First observation of the decay B0s→K0SK∗(892)0

A search for B0(s)→K0SK∗(892)0 decays is performed using pp collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb−1, collected with the LHCb detector at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. The B0s→K0SK∗(892)0 decay is observed for the first time, with a significance of 7.1 standard deviations. The branching fraction is measured to beB(B0s→K0SK∗(892)0)=(10.9±2.5±1.2)×10−6,where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. No evidence is found for the decay B0→K0SK∗(892)0 and an upper limit is set on the branching fraction, B(B0→K0SK∗(892)0)u003c0.64 ×10−6, at 90% confidence level. All results are consistent with Standard Model predictions.