Abstract: An analysis of and B-+/- -> DK +/- and B-+/- -> D pi(+/-) decays is presented where the D meson is reconstructed in the four-body final state K-+/-pi(-/+)pi(+)pi(-). Using LHCb data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb(-1), first observations are made of the suppressed ADS modes B-+/- ->[pi K-+/-(-/+)pi(+)pi(-)](D)K-+/- and B +/- -> [pi K-+/-(-/+)pi(+)pi(-)](D)pi(+/-) with a significance of 5.1 sigma and greater than 10 sigma, respectively. Measurements of CP asymmetries and CP-conserving ratios of partial widths from this family of decays are also performed. The magnitude of the ratio between the suppressed and favoured B-+/- -> DK +/- amplitudes is determined to be r(B)(K) = 0.097 +/- 0.011.

Abstract: Linear polarization measurements have been performed for gamma rays in Ru-91 produced with the Ni-58(Ar-36,2p1n gamma)Ru-91 reaction at a beam energy of 111 MeV. The EXOGAM Ge clover array has been used to measure the gamma-gamma coincidences, gamma-ray linear polarization, and gamma-ray angular distributions. The polarization sensitivity of the EXOGAM clover detectors acting as Compton polarimeters has been determined in the energy range 0.3-1.3 MeV. Several transitions have been observed for the first time. Measurements of linear polarization and angular distribution have led to the firm assignments of spin differences and parity of high-spin states in Ru-91. More specifically, calculations using a semiempirical shell model were performed to understand the structures of the first and second (21/2(+)) and (17/2(+)) levels. The results are in good agreement with the experimental data, supporting the interpretation of the nonyrast (21/2(+)) and (17/2(+)) states in terms of the J(max) and J(max) – 2 members of the seniority-three nu(g(9/2))(-3) multiplet.

Abstract: The South Pole Telescope (SPT) has probed an expanded angular range of the CMB temperature power spectrum. Their recent analysis of the latest cosmological data prefers nonzero neutrino masses, with Sigma m(nu) = (0.32 +/- 0.11) eV. This result, if con firmed by the upcoming Planck data, has deep implications on the discovery of the nature of neutrinos. In particular, the values of the effective neutrino mass m(beta beta) involved in neutrinoless double beta decay (beta beta 0 nu) are severely constrained for both the direct and inverse hierarchy, making a discovery much more likely. In this paper, we focus in xenon-based beta beta 0 nu experiments, on the double grounds of their good performance and the suitability of the technology to large-mass scaling. We show that the current generation, with effective masses in the range of 100 kg and conceivable exposures in the range of 500 kg.year, could already have a sizeable opportunity to observe beta beta 0 nu events, and their combined discovery potential is quite large. The next generation, with an exposure in the range of 10 ton.year, would have a much more enhanced sensitivity, in particular due to the very low specific background that all the xenon technologies (liquid xenon, high-pressure xenon and xenon dissolved in liquid scintillator) can achieve. In addition, a high-pressure xenon gas TPC also features superb energy resolution. We show that such detector can fully explore the range of allowed effective Majorana masses, thus making a discovery very likely.

Abstract: The decay B-c(+) -> psi(2S)pi(+) with psi(2S) -> mu(+)mu(-) is observed with a significance of 5.2 sigma using pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb(-1) collected by the LHCb experiment. The branching fraction of B-c(+) -> psi(2S)pi(+) decays relative to that of the B-c(+) -> J/psi pi(+) mode is measured to be B(B-c(+) -> psi(2S)pi(+))/B(B-c(+) -> J/psi pi(+)) = 0.250 +/- 0.068(stat) +/- 0.014(syst) +/- 0.006(B). The last term is the uncertainty on the ratio B(psi(2S) -> mu(+)mu(-))/B(J/psi -> mu(+)mu(-)).

Abstract: First observations and measurements of the branching fractions of the (B) over bar (0)(s) -> D+D-, (B) over bar (0)(s) -> Ds+D- and (B) over bar (0)(s) -> D-0(D) over bar (0) decays are presented using 1.0 fb(-1) of data collected by the LHCb experiment. These branching fractions are normalized to those of (B) over bar (0) -> D+D-, B-0 -> D-Ds+ and B- -> (DDs-)-D-0, respectively. An excess of events consistent with the decay (B) over bar (0) -> D-0(D) over bar (0) is also seen, and its branching fraction is measured relative to that of B- -> D0Ds-. Improved measurements of the branching fractions B((B) over bar (0)(s) -> Ds+Ds-) and B(B- -> (DDs-)-D-0) are reported, each relative to B(B-0 -> D-Ds+). The ratios of branching fractions are B((B) over bar (0)(s) -> D+D-)/B((B) over bar (0) -> D+D-) = 1.08 +/- 0.20 +/- 0.10, B((B) over bar (0)(s) -> Ds+D-)/B(B-0 -> D-Ds+) = 0.050 +/- 0.008 +/- 0.004, B((B) over bar (0)(s) -> D-0(D) over bar (0))/B((B) over bar (-) -> (DDs-)-D-0) = 0.019 +/- 0.003 +/- 0.003, B((B) over bar (0) -> D-0(D) over bar (0))/B(B- -> (DDs-)-D-0) < 0.0024 at 90% CL, B(<(B)over bar>(0)(s) -> D-s(+)(D) over bar (-)(s))/B(B-0 -> D-Ds+) = 0.56 +/- 0.03 +/- 0.04, B(B -> (DDs)-D-0)/B(B-0 -> D-Ds+) = 1.22 +/- 0.02 +/- 0.07, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.