Fileviez Perez, P., Murgui, C., & Plascencia, A. D. (2019). The QCD axion and unification. J. High Energy Phys., 11(11), 093–21pp.
Abstract: The QCD axion is one of the most appealing candidates for the dark matter in the Universe. In this article, we discuss the possibility to predict the axion mass in the context of a simple renormalizable grand unified theory where the Peccei-Quinn scale is determined by the unification scale. In this framework, the axion mass is predicted to be in the range ma, <^> (3-13) x 10-9 eV. We study the axion phenomenology and find that the ABRACADABRA and CASPEr-Electric experiments will be able to fully probe this mass window.
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Fileviez Perez, P., Golias, E., Murgui, C., & Plascencia, A. D. (2020). The Higgs and leptophobic force at the LHC. J. High Energy Phys., 07(7), 087–19pp.
Abstract: The Higgs boson could provide the key to discover new physics at the Large Hadron Collider. We investigate novel decays of the Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson into leptophobic gauge bosons which can be light in agreement with all experimental constraints. We study the associated production of the SM Higgs and the leptophobic gauge boson that could be crucial to test the existence of a leptophobic force. Our results demonstrate that it is possible to have a simple gauge extension of the SM at the low scale, without assuming very small couplings and in agreement with all the experimental bounds that can be probed at the LHC.
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Magan, D. L. P., Caballero, L., Domingo-Pardo, C., Agramunt-Ros, J., Albiol, F., Casanovas, A., et al. (2016). First tests of the applicability of gamma-ray imaging for background discrimination in time-of-flight neutron capture measurements. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 823, 107–119.
Abstract: In this work we explore for the first time the applicability of using gamma-ray imaging in neutron capture measurements to identify and suppress spatially localized background. For this aim, a pinhole gamma camera is assembled, tested and characterized in terms of energy and spatial performance. It consists of a monolithic CeBr3 scintillating crystal coupled to a position-sensitive photomultiplier and readout through an integrated circuit AMIC2GR. The pinhole collimator is a massive carven block of lead. A series of dedicated measurements with calibrated sources and with a neutron beam incident on a Au-197 sample have been carried out at n_TOF, achieving an enhancement of a factor of two in the signal-to-background ratio when selecting only those events coming from the direction of the sample.
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Peppa, V., Thomson, R. M., Enger, S. A., Fonseca, G. P., Lee, C. N., Lucero, J. N. E., et al. (2023). A MC-based anthropomorphic test case for commissioning model-based dose calculation in interstitial breast 192-Ir HDR brachytherapy. Med. Phys., 50(7), 4675–4687.
Abstract: PurposeTo provide the first clinical test case for commissioning of Ir-192 brachytherapy model-based dose calculation algorithms (MBDCAs) according to the AAPM TG-186 report workflow. Acquisition and Validation MethodsA computational patient phantom model was generated from a clinical multi-catheter Ir-192 HDR breast brachytherapy case. Regions of interest (ROIs) were contoured and digitized on the patient CT images and the model was written to a series of DICOM CT images using MATLAB. The model was imported into two commercial treatment planning systems (TPSs) currently incorporating an MBDCA. Identical treatment plans were prepared using a generic Ir-192 HDR source and the TG-43-based algorithm of each TPS. This was followed by dose to medium in medium calculations using the MBDCA option of each TPS. Monte Carlo (MC) simulation was performed in the model using three different codes and information parsed from the treatment plan exported in DICOM radiation therapy (RT) format. Results were found to agree within statistical uncertainty and the dataset with the lowest uncertainty was assigned as the reference MC dose distribution. Data Format and Usage NotesThe dataset is available online at ,. Files include the treatment plan for each TPS in DICOM RT format, reference MC dose data in RT Dose format, as well as a guide for database users and all files necessary to repeat the MC simulations. Potential ApplicationsThe dataset facilitates the commissioning of brachytherapy MBDCAs using TPS embedded tools and establishes a methodology for the development of future clinical test cases. It is also useful to non-MBDCA adopters for intercomparing MBDCAs and exploring their benefits and limitations, as well as to brachytherapy researchers in need of a dosimetric and/or a DICOM RT information parsing benchmark. Limitations include specificity in terms of radionuclide, source model, clinical scenario, and MBDCA version used for its preparation.
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Peñuelas, A., & Pich, A. (2017). Flavour alignment in multi-Higgs-doublet models. J. High Energy Phys., 12(12), 084–34pp.
Abstract: Extended electroweak scalar sectors containing several doublet multiplets require flavour-aligned Yukawa matrices to prevent the appearance at tree level of unwanted flavour-changing neutral-current transitions. We analyse the misalignment induced by one-loop quantum corrections and explore possible generalizations of the alignment condition and their compatibility with current experimental constraints. The hypothesis of flavour alignment at a high scale turns out to be consistent with all known phenomenological tests.
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Penas, J., Alejo, A., Bembibre, A., Apiñaniz, J. I., Garcia-Garcia, E., Guerrero, C., et al. (2024). Production of carbon-11 for PET preclinical imaging using a high-repetition rate laser-driven proton source. Sci Rep, 14(1), 11448–12pp.
Abstract: Most advanced medical imaging techniques, such as positron-emission tomography (PET), require tracers that are produced in conventional particle accelerators. This paper focuses on the evaluation of a potential alternative technology based on laser-driven ion acceleration for the production of radioisotopes for PET imaging. We report for the first time the use of a high-repetition rate, ultra-intense laser system for the production of carbon-11 in multi-shot operation. Proton bunches with energies up to 10-14 MeV were systematically accelerated in long series at pulse rates between 0.1 and 1 Hz using a PW-class laser. These protons were used to activate a boron target via the 11 \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$<^>{11}$$\end{document} B(p,n) 11 \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$<^>{11}$$\end{document} C nuclear reaction. A peak activity of 234 kBq was obtained in multi-shot operation with laser pulses with an energy of 25 J. Significant carbon-11 production was also achieved for lower pulse energies. The experimental carbon-11 activities measured in this work are comparable to the levels required for preclinical PET, which would be feasible by operating at the repetition rate of current state-of-the-art technology (10 Hz). The scalability of next-generation laser-driven accelerators in terms of this parameter for sustained operation over time could increase these overall levels into the clinical PET range.
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Penalva, N., Hernandez, E., & Nieves, J. (2022). Visible energy and angular distributions of the charged particle from the tau-decay in b -> C tau (mu(nu)over-bar(mu)nu(tau), pi nu(tau), rho nu(tau))(nu)over-bar(tau) reactions. J. High Energy Phys., 04(4), 026–25pp.
Abstract: We study the d(2)Gamma(d)/(d omega d cos theta(d) ), d Gamma(d)/d cos theta(d) and d Gamma(d)/dE(d) distributions, which are defined in terms of the visible energy and polar angle of the charged particle from the tau-decay in b -> C tau (mu(nu) over bar (mu)nu(tau), pi nu(tau), rho nu(tau))(nu) over bar (tau), reactions. These differential decay widths could be measured in the near future with certain precision. The first two contain information on the transverse tau-spin, tau-angular and tau-angular-spin asymmetries of the H-b -> H-c tau(nu) over bar (tau) parent decay and, from a dynamical point of view, they are richer than the commonly used one, d(2)Gamma(d)/(d omega dE(d)), since the latter only depends on the tau longitudinal polarization. We pay attention to the deviations with respect to the predictions of the standard model (SM) for these new observables, considering new physics (NP) operators constructed using both right- and left-handed neutrino fields, within an effective field-theory approach. We present results for Lambda(b) -> Lambda(c)tau (mu(nu) over bar (mu)nu(tau), pi nu(tau), rho nu(tau))(nu) over bar (tau) and (B) over bar -> D-(*()) tau (mu(nu) over bar (mu)nu(tau), pi nu(tau), rho nu(tau))(nu) over bar (tau) sequential decays and discuss their use to disentangle between different NP models. In this respect, we show that d Gamma(d)/d cos theta(d) , which should be measured with sufficiently good statistics, becomes quite useful, especially in the tau -> pi nu(tau) mode. The study carried out in this work could be of special relevance due to the recent LHCb measurement of the lepton flavor universality ratio R Lambda(c) in agreement with the SM. The experiment identified the tau using its hadron decay into pi(-)pi(+)pi(-)nu(tau), and this result for R Lambda(c )which is in conflict with the phenomenology from the b-meson sector, needs confirmation from other tau reconstruction channels.
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Penalva, N., Hernandez, E., & Nieves, J. (2021). New physics and the tau polarization vector in b -> c tau barnutau decays. J. High Energy Phys., 06(6), 118–37pp.
Abstract: For a general H-b -> Hc tau nu <overbar></mml:mover>tau decay we analyze the role of the tau polarization vector P μin the context of lepton flavor universality violation studies. We use a general phenomenological approach that includes, in addition to the Standard Model (SM) contribution, vector, axial, scalar, pseudoscalar and tensor new physics (NP) terms which strength is governed by, complex in general, Wilson coefficients. We show that both in the laboratory frame, where the initial hadron is at rest, and in the center of mass of the two final leptons, a P -></mml:mover> component perpendicular to the plane defined by the three-momenta of the final hadron and the tau lepton is only possible for complex Wilson coefficients, being a clear signal for physics beyond the SM as well as time reversal (or CP-symmetry) violation. We make specific evaluations of the different polarization vector components for the Lambda (b) -> Lambda (c), <mml:mover accent=“true”>B<mml:mo stretchy=“true”><overbar></mml:mover>c -> eta (c), J/psi and <mml:mover accent=“true”>B<mml:mo stretchy=“true”><overbar></mml:mover> -> D-(*) semileptonic decays, and describe NP effects in the complete two-dimensional space associated with the independent kinematic variables on which the polarization vector depends. We find that the detailed study of P μhas great potential to discriminate between different NP scenarios for 0(-) -> 0(-) decays, but also for Lambda (b) -> Lambda (c) transitions. For this latter reaction, we pay special attention to corrections to the SM predictions derived from complex Wilson coefficients contributions.
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Penalva, N., Hernandez, E., & Nieves, J. (2019). Further tests of lepton flavor universality from the charged lepton energy distribution in b -> c semileptonic decays: The case of Lambda(b) -> Lambda(c) l(v)over-bar(l). Phys. Rev. D, 100(11), 113007–11pp.
Abstract: In a general framework, valid for any H -> H' l(-)(v) over bar (l) semileptonic decay, we analyze the d(2)Gamma/(d omega d cos theta(l)) and d(2)Gamma/(d omega dE(l)) distributions, with omega being the product of the hadron four-velocities, theta(l) the angle made by the three-momenta of the charged lepton and the final hadron in the W- center of mass frame and E-l the charged lepton energy in the decaying hadron rest frame. Within the Standard Model (SM), d(2)Gamma/(d omega dE(l)) proportional to (c(0) (omega) c(1) (omega)E-l/M + c(2) (omega)E-l(2)/M-2), with M the initial hadron mass. We find that c(2) (omega) is independent of the lepton flavor and thus it is an ideal candidate to look for lepton flavor universality (LFU) violations. We also find a correlation between the a(2) (omega) structure function, which governs the (cos theta(l))(2) dependence of d(2)Gamma/(d omega d cos theta(l)), and c(2) (omega). Apart from trivial kinematical and mass factors, the ratio of a(2) (omega)/c(2) (omega) is a universal function that can be measured in any semileptonic decay, involving not only b -> c transitions. These two SM predictions can be used as new tests in the present search for signatures of LFU violations. We also generalize the formalism to account for some new physics (NP) terms, and show that neither c(2) nor a(2) are modified by left and right scalar NP terms, being however sensitive to left and right vector corrections. We also find that the a(2)/c(2) ratio is not modified by these latter NP contributions. Finally, and in order to illustrate our findings, we apply our general framework to the Lambda(b) -> Lambda(c)l (v) over bar (l) decay. We show that a measurement of c(2) (or a(2)) for tau decay would not only be a direct measurement of the possible existence of NP, but it would also allow to distinguish from NP fits to b -> c tau(v) over bar (tau) anomalies in the meson sector, which otherwise give the same total and differential d Gamma/d omega widths. We show that the same occurs for the other two terms, c(0) and c(1), that appear in d(2)Gamma/(d omega dE(l)), and for the cos theta(l) linear term of the angular distribution.
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Penalva, N., Hernandez, E., & Nieves, J. (2021). The role of right-handed neutrinos in b -> c tau (pi nu(tau), rho nu(tau), mu(nu)over-bar(mu)nu(tau))(nu)over-bar(tau) from visible final-state kinematics. J. High Energy Phys., 10(10), 122–45pp.
Abstract: In the context of lepton flavor universality violation (LFUV) studies, we fully derive a general tensor formalism to investigate the role that left- and right-handed neutrino new-physics (NP) terms may have in b -> c tau(nu) over bar (tau) transitions. We present, for several extensions of the Standard Model (SM), numerical results for the Lambda(b) -> Lambda(c)tau(nu) over bar (tau) semileptonic decay, which is expected to be measured with precision at the LHCb. This reaction can be a new source of experimental information that can help to confirm, or maybe rule out, LFUV presently seen in (B) over bar meson decays. The present study analyzes observables that can help in distinguishing between different NP scenarios that otherwise provide very similar results for the branching ratios, which are our currently best hints for LFUV. Since the tau lepton is very short-lived, we consider three subsequent tau-decay modes, two hadronic pi nu(tau) and rho nu(tau) and one leptonic mu(nu) over bar (mu)nu(tau), which have been previously studied for (B) over bar -> D(*) decays. Within the tensor formalism that we have developed in previous works, we re-obtain the expressions for the differential decay width written in terms of visible (experimentally accessible) variables of the massive particle created in the tau decay. There are seven different tau angular and spin asymmetries that are defined in this way and that can be extracted from experiment. Those asymmetries provide observables that can help in constraining possible SM extensions.
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