First Observation of the Decays $B^{0}\to D^{*-}p\bar{p}\pi^{+}$ and B^{0}\to D^{*-}p\bar{n}$

TL;DR

This paper reports the first observation of specific B meson decays involving a D* meson and nucleon pairs, measuring their branching fractions with data from the CLEO detector.

Contribution

It presents the first experimental evidence of B^0 decays to D^{*-} nucleon pairs, providing new insights into baryonic B decays.

Findings

First observation of B^0 to D^{*-} p p̄ π^+ decay

First observation of B^0 to D^{*-} p n̄ decay

Measured branching fractions for both decay modes

Abstract

We report the first observation of exclusive decays of the type B to D^* N anti-N X, where N is a nucleon. Using a sample of 9.7 times 10^{6} B-Bbar pairs collected with the CLEO detector operating at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring, we measure the branching fractions B(B^0 \to D^{*-} proton antiproton \pi^+) = ({6.5}^{+1.3}_{-1.2} +- 1.0) \times 10^{-4} and B(B^0 \to D^{*-} proton antineutron) = ({14.5}^{+3.4}_{-3.0} +- 2.7) times 10^{-4}. Antineutrons are identified by their annihilation in the CsI electromagnetic calorimeter.