Observation of the Decay $B_c^{\pm} \to J/\psi \pi^{\pm}$ and Measurement of the $B_c^{\pm}$ Mass

Abstract

The $B_c^{\pm}$ meson is observed through the decay $B_c^{\pm} \to J/\psi \pi^{\pm}$, in data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.4 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. A signal of $108\pm15$ candidates is observed, with a significance that exceeds $8 \sigma$. The mass of the $B_c^{\pm}$ meson is measured to be 6275.6 $\pm$ 2.9 (stat.) $\pm$ 2.5 (syst.) MeV/$c^2$.