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Playfer, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Playfer, S..

At least 19 records

Evidence for C P violation in B + → K * ( 892 ) + π 0 from a Dalitz plot analysis of B + → K S 0 π + π 0 decays

We report a Dalitz plot analysis of charmless hadronic decays of charged B mesons to the final state K 0 S π + π 0 using the full BABAR data set of 470.9 ± 2.8 million B¯B events collected at the Υ(4S) resonance. We measure the overall branching fraction and CP asymmetry to be B(B + → K 0 π + π 0 ) = (31.8 ± 1.8 ± 2.1 +6.0 –0.0 ) × 10 –6 and A CP (B + → K 0 π + π 0 ) = 0.07 ± 0.05 ± 0.03 +0.02 –0.03 , where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the signal model, respectively. This is the first measurement of the branching fraction for B + → K 0 π + π 0 . We find first evidence of a CP asymmetry in B + → K*(892) + π 0 decays: A CP (B + → K*(892) + π 0 ) = –0.52 ± 0.14 ± 0.04 +0.04 –0.02 . The significance of this asymmetry, including systematic and model uncertainties, is 3.4 standard deviations. As a result, we also measure the branching fractions and CP asymmetries for three other intermediate decay modes.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Search for mixing-induced C P violation using partial reconstruction of B ¯ 0 → D * + X ℓ - ν ¯ ℓ and kaon tagging

We describe in detail a previously published measurement of CP violation in B 0 -B¯ 0 oscillations, based on an integrated luminosity of 425.7 fb -1 collected by the BABAR experiment at the PEPII collider. We apply a novel technique to a sample of about 6 million B¯ 0 →D* + ℓ - ν ℓ ¯ decays selected with partial reconstruction of the D*+ meson. The charged lepton identifies the flavor of one B meson at its decay time, the flavor of the other B is determined by kaon tagging. We determine a CP violating asymmetry ACP=(N(B0B0)-N(B¯ 0 B¯ 0 ))/(N(B 0 B 0 )+N(B¯ 0 B¯ 0 ))=(0.06±0.17 +0.38 -0.32 )% corresponding to Δ CP =1-|q/p|=(0.29±0.84 +1.88 -1.61 )×10 -3 . This measurement is consistent and competitive with those obtained at the B factories with dilepton events.

Experiment-HEP,HEPEX↗

Time-dependent analysis of B 0 → K S 0 π - π + γ decays and studies of the K + π - π + system in B + → K + π - π + γ decays

We measure the time-dependent CP asymmetry in the radiative-penguin decay B 0 → K S 0 π - π + γ , using a sample of 471×10 6 Υ(4S)→BB-events recorded with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e+e- storage ring at SLAC. Using events with m Kππ < 1.8 GeV/c 2 , we measure the branching fractions of B+→K+π-π+γ and B0→K0π-π+γ, the branching fractions of the kaonic resonances decaying to K+π-π+, as well as the overall branching fractions of the B+→ρ0K+γ, B+→K*0π+γ and S-wave B+→(Kπ)0*0π+γ components. For events from the ρ mass band, we measure the CP-violating parameters SKS0π+π-γ=0.14±0.25±0.03 and CKS0π+π-γ=-0.39±0.20-0.02+0.03, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. We extract from this measurement the time-dependent CP asymmetry related to the CP eigenstate ρ0KS0 and obtain SKS0ργ=-0.18±0.32-0.05+0.06, which provides information on the photon polarization in the underlying b→sγ transition.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Observation of B ¯ → D ( * ) π + π - ℓ - ν ¯ Decays in e + e - Collisions at the Υ ( 4 S ) Resonance

We report on measurements of the decays of $\bar{B}$ mesons into the semileptonic final states $\bar{B}$→D(*)π + π - l - $\bar{v}$, where D(*) represents a D or D* meson and l - is an electron or a muon. These measurements are based on 471×10 6 B$\bar{B}$ pairs recorded with the BABAR detector at the SLAC asymmetric B factory PEP-II. We determine the branching fraction ratios R$(*)\atop{π+π-}$ = B($\bar{B}$→D(*)π + π - l - $\bar{v}$)/B($\bar{B}$→D(*)l - $\bar{v}$) using events in which the second B meson is fully reconstructed. We find R π+π- =0.067 ± 0.010 ± 0.008 and R$*\atop{π+π-}$ = 0.019 ± 0.005 ± 0.004, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. Lastly, based on these results and assuming isospin invariance, we estimate that $\bar{B}$→D(*)ππl - $\bar{v}$ decays, where π denotes either a π ± and π 0 meson, account for up to half the difference between the measured inclusive semileptonic branching fraction to charm hadrons and the corresponding sum of previously measured exclusive branching fractions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Collins asymmetries in inclusive charged K K and K π pairs produced in e + e - annihilation

Here, we present measurements of Collins asymmetries in the inclusive process e + e - →h 1 h 2 X, h 1 h 2 = KK, Kπ, ππ, at the center-of-mass energy of 10.6 GeV, using a data sample of 468 fb -1 collected by the BABAR experiment at the PEP-II B factory at SLAC National Accelerator Center. Considering hadrons in opposite thrust hemispheres of hadronic events, we observe clear azimuthal asymmetries in the ratio of unlike sign to like sign, and unlike sign to all charged h 1 h 2 pairs, which increase with hadron energies. The Kπ asymmetries are similar to those measured for the ππ pairs, whereas those measured for high-energy KK pairs are, in general, larger.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of initial-state–final-state radiation interference in the processes e + e – → μ + μ – γ and e + e – → π + π – γ [Measurement of ISR-FSR interference in the processes e + e – → μ + μ – γ and e + e – → π + π – γ ]

Charge asymmetry in the processes e + e – → μ + μ – γ and e + e – → π + π – γ is measured using 232 fb –1 of data collected with the BABAR detector at e + e – center-of-mass energies near 10.58 GeV. An observable is introduced and shown to be very robust against detector asymmetries while keeping a large sensitivity to the physical charge asymmetry that results from the interference between initial- and final-state radiation (FSR). The asymmetry is determined as a function of the invariant mass of the final-state tracks from production threshold to a few GeV/c 2 . It is compared to the expectation from QED for e + e – → μ + μ – γ, and from theoretical models for e + e – → π + π – γ. A clear interference pattern is observed in e + e – → π + π – γ, particularly in the vicinity of the f 2 (1270) resonance. As a result, the inferred rate of lowest-order FSR production is consistent with the QED expectation for e + e – → μ + μ – γ, and is negligibly small for e + e – → π + π – γ.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Study of the e + e - → K + K - reaction in the energy range from 2.6 to 8.0 GeV

The e + e - →K + K - cross section and charged-kaon electromagnetic form factor are measured in the e + e - center-of-mass energy range (E) from 2.6 to 8.0 GeV using the initial-state radiation technique with an undetected photon. The study is performed using 469 fb-1 of data collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II2 e + e - collider at center-of-mass energies near 10.6 GeV. The form factor is found to decrease with energy faster than 1/E 2 and approaches the asymptotic QCD prediction. Production of the K + K - final state through the J/ψ and ψ(2S) intermediate states is observed. The results for the kaon form factor are used together with data from other experiments to perform a model-independent determination of the relative phases between electromagnetic (single-photon) and strong amplitudes in J/ψ and ψ(2S)→K + K - decays. The values of the branching fractions measured in the reaction e + e - →K + K - are shifted relative to their true values due to interference between resonant and nonresonant amplitudes. The values of these shifts are determined to be about ±5% for the J/ψ meson and ±15% for the ψ(2S) meson.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Search for Long-Lived Particles in e + e - Collisions

We present a search for a neutral, long-lived particle L that is produced in e + e - collisions and decays at a significant distance from the e + e - interaction point into various flavor combinations of two oppositely charged tracks. The analysis uses an e + e - data sample with a luminosity of 489.1 fb -1 collected by the BABAR detector at the γ (4S), γ (3S), and γ (2S) resonances and just below the γ (4S). Fitting the two-track mass distribution in search of a signal peak, we do not observe a significant signal, and set 90% confidence level upper limits on the product of the L production cross section, branching fraction, and reconstruction efficiency for six possible two-body L decay modes as a function of the L mass. The efficiency is given for each final state as a function of the mass, lifetime, and transverse momentum of the candidate, allowing application of the upper limits to any production model. In addition, upper limits are provided on the branching fraction B(B→X s L), where X s is a strange hadronic system.

Lees, J. P.↗