Measurement of $\mathcal{R}(D^*)$ with Three-Prong $\tau$ Decays at LHCb

TL;DR

This paper reports on a precise measurement of the ratio of B meson decays involving tau and muon leptons at LHCb, which tests lepton universality and could reveal new physics beyond the Standard Model.

Contribution

It presents the first measurement of $ ext{R}(D^*)$ using three-prong tau decays with the smallest statistical uncertainty to date.

Findings

Measurement precision of 6.7% statistical uncertainty.

Potential to confirm or refute lepton universality violation.

Provides crucial data for testing Standard Model predictions.

Abstract

The observable $\mathcal{R} ( D^{(*)} ) = \mathcal{B}\left( B^{0}\to D^{(*)-} \tau^{+} \nu_{\tau} \right) / \mathcal{B}\left( B^{0}\to D^{(*)-} \mu^{+} \nu_{\mu} \right)$ is a probe for Lepton Universality violation, so it is sensitive to New Physics processes. The current combination of the measurements of $\mathcal{R} ( D^{(*)} )$ differs from Standard Model predictions with a $4\sigma$ significance. A measurement of $\mathcal{R} ( D^* )$ using three-prong $\tau$ decays is currently ongoing at LHCb. The statistical precision of this analysis is 6.7%, i.e. the smallest statistical uncertainty for a single measurement of this observable. Therefore this measurement will be important to confirm or disprove the current discrepancy from the theoretical expectations.