The production of a $Z$ boson in association with a $J/\psi$ meson in proton-proton collisions probes the production mechanisms of quarkonium and heavy flavour in association with vector bosons, and allows studies of multiple parton scattering. Using $20.3\, \mathrm{fb^{-1}}$ of data collected with the ATLAS experiment at the LHC in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=8\, \mathrm{TeV}$, the first measurement of associated $Z + J/\psi$ production is presented for both prompt and non-prompt $J/\psi$ production, with both signatures having a significance in excess of $5\sigma$. The inclusive production cross-sections for $Z$ boson production (analysed in $\mu^+\mu^-$ or $e^+e^-$ decay modes) in association with prompt and non-prompt $J/\psi(\to\mu^+\mu^-)$ are measured relative to the inclusive production rate of $Z$ bosons in the same fiducial volume to be $(36.8\pm 6.7\pm 2.5) \times 10^{-7}$ and $(65.8\pm 9.2\pm 4.2) \times 10^{-7}$ respectively. Normalised differential production cross-section ratios are also determined as a function of the $J/\psi$ transverse momentum. The fraction of signal events arising from single and double parton scattering is estimated, and a lower limit of $5.3\ (3.7)\, \mathrm{mb}$ at $68\ (95)$% confidence level is placed on the effective cross-section regulating double parton interactions.
The ratio of the production cross sections times branching fractions (sigma(Bc+) B(Bc+ to J/psi pi+))/ (sigma(B+) B(B+ to J/psi K+)) is studied in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC. The kinematic region investigated requires Bc+/- and B+/- mesons with transverse momentum pt > 15 GeV and rapidity abs(y) < 1.6. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.1 inverse femtobarns. The ratio is determined to be [0.48 +/- 0.05 (stat) +/- 0.03 (syst) +/- 0.05 (tau_{Bc})]% The J/psi pi+/- pi+/- pi-/+ decay mode is also observed in the same data sample. Using a model-independent method developed to measure the efficiency given the presence of resonant behaviour in the three-pion system, the ratio of the branching fractions B(Bc+/- to J/psi pi+/- pi+/- pi-/+) / B(Bc+/- to J/psi pi+/-) is measured to be 2.55 +/- 0.80 (stat) +/- 0.33 (syst) +0.04/-0.01 (tau[Bc+]), consistent with the previous LHCb result.
The production of a Z boson, decaying into two leptons and produced in association with one or more b jets, is studied using proton-proton collisions delivered by the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. The data were recorded in 2011 with the CMS detector and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 5 inverse femtobarns. The Z(ll) + b-jets cross sections (where ll = mu mu or ee) are measured separately for a Z boson produced with exactly one b jet and with at least two b jets. In addition, a cross section ratio is extracted for a Z boson produced with at least one b jet, relative to a Z boson produced with at least one jet. The measured cross sections are compared to various theoretical predictions, and the data favour the predictions in the five-flavour scheme, where b quarks are assumed massless. The kinematic properties of the reconstructed particles are compared with the predictions from the MADGRAPH event generator using the PYTHIA parton shower simulation.
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