LHCb is a precision heavy-flavour experiment at the Large Hadron Collider and in 2011 collected just over 1 fb-1 of data at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 7 TeV. The Ring Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) detectors allow LHCb to identify charged hadrons by measuring their velocity. The system uses Hybrid Photon Detectors to detect rings of single photons emitted by particles travelling through the RICH radiators. The performance-monitoring of these photon detectors whilst data-taking is presented and discussed. LHCb aims to perform precise measurements of Charge-Parity violation in B and D mesons. The final state of B0 → J/Ψ(→μ=μ-)K*(→K=π-) is an admixture of parity-odd and parity-even final states, which are either longitudinally or transversely polarized. These contributions can be separated by performing an angular analysis. The polarization amplitudes and phases of the final state are measured. No difference is observed between the B0 and B0 flavour eigenstates which indicates that Charge-Parity symmetry has been conserved. The ambiguity in the measurement of the strong phase has been resolved by studying the P-wave and S-wave interference in the K/π mass system. The deviation from zero or π in the measurement of the strong phases indicates that final state interactions have occurred. In addition, the prediction that the polarization amplitudes should be similar to those of B0s→ J/Ψo is confirmed.

LHCb is a high-precision experiment dedicated to measuring the decays of B hadrons. Particle identification at LHCb relies upon two Ring Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) detectors, and this thesis describes work carried out relating to these detectors. It includes an analysis performed to investigate ion feedback in the Hybrid Photon Detectors (HPDs) used as photosensors for the RICH system, and studies of the performance of a RICH prototype in test beam conditions. A time alignment system for the RICH detectors has been designed and implemented, and this work is presented here. Excellent particle identification performance is required for efficient reconstruction of the b → s penguin decay B0s → ØØ a channel in which visible New Physics effects are possible. An analysis of this decay has been performed, encompassing event selection at trigger and offline levels, resolution, tagging and acceptance studies, and toy monte carlo experiments on sensitivity and systematic errors in measuring the total weak phase. The results are discussed within.

This thesis documents two searches for rare hadronic decays of B⁺ mesons with the LHCb experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. Both are performed using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.8 fb^-1, collected at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV during 2011-2016. The first is a search for B⁺ → D_s⁺K⁺K^- decays. A significant signal is observed for the first time and the branching fraction is determined to be B(B⁺ → D_s⁺K⁺K^-) = (7.1 ± 0.5 ± 0.6 ± 0.7) x 10^-6, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third due to the uncertainty on the branching fraction of the normalisation mode B⁺ → Ds⁺D⁰. The second search is performed for the rare pure annihilation decay B⁺ → D_s⁺φ. No significant signal is observed and a limit of B(B⁺ → D_s⁺φ) < 4.9 x 10^-7 is set on the branching fraction at 95% confidence level.

The LHCb experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN is designed to make precise measurements of processes including B and D mesons to test the Standard Model (SM) predictions for CP violation, and to search for new physics. From its inception one of the key aims of the LHCb collaboration has been to precisely measure the CP violating phase ϕs, the weak phase due to the interference between B⁰/s -B¯⁰/s mixing and decay. Having collected 3 fb-1 of data in Run 1, the combined results of LHCb measurements of ϕs from various decay modes are in agreement with SM predictions. The aim now is to improve the precision of the LHCb measurement to be sensitive to any small deviation from the SM prediction of ϕs. One strategy to achieve this, in addition to collecting more data, is to expand the number of modes used to measure ϕs to improve the sensitivity of the combination. This thesis presents the measurement of the CP violating phase ϕs in the yet unstudied B⁰/s→ ψ(2S)ϕ decay mode. In addition to providing a measurement of ϕs the study of this mode presents an opportunity to confirm the lifetime difference of the B⁰/s mass eigenstates ∆Γs, currently only measured in the B⁰/s→ Jψϕ decay mode. The results from 3 fb-1 of LHCb data are; ϕs = 0:23+0:29-0:28 ± 0:02 rad, ∆Γs = 0:066+0:041-0:044 ± 0:007 ps-1. which are in agreement with the SM and the results from the LHCb measurement from B⁰/s→ Jψϕ decays.

The LHCb experiment, based at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, is primarily designed to make precision measurements of the decays of heavy flavour hadrons, such as B and D mesons. This thesis is composed of two parts: the first consists of two studies of LHCb's vertex locator (VELO) and the second describes the development of methods for recording the decay D0->K-mu+nu_mu. The first VELO study involves calibration and monitoring of the gain (i.e. the detector response to input charge from particles). We propose a robust method to measure the gain response of each silicon sensor using calibration bits output by the sensors, and a method to recalibrate the gain simple enough to be followed by non-expert VELO users. This is followed by an investigation into into the prospects of using the VELO to perform particle identification using the characteristic energy deposition of each particle species (dE/dx). Finally, studies into the development of a trigger and a so-called 'stripping line' for recording D0->K-mu+nu_mu decays is presented. The relatively high cross-section for charm decays in LHCb mean this decay (with a branching fraction of 3%) occurs frequently, and the challenge of a trigger is to reduce this to a rate acceptable to write to disk. Finally, based on a sample of data from July and August 2011, the measured q 2 distribution for this decay is compared to the simple single-pole theoretical model, and the pole mass is measured to bem_pole=2.35 + 0.81 - 0.35 GeV/c 2.

La désintégration $B_{ (s)}$ → τμ est supprimée dans le SM, où le nombre leptonique est conservé. Son observation serait donc une preuve non ambiguë de la physique au-delà du SM. Des résultats récents [1,2] ont ravivé l'intérêt pour la recherche de tels processus [3]. Cette thèse présente la recherche des désintégrations $B_{ (s)}$→ τμ dans l'expérience LHCb, l'une des 4 grandes expériences menées au Large Hadron Collider (LHC) du CERN.Le lepton τ se désintègre avant d'atteindre le détecteur LHCb et est reconstruit en utilisant le canal τ → πππν. Le neutrino provenant de la désintégration du τ échappe à la détection. Une technique de reconstruction spécifique est utilisée pour déduire l'énergie du neutrino et donc la masse invariante du méson B qui s'est désintégré.Afin de séparer le signal du bruit de fond, une sélection hors ligne composée de différentes étapes est appliquée. Des techniques d'analyse multivariées, telles que les arbres de décision boostés (BDT), sont utilisées pendant le processus de sélection.La stratégie d'analyse est complétée par un ajustement simultané à la distribution de masse invariante des mésons B dans différentes régions d'un BDT final. Selon les prédictions du SM, aucun événement de signal n'est attendu. Dans ce cas, la méthode CLs sera utilisée pour extraire les limites supérieures des rapports de branchement BR($B_{ (s)}$→ τμ).[1] Test of lepton universality using $B^+$→$K^+$$l ^+$$l ^-$ decaysPhys. Rev. Lett. 113, 151601 (2014)[2] Measurement of the ratio of branching fractions BR(B → D*τ ν)/BR(B → D*μν)Phys. Rev. Lett. 115 (2015) 111803[3] Lepton Flavour Violation in B Decays ? Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 091801 (2015) / The decay $B_{ (s)}$→τμ is suppressed in the SM, in which lepton flavour is conserved. Its observation would therefore be an unambiguous evidence of physics beyond the SM. Recent results [1,2] revived the interest for the search of such processes [3]. This thesis presents the search for the $B_{ (s)}$→τμ decays within the LHCb experiment, one of the 4 large experiments operated at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC).The τ lepton decays before reaching the LHCb detector and is reconstructed using the τ→πππν channel. The neutrino from the τ decay escapes detection. A specific reconstruction technique is used in order to infer the energy of the ν and thus the invariant mass of the decaying B meson. This way, the complete kinematics of the process can be solved up to a two fold ambiguity.In order to disentangle signal from background, an offline selection consisting of different steps is applied. Data driven and multivariate analysis techniques, such as Boosted Decision Trees (BDT), are used during the selection process. The analysis strategy is completed by a simultaneous fit to the B meson invariant mass distribution over the different bins of a final BDT. According to the SM expectations, no signal events should be observed. In this case, the CLs method will be used to extract the upper limits on the branching fractions.[1] Test of lepton universality using $B^+$→$K^+$$l ^+$$l ^-$ decaysPhys. Rev. Lett. 113, 151601 (2014)[2] Measurement of the ratio of branching fractions BR(B → D*τ ν)/BR(B → D*μν)Phys. Rev. Lett. 115 (2015) 111803[3] Lepton Flavour Violation in B Decays ? Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 091801 (2015)

L'étude présentée dans cette thèse est dédiée à l'analyse des désintégrations radiatives de mésons beaux, processus faisant intervenir le quark b ce dernier se désintégrant par interaction faible en un quark s avec émission d'un photon. Ce type de désintégration est interdit à l'arbre en théorie quantique des champs et doit donc s'opérer à l'aide de boucles. Ces désintégrations ont des rapports d'embranchement très faibles, de l'ordre de 10^{-5}. Dès lors, l’étude de ces processus à l'aide du détecteur LHCb permet de mesurer précisément des observables reliées à ces processus, telles que les rapports d'embranchement, les asymétries de CP ou des variables angulaires et d'hélicité comme la polarisation du photon. En comparant ces résultats expérimentaux avec les prédictions théoriques du Modèle Standard de la Physique des Particules, il devient possible de tester ce modèle et de contraindre l'existence d'une nouvelle physique au delà du Modèle Standard. L'analyse présentée dans cette thèse se concentre sur l'étude des désintégrations B0 -> K*0 gamma, Bs0 -> phi gamma et Bs0 -> K*0 gamma. Les événements utilisés sont ceux où le photon s'est converti en une paire électron-positron par interaction avec le détecteur afin de bénéficier de la bonne résolution sur l'impulsion des traces chargées des trajectographes de LHCb. Les mesures du rapport des rapports d'embranchement des désintégrations B0 -> K*0 gamma et Bs0 -> phi gamma ainsi que de l'asymétrie de CP directe dans le processus B0 -> K*0 gamma sont réalisées. La bonne résolution obtenue sur la masse du méson B0 a permis de déterminer une première limite supérieure au rapport d'embranchement de la désintégration supprimée de Cabbibo Bs0 -> K*0 gamma. / The purpose of the work presented in this thesis is to study the radiative decays of B mesons. These processes correspond to the decay of a b-quark into a s-quark through the weak interaction with a photon in the final state. This kind of decay is not allowed at tree level in the quantum field theory but only through virtual loops. These processes have small branching fractions of the order of 10^{-5}. The study of these decays with the LHCb detector provides precise measurements of related observable such as branching fractions, CP asymmetries or angular variables such as the photon polarisation. These results can be compared with the theoretical prediction of the Standard Model of Particle Physics. Therefore, it is possible to test this model and to constrain the existence of new physics behind the Standard Model. The analysis presented in this thesis focuses on the B0 → K*0 gamma, Bs0 → phi gamma and Bs0 → K*0 gamma decays. Only events where the photon has converted into a dielectron pair by interacting with the detector are used. This allows to take advantage of the good resolution on the charged tracks momentum obtained with the LHCb's tracking system. The measurements of the ratio of branching fractions of the B0 → K*0 gamma and Bs0 → phi gamma decays and of the direct CP asymmetry in the B0 → K*0 gamma process are performed. The good resolution obtained on the B meson mass allows to set the first upper limit on the branching ratio of the Cabbibo suppressed Bs0 → K*0 gamma decay.

The study of flavour physics allows for the Standard Model (SM) to be tested to higher energies than can be accessed through direct searches. The SM is known not to provide enough of a difference between matter and anti-matter, termed CP violation, to explain the dominance of matter in our universe. One of the main purposes of the LHCb experiment is to search for new sources of CP violation in the decays of B mesons. Flavour changing neutral current (FCNC) interactions are forbidden at tree level in the SM, and can therefore only be accessed through quantum loops. In New Physics scenarios such as Supersymmetry, new particles could appear in those loops introducing new sources of CP violation. The Bos→ØØ decay proceeds via the b → sss FCNC transition. Triple products provide a method of exploiting the angular distributions of P → V V decays to create T-odd observables. Asymmetries of these T-odd observables, averaged over the initial flavour of the Bos meson provide a measure of T violation. Assuming CPT conservation, violation of time reversal infers CP violation. The CP-violating weak phase in the interference between Bos mixing and the decay to two Ø mesons is predicted to be close to zero in the SM. The measurements of the triple product asymmetries and the CP-violating weak phase have been performed using 1.0 fb-1 of LHCb data. Events where kaon pairs originate from a spin-0 or non-resonant state are accounted for with the associated angular distributions. Triple product asymmetries are measured to be AU = -0:055 ± 0:036(stat) ± 0:018(syst) and Av = 0:010 ± 0:036(stat) ± 0:018(syst). The CP-violating phase is found to be in the interval [-2:46,-0:76] rad at 68% confidence level. The p-value for the hypothesis of zero radians is found to be 16 %. These results represent the most accurate measurements of the triple product asymmetries and the first measurement of the CP-violating weak phase.

The LHCb experiment is an experiment based at the LHC in Geneva and is dedicated to the study of mesons containing bottom and charm quarks. One of the primary goals of the physics at LHCb is to measure CP-violating effects which lead to a dominance of matter over anti-matter in the universe. This thesis presents the measurement of the CP-violating phase Ø s which is one of the golden channels at LHCb. This phase is observed as the interference between mixing of B0s ↔ B-0s and decay of B0s → J/ψ K+K−. The results, based upon the 1.0 fb−1 dataset collected by LHCb during 2011, are: Ø s = 0.07±0.09±0.01 rad , ∆Γs = 0.100±0.016±0.002 ps−1 , Γs = 0.663±0.005±0.006 ps−1 . This analysis is also able to measure the mixing parameter ms = 17.71±0.10±0.01 ps−1. To improve upon this measurement the B0s → J/ψ K+K− analysis is combined with the B0s → J/ψ π+ π − decay channel to make the most accurate measurements to date of, Ø s = 0.01±0.07±0.01 rad, ∆Γs = 0.106±0.011±0.007 ps−1 and Γs = 0.661±0.004±0.006 ps−1. As an integral part of this work a comprehensive software suite known as RapidFit was developed, which is used by many other physicists and this is described.

Le détecteur LHCb est l'une des quatre expériences de physique des particules installées sur la nouvelle chaîne d'accélération LHC (Large Hadron Collider) du CERN à Genève. Afin de réduire la quantité de données destinées au stockage pour les analyses hors ligne, un dispositif de sélection en ligne des collisions intéressantes selon la physique à étudier est mis en place en parallèle de la chaîne d'acquisition des données. Ce dispositif est composé d'un premier niveau (niveau 0) réalisé par un système électronique complexe et d'un second niveau de sélection réalisé par informatique HLT (High Level Trigger). L'unité de décision de niveau 0 (L0DU) est le système central du niveau 0 de déclenchement. L0DU prend la décision d'accepter ou de rejeter la collision pour ce premier niveau à partir d'une fraction d'informations issues des sous-détecteurs les plus rapides (432 bits à 80 MHz). L'unité de décision est un circuit imprimé 16 couches intégrant des composants de haute technologie de type FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) en boîtier BGA (Bill Grid Array). Chaque sous-détecteur transmet ses informations via des liaisons optiques haute vitesse fonctionnant à 1,6 Gbit/s. Le traitement est implémenté en utilisant une architecture pipeline synchrone à 40 MHz. L'unité de décision applique un algorithme de physique simple pour calculer sa décision et réduire le flot de données de 40 MHz à 1 MHz pour le niveau de sélection suivant. L'architecture interne se compose principalement d'un traitement partiel des données destiné à l'ajustement des phases d'horloge, à l'alignement en temps et à la préparation des données pour la partie définition des déclenchements (TDU). L'architecture développée permet de configurer et de paramétrer l'algorithme de prise de décision via le système de contrôle général de l'expérience ECS (Experiment Control System) sans avoir à effectuer une reprogrammation des FPGA.