LHCb Collaboration(Aaij, R. et al), Martinez-Vidal, F., Oyanguren, A., Ruiz Valls, P., & Sanchez Mayordomo, C. (2014). Precision Measurement of the Mass and Lifetime of the Xi(-)(b) Baryon. Phys. Rev. Lett., 113(24), 242002–9pp.
Abstract: We report on measurements of the mass and lifetime of the Xi(-)(b) baryon using about 1800 Xi(-)(b) decays reconstructed in a proton-proton collision data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1) collected by the LHCb experiment. The decays are reconstructed in the Xi(-)(b) -> Xi(0)(c)pi(-), Xi(0)(c) -> pK(-)K(-)pi(+) channel and the mass and lifetime are measured using the Lambda(0)(b) -> Lambda(+)(c)pi(-) mode as a reference. We measure M(Xi(-)(b)) – M(Lambda(0)(b)) = 178.36 +/- 0.46 +/- 0.16 MeV/c(2), (tau Xi(-)(b)/tau Lambda(0)(b)) = 1.089 +/- 0.026 +/- 0.011, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. These results lead to a factor of 2 better precision on the Xi(-)(b) mass and lifetime compared to previous best measurements, and are consistent with theoretical expectations.
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LHCb Collaboration(Aaij, R. et al), Martinez-Vidal, F., Oyanguren, A., Ruiz Valls, P., & Sanchez Mayordomo, C. (2015). Evidence for the Strangeness-Changing Weak Decay Xi(-)(b) -> Lambda(0)(b)pi(-). Phys. Rev. Lett., 115(24), 241801–10pp.
Abstract: Using a pp collision data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1), collected by the LHCb detector, we present the first search for the strangeness-changing weak decay Xi(-)(b) -> Delta(0)(b)pi(-). No b hadron decay of this type has been seen before. A signal for this decay, corresponding to a significance of 3.2 standard deviations, is reported. The relative rate is measured to be f Xi(-)(b)/f Lambda B-0(b)(Xi(-)(b) -> Lambda(0)(b)pi(-)) = (5.7 +/- 1.8(-0.9)(+0.8)) x 10(-4) where f Xi(-)(b) and f Lambda(0)(b) are the b -> Xi(-)(b) and b -> Lambda(0)(b) fragmentation fractions, and B(Xi(-)(b) -> Lambda(0)(b)pi(-)) is the branching fraction. Assuming f Xi(-)(b)/f Lambda(0)(b) is bounded between 0.1 and 0.3, the branching fraction B(Xi(-)(b) -> Lambda(0)(b)pi(-)) would lie in the range from (0.57 +/- 0.21)% to (0.19 +/- 0.07)%.
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LHCb Collaboration(Aaij, R. et al), Martinez-Vidal, F., Oyanguren, A., Ruiz Valls, P., & Sanchez Mayordomo, C. (2016). Search for violations of Lorentz invariance and CPT symmetry in B-(s)(0) mixing. Phys. Rev. Lett., 116(24), 241601–10pp.
Abstract: Violations of CPT symmetry and Lorentz invariance are searched for by studying interference effects in B-0 mixing and in B-s(0) mixing. Samples of B-0 -> J/psi K-S(0) and B-0(s) -> J/psi K+K- decays are recorded by the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1). No periodic variations of the particle-antiparticle mass differences are found, consistent with Lorentz invariance and CPT symmetry. Results are expressed in terms of the standard model extension parameter Delta a(mu) with precisions of O(10(-15)) and O(10(-14)) GeV for the B-0 and B-s(0) systems, respectively. With no assumption on Lorentz (non) invariance, the CPT-violating parameter z in the B-s(0) system is measured for the first time and found to be Re(z) = -0.022 +/- 0.033 +/- 0.005 and Im(z) = 0.004 +/- 0.011 +/- 0.002, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic.
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LHCb Collaboration(Aaij, R. et al), Martinez-Vidal, F., Oyanguren, A., Ruiz Valls, P., & Sanchez Mayordomo, C. (2016). First Observation of D-0 – (D)over-bar(0) Oscillations in D-0 -> K+pi(-)pi(+)pi(-) Decays and Measurement of the Associated Coherence Parameters. Phys. Rev. Lett., 116(24), 241801–10pp.
Abstract: Charm meson oscillations are observed in a time-dependent analysis of the ratio of D-0 -> K+pi(-)pi(+)pi(-) to D-0 -> K-pi(+)pi(-)pi(+) decay rates, using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1) recorded by the LHCb experiment. The measurements presented are sensitive to the phase-space averaged ratio of doubly Cabibbo-suppressed to Cabibbo-favored amplitudes r(D)(K3 pi) and the product of the coherence factor R-D(K3 pi) and a charm mixing parameter y'(K3 pi). The constraints measured are r(D)(K3 pi) = (5.67 +/- 0.12) x 10(-2), which is the most precise determination to date, and R-D(K3 pi) y'(K3 pi) = (0.3 +/- 1.8) x 10(-3), which provides useful input for determinations of the CP-violating phase gamma in B-+/- -> DK +/-, D -> K--/+pi(+/-)pi(-/+)pi(+/-) decays. The analysis also gives the most precise measurement of the D-0 -> K+pi(-)pi(+)pi(-) branching fraction, and the first observation of D-0-(D) over bar (0) oscillations in this decay mode, with a significance of 8.2 standard deviations.
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Liddick, S. N., Spyrou, A., Crider, B. P., Naqvi, F., Larsen, A. C., Guttormsen, M., et al. (2016). Experimental Neutron Capture Rate Constraint Far from Stability. Phys. Rev. Lett., 116(24), 242502–6pp.
Abstract: Nuclear reactions where an exotic nucleus captures a neutron are critical for a wide variety of applications, from energy production and national security, to astrophysical processes, and nucleosynthesis. Neutron capture rates are well constrained near stable isotopes where experimental data are available; however, moving far from the valley of stability, uncertainties grow by orders of magnitude. This is due to the complete lack of experimental constraints, as the direct measurement of a neutron-capture reaction on a short-lived nucleus is extremely challenging. Here, we report on the first experimental extraction of a neutron capture reaction rate on Ni-69, a nucleus that is five neutrons away from the last stable isotope of Ni. The implications of this measurement on nucleosynthesis around mass 70 are discussed, and the impact of similar future measurements on the understanding of the origin of the heavy elements in the cosmos is presented.
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