Search for B_s to mu^+ mu^- and B^0 to mu^+ mu^- decays

TL;DR

This paper reports a search for rare B_s and B^0 meson decays into muon pairs using LHC data, setting upper limits on their branching fractions consistent with Standard Model predictions.

Contribution

The study provides new upper limits on B_s and B^0 to mu+ mu- decay branching fractions using 7 TeV LHC data, improving constraints on rare decay processes.

Findings

No significant excess over background observed.

Upper limits on branching fractions are set at 7.7×10^-9 for B_s and 1.8×10^-9 for B^0.

Results are consistent with Standard Model expectations.

Abstract

A search for the rare decays B_s to mu+ mu- and B^0 to mu^+ mu^- is performed in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, with a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 inverse femtobarns collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. In both decays, the number of events observed after all selection requirements is consistent with the expectation from background plus standard model signal predictions. The resulting upper limits on the branching fractions are Br(B_s to mu^+ mu^-) < 7.7E-9 and Br(B^0 to mu^+ mu^-) < 1.8E-9 at 95% confidence level.