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 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 study is presented of central exclusive production of $\Upsilon(nS)$ states, where the $\Upsilon(nS)$ resonances decay to the $\mu^+\mu^-$ final state, using $pp$ collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment. The cross-section is measured in the rapidity range $2<y(\Upsilon)<4.5$ where the muons are reconstructed in the pseudorapidity range $2<\eta(\mu^\pm)<4.5$. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 2.9 fb$^{-1}$ and was collected at centre-of-mass energies of $7$ TeV and $8$ TeV. The measured $\Upsilon(1S)$ and $\Upsilon(2S)$ production cross-sections are \begin{eqnarray} \sigma(pp \to p\Upsilon(1S)p) &=& 9.0 \pm 2.1 \pm 1.7\textrm{ pb and}\nonumber\\ \sigma(pp \to p\Upsilon(2S)p) &=& 1.3 \pm 0.8 \pm 0.3\textrm{ pb},\nonumber \end{eqnarray} where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. The $\Upsilon(1S)$ cross-section is also measured as a function of rapidity and is found to be in good agreement with Standard Model predictions. An upper limit is set at 3.4 pb at the 95\% confidence level for the exclusive $\Upsilon(3S)$ production cross-section, including possible contamination from $\chi_b(3P)\to\Upsilon(3S)\gamma$ decays.
Production cross-section for the $\Upsilon(1S)$ resonance in ranges of $\Upsilon(1S)$ rapidity, where the muons are required to lie in the pseudorapidity range $2 < \eta(\mu^{\pm}) < 4.5$. The first uncertainties are statistical and the second ones are systematic.
Differential production cross-section for $\Upsilon(1S)$, where the data have been corrected for the effect of the LHCb geometrical acceptance. The statistical and systematic uncertainties are combined in quadrature.
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.
The associated production of a $W$ boson with a jet originating from either a light parton or heavy-flavor quark is studied in the forward region using proton-proton collisions. The analysis uses data corresponding to integrated luminosities of 1.0 and $2.0\,{\rm fb}^{-1}$ collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, respectively. The $W$ bosons are reconstructed using the $W\to\mu\nu$ decay and muons with a transverse momentum, $p_{\rm T}$, larger than 20 GeV in the pseudorapidity range $2.0<\eta<4.5$. The partons are reconstructed as jets with $p_{\rm T} > 20$ GeV and $2.2 < \eta < 4.2$. The sum of the muon and jet momenta must satisfy $p_{\rm T} > 20$ GeV. The fraction of $W+$jet events that originate from beauty and charm quarks is measured, along with the charge asymmetries of the $W\!+\!b$ and $W\!+\!c$ production cross-sections. The ratio of the $W+$jet to $Z+$jet production cross-sections is also measured using the $Z\to\mu\mu$ decay. All results are in agreement with Standard Model predictions.
Summary of the results. All results are reported within a fiducial region that requires a jet with $p_\rm{T} > 20$ GeV in the pseudorapidity range $2.2 < \eta < 4.2$, a muon with $p_\rm{T} > 20$ GeV in the pseudorapidity range $2.0 < \eta < 4.5$, $p_\rm{T}(\mu+j) > 20$ GeV, and $\Delta R(\mu, j) > 0.5$. For $Z+$jet events both muons must fulfill the muon requirements and $60 < M(\mu\mu) < 120$ GeV; the $Z+$jet fiducial region does not require $p_\rm{T}(\mu+j) > 20$ GeV.
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.
The production of the $\eta_c (1S)$ state in proton-proton collisions is probed via its decay to the $p \bar{p}$ final state with the LHCb detector, in the rapidity range $2.0 < y < 4.5$ and in the meson transverse-momentum range $p_T > 6.5$ GeV/c. The cross-section for prompt production of $\eta_c (1S)$ mesons relative to the prompt $J/\psi$ cross-section is measured, for the first time, to be $\sigma_{\eta_c (1S)}/\sigma_{J/\psi} = 1.74 \pm 0.29 \pm 0.28 \pm 0.18 _{B}$ at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.7 fb$^{-1}$, and $\sigma_{\eta_c (1S)}/\sigma_{J/\psi} = 1.60 \pm 0.29 \pm 0.25 \pm 0.17 _{B}$ at $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV using 2.0 fb$^{-1}$. The uncertainties quoted are, in order, statistical, systematic, and that on the ratio of branching fractions of the $\eta_c (1S)$ and $J/\psi$ decays to the $p \bar{p}$ final state. In addition, the inclusive branching fraction of $b$-hadron decays into $\eta_c (1S)$ mesons is measured, for the first time, to be $B ( b \rightarrow \eta_c X ) = (4.88 \pm 0.64 \pm 0.29 \pm 0.67 _{B}) \times 10^{-3}$, where the third uncertainty includes also the uncertainty on the $J/\psi$ inclusive branching fraction from $b$-hadron decays. The difference between the $J/\psi$ and $\eta_c (1S)$ meson masses is determined to be $114.7 \pm 1.5 \pm 0.1$ MeV/c$^2$.
Differential cross-section for $\eta_c(1S)$ prompt production for $p_T > 6.5$ [GeV/$c$] and $2.0 < y < 4.5$. The reported uncertainties are total errors.
Differential cross-section for $\eta_c(1S)$ prompt production for $p_T > 6.5$ [GeV/$c$] and $2.0 < y < 4.5$. The reported uncertainties are total errors.
Differential cross-section for $\eta_c(1S)$ from inclusive charmonium production in b-hadrons decays for $p_T > 6.5$ [GeV/$c$] and $2.0 < y < 4.5$. The reported uncertainties are total errors.
The production of $\chi_b$ mesons in proton-proton collisions is studied using a data sample collected by the LHCb detector, at centre-of-mass energies of $\sqrt{s}=7$ and $8$ TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb$^{-1}$. The $\chi_b$ mesons are identified through their decays to $\Upsilon(1S)\gamma$ and $\Upsilon(2S)\gamma$ using photons that converted to $e^+e^-$ pairs in the detector. The relative prompt production rate of $\chi_{b1}(1P)$ and $\chi_{b2}(1P)$ mesons is measured as a function of the $\Upsilon(1S)$ transverse momentum in the $\chi_b$ rapidity range $2.0<y<4.5$. A precise measurement of the $\chi_b(3P)$ mass is also performed. Assuming a mass splitting between the $\chi_{b1}(3P)$ and the $\chi_{b2}(3P)$ states of 10.5 MeV/$c^2$, the measured mass of the $\chi_{b1}(3P)$ meson is $ m(\chi_{b1}(3P))= 10515.7^{+2.2}_{-3.9}(stat) ^{+1.5}_{-2.1}(syst) MeV/c^2.$
Relative production cross section of $\chi_{b2}(1P)$ to $\chi_{b1}(1P)$ mesons in $p_T$ bins of $\Upsilon(1S)$ meson. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic and the third is due to the uncertainty on the branching fractions.
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