Abstract: We study the f(+) form factor for the semileptonic (B) over bar (s) -> K+ l(-) (V) over bar (l) decay in a constituent quark model. The valence quark estimate is supplemented with the contribution from the (B) over bar* pole that dominates the high q(2) region. We use a multiply-subtracted Omnes dispersion relation to extend the quark model predictions from its region of applicability near q(max)(2) = (M-Bs – M-K)(2) similar to 23.75 GeV2 to all q(2) values accessible in the physical decay. To better constrain the dependence of f(+) on q(2), we fit the subtraction constants to a combined input from previous light cone sum rule by Duplancic and Melic (2008) [11] and the present quark model results. From this analysis, we obtain Gamma ( (B) over bar (s) -> K+ l(-) (V) over bar (l)) = (5.47(-0.46)(+0.54)) vertical bar Vub vertical bar(2) x 10(-9) MeV, which is about 10% and 20% higher than the predictions based on Lattice QCD and QCD light cone sum rules respectively. The former predictions, for both the form factor f(+) (q(2)) and the differential decay width, lie within the 1 sigma band of our estimated uncertainties for all q(2) values accessible in the physical decay, except for a quite small region very close to q(max)(2). Differences with the light cone sum results for the form factor f(+) are larger than 20% in the region above q(2) = 15 GeV2.

Abstract: We study the energy distribution and equation of state of the universe between the end of inflation and the onset of radiation domination (RD), considering observationally consistent single-field inflationary scenarios, with a potential 'flattening' at large field values, and a monomial shape V(phi) proportional to vertical bar phi vertical bar(p) around the origin. As a proxy for (p)reheating, we include a quadratic interaction g(2)phi X-2(2) between the inflaton phi and a light scalar 'daughter' field X, with g(2) > 0. We capture the non-perturbative and non-linear nature of the system dynamics with lattice simulations, obtaining that: i) the final energy transferred to X depends only on p, not on g(2); ii) the final transfer of energy is always negligible for 2 <= p < 4, and of order similar to 50% for p >= 4; iii) the system goes at late times to matter-domination for p = 2, and always to RD for p > 2. In the latter case we calculate the number of e-folds until RD, significantly reducing the uncertainty in the inflationary observables Tl-s and r.

Abstract: We study the e(+)e(-) -> K+(D-s*D--(0) + Ds-D*(0)) reaction recently measured at BESIII, from where a new Z(cs) state has been reported. We study the interaction of (D) over bar D-s* with the coupled channels J/psi K-, K*(-)eta(c), Ds-D*(0), D-s*D--(0) by means of an extension to the charm sector of the local hidden gauge approach. We find that the Ds-D*(0) + D-s*D--(0) combination couples to J/psi K- and K*(-)eta(c), but the Ds-D*(0 ) -D-s*D--(0) combination does not. The coupled channels help to build up strength in the Ds-D*(0) + D-s*D--(0) diagonal scattering matrix close to threshold and, although the interaction is not strong enough to produce a bound state or resonance, it is sufficient to produce a large accumulation of strength at the (D) over bar D-s* threshold in the e(+)e(-) -> K+(D-s*D--(0) + Ds-D*(0)) reaction in agreement with experiment.

Abstract: We study late-time cosmic accelerating dynamics from Born-Infeld-f(R) gravity in a simplified conformal approach. We find that a variety of cosmic effects such as Little Rip, Lambda CDM universe and dark energy cosmology with finite time future singularities may occur. Unlike the convenient Born-Infeld gravity where in the absence of matter only de Sitter expansion may emerge, apparently any FRW cosmology may be reconstructed from this conformal version of the Born-Infeld-f(R) theory. Despite the fact that the explicit form of f(R) is fixed by the conformal ansatz, the relation between the two metrics in this approach may be changed so as to bring out any desired FRW cosmology.

Abstract: We study doubly charmed exotic states by solving the scattering problem of two D mesons. Our results point to the existence of a stable isoscalar doubly charmed meson with quantum numbers (I)J(P) = (0)1(+). We perform a thorough comparison to the results obtained within the hyperspherical harmonic formalism. Such exotic states could be measured at LHC and RHIC. Their experimental observation would, for the first time, confirm the contribution of multiquark structures to hadron spectroscopy.