Enhanced Charm CP Asymmetries from Final State Interactions.

We show that final state interactions (FSI) within a CPT invariant two-channel framework can enhance the charge-parity (CP) violation difference between D^{0}→π^{-}π^{+} and D^{0}→K^{-}K^{+} decays up to the current experimental value. This result relies upon (i) the dominant tree level diagram, (ii) the well-known experimental values for the D^{0}→π^{-}π^{+} and D^{0}→K^{-}K^{+} branching ratios, and (iii) the ππ→ππ and ππ→KK scattering data to extract the strong phase difference and inelasticity. Based on well-grounded theoretical properties, we find the sign and bulk value of the ΔA_{CP} and A_{CP}(D^{0}→π^{-}π^{+}) recently observed by the LHCb Collaboration.

Analysis of Neutral B-Meson Decays into Two Muons.

Branching fraction and effective lifetime measurements of the rare decay B_{s}^{0}→µ^{+}µ^{-} and searches for the decays B^{0}→µ^{+}µ^{-} and B_{s}^{0}→µ^{+}µ^{-}γ are reported using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to a luminosity of 9 fb^{-1}. The branching fraction B(B_{s}^{0}→µ^{+}µ^{-})=(3.09_{-0.43-0.11}^{+0.46+0.15})×10^{-9} and the effective lifetime τ(B_{s}^{0}→µ^{+}µ^{-})=2.07±0.29±0.03 ps are measured, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. No significant signal for B^{0}→µ^{+}µ^{-} and B_{s}^{0}→µ^{+}µ^{-}γ decays is found and upper limits B(B^{0}→µ^{+}µ^{-})<2.6×10^{-10} and B(B_{s}^{0}→µ^{+}µ^{-}γ)<2.0×10^{-9} at the 95% C.L. are determined, where the latter is limited to the range m_{µµ}>4.9 GeV/c^{2}. The results are in agreement with the standard model expectations.

Observation of the Mass Difference between Neutral Charm-Meson Eigenstates.

A measurement of mixing and CP violation in neutral charm mesons is performed using data reconstructed in proton-proton collisions collected by the LHCb experiment from 2016 to 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb^{-1}. A total of 30.6 million D^{0}→K_{S}^{0}π^{+}π^{-} decays are analyzed using a method optimized for the measurement of the mass difference between neutral charm-meson eigenstates. Allowing for CP violation in mixing and in the interference between mixing and decay, the mass and decay-width differences are measured to be x_{CP}=[3.97±0.46(stat)±0.29(syst)]×10^{-3} and y_{CP}=[4.59±1.20(stat)±0.85(syst)]×10^{-3}, respectively. The CP-violating parameters are measured as Δx=[-0.27±0.18(stat)±0.01(syst)]×10^{-3} and Δy=[0.20±0.36(stat)±0.13(syst)]×10^{-3}. This is the first observation of a nonzero mass difference in the D^{0} meson system, with a significance exceeding seven standard deviations. The data are consistent with CP symmetry and improve existing constraints on the associated parameters.

Branching Fraction Measurements of the Rare B_{s}

The branching fraction of the rare B_{s}^{0}→ϕµ^{+}µ^{-} decay is measured using data collected by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 1, 2, and 6 fb^{-1}, respectively. The branching fraction is reported in intervals of q^{2}, the square of the dimuon invariant mass. In the q^{2} region between 1.1 and 6.0 GeV^{2}/c^{4}, the measurement is found to lie 3.6 standard deviations below a standard model prediction based on a combination of light cone sum rule and lattice QCD calculations. In addition, the first observation of the rare B_{s}^{0}→f_{2}^{'}(1525)µ^{+}µ^{-} decay is reported with a statistical significance of 9 standard deviations and its branching fraction is determined.

Measurement of f_{s}/f_{u} Variation with Proton-Proton Collision Energy and B-Meson Kinematics.

The ratio of the B_{s}^{0} and B^{+} fragmentation fractions f_{s} and f_{u} is studied with B_{s}^{0}→J/ψϕ and B^{+}→J/ψK^{+} decays using data collected by the LHCb experiment in proton-proton collisions at 7, 8, and 13 TeV center-of-mass energies. The analysis is performed in bins of B-meson momentum, longitudinal momentum, transverse momentum, pseudorapidity, and rapidity. The fragmentation-fraction ratio f_{s}/f_{u} is observed to depend on the B-meson transverse momentum with a significance of 6.0σ. This dependency is driven by the 13 TeV sample (8.7σ), while the results for the other collision energies are not significant when considered separately. Furthermore, the results show a 4.8σ evidence for an increase of f_{s}/f_{u} as a function of collision energy.

Observation of New Ξ_{c}

The Λ_{c}^{+}K^{-} mass spectrum is studied with a data sample of pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.6 fb^{-1} collected by the LHCb experiment. Three Ξ_{c}^{0} states are observed with a large significance and their masses and natural widths are measured to be m[Ξ_{c}(2923)^{0}]=2923.04±0.25±0.20±0.14 MeV, Γ[Ξ_{c}(2923)^{0}]=7.1±0.8±1.8 MeV, m[Ξ_{c}(2939)^{0}]=2938.55±0.21±0.17±0.14 MeV, Γ[Ξ_{c}(2939)^{0}]=10.2±0.8±1.1 MeV, m[Ξ_{c}(2965)^{0}]=2964.88±0.26±0.14±0.14 MeV, Γ[Ξ_{c}(2965)^{0}]=14.1±0.9±1.3 MeV, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the limited knowledge of the Λ_{c}^{+} mass. The Ξ_{c}(2923)^{0} and Ξ_{c}(2939)^{0} baryons are new states. The Ξ_{c}(2965)^{0} state is in the vicinity of the known Ξ_{c}(2970)^{0} baryon; however, their masses and natural widths differ significantly.

Observation of Several Sources of CP Violation in B

Observations are reported of different sources of CP violation from an amplitude analysis of B^{+}→π^{+}π^{+}π^{-} decays, based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb^{-1} of pp collisions recorded with the LHCb detector. A large CP asymmetry is observed in the decay amplitude involving the tensor f_{2}(1270) resonance, and in addition significant CP violation is found in the π^{+}π^{-}S wave at low invariant mass. The presence of CP violation related to interference between the π^{+}π^{-}S wave and the P wave B^{+}→ρ(770)^{0}π^{+} amplitude is also established; this causes large local asymmetries but cancels when integrated over the phase space of the decay. The results provide both qualitative and quantitative new insights into CP -violation effects in hadronic B decays.

Amplitude Analysis of B

The first amplitude analysis of the B^{±}→π^{±}K^{+}K^{-} decay is reported based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb^{-1} of pp collisions recorded in 2011 and 2012 with the LHCb detector. The data are found to be best described by a coherent sum of five resonant structures plus a nonresonant component and a contribution from ππ↔KK S-wave rescattering. The dominant contributions in the π^{±} K^{∓} and K^{+} K^{-} systems are the nonresonant and the B^{±}→ρ(1450)^{0}π^{±} amplitudes, respectively, with fit fractions around 30%. For the rescattering contribution, a sizable fit fraction is observed. This component has the largest CP asymmetry reported to date for a single amplitude of (-66±4±2)%, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. No significant CP violation is observed in the other contributions.

Measurement of Charged Hadron Production in Z-Tagged Jets in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=8 TeV.

The production of charged hadrons within jets recoiling against a Z boson is measured in proton-proton collision data at sqrt[s]=8 TeV recorded by the LHCb experiment. The charged-hadron structure of the jet is studied longitudinally and transverse to the jet axis for jets with transverse momentum p_{T}>20 GeV and in the pseudorapidity range 2.5<η<4. These are the first measurements of jet hadronization at these forward rapidities and also the first where the jet is produced in association with a Z boson. In contrast to previous hadronization measurements at the Large Hadron Collider, which are dominated by gluon jets, these measurements probe predominantly light-quark jets which are found to be more longitudinally and transversely collimated with respect to the jet axis when compared to the previous gluon dominated measurements. Therefore, these results provide valuable information on differences between quarks and gluons regarding nonperturbative hadronization dynamics.

Search for the Lepton-Flavor-Violating Decays B_{s}

Results are reported from a search for the rare decays B_{s}^{0}→τ^{±}µ^{∓} and B^{0}→τ^{±}µ^{∓}, where the τ lepton is reconstructed in the channel τ^{-}→π^{-}π^{+}π^{-}ν_{τ}. These processes are effectively forbidden in the standard model, but they can potentially occur at detectable rates in models of new physics that can induce lepton-flavor-violating decays. The search is based on a data sample corresponding to 3 fb^{-1} of proton-proton collisions recorded by the LHCb experiment in 2011 and 2012. The event yields observed in the signal regions for both processes are consistent with the expected standard model backgrounds. Because of the limited mass resolution arising from the undetected τ neutrino, the B_{s}^{0} and B^{0} signal regions are highly overlapping. Assuming no contribution from B^{0}→τ^{±}µ^{∓}, the upper limit B(B_{s}^{0}→τ^{±}µ^{∓})<4.2×10^{-5} is obtained at 95% confidence level. If no contribution from B_{s}^{0}→τ^{±}µ^{∓} is assumed, a limit of B(B^{0}→τ^{±}µ^{∓})<1.4×10^{-5} is obtained at 95% confidence level. These results represent the first limit on B(B_{s}^{0}→τ^{±}µ^{∓}) and the most stringent limit on B(B^{0}→τ^{±}µ^{∓}).

Measurement of CP-Violating and Mixing-Induced Observables in B_{s}

A time-dependent analysis of the B_{s}^{0}→ϕγ decay rate is performed to determine the CP -violating observables S_{ϕγ} and C_{ϕγ} and the mixing-induced observable A_{ϕγ}^{Δ}. The measurement is based on a sample of pp collision data recorded with the LHCb detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb^{-1} at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The measured values are S_{ϕγ}=0.43±0.30±0.11, C_{ϕγ}=0.11±0.29±0.11, and A_{ϕγ}^{Δ}=-0.67_{-0.41}^{+0.37}±0.17, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This is the first measurement of the observables S and C in radiative B_{s}^{0} decays. The results are consistent with the standard model predictions.

Measurement of the Mass Difference Between Neutral Charm-Meson Eigenstates.

We report a measurement of the mass difference between neutral charm-meson eigenstates using a novel approach that enhances sensitivity to this parameter. We use 2.3×10^{6} D^{0}→K_{S}^{0}π^{+}π^{-} decays reconstructed in proton-proton collisions collected by the LHCb experiment in 2011 and 2012. Allowing for CP violation in mixing and in the interference between mixing and decay, we measure the CP-averaged normalized mass difference x_{CP}=[2.7±1.6(stat)±0.4(syst)]×10^{-3} and the CP-violating parameter Δx=[-0.53±0.70(stat)±0.22(syst)]×10^{-3}. The results are consistent with CP symmetry. These determinations are the most precise from a single experiment and, combined with current world-average results, yield the first evidence that the masses of the neutral charm-meson eigenstates differ.

Observation of an Excited B_{c}

Using pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 8.5 fb^{-1} recorded by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of sqrt[s]=7, 8, and 13 TeV, the observation of an excited B_{c}^{+} state in the B_{c}^{+}π^{+}π^{-} invariant-mass spectrum is reported. The observed peak has a mass of 6841.2±0.6(stat)±0.1(syst)±0.8(B_{c}^{+}) MeV/c^{2}, where the last uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the B_{c}^{+} mass. It is consistent with expectations of the B_{c}^{*}(2^{3}S_{1})^{+} state reconstructed without the low-energy photon from the B_{c}^{*}(1^{3}S_{1})^{+}→B_{c}^{+}γ decay following B_{c}^{*}(2^{3}S_{1})^{+}→B_{c}^{*}(1^{3}S_{1})^{+}π^{+}π^{-}. A second state is seen with a global (local) statistical significance of 2.2σ (3.2σ) and a mass of 6872.1±1.3(stat)±0.1(syst)±0.8(B_{c}^{+}) MeV/c^{2}, and is consistent with the B_{c}(2^{1}S_{0})^{+} state. These mass measurements are the most precise to date.

Observation of a Narrow Pentaquark State, P_{c}(4312)

A narrow pentaquark state, P_{c}(4312)^{+}, decaying to J/ψp, is discovered with a statistical significance of 7.3σ in a data sample of Λ_{b}^{0}→J/ψpK^{-} decays, which is an order of magnitude larger than that previously analyzed by the LHCb Collaboration. The P_{c}(4450)^{+} pentaquark structure formerly reported by LHCb is confirmed and observed to consist of two narrow overlapping peaks, P_{c}(4440)^{+} and P_{c}(4457)^{+}, where the statistical significance of this two-peak interpretation is 5.4σ. The proximity of the Σ_{c}^{+}D[over ¯]^{0} and Σ_{c}^{+}D[over ¯]^{*0} thresholds to the observed narrow peaks suggests that they play an important role in the dynamics of these states.

Observation of CP Violation in Charm Decays.

A search for charge-parity (CP) violation in D^{0}→K^{-}K^{+} and D^{0}→π^{-}π^{+} decays is reported, using pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.9 fb^{-1} collected at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the LHCb detector. The flavor of the charm meson is inferred from the charge of the pion in D^{*}(2010)^{+}→D^{0}π^{+} decays or from the charge of the muon in B[over ¯]→D^{0}µ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{µ}X decays. The difference between the CP asymmetries in D^{0}→K^{-}K^{+} and D^{0}→π^{-}π^{+} decays is measured to be ΔA_{CP}=[-18.2±3.2(stat)±0.9(syst)]×10^{-4} for π-tagged and ΔA_{CP}=[-9±8(stat)±5(syst)]×10^{-4} for µ-tagged D^{0} mesons. Combining these with previous LHCb results leads to ΔA_{CP}=(-15.4±2.9)×10^{-4}, where the uncertainty includes both statistical and systematic contributions. The measured value differs from zero by more than 5 standard deviations. This is the first observation of CP violation in the decay of charm hadrons.

First Observation of the Radiative Decay Λ_{b}

The radiative decay Λ_{b}^{0}→Λγ is observed for the first time using a data sample of proton-proton collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.7 fb^{-1} collected by the LHCb experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. Its branching fraction is measured exploiting the B^{0}→K^{*0}γ decay as a normalization mode and is found to be B(Λ_{b}^{0}→Λγ)=(7.1±1.5±0.6±0.7)×10^{-6}, where the quoted uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and systematic from external inputs, respectively. This is the first observation of a radiative decay of a beauty baryon.

First Measurement of Charm Production in its Fixed-Target Configuration at the LHC.

The first measurement of heavy-flavor production by the LHCb experiment in its fixed-target mode is presented. The production of J/ψ and D^{0} mesons is studied with beams of protons of different energies colliding with gaseous targets of helium and argon with nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energies of sqrt[s_{NN}]=86.6 and 110.4 GeV, respectively. The J/ψ and D^{0} production cross sections in pHe collisions in the rapidity range [2, 4.6] are found to be σ_{J/ψ}=652±33(stat)±42(syst) nb/nucleon and σ_{D^{0}}=80.8±2.4(stat)±6.3(syst) µb/nucleon, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. No evidence for a substantial intrinsic charm content of the nucleon is observed in the large Bjorken-x region.

Observation of Two Resonances in the Λ_{b}

The first observation of two structures consistent with resonances in the final states Λ_{b}^{0}π^{-} and Λ_{b}^{0}π^{+} is reported using samples of pp collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at sqrt[s]=7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb^{-1}. The ground states Σ_{b}^{±} and Σ_{b}^{*±} are also confirmed and their masses and widths are precisely measured.

Model-Independent Observation of Exotic Contributions to B

An angular analysis of B^{0}→J/ψK^{+}π^{-} 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^{+}π^{-}) spectrum is divided into fine bins. In each m(K^{+}π^{-}) 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^{+}π^{-} 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/ψπ^{-}) vs m(K^{+}π^{-}) plane suggests structures near m(J/ψπ^{-})=4200 and 4600 MeV.

Search for Lepton-Universality Violation in B

A measurement of the ratio of branching fractions of the decays B^{+}→K^{+}µ^{+}µ^{-} and B^{+}→K^{+}e^{+}e^{-} is presented. The proton-proton collision data used correspond to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb^{-1} recorded with the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. For the dilepton mass-squared range 1.1