Helium identification with LHCb

Journal of Instrumentation, vol. 19, pp. P02010

Abstract

Abstract The identification of helium nuclei at LHCb is achieved using a method based on measurements of ionisation losses in the silicon sensors and timing measurements in the Outer Tracker drift tubes. The background from photon conversions is reduced using the RICH detectors and an isolation requirement. The method is developed using pp collision data at √(s) = 13 TeV recorded by the LHCb experiment in the years 2016 to 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.5 fb-1. A total of around 105 helium and antihelium candidates are identified with negligible background contamination. The helium identification efficiency is estimated to be approximately 50% with a corresponding background rejection rate of up to 𝒪(1012). These results demonstrate the feasibility of a rich programme of measurements of QCD and astrophysics interest involving light nuclei.

Authors 100

1. R. Aaij

   National Institute for Subatomic Physics

   Affiliation as printed

   Nikhef National Institute for Subatomic Physics, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2. A. S. W. Abdelmotteleb

   University of Warwick

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom

3. Carlos Abellán Beteta

   University of Zurich

   Affiliation as printed

   Physik-Institut, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

4. F. Abudinén

   University of Warwick

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom

5. T. Ackernley

   University of Liverpool

   Affiliation as printed

   Oliver Lodge Laboratory, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom

6. B. Adeva

   Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

   Affiliation as printed

   Instituto Galego de Física de Altas Enerxías (IGFAE), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

7. M. Adinolfi

   University of Bristol

   Affiliation as printed

   H.H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom

8. P. Adlarson

   Uppsala University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden, associated to 57

9. C. Agapopoulou

   European Organization for Nuclear Research

   Affiliation as printed

   European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva, Switzerland

10. C. Aidala

    University of Michigan

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, associated to 66

11. Z. Ajaltouni

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Clermont Auvergne · Laboratoire de Physique de Clermont Auvergne · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules

    Affiliation as printed

    Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS/IN2P3, LPC, Clermont-Ferrand, France

12. S. Akar

    University of Cincinnati

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States

13. K. Carvalho Akiba

    National Institute for Subatomic Physics

    Affiliation as printed

    Nikhef National Institute for Subatomic Physics, Amsterdam, Netherlands

14. P. Albicocco

    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare · Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati

    Affiliation as printed

    INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Frascati, Italy

15. J. Albrecht

    TU Dortmund University

    Affiliation as printed

    Fakultät Physik, Technische Universität Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany

16. F. Alessio

    European Organization for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva, Switzerland

17. Michael Thomas Alexander

    University of Glasgow

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

18. A. Alfonso Albero

    Institut de Ciències del Cosmos · Universitat de Barcelona

    Affiliation as printed

    ICCUB, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

19. Zakariya Aliouche

    University of Manchester

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

20. P. Álvarez Cartelle

    University of Cambridge

    Affiliation as printed

    Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

21. R. Amalric

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules

    Affiliation as printed

    LPNHE, Sorbonne Université, Paris Diderot Sorbonne Paris Cité, CNRS/IN2P3, Paris, France

22. S. Amato

    Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

    Affiliation as printed

    Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

23. J. L. Amey

    University of Bristol

    Affiliation as printed

    H.H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom

24. Y. Amhis

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris-Saclay · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules · Laboratoire de Physique des 2 Infinis Irène Joliot-Curie · European Organization for Nuclear Research

    Affiliation as printed

    European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva, Switzerland

    Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS/IN2P3, IJCLab, Orsay, France

25. Liupan An

    Peking University · State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Physics State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China

26. L. Anderlini

    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Firenze

    Affiliation as printed

    INFN Sezione di Firenze, Firenze, Italy

27. M. Andersson

    University of Zurich

    Affiliation as printed

    Physik-Institut, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

28. A. Andreianov
    Affiliation as printed

    Affiliated with an institute covered by a cooperation agreement with CERN

29. P. Andreola

    University of Zurich

    Affiliation as printed

    Physik-Institut, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

30. M. Andreotti

    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Ferrara

    Affiliation as printed

    INFN Sezione di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

31. D. Andreou

    Syracuse University

    Affiliation as printed

    Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States

32. Alessia Anelli

    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Milano Bicocca

    Affiliation as printed

    INFN Sezione di Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy

33. D. Ao

    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

34. F. Archilli

    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Roma Tor Vergata

    Affiliation as printed

    INFN Sezione di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy

35. Matteo Argenton

    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Ferrara

    Affiliation as printed

    INFN Sezione di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

36. S. Arguedas Cuendis

    Consejo Nacional de Rectores

    Affiliation as printed

    Consejo Nacional de Rectores (CONARE), San Jose, Costa Rica

37. A. Artamonov
    Affiliation as printed

    Affiliated with an institute covered by a cooperation agreement with CERN

38. M. Artuso

    Syracuse University

    Affiliation as printed

    Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States

39. E. Aslanides

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Aix-Marseille Université · Centre de physique des particules de Marseille · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules

    Affiliation as printed

    Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS/IN2P3, CPPM, Marseille, France

40. M. Atzeni

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States

41. B. Audurier

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · École Polytechnique · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules · Institut Polytechnique de Paris · Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, CNRS/IN2P3, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France

42. D. Bacher

    University of Oxford

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

43. I. Bachiller

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules · Université Savoie Mont Blanc

    Affiliation as printed

    Université Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, IN2P3-LAPP, Annecy, France

44. S. Bachmann

    Heidelberg University

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    Physikalisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

45. Marie Bachmayer

    École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Physics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland

46. John J Back

    University of Warwick

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom

47. A. Bailly-reyre

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules

    Affiliation as printed

    LPNHE, Sorbonne Université, Paris Diderot Sorbonne Paris Cité, CNRS/IN2P3, Paris, France

48. P. Baladrón Rodríguez

    Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

    Affiliation as printed

    Instituto Galego de Física de Altas Enerxías (IGFAE), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

49. V. Balagura

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · École Polytechnique · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules · Institut Polytechnique de Paris · Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, CNRS/IN2P3, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France

50. W. Baldini

    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Ferrara

    Affiliation as printed

    INFN Sezione di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

51. J. Baptista de Souza Leite

    Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas

    Affiliation as printed

    Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas (CBPF), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

52. M. Barbetti

    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Firenze

    Affiliation as printed

    INFN Sezione di Firenze, Firenze, Italy

53. I. R. Barbosa

    Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro

    Affiliation as printed

    Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, associated to 3

54. Roger John Barlow

    University of Manchester

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

55. S. Barsuk

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris-Saclay · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules · Laboratoire de Physique des 2 Infinis Irène Joliot-Curie

    Affiliation as printed

    Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS/IN2P3, IJCLab, Orsay, France

56. W. Barter

    University of Edinburgh

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

57. M. Bartolini

    University of Cambridge

    Affiliation as printed

    Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

58. F. Baryshnikov
    Affiliation as printed

    Affiliated with an institute covered by a cooperation agreement with CERN

59. J. M. Basels Aachen I. Physikalisches Institut

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    I. Physikalisches Institut, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

60. G. Bassi

    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pisa

    Affiliation as printed

    INFN Sezione di Pisa, Pisa, Italy

61. B. Batsukh

    Institute of High Energy Physics

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute Of High Energy Physics (IHEP), Beijing, China

62. A. Battig

    TU Dortmund University

    Affiliation as printed

    Fakultät Physik, Technische Universität Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany

63. A. Bay

    École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Physics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland

64. A. Beck

    University of Warwick

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom

65. M. Becker

    TU Dortmund University

    Affiliation as printed

    Fakultät Physik, Technische Universität Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany

66. F. Bedeschi

    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pisa

    Affiliation as printed

    INFN Sezione di Pisa, Pisa, Italy

67. I. Bediaga

    Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas

    Affiliation as printed

    Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas (CBPF), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

68. A. Beiter

    Syracuse University

    Affiliation as printed

    Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States

69. S. Belin

    Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

    Affiliation as printed

    Instituto Galego de Física de Altas Enerxías (IGFAE), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

70. V. Bellée

    University of Zurich

    Affiliation as printed

    Physik-Institut, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

71. K. Belous
    Affiliation as printed

    Affiliated with an institute covered by a cooperation agreement with CERN

72. I. Belov

    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova

    Affiliation as printed

    INFN Sezione di Genova, Genova, Italy

73. I. Belyaev
    Affiliation as printed

    Affiliated with an institute covered by a cooperation agreement with CERN

74. G. Benane

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Aix-Marseille Université · Centre de physique des particules de Marseille · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules

    Affiliation as printed

    Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS/IN2P3, CPPM, Marseille, France

75. G. Bencivenni

    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare · Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati

    Affiliation as printed

    INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Frascati, Italy

76. E. Ben-Haim

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules

    Affiliation as printed

    LPNHE, Sorbonne Université, Paris Diderot Sorbonne Paris Cité, CNRS/IN2P3, Paris, France

77. Alexander Berezhnoy
    Affiliation as printed

    Affiliated with an institute covered by a cooperation agreement with CERN

78. R. Bernet

    University of Zurich

    Affiliation as printed

    Physik-Institut, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

79. Sergi Bernet Andrés

    Universitat Ramon Llull

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    DS4DS, La Salle, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain

80. H. C. Bernstein

    Syracuse University

    Affiliation as printed

    Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States

81. C. Bertella

    University of Manchester

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

82. A. Bertolin

    University of Padua · Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova

    Affiliation as printed

    Università degli Studi di Padova, Università e INFN, Padova, Padova, Italy

83. C. Betancourt

    University of Zurich

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    Physik-Institut, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

84. F. Betti

    University of Edinburgh

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

85. J. Bex

    University of Cambridge

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    Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

86. Ia. Bezshyiko

    University of Zurich

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    Physik-Institut, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

87. J. Bhom

    Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences

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    Henryk Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland

88. M. S. Bieker

    TU Dortmund University

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    Fakultät Physik, Technische Universität Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany

89. N. V. Biesuz

    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Ferrara

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    INFN Sezione di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

90. P. Billoir

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules

    Affiliation as printed

    LPNHE, Sorbonne Université, Paris Diderot Sorbonne Paris Cité, CNRS/IN2P3, Paris, France

91. Alice Biolchini

    National Institute for Subatomic Physics

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    Nikhef National Institute for Subatomic Physics, Amsterdam, Netherlands

92. M. Birch

    Imperial College London

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    Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom

93. F. C. R. Bishop

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules · Université Savoie Mont Blanc

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    Université Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, IN2P3-LAPP, Annecy, France

94. A. Bitadze

    University of Manchester

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    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

95. A. Bizzeti
96. Michele Piero Blago

    University of Cambridge

    Affiliation as printed

    Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

97. Thomas Blake

    University of Warwick

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom

98. F. Blanc

    École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Physics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland

99. J. E. Blank

    TU Dortmund University

    Affiliation as printed

    Fakultät Physik, Technische Universität Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany

100. Steven Roy Blusk

     Syracuse University

     Affiliation as printed

     Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States