Physicists decode rare particle decay, narrowing hunt for new physics
Researchers analyzing 9 years of data from Europe's largest particle detector have mapped how exotic particles decay in ways that could reveal physics beyond current theory. The findings tighten constraints on potential new particles and forces, focusing the search for explanations of cosmic mysteries that affect how companies develop quantum technologies and understand fundamental limits of computation.
Originaltitel: Analysis of Λ0b <em>→ pK</em><sup><em>−</em></sup><em>μ</em><sup>+</sup><em>μ</em><sup><em>−</em></sup> decays
<p>The differential branching fraction and angular coefficients of Lambda(0)(b) -> pK(-) mu(+) mu(-)decays are measured in bins of the dimuon mass squared and dihadron mass. The analysis is performed using a data set corresponding to 9 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected with the LHCb detector between 2011 and 2018. The data are consistent with receiving contributions from a mixture of. resonances with different spin-parity quantum numbers. The angular coefficients show a pattern of vector-axial vector interference that is a characteristic of the type of flavour-changing neutral-current transition relevant for these decays.</p>