Pierre Auger Collaboration(Abreu, P. et al), & Pastor, S. (2013). Constraints on the origin of cosmic rays above 10^18 eV from large-scale anisotropy searches in data of the Pierre Auger Observatory. Astrophys. J. Lett., 762(1), L13–8pp.
Abstract: A thorough search for large-scale anisotropies in the distribution of arrival directions of cosmic rays detected above 10(18) eV at the Pierre Auger Observatory is reported. For the first time, these large-scale anisotropy searches are performed as a function of both the right ascension and the declination and expressed in terms of dipole and quadrupole moments. Within the systematic uncertainties, no significant deviation from isotropy is revealed. Upper limits on dipole and quadrupole amplitudes are derived under the hypothesis that any cosmic ray anisotropy is dominated by such moments in this energy range. These upper limits provide constraints on the production of cosmic rays above 10(18) eV, since they allow us to challenge an origin from stationary galactic sources densely distributed in the galactic disk and emitting predominantly light particles in all directions.
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Perez-Cerdan, A. B., Rubio, B., Gelletly, W., Algora, A., Agramunt, J., Nacher, E., et al. (2013). Deformation of Sr and Rb isotopes close to the N = Z line via beta-decay studies using the total absorption technique. Phys. Rev. C, 88(1), 014324–15pp.
Abstract: A study of the Gamow-Teller strength distributions B(GT) in the beta decay of Sr-78 and Rb-76,Rb-78 has been made using a total absorption spectrometer (TAS). Following the success in deducing the sign of the deformation for Sr-76, a similar approach is adopted for Sr-78 based on a comparison of the measured B(GT) with quasiparticle random-phase approximation calculations. This work confirms its previously expected prolate deformation in the ground state. Conclusions about the structure of the odd-odd Rb-76,Rb-78 isotopes have been drawn based on their measured B(GT) distributions.
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Stefanis, N. G., Bakulev, A. P., Mikhailov, S. V., & Pimikov, A. V. (2013). Can we understand an auxetic pion-photon transition form factor within QCD? Phys. Rev. D, 87(9), 094025–13pp.
Abstract: A state-of-the-art analysis of the pion-photon transition form factor is presented based on an improved theoretical calculation that includes the effect of a finite virtuality of the quasireal photon in the method of light-cone sum rules. We carry out a detailed statistical analysis of the existing experimental data using this method and by employing pion distribution amplitudes with up to three Gegenbauer coefficients a(2), a(4), a(6). Allowing for an error range in the coefficient a(6) approximate to 0, the theoretical predictions for gamma*gamma -> pi(0) obtained with nonlocal QCD sum rules are found to be in good agreement with all data that support a scaling behavior of the transition form factor at higher Q(2), like those of the Belle Collaboration. The data on gamma*gamma -> eta/eta' from CLEO and BABAR are also reproduced, while there is a strong conflict with the auxetic trend of the BABAR data above 10 GeV2. The broader implications of these findings are discussed.
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ATLAS Collaboration(Aad, G. et al), Cabrera Urban, S., Castillo Gimenez, V., Costa, M. J., Fassi, F., Ferrer, A., et al. (2013). Triggers for displaced decays of long-lived neutral particles in the ATLAS detector. J. Instrum., 8, P07015–35pp.
Abstract: A set of three dedicated triggers designed to detect long-lived neutral particles decaying throughout the ATLAS detector to a pair of hadronic jets is described. The efficiencies of the triggers for selecting displaced decays as a function of the decay position are presented for simulated events. The effect of pile-up interactions on the trigger efficiencies and the dependence of the trigger rate on instantaneous luminosity during the 2012 data-taking period at the LHC are discussed.
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ATLAS Collaboration(Aad, G. et al), Cabrera Urban, S., Castillo Gimenez, V., Costa, M. J., Fassi, F., Ferrer, A., et al. (2013). Search for pair production of heavy top-like quarks decaying to a high-p(T) W boson and a b quark in the lepton plus jets final state at root s=7 TeV with the ATLAS detector. Phys. Lett. B, 718(4-5), 1284–1302.
Abstract: A search is presented for production of a heavy up-type quark (t') together with its antiparticle, assuming a significant branching ratio for subsequent decay into a W boson and a b quark. The search is based on 4.7 fb(-1) of pp collisions root s = 7 TeV recorded in 2011 with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. Data are analyzed in the lepton + jets final state, characterized by a high-transverse-momentum isolated electron or muon, large missing transverse momentum and at least three jets. The analysis strategy relies on the substantial boost of the W bosons in the t'(t') over bar signal when m(t') greater than or similar to 400 GeV. No significant excess of events above the Standard Model expectation is observed and the result of the search is interpreted in the context of fourth-generation and vector-like quark models. Under the assumption of a branching ratio BR(t' -> W b) = I, a fourth-generation t' quark with mass lower than 656 GeV is excluded at 95% confidence level. In addition, in light of the recent discovery of a new boson of mass similar to 126 GeV at the LHC, upper limits are derived in the two-dimensional plane of BR(t' -> Wb) versus BR(t' -> Ht), where H is the Standard Model Higgs boson, for vector-like quarks of various masses.
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ATLAS Collaboration(Aad, G. et al), Cabrera Urban, S., Castillo Gimenez, V., Costa, M. J., Fassi, F., Ferrer, A., et al. (2013). Search for new phenomena in final states with large jet multiplicities and missing transverse momentum at root s=8 TeV proton-proton collisions using the ATLAS experiment. J. High Energy Phys., 10(10), 130–50pp.
Abstract: A search is presented for new particles decaying to large numbers (7 or more) of jets, with missing transverse momentum and no isolated electrons or muons. This analysis uses 20.3 fb(-1) of p p collision data at root s = 8 TeV collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The sensitivity of the search is enhanced by considering the number of b-tagged jets and the scalar sum of masses of large-radius jets in an event. No evidence is found for physics beyond the Standard Model. The results are interpreted in the context of various simplified supersymmetry-inspired models where gluinos are pair produced, as well as an mSUGRA/CMSSM model.
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ATLAS Collaboration(Aad, G. et al), Cabrera Urban, S., Castillo Gimenez, V., Costa, M. J., Fassi, F., Ferrer, A., et al. (2013). Search for microscopic black holes in a like-sign dimuon final state using large track multiplicity with the ATLAS detector. Physical Review D, 88(7), 072001–22pp.
Abstract: A search is presented for microscopic black holes in a like-sign dimuon final state in proton-proton collisions at root s = 8 TeV. The data were collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in 2012 and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb(-1). Using a high track multiplicity requirement, 0.6 +/- 0.2 background events from Standard Model processes are predicted and none observed. This result is interpreted in the context of low-scale gravity models and 95% C.L. lower limits on microscopic black hole masses are set for different model assumptions.
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ATLAS Collaboration(Aad, G. et al), Cabrera Urban, S., Castillo Gimenez, V., Costa, M. J., Fassi, F., Ferrer, A., et al. (2013). Search for charginos nearly mass degenerate with the lightest neutralino based on a disappearing-track signature in pp collisions at root(s)=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector. Phys. Rev. D, 88(11), 112006–23pp.
Abstract: A search is presented for direct chargino production based on a disappearing-track signature using 20.3 fb(-1) of proton-proton collisions at root s = 8 TeV collected with the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. In anomaly-mediated supersymmetry breaking (AMSB) models, the lightest chargino is nearly mass degenerate with the lightest neutralino and its lifetime is long enough to be detected in the tracking detectors by identifying decays that result in tracks with no associated hits in the outer region of the tracking system. Some models with supersymmetry also predict charginos with a significant lifetime. This analysis attains sensitivity for charginos with a lifetime between 0.1 and 10 ns, and significantly surpasses the reach of the LEP experiments. No significant excess above the background expectation is observed for candidate tracks with large transverse momentum, and constraints on chargino properties are obtained. In the AMSB scenarios, a chargino mass below 270 GeV is excluded at 95% confidence level.
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ATLAS Collaboration(Aad, G. et al), Cabrera Urban, S., Castillo Gimenez, V., Costa, M. J., Fassi, F., Ferrer, A., et al. (2013). Search for WH production with a light Higgs boson decaying to prompt electron-jets in proton-proton collisions at root s=7 TeV with the ATLAS detector. New J. Phys., 15, 043009–35pp.
Abstract: A search is performed for WH production with a light Higgs boson decaying to hidden-sector particles resulting in clusters of collimated electrons, known as electron-jets. The search is performed with 2.04 fb(-1) of data collected in 2011 with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in proton-proton collisions at root s = 7 TeV. One event satisfying the signal selection criteria is observed, which is consistent with the expected background rate. Limits on the product of the WH production cross section and the branching ratio of a Higgs boson decaying to prompt electron-jets are calculated as a function of a Higgs boson mass in the range from 100 to 140 GeV.
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ATLAS Collaboration(Aad, G. et al), Cabrera Urban, S., Castillo Gimenez, V., Costa, M. J., Fassi, F., Ferrer, A., et al. (2013). Search for displaced muonic lepton jets from light Higgs boson decay in proton-proton collisions at root s=7 TeV with the ATLAS detector. Phys. Lett. B, 721(1-3), 32–50.
Abstract: A search is performed for collimated muon pairs displaced from the primary vertex produced in the decay of long-lived neutral particles in proton-proton collisions at root s = 7 TeV centre-of-mass energy, with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. In a 1.9 fb(-1) event sample collected during 2011, the observed data are consistent with the Standard Model background expectations. Limits on the product of the production cross section and the branching ratio of a Higgs boson decaying to hidden-sector neutral long-lived particles are derived as a function of the particles' mean lifetime.
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