Abstract: We report the observation of electroweak single top quark production in 3: 2 fb(-1) of p (p) over bar collision data collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab at root s = 1.96 TeV. Candidate events in the W + jets topology with a leptonically decaying W boson are classified as signal-like by four parallel analyses based on likelihood functions, matrix elements, neural networks, and boosted decision trees. These results are combined using a super discriminant analysis based on genetically evolved neural networks in order to improve the sensitivity. This combined result is further combined with that of a search for a single top quark signal in an orthogonal sample of events with missing transverse energy plus jets and no charged lepton. We observe a signal consistent with the standard model prediction but inconsistent with the background-only model by 5.0 standard deviations, with a median expected sensitivity in excess of 5.9 standard deviations. We measure a production cross section of 2.3-(+0.6)(0.5) (stat + sys) pb, extract the value of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element vertical bar V-tb vertical bar = 0.91(-0.11)(+0.11) (stat + sys) +/- 0.07 (theory), and set a lower limit vertical bar V-tb vertical bar > 0.71 at the 95% C. L., assuming m(t) = 175 GeV/c(2).

Abstract: The collection of a large number of B-hadron decays to hadronic final states at the CDF II Detector is possible due to the presence of a trigger that selects events based on track impact parameters. However, the nature of the selection requirements of the trigger introduces a large bias in the observed proper-decay-time distribution. A lifetime measurement must correct for this bias, and the conventional approach has been to use a Monte Carlo simulation. The leading sources of systematic uncertainty in the conventional approach are due to differences between the data and the Monte Carlo simulation. In this paper, we present an analytic method for bias correction without using simulation, thereby removing any uncertainty due to the differences between data and simulation. This method is presented in the form of a measurement of the lifetime of the B- using the mode B- -> D-0 pi(-). The B- lifetime is measured as tau(-)(B) = 1.663 +/- 0.023 +/- 0.015 ps, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This new method results in a smaller systematic uncertainty in comparison to methods that use simulation to correct for the trigger bias.

Abstract: We report a set of measurements of inclusive invariant p(T) differential cross sections of Lambda(0), (Lambda) over bar (0), Xi(+/-), and Omega(+/-) hyperons reconstructed in the central region with pseudorapidity vertical bar eta vertical bar < 1 and p(T) up to 10 GeV/c. Events are collected with a minimum-bias trigger in p<(p)over bar> collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV using the CDF II detector at the Tevatron Collider. As p(T) increases, the slopes of the differential cross sections of the three particles are similar, which could indicate a universality of the particle production in p(T). The invariant differential cross sections are also presented for different charged-particle multiplicity intervals.

Abstract: We present the result of a search for a massive color-octet vector particle, (e.g. a massive gluon) decaying to a pair of top quarks in proton-antiproton collisions with a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV. This search is based on 1.9 fb(-1) of data collected using the CDF detector during Run II of the Tevatron at Fermilab. We study t (t) over bar events in the lepton + jets channel with at least one b-tagged jet. A massive gluon is characterized by its mass, decay width, and the strength of its coupling to quarks. These parameters are determined according to the observed invariant mass distribution of top quark pairs. We set limits on the massive gluon coupling strength for masses between 400 and 800 GeV/c(2) and width-to-mass ratios between 0.05 and 0.50. The coupling strength of the hypothetical massive gluon to quarks is consistent with zero within the explored parameter space.