Abstract: The gauge bosons of the Pati-Salam model do not mediate proton decay at the renormalizable level, and for this reason it is possible to construct scenarios in which SU(4) (R) SU(2)R is broken at relatively low scales. In this paper we show that such low-scale models generate dimension-five operators that can give rise to nucleon decays at unacceptably large rates, even if the operators are suppressed by the Planck scale. We find an interesting complementarity between the nucleon-decay limits and the usual meson-decay constraints. Furthermore, we argue that these operators are generically present when the model is embedded into SO(10), lowering the suppression scale. Under reasonable assumptions, the lower limit on the breaking scale can be constrained to be as high as O(108) GeV.

Abstract: Measurements of electrons from ?e interactions are crucial for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) neutrino oscillation program, as well as searches for physics beyond the standard model, supernova neutrino detection, and solar neutrino measurements. This article describes the selection and reconstruction of low-energy (Michel) electrons in the ProtoDUNE-SP detector. ProtoDUNE-SP is one of the prototypes for the DUNE far detector, built and operated at CERN as a charged particle test beam experiment. A sample of low-energy electrons produced by the decay of cosmic muons is selected with a purity of 95%. This sample is used to calibrate the low-energy electron energy scale with two techniques. An electron energy calibration based on a cosmic ray muon sample uses calibration constants derived from measured and simulated cosmic ray muon events. Another calibration technique makes use of the theoretically well-understood Michel electron energy spectrum to convert reconstructed charge to electron energy. In addition, the effects of detector response to low-energy electron energy scale and its resolution including readout electronics threshold effects are quantified. Finally, the relation between the theoretical and reconstructed low-energy electron energy spectra is derived, and the energy resolution is characterized. The low-energy electron selection presented here accounts for about 75% of the total electron deposited energy. After the addition of lost energy using a Monte Carlo simulation, the energy resolution improves from about 40% to 25% at 50 MeV. These results are used to validate the expected capabilities of the DUNE far detector to reconstruct low-energy electrons.

Abstract: The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment is a next-generation neutrino oscillation experiment that aims to measure CP-violation in the neutrino sector as part of a wider physics program. A deep learning approach based on a convolutional neural network has been developed to provide highly efficient and pure selections of electron neutrino and muon neutrino charged-current interactions. The electron neutrino (antineutrino) selection efficiency peaks at 90% (94%) and exceeds 85% (90%) for reconstructed neutrino energies between 2-5 GeV. The muon neutrino (antineutrino) event selection is found to have a maximum efficiency of 96% (97%) and exceeds 90% (95%) efficiency for reconstructed neutrino energies above 2 GeV. When considering all electron neutrino and antineutrino interactions as signal, a selection purity of 90% is achieved. These event selections are critical to maximize the sensitivity of the experiment to CP-violating effects.

Abstract: Transverse excitations in analogue black holes induce a masslike term in the longitudinal mode equation. With a simple toy model we show that correlation functions display a rather rich structure characterized by groups of approximately parallel peaks. For the most part the structure is completely different from that found in the massless case.

Abstract: We use a O(alpha(s). Lambda(QCD)/m(c)) heavy quark effective theory scheme, where only O(Lambda(QCD)/mb) corrections are neglected, to study the matrix elements of the scalar, pseudoscalar, vector, axial-vector and tensor currents between the Lambda(b) ground state and the odd parity charm Lambda(c)(2595)(+) and Lambda(c)(2625)(+) resonances. We show that in the near-zero recoil regime, the scheme describes reasonably well, taking into account uncertainties, the results for the 24 form factors obtained in lattice QCD (LQCD) just in terms of only four Isgur-Wise (IW) functions. We also find some support for the possibility that the Lambda(c)(2595)(+) and Lambda(c)(2625)(+) resonances might form a heavy quark spin symmetry (HQSS) doublet. However, we argue that the available LQCD description of these two resonances is not accurate enough to disentangle the possible effects of the Sigma(c)pi and Sigma(c)*pi thresholds, located only a few MeV above their position, and that it cannot be ruled out that these states are not HQSS partners. Finally, we study the ratio d Gamma/[Lambda(b) -> Lambda(c,1/2)-*l (v) over bar (l)]/dq(2)/d Gamma/[Lambda(b) -> Lambda(c,3/2)-*l (v) over bar (l)]/dq(2) of the Standard Model differential semileptonic decay widths, with q the four-momentum transferred between the initial and final hadrons. We provide a natural explanation for the existence of large deviations, near the zero recoil, of this ratio from 1=2 (value predicted in the infinite heavy quark mass limit, assuming that the Lambda(c,1/2)- and Lambda(c,3/2)- are the two members of a HQSS doublet) based on S-wave contributions to the Lambda(b) -> Lambda(c,1/2)- decay amplitude driven by a subleading IW function.