Measurement of CP Violation in B⁰_d Mixing Using B⁰_d → D^*-μ⁺(ν_μ)X Decays

Abstract

This thesis describes the measurement of the time-integrated semileptonic charge asymmetry in B 0 d mixing, a d sl , using the decay chain of B 0 d → D * − µ + (ν µ), D * − → This is far from a complete list of the thanks, there have been countless people who have aided me, leant an ear, or made an impact in my life during my years as a student. Thank you all, especially for being so understanding. Grumpy students can require a lot of patience. Such is the cost of science! Thanks go to all the staff and fellow students in Lancaster's HEP group, for their guidance and academic support. Additionally, I am grateful to all the members of Fermilab's B-physics group, and to the people of DØ as a whole. To my colleagues and mentors: I hugely appreciate the assistence rendered to me by Dr. Mark Williams during and after my time spent in at Fermilab. There has not been a single mathematical, physical, computational, or furniture moving problem that this gentleman was unable to assist me with. I am deeply apologetic for causing much more hassle to his working life than he may have been expecting, but I am much obliged that he took the time to get me up to speed on most of the topics involved in my analyses. Dr. Guennadi Borissov, who wrote many of the software libraries that the DØ B-physics group uses. He is deeply knowledgeable in all matters to do with B physics phenomenology and experimentation, and I hope that the groundbreaking studies he undertakes afford him the world renown he deserves. Dr. Iain A. Bertram was my supervisor, and as such has had to sift through hundreds of my questions, draft talks, appraisals, and meeting requests over the last four years. I thank him for his advice, for steering me through my difficulties, and for the amusing barrages of creative swearing when any computer misbehaves. Dr. Rob Henderson taught my first postgraduate course in quantum field theory. His explanations and derivations were thorough and clear, but he deserves further acknowledgement for being both a theory and Linux guru. Similarly, Dr. Alex Finch should be thanked for starting me down the path of software engineering. 1 Mr. Rob Lewsey and Mrs. Christine Harmer battled on my behalf to manage the long term attachment funds and reimbursement during my time in North America. The process was not straight forward in the least, so these two deserve recognition for their patience and help. For my friends in and outside of academia: Alex Robson, a steadfast friend since my undergraduate years, has continued his role as entertainer, welcome distraction provider, and coffee drinker during this studentship. An ear for many of my rants and provider of a social life outside of work, he deserves my thanks. Sa Bom Nim Mark W. Wituk, 5 th Dan Tang Soo Do, was my martial arts master and a friend during my time in the United States. He is responsible for me staying in a working physical condition whilst I spent my working life at a computer desk. His guidance saw me competing in the 37 th National All Martial Arts Championship, in a ranke...