The prompt production of charmonium $\chi_{c}$ and $J/\psi$ states is studied in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. The $\chi_{c}$ and $J/\psi$ mesons are identified through their decays $\chi_{c}\rightarrow J/\psi \gamma$ and $J/\psi\rightarrow \mu^+\mu^-$ using 36 pb$^{-1}$ of data collected by the LHCb detector in 2010. The ratio of the prompt production cross-sections for $\chi_{c}$ and $J/\psi$, $\sigma (\chi_{c}\rightarrow J/\psi \gamma)/ \sigma (J/\psi)$, is determined as a function of the $J/\psi$ transverse momentum in the range $2 < p_{\mathrm T}^{J/\psi} < 15$ GeV/$c$. The results are in excellent agreement with next-to-leading order non-relativistic expectations and show a significant discrepancy compared with the colour singlet model prediction at leading order, especially in the low $p_{\mathrm T}^{J/\psi}$ region.
The production of J/$\psi$ mesons is studied in proton-lead collisions at the centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{\text{NN}}}=8.16$ TeV with the LHCb detector at the LHC. The double differential cross-sections of prompt and nonprompt J/$\psi$ production are measured as functions of the J/$\psi$ transverse momentum and rapidity in the nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass frame. Forward-to-backward ratios and nuclear modification factors are determined. The results are compared with theoretical calculations based on collinear factorisation using nuclear parton distribution functions, on the colour glass condensate or on coherent energy loss models.
A measurement of the cross-section for pp$ \rightarrow$Z$ \rightarrow$e$^+$e$^-$ is presented using data at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.94 fb$^{-1}$. The process is measured within the kinematic acceptance $p_{\mathrm{T}}>20$GeV/$c$ and $2<\eta<4.5$ for the daughter electrons and dielectron invariant mass in the range 60-120 GeV/$c^2$. The cross-section is determined to be $$\sigma(pp \rightarrow Z \rightarrow e^+ e^- )=76.0\pm0.8\pm2.0\pm2.6{\rm pb}$$ where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic and the third is the uncertainty in the luminosity. The measurement is performed as a function of Z rapidity and as a function of an angular variable which is closely related to the Z transverse momentum. The results are compared with previous LHCb measurements and with theoretical predictions from QCD.
The production of \chib1P mesons in $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $7\tev$ is studied using $32\invpb$ of data collected with the \lhcb detector. The $\chib1P$ mesons are reconstructed in the decay mode $\chib1P \to \Y1S\g \to \mumu\g$. The fraction of \Y1S originating from \chib1P decays in the \Y1S transverse momentum range $6 < \pt^{\Y1S} < 15\gevc$ and rapidity range $2.0 < y^{\Y1S} < 4.5$ is measured to be $(20.7\pm 5.7\pm 2.1^{+2.7}_{-5.4})%$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic and the last gives the range of the result due to the unknown \Y1S and \chib1P polarizations.
The production of $J/\psi$ mesons accompanied by open charm, and of pairs of open charm hadrons are observed in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV using an integrated luminosity of $355pb^{-1}$ collected with the LHCb detector. Model independent measurements of absolute cross-sections are given together with ratios to the measured $J/\psi$ and open charm cross-sections. The properties of these events are studied and compared to theoretical predictions.
The charged-particle production ratios $\bar{p}/p$, $K^-/K^+$, $\pi^-/\pi^+$, $(p + \bar{p})/(\pi^+ + \pi^-)$, $(K^+ + K^-)/(\pi^+ + \pi^-)$ and $(p + \bar{p})/(K^+ + K^-)$ are measured with the LHCb detector using $0.3 {\rm nb^{-1}}$ of $pp$ collisions delivered by the LHC at $\sqrt{s} = 0.9$ TeV and $1.8 {\rm nb^{-1}}$ at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV. The measurements are performed as a function of transverse momentum $p_{\rm T}$ and pseudorapidity $\eta$. The production ratios are compared to the predictions of several Monte Carlo generator settings, none of which are able to describe adequately all observables. The ratio $\bar{p}/p$ is also considered as a function of rapidity loss, $\Delta y \equiv y_{\rm beam} - y$, and is used to constrain models of baryon transport.
The charged particle production in proton-proton collisions is studied with the LHCb detector at a centre-of-mass energy of ${\sqrt{s} =7}$TeV in different intervals of pseudorapidity $\eta$. The charged particles are reconstructed close to the interaction region in the vertex detector, which provides high reconstruction efficiency in the $\eta$ ranges $-2.5<\eta<-2.0$ and $2.0<\eta<4.5$. The data were taken with a minimum bias trigger, only requiring one or more reconstructed tracks in the vertex detector. By selecting an event sample with at least one track with a transverse momentum greater than 1 GeV/c a hard QCD subsample is investigated. Several event generators are compared with the data; none are able to describe fully the multiplicity distributions or the charged particle density distribution as a function of $\eta$. In general, the models underestimate the charged particle production.
The production cross-sections of B mesons are measured in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, using data collected with the LHCb detector corresponding to a integrated luminosity of 0.36 fb-1. The B+, B0 and Bs0 mesons are reconstructed in the exclusive decays B+ -> J/psi K+, B0 -> J/psi K*0 and Bs0 -> J/psi phi, with J/psi -> mu+ mu-, K*0 -> K+ pi- and phi -> K+ K-. The differential cross-sections are measured as functions of B meson transverse momentum pT and rapidity y, in the range 0 < pT < 40 GeV/c and 2.0 < y < 4.5. The integrated cross-sections in the same pT and y ranges, including charge-conjugate states, are measured to be sigma(pp -> B+ + X) = 38.9 +- 0.3 (stat.) +- 2.5 (syst.) +- 1.3 (norm.) mub, sigma(pp -> B0 + X) = 38.1 +- 0.6 (stat.) +- 3.7 (syst.) +- 4.7 (norm.) mub, sigma(pp -> Bs0 + X) = 10.5 +- 0.2 (stat.) +- 0.8 (syst.) +- 1.0 (norm.) mub, where the third uncertainty arises from the pre-existing branching fraction measurements.
A precision measurement of the $Z$ boson production cross-section at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV in the forward region is presented, using $pp$ collision data collected by the LHCb detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.1 fb$^{-1}$. The production cross-section is measured using $Z\rightarrow\mu^+\mu^-$ events within the fiducial region defined as pseudorapidity $2.0<\eta<4.5$ and transverse momentum $p_{T}>20$ GeV/$c$ for both muons and dimuon invariant mass $60<M_{\mu\mu}<120$ GeV/$c^2$. The integrated cross-section is determined to be $\sigma (Z \rightarrow \mu^+ \mu^-)$ = 196.4 $\pm$ 0.2 $\pm$ 1.6 $\pm$ 3.9~pb, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is due to the luminosity determination. The measured results are in agreement with theoretical predictions within uncertainties.
The $\bar{\Lambda} / \Lambda$ and $\bar{\Lambda} / K^0_\mathrm{S}$ production ratios are measured by the LHCb detector from $0.3\,\mathrm{nb}^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions delivered by the LHC at $\sqrt{s} = 0.9$\,TeV and $1.8\,\mathrm{nb}^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s} = 7$\,TeV. Both ratios are presented as a function of transverse momentum, $p_\mathrm{T}$, and rapidity, $y$, in the ranges {$0.15 < p_\mathrm{T} < 2.50\,\mathrm{GeV}/c$} and {$2.0<y<4.5$}. Results at the two energies are in good agreement as a function of rapidity loss, $\Delta y = y_\mathrm{beam} - y$, and are consistent with previous measurements. The ratio $\bar{\Lambda} / \Lambda$, measuring the transport of baryon number from the collision into the detector, is smaller in data than predicted in simulation, particularly at high rapidity. The ratio $\bar{\Lambda} / K^0_\mathrm{S}$, measuring the baryon-to-meson suppression in strange quark hadronisation, is significantly larger than expected.