Abstract: We report the first observation of the baryonic flavor-changing neutral current decay Lambda(0)(b) -> Lambda mu(+)mu(-) with 24 signal events and a statistical significance of 5.8 Gaussian standard deviations. This measurement uses a p (p) over bar collisions data sample corresponding to 6.8 fb(-1) at root s = 1.96 TeV collected by the CDF II detector at the Tevatron collider. The total and differential branching ratios for Lambda(0)(b) -> Lambda mu(+)mu(-) are measured. We find B(Lambda(0)(b) -> Lambda mu(+)mu(-)) = [1.73 +/- 0.42(stat) +/- (syst)] x 10(-6). We also report the first measurement of the differential branching ratio of B(s)(0) -> phi mu(+)mu(-), using 49 signal events. In addition, we report branching ratios for B(+) -> K(+)mu(+)mu(-), B(0) -> K(0)mu(+)mu(-), and B -> K*(892)mu(+)mu(-) decays.

Abstract: We report an indirect search for nonstandard model physics using the flavor-changing neutral current decays B -> K-(*)mu(+)mu(-). We reconstruct the decays and measure their angular distributions, as a function of q(2) = M(mu mu)(2)c(2), where M-mu μis the dimuon mass, in p (P) over bar collisions at root s = 1.96 Tev using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6.8 fb(-1). The transverse polarization asymmetry A(T)((2)) and the time-reversal-odd charge-and-parity asymmetry A(im) are measured for the first time, together with the K* longitudinal polarization fraction F-L and the muon forward-backward asymmetry A(FB) for the decays B-0 -> K*(0)mu(+)mu(-) and B -> K*(+)mu(+)mu(-). The B -> K*mu(+)mu(-) forward-backward asymmetry in the most sensitive kinematic regime, 1 <= q(2) < 6 GeV2/c(2), is measured to be A(FB) 0.29(-0.23)(+0.20) (stat) +/- 0.07 (syst), the most precise result to date. No deviations from the standard model predictions are observed.

Abstract: The cross section for jets from b quarks produced with a W boson has been measured in p (p) over bar collision data from 1: 9 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity recorded by the CDF II detector at the Tevatron. The W + b-jets process poses a significant background in measurements of top quark production and prominent searches for the Higgs boson. We measure a b-jet cross section of 2.74 + 0.27(stat) +/- 0.42(syst) pb in association with a single flavor of leptonic W boson decay over a limited kinematic phase space. This measured result cannot be accommodated in several available theoretical predictions.

Abstract: The beta-delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy of neutron-rich Ag-123,Ag-325 isotopes is investigated at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory of RIKEN, and the long-predicted 1/2(-) beta-emitting isomers in Ag-123,Ag-325 are identified for the first time. With the new experimental results, the systematic trend of energy spacing between the lowest 9/2(+) and 1/2(-) levels is extended in Ag isotopes up to N = 78, providing a clear signal for the reduction of the Z = 40 subshell gap in Ag towards N = 82. Shell-model calculations with the state-of-the-art V-MU plus M3Y spin-orbit interaction give a satisfactory description of the low-lying states in Ag-123,Ag-325. The tensor force is found to play a crucial role in the evolution of the size of the Z = 40 subshell gap. The observed inversion of the single-particle levels around Ag-123 can be well interpreted in terms of the monopole shift of the pi 1g(9/2) orbitals mainly caused by the increasing occupation of nu 1h(11/2) orbitals.

Abstract: This work establishes a relation between chiral anomalies in curved spacetimes and the radiative content of the gravitational field. In particular, we show that a flux of circularly polarized gravitational waves triggers the spontaneous creation of photons with net circular polarization from the quantum vacuum. Using waveform catalogs, we identify precessing binary black holes as astrophysical configurations that emit such gravitational radiation and then solve the fully nonlinear Einstein's equations with numerical relativity to evaluate the net effect. The quantum amplitude for a merger is comparable to the Hawking emission rate of the final black hole and small to be directly observed. However, the implications for the inspiral of binary neutron stars could be more prominent, as argued on symmetry grounds.