Abstract: The production of B +/- mesons is studied in pp collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 13 TeV, using B-+/- -> J/psi K-+/- decays and data samples corresponding to 1.0 fb(-1) and 0.3 fb(-1), respectively. The production cross-sections summed over both charges and integrated over the transverse momentum range 0 < pT < 40 GeV/c and the rapidity range 2.0 < y < 4.5 are measured to be sigma-(pp -> B-+/- X, root s = 7 TeV) = 43.0 +/- 0.2 +/- 2.5 +/- 1.7 μb, sigma(pp -> B-+/- X, root s = 13 TeV) = 86.6 +/- 0.5 +/- 5.4 +/- 3.4 μb, where the first uncertainties are statistical, the second are systematic, and the third are due to the limited knowledge of the B-+/- -> J/psi K-+/- branching fraction. The ratio of the cross-section at 13 TeV to that at 7 TeV is determined to be 2.02 +/- 0.02 (stat) +/- 0.12 (syst). Differential cross-sections are also reported as functions of pi, and y. All results are in agreement with theoretical calculations based on the state-of-art fixed next-to-leading order quantum chromodynamics.

Abstract: A search for the rare decays B-s(0)->mu(+)mu(-) and B-0 -> mu(+)mu(-) is performed at the LHCb experiment using data collected in pp collisions corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 4.4 fb(-1). An excess of B-s(0) -> mu(+)mu- decays is observed with a significance of 7.8 standard deviations, representing the first observation of this decay in a single experiment. The branching fraction is measured to be B(B-s(0) -> mu(+)mu(-)) = (3.0 +/- 0.6(-0.2)(+)(0.3)) x 10(-9), where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The first measurement of the B-s(0) -> mu(+)mu(-) effective lifetime, tau(B-s(0)-> mu(+) mu(-)) = 2.04 +/- 0.44 +/- 0.05 ps, is reported. No significant excess of B-0 -> mu(+)mu(-) decays is found, and a 95% confidence level upper limit, B(B-0 -> mu(+)mu(-) ) < 3.4 x 10(-10), is determined. All results are in agreement with the standard model expectations.

Abstract: A branching fraction measurement of the B0 -> Ds+</mml:msubsup>pi- decay is presented using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.0<mml:mspace width=“0.166667em”></mml:mspace>fb-1. The branching fraction is found to be B(B0 -> Ds+</mml:msubsup>pi-)=(19.4 +/- 1.8 +/- 1.3 +/- 1.2)x10-6, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third is due to the uncertainty on the B0 -> D-pi+, Ds+</mml:msubsup>-> K+K-pi+ and D--> K+pi-pi- branching fractions. This is the most precise single measurement of this quantity to date. As this decay proceeds through a single amplitude involving a b -> u charged-current transition, the result provides information on non-factorisable strong interaction effects and the magnitude of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element <mml:msub>Vub. Additionally, the collision energy dependence of the hadronisation-fraction ratio <mml:msub>fs/<mml:msub>fd is measured through B<overbar></mml:mover>s0 -> Ds+pi- and B0 -> D-pi <mml:mo>+ decays.