Amplitude analysis and branching fraction measurement of $$ {B}^{+}\to {D}^{\ast -}{D}_s^{+}{\pi}^{+} $$ decays

The decays of the B+ meson to the final state D∗−Ds+π+ are studied in proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13TeV, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 9fb−1. The ratio of branching fractions of the B+ → D∗−Ds+π+ and B0 → D∗−Ds+ decays is measured to be 0.173 ± 0.006 ± 0.010, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. Using partially reconstructed D∗+ → D+γ and D+π0 decays, the ratio of branching sss fractions between the B+ → D∗−D∗+π+ and B+ → D∗−D+π+ decays is determined as ss 1.31 ± 0.07 ± 0.14. An amplitude analysis of the B+ → D∗−Ds+π+ decay is performed for the first time, revealing dominant contributions from known excited charm resonances decaying to the D∗−π+ final state. No significant evidence of exotic contributions in the Ds+π+ or D∗−D+ channels is found. The fit fraction of the scalar state T∗ (2900)++ observed in the s cs ̄0 B+ → D−Ds+π+ decay is determined to be less than 2.3% at a 90% confidence level.