Abstract: During single clock inflation, hidden fields (i.e. fields coupled to the inflaton only gravitationally) in their adiabatic vacua can ordinarily only affect observables through virtual effects. After renormalizing background quantities (fixed by observations at some pivot scale), all that remains are logarithmic runnings in correlation functions that are both Planck and slow roll suppressed. In this paper we show how a large number of hidden fields can partially compensate this suppression and generate a potentially observable running in the tensor two point function, consistently inferable courtesy of a large N resummation. We detour to address certain subtleties regarding loop corrections during inflation, extending the analysis of [1]. Our main result is that one can extract bounds on the hidden field content of the universe from bounds on violations of the consistency relation between the tensor spectral index and the tensor to scalar ratio, were primordial tensors ever detected. Such bounds are more competitive than the naive bound inferred from requiring inflation to occur below the strong coupling scale of gravity if deviations from the consistency relation can be bounded to within the sub-percent level. We discuss how one can meaningfully constrain the parameter space of various phenomenological scenarios and constructions that address naturalness with a large number of species (such as N-naturalness') with CMB observations up to cosmic variance limits, and possibly future 21cm and gravitational wave observations.

Abstract: Even though it is undoubtedly very appealing to interpret the latest T2K results as evidence of CP violation, this claim assumes CPT conservation in the neutrino sector to an extent that has not been tested yet. As we will show, T2K results are not robust against a CPT-violating explanation. On the contrary, a CPT-violating CP-conserving scenario is in perfect agreement with current neutrino oscillation data. Therefore, to elucidate whether T2K results imply CP or CPT violation is of utter importance. We show that, even after combining with data from NO nu A and from reactor experiments, no claims about CP violation can be made. Finally, we update the bounds on CPT violation in the neutrino sector.

Abstract: Evidence is presented for the decay B-c(+) -> J/psi 3 pi(+)2 pi(-) using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1), collected with the LHCb detector. A signal yield of 32 +/- 8 decays is found with a significance of 4.5 standard deviations. The ratio of the branching fraction of the B-c(+) -> J/psi 3 pi(+)2 pi(-) decay to that of the B-c(+) -> J/psi pi(+) decay is measured to be B(B-c(+) -> J/psi 3 pi(+)2 pi(-))/B(B-c(+) -> J/psi pi(+)) = 1.74 +/- 0.44 +/- 0.24, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.

Abstract: Exclusive production of dielectron pairs, gamma gamma -> e(+) e(-), is studied using L-int = 1.72 nb(-1) of data from ultraperipheral collisions of lead nuclei at root s(NN) = 5.02TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The process of interest proceeds via photon-photon interactions in the strong electromagnetic fields of relativistic lead nuclei. Dielectron production is measured in the fiducial region defined by following requirements: electron transverse momentum p(T)(e) > 2.5 GeV, absolute electron pseudorapidity |eta(e)| < 2.5, dielectron invariant mass m(ee) > 5 GeV, and dielectron transverse momentum p(T)(ee) < 2 GeV. Differential cross-sections are measured as a function of mee, average peT, absolute dielectron rapidity |y(ee)|, and scattering angle in the dielectron rest frame, | cos theta* |, in the inclusive sample, and also with a requirement of no activity in the forward direction. The total integrated fiducial cross-section is measured to be 215 +/- 1(stat.) (+23)(-20)(syst.) +/- 4(lumi.) μb. Within experimental uncertainties the measured integrated cross-section is in good agreement with the QED predictions from the Monte Carlo programs Starlight and SuperChic, confirming the broad features of the initial photon fluxes. The differential cross-sections show systematic differences from these predictions which are more pronounced at high |y(ee)| and | cos theta* | values.

Abstract: Fiducial and differential cross-section measurements of W+W- production in association with at least one hadronic jet are presented. These measurements are sensitive to the properties of electroweak-boson self-interactions and provide a test of perturbative quantum chromodynamics and the electroweak theory. The analysis is performed using proton-proton collision data collected at root s = 13TeV with the ATLAS experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb(-1). Events are selected with exactly one oppositely charged electron-muon pair and at least one hadronic jet with a transverse momentum of p(T) > 30 GeV and a pseudorapidity of vertical bar eta vertical bar < 4.5. After subtracting the background contributions and correcting for detector effects, the jet-inclusive W+W-+ >= 1 jet fiducial cross-section and W+W-+ jets differential cross-sections with respect to several kinematic variables are measured. These measurements include leptonic quantities, such as the lepton transverse momenta and the transverse mass of the W+W- system, as well as jet-related observables such as the leading jet transverse momentum and the jet multiplicity. Limits on anomalous triple-gauge-boson couplings are obtained in a phase space where interference between the Standard Model amplitude and the anomalous amplitude is enhanced.