Abstract: Using pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 8.5 fb(-1) recorded by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of root s = 7, 8, and 13 TeV, the observation of an excited B-c(+) state in the B-c(+)pi(+)pi(-) invariant-mass spectrum is reported. The observed peak has a mass of 6841.2 +/- 0.6(stat) +/- 0.1(syst) +/- 0.8(B-c(+)) MeV/c(2), where the last uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the B-c(+) mass. It is consistent with expectations of the B-c*(2(3)S(1))(+) state reconstructed without the low-energy photon from the B-c*(1(3)S(1))(+) -> B-c(+)gamma decay following B-c*(2(3)S(1))(+) -> B-c*(1(3)S(1))(+)pi(+)pi(-). A second state is seen with a global (local) statistical significance of 2.2 sigma (3.2 sigma) and a mass of 6872.1 +/- 1.3(stat) +/- 0.1(syst) +/- 0.8(B-c(+)) MeV/c(2), and is consistent with the B-c(2(1)S(0))(+) state. These mass measurements are the most precise to date.

Abstract: The first measurement of the production rate of Xi(-)(b) baryons in pp collisions relative to that of Lambda(0 )(b)baryons is reported, using data samples collected by the LHCb experiment, and corresponding to integrated luminosities of 1, 2 and 1.6 fb(-1) at root s = 7, 8 and 13 TeV, respectively. In the kinematic region 2 < eta < 6 and p(T) < 20 GeV/c, we measure f(Xi b-)/f(Lambda b0) B(Xi(-)(b)-> J/psi Xi(-))/B(Lambda(0)(b)-> J/psi Lambda)= (10.8 +/- 0.9 +/- 0.8) x 10(-2) [root s = 7,8 TeV], f(Xi b-)/f(Lambda b0) B(Xi(-)(b)-> J/psi Xi(-))/B(Lambda(0)(b)-> J/psi Lambda) =(13.1 +/- 1.1 +/- 1.0) x 10(-2) [root s = 13 TeV], where and f(Xi b-) and f(Lambda)(b0) the fragmentation fractions of b quarks into Xi(-)(b) and Lambda(0)(b) baryons, respectively; B represents branching fractions; and the uncertainties are due to statistical and experimental systematic sources. The values of f(Xi b-)/f(Lambda b0) are obtained by invoking SU(3) symmetry in the Xi(-)(b)-> J/psi Xi(-) and Lambda(0)(b)-> J/psi Lambda decays. Production asymmetries between Xi(-)(b) and (Xi) over bar (+)(b) baryons are also reported. The mass of the Xi(-)(b) baryon is also measured relative to that of the Lambda(0)(b) baryon, from which it is found that m(Xi(-)(b)) = 5796.70 +/- 0.39 +/- 0.15 +/- 0.17 MeV/c(2), where the last uncertainty is due to the precision on the known Lambda(0)(b) mass. This result represents the most precise determination of the Xi(-)(b) mass.

Abstract: Results are reported from a search for the rare decays B-s(0) -> tau(+/-)mu(+/-) 1T and B -> tau(+/-)mu(+/-), where the r lepton is reconstructed in the channel r- irrg vr. These processes are effectively forbidden in the standard model, hut they can potentially occur at detectable rates in models of new physics that can induce lepton flavor-violating decays. The search is based on a data sample corresponding to 3 fb-1 of proton -proton collisions recorded by the LHCb experiment in 2011 and 2012. The event yields observed in the signal regions for both processes are consistent with the expected standard model backgrounds. Because of the limited mass resolution arising from the undetected r neutrino, the 1.3 and B signal regions are highly overlapping. Assuming no contribution from B r1, r, the upper limit 8(B r 71) < 4.2 x 10-5 is obtained at 95% confidence level. If no contribution from tau(+/-)mu(+/-) is assumed, a limit of B(B r prn < 1.4 x 10-5 is obtained at 95% confidence level. These results represent the first limit on B(B? r5+) and the most stringent limit on B(B tau(+/-)mu(+/-).)

Abstract: Decays of B-s(0) and (B) over bar (0)(s) mesons into J/psi pi(+)pi(-) final states are studied in a data sample corresponding to 1.9 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected with the LHCb detector in 13 TeV pp collisions. A time-dependent amplitude analysis is used to determine the final-state resonance contributions, the CP-violating phase phi(s) = -0.057 +/- 0.060 +/- 0.011 rad, the decay-width difference between the heavier mass B-s(0) eigenstate and the B-0 meson of -0.050 +/- 0.004 +/- 0.004 ps(-1), and the CP-violating parameter vertical bar lambda vertical bar = 1.01(-0.06)(+0.08) +/- 0.03, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. These results are combined with previous LHCb measurements in the same decay channel using 7 TeV and 8 TeV pp collisions obtaining phi(s) = 0.002 +/- 0.044 +/- 0.012 rad, and vertical bar lambda vertical bar = 0.949 +/- 0.036 +/- 0.019.

Abstract: We disprove the widespread belief that higher order curvature theories of gravity in the metric-affine formalism are generally ghost-free. This is clarified by considering a sub-class of theories constructed only with the Ricci tensor and showing that the non-projectively invariant sector propagates ghost-like degrees of freedom. We also explain how these pathologies can be avoided either by imposing a projective symmetry or additional constraints in the gravity sector. Our results put forward that higher order curvature gravity theories generally remain pathological in the metric-affine (and hybrid) formalisms and highlight the key importance of the projective symmetry and/or additional constraints for their physical viability and, by extension, of general metric-affine theories.