Searching for $B_c$ mesons in the ATLAS experiment at LHC

Abstract

We discuss the feasibility of the observation of the signal from $B_c$ mesons in the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. In particular, we address the decay mode $B_c\to J/\psi \pi$ followed by the leptonic decay $J/\psi \to {\mu }^{+}{\mu }^{-}$, which should permit an accurate measurement of the $B_c$ mass. We performed a Monte Carlo study of the signal and background concluding that a precision of $\approx$ 1 MeV for the $B_c$ mass could be achieved after one year of running at $‘‘$low" luminosity. The semileptonic decay $B_c\to J/\psi {\mu }^{+}{\nu }_{\mu }$ is also considered for a possible extraction of $\mid V_{cb}\mid$.

Comments: 7 pages, latex file, twoside,fleqn,espcrc2,psfig and subfigure style, with three .ps figures in a uuencoded file. Talk presented by M.A. Sanchis-Lozano in the Conference Production and Decay of Hyperon, Charm and Beauty Hadrons. Strasbourg, Sept. 1995