Measurement of the ratio of the $B^0 \to D^{*-} \tau^+ \nu_{\tau}$ and $B^0 \to D^{*-} \mu^+ \nu_{\mu}$ branching fractions using three-prong $\tau$-lepton decays

TL;DR

This paper measures the ratio of branching fractions for B0 decays involving tau and muon leptons using three-prong tau decays, providing a new precise test of lepton flavor universality consistent with the Standard Model.

Contribution

First measurement of ${ m R}(D^{*-})$ using three-prong tau decays, improving the precision of lepton flavor universality tests in B decays.

Findings

Measured ${ m R}(D^{*-}) = 0.291 \

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Abstract

The ratio of branching fractions ${\cal{R}}(D^{*-})\equiv {\cal{B}}(B^0 \to D^{*-} \tau^+ \nu_{\tau})/{\cal{B}}(B^0 \to D^{*-} \mu^+\nu_{\mu})$ is measured using a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 Tev, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3$~$fb$^{-1}$. For the first time ${\cal{R}}(D^{*-})$ is determined using the $\tau$ lepton decays with three charged pions in the final state. The $B^0 \to D^{*-} \tau^+\nu_{\tau}$ yield is normalized to that of the $B^0\to D^{*-} \pi^+\pi^-\pi^+$ mode, providing a measurement of ${\cal{B}}(B^0\to D^{*-}\tau^+\nu_{\tau})/{\cal{B}}(B^0\to D^{*-}\pi^+\pi^-\pi^+) = 1.97 \pm 0.13 \pm 0.18$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The value of ${\cal{B}}(B^0 \to D^{*-} \tau^+ \nu_{\tau}) = (1.42 \pm 0.094 \pm 0.129 \pm 0.054)\% $ is obtained, where the third uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the branching fraction of the normalization mode. Using the well-measured branching fraction of the $B^0 \to D^{*-} \mu^+\nu_{\mu}$ decay, a value of ${\cal{R}}(D^{*-}) = 0.291 \pm 0.019 \pm 0.026 \pm 0.013$ is established, where the third uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the branching fractions of the normalization and $B^0\to D^{*-}\mu^+\nu_{\mu}$ modes. This measurement is in agreement with the Standard Model prediction and with previous results.