A study of prompt $\Xi_{c}^{+}$ production in proton-lead collisions is performed with the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 8.16 TeV in 2016 in $p$Pb and Pb$p$ collisions with an estimated integrated luminosity of approximately 12.5 and 17.4 nb$^{-1}$, respectively. The $\Xi_{c}^{+}$ production cross-section, as well as the $\Xi_{c}^{+}$ to $\Lambda_{c}^{+}$ production cross-section ratio, are measured as a function of the transverse momentum and rapidity and compared to latest theory predictions. The forward-backward asymmetry is also measured as a function of the $\Xi_{c}^{+}$ transverse momentum.
The spatial and temporal performance of a four-plane system composed of silicon sensors bump-bonded to Timepix4 ASICs is assessed with a 180 GeV/c mixed hadron beam at the CERN SPS and reported in detail. Particle tracks are reconstructed using time-space measurements from the four detector planes, two 100 gm planes perpendicular to the beam and two 300 gm sensors under an angle of 9 degrees. The spatial hit resolution is assessed to be (15.5 +/- 0.5) gm and (4.5 +/- 0.3) gm for 100 gm and 300 gm thick sensors, respectively. The timestamps from the detectors are also measured with fine precision, yielding time resolutions of (452 +/- 10) ps, (420 +/- 10) ps, (639 +/- 10) ps, (631 +/- 10) ps for the two 100 gm and two 300 gm thick sensors respectively. These measurements are combined to a track time resolution of (340 +/- 5) ps. The design of the detector system is described together with its data acquisition system, operational infrastructure, and dedicated software.
The decays $\Lambda_b^0 \to \Lambda_c^+\bar{D}^{(*)0}K^-$ and $\Lambda_b^0 \to \Lambda_c^+ D_s^{*-}$ are observed for the first time, in proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}=13$TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb${}^{-1}$ collected with the LHCb detector. Their ratios of branching fractions with respect to the $\Lambda_b^0\!\to\Lambda_c^+\mathrm{D}_s^-$ mode are measured to be \begin{align*} \begin{split} \frac{\mathcal{B}(\Lambda_b^0 \to \Lambda_c^+\bar{D}^0 K^-)}{\mathcal{B}(\Lambda_b^0 \to \Lambda_c^+ D_s^-)}&= 0.1908 {}_{-0.0034}^{+0.0036} {}_{-0.0018}^{+0.0016} \pm 0.0038 \\ \frac{\mathcal{B}(\Lambda_b^0 \to \Lambda_c^+\bar{D}^{*0} K^-)}{\mathcal{B}(\Lambda_b^0 \to \Lambda_c^+ D_s^-)}&= 0.589 {}_{-0.017}^{+0.018} {}_{-0.018}^{+0.017} \pm 0.012 \\ \frac{\mathcal{B}(\Lambda_b^0 \to \Lambda_c^+ D_s^{*-})}{\mathcal{B}(\Lambda_b^0 \to \Lambda_c^+ D_s^-)}&= 1.668 \pm 0.022 {}_{-0.055}^{+0.061}\ , \end{split} \end{align*} where the first uncertainties are statistical, the second systematic, and the third, for the $\Lambda_b^0 \to \Lambda_c^+ \bar{D}^{(*)0} K^-$ decays, are due to the uncertainties on the branching fractions of the $D_s^- \to K^- K^+ \pi^-$ and $\bar{D}^0 \to K^+\pi^-$ decay modes. The measured branching fractions probe factorization assumptions in effective theories and provide the normalization for future pentaquark searches in $\Lambda_b^0 \to \Lambda_c^+ \bar{D}^{(*)0}K^-$ decay channels.
The fraction of $\chi_{c1}$ and $\chi_{c2}$ decays in the prompt $J/\psi$ yield, $F_{\chi c}=\sigma_{\chi_c \to J/\psi}/\sigma_{J/\psi}$, is measured by the LHCb detector in pPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=8.16$ TeV. The study covers the forward ($1.5<y^*<4.0$) and backward ($-5.0<y^*<-2.5$) rapidity regions, where $y^*$ is the $J/\psi$ rapidity in the nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass system. Forward and backward rapidity samples correspond to integrated luminosities of 13.6 $\pm$ 0.3 nb$^{-1}$ and 20.8 $\pm$ 0.5 nb$^{-1}$, respectively. The result is presented as a function of the $J/\psi$ transverse momentum $p_{T,J/\psi}$ in the range 1$<p_{T, J/\psi}<20$ GeV/$c$. The $F_{\chi c}$ fraction at forward rapidity is compatible with the LHCb measurement performed in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV, whereas the result at backward rapidity is 2.4 $\sigma$ larger than in the forward region for $1<p_{T, J/\psi}<3$ GeV/$c$. The increase of $F_{\chi c}$ at low $p_{T, J/\psi}$ at backward rapidity is compatible with the suppression of the $\psi$(2S) contribution to the prompt $J/\psi$ yield. The lack of in-medium dissociation of $\chi_c$ states observed in this study sets an upper limit of 180 MeV on the free energy available in these pPb collisions to dissociate or inhibit charmonium state formation.
A study of prompt $\Xi_{c}^{+}$ production in proton-lead collisions is performed with the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 8.16 TeV in 2016 in $p$Pb and Pb$p$ collisions with an estimated integrated luminosity of approximately 12.5 and 17.4 nb$^{-1}$, respectively. The $\Xi_{c}^{+}$ production cross-section, as well as the $\Xi_{c}^{+}$ to $\Lambda_{c}^{+}$ production cross-section ratio, are measured as a function of the transverse momentum and rapidity and compared to latest theory predictions. The forward-backward asymmetry is also measured as a function of the $\Xi_{c}^{+}$ transverse momentum.
For the advancement of the understanding of timing systematics in pixelized readout chips and for the benefit of future fast timing detectors to aid 4D tracking technology in the HL-LHC, we have performed detailed studies of the timing properties of the Timepix3, a hybrid pixel detector developed by the Medipix collaboration. These studies use three different measurement techniques to investigate the timing systematics of this detector: test pulses, testbeam, and a laser setup that we build for this work. The average delay over the pixel matrix is determined with the testbeam and the laser and shows the same structure for different Timepix3 chips. The difference in delay results in a maximum difference over the pixel matrix of around 4 ns, which is large compared to the time bins of 1.56 ns. By correcting for this difference on a per-pixel level, the time resolution is on average improved with 159 ps depending on the sensor. The best time resolution that is achieved after a timewalk correction and a correction for the difference in the average delay per pixel is 686.4±0.2 ps for a single Timepix3 chip with a 200 μm planar silicon sensor, compared to a time resolution of 892.9±0.3 ps without any correction. However, this improved time resolution is not yet the naively expected time resolution of 451 ps. The origin of this delay is determined with this laser setup, and is due to a combination of signal propagation and a difference of the start-up time of the fast oscillator within the pixels. This work indicates that it is vital for next generation pixel detectors to correct for these systematic timing effects in order to reach a better time resolution to aid 4D tracking technology in the HL-LHC.
An amplitude analysis of $\Lambda^+_c \to pK^-\pi^+$ decays together with a measurement of the $\Lambda^+_c$ polarization vector in semileptonic beauty hadron decays is presented. A sample of $400\,000$ candidates is selected from proton-proton collisions recorded by the LHCb detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. An amplitude model is developed and the resonance fractions as well as two- and three-body decay parameters are reported. The mass and width of the $\Lambda(2000)$ state are also determined. A significant $\Lambda^+_c$ polarization is found. A large sensitivity of the $\Lambda^+_c \to pK^-\pi^+$ decay to the polarization is seen, making the amplitude model suitable for $\Lambda^+_c$ polarization measurements in other systems.
First measurements are presented from a newly commissioned two-photon absorption (TPA) setup at Nikhef. The characterisation of the various components of the system is discussed. Two planar silicon sensors, one being electron collecting and one hole collecting, are characterised with detailed measurements of the charge collection and time resolution. The TPA spot is determined to have a radius of 0.975(11) μm and length of 23 μm in silicon. The trigger time resolution of the system is shown to be maximally 30.4 ps. For both sensors, uniform charge collection is observed over the pixels, and the pixel side metallisation is imaged directly using the TPA technique. The best time resolution for a single pixel is found to be 600 ps and 560 ps for the electron and hole collecting sensors respectively, and is dominated by ASIC contributions. Further scans at different depths in the sensor and positions within the pixels have been performed and show a uniform response. It is concluded that the TPA setup is a powerful tool to investigate the charge collection and temporal properties of silicon sensors.