Towards an important milestone in particle physics.

The LHCb collaboration has published today in Nature Physics the first evidence for the violation of the CP symmetry in baryon decays with statistical significance of 3.3 standard deviations (σ). CP violation has been observed in K and B meson decays, but not yet in any baryon decay. If the measurement is confirmed with a statistical significance of 5σ using a larger data sample, it will be the first time that an asymmetry in the decay rate of baryon and an anti-baryon is observed. In the quark model of particle physics mesons are composed of a quark and antiquark pair while baryons (anti-baryons) are composed of three quarks (anti-quarks).

ICCUB members have been involved in the LHCb experiment since the very beginning. The experimental particle physicists at ICCUB are specialized in the study of flavor physics, specifically in measuring CP violation effects and rare decays of particles containing b or c quaks. Aside from their participation at a scientific level, ICCUB researchers and engineers undertook the design, production and installation of the electronics of the SPD (Scintillator Pad Detector), part of the calorimeter. and they participated in the development of the Data-GRID computer network and the DIRAC software, which are essential in the data analysis and simulation processes.

More information can be found on the LHCb webpage: http://lhcb-public.web.cern.ch/lhcb-public/Welcome.html#BaryonCP