittings for the hidden-beauty states.

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arXiv2024

Transverse polarization measurement of $Λ$ hyperons in $p$Ne collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 68.4 GeV with the $\mbox{LHCb}$ detector

A measurement of the transverse polarization of the $Λ$ and $\barΛ$ hyperons in $p$Ne fixed-target collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 68.4 GeV is presented using data collected by the LHCb detector. The polarization is studied using the decay $Λ\rightarrow p π^-$ together with its charge conjugated process, the integrated values measured are $$ P_Λ = 0.029 \pm 0.019 \, (\rm{stat}) \pm 0.012 \, (\rm{syst}) \, , $$ $$ P_{\barΛ} = 0.003 \pm 0.023 \, (\rm{stat}) \pm 0.014 \,(\rm{syst}) \,. $$ Furthermore, the results are shown as a function of the Feynman~$x$~variable, transverse momentum, pseudorapidity and rapidity of the hyperons, and are compared with previous measurements.

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arXiv2024

Precision measurement of the $Ξ^-_b$ baryon lifetime

A sample of $pp$ collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.5 fb$^{-1}$ and collected by the LHCb experiment during LHC Run 2, is used to measure the ratio of the lifetime of the $Ξ^-_b$ baryon to that of the $Λ^0_b$ baryon, $r_τ\equivτ_{Ξ^-_b}/τ_{Λ^0_b}$. The value ${r_τ=1.076\pm0.013\pm0.006}$ is obtained, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This value is averaged with the corresponding value from Run 1 to obtain ${r_τ^{\rm Run\,1,2} = 1.078\pm0.012\pm0.007}$. Multiplying by the world-average value of the $Λ^0_b$ lifetime yields $τ_{Ξ^-_b}^{\rm Run~1,2} = 1.578\pm0.018\pm0.010\pm0.011$ ps, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the limited knowledge of the $Λ^0_b$ lifetime. This measurement improves the precision of the current world average of the $Ξ^-_b$ lifetime by about a factor of two, and is in good agreement with the most recent theoretical predictions.

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arXiv2024

Study of $b$-hadron decays to $\mathitΛ_{c}^+ h^- h^{\prime -}$ final states

Decays of $\mathitΞ_{b}^-$ and $\mathitΩ_{b}^-$ baryons to $\mathitΛ_{c}^+ h^- h^{\prime -}$ final states, with $h^- h^{\prime -}$ 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 $8.7\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions collected at centre-of-mass energies $\sqrt{s} = 7$, $8$ and $13\,\mathrm{Te\kern -0.1em V}$. The products of the relative branching fractions and fragmentation fractions for each signal mode, relative to the $B^- \to \mathitΛ_{c}^+ \overline{p} π^-$ mode, are measured, with $\mathitΞ_{b}^- \to\mathitΛ_{c}^+ K^- π^-$, $\mathitΞ_{b}^- \to\mathitΛ_{c}^+ K^- K^-$ and $\mathitΩ_{b}^- \to\mathitΛ_{c}^+ K^- K^-$ decays being observed at over $5\,σ$ significance. The $\mathitΞ_{b}^- \to\mathitΛ_{c}^+ K^- π^-$ mode is also used to measure the $\mathitΞ_{b}^-$ production asymmetry, which is found to be consistent with zero. In addition, the $B^- \to \mathitΛ_{c}^+ \overline{p} K^-$ decay is observed for the first time, and its branching fraction is measured relative to that of the $B^- \to \mathitΛ_{c}^+ \overline{p} π^-$ mode.

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arXiv2024

Search for the rare decay of charmed baryon $Λ_c^+$ into $p μ^+ μ^-$ final state

A search for the nonresonant $Λ_c^+ \to p μ^+ μ^-$ decay is performed using proton-proton collision data recorded at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb$^{-1}$. No evidence for the decay is found in the dimuon invariant-mass regions where the expected contributions of resonances is subdominant. The upper limit on the branching fraction of the $Λ_c^+ \to p μ^+ μ^-$ decay is determined to be $2.9~(3.2) \times 10^{-8}$ at 90% (95%) confidence level. The branching fractions in the dimuon invariant-mass regions dominated by the $η$, $ρ$ and $ω$ resonances are also determined.

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arXiv2024

Measurement of $Ξ_{c}^{+}$ production in $p$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=8.16$ TeV at LHCb

A study of prompt $Ξ_{c}^{+}$ production in proton-lead collisions is performed with the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 8.16 TeV in 2016 in $p$Pb and Pb$p$ collisions with an estimated integrated luminosity of approximately 12.5 and 17.4 nb$^{-1}$, respectively. The $Ξ_{c}^{+}$ production cross-section, as well as the $Ξ_{c}^{+}$ to $Λ_{c}^{+}$ production cross-section ratio, are measured as a function of the transverse momentum and rapidity and compared to latest theory predictions. The forward-backward asymmetry is also measured as a function of the $Ξ_{c}^{+}$ transverse momentum.

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arXiv2024

Tracking of charged particles with nanosecond lifetimes at LHCb

A method is presented to reconstruct charged particles with lifetimes between 10 ps and 10 ns, which considers a combination of their decay products and the partial tracks created by the initial charged particle. Using the $Ξ^-$ baryon as a benchmark, the method is demonstrated with simulated events and proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.0 fb${}^{-1}$ collected with the LHCb detector in 2018. Significant improvements in the angular resolution and the signal purity are obtained. The method is implemented as part of the LHCb Run 3 event trigger in a set of requirements to select detached hyperons. This is the first demonstration of the applicability of this approach at the LHC, and the first to show its scaling with instantaneous luminosity.

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