This thesis describes a measurement of the average proper decay time
of the B_c mesons, the ground state of bottom and charm quark
bound states.  The lifetime measurement is carried out in the decay
modes B_c->J/psi+e+X and B_c->J/psi+mu+X, where the J/psi decays
as J/psi->mu^+mu^- and the X are unmeasured particles such as nu_e 
or nu_mu.  The data are collect by the CDF II detector which measures 
the properties of particles created in sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV pp-bar 
collisions delivered by the Fermilab Tevatron.  This measurement 
uses ~1 fb^-1 of integrated luminosity.   The measured average 
proper decay time of B_c mesons, tau = 0.475^{+0.053}_{-0.049}(stat.)
+/-0.018(syst.) ps, is competitive with the most precise measurements 
in the world and confirms previous measurements and theoretical 
predictions.



Posted to /cdf/www/pub/thesis/cdf9657_bclt_jpsil_thesis.pdf
    http://www-cdf.fnal.gov/thesis/cdf9657_bclt_jpsil_thesis.pdf

Posted by mhartz