Abstract: In this work, we use the results from Higgs searches in the gamma gamma and tau tau decay channels at LHC and indirect bounds as BR (B -> X-s gamma) to constrain the parameter space of a generic minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) Higgs sector. In particular, we include the latest CMS results that look for additional Higgs states with masses up to 1 TeV. We show that the tau tau channel is the best and most accurate tool in the hunt for new Higgs states beyond the standard model. We obtain that present experimental results rule out additional neutral Higgs bosons in a generic MSSM below 300 GeV for any value of tan beta and, for instance, values of tan beta above 30 are only possible for Higgs masses above 600 GeV. ATLAS stored data have the potential to render this bound obsolete in the near future.

Abstract: We revisit a single field inflationary model based on Coleman-Weinberg potentials. We show that in small field Coleman-Weinberg inflation, the observed amplitude of perturbations needs an extremely small quartic coupling of the inflaton, which might be a signature of radiative origin. However, the spectral index obtained in a standard cosmological scenario turns out to be outside the 2 sigma region of the Planck data. When a non-standard cosmological framework is invoked, such as brane-world cosmology in the Randall-Sundrum model, the spectral index can be made consistent with Planck data within la, courtesy of the modification in the evolution of the Hubble parameter in such a scheme. We also show that the required inflaton quartic coupling as well as a phenomenologically viable B – L symmetry breaking together with a natural electroweak symmetry breaking can arise dynamically in a generalized B – L extension of the Standard Model where the full potential is assumed to vanish at a high scale.

Abstract: Inflation is the leading theory to describe elegantly the initial conditions that led to structure formation in our Universe. In this paper, we present a novel phenomenological fit to the Planck, WMAP polarization (WP) and the BICEP2 data sets using an alternative parametrization. Instead of starting from inflationary potentials and computing the inflationary observables, we use a phenomenological parametrization due to Mukhanov, describing inflation by an effective equation of state, in terms of the number of e-folds and two phenomenological parameters alpha and beta. Within such a parametrization, which captures the different inflationary models in a model-independent way, the values of the scalar spectral index n(s), its running and the tensor-to-scalar ratio r are predicted, given a set of parameters (alpha, beta). We perform a Markov Chain Monte Carlo analysis of these parameters, and we show that the combined analysis of Planck and WP data favors the Starobinsky and Higgs inflation scenarios. Assuming that the BICEP2 signal is not entirely due to foregrounds, the addition of this last data set prefers instead the phi(2) chaotic models. The constraint we get from Planck and WP data alone on the derived tensor-to-scalar ratio is r < 0.18 at 95% C.L., value which is consistent with the one quoted from the BICEP2 Collaboration analysis, r = 0.16(-0.05)(+0-06), after foreground subtraction. This is not necessarily at odds with the 2 sigma tension found between Planck and BICEP2 measurements when analyzing data in terms of the usual n(s) and r parameters, given that the parametrization used here, for the preferred value n(s) similar or equal to 0.96, allows only for a restricted parameter space in the usual (n(s), r) plane.

Abstract: We extend a recent approach to describe the B-0 and B-s(0) decays into J/psi f(0)(500) and J/psi f(0)(980), relating it to the B-0 and B-s(0) decays into J/psi and a vector meson, phi, rho, K*. In addition, the B-0 and B-s(0) decays into J/psi and kappa(800) are evaluated and compared to the K* vector production. The rates obtained are in agreement with the available experiment while predictions are made for the J/psi plus kappa(800) decay.

Abstract: The resonant structure of the reaction (B) over bar (0) --> J/psi pi(+)pi(-) is studied using data from 3 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected by the LHCb experiment, one third at 7 TeV center-of-mass energy and the remainder at 8 TeV. The invariant mass of the pi(+)pi(-) pair and three decay angular distributions are used to determine the fractions of the resonant and nonresonant components. Six interfering pi(+)pi(-) states, rho(770), f(0)(500), f(2)(1270), rho(1450), omega(782) and rho(1700), are required to give a good description of invariant mass spectra and decay angular distributions. The positive and negative charge parity fractions of each of the resonant final states are determined. The f(0)(980) meson is not seen and the upper limit on its presence, compared with the observed f(0)(500) rate, is inconsistent with a model where these scalar mesons are formed from two quarks and two antiquarks (tetraquarks) at the eight standard deviation level. In the q (q) over bar model, the absolute value of the mixing angle between the f(0)(980) and the f(0)(500) scalar mesons is limited to be less than 17 degrees at 90% confidence level.