Search for Bₛ⁰ → μ + μ − and B0 → μ + μ − decays

A bstract A search for the rare decays Bₛ⁰ → μ + μ − and B 0 → μ + μ − is performed in pp collisions at √s = 7\;TeV , with a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 fb −1 collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. In both decays, the number of events observed after all selection requirements is consistent with the expectation from background plus standard model signal predictions. The resulting upper limits on the branching fractions are B( Bₛ⁰ → μ⁺μ⁻ ) < 7.7 × 10^ - 9 and B( B⁰ → μ⁺μ⁻ ) < 1.8 × 10^ - 9 at 95% confidence level.