Measurement of CP Asymmetries and Branching Fractions in Charmless Two-Body B-Meson Decays to Pions and Kaons

We present improved measurements of CP-violation parameters in the decays $B^0 \to \pi^+ \pi^-$, $B^0 \to K^+ \pi^-$, and $B^0 \to \pi^0 \pi^0$, and of the branching fractions for $B^0 \to \pi^0 \pi^0$ and $B^0 \to K^0 \pi^0$. The results are obtained with the full data set collected at the $\Upsilon(4S)$ resonance by the BABAR experiment at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy $B$ factory at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, corresponding to $467 \pm 5$ million $B\bar B$ pairs. We find the CP-violation parameter values and branching fractions $S_{\pi^+\pi^-} = -0.68 \pm 0.10 \pm 0.03, C_{\pi^+\pi^-} = -0.25 \pm 0.08 \pm 0.02, A_{K^-\pi^+} = -0.107 \pm 0.016 ^{+0.006}_{-0.004}, C_{\pi^0\pi^0} = -0.43 \pm 0.26 \pm 0.05, Br(B^0 \to \pi^0 \pi^0) = (1.83 \pm 0.21 \pm 0.13) \times 10^{-6}, Br(B^0 \to K^0 \pi^0) = (10.1 \pm 0.6 \pm 0.4) \times 10^{-6},$ where in each case, the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. We observe CP violation with a significance of 6.7 standard deviations for $B^0 \to\pi^+\pi^-$ and 6.1 standard deviations for $B^0 \to K^+ \pi^-$, including systematic uncertainties. Constraints on the Unitarity Triangle angle $\alpha$ are determined from the isospin relations among the $B \to \pi\pi$ rates and asymmetries. Considering only the solution preferred by the Standard Model, we find $\alpha$ to be in the range $[71^\circ,109^\circ]$ at the 68% confidence level.Comment: 18 pages, 11 postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Ecological and conceptual consequences of Arctic pollution

This is the final version. Available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this recordAlthough the effect of pollution on forest health and decline received much attention in the 1980s, it has not been considered to explain the ‘Divergence Problem’ in dendroclimatology; a decoupling of tree growth from rising air temperatures since the 1970s. Here we use physical and biogeochemical measurements of hundreds of living and dead conifers to reconstruct the impact of heavy industrialisation around Norilsk in northern Siberia. Moreover, we develop a forward model with surface irradiance forcing to quantify long‐distance effects of anthropogenic emissions on the functioning and productivity of Siberia’s taiga. Downwind from the world’s most polluted Arctic region, tree mortality rates of up to 100% have destroyed 24,000 km2 boreal forest since the 1960s, coincident with dramatic increases in atmospheric sulphur, copper, and nickel concentrations. In addition to regional ecosystem devastation, we demonstrate how ‘Arctic Dimming’ can explain the circumpolar ‘Divergence Problem’, and discuss implications on the terrestrial carbon cycle.Forest ServiceMinistry of Science and Higher EducationRussian Science Foundatio

Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI): facing the challenges and pathways of global change in the 21st century

During the past several decades, the Earth system has changed significantly, especially across Northern Eurasia. Changes in the socio-economic conditions of the larger countries in the region have also resulted in a variety of regional environmental changes that can have global consequences. The Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI) has been designed as an essential continuation of the Northern Eurasia Earth Science Partnership Initiative (NEESPI), which was launched in 2004. NEESPI sought to elucidate all aspects of ongoing environmental change, to inform societies and, thus, to better prepare societies for future developments. A key principle of NEFI is that these developments must now be secured through science-based strategies co-designed with regional decision makers to lead their societies to prosperity in the face of environmental and institutional challenges. NEESPI scientific research, data, and models have created a solid knowledge base to support the NEFI program. This paper presents the NEFI research vision consensus based on that knowledge. It provides the reader with samples of recent accomplishments in regional studies and formulates new NEFI science questions. To address these questions, nine research foci are identified and their selections are briefly justified. These foci include: warming of the Arctic; changing frequency, pattern, and intensity of extreme and inclement environmental conditions; retreat of the cryosphere; changes in terrestrial water cycles; changes in the biosphere; pressures on land-use; changes in infrastructure; societal actions in response to environmental change; and quantification of Northern Eurasia's role in the global Earth system. Powerful feedbacks between the Earth and human systems in Northern Eurasia (e.g., mega-fires, droughts, depletion of the cryosphere essential for water supply, retreat of sea ice) result from past and current human activities (e.g., large scale water withdrawals, land use and governance change) and potentially restrict or provide new opportunities for future human activities. Therefore, we propose that Integrated Assessment Models are needed as the final stage of global change assessment. The overarching goal of this NEFI modeling effort will enable evaluation of economic decisions in response to changing environmental conditions and justification of mitigation and adaptation efforts

Light meson spectroscopy from Dalitz plot analyses ηc decays to η0K + K − , η0π + π − , and ηπ + π − produced in two-photon interactions

We study the processes γγ → ηc → η0KþK−, η0πþπ−, and ηπþπ− using a data sample of 519 fb−1 recorded with the BABAR detector operating at the SLAC PEP-II asymmetric-energy e+e− collider at center-of-mass energies at and near the Υ(nS) (n = 2, 3, 4) resonances. This is the first observation of the decay ηc → η0KþK− and we measure the branching fraction Γðηc → η0KþK−Þ=ðΓðηc → η0πþπ−Þ 1⁄4 0.644 0.039stat 0.032sys. Significant interference is observed between γγ → ηc → ηπþπ− and the nonresonant two-photon process γγ → ηπþπ−. A Dalitz plot analysis is performed of ηc decays to η0KþK−, η0πþπ−, and ηπþπ−. Combined with our previous analysis of ηc → KK ̄ π, we measure the K 0ð1430Þ parameters and the ratio between its η0K and πK couplings. The decay ηc → η0πþπ− is dominated by the f0ð2100Þ resonance, also observed in J=ψ radiative decays. A new a0(1700)→ ηπ resonance is observed in the ηc → ηπþπ− channel. We also compare ηc decays to η and η0 final states in association with scalar mesons as they relate to the identification of the scalar glueball

Time-dependent amplitude analysis of B^0→K_S^0π^+π^-

We perform a time-dependent amplitude analysis of B^0→K_S^0π^+π^- decays to extract the CP violation parameters of f_0(980)K_S^0 and ρ^0(770)K_S^0 and the direct CP asymmetry of K^(*+)(892)π^-. The results are obtained from a data sample of (383±3)×10^6 BB̅ decays, collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric–energy B factory at SLAC. We find two solutions, with an equivalent goodness-of-fit. Including systematic and Dalitz plot model uncertainties, the combined confidence interval for values of the CP parameter β_(eff) in B^0 decays to f_0(980)K_S^0 is 18°<β_(eff)<76° at 95% confidence level (C.L). CP conservation in B^0 decays to f_0(980)K_S^0 is excluded at 3.5 standard deviations including systematic uncertainties. For B^0 decays to ρ^0(770)K_S^0, the combined confidence interval is -9°<β_(eff)<57° at 95% C.L. In decays to K^(*+)(892)π^- we measure the direct CP asymmetry to be A_(CP)=-0.20±0.10±0.01±0.02. The measured phase difference (including B^0B̅ ^0 mixing) between decay amplitudes of B^0→K^(*+)(892)π^- and B̅ ^0→K^(*-)(892)π^+, excludes the interval -137°<ΔΦ(K^(*+)(892)π^-)<-5° at 95% C.L

Observation of the baryonic decay B&#175;0&#8594;&#923;+cp&#175;K&#8722;K+

We report the observation of the baryonic decay (B) over bar (0) -> Lambda(+)(c)(p) over barK(-)K(+) using a data sample of 471 x 10(6) B (B) over bar pairs produced in e(+)e(-) annihilations at root s = 10.58 GeV. This data sample was recorded with the BABAR detector at the PEP- II storage ring at SLAC. We find B((B) over bar (0) -> Lambda(+)(c)(p) over barK(-)K(+)) = (2.5 +/- 0.4((stat)) +/- 0.2((syst)) +/- 0.6(B(Lambda c+)) ) x 10(-5) where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the uncertainty of the Lambda(+)(c) -> (p) over barK(-)pi(+) branching fraction, respectively. The result has a significance corresponding to 5.0 standard deviations, including all uncertainties. For the resonant decay (B) over bar (0) -> Lambda(+)(c)(p) over bar phi, we determine the upper limit B((B) over bar (0) -> Lambda(+)(c)(p) over bar phi) < 1.2 x 10(-5) at 90% confidence level

Dalitz plot analysis of B- -> D+pi(-)pi(-)

We report on a Dalitz plot analysis of B- -> D+pi(-)pi(-) decays, based on a sample of about 383 x 10(6) Y(4S) -> B (B) over bar decays collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B Factory at SLAC. We find the total branching fraction of the three-body decay: B(B- -> D+ pi(-)pi(-)) = (1.08 +/- 0.03 +/- 0.05) x 10(-3). We observe the established D-2*(0) and confirm the existence of D-0*(0) in their decays to D+pi(-), where the D-2*(0) and D-0*(0) are the 2(+) and 0(+) c (u) over bar P-wave states, respectively. We measure the masses and widths of D-2*(0) and D-0*(0) to be: m(D2)*(0) = (2460.4 +/- 1.2 +/- 1.2 +/- 1.9) MeV/c(2), Gamma(D2*0) = (41.8 +/- 2.5 +/- 2.1 +/- 2.0) MeV, m(D0*0) = (2297 +/- 8 +/- 5 +/- 19) MeV/c(2), and Gamma(D0*0) = (273 +/- 12 +/- 17 +/- 45) MeV. The stated errors reflect the statistical and systematic uncertainties, and the uncertainty related to the assumed composition of signal events and the theoretical model.We are grateful for the extraordinary contributions of our PEP-II colleagues in achieving the excellent luminosity and machine conditions that have made this work possible. The success of this project also relies critically on the expertise and dedication of the computing organizations that support BABAR. The collaborating institutions wish to thank SLAC for its support and the kind hospitality extended to them. This work is supported by the US Department of Energy and National Science Foundation, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (Canada), the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique and Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules (France), the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Germany), the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (Italy), the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (The Netherlands), the Research Council of Norway, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Spain), and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (United Kingdom). Individuals have received support from the Marie-Curie IEF program (European Union) and the A. P. Sloan Foundation.Peer reviewe

Evidence for the decay X(3872) -> J/ψω

We present a study of the decays B-0,B-+ -> J/psi pi(+)pi(-)pi K-0(0,+), using 467 x 106 B (B) over bar pairs recorded with the BABAR detector. We present evidence for the decay mode X(3872) -> J/psi omega, with product branching fractions B(B+ -> X(3872K(+)) x B(X(3872) -> J/psi omega) = [0.6 +/- 0.2(stat) +/- 0.1(syst)] x 10(-5), and B(B-0 -> X(3872)K-0) x B(X(3872) -> J/psi omega) = [0.6 +/- 0.3(stat) +/- 0.1(syst)] x 10(-5). A detailed study of the pi(+) pi(-) pi(0) mass distribution from X(3872) decay favors a negative-parity assignment