Observation and branching fraction measurement of the decay Ξb- → Λ0 bπ -

The decay E-b -> A0bx-- is observed using a proton-proton collision data sample collected at center-of-mass energy p s 1/4 13 TeV with the LHCb detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.5 fb-1. This process is mediated by the s -> uu over bar d quark-level transition, where the b quark in the E-b baryon is a spectator in the decay. Averaging the results obtained using the two A0b decay modes, A0b -> A thorn c x-- and A0b -> A thorn c x--x- thorn x--, the relative production ratio is measured to be ofE-b =fA0b thorn BoE-b -> A0bx-- thorn 1/4 o7.3 ⠂ 0.8 ⠂ 0.6 thorn x 10-4. Here the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively, and fE-bofA0b thorn is the fragmentation fraction for a b quark into a E-b (A0b) baryon. Using an independent measurement of fE-b =fA0b, the branching fraction BoE-b -> A0bx-- thorn 1/4 o0.89 ⠂ 0.10 ⠂ 0.07 ⠂ 0.29 thorn % is obtained, where the last uncertainty is due to the assumed SU(3) flavor symmetry in the determination of fE-b =fA0b.