A study of the Z production cross-section in pp collisions at √s = 7 using tau final states

A measurement of the inclusive Z → ττ cross-section in pp collisions at √s =7 is presented based on a dataset of 1.0 fb[superscript −1] collected by the LHCb detector. Candidates for Z → τ τ decays are identified through reconstructed final states with two muons, a muon and an electron, a muon and a hadron, or an electron and a hadron. The production cross-section for Z bosons, with invariant mass between 60 and 120 GeV/c[superscript 2], which decay to τ leptons with transverse momenta greater than 20 GeV/c and pseudorapidities between 2.0 and 4.5, is measured to be σ[subscript pp]→Z→ττ = 71.4 ± 3.5 ± 2.8 ± 2.5 pb; the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is due to the uncertainty on the integrated luminosity. The ratio of the cross-sections for Z → τ τ to Z → μμ is determined to be 0.93 ± 0.09, where the uncertainty is the combination of statistical, systematic, and luminosity uncertainties of the two measurements.National Science Foundation (U.S.

Measurement of the cross-section for Z → e+e- production in pp collisions at s√=7 TeV

A measurement of the cross-section for pp → Z → e+e− is presented using data at s√=7 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.94 fb−1. The process is measured within the kinematic acceptance p T > 20 GeV/c and 2 120 GeV/c 2. The cross-section is determined to be $\sigma \left( {\mathrm{pp}\to \mathrm{Z}\to {{\mathrm{e}}^{+}}{{\mathrm{e}}^{-}}} \right)=76.0\pm 0.8\pm 2.0\pm 2.6\;\mathrm{pb}$ where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic and the third is the uncertainty in the luminosity. The measurement is performed as a function of Z rapidity and as a function of an angular variable which is closely related to the Z transverse momentum. The results are compared with previous LHCb measurements and with theoretical predictions from QCD

Tropical forests in the Americas are changing too slowly to track climate change

Understanding the capacity of forests to adapt to climate change is of pivotal importance for conservation science, yet this is still widely unknown. This knowledge gap is particularly acute in high-biodiversity tropical forests. Here, we examined how tropical forests of the Americas have shifted community trait composition in recent decades as a response to changes in climate. Based on historical trait-climate relationships, we found that, overall, the studied functional traits show shifts of less than 8% of what would be expected given the observed changes in climate. However, the recruit assemblage shows shifts of 21% relative to climate change expectation. The most diverse forests on Earth are changing in functional trait composition but at a rate that is fundamentally insufficient to track climate change

Search for the rare decay KS0→μ+μ−K_{\rm\scriptscriptstyle S}^0\rightarrow\mu^{+}\mu^{-}

A search for the decay $K_{\rm\scriptscriptstyle S}^0\rightarrow\mu^{+}\mu^{-}$ is performed, based on a data sample of 1.0\,fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7\,TeV collected by the LHCb experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The observed number of candidates is consistent with the background-only hypothesis, yielding an upper limit of $\mathcal{B}(K_{\rm\scriptscriptstyle S}^0\rightarrow\mu^{+}\mu^{-}) < 11 (9)\times10^{-9}$ at 95 (90)% confidence level. This limit is a factor of thirty below the previous measurement.A search for the decay $K_{\rm\scriptscriptstyle S}^0\rightarrow\mu^{+}\mu^{-}$ is performed, based on a data sample of 1.0\,fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7\,TeV collected by the LHCb experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The observed number of candidates is consistent with the background-only hypothesis, yielding an upper limit of $\mathcal{B}(K_{\rm\scriptscriptstyle S}^0\rightarrow\mu^{+}\mu^{-}) < 11 (9)\times10^{-9}$ at 95 (90)$\%$ confidence level. This limit is a factor of thirty below the previous measurement

Measurement of the Bs0→J/ψKˉ∗0B^0_s \rightarrow J/\psi \bar{K}^{*0} branching fraction and angular amplitudes

A search for the decay $B^0_s\rightarrow J/\psi K^{*0}$ with $K^{*0} \rightarrow K^-\pi^+$ is performed with 0.37 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV collected by the LHCb experiment, finding a \Bs \to J\psi K^-\pi^+ peak of $114 \pm 11$ signal events. The $K^-\pi^+$ mass spectrum of the candidates in the $B^0_s$ peak is dominated by the $K^{*0}$ contribution. Subtracting the non-resonant $K^-\pi^+$ component, the branching fraction of \BsJpsiKst is $(4.4_{-0.4}^{+0.5} \pm 0.8) \times 10^{-5}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. A fit to the angular distribution of the decay products yields the \Kst polarization fractions $f_L = 0.50 \pm 0.08 \pm 0.02$ and $f_{||} = 0.19^{+0.10}_{-0.08} \pm 0.02$

Measurement of relative branching fractions of B decays to psi(2S) and J/psi mesons

The relative rates of B-meson decays into J/psi and psi(2S) mesons are measured for the three decay modes in pp collisions recorded with the LHCb detector. The ratios of branching fractions (B) are measured to be B(B+ -> psi(2S)K+)/B(B+ -> J/psi K+) = 0.594 +/- 0.006(stat) +/- 0.016(syst) +/- 0.015(R-psi), B(B-0 -> psi(2S)K*(0))/B(B-0 -> J/psi K*(0)) = 0.476 +/- 0.014(stat) +/- 0.010(syst) +/- 0.012(R-psi), B(B-s(0) -> psi(2S)phi)/B(B-s(0) -> J/psi phi) = 0.489 +/- 0.026(stat) +/- 0.021(syst) +/- 0.012(R-psi), where the third uncertainty is from the ratio of the psi(2S) and J/psi branching fractions to mu(+)mu(-)

Measurement of the branching fractions of the decays Bs0→Ds∓K±B_s^0 \rightarrow D_s^\mp K^\pm and Bs0→Ds−π+B_s^0 \rightarrow D_s^- \pi^+

The decay mode $B^{0}_{s} \to D^{\mp}_{s} K^{\pm}$ allows for one of the theoretically cleanest measurements of the CKM angle $\gamma$ through the study of time-dependent $CP$ violation. This paper reports a measurement of its branching fraction relative to the Cabibbo-favoured mode $B^{0}_{s} \to D^{-}_{s} \pi^{+}$ based on a data sample of 0.37 fb$^{-1}$ proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV collected in 2011 with the LHCb detector. In addition, the ratio of $B$ meson production fractions $f_s/f_d$, determined from semileptonic decays, together with the known branching fraction of the control channel $B^{0} \to D^{-} \pi^{+}$, is used to perform an absolute measurement of the branching fractions: $B (B^0_s \to D^-_s \pi^+) \;= (2.95 \pm 0.05 \pm 0.17^{\,+\,0.18}_{\,-\,0.22}) \times 10^{-3}$, $B (B^0_s \to D^\mp_s K^\pm) = (1.90 \pm 0.12 \pm 0.13^{\,+\,0.12}_{\,-\,0.14}) \times 10^{-4}\,$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second the experimental systematic uncertainty, and the third the uncertainty due to $f_s/f_d$.The decay mode $B^{0}_{s} \to D^{\mp}_{s} K^{\pm}$ allows for one of the theoretically cleanest measurements of the CKM angle $\gamma$ through the study of time-dependent $CP$ violation. This paper reports a measurement of its branching fraction relative to the Cabibbo-favoured mode $B^{0}_{s} \to D^{-}_{s} \pi^{+}$ based on a data sample of 0.37 fb$^{-1}$ proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV collected in 2011 with the LHCb detector. In addition, the ratio of $B$ meson production fractions $f_s/f_d$, determined from semileptonic decays, together with the known branching fraction of the control channel $B^{0} \to D^{-} \pi^{+}$, is used to perform an absolute measurement of the branching fractions: $B (B^0_s \to D^-_s \pi^+) \;= (2.95 \pm 0.05 \pm 0.17^{\,+\,0.18}_{\,-\,0.22}) \times 10^{-3}$, $B (B^0_s \to D^\mp_s K^\pm) = (1.90 \pm 0.12 \pm 0.13^{\,+\,0.12}_{\,-\,0.14}) \times 10^{-4}\,$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second the experimental systematic uncertainty, and the third the uncertainty due to $f_s/f_d$

Measurement of the fragmentation fraction ratio fs/fdf_{s}/f_{d} and its dependence on BB meson kinematics

The relative production rate of $B^{0}_{s}$ and $B^{0}$ mesons is determined with the hadronic decays $B^{0}_{s} \rightarrow D^{-}_{s}\pi^{+}$ and $B^0 \rightarrow D^{-}K^{+}$. The measurement uses data corresponding to 1.0 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV recorded in the forward region with the LHCb experiment. The ratio of production rates, $f_{s}/f_{d}$, is measured to be $0.238 \pm 0.004 \pm 0.015 \pm 0.021$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third theoretical. This is combined with a previous LHCb measurement to obtain $f_{s}/f_{d} = 0.256 \pm 0.020$. The dependence of $f_{s}/f_{d}$ on the transverse momentum and pseudorapidity of the $B$ meson is determined using the decays $B^{0}_{s} \rightarrow D^{-}_{s}\pi^{+}$ and $B^{0} \rightarrow D^{-}\pi^{+}$. There is evidence for a decrease with increasing transverse momentum, whereas the ratio remains constant as a function of pseudorapidity. In addition, the ratio of branching fractions of the decays $B^{0} \rightarrow D^{-}K^{+}$ and $B^{0} \rightarrow D^{-}\pi^{+}$ is measured to be $0.0822 \pm 0.0011 (\textrm{stat}) \pm 0.0025 (\textrm{syst})$

Observation of B0→Dˉ0K+K−B^0 \to \bar{D}^0 K^+ K^- and evidence of Bs0→Dˉ0K+K−B^0_s \to \bar{D}^0 K^+ K^-

See paper for full list of authorsThe first observation of the decay B0 -> D0bar K+ K- is reported from an analysis of 0.62 fb-1 of pp collision data collected with the LHCb detector. Its branching fraction is measured relative to that of the topologically similar decay B0 -> D0bar pi+ pi- to be BR(B0 -> D0bar K+ K-)/BR(B0 -> D0bar pi+ pi-) = 0.056+-0.011+-0.007, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The significance of the signal is 5.8 sigma. Evidence, with 3.8 sigma significance, for Bs -> D0bar K+ K- decays is also presented, with a relative branching fraction of BR(Bs -> D0bar K+ K-)/BR(B0 -> D0bar K+ K-) = 0.90+-0.27+-0.20

First Observation of the Decays (B)over-bar(0) -> D+K-pi(+)pi(-) and B- -> (DK-)-K-0 pi(+)pi(-)

First observations of the Cabibbo-suppressed decays (B) over bar (0) -> D+K-pi(+)pi(-) and B- -> (DK-)-K-0 pi(+)pi(-) are reported using 35 pb(-1) of data collected with the LHCb detector. Their branching fractions are measured with respect to the corresponding Cabibbo-favored decays, from which we obtain B((B) over bar (0) -> D+K-pi(+)pi(-))/B((B) over bar (0) -> D+pi(-)pi(+)pi(-) = (5.9 +/- 1.1 +/- 0.5) x 10(-2) and B(B- -> (DK-)-K-0 pi(+)pi(-))/B(B- -> D-0 pi(-)pi(+)pi(-)) = (0.9 +/- 1.3 +/- 0.9) x 10(-2), where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. The B- -> (DK-)-K-0 pi(+)pi(-) decay is particularly interesting, as it can be used in a similar way to B- -> (DK-)-K-0 to measure the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa phase gamma