Production of Ds** mesons in hadronic Z decays

TL;DR

This study measures the production rates of orbitally excited Ds** mesons, Ds1 and Ds2*, in hadronic Z decays using ALEPH data, providing insights into charm-strange meson production in high-energy collisions.

Contribution

First measurement of Ds1 and Ds2* meson production rates in Z decays, including separate rates for Z->cc and Z->bbar processes, with assumptions on decay branching fractions.

Findings

Ds1 production rate: (0.52±0.09±0.06)%

Ds2* production rate: (0.83±0.29+0.07-0.13)%

Production rates measured separately for Z->cc and Z->bbar

Abstract

The production rates of the orbitally excited Ds** mesons, Ds1 and Ds2*, are measured with the 4.1 million hadronic Z decays recorded by the ALEPH detector during 1991--1995. The Ds** mesons are reconstructed in the decay modes Ds1+ -> D*+ K0, Ds1+ -> D*0 K+ and Ds2*+ -> D0 K+. The production rate of the Ds1 is measured to be n(Z->Ds1+-)=(0.52+-0.09+-0.06)%, under the assumption that the two considered decay modes of the Ds1 saturate the branching ratio. The production rate of the Ds2* is determined to be n(Z->Ds2*+-)=(0.83+-0.29+0.07-0.13)%, assuming that the branching fraction of the decay Ds2*+ -> D0 K+ is 45%. The production rates in Z->cc and Z->bbar decays are measured separately