Search for CP violation in the phase space of D 0 → π + π − π + π − decays

A search for time-integrated CP violation in the Cabibbo-suppressed decay D-0 -> pi(+)pi(-)pi(+)pi(-) is performed using an unbinned, model-independent technique known as the energy test. This is the first application of the energy test in four-body decays. The search is performed for P-even CP asymmetries and, for the first time, is extended to probe the P-odd case. Using proton proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1) collected by the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of root s = 7 TeV and 8 TeV, the world's best sensitivity to CP violation in this decay is obtained. The data are found to be consistent with the hypothesis of CP symmetry with a p-value of (4.6 +/- 0.5)% in the P-even case, and marginally consistent with a p-value of (0.6 +/- 0.2)% in the P-odd case, corresponding to a significance for CP non -conservation of 2.7 standard deviations. (C) 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.