Measurement of the Ratio of the B-0 -> D*(-)iota(+)v(iota) and B-0 -> D*(-) mu(+)v(mu) Branching Fractions Using Three-Prong tau-Lepton Decays

The ratio of branching fractions R(D∗-)≡B(B0→D∗-τ+ντ)/B(B0→D∗-μ+νμ) is measured using a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb-1. For the first time, R(D∗-) is determined using the τ-lepton decays with three charged pions in the final state. The B0→D∗-τ+ντ yield is normalized to that of the B0→D∗-π+π-π+ mode, providing a measurement of B(B0→D∗-τ+ντ)/B(B0→D∗-π+π-π+)=1.97±0.13±0.18, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The value of B(B0→D∗-τ+ντ)=(1.42±0.094±0.129±0.054)% is obtained, where the third uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the branching fraction of the normalization mode. Using the well-measured branching fraction of the B0→D∗-μ+νμ decay, a value of R(D∗-)=0.291±0.019±0.026±0.013 is established, where the third uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the branching fractions of the normalization and B0→D∗-μ+νμ modes. This measurement is in agreement with the standard model prediction and with previous results.

The ratio of branching fractions R(D*(-)) equivalent to B(B-0 -> D*(-) iota(+)v(iota))/B(B-0 -> D*(-) mu+ v(mu)) is measured using a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1). For the first time, R(D*-) is determined using the iota-lepton decays with three charged pions in the final state. The B-0 -> D*(-) iota+ v(iota) yield is normalized to that of the B-0 -> D*(-) pi(+) pi(-) pi(+) mode, providing a measurement B-0 -> D*(-) iota+ v(iota) / B(B-0 -> D*(-) pi(+) pi(-) pi(+)) = 1.97 +/- 0.13 +/- 0.18, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The value of (B-0 -> D*(-) iota+ v(iota)) = (1.42 +/- 0.094 +/- 0.129 +/- 0.054)% is obtained, where the third uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the branching fraction of the normalization mode. Using the well-measured branching fraction of the B-0 -> D*(-) mu+ v(mu) decay, a value of R(D*(-)) = 0.291 +/- 0.019 +/- 0.026 +/- 0.013 is established, where the third uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the branching fractions of the normalization and B-0 -> D*(-) mu+ v(mu) modes. This measurement is in agreement with the standard model prediction and with previous results.