Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 5, 2026
10:42
Preparing an Isotopically Pure 229Th Ion Beam for Studies of 229mTh
Published on: May 3, 2019
7.4K
Observation of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] decays
R Aaij1, B Adeva2, M Adinolfi3
1European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva, Switzerland.
The European Physical Journal. C, Particles and Fields
|March 24, 2017
Summary
The LHCb experiment observed two new particle decays, B0s to J/psi phi and B0 to J/psi K*, for the first time. These findings provide new insights into particle physics and rare decays.
Area of Science:
- High Energy Physics
- Particle Physics
- Quantum Chromodynamics
Background:
- Understanding rare particle decays is crucial for testing the Standard Model of particle physics.
- The LHCb experiment specializes in studying B-hadron decays.
Purpose of the Study:
- To observe and characterize the decays of B0s to J/psi phi and B0 to J/psi K* for the first time.
- To measure the relative branching fractions of these decays.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a large dataset from proton-proton collisions at 7 and 8 TeV.
- Utilizing the capabilities of the LHCb detector to identify and reconstruct B-hadron decays.
Main Results:
- First-time observation of the B0s to J/psi phi decay.
- First-time observation of the B0 to J/psi K* decay.
- Measurement of relative branching fractions: B(B0s to J/psi phi) / B(B0 to J/psi K*) = 0.059+0.007-0.006(stat)+0.001-0.001(syst) and B(B0s to J/psi phi) / B(B0 to J/psi K*) = 0.059+0.007-0.006(stat)+0.001-0.001(syst).
Conclusions:
- The observed decays provide new data points for understanding rare processes in particle physics.
- These measurements can help refine theoretical models and search for new physics beyond the Standard Model.
Related Concept Videos
03:23Types of Radioactivity
20.4K
The most common types of radioactivity are α decay, β decay, γ decay, neutron emission, and electron capture.
Alpha (α) decay is the emission of an α particle from the nucleus. For example, polonium-210 undergoes α decay:
Alpha (α) decay is the emission of an α particle from the nucleus. For example, polonium-210 undergoes α decay:
20.4K
02:32The de Broglie Wavelength
34.1K
In the macroscopic world, objects that are large enough to be seen by the naked eye follow the rules of classical physics. A billiard ball moving on a table will behave like a particle; it will continue traveling in a straight line unless it collides with another ball, or it is acted on by some other force, such as friction. The ball has a well-defined position and velocity or well-defined momentum, p = mv, which is defined by mass m and velocity v at any given moment. This is the typical...
34.1K
02:48Radioactive Decay and Radiometric Dating
38.9K
Radioactivity is a spontaneous disintegration of an unstable nuclide and is a random process, as all the nuclei in the sample do not decay simultaneously. The number of disintegrations per unit time is called the activity (A), which is directly proportional to the number of nuclei in the sample. The decay constant (λ) is an average probability of decay per nucleus in unit time.
38.9K
03:18Radioactivity and Nuclear Equations
28.2K
Nuclear chemistry is the study of reactions that involve changes in nuclear structure. The nucleus of an atom is composed of protons and, except for hydrogen, neutrons. The number of protons in the nucleus is called the atomic number (Z) of the element, and the sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons is the mass number (A). Atoms with the same atomic number but different mass numbers are isotopes of the same element.
A nuclide of an element has a specific number of protons and...
A nuclide of an element has a specific number of protons and...
28.2K
04:08The Uncertainty Principle
33.8K
Werner Heisenberg considered the limits of how accurately one can measure properties of an electron or other microscopic particles. He determined that there is a fundamental limit to how accurately one can measure both a particle’s position and its momentum simultaneously. The more accurate the measurement of the momentum of a particle is known, the less accurate the position at that time is known and vice versa. This is what is now called the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. He...
33.8K
03:37Subatomic Particles
116.8K
Dalton was only partially correct about the particles that make up matter. All matter is composed of atoms, and atoms are composed of three smaller subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. These three particles account for the mass and the charge of an atom.
116.8K