Abstract: Long-lived particles (LLPs) show up in many extensions of the Standard Model, but they are challenging to search for with current detectors, due to their very displaced vertices. This study evaluated the ability of the trigger algorithms used in the Large Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb) experiment to detect long-lived particles and attempted to adapt them to enhance the sensitivity of this experiment to undiscovered long-lived particles. A model with a Higgs portal to a dark sector is tested, and the sensitivity reach is discussed. In the LHCb tracking system, the farthest tracking station from the collision point is the scintillating fiber tracker, the SciFi detector. One of the challenges in the track reconstruction is to deal with the large amount of and combinatorics of hits in the LHCb detector. A dedicated algorithm has been developed to cope with the large data output. When fully implemented, this algorithm would greatly increase the available statistics for any long-lived particle search in the forward region and would additionally improve the sensitivity of analyses dealing with Standard Model particles of large lifetime, such as KS0 or Lambda (0) hadrons.

Abstract: The first observation of two structures consistent with resonances in the final states Lambda(0)(b)pi(-) and Lambda(0)(b)pi(+) thorn is reported using samples of pp collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at root s = 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1). The ground states Sigma(+/-)(b) and Sigma(*+/-)(b) are also confirmed and their masses and widths are precisely measured.

Abstract: A search for the rare leptonic decay B +. μ+ μ- μ+.mu is performed using proton- proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.7 fb – 1 collected by the LHCb experiment. The search is carried out in the region where the lowest of the two μ+ μ- mass combinations is below 980 MeV/ c2. The data are consistent with the background- only hypothesis and an upper limit of 1.6x10 – 8 at 95% confidence level is set on the branching fraction in the stated kinematic region.

Abstract: An angular analysis of B degrees -> J/psi K+pi(-) decays is performed, using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1) collected with the LHCb detector. The m(K+pi(-) ) spectrum is divided into fine bins. In each m(K+pi(-)) bin, the hypothesis that the three-dimensional angular distribution can be described by structures induced only by K* resonances is examined, making minimal assumptions about the K+pi(-) system. The data reject the K*-only hypothesis with a large significance, implying the observation of exotic contributions in a model-independent fashion. Inspection of the m(J/psi pi(-)) vs m(K+pi(-)) plane suggests structures near m(J/psi pi(-)) = 4200 and 4600 MeV.

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.