Measurement of Mixing and CP Violation in the Two-Body D0 decays to K+K−, π+ π− and K± π∓ with the BABAR Experiment

In this thesis we present the measurement of D0 - $$\bar{D}$$0 mixing parameter yCP using the full BABAR data sample. We also searched for CP violation in the D0 → K+K-, π+π- channels, finding the parameter ΔY compatible with zero. In Chapter 1, we briefly review the SM and introduce the theoretical framework of neutral meson mixing and CP violation. The BABAR detector and the performance of each sub-detector are described in Chapter 2. In Chapter 3, we present an overview of the analysis including a brief description of the previous similar BABAR analyses and the expected improvements in the present analysis. The candidate reconstruction and selection are described in Chapter 4, together with the optimization of the signal region. The signal and background event classes are described in Chapter 5, where we also provide the probability density functions used to extract the mixing and CP violating parameter. In Chapter 6 we describe the various crosschecks performed to validate the analysis and the evaluation of the systematic error. Finally in Chapter 7 we present the final results and their interpretation.