Abstract: The differential branching fraction with respect to the dimuon invariant mass squared, and the CP asymmetry of the B-+/- -> pi(+/-)mu(+/-)mu(-) decay are measured for the first time. The CKM matrix elements vertical bar V-td vertical bar, and vertical bar V-ts vertical bar, and the ratio vertical bar V-td/V-ts vertical bar are determined. The analysis is performed using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1), collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The total branching fraction and CP asymmetry of B-+/- -> pi(+/-)mu(+/-)mu(-) decays are measured to be B(B-+/- -> pi(+/-)mu(+/-)mu(-)) = (1.83 +/- 0.24 +/- 0.05) x 10(-8) and A(cp)(B-+/- -> pi(+/-)mu(+/-)mu(-)) = -0.11 +/- 0.12 +/- 0.01, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. These are the most precise measurements of these observables to date, and they are compatible with the predictions of the Standard Model.

Abstract: First observations of the rare decays B (+) -> K (+)pi (+) pi (-) μ(+) μ(-) and B (+)-> phi K+ mu(+)mu(-) are presented using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1), collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The branching fractions of the decays are B(B (+) -> K (+)pi (+) pi (-) μ(+) μ(-) ) = (4.36 (-0.27) (+0.29) (stat) +/- 0.21 (syst) +/- (norm)) x 10(-7), B(B (+)-> phi K+ mu(+)mu(-)) = (0.82 (+0.19)(-0.17) (stat) (+0.10)(-0.04) (syst) +/- 0.27 (norm)) x 10(-7) where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the uncertainty on the branching fractions of the normalisation modes. A measurement of the differential branching fraction in bins of the invariant mass squared of the dimuon system is also presented for the decay B (+) -> K (+)pi (+) pi (-) μ(+) μ(-)

Abstract: High pressure xenon Time Projection Chambers (TPC) based on secondary scintillation (electroluminescence) signal amplification are being proposed for rare event detection such as directional dark matter, double electron capture and double beta decay detection. The discrimination of the rare event through the topological signature of primary ionisation trails is a major asset for this type of TPC when compared to single liquid or double-phase TPCs, limited mainly by the high electron diffusion in pure xenon. Helium admixtures with xenon can be an attractive solution to reduce the electron diffu- sion significantly, improving the discrimination efficiency of these optical TPCs. We have measured the electroluminescence (EL) yield of Xe-He mixtures, in the range of 0 to 30% He and demonstrated the small impact on the EL yield of the addition of helium to pure xenon. For a typical reduced electric field of 2.5 kV/cm/bar in the EL region, the EL yield is lowered by similar to 2%, 3%, 6% and 10% for 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% of helium concentration, respectively. This decrease is less than what has been obtained from the most recent simulation framework in the literature. The impact of the addition of helium on EL statistical fluctuations is negligible, within the experimental uncertainties. The present results are an important benchmark for the simulation tools to be applied to future optical TPCs based on Xe-He mixtures.