Conventional hadronic matter consists of baryons and mesons made of three quarks and quark-antiquark pairs, respectively. The observation of a new type of hadronic state, a doubly charmed tetraquark containing two charm quarks, an anti-$u$ and an anti-$d$ quark, is reported using data collected by the LHCb experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. This exotic state with a mass of about 3875 MeV$/c^2$ manifests itself as a narrow peak in the mass spectrum of $D^0D^0\pi^+$ mesons just below the $D^{*+}D^0$ mass threshold. The near threshold mass together with a strikingly narrow width reveals the resonance nature of the state.
Distribution of $D^0 D^0 \pi^+$ mass where the contribution of the non-$D^0$ background has been statistically subtracted. Uncertainties on the data points are statistical only and represent one standard deviation, calculated as a sum in quadrature of the assigned weights from the background-subtraction procedure.
Distribution of $D^0 D^0 \pi^+$ mass where the contribution of the non-$D^0$ background has been statistically subtracted by assigning the a weight to every candidate.
An exotic narrow state in the $D^0D^0\pi^+$ mass spectrum just below the $D^{*+}D^0$ mass threshold is studied using a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{-1}$ acquired with the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV. The state is consistent with the ground isoscalar $T^+_{cc}$ tetraquark with a quark content of $cc\bar{u}\bar{d}$ and spin-parity quantum numbers $\mathrm{J}^{\mathrm{P}}=1^+$. Study of the $DD$ mass spectra disfavours interpretation of the resonance as the isovector state. The decay structure via intermediate off-shell $D^{*+}$ mesons is confirmed by the $D^0\pi^+$ mass distribution. The mass of the resonance and its coupling to the $D^{*}D$ system are analysed. Resonance parameters including the pole position, scattering length, effective range and compositeness are measured to reveal important information about the nature of the $T^+_{cc}$ state. In addition, an unexpected dependence of the production rate on track multiplicity is observed.
Distribution of $D^0 D^0 \pi^+$ mass where the contribution of the non-$D^0$ background has been statistically subtracted. Uncertainties on the data points are statistical only and represent one standard deviation, calculated as a sum in quadrature of the assigned weights from the background-subtraction procedure.
Mass distribution for $D^0 \pi^+$ pairs from selected $D^0 D^0 \pi^+$ candidates with a mass below the $D^{*+}D^0$ mass threshold with non-$D^0$ background subtracted. Uncertainties on the data points are statistical only and represent one standard deviation, calculated as a sum in quadrature of the assigned weights from the background-subtraction procedure.
$D^0 D^0$~mass distributions for selected candidates with the $D^0$ background subtracted. Uncertainties on the data points are statistical only and represent one standard deviation, calculated as a sum in quadrature of the assigned weights from the background-subtraction procedure.
The production of prompt charged particles in proton-lead collisions and in proton-proton collisions at the nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy ${\sqrt{s_{\scriptscriptstyle\mathrm{NN}}}=5\,\mathrm{TeV}}$ is studied at LHCb as a function of pseudorapidity ($\eta$) and transverse momentum ($p_{\mathrm{T}}$) with respect to the proton beam direction. The nuclear modification factor for charged particles is determined as a function of $\eta$ between ${-4.8<\eta<-2.5}$ (backward region) and ${2.0<\eta<4.8}$ (forward region), and $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ between ${0.2<p_{\mathrm{T}}<8.0\,\mathrm{GeV}/c}$. The results show a suppression of charged particle production in proton-lead collisions relative to proton-proton collisions in the forward region and an enhancement in the backward region for $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ larger than $1.5\,\mathrm{GeV}/c$. This measurement constrains nuclear PDFs and saturation models at previously unexplored values of the parton momentum fraction down to $10^{-6}$.
Double-differential production cross-section for prompt charged particles in pp collisions at 5TeV with respect to pseudorapidity and transverse momentum. First uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic and the third is from the luminosity. Luminosity uncertainty is fully correlated among the different kinematic ranges.
Double-differential production cross-section for prompt charged particles in pPb collisions at 5TeV with respect to pseudorapidity and transverse momentum in the forward region. The pseudorapidity is expressed in the nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass system. First uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic and the third is from the luminosity. Luminosity uncertainty is fully correlated among the different kinematic ranges.
Double-differential production cross-section for prompt charged particles in pPb collisions at 5TeV with respect to pseudorapidity and transverse momentum in the backward region. The pseudorapidity is expressed in the nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass system. First uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic and the third is from the luminosity. Luminosity uncertainty is fully correlated among the different kinematic ranges.
The differential cross-section of prompt inclusive production of long-lived charged particles in proton-proton collisions is measured using a data sample recorded by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of ${\sqrt{s} = 13\,\mathrm{TeV}}$. The data sample, collected with an unbiased trigger, corresponds to an integrated luminosity of ${5.4\,\mathrm{nb}^{-1}}$. The differential cross-section is measured as a function of transverse momentum and pseudorapidity in the ranges ${p_\mathrm{T} \in [0.08, 10)\,\mathrm{GeV}\,c^{-1}}$ and ${\eta \in [2.0, 4.8)}$ and is determined separately for positively and negatively charged particles. The results are compared with predictions from various hadronic-interaction models.
Double differential cross-sections of prompt inclusive production of long-lived negatively charged particles as a function of transverse momentum and pseudorapidity.
Double differential cross-sections of prompt inclusive production of long-lived positively charged particles as a function of transverse momentum and pseudorapidity.
Correlation for the uncertainties of the differential cross-section of prompt inclusive production of long-lived charged particles.
The Standard Model of particle physics currently provides our best description of fundamental particles and their interactions. The theory predicts that the different charged leptons, the electron, muon and tau, have identical electroweak interaction strengths. Previous measurements have shown a wide range of particle decays are consistent with this principle of lepton universality. This article presents evidence for the breaking of lepton universality in beauty-quark decays, with a significance of 3.1 standard deviations, based on proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. The measurements are of processes in which a beauty meson transforms into a strange meson with the emission of either an electron and a positron, or a muon and an antimuon. If confirmed by future measurements, this violation of lepton universality would imply physics beyond the Standard Model, such as a new fundamental interaction between quarks and leptons.
Likelihood function from the fit to the nonresonant $B^+$ --> $K^+\ell^+ \ell^−$ candidates profiled as a function of $R_K$.
We present an angular analysis of the $B^{+}\rightarrow K^{\ast+}(\rightarrow K_{S}^{0}\pi^{+})\mu^{+}\mu^{-}$ decay using 9$\,\mbox{fb}^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data collected with the LHCb experiment. For the first time, the full set of CP-averaged angular observables is measured in intervals of the dimuon invariant mass squared. Local deviations from Standard Model predictions are observed, similar to those in previous LHCb analyses of the isospin-partner $B^{0}\rightarrow K^{\ast0}\mu^{+}\mu^{-}$ decay. The global tension is dependent on which effective couplings are considered and on the choice of theory nuisance parameters.
Results for the CP-averaged observables Fl, Afb and S3–S9. The first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic.
Results for the optimised observables FL and P1–P'8. The first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic.
The CP-averaged observable Fl versus q2. The first (second) error bars represent the statistical (total) uncertainties.
A measurement of the production cross-section for $Z$ bosons that decay to muons is presented. The data were recorded by the LHCb detector during $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb$^{-1}$. The cross-section is measured for muons in the pseudorapidity range $2.0 < \eta < 4.5$ with transverse momenta $p_{T} > 20$ GeV/c. The dimuon mass is restricted to $60 < M_{\mu^{+}\mu^{-}} < 120$ GeV/c$^{2}$. The measured cross-section is $$\sigma_{Z\rightarrow\mu^{+}\mu^{-}} = (76.0 \pm 0.3 \pm 0.5 \pm 1.0 \pm 1.3) \, \text{pb}$$ where the uncertainties are due to the sample size, systematic effects, the beam energy and the luminosity. This result is in good agreement with theoretical predictions at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics. The cross-section is also measured differentially as a function of kinematic variables of the $Z$ boson. Ratios of the production cross-sections of electroweak bosons are presented using updated LHCb measurements of $W$ boson production. A precise test of the Standard Model is provided by the measurement of the ratio $$\frac{\sigma_{W^{+}\rightarrow\mu^{+}\nu_{\mu}} + \sigma_{W^{-}\rightarrow\mu^{-}\bar{\nu}_{\mu}}}{\sigma_{Z\rightarrow\mu^{+}\mu^{-}}} = 20.63\pm0.09\pm0.12\pm0.05,$$ where the uncertainty due to luminosity cancels.
Inclusive cross-section for $Z$ boson production in bins of rapidity. The uncertainties are statistical, systematic, beam and luminosity.
Inclusive cross-section for $Z$ boson production in bins of transverse momentum. The uncertainties are statistical, systematic, beam and luminosity.
Inclusive cross-section for $Z$ boson production in bins of PHI*. The uncertainties are statistical, systematic, beam and luminosity.
A measurement of the cross-section for Z-boson production in the forward region of pp collisions at 8TeV centre-of-mass energy is presented. The measurement is based on a sample of $\rm Z\rightarrow e^+e^-$ decays reconstructed using the LHCb detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.0fb$^{-1}$. The acceptance is defined by the requirements $2.0<\eta<4.5$ and $p_{\rm T}>20$GeV for the pseudorapidities and transverse momenta of the leptons. Their invariant mass is required to lie in the range 60--120GeV. The cross-section is determined to be $$ \sigma({\rm pp\to Z\to e^+e^-})=93.81\pm0.41({\rm stat})\pm1.48({\rm syst})\pm1.14({\rm lumi})\;{\rm pb}\,,$$ where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second reflects all systematic effects apart from that arising from the luminosity, which is given as the third uncertainty. Differential cross-sections are presented as functions of the Z-boson rapidity and of the angular variable $\phi^*$, which is related to the Z-boson transverse momentum.
Integrated cross-section for Z$\to$ e$^+$e$^-$ within the LHCb acceptance.
Differential cross-section for Z$\to$ e$^+$e$^-$ as a function of Z-boson rapidity. The first error is statistical, the second the uncorrelated experimental systematic, the third the correlated experimental systematic and the last error is the uncertainty in luminosity. The cross-sections are at the Born level, i.e. before FSR. The rightmost column gives values of the additional factor, $f_{\rm FSR}$, by which the results should be multiplied in order to give the cross-sections after FSR.
Differential cross-section for Z$\to$ e$^+$e$^-$ as a function of $\phi^*$. The first error is statistical, the second the uncorrelated experimental systematic, the third the correlated experimental systematic and the last error is the uncertainty in luminosity. The cross-sections are at the Born level, i.e. before FSR. The rightmost column gives values of the additional factor, $f_{\rm FSR}$, by which the results should be multiplied in order to give the cross-sections after FSR.
The cross-section for inelastic proton-proton collisions, with at least one prompt long-lived charged particle of transverse momentum $p_{\rm T}>0.2$ GeV/$c$ in the pseudorapidity range $2.0<\eta<4.5$, is measured by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV. The cross-section in this kinematic range is determined to be $\sigma_{\rm inel}^{\rm acc} = 55.0 \pm 2.4$ mb within the spectrometer acceptance with an experimental uncertainty that is dominated by systematic contributions. Extrapolation to the full phase space, using PYTHIA 6, yields $\sigma_{\rm inel} = 66.9 \pm 2.9 \pm 4.4$ mb, where the first uncertainty is experimental and the second is due to the extrapolation.
The cross-section for inelastic $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV, yielding one or more prompt long-lived charged particles in the kinematic range $p_T > 0.2$ GeV/$c$ and $2.0 < \eta < 4.5$ (LHCb acceptance). The quoted uncertainty that is almost completely systematic in nature as the purely statistical uncertainty is two orders of magnitude smaller.
The total cross-section for inelastic $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV, extrapolated using PYTHIA6 and different soft QCD tunes provided by PYTHIA 8.201 to estimate its uncertainty.
Production of $B_c^+$ mesons in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV is studied with data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $2.0~{\rm fb}^{-1}$ recorded by the LHCb experiment. The ratio of production cross-sections times branching fractions between the $B_c^+\to J/\psi \pi^+$ and $B^+\to J/\psi K^+$ decays is measured as a function of transverse momentum and rapidity in the regions $0 < p_{\rm T} < 20~{\rm GeV}/c$ and $2.0 < y < 4.5$. The ratio in this kinematic range is measured to be $(0.683\pm0.018\pm0.009)\%$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.
Double differential production ratio $R(p_T, y)$ in bins of $p_T$ and $y$.
Differential production ratio $R(p_T)$ in bins of $p_T$ and integrated over $2.0 < y <4.5$ range.
Differential production ratio $R(y)$ in bins of $y$ and integrated over $0 < p_T < 20$ $GeV/c$ range.
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