Measurement of the $η_c(1S)$ production cross-section in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV
hep-ex
/ Authors
LHCb collaboration, R. Aaij, C. Abellán Beteta, T. Ackernley, B. Adeva, M. Adinolfi, H. Afsharnia, C. A. Aidala, S. Aiola, Z. Ajaltouni
and 909 more authors
S. Akar, P. Albicocco, J. Albrecht, F. Alessio, M. Alexander, A. Alfonso Albero, G. Alkhazov, P. Alvarez Cartelle, A. A. Alves, S. Amato, Y. Amhis, L. An, L. Anderlini, G. Andreassi, M. Andreotti, F. Archilli, P. d'Argent, J. Arnau Romeu, A. Artamonov, M. Artuso, K. Arzymatov, E. Aslanides, M. Atzeni, B. Audurier
/ Abstract
Using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $2.0\,fb^{-1}$, collected by the LHCb experiment, the production of the $η_c(1S)$ state in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13 \text{ TeV}$ is studied in the rapidity range ${2.0 < y < 4.5}$ and in the transverse momentum range ${6.5 < p_{T} < 14.0\text{ GeV}}$. The cross-section for prompt production of $η_c(1S)$ mesons relative to that of the $J/ψ$ meson is measured using the ${p\bar{p}}$ decay mode and is found to be ${σ_{η_c(1S)}/σ_{J/ψ} = 1.69 \pm 0.15 \pm 0.10 \pm 0.18}$. The quoted uncertainties are, in order, statistical, systematic and due to uncertainties on the branching fractions of the ${J/ψ\to p \bar{p}}$ and ${η_c\to p \bar{p}}$ decays. The prompt $η_c(1S)$ production cross-section is determined to be ${σ_{η_c(1S)} = 1.26 \pm 0.11\pm 0.08 \pm 0.14 \,μb}$, where the last uncertainty includes that on the ${J/ψ}$ meson cross-section. The ratio of the branching fractions of $b$-hadron decays to the $η_c(1S)$ and ${J/ψ}$ states is measured to be ${\mathcal{B}_{b\toη_c X}/\mathcal{B}_{b\to J/ψX} = 0.48 \pm 0.03 \pm 0.03 \pm 0.05}$, where the last uncertainty is due to those on the branching fractions of the ${J/ψ\to p \bar{p}}$ and ${η_c\to p \bar{p}}$ decays. The difference between the ${J/ψ}$ and $η_c(1S)$ masses is also determined to be ${113.0 \pm 0.7 \pm 0.1\text{ MeV}}$, which is the most precise single measurement of this quantity to date.