Charged particle tracking with the Timepix ASIC
A prototype particle tracking telescope was constructed using Timepix and Medipix ASIC hybrid pixel assemblies as the six sensing planes. Each telescope plane consisted of one 1.4 cm2 assembly, providing a 256 ×256 array of 55μm square pixels. The telescope achieved a pointing resolution of 2.4μm at the position of the device under test. During a beam test in 2009 the telescope was used to evaluate in detail the performance of two Timepix hybrid pixel assemblies; a standard planar 300μm thick sensor, and 285μm thick double sided 3D sensor. This paper describes a charge calibration study of the pixel devices, which allows the true charge to be extracted, and reports on measurements of the charge collection characteristics and Landau distributions. The planar sensor achieved a best resolution of 4.0±0.1μm for angled tracks, and resolutions of between 4.4 and 11μm for perpendicular tracks, depending on the applied bias voltage. The double sided 3D sensor, which has significantly less charge sharing, was found to have an optimal resolution of 9.0±0.1μm for angled tracks, and a resolution of 16.0±0.2μm for perpendicular tracks. Based on these studies it is concluded that the Timepix ASIC shows an excellent performance when used as a device for charged particle tracking.

title: Precision measurements of the timelike electromagnetic form factors of pion, kaon, and proton.
abstract: Using 20.7 pb(-1) of e(+)e(-) annihilation data taken at sq.rt(r) = 3.671 GeV with the CLEO-c detector, precision measurements of the electromagnetic form factors of the charged pion, charged kaon, and proton have been made for timelike momentum transfer of |Q(2)| = 13.48 GeV(2) by the reaction e(+)e(-) --> h(+)h(-). The measurements are the first ever with identified pions and kaons of |Q(2)| > 4 GeV(2), with the results F(13.48 GeV(2)) = 0.075 +/- 0.008(stat) +/- 0.005(syst) and F(K)(13.48 GeV(2)) = 0.063 +/- 0.004(stat) +/- 0.001(syst). The result for the proton, assuming G(p)(E) = G(p)(M), is G(p)(M)(13.48 GeV(2)) = 0.014 +/- 0.002(stat) +/- 0.001(syst), which is in agreement with earlier results.

title: Measurement of the Ds+ - Ds- production asymmetry in 7 TeV pp collisions
abstract: Article history: Received 4 May 2012 Received in revised form 30 May 2012  W.-D. Schlatter Heavy quark production in 7 TeV centre-of-mass energy pp collisions at the LHC is not necessarily flavour symmetric. The production asymmetry, AP, between D+s and D−s mesons is studied using the φπ± decay mode in a data sample of 1.0 fb−1 collected with the LHCb detector. The difference between π+ and π− detection efficiencies is determined using the ratios of fully reconstructed to partially reconstructed D∗± decays. The overall production asymmetry in the D±s rapidity region 2.0 to 4.5 with transverse momentum larger than 2 GeV is measured to be AP = (−0.33 ± 0.22 ± 0.10)%. This result can constrain models of heavy flavour production.

title: Measurement of the relative branching fraction of upsilon(4S) to charged and neutral B-meson pairs.
abstract: We analyze 9.7x10(6) B_B pairs recorded with the CLEO detector to determine the production ratio of charged to neutral B-meson pairs produced at the Upsilon(4S) resonance. We measure the rates for B0-->J/psiK((*)0) and B+-->J/psiK((*)+) decays and use the world-average B-meson lifetime ratio to extract the relative widths f(+-) / f(00) = gamma(Upsilon(4S)-->B+B-) / gamma(Upsilon(4S)-->B0 B-0)) = 1.04+/-0.07(stat)+/-0.04(syst). With the assumption that f(+-)+f(00) = 1, we obtain f(00) = 0.49+/-0.02(stat)+/-0.01(syst) and f(+-) = 0.51+/-0.02(stat)+/-0.01(syst). This production ratio and its uncertainty apply to all exclusive B-meson branching fractions measured at the Upsilon(4S) resonance.

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: First spatial alignment of the LHCb VELO and analysis of beam absorber collision data
abstract: A first alignment of the LHCb Vertex Locator has been obtained from beam induced tracks at the LHC. A 450 GeV/c protons were collided on a beam absorber during the LHC synchronisation tests of the anti-clockwise beam in August and September 2008. The resulting particle tracks have been reconstructed by the Vertex Locator. This was the first full reconstruction of tracks induced by the LHC beam. The quality of the data obtained is discussed. A total of 2200 tracks were reconstructed from the full data sample, and a first spatial alignment was obtained. The detector is aligned to an accuracy of Slim in the sensor plane. The results confirm that all detector modules have not been displaced from their surveyed positions by more than 10 mm.

title: Charge division read-out in a 1.8-m-long wire chamber
abstract: This paper reports on the design and the test results of a charge division electronic read-out system for a charged particle proportional wire detector. Electronic calibration and probable error analysis of the system are also discussed. Position resolution for the system has been measured to be 4.8-mm FWHM on a wire of 1.8-m length (0.26%, relative).

title: A general relativistic external Compton-scattering model for TeV emission from M87
abstract: M87 is the first detected non-blazar extragalactic Tera-Ele ctron-Volt (TeV) source with rapid variation and very flat spectrum in the TeV band. To explain the two-peaks in the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the nucleus of M87 which is similar to those of blazars, the most commonly adopted models are the synchrotron self-Compton scattering (SSC) models and the external inverse Compton scattering (EIC) models. Considering that there is no correlated variation in the soft band (from r adio to X-ray) matching the TeV variation, and the TeV sources should not suffer from the γγ absorption due to the flat TeV spectrum, the EIC models are advantageous in modeling the TeV emission from M87. In this paper, we propose a self-consistent EIC model to explain the flat TeV spectrum of M87 within the framework of fully general relativity, where the background soft photons are from the advection-dominated accretion flo w (ADAF) around the central black hole, and the high energy electrons are from the mini-jets which are powered by the magnetic reconnection in the main jet (Giannios et al. 2010). In our model, both the TeV flares obser ved in the years of 2005 and 2008 could be well explained: the γγ absorption for TeV photons is very low, even inside the region very close to the black hole 20Rg ∼ 50Rg; at the same region, the average EIC cooling time (∼ 10 2 ∼ 10 3 s) is short, which is consistent with the observed time scale of TeV variation. Furthermore, we also discuss the possibility that the accompanying X-ray flare in 2008 is due to the direct synchrotron radiation of the mini-jets. Subject headings:black hole physics — galaxies: individual (M87)

title: Observation of B ---> D(*) K- K0(*) decays
abstract: The B→D (∗) K − K (∗)0 decays have been observed for the first time. The branching fractions of the B→D (∗) K − K (∗)0 decay modes are measured. Significant signals are found for the B→D (∗) K − K ∗0 and B−→D0K−K0S decay modes. The invariant mass and polarization distributions for the K − K ∗0 and K−K0S subsystems have been studied. For the K − K ∗0 sybsystem these distributions agree well with those expected for two-body B→D (∗) a 1 − (1260) decays, with a 1 − (1260)→K − K ∗0 . The analysis was done using 29.4 fb−1 of data collected with the Belle detector at the e+e− asymmetric collider KEKB.

title: Search for displaced supersymmetry in events with an electron and a muon with large impact parameters.
abstract: A search for new long-lived particles decaying to leptons is presented using proton-proton collisions produced by the LHC at √[s]=8  TeV. Data used for the analysis were collected by the CMS detector and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19.7  fb(-1). Events are selected with an electron and muon with opposite charges that both have transverse impact parameter values between 0.02 and 2 cm. The search has been designed to be sensitive to a wide range of models with nonprompt e-μ final states. Limits are set on the "displaced supersymmetry" model, with pair production of top squarks decaying into an e-μ final state via R-parity-violating interactions. The results are the most restrictive to date on this model, with the most stringent limit being obtained for a top squark lifetime corresponding to cτ=2  cm, excluding masses below 790 GeV at 95% confidence level.

title: Commissioning and performance of the CMS pixel tracker with cosmic ray muons
abstract: The pixel detector of the Compact Muon Solenoid experiment consists of three barrel layers and two disks for each endcap. The detector was installed in summer 2008, commissioned with charge injections, and operated in the 3.8 T magnetic field during cosmic ray data taking. This paper reports on the first running experience and presents results on the pixel tracker performance, which are found to be in line with the design specifications of this detector. The transverse impact parameter resolution measured in a sample of high momentum muons is 18 microns.