Measurement of the $χ_b(3P)$ mass and of the relative rate of $χ_{b1}(1P)$ and $χ_{b2}(1P)$ production

Abstract

The production of $χ_b$ mesons in proton-proton collisions is studied using a data sample collected by the LHCb detector, at centre-of-mass energies of $\sqrt{s}=7$ and $8$ TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb$^{-1}$. The $χ_b$ mesons are identified through their decays to $Υ(1S)γ$ and $Υ(2S)γ$ using photons that converted to $e^+e^-$ pairs in the detector. The relative prompt production rate of $χ_{b1}(1P)$ and $χ_{b2}(1P)$ mesons is measured as a function of the $Υ(1S)$ transverse momentum in the $χ_b$ rapidity range $2.0<y<4.5$. A precise measurement of the $χ_b(3P)$ mass is also performed. Assuming a mass splitting between the $χ_{b1}(3P)$ and the $χ_{b2}(3P)$ states of 10.5 MeV/$c^2$, the measured mass of the $χ_{b1}(3P)$ meson is $ m(χ_{b1}(3P))= 10515.7^{+2.2}_{-3.9}(stat) ^{+1.5}_{-2.1}(syst) MeV/c^2.$