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.

Bremsstrahlung emission from high power laser interactions with constrained targets for industrial radiography

Laser-solid interactions are highly suited as a potential source of high energy X-rays for nondestructive imaging.A bright,energetic X-ray pulse can be driven from a small source,making it ideal for high resolution X-ray radiography.By limiting the lateral dimensions of the target we are able to confine the region over which X-rays are produced,enabling imaging with enhanced resolution and contrast.Using constrained targets we demonstrate experimentally a(20±3)μm X-ray source,improving the image quality compared to unconstrained foil targets.Modelling demonstrates that a larger sheath field envelope around the perimeter of the constrained targets increases the proportion of electron current that recirculates through the target,driving a brighter source of X-rays.

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.