Abstract: Low-energy partial-wave N scattering data is reexamined with the help of the production representation of partial-wave S matrix, where branch cuts and poles are thoroughly under consideration. The left-hand cut contribution to the phase shift is determined, with controlled systematic error estimates, by using the results of O(p(3)) chiral perturbative amplitudes obtained in the extended-onmass- shell scheme. In S-11 and P-11 channels, severe discrepancies are observed between the phase shift data and the sum of all known contributions. Statistically satisfactory fits to the data can only be achieved by adding extra poles in the two channels. We find that a S-11 resonance pole locates at zr = (0:895-0:081)-(0:164-0:023)i GeV, on the complex s-plane. On the other hand, a P-11 virtual pole, as an accompanying partner of the nucleon bound-state pole, locates atzv = (0:966-0:018) GeV, slightly above the nucleon pole on the real axis below threshold. Physical origin of the two newly established poles is explored to the best of our knowledge. It is emphasized that the O(p(3)) calculation greatly improves the fit quality comparing with the previous O(p(2)) one.

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: Within the chiral unitary approach, the axial-vector resonance K-1 (1270) has been predicted to manifest a two-pole nature. The lowest pole has a mass of 1195 MeV and a width of 246 MeV and couples mostly to K*pi, and the highest pole has a mass of 1284 MeV and a width of 146 MeV and couples mostly to rho K. We analyze theoretically how this double-pole structure can show up in D-0 -> pi+VP decays by looking at the vector-pseudoscalar (VP) invariant mass distribution for different VP channels, exploiting the fact that each pole couples differently to different VP pairs. We find that the final (K) over bar*pi and rho(K) over tilde channels are sensible to the different poles of the K-1 (1270) resonance and hence are suitable reactions to analyze experimentally the double-pole nature of this resonance.

Abstract: We analyze the D (D) over bar mass distribution from a recent Belle experiment on the e(+)e(-) -> J/.D (D) over bar reaction, and show that the mass distribution divided by phase sp(c)e does not have a clear peak above the D (D) over bar threshold that justifies the experimental claim of chi(c0)(2P) state from those data. Then we use a unitary formalismwith coupled channels D+ D-, D-0 (D) over bar (0), D-s(D) over bar (s), and eta eta, with some of the interactions taken from a theoretical model, and use the data to fix other parameters. We then show that, given the poor quality of the data, we can get different fits leading to very different D (D) over bar amplitudes, some of them supporting a D (D) over bar bound state and others not. The main conclusion is that the claim for the chi(c0)(2P) state, already included in the PDG, is premature, but refined data can provide very valuable information on the D (D) over bar scattering amplitude. As side effects, we warn about the use of a Breit-Wigner amplitude parameterization close to threshold, and show that the D-s(D) over bar (s) channel plays an important role in this reaction.

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.