Measurement of the Ratio of the B0 →d∗-τ+ντ and B0 →d∗-μ+νμ Branching Fractions Using Three-Prong τ -Lepton Decays

The ratio of branching fractions R(D∗-)≡B(B0→D∗-τ+ντ)/B(B0→D∗-μ+νμ) is measured using a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb-1. For the first time, R(D∗-) is determined using the τ-lepton decays with three charged pions in the final state. The B0→D∗-τ+ντ yield is normalized to that of the B0→D∗-π+π-π+ mode, providing a measurement of B(B0→D∗-τ+ντ)/B(B0→D∗-π+π-π+)=1.97±0.13±0.18, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The value of B(B0→D∗-τ+ντ)=(1.42±0.094±0.129±0.054)% is obtained, where the third uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the branching fraction of the normalization mode. Using the well-measured branching fraction of the B0→D∗-μ+νμ decay, a value of R(D∗-)=0.291±0.019±0.026±0.013 is established, where the third uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the branching fractions of the normalization and B0→D∗-μ+νμ modes. This measurement is in agreement with the standard model prediction and with previous results.