Abstract: By solving the Muskhelishvili-Omnes integral equations, the scalar form factors of the semileptonic heavy meson decays D -> pi(l) over bar nu(l), D -> (K) over bar(l) over bar nu(l), (K) over bar -> pi(l) over bar nu(l) and (B) over bar (s) -> Kl (nu) over bar (l) are simultaneously studied. As input, we employ unitarized heavy meson-Goldstone boson chiral coupled-channel amplitudes for the energy regions not far from thresholds, while, at high energies, adequate asymptotic conditions are imposed. The scalar form factors are expressed in terms of Omn\`es matrices multiplied by vector polynomials, which contain some undetermined dispersive subtraction constants. We make use of heavy quark and chiral symmetries to constrain these constants, which are fitted to lattice QCD results both in the charm and the bottom sectors, and in this latter sector to the light-cone sum rule predictions close to q(2)=0 as well. We find a good simultaneous description of the scalar form factors for the four semileptonic decay reactions. From this combined fit, and taking advantage that scalar and vector form factors are equal at q(2)=0, we obtain |V-cd| = 0.244 +/- 0.022, |V-cs| = 0.945 +/- 0.041 and |V-ub| = (4.3 +/- 0.7)x10(-3) for the involved Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix elements. In addition, we predict the following vector form factors at q(2) = 0: |f(+)(D ->eta)(0)| = 0.01 +/- 0.05, |f(+)(Ds ->eta)(0)| = 0.50 +/- 0.08, |f(+)(Ds ->eta)(0)| = 0.73 +/- 0.03 and|f(+)((B) over bar ->eta)(0)| = 0.82 +/- 0.08, which might serve as alternatives to determine the CKM elements when experimental measurements of the corresponding differential decay rates become available. Finally, we predict the different form factors above the q(2)-regions accessible in the semileptonic decays, up to moderate energies amenable to be described using the unitarized coupled-channel chiral approach.

Abstract: We study the implications for bc=c(2595) and c(2625)] decays that can be deduced from heavy quark spin symmetry (HQSS). Identifying the odd parity c(2595) and c(2625) resonances as HQSS partners, with total angular momentum-parity jqP=1- for the light degrees of freedom, we find that the ratios (bc(2595)-)/(bc(2625)-) and (bc(2595)) agree, within errors, with the experimental values given in the Review of Particle Physics. We discuss how future, and more precise, measurements of the above branching fractions could be used to shed light into the inner HQSS structure of the narrow c(2595) odd-parity resonance. Namely, we show that such studies would constrain the existence of a sizable jqP</mml:msubsup>=0- component in its wave-function, and/or of a two-pole pattern, in analogy to the case of the similar (1405) resonance in the strange sector, as suggested by most of the approaches that describe the c(2595) as a hadron molecule. We also investigate the lepton flavor universality ratios R[c]=B( may be affected by a new source of potentially large systematic errors if there are two) poles.

Abstract: We discuss a model-independent estimator of the likelihood of the compositeness of a shallow S-wave bound or virtual state. The approach is based on an extension of Weinberg's relations in Weinberg (Phys Rev 137:B672, 1965) and it relies only on the proximity of the energy of the state to the two-hadron threshold to which it significantly couples. The scheme only makes use of the experimental scattering length and the effective range low energy parameters, and it is shown to be fully consistent for predominantly molecular hadrons. As explicit applications, we analyse the case of the deuteron, the S-1(0) nucleon virtual state and the exotic D-so(*)(2317)(+/-) , and find strong support to the molecular interpretation in all cases. Results are less conclusive for the D* (s0)(2317)+/-, since the binding energy of this state would be significantly higher than that of the deuteron, and the approach employed here is at the limit of its applicability. We also qualitatively address the case of the recently discovered T + cc state, within the isospin limit to avoid the complexity of the very close thresholds (DD)-D-0*+ and D + D*(0), which could mask the ingredients of the approach proposed in this work.

Abstract: It was proposed that the narrow P-c(4450) structure observed by the LHCb Collaboration in the reaction Lambda(b) -> J/psi pK might be due to a triangle singularity around the chi(c1)-proton threshold at 4.45 GeV. We discuss the occurrence of a similar triangle singularity in the J/psi p invariant mass distribution for the decay Lambda(b) -> J/psi p pi, which could explain the bump around 4.45 GeV in the data. More precise measurements of this process would provide valuable information towards an understanding of the P-c structures.

Abstract: In a well-established many-body framework, successful in modeling a great variety of nuclear processes, we analyze the role of the spectral functions (SFs) accounting for the modifications of the dispersion relation of nucleons embedded in a nuclear medium. We concentrate in processes mostly governed by one-body mechanisms, and study possible approximations to evaluate the particle hole propagator using SFs. We also investigate how to include together SFs and long-range RPA-correlation corrections in the evaluation of nuclear response functions, discussing the existing interplay between both type of nuclear effects. At low energy transfers (<= 50 MeV), we compare our predictions for inclusive muon and radiative pion captures in nuclei, and charge-current (CC) neutrino-nucleus cross sections with experimental results. We also present an analysis of intermediate energy quasi-elastic neutrino scattering for various targets and both neutrino and antineutrino CC driven processes. In all cases, we pay special attention to estimate the uncertainties affecting the theoretical predictions. In particular, we show that errors on the a,,sigma(mu)/sigma(e) ratio are much smaller than 5%, and also much smaller than the size of the SF+RPA nuclear corrections, which produce significant effects, not only in the individual cross sections, but also in their ratio for neutrino energies below 400 MeV. These latter nuclear corrections, beyond Pauli blocking, turn out to be thus essential to achieve a correct theoretical understanding of this ratio of cross sections of interest for appearance neutrino oscillation experiments. We also briefly compare our SF and RPA results to predictions obtained within other representative approaches.