Study of $B_{(s)}^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 h^{+} h^{\prime -}$ decays with first observation of $B_{s}^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 K^{\pm} \pi^{\mp}$ and $B_{s}^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 \pi^{+} \pi^{-}$

TL;DR

This paper reports the first observation of specific $B_s^0$ decay modes involving $K_{S}^0$ and two hadrons, measuring their branching fractions relative to a known decay, thereby expanding understanding of charmless three-body $B$ meson decays.

Contribution

The study provides the first observation of $B_s^0 o K_{S}^0 K^{ m ootnotesize extpm} o m ootnotesize extpm} ext{ and } B_s^0 o K_{S}^0 m ootnotesize ext{ extpm} ext{ extpm}$ decay modes, with precise relative branching fraction measurements.

Findings

First observation of $B_s^0 o K_{S}^0 K^{ m ootnotesize extpm} o m ootnotesize ext{ extpm}$ and $B_s^0 o K_{S}^0 m ext{ extpm} m ext{ extpm}$ decays.

Measured relative branching fractions with statistical and systematic uncertainties.

Set upper limit on $B_s^0 o K_{S}^0 K^{+} K^{-}$ relative branching fraction at 90 ext{% CL}.

Abstract

A search for charmless three-body decays of $B^0$ and $B_{s}^0$ mesons with a $K_{\rm S}^0$ meson in the final state is performed using the $pp$ collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $1.0\,\mbox{fb}^{-1}$, collected at a centre-of-mass energy of $7\mathrm{\,Te\kern -0.1em V}$ recorded by the LHCb experiment. Branching fractions of the $B_{(s)}^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 h^{+} h^{\prime -}$ decay modes ($h^{(\prime)} = \pi, K$), relative to the well measured $B^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 \pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ decay, are obtained. First observation of the decay modes $B_s^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 K^{\pm} \pi^{\mp}$ and $B_s^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 \pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ and confirmation of the decay $B^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 K^{\pm} \pi^{\mp}$ are reported. The following relative branching fraction measurements or limits are obtained \begin{eqnarray*} \nonumber \frac{{\cal B}(B^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 K^{\pm} \pi^{\mp})}{{\cal B}(B^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 \pi^{+} \pi^{-})} &=& 0.128 \pm 0.017 \, ({\rm stat.}) \pm 0.009 \, ({\rm syst.}) \,, \\ \nonumber \frac{{\cal B}(B^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 K^{+} K^{-} )}{{\cal B}(B^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 \pi^{+} \pi^{-})} &=& 0.385 \pm 0.031 \, ({\rm stat.}) \pm 0.023 \, ({\rm syst.}) \,, \\ \nonumber \frac{{\cal B}(B_s^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 \pi^{+} \pi^{-} )}{{\cal B}(B^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 \pi^{+} \pi^{-})} &=& 0.29\phantom{0} \pm 0.06\phantom{0} \, ({\rm stat.}) \pm 0.03\phantom{0} \, ({\rm syst.}) \pm 0.02 \, (f_s/f_d) \,, \\ \nonumber \frac{{\cal B}(B_s^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 K^{\pm} \pi^{\mp})}{{\cal B}(B^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 \pi^{+} \pi^{-})} &=& 1.48\phantom{0} \pm 0.12\phantom{0} \, ({\rm stat.}) \pm 0.08\phantom{0} \, ({\rm syst.}) \pm 0.12 \, (f_s/f_d) \,, \\ \nonumber \frac{{\cal B}(B_s^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 K^{+} K^{-} )}{{\cal B}(B^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 \pi^{+} \pi^{-})} &\in& [0.004;0.068] \; {\rm at \;\; 90\% \; CL} \,. \end{eqnarray*}