A model-independent measurement of the CKM angle γ in partially reconstructed B± → D*h± decays with D → KS⁰ h+h− (h = π, K)

A bstract A measurement of CP -violating observables in B ± → D * K ± and B ± → D * π ± decays is made where the photon or neutral pion from the D * → D γ or D * → D π 0 decay is not reconstructed. The D meson is reconstructed in the self-conjugate decay modes, D → KS⁰ K S 0 π + π − or D → KS⁰ K S 0 K + K −. The distribution of signal yields in the D decay phase space is analysed in a model-independent way. The measurement uses a data sample collected in proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of approximately 9 fb − 1. The B ± → D * K ± and B ± → D * π ± CP -violating observables are interpreted in terms of hadronic parameters and the CKM angle γ, resulting in a measurement of γ = (92-₁₇^+21 92 − 17 + 21) °. The total uncertainty includes the statistical and systematic uncertainties, and the uncertainty due to external strong-phase inputs.