The upgraded LHCb detector has made its first discovery after spotting a proton-heavy like particle with two charm quarks.
Researchers at CERN have utilized the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator to detect a new heavy-proton like particle which contains two charm quark s and one down quark .The subatomic particle , known as Xi-cc-plus , is the first discovery from the upgraded LHCb detector at CERN ’s Large Hadron Collider , that pushes protons or ions to near the speed of light.
It is a heavier relative of the proton, first discovered by New Zealand physicist and chemist Ernest Rutherford between 1917 and 1919. Unlike protons, which contain two up quarks and a down quark, the particle has heavier charm quarks instead of up quarks.According to the University of Manchester, a key contributor to the upgrade, the particle continues a legacy that began in the 1950s, when the first Ξ particle was identified. The project involved more than 1,000 scientists from 20 countries. Proton’s heavier cousinThe researchers identified the particle by tracing its decay into three lighter ones, including Λc⁺, K⁻ and π⁺. They were observed in proton-proton collisions at the LHC in 2024, the first full year of operation for the upgraded LHCb experiment.According to the team, a clear peak comprising around 915 events was observed at a mass of 3619.97 mega-electron volts . This remained consistent with expectations from its partner particle, the Ξcc⁺⁺.The detection of the new particle addressed a mystery that has puzzled scientists for more than two decades, since an unconfirmed claim of the observation of this particle was made. However, the new particle was observed at a mass that is not compatible with the earlier claim and fits theoretical predictions.Stefano de Capua, PhD, testing the LHCb silicon detector modules in the Schuster Laboratory clean-rooms at the University of Manchester. Image credit: Amy O’Connor/STFC UKRIThe upgrade and discovery was led by Chris Parkes, PhD, a professor and head of the University of Manchester’s department of physics and astronomy. Parkes also led and directed the UK contribution to the project for more than a decade.“This discovery highlights the exciting scientific opportunities ahead as we prepare for the next generation of upgrades,” Parkes said. “Continued UK involvement in LHCb Upgrade 2 will be key to ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of particle physics.”Continuing a legacyParkes’ group developed key parts of the upgraded tracking system, the silicon pixel detector modules assembled in the Schuster Building. These detectors played a great role in precisely tracking the decays that revealed the Ξcc⁺ signal.“The detector is a form of a ‘camera’ that images the particles produced at the LHC and takes photographs 40 million times per second,” Stefano De Capua, PhD, a researcher at the University of Manchester, said. “It utilizes a custom designed silicon chip that also has a variant for use in medical imaging applications.”Chris Parkes, PhD, with the LHCb experiment. Image credit: Piotr Traczyk, CERN“Rutherford’s gold‑foil experiment in a Manchester basement transformed our understanding of matter, and today’s discovery builds on that legacy using state‑of‑the‑art technology at CERN,” Parkes pointed out.Both achievements show how far curiosity-driven research can go. “This discovery showcases the extraordinary capability of the upgraded LHCb detector and the strength of UK and Manchester contributions to the project,” he concluded in a press release.
Charm Quark Down Quark Large Hadron Collider Particle Collider Physics Proton Quarks Subatomic Particle University Of Manchester
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