Search for New Physics with Rare Heavy Flavour Decays at LHCb

TL;DR

This paper discusses the LHCb experiment's potential to detect rare heavy flavor decays, which can reveal new physics beyond the Standard Model through sensitive measurements and analysis strategies.

Contribution

It presents the analysis strategies and preparatory studies for detecting rare decays at LHCb to probe new physics effects.

Findings

Potential to observe or set limits on $B^0_s o \mu^+\mu^-$ decay

Development of methods to measure photon polarization in $B^0_s o \phi\gamma$

Analysis validation using existing data like prompt $J/\psi$ events

Abstract

The LHCb experiment has the potential, during the 2010-11 run, to observe the rare decay $B^0_s\to \mu^+\mu^-$ or improve significantly its exclusion limits. This study will provide very sensitive probes of New Physics (NP) effects. High sensitivity to NP contributions is also achieved by measuring photon polarization by performing a time dependent analysis of $B^0_s \to \phi\gamma$, and by an angular study of the decay $B^0_d \to K^{*0}\mu^+\mu^-$. Preparations for these analyses are presented and studies shown of how existing data, for example prompt $J/\psi$ events, can be used to validate the analysis strategy.