Abstract: The energy-dependent cross section of the (7)Bed(n,alpha)He-4 reaction, of interest for the so-called cosmological lithium problem in big bang nucleosynthesis, has been measured for the first time from 10 meV to 10 keV neutron energy. The challenges posed by the short half-life of Be-7 and by the low reaction cross section have been overcome at nTOF thanks to an unprecedented combination of the extremely high luminosity and good resolution of the neutron beam in the new experimental area (EAR2) of the nTOF facility at CERN, the availability of a sufficient amount of chemically pure Be-7, and a specifically designed experimental setup. Coincidences between the two alpha particles have been recorded in two Si-Be-7-Si arrays placed directly in the neutron beam. The present results are consistent, at thermal neutron energy, with the only previous measurement performed in the 1960s at a nuclear reactor. The energy dependence reported here clearly indicates the inadequacy of the cross section estimates currently used in BBN calculations. Although new measurements at higher neutron energy may still be needed, the n_TOF results hint at a minor role of this reaction in BBN, leaving the long-standing cosmological lithium problem unsolved.

Abstract: Recently the ATLAS experiment announced a 3 sigma excess at the Z-peak consisting of 29 pairs of leptons together with two or more jets, E-T(miss) > 225 GeV and H-T > 600 GeV, to be compared with 10.6 +/- 3.2 expected lepton pairs in the Standard Model. No excess outside the Z-peak was observed. By trying to explain this signal with SUSY we find that only relatively light gluinos, m((g) over bar) less than or similar to 1.2 TeV, together with a heavy neutralino NLSP of m((chi) over bar) greater than or similar to 400 GeV decaying predominantly to Z-boson plus a light gravitino, such that nearly every gluino produces at least one Z-boson in its decay chain, could reproduce the excess. We construct an explicit general gauge mediation model able to reproduce the observed signal overcoming all the experimental limits. Needless to say, more sophisticated models could also reproduce the signal, however, any model would have to exhibit the following features: light gluinos, or heavy particles with a strong production cross section, producing at least one Z-boson in its decay chain. The implications of our findings for the Run II at LHC with the scaling on the Z peak, as well as for the direct search of gluinos and other SUSY particles, are pointed out.

Abstract: We show that “spiralized” models of new-inflation can be experimentally identified mostly by their positive spectral running in direct contrast with most chaotic-inflation models which have negative runnings typically in the range of O(10(-4)-10(-3)).

Abstract: In this work, we develop a model for Higgs-like composites based on two generations of right-handed neutrinos that condense. We analyze the spontaneous symmetry breaking of the theory with two explicit breakings, setting the different scales of the model and obtaining massive bosons as a result. Finally, we calculate the gravitational wave imprint left by the phase transition associated with the symmetry breaking of a generic potential dictated by the symmetries of the composites.

Abstract: We have analyzed the singularities of a triangle loop integral in detail and derived a formula for an easy evaluation of the triangle singularity on the physical boundary. It is applied to the Lambda(b) -> J/psi K(-)p process via Lambda*-charmonium-proton intermediate states. Although the evaluation of absolute rates is not possible, we identify the chi(c1) and the psi(2S)as the relatively most relevant states among all possible charmonia up to the psi(2S). The Lambda(1890)chi(c1)p loop is very special, as its normal threshold and triangle singularities merge at about 4.45 GeV, generating a narrow and prominent peak in the amplitude in the case that the chi(c1)p is in an S wave. We also see that loops with the same charmonium and other Lambda* hyperons produce less dramatic peaks from the threshold singularity alone. For the case of chi(c1)p -> J/psi p and quantum numbers 3/2(-) or 5/2(+), one needs P and D waves, respectively, in the chi(c1)p, which drastically reduce the strength of the contribution and smooth the threshold peak. In this case, we conclude that the singularities cannot account for the observed narrow peak. In the case of 1/2(+), 3/2(-) quantum numbers, where chi(c1)p -> J/psi p can proceed in an S wave, the Lambda(1890)chi(c1)p triangle diagram could play an important role, though neither can assert their strength without further input from experiments and lattice QCD calculations.