Abstract: The Forward Physics Facility (FPF) plans to use neutrinos produced at the Large Hadron Collider to make a variety of measurements at previously unexplored TeV energies. Its primary goals include precision measurements of the neutrino cross section and using the measured neutrino flux both to uncover information about far-forward hadron production and to search for various beyond standard model scenarios. However, these goals have the potential to conflict: Extracting information about the flux or cross section relies upon an assumption about the other. In this paper, we demonstrate that the FPF can use the low-nu method-a technique for constraining the flux shape by isolating neutrino interactions with low energy transfer to the nucleus-to break this degeneracy. We show that the low-nu method is effective for extracting the nu μflux shape, in a model-independent way. We discuss its application for extracting the nu over bar μflux shape but find that this is significantly more model dependent. Finally, we explore the precision to which the nu μflux shape could be constrained at the FPF for a variety of proposed detector options. We find that the precision would be sufficient to discriminate between various realistic flux models.

Abstract: We study the interaction of meson-baryon coupled channels carrying quantum numbers of a Omega(ce), Omega(bb), and Omega(bc) presently under investigation by the LHCb Collaboration. The interaction is obtained from an extension of the local hidden gauge approach to the heavy quark sector that has proved to provide accurate results compared to experiment in the case of Omega(c), Xi(c) states and pentaquarks, P-c and P-cs. We obtain many bound states, with small decay widths within the space of the chosen coupled channels. The spin-parity of the states are J(P) = 1/2(-) for coupled channels of pseudoscalar-baryon (1/2(+)), J(P) = 3/2(-) for the case of pseudoscalar-baryon (3/2(+)), J(P) = 1/2(-), 3/2(-) for the case of vector-baryon (1/2(+)) and J(P) = 1/2(-), 3/2(-). 5/2(-) for the vector- baryon (3/2(+)) channels. We look for poles of the states and evaluate the couplings to the different channels. The couplings obtained for the open channels can serve as a guide to see in which reaction the obtained states are more likely to be observed.

Abstract: We have studied the J/Psi phi mass distribution of the B+ -> J/Psi phi K+ reaction from threshold to about 4250 MeV, and find that one needs the contribution of the X(4140) with a narrow width, together with the X(4160) which accounts for most of the strength of the distribution in that region. The existence of a clear cusp at the D-s*(D) over bar (s)* threshold indicates that the X(4160) resonance is strongly tied to the D-s*(D) over bar (s)* channel, which finds a natural interpretation in the molecular picture of this resonance.

Abstract: We study here the A(b)(0) -> J/psi p pi(-) reaction in analogy to the A(b)(0) -> J/psi pK(-) one, and we note that in both decays there is a sharp structure (dip or peak) in the J/psi p mass distribution around 4450 MeV, which is associated in the A(b)(0) -> J/psi pK(-) experiment to an exotic pentaquark baryonic state, although in J/psi p pi(-) it shows up with relatively low statistics. We analyze the A(b)(0) -> J/psi p pi(-) interaction along the same lines as the A(b)(0) -> J/psi pK(-) one, with the main difference stemming from the reduced Cabibbo strength in the former and the consideration of the pi(-)p final state interaction instead of the K(-)p one. We find that with a minimal input, introducing the pi(-)p and J/psi p interaction in S-wave with realistic interactions, and the empirical P-wave and D-wave contributions, one can accomplish a qualitative description of the pi(-)p and J/psi p mass distributions. More importantly, the peak structure followed by a dip of the experimental J/psi p mass distribution is reproduced with the same input as used to describe the data of A(b)(0) -> J/psi pK(-) reaction. The repercussion for the triangular singularity mechanism, invoked in some works to explain the pentaquark peak, is discussed.

Abstract: Current cosmological tensions show that it is crucial to test the predictions from the canonical ACDM paradigm at different cosmic times. One very appealing test of structure formation in the Universe is the growth rate of structure in our universe f, usually parametrized via the growth index gamma, with f equivalent to Omega(m)(a)gamma and gamma similar or equal to 0.55 in the standard ACDM case. Recent studies have claimed a suppression of the growth of structure from a variety of cosmological observations, characterized by gamma > 0.55. By employing different self-consistent growth parametrizations schemes, we show here that gamma < 0.55, obtaining instead an enhanced growth of structure today. This preference reaches the 3 sigma significance using cosmic microwave background observations, supernova Ia and baryon acoustic oscillation measurements. The addition of cosmic microwave background lensing data relaxes such a preference to the 2 sigma level, since a larger lensing effect can always be compensated with a smaller structure growth, or, equivalently, with gamma > 0.55. We have also included the lensing amplitude AL as a free parameter in our data analysis, showing that the preference for AL > 1 still remains, except for some particular parametrizations when lensing observations are included. We also do not find any significant preference for an oscillatory dependence of AL, AL + Am sin l. To further reassess the effects of a nonstandard growth, we have computed by means of N-body simulations the dark matter density fields, the dark matter halo mass functions and the halo density profiles for different values of gamma. Future observations from the Square Kilometer Array, reducing by a factor of 3 the current errors on the gamma parameter, further confirm or refute with a strong statistical significance the deviation of the growth index from its standard value.