Abstract: The standard model of particle physics describes the fundamental particles and their interactions via the strong, electromagnetic and weak forces. It provides precise predictions for measurable quantities that can be tested experimentally. The probabilities, or branching fractions, of the strange B meson (B-s(0)) and the B-0 meson decaying into two oppositely charged muons (mu(+) and mu(-)) are especially interesting because of their sensitivity to theories that extend the standard model. The standard model predicts that the B-s(0)->mu(+)mu(-) and B-0 ->mu(+)mu(-) decays are very rare, with about four of the former occurring for every billion B-s(0) mesons produced, and one of the latter occurring for every ten billion B-0 mesons(1). A difference in the observed branching fractions with respect to the predictions of the standard model would provide a direction in which the standard model should be extended. Before the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN2 started operating, no evidence for either decay mode had been found. Upper limits on the branching fractions were an order of magnitude above the standard model predictions. The CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid) and LHCb(Large Hadron Collider beauty) collaborations have performed a joint analysis of the data from proton-proton collisions that they collected in 2011 at a centre-of-mass energy of seven teraelectronvolts and in 2012 at eight teraelectronvolts. Here we report the first observation of the B-s(0)->mu(+)mu(-) decay, with a statistical significance exceeding six standard deviations, and the best measurement so far of its branching fraction. Furthermore, we obtained evidence for the B-0 ->mu(+)mu(-) decay with a statistical significance of three standard deviations. Both measurements are statistically compatible with standard model predictions and allow stringent constraints to be placed on theories beyond the standard model. The LHC experiments will resume taking data in 2015, recording proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 teraelectronvolts, which will approximately double the production rates of B-s(0) and B-0 mesons and lead to further improvements in the precision of these crucial tests of the standard model.

Abstract: The single electron track-reconstruction efficiency is calibrated using a sample corresponding to 1.3 fb(-1) of pp collision data recorded with the LHCb detector in 2017. This measurement exploits B+ -> J/psi (e(+)e(-))K+ decays, where one of the electrons is fully reconstructed and paired with the kaon, while the other electron is reconstructed using only the information of the vertex detector. Despite this partial reconstruction, kinematic and geometric constraints allow the B meson mass to be reconstructed and the signal to be well separated from backgrounds. This in turn allows the electron reconstruction efficiency to be measured by matching the partial track segment found in the vertex detector to tracks found by LHCb's regular reconstruction algorithms. The agreement between data and simulation is evaluated, and corrections are derived for simulated electrons in bins of kinematics. These correction factors allow LHCb to measure branching fractions involving single electrons with a systematic uncertainty below 1%.

Abstract: The semileptonic CP asymmetry in B-0-(B) over bar (0) mixing, a(s1)(d), is measured in proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1), recorded by the LHCb experiment. Semileptonic B-0 decays are reconstructed in the inclusive final states D-mu(+) and D*(-)mu(+), where the D- meson decays into the K+pi(-)pi(-) final state and the D*(-) meson into the (D) over bar (0)(-> K+pi(-))pi(-) final state. The asymmetry between the numbers of D-(*()-)mu(+) and D-(*()+)mu(-) decays is measured as a function of the decay time of the B-0 mesons. The CP asymmetry is measured to be a(s1)(d) = (-0.02 +/- 0.19 +/- 0.30)%, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This is the most precise measurement of a(s1)(d) to date and is consistent with the prediction from the standard model.

Abstract: The resonant substructures of B-0 --> (D) over bar (0)pi(+)pi(-) decays are studied with the Dalitz plot technique. In this study a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1) of pp collisions collected by the LHCb detector is used. The branching fraction of the B-0 --> (D) over bar (0)pi(+)pi(-) decay in the region m((D) over bar (0)pi(+/-)) > 2.1 GeV/c(2) is measured to be (8.46 +/- 0.14 +/- 0.29 +/- 0.40) x 10(-4), where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic and the last arises from the normalization channel B-0 --> D*(2010)(-)pi(+). The pi(+)pi(-) S-wave components are modeled with the isobar and K-matrix formalisms. Results of the Dalitz plot analyses using both models are presented. A resonant structure at m((D) over bar (0)pi(-)) approximate to 2.8 GeV/c(2) is confirmed and its spin-parity is determined for the first time as J(P) = 3(-). The branching fraction, mass and width of this structure are determined together with those of the D-0*(2400)(-) and D-2*(2460)(-) resonances. The branching fractions of other B-0 --> (D) over bar (0)h(0) decay components with h(0) --> pi(+)pi(-) also reported. Many of these branching fraction measurements are the most precise to date. The first observation of the decays B0 --> (D) over bar (0)f(0)(500), B-0 --> (D) over bar (0)f(0)(980), B-0 --> (D) over bar (0)rho(1450), B-0 --> D-3(*)(2760)(-)pi(+) and the first evidence of B-0 --> (D) over bar (0)f(0)(2020) are presented.

Abstract: The resonant substructure of B-s(0) -> (D) over bar K-0(-)pi(+) decays is studied using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1) of pp collision data recorded by the LHCb detector. An excess at m((D) over bar K-0(-)) approximate to 2.86 GeV/c(2) is found to be an admixture of spin-1 and spin-3 resonances. Therefore, the D-sJ*(2860)(-) state previously observed in inclusive e(+)e(-) -> (D) over bar (K-X)-K-0 and pp -> (D) over bar (K-X)-K-0 processes consists of at least two particles. This is the first observation of a heavy flavored spin-3 resonance, and the first time that any spin-3 particle has been seen to be produced in B decays. The masses and widths of the new states and of the D-s2*(2573)(-) meson are measured, giving the most precise determinations to date.