Test Station for the CARIOCA FE-chip of the LHCb Muon Detector
This document describes the hardware and the software of a Front-End Electronics Test Station developed to test and characterize the Front-End ASIC for the LHCb Muon chambers. This ASIC, an 8-channel amplifier, shaper and discriminator with baseline restoration, processes read-out signals generated by Multi-Wire Proportional and GEM chambers located in a high radiation environment. It is almost entirely analog. In total, an amount of about 25000 chips will be produced in both the engineering and production runs. They will require individual testing, before final assembly on printed circuit boards. The test system we present has the following features: variable and bipolar charge injection, custom read-out, rate and time measuring circuitry, power consumption control, data analysis and statistical tools. The system is controlled by a LabVIEW based program. We present the results of about 3000 tests of ASIC produced in the engineering run.

title: Search for CP violation in the decay $D^+ \to \pi^-\pi^+\pi^+$
abstract: A search for CP violation in the phase space of the decay $D^+\to\pi^-\pi^+\pi^+$ is reported using $pp$ collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb$^{-1}$, collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. The Dalitz plot distributions for $3.1\times 10^6$ $D^+$ and $D^-$ candidates are compared with binned and unbinned model-independent techniques. No evidence for CP violation is found.

title: Searches for Majorana neutrinos in $B^-$ decays
abstract: Searches for heavy Majorana neutrinos in B- decays in final states containing hadrons plus a \mu- \mu- pair have been performed using 0.41/fb of data collected with the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. The D+ \mu- \mu- and D*+ \mu- \mu- final states can arise from the presence of virtual Majorana neutrinos of any mass. Other final states containing \pi+, Ds+, or D0\pi+ can be mediated by an on-shell Majorana neutrino. No signals are found and upper limits are set on Majorana neutrino production as a function of mass, and also on the B- decay branching fractions.

title: Time resolution limits of the MWPCs for the LHCb muon system
abstract: Detailed simulations of the timing properties of the Multi-Wire-Proportional-Chambers of the LHCb muon system are compared with actual measurements. The simulated time resolution is in good agreement with the measurement which allows to study the resolution limiting parameters like diffusion, charge deposit fluctuations, cluster position fluctuations, electronics noise, track position and wire spacing to show how they affect the performance of the system. Methods to improve the time resolution of the muon chambers are discussed.

title: Study of beauty hadron decays into pairs of charm hadrons
abstract: First observations of the decays Λb 0 → Λc +D(s) - are reported using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3fb-1 collected at 7 and 8 TeV center-of-mass energies in proton-proton collisions with the LHCb detector. In addition, the most precise measurement of the branching fraction B(Bs 0→D+Ds -) is made and a search is performed for the decays B(s) 0→Λc +Λc -. The results obtained are B(Λb 0→Λc +D-)/ B(Λb 0→Λc +D s -)=0.042±0.003(stat)±0.003(syst), [B(Λb 0→Λc +D s -)/B(B0→D+D s -)]/[B(Λb 0→Λ c +π-)/B(B0→D +π-)]=0.96±0.02(stat)±0.06(syst),B(B s 0→D+Ds -)/ B(B0→D+Ds -)=0. 038±0.004(stat)±0.003(syst),B(B0→Λ c +Λc -)/B(B , B(Bs 0→Λc +Λ c -)/B(Bs 0→D+D s -)<0.30[95%C.L.]. Measurement of the mass of the Λb 0 baryon relative to the B0 meson gives M(Λb 0)-M(B0)=339. 72±0.24(stat)±0.18(syst)MeV/c2. This result provides the most precise measurement of the mass of the Λb 0 baryon to date.

title: Study of $\eta-\eta^{\prime}$ mixing from measurement of $B^0_{(s)} \rightarrow J/\psi \eta^{(\prime)}$ decay rates
abstract: A study of $B^0$~and $B^0_s$ meson decays into $J/\psi\eta$~and $J/\psi\eta^{\prime}$ final states is performed using a data set of proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8TeV, collected by the LHCb experiment and corresponding to 3.0fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. The decay $B^0 \rightarrow J/\psi \eta^{\prime}$ is observed for thefirst time. The following ratios of branching fractions are measured: $$ \frac{\mathcal{B}(B^0 \rightarrow J/\psi \eta^{\prime})}{\mathcal{B}(B^0_s \rightarrow J/\psi \eta^{\prime})} = (2.28\pm0.65\,(stat)\,\pm0.10\,(syst)\,\pm0.13\,(f_{s}/f_{d}))\times10^{-2},$$ $$ \frac{\mathcal{B}(B^0 \rightarrow J/\psi \eta)}{\mathcal{B}(B^0_s \rightarrow J/\psi \eta)} = (1.85\pm0.61\,(stat)\,\pm0.09\,(syst)\,\pm0.11\,(f_{s}/f_{d}))\times10^{-2},$$ where the third uncertainty is related to the present knowledge of $f_{s}/f_{d}$, the ratio between the probabilities for a $b$ quark to form a $B^0_s$ or $B^0$ meson. The branching fraction ratios are used to determine the parameters of $\eta-\eta^{\prime}$ meson mixing. In addition, the first evidence for the decay $B^0_s \rightarrow \psi(2S) \eta^{\prime}$ is reported, and the relative branching fraction is measured, 
$$\frac{\mathcal{B}(B^0_s \rightarrow \psi(2S) \eta^{\prime})}{\mathcal{B}(B^0_s \rightarrow J/\psi \eta^{\prime})} = (38.7\pm9.0\,(stat)\,\pm1.3\,(syst)\,\pm0.9(\mathcal{B}))\times10^{-2},$$ 
where the third uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the branching fractions of $J/\psi$ and $\psi(2S)$~mesons.

title: First Searches for Optical Counterparts to Gravitational-wave Candidate Events
abstract: During the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory and Virgo joint science runs in 2009-2010, gravitational wave (GW) data from three interferometer detectors were analyzed within minutes to select GW candidate events and infer their apparent sky positions. Target coordinates were transmitted to several telescopes for follow-up observations aimed at the detection of an associated optical transient. Images were obtained for eight such GW candidates. We present the methods used to analyze the image data as well as the transient search results. No optical transient was identified with a convincing association with any of these candidates, and none of the GW triggers showed strong evidence for being astrophysical in nature. We compare the sensitivities of these observations to several model light curves from possible sources of interest, and discuss prospects for future joint GW-optical observations of this type.

title: Kinematic distributions and nuclear effects of J/ψ production in 920 GeV fixed-target proton-nucleus collisions
abstract: AbstractMeasurements of the kinematic distributions of J/ψ mesons produced in p–C, p–Ti and p–W collisions at 
$\sqrt{s}=41.6~\mathrm{GeV}$ 
in the Feynman-x region −0.34<xF<0.14 and for transverse momentum up to pT=5.4 GeV/c are presented. The xF and pT dependencies of the nuclear suppression parameter, α, are also given. The results are based on 2.4×105J/ψ mesons reconstructed in both the e+e− and μ+μ− decay channels. The data have been collected by the HERA-B experiment at the HERA proton ring of the DESY laboratory. The measurement explores the negative region of xF for the first time. The average value of α in the measured xF region is 0.981±0.015. The data suggest that the strong nuclear suppression of J/ψ production previously observed at high xF turns into an enhancement at negative xF.

title: First operation of a free-electron laser generating GW power 
radiation at 32 nm wavelength
abstract: Many scientific disciplines ranging from physics, chemistry and biology to 
material sciences, geophysics and medical diagnostics need a powerful X-ray 
source with pulse lengths in the femtosecond range [1-4]. This would 
allow, for example, time-resolved observation of chemical reactions with 
atomic resolution. Such radiation of extreme intensity, and tunable over a 
wide range of wavelengths, can be accomplished using high-gain free-electron 
lasers (FEL) [5-10]. Here we present results of the first successful 
operation of an FEL at a wavelength of 32 nm, with ultra-short pulses (25 fs 
FWHM), a peak power at the Gigawatt level, and a high degree of transverse 
and longitudinal coherence. The experimental data are in full agreement with 
theory. This is the shortest wavelength achieved with an FEL to date and an 
important milestone towards a user facility designed for wavelengths down to 6 nm. With a peak brilliance exceeding the state-of-the-art of synchrotron radiation sources [4] by seven orders of magnitude, this device opens a new field of experiments, and it paves the way towards sources with even shorter wavelengths, such as the Linac Coherent Light Source [3] at Stanford, USA, and the European X-ray Free Electron Laser Facility [4] in Hamburg, Germany.

title: Gamma-Ray Bursts and Type Ic Supernova SN 1998bw
abstract: Recently a Type Ic supernova, SN 1998bw, was discovered coincident with a gamma-ray burst, GRB 980425. The supernova had unusual radio, optical, and spectroscopic properties. Among other things, it was especially bright for a Type Ic both optically and in the radio, and it rose quickly to maximum. We explore here models based upon helium stars in the range 9-14 M☉ and carbon-oxygen stars 6-11 M☉, which experience unusually energetic explosions (kinetic energy 0.5-2.8 × 1052 ergs). Bolometric light curves and multiband photometry are calculated and compared favorably with observations. No spectroscopic data are available at this time, but both LTE and non-LTE spectra are calculated for the model that agrees best with the light curve, a carbon-oxygen core of 6 M☉ exploded with a kinetic energy of 2.2 × 1052 ergs. We also examine potential mechanisms for producing the observed gamma-ray burst (GRB)—shock breakout and relativistic shock deceleration in circumstellar material. For spherically symmetric models, both fail to produce a GRB of even the low luminosity inferred for GRB 980425. However, the high explosion energies required to understand the supernova are in contrast to what is expected for such massive stars and indicate that a new sort of explosion may have been identified, possibly the consequence of a collapsar. Indeed a more likely explanation for what was seen is a highly asymmetric explosion in which the GRB was produced by mildly relativistic matter (Γ≈5) running into circumstellar matter along the line of sight to the Earth. The explosion itself was powered by black hole accretion and jets, but unlike "ordinary" gamma-ray bursts, the jets were not of sufficient energy and duration to effectively reach large values of Γ. They may also not have been oriented in our direction. The ejected mass (but not the 56Ni mass) and explosion energy are then smaller. Other associations between luminous Type Ic supernovae and GRBs may exist and should be sought, but most Type Ib and Type Ic supernovae do not make GRBs.

title: The Outer Tracker detector of the HERA-B experiment. Part II: Front-end electronics
abstract: The HERA-B Outer Tracker is a large detector with 112,674 drift chamber channels. It is exposed to a particle flux of up to 2 × 10 5 cm - 2 s - 1 thus coping with conditions similar to those expected for the LHC experiments. The front-end readout system, based on the ASD-8 chip and a customized TDC chip, is designed to fulfil the requirements on low noise, high sensitivity, rate tolerance, and high integration density. The TDC system is based on an ASIC which digitizes the time in bins of about 0.5 ns within a total of 256 bins. The chip also comprises a pipeline to store data from 128 events which is required for a deadtime-free trigger and data acquisition system. We report on the development, installation, and commissioning of the front-end electronics, including the grounding and noise suppression schemes, and discuss its performance in the HERA-B experiment.