Abstract: Measurements of CP asymmetry in charmless B -> PV decays are presented, where P and V denote a pseudoscalar and a vector meson, respectively. Five different B -> PV decays from four final states, B-+/- -> pi(+/-)pi(+) pi(-), B-+/- -> K-+/-pi(+) pi(-), B-+/-->(KK+K-)-K-+/- and B-+/- -> pi(K+K-)-K-+/- are analyzed. The measurements are based on a method that does not require full amplitude analyses, and are performed using proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by LHCb between 2015 and 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.9 fb(-1). In the pi(+) pi(-) P-wave, in the region dominated by the B-+/- -> rho(770)K-0(+/-) decay, a CP asymmetry of A(CP) = +0.150 +/- 0.019 +/- 0.011 is measured, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. This is the first observation of CP violation in this process. For the other four decay channels, in regions dominated by the B-+/- -> rho(770)(0)pi(+/-), B-+/- -> K(-)*(892)(0) pi(+/-), B-+/- -> K(-)* (892)K-+/- and B-+/- -> (sic)(1020) K-+/- decays, CP asymmetries in the P-wave compatible with zero are measured.

Abstract: The branching fraction B(B0→D*−τ+ντ) is measured relative to that of the normalization mode B0→D*−π+π−π+ using hadronic τ+→π+π−π+(π0)¯ντ decays in proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2  fb−1. The measured ratio is B(B0→D*−τ+ντ)/B(B0→D*−π+π−π+)=1.70±0.10+0.11−0.10, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is related to systematic effects. Using established branching fractions for the B0→D*−π+π−π+ and B0→D*−μ+νμ modes, the lepton universality test R(D*−)≡B(B0→D*−τ+ντ)/B(B0→D*−μ+νμ) is calculated, R(D*−)=0.247±0.015±0.015±0.012, where the third uncertainty is due to the uncertainties on the external branching fractions. This result is consistent with the Standard Model prediction and with previous measurements.

Abstract: The B+→D+sD−sK+ decay is observed for the first time using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb−1. Its branching fraction relative to that of the B+→D+D−K+ decay is measured to be B(B+→D+sD−sK+)B(B+→D+D−K+)=0.525±0.033±0.027±0.034, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third is due to the uncertainties on the branching fractions of the D±s→K∓K±π± and D±→K∓π±π± decays. This measurement fills an experimental gap in the knowledge of the family of Cabibbo-favored ¯b→¯cc¯s transitions and opens the path for unique studies of spectroscopy in future.

Abstract: We show that binary black hole mergers with precessing evolution can potentially excite photons from the quantum vacuum in such a way that total helicity is not preserved in the process. Helicity violation is allowed by quantum fluctuations that spoil the electric-magnetic duality symmetry of the classical Maxwell theory without charges. We show here that precessing binary black hole systems in astrophysics generate a flux of circularly polarized gravitational waves which, in turn, provides the required helical background that triggers this quantum effect. Solving the fully nonlinear Einstein’s equations with numerical relativity we explore the parameter space of binary systems and extract the detailed dependence of the quantum effect with the spins of the two black holes. We also introduce a set of diagrammatic techniques that allows us to predict when a binary black hole merger can or cannot emit circularly polarized gravitational radiation, based on mirror-symmetry considerations. This framework allows to understand and to interpret correctly the numerical results, and to predict the outcomes in potentially interesting astrophysical systems.

Abstract: The study of J/ψ photoproduction at low energies has consequences for the understanding of multiple aspects of nonperturbative QCD, ranging from mechanical properties of the proton to the binding inside nuclei and the existence of hidden-charm pentaquarks. Factorization of the photon-c¯c and nucleon dynamics or vector meson dominance are often invoked to justify these studies. Alternatively, open-charm intermediate states have been proposed as the dominant mechanism underlying J/ψ photoproduction. As the latter violates this factorization, it is important to estimate the relevance of such contributions. We analyze the latest differential and integrated photoproduction cross sections from the GlueX and J/ψ−007 experiments. We show that the data can be adequately described by a small number of partial waves, which we parametrize with generic models enforcing low-energy unitarity. The results suggest a non-negligible contribution from open-charm intermediate states. Furthermore, most of the models present an elastic scattering length incompatible with previous extractions based on vector meson dominance and thus call into question its applicability to heavy mesons. Our results indicate a wide array of physics possibilities that are compatible with present data and need to be disentangled.