Study of $D^{(*)+}_{sJ}$ mesons decaying to $D^{*+} K^0_{\rm S}$ and $D^{*0} K^+$ final states

Abstract: A search is performed for $D<sup>{(*)+}_{sJ}$ mesons in the reactions $pp \to D^{*+} K^0_{\rm S} X$ and $pp \to D^{*0} K⁺ X$ using data collected at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV with the LHCb detector. For the $D^{*+} K^0_{\rm S}$ final state, the decays $D^{*+} \to D⁰ \pi<sup>+$ with $D⁰ \to K^- \pi<sup>+$ and $$D⁰ \to K^- \pi⁺ \pi⁺ \pi<sup>-$$ are used. For $D^{*0} K<sup>+$, the decay $D^{*0} \to D⁰ \pi<sup>0$ with $D⁰ \to K^- \pi<sup>+$ is used. A prominent $D_{s1}(2536)<sup>+$ signal is observed in both $D^{*+} K^0_{\rm S}$ and $D^{*0} K<sup>+$ final states. The resonances $D<sup>*_{s1}(2700)<sup>+$ and $D<sup>*_{s3}(2860)<sup>+$ are also observed, yielding information on their properties, including spin-parity assignments. The decay $$D^{*_{s2}(2573)⁺} \to D^{*+} K^0_{\rm S}$$ is observed for the first time, at a significance of 6.9 $\sigma$, and its branching fraction relative to the $$D^{*_{s2}(2573)⁺} \to D⁺ K^0_{\rm S}$$ decay mode is measured.