Oxygen Isotope Effects on T_(c) Related to Polaronic Superconductivity in Underdoped Cuprates

The planar oxygen isotope effect on Tc observed in copper oxide superconductors is remarkable in that it increases from near nil at optimal doping to a value twice that derived from BCS theory in the underdoped region. This behavior is quantitatively followed by a formula proposed by Kresin and Wolf in 1994 for polarons along the c-axis. Herein it is revisited in a more transparent way, and it is pointed out that the heterogeneity of pairing is relevant and has to be taken into account to explain the unusual planar isotope effects on Tc in underdoped cuprates.

Two Distinct Charge Orders in Infinite-Layer PrNiO_(2+δ) Revealed by Resonant X-Ray Diffraction

Research of infinite-layer nickelates has unveiled a broken translation symmetry,which has sparked significant interest in its root,its relationship to superconductivity,and its comparison to charge order in cuprates.In this study,resonant x-ray scattering measurements were performed on thin films of infinite-layer PrNiO_(2+δ).The results show significant differences in the superlattice reflection at the Ni L_(3) absorption edge compared to that at the Pr M_(5) resonance in their dependence on energy,temperature,and local symmetry.These differences point to two distinct charge orders,although they share the same in-plane wavevectors.It is suggested that these dissimilarities could be linked to the excess oxygen dopants,given that the resonant reflections were observed in an incompletely reduced PrNiO_(2+δ)film.Furthermore,azimuthal analysis indicates that the oxygen ligands likely play a crucial role in the charge modulation revealed at the Ni L_(3) resonance.

CaPtAs: A new noncentrosymmetric superconductor

We report the discovery of a new noncentrosymmetric superconductor CaPtAs.It crystallizes in a tetragonal structure(space group I41md,No.109),featuring three dimensional honeycomb networks of Pt-As and a much elongated c-axis(a=b=4.18?,and c=43.70?).The superconductivity of CaPtAs with Tc=1.47 K was characterized by means of electrical resistivity,specific heat,and ac magnetic susceptibility.The electronic specific heat Ce(T)/T shows evidence for a deviation from the behavior of a conventional BCS superconductor,and can be reasonably fitted by a p-wave model.The upper critical fieldμ0Hc2 of CaPtAs exhibits a moderate anisotropy,with an in-plane value of around 204 mT and an out-of-plane value of 148 mT.Density functional theory calculations indicate that the Pt-5 d and As-4 p orbitals mainly contribute to the density of states near the Fermi level,showing that the Pt-As honeycomb networks may significantly influence the superconducting properties.

Field-tuned quantum effects in a triangular-lattice Ising magnet

We report thermodynamic and neutron scattering measurements of the triangular-lattice quantum Ising magnet TmMgGaO_(4)in longitudinal magnetic fields.Our experiments reveal a quasi-plateau state induced by quantum fluctuations.This state exhibits an unconventional non-monotonic field and temperature dependence of the magnetic order and excitation gap.In the high field regime where the quantum fluctuations are largely suppressed,we observed a disordered state with coherent magnon-like excitations despite the suppression of the spin excitation intensity.Through detailed semi-classical calculations,we are able to understand these behaviors quantitatively from the subtle competition between quantum fluctuations and frustrated Ising interactions.

Study of the production of Λ_b^0 band ~0 hadrons in pp collisions and first measurement of the Λ_b^0→J/ψpK^- branching fraction

The product of the ∧0/b （-B/0） differential production cross-section and the branching fraction of the decay ∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-（-B/0→ J/ψ-K＊（892）0）is measured as a function of the beauty hadron transverse momentum, PT, and rapidity, y. The kinematic region of the measurements is pT〈20 GeV/c and 2.0 〈g〈4.5.The measurements use a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3fb-1 collected by the LHCb detector in pp collisions at centre-of-mass energies √s=7 TeV in 2011 and √s=8 TeV in 2012. Based on previous LHCb results of the fragmentation fraction ratio,f∧0/b/fd,the branching fraction of the decay ∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-is measured to be B（∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-）=（3.17±0.04±0.07±0.34＋0.45/-0.28）×10-4,where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, the third is due to the uncertainty on the branching fraction of the decay -B/0 →J/ψ-K＊（892）0,and the fourth is due to the knowledge of f∧0/b/fd.The sum of the asymmetries in the production and decay between ∧0/b and ∧0/bis also measured as a function of PT and y.The previously published branching fraction of ∧0/b→ J/ψ pπ-,relative to that of ∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-,is updated. The branching fractions of ∧0/b→P＋c（→ J/ψp）K-are determined.

Evidence of a J/ψΛstructure and observation of excited■^(-)states in the■b^(-)→J/ψΛK^(-) decay

First evidence of a structure in the J/ψΛinvariant mass distribution is obtained from an amplitude analysis of■b^(-)J/ψΛK^(-)decays.The observed structure is consistent with being due to a charmonium pentaquark with strangeness with a significance of 3.1r including systematic uncertainties and lookelsewhere effect.Its mass and width are determined to be 4458:8±2:9t4:7-1:1 MeV and 17:3±6:5t8:0-5:7 MeV,respectively,where the quoted uncertainties are statistical and systematic.The structure is also consistent with being due to two resonances.In addition,the narrow excited■^(-)states,N■(1690)and■(1820),are seen for the first time in a■b^(-)decay,and their masses and widths are measured with improved precision.The analysis is performed using pp collision data corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 9 fb^(-1),collected with the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7,8 and 13 TeV.

Search for the doubly heavy baryon Ξ_(bc)^(+)→ decaying to J/ψΞ_(c)^(+)

A first search for the Ξ_(bc)^(+)J/ψΞ_(c)^(+) decay is performed by the LHCb experiment with a data sample of proton-proton collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1 recorded at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. Two peaking structures are seen with a local (global) significance of 4.3(2.8) and 4.1(2.4) standard deviations at masses of 6571 and 6694 MeV/c2, respectively. Upper limits are set on the Ξ+bc baryon production cross-section times the branching fraction relative to that of the B+c→J/ψD+s decay at centre-of-mass energies of 8 and 13 TeV, in the Ξ+bc and in the B+c rapidity and transverse-momentum ranges from 2.0 to 4.5 and 0 to 20GeV/c, respectively. Upper limits are presented as a function of the Ξ+bc mass and lifetime.

Search for the rare decays W^(+)→D_(s)^(+)γ and Z→D^(0)γ at LHCb

A search for the rare decays W^(+)→D_(s)^(+)γ and Z→D0γis performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 13TeV,corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.0fb−1.No significant signal is observed for either decay mode and upper limits on their branching fractions are set using W^(+)→D_(s)^(+)γ and Z→μ+μ−decays as normalization channels.The upper limits are 6.5×10^(−4) and 2.1×10^(−3) at 95% confidence level for the W^(+)→D_(s)^(+)γ and Z→D^(0)γ decay modes,respectively.This is the first reported search for the Z→D^(0)γ decay,while the upper limit on the W+→D+sγbranching fraction improves upon the previous best limit.

Search for the doubly charmed baryon ■

A search for the doubly charmed baryon ■^+cc is performed through its decay to theΛ^+c K^-π^+ final state,using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7,8 and 13 TeV.The data correspond to a total integrated luminosity of 9 fb^-1.No significant signal is observed in the mass range from 3.4 to 3.8 GeV/c^2.Upper limits are set at 95%credibility level on the ratio of the ■^+cc production cross-section times the branching fraction to that ofΛ^+c and ■^++cc baryons.The limits are determined as functions of the ■^+cc mass for different lifetime hypotheses,in the rapidity range from 2.0 to 4.5 and the transverse momentum range from 4 to 15 GeV/c.

Measurement of Ξcc++ production in pp collisions at s1/2=13 TeV

The production of ■baryons in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 13 TeV is measured in the transverse-momentum range 4<pT<15GeV/c and the rapidity range2.0<y<4.5.The data used in this measurement correspond to an integrated luminosity of 1.7fb^-1,recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2016.The ratio of the ■ production cross-section times the branching fraction of the■→∧^+cK^-π^+ π^+decay relative to the prompt ∧^+c production cross-section is found to be(2.22±0.27±0.29)×10^-4,assuming the central value of the measured lifetime,where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

Search for the doubly heavy baryons Ω^(0)_(bc) and E^(0)_(bc) decaying to Λ^(+)_(c)π^(-) and E^(+)_(c)π^(-)

The first search for the doubly heavyΩ^(0)_(bc)baryon and a search for the E^(0)_(bc)baryon are performed using pp collision data collected via the LHCb experiment from 2016 to 2018 at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV,corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.2 fb^(-1).The baryons are reconstructed via their decays to Λ^(+)_(c)π^(-)and E^(+)_(c)π^(-).No significant excess is fbund for invariant masses between 6700 and 7300 MeV/c^(2),in a rapidity range from 2.0 to 4.5 and a transverse momentum range from 2 to 20 MeV/c.Upper limits are set on the ratio of the Ω^(0)_(bc)and E^(0)_(bc)production cross-section times the branching fraction to Λ^(+)_(c)π^(-)(E^(+)_(c)π^(-))relative to that of the Λ^(0)_(b)(E^(0)_(b))baryon,for different lifetime hypotheses,at 95%confidence level.The upper limits range from 0.5 x 10^(-4)to 2.5 x 10^(-4)for theΩ^(0)_(bc)→Λ^(+)_(c)π^(-)(E^(0)_(bc)→Λ^(+)_(c)π^(-))decay,and from 1.4x 10^(-3)to 6.9 x 10^(-3)for theΩ^(0)_(bc)→E^(+)_(c)π^(-)(E^(0)_(bc)→E^(+)_(c)π^(-))decay,depending on the considered mass and lifetime of theΩ^(0)_(bc)(E^(0)_(bc))baryon.

Search for the rare decay B^(0)→J/ψФ

A search for the rare decay B^(0)→J/ψФis performed using Pp collision data collected with the LHCb dete-ctor at centre-of-mass energies of 7,8 and 13 TeV,corresponding to an integrated luminosity of9 fb.No significant signal of the decay is observed and an upper limitof 1.1x 10^(-7)at 90%confidence level is set on the branching fraction.