Observation of B[0 over S] → K*[superscript ±] K[superscript ∓] and evidence for B[0 over S] → K*[superscript -] π [superscript +] decays

Abstract

Measurements of the branching fractions of B[0 over S] → K*[superscript ±] K[superscript ∓] and B[0 over S] → K*[superscript ±] π [superscript ∓] decays are performed using a data sample corresponding to 1.0 fb[superscript -1] of proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, where the K*[superscript ±] mesons are reconstructed in the K[0 over S] π [superscript ±] final state. The first observation of the B[0 over S] → K*[superscript ±] K[superscript ∓] decay and the first evidence for the B[0 over S] → K*[superscript -] π [superscript +] decay are reported with branching fractions B (B [0 over S] → K*[superscript ±] K [superscript ∓]) = (12.7 ± 1.9 ± 1.9) x 10[superscript -6], B (B [0 over S] → K*[superscript -] π [superscript +]) = (3.3 ± 1.1 ± 0.5) x 10[superscript -6], where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. In addition, an upper limit of B (B[superscript 0] → K*[superscript ±] K[superscript ∓]) < 0.4 (0.5) x 10[superscript -6] is set at 90% (95%) confidence level.