Abstract: The investigation of beam halo transverse distributions is important for the understanding of beam losses and the control of backgrounds in Future Linear Colliders (FLC). A novel in vacuum diamond sensor (DSv) scanner with four strips has been designed and developed for the investigation of the beam halo transverse distributions and also for the diagnostics of Compton recoil electrons after the interaction point (IP) of ATF2, a low energy (1.3 GeV) prototype of the final focus system for the ILC and CLIC linear collider projects. Using the DSv, a dynamic range of similar to 10(6) has been successfully demonstrated and confirmed for the first time in simultaneous beam core (similar to 10(6) electrons) and beam halo (similar to 10(3) electrons) measurements at ATF2. This report presents the characterization, performance studies and tests of diamond sensors using an a source, as well as using the electron beams at PHIL, a low energy (<5 MeV) photo-injector at LAL, and at ATF2. First beam halo measurement results using the DSv at ATF2 with different beam intensities and vacuum levels are also presented. Such measurements not only allow one to evaluate the different sources of beam halo generation but also to define the requirements for a suitable collimation system to be installed at ATF2, as well as to optimize its performance during future operation.

Abstract: Radiative (B) over bar (0)((B) over bar (0)(s)) -> J/psi gamma decays provide an interesting case to test our understanding of ( non) perturbative QCD and eventually to probe physics beyond the standard model. Recently, the LHCb Collaboration reported an upper bound, updating the results of the BABAR Collaboration. Previous theoretical predictions based on QCD factorization or perturbative QCD have shown large variations due to different treatment of nonfactorizable contributions and meson-photon transitions. In this paper, we report on a novel approach to estimate the decay rates, which is based on a recently proposed model for B decays and the vector meson dominance hypothesis, widely tested in the relevant energy regions. The predicted branching ratios are Br[(B) over bar (0) -> J/psi gamma] = (3.50 +/- 0.34(-0.63)(+1.12)) x 10(-8) and Br[(B) over bar (0)(s) -> J/psi gamma] = (7.20 +/- 0.68(-1.30)(+2.31)) x 10(-7). The first uncertainty is systematic and the second is statistical, originating from the experimental (B) over bar (0)(s) -> J/psi gamma branching ratio.

Abstract: A search is performed for D-sJ(()*()+) mesons in the reactions pp -> D*(+KSX)-X-0 and pp -> D*(K+X)-K-0 using data collected at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV with the LHCb detector. For the D*K-+(S)0 final state, the decays D*(+) -> D-0 pi(+) with D-0 -> K-pi(+) and D-0 -> K-pi(+)pi(+)pi(-) are used. For D*K-0(+), the decay D*(0) -> D-0 pi(0) with D-0 -> K-pi(+) is used. A prominent D-s1(2536)(+) signal is observed in both D*K-+(S)0 and D*K-0(+) final states. The resonances D*(s1)(2700)(+) and D*(s3)(2860)(+) are also observed, yielding information on their properties, including spin-parity assignments. The decay D*(s2)(2573)(+) -> D*(+) K-S(0) is observed for the first time, at a significance of 6.9 sigma, and its branching fraction relative to the D*(s2)(2573)(+) -> (D+KS0) decay mode is measured.