Abstract: We search for the flavor-changing neutral-current decays B -> K-(*()) v (v) over bar, and the invisible decays J/psi -> v (v) over bar and psi(2S) -> v (v) over bar via B -> K-(*())J/psi and B -> K-(*()) psi(2S), respectively, using a data sample of 471 x 10(6) B (B) over bar pairs collected by the BABAR experiment. We fully reconstruct the hadronBic decay of one of the B mesons in the Y(4S) -> B (B) over bar decay, and search for the B -> K-(*()) v (v) over bar decay in the rest of the event. We observe no significant excess of signal decays over background and report branching fraction upper limits of B(B+ -> K+ v (v) over bar) < 3.7 x 10(-5), B(B-0 -> K-0 v<(v)over bar>) < 8.1 x 10(-5), B(B+ -> K*(+) v<(v)over bar>) < 11.6 x 10(-5), B(B-0 -> K*(0) v<(v)over bar>), < 9.3 x 10(-5), and combined upper limits of B(B -> K v<(v)over bar>) < 3.2 x 10(-5) and B(B -> K* v<(v)over bar>) < 7.9 x 10(-5), all at the 90% confidence level. For the invisible quarkonium decays, we report branching fraction upper limits of B(J/psi -> v<(v)over bar>) < 3.9 x 10(-3) and B(psi(2S) -> v<(v)over bar> < 15.5 x 10(-3) at the 90% confidence level. Using the improved kinematic resolution achieved from hadronic reconstruction, we also provide partial branching fraction limits for the B -> K-(*()) v<(v)over bar> decays over the full kinematic spectrum.

Abstract: We construct lists of supersymmetric models with extended gauge groups at intermediate steps, all of which are inspired by SO(10) unification. We consider three different kinds of setups: (i) the model has exactly one additional intermediate scale with a left-right (LR) symmetric group; (ii) SO(10) is broken to the LR group via an intermediate Pati-Salam scale; and (iii) the LR group is broken into SU(3)(c) X SU(2)(L) X U(1)(R) X U(1)(B-L), before breaking to the standard model (SM) group. We use sets of conditions, which we call the “sliding mechanism,” which yield unification with the extended gauge group(s) allowed at arbitrary intermediate energy scales. All models thus can have new gauge bosons within the reach of the LHC, in principle. We apply additional conditions, such as perturbative unification, renormalizability and anomaly cancellation and find that, despite these requirements, for the ansatz (i) with only one additional scale still around 50 different variants exist that can have a LR symmetry below 10 TeV. For the more complicated schemes (ii) and (iii) literally thousands of possible variants exist, and for scheme (ii) we have also found variants with very low Pati-Salam scales. We also discuss possible experimental tests of the models from measurements of supersymmetry masses. Assuming mSugra boundary conditions we calculate certain combinations of soft terms, called “invariants,” for the different classes of models. Values for all the invariants can be classified into a small number of sets, which contain information about the class of models and, in principle, the scale of beyond-minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model physics, even in case the extended gauge group is broken at an energy beyond the reach of the LHC.

Abstract: We compute the dominant term in the expansion in rho = 1 – M-w/m(t) of the unknown next-to-next-to-leading order nonresonant contributions to the e+ e(-) -> W+ W- b (b) over bar total cross section at energies close to the top-antitop threshold. Our analytic result disagrees with a previous calculation by other authors [A. A. Penin and J. H. Piclum, J. High Energy Phys. 01 (2012) 034]. We show that our determination has the correct infrared structure needed to cancel the divergences proportional to the top width arising in the resonant production of the same final state, and we point to a missing contribution in the computation of Penin and Piclum to explain the discrepancy.

Abstract: We propose an effective field theory incorporating light SU(3)-flavor and heavy quark spin symmetry to describe charmed meson-antimeson bound states. At lowest order the effective field theory entails a remarkable simplification: it only involves contact range interactions among the heavy meson and antimeson fields. We show that the isospin violating decays of the X(3872) can be used to constrain the interaction between the D and a (D) over bar* mesons in the isovector channel. As a consequence, we can rule out the existence of an isovector partner of the X(3872). If we additionally assume that the X(3915) and Y(4140) are D*(D) over bar* and D*(s)(D) over bar*(s) molecular states, we can determine the full spectrum of molecular states with isospin I = 0, 1/2 and 1.

Abstract: The surface detector array of the Pierre Auger Observatory provides information about the longitudinal development of the muonic component of extensive air showers. Using the timing information from the flash analog-to-digital converter traces of surface detectors far from the shower core, it is possible to reconstruct a muon production depth distribution. We characterize the goodness of this reconstruction for zenith angles around 60 degrees and different energies of the primary particle. From these distributions, we define X-max(mu) as the depth along the shower axis where the production of muons reaches maximum. We explore the potentiality of X-max(mu) as a useful observable to infer the mass composition of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays. Likewise, we assess its ability to constrain hadronic interaction models.