Abstract: The sensitivity of cosmology to the total neutrino mass scale E m & nu; is approaching the minimal values required by oscillation data. We study quantitatively possible tensions between current and forecasted cosmological and terrestrial neutrino mass limits by applying suitable statistical tests such as Bayesian suspiciousness, parameter goodness-of-fit tests, or a parameter difference test. In particular, the tension will depend on whether the normal or the inverted neutrino mass ordering is assumed. We argue, that it makes sense to reject inverted ordering from the cosmology/oscillation comparison only if data are consistent with normal ordering. Our results indicate that, in order to reject inverted ordering with this argument, an accuracy on the sum of neutrino masses & sigma;(m & nu;) of better than 0.02 eV would be required from future cosmological observations.

Abstract: This work investigates several key aspects of a non-commutative theory with mass deformation. We calculate thermodynamic properties of the system and compare our results with recent literature. We examine the quasinormal modes of massless scalar perturbations using two approaches: the WKB approximation and the Poschl-Teller fitting method. Our results indicate that stronger non-commutative parameters lead to slower damping oscillations of gravitational waves and higher partial absorption cross sections. Furthermore, we study the geodesics of massless and massive particles, highlighting that the non-commutative parameter (R) significantly impacts the paths of light and event horizons. Also, we calculate the shadows, which show that larger values of (R) correspond to larger shadow radii, and provide some constraints on (R) applying the observation of Sgr A* from the Event Horizon Telescope. Finally, we explore the deflection angle in this context.

Abstract: In the last 20 years, the neutron time-of-flight facility nTOF at CERN has been providing relevant data for the astrophysical slow neutron capture process (s process). At nTOF, neutron-induced radiative capture (n,gamma) as well as (n,p) and (n,alpha) reaction cross sections are measured as a function of energy, using the time-of-flight method. Improved detection systems, innovative ideas and collaborations with other neutron facilities have lead to a considerable contribution of the n_TOF collaboration to studying the s process in asymptotic giant branch stars. Results have been reported for stable and radioactive samples, i.e.,Mg- 24,Mg-25,Mg-26, Al-26, S-33,Fe- 54,Fe-57, Ni-58,Ni-59,Ni-62,Ni-63, Ge-70,Ge-72,Ge-73, Zr-90,Zr-91,Zr-92,Zr-93,Zr-94,Zr-96, La-139, Ce-140, Pm-147, Sm-151,Gd- 154,Gd-155,Gd-157, Tm-171, Os-186,Os-187,Os-188, Au-197, Tl-203,Tl-204,Pb- 204,Pb-206,Pb-207 and Bi-209 isotopes, while others are being studied or planned to be studied in the near future. In this contribution, we present an overview of the most successful achievements, and an outlook of future challenging measurements, including ongoing detection system developments.

Abstract: The electromagnetic coupling axion-photon in a microwave cavity is revisited with the Boundary Integral-Resonant Mode Expansion (BI-RME) 3D technique. Such full-wave modal technique has been applied for the rigorous analysis of the excitation of a microwave cavity with an axion field. In this scenario, the electromagnetic field generated by the axion-photon coupling can be assumed to be driven by equivalent electrical charge and current densities. These densities have been inserted in the general BI-RME 3D equations, which express the RF electromagnetic field existing within a cavity as an integral involving the Dyadic Green's functions of the cavity (under Coulomb gauge) as well as such densities. This method is able to take into account any arbitrary spatial and temporal variation of both magnitude and phase of the axion field. Next, we have obtained a simple network driven by the axion current source, which represents the coupling between the axion field and the resonant modes of the cavity. With this approach, it is possible to calculate the extracted and dissipated RF power as a function of frequency along a broad band and without Cauchy-Lorentz approximations, obtaining the spectrum of the electromagnetic field generated in the cavity, and dealing with modes relatively close to the axion resonant mode. Moreover, with this technique we have a complete knowledge of the signal extracted from the cavity, not only in magnitude but also in phase. This can be an interesting issue for future analysis where the axion phase is an important parameter.

Abstract: Recent constrains on the sum of neutrino masses inferred by analyzing cosmological data, show that detecting a non-zero neutrino mass is within reach of forthcoming cosmological surveys. Such a measurement will imply a direct determination of the absolute neutrino mass scale. Physically, the measurement relies on constraining the shape of the matter power spectrum below the neutrino free streaming scale: massive neutrinos erase power at these scales. However, detection of a lack of small-scale power from cosmological data could also be due to a host of other effects. It is therefore of paramount importance to validate neutrinos as the source of power suppression at small scales. We show that, independent on hierarchy, neutrinos always show a footprint on large, linear scales; the exact location and properties are fully specified by the measured power suppression (an astrophysical measurement) and atmospheric neutrinos mass splitting (a neutrino oscillation experiment measurement). This feature cannot be easily mimicked by systematic uncertainties in the cosmological data analysis or modifications in the cosmological model. Therefore the measurement of such a feature, up to 1% relative change in the power spectrum for extreme differences in the mass eigenstates mass ratios, is a smoking gun for confirming the determination of the absolute neutrino mass scale from cosmological observations. It also demonstrates the synergy between astrophysics and particle physics experiments.