Search for $B_c^+$ decays to the $p\bar p\pi^+$ final state

TL;DR

This paper reports the first search for the decay of the $B_c^+$ meson into $par p o ext{pi}^+$ final state using LHCb data, setting an upper limit due to no observed signal.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental search for the $B_c^+ o par p o ext{pi}^+$ decay mode and establishes an upper limit on its branching fraction.

Findings

No signal observed for $B_c^+ o par p o ext{pi}^+$ decay.

Set an upper limit on the branching fraction at 95\\% confidence level.

Constrained the decay's branching fraction relative to fragmentation fractions.

Abstract

A search for the decays of the $B_c^+$ meson to $p\bar p\pi^+$ is performed for the first time using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment in $pp$ collisions at centre-of-mass energies of $7$ and $8$ TeV. No signal is found and an upper limit, at 95\% confidence level, is set, $\frac{f_c}{f_u}\times\mathcal{B}(B_c^+\to p\bar p\pi^+)<3.6\times10^{-8}$ in the kinematic region $m(p\bar p)<2.85\mathrm{\,Ge\kern -0.1em V\!/}c^2$, $p_{\rm T}(B)<20\mathrm{\,Ge\kern -0.1em V\!/}c$ and $2.0<y(B)<4.5$, where $\mathcal{B}$ is the branching fraction and $f_c$ ($f_u$) is the fragmentation fraction of the $b$ quark into a $B_c^+$ ($B^+$) meson.