Measurement of the Average $B$-Hadron Lifetime in $Z^{0}$ Decays

TL;DR

This paper reports a precise measurement of the average $B$-hadron lifetime in $Z^{0}$ decays using data from the SLD detector, employing an inclusive vertex analysis and maximum-likelihood fitting to determine the lifetime with statistical and systematic uncertainties.

Contribution

First measurement of the $B$-hadron lifetime in $Z^{0}$ decays using the SLD detector with an inclusive vertex method and maximum-likelihood analysis.

Findings

Measured $B$-hadron lifetime: 1.564 ps with uncertainties.

Used 50,000 $Z^{0}$ decay events for analysis.

Achieved a precise lifetime measurement with combined uncertainties.

Abstract

We report a measurement of the average $B$-hadron lifetime using data collected with the SLD detector at the SLC in 1993. An inclusive analysis selected three-dimensional vertices with $B$-hadron lifetime information in a sample of 50k $Z^{0}$ decays. A lifetime of $1.564\pm0.030\,(\rm stat)\pm 0.037\,(\rm syst)$~ps was extracted from the decay length distribution of these vertices using a binned maximum-likelihood method.