Liem, S., Bertone, G., Calore, F., Ruiz de Austri, R., Tait, T. M. P., Trotta, R., et al. (2016). Effective field theory of dark matter: a global analysis. J. High Energy Phys., 09(9), 077–22pp.
Abstract: We present global fits of an effective field theory description of real, and complex scalar dark matter candidates. We simultaneously take into account all possible dimension 6 operators consisting of dark matter bilinears and gauge invariant combinations of quark and gluon fields. We derive constraints on the free model parameters for both the real (five parameters) and complex (seven) scalar dark matter models obtained by combining Planck data on the cosmic microwave background, direct detection limits from LUX, and indirect detection limits from the Fermi Large Area Telescope. We find that for real scalars indirect dark matter searches disfavour a dark matter particle mass below 100 GeV. For the complex scalar dark matter particle current data have a limited impact due to the presence of operators that lead to p-wave annihilation, and also do not contribute to the spin-independent scattering cross-section. Although current data are not informative enough to strongly constrain the theory parameter space, we demonstrate the power of our formalism to reconstruct the theoretical parameters compatible with an actual dark matter detection, by assuming that the excess of gamma rays observed by the Fermi Large Area Telescope towards the Galactic centre is entirely due to dark matter annihilations. Please note that the excess can very well be due to astrophysical sources such as millisecond pulsars. We find that scalar dark matter interacting via effective field theory operators can in principle explain the Galactic centre excess, but that such interpretation is in strong tension with the non-detection of gamma rays from dwarf galaxies in the real scalar case. In the complex scalar case there is enough freedom to relieve the tension.
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Liddick, S. N., Spyrou, A., Crider, B. P., Naqvi, F., Larsen, A. C., Guttormsen, M., et al. (2016). Experimental Neutron Capture Rate Constraint Far from Stability. Phys. Rev. Lett., 116(24), 242502–6pp.
Abstract: Nuclear reactions where an exotic nucleus captures a neutron are critical for a wide variety of applications, from energy production and national security, to astrophysical processes, and nucleosynthesis. Neutron capture rates are well constrained near stable isotopes where experimental data are available; however, moving far from the valley of stability, uncertainties grow by orders of magnitude. This is due to the complete lack of experimental constraints, as the direct measurement of a neutron-capture reaction on a short-lived nucleus is extremely challenging. Here, we report on the first experimental extraction of a neutron capture reaction rate on Ni-69, a nucleus that is five neutrons away from the last stable isotope of Ni. The implications of this measurement on nucleosynthesis around mass 70 are discussed, and the impact of similar future measurements on the understanding of the origin of the heavy elements in the cosmos is presented.
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IDS Collaboration(Lica, R. et al), & Morales, A. I. (2016). Fast-timing study of the l-forbidden 1/2(+) -> 3/2(+) M1 transition in Sn-129. Phys. Rev. C, 93(4), 044303–7pp.
Abstract: The levels in Sn-129 populated from the beta(-) decay of In-129 isomers were investigated at the ISOLDE facility of CERN using the newly commissioned ISOLDE Decay Station (IDS). The lowest 1/2(+) state and the 3/2(+) ground state in 129Sn are expected to have configurations dominated by the neutron s(1/2) (l = 0) and d(3/2) (l = 2) single-particle states, respectively. Consequently, these states should be connected by a somewhat slow l-forbidden M1 transition. Using fast-timing spectroscopy we havemeasured the half-life of the 1/2(+) 315.3-keV state, T-1/2 = 19(10) ps, which corresponds to a moderately fast M1 transition. Shell-model calculations using the CD-Bonn effective interaction, with standard effective charges and g factors, predict a 4-ns half-life for this level. We can reconcile the shell-model calculations to the measured T-1/2 value by the renormalization of the M1 effective operator for neutron holes.
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Liang, W. H., Xie, J. J., & Oset, E. (2016). f(0)(500), f(0)(980), and a(0)(980) production in the chi(c1) -> eta pi(+)pi(-) reaction. Eur. Phys. J. C, 76(12), 700–7pp.
Abstract: We study the chi(c1) -> eta pi(+)pi(-) decay, paying attention to the production of f(0)(500), f(0)(980), and a(0)(980) from the final state interaction of pairs of mesons that can lead to these three mesons in the final state, which is implemented using the chiral unitary approach. Very clean and strong signals are obtained for the a(0)(980) excitation in the eta pi invariant mass distribution and for the f(0)(500) in the pi(+)pi(-) mass distribution. A smaller, but also clear signal for the f(0)(980) excitation is obtained. The results are contrasted with experimental data and the agreement found is good, providing yet one more test in support of the picture where these resonances are dynamically generated from the meson-meson interaction.
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BABAR Collaboration(Lees, J. P. et al), Martinez-Vidal, F., & Oyanguren, A. (2016). Search for mixing-induced CP violation using partial reconstruction of (B)over-bar(0) -> D*(+)Xl(-)(nu)over-bar(l) and kaon tagging. Phys. Rev. D, 93(3), 032001–13pp.
Abstract: We describe in detail a previously published measurement of CP violation in B-0-(B) over bar (0) oscillations, based on an integrated luminosity of 425.7 fb(-1) collected by the BABAR experiment at the PEPII collider. We apply a novel technique to a sample of about 6 million (B) over bar (0) -> D*(+)l(-)(nu) over bar (l) decays selected with partial reconstruction of the D*(+) meson. The charged lepton identifies the flavor of one B meson at its decay time, the flavor of the other B is determined by kaon tagging. We determine a CP violating asymmetry A(CP) = (N((BB0)-B-0) – N((B) over bar (0)(B) over bar (0)))/(N((BB0)-B-0) + N((B) over bar (0)(B) over bar (0))) = (0.06 +/- 0.17(-0.32)(+0.38))% corresponding to Delta(CP) = 1-vertical bar q/p vertical bar = (0.29 +/- 0.84(-1.61)(+1.88)) x 10(-3). This measurement is consistent and competitive with those obtained at the B factories with dilepton events.
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