Precision measurement of the $\Lambda_b^0$ baryon lifetime

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Abstract

The ratio of the \Lambda b baryon lifetime to that of the B0 meson is measured using 1.0/fb of integrated luminosity in 7 TeV center-of-mass energy pp collisions at the LHC. The \Lambda b baryon is observed for the first time in the decay mode \Lambda b -> J/\psi pK-, while the B0 meson decay used is the well known B0 -> J/\psi pi+K- mode, where the pi+ K- mass is consistent with that of the K*0(892) meson. The ratio of lifetimes is measured to be 0.976 +/- 0.012 +/- 0.006, in agreement with theoretical expectations based on the heavy quark expansion. Using previous determinations of the B0 meson lifetime, the \Lambda b lifetime is found to be 1.482 +/- 0.018 +/- 0.012 ps. In both cases the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

Figures and captions

 Invariant mass spectrum of ${ J \mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \mskip 2mu} pK^-$ combinations. The signal region is between the vertical long dashed (blue) lines. The sideband regions extend from the dotted (red) lines to the edges of the plot. The fit to the data between 5500 and 5750 MeV is also shown by the (blue) solid curve, with the $\Lambda ^0_ b$ signal shown by the dashed-dot (magenta) curve. The (black) dotted line is the combinatorial background and $\overline{ B }{} ^0_ s \rightarrow { J \mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \mskip 2mu} K ^+ K ^-$ and $\overline{ B }{} ^0 \rightarrow { J \mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \mskip 2mu} \pi^+K^-$ reflections are shown with the (red) dashed-dot-dot and (green) dashed shapes, respectively. psi-pK[..].pdf [41 KiB] HiDef png [205 KiB] Thumbnail [155 KiB] *.C file Background subtracted $m(pK^-)$ distribution obtained by fitting the $m( { J \mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \mskip 2mu} pK^-)$ distribution in bins of $m(pK^-)$. mpK_raw.pdf [34 KiB] HiDef png [229 KiB] Thumbnail [193 KiB] *.C file Fit to the invariant mass spectrum of ${ J \mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \mskip 2mu} \pi^+K^-$ combinations with $\pi^+K^-$ invariant mass within $\pm$100 MeV of the $\overline{ K }{} ^{*0}$ mass. The $\overline{ B }{} ^0$ signal is shown by the (magenta) solid curve, the combinatorial background by the (black) dotted line, the $B ^0_ s \rightarrow { J \mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \mskip 2mu} \pi^+K^-$ signal by the (red) dashed curve, and the total by the (blue) solid curve. Bd2JpsiKst.pdf [35 KiB] HiDef png [289 KiB] Thumbnail [191 KiB] *.C file Ratio of the decay time acceptances between $\Lambda ^0_ b \rightarrow { J \mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \mskip 2mu} pK^-$ and $\overline{ B }{} ^0 \rightarrow { J \mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \mskip 2mu} \overline{ K }{} ^{*0} (892)$ decays obtained from simulation. The (blue) line shows the result of the linear fit. Accept[..].pdf [28 KiB] HiDef png [203 KiB] Thumbnail [104 KiB] *.C file (a) Decay time distributions for $\Lambda ^0_ b \rightarrow { J \mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \mskip 2mu} pK^-$ shown as (blue) circles, and $\overline{ B }{} ^0 \rightarrow { J \mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \mskip 2mu} \overline{ K }{} ^{*0} (892)$ decays shown as (green) squares. For most entries the error bars are smaller than the points. (b) Yield ratio of $\Lambda ^0_ b \rightarrow { J \mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \mskip 2mu} pK^-$ to $\overline{ B }{} ^0 \rightarrow { J \mskip -3mu/\mskip -2mu\psi \mskip 2mu} \overline{ K }{} ^{*0} (892)$ events fitted as a function of decay time. YieldA[..].pdf [39 KiB] HiDef png [138 KiB] Thumbnail [194 KiB] *.C file Animated gif made out of all figures. PAPER-2013-032.gif Thumbnail

Tables and captions

 Absolute systematic uncertainties on $\Delta_{\Lambda B}$, the lifetime ratio, and the $\Lambda ^0_ b$ lifetime. Table_1.pdf [61 KiB] HiDef png [105 KiB] Thumbnail [51 KiB] tex code

Created on 18 January 2020.