Observation of B0s →K*∓ K∓ and evidence for B0s →K* −π+ decays

Abstract

Measurements of the branching fractions of B0s→K∗±K∓ and B0s→K∗±π∓ decays are performed using a data sample corresponding to 1.0 fb−1 of proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at a centre-of-mass energy of 7TeV, where the K∗± mesons are reconstructed in the K0Sπ± final state. The first observation of the B0s→K∗±K∓ decay and the first evidence for the B0s→K∗−π+ decay are reported with branching fractions B(B0s→K∗±K∓)B(B0s→K∗−π+)==(12.7±1.9±1.9)×10−6, (3.3±1.1±0.5)×10−6, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. In addition, an upper limit of B(B0→K∗±K∓)<0.4 (0.5)×10−6 is set at 90 confidence level.