Abstract: As a top-factory, the LHC is performing a direct study of top-quark anomalous FCNC couplings, which are, however, correlated closely with the rare B- and K-meson decays. In this paper, we study the effects of anomalous tqZ (with q = u, c) couplings in the rare decays B-s,B-d -> mu(+)mu(-), B -> X-s nu(nu) over bar, B -> K(*)nu(nu) over bar, K+ -> pi(+)nu(nu) over bar, and K-L -> pi(0)nu(nu) over bar. With the up-to-date experimental bounds on the branching ratios of these channels, constraints on the left-handed anomalous couplings X-ct(L), and X-ut(L) are derived, respectively. With these low-energy constraints taken into account, we find that, for real couplings X-ct(L) and X-ut(L), the indirect upper bounds on B(t -> qZ) are much lower than that from the D0 collaboration, but are still compatible with the 5 sigma discovery potential of ATLAS with an integrated luminosity of 10 fb(-1). With refined measurements to be available at the LHCb, the future super-B factories, the NA62 at CERN, and the KOTO at J-PARC, closer correlations between the t -> qZ and the rare B- and K-meson decays are expected in the near future, which will be helpful for the searches of thu e top-quark FCNC decays at the LHC.

Abstract: Using inelastic proton-proton interactions at root s = 900 GeV and 7 TeV, recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC, measurements have been made of the correlations between forward and backward charged-particle multiplicities and, for the first time, between forward and backward charged-particle summed transverse momentum. In addition, jet-like structure in the events is studied by means of azimuthal distributions of charged particles relative to the charged particle with highest transverse momentum in a, selected kinematic region of the event. The results are compared with predictions from tunes of the PYTHIA and HERWIG++ Monte Carlo generators, which in most cases are found to provide a reasonable description of the data.

Abstract: Searches for CP violation in the two-body decays D-(s)(+) -> h(+)pi(0) and D-(s)(+) -> h(+)eta (where h(+) denotes a pi(+) or K+ meson) are performed using pp collision data collected by the LHCb experiment corresponding to either 9 fb(-1) or 6 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity. The pi(0) and eta mesons are reconstructed using the e(+) e(-)gamma final state, which can proceed as three-body decays pi(0) -> e(+) e(-) gamma and eta -> e(+) e(-)gamma, or via the two-body decays pi(0) -> gamma gamma and eta -> gamma gamma followed by a photon conversion. The measurements are made relative to the control modes D-(s)(+) K(S)(0)h(+) to cancel the production and detection asymmetries. The CP asymmetries are measured to be A(CP)(D+ -> pi(+)pi(0)) = (-1.3 +/- 0.9 +/- 0.6)%, A(CP)(D+ -> K+pi(0)) = (- 3.2 +/- 4.7 +/- 2.1)%, A(CP)(D+ -> pi(+)eta) = (-0.2 +/- 0.8 +/- 0.4)%, A(CP)(D+ -> K+eta) = (-6 +/- 10 +/- 4 )%, A(CP)(D-s(+) -> K+pi(0)) = (-0.8 +/- 3.9 +/- 1.2)%, A(CP)(D-s(+) -> pi(+)eta) = ( 0.8 +/- 0.7 +/- 0.5)%, A(CP)(D-s(+) -> K+eta) = ( 0.9 +/- 3.7 +/- 1.1)%, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. These results are consistent with no CP violation and mostly constitute the most precise measurements of A(CP) in these decay modes to date.

Abstract: We perform a systematic study of generic accidental Higgs-family and CP symmetries that could occur in the two-Higgs-doublet-model potential, based on a Majorana scalar-field formalism which realizes a subgroup of GL(8, C). We derive the general conditions of convexity and stability of the scalar potential and present analytical solutions for two non-zero neutral vacuum expectation values of the Higgs doublets for a typical set of six symmetries, in terms of the gauge-invariant parameters of the theory. By means of a homotopy-group analysis, we identify the topological defects associated with the spontaneous symmetry breaking of each symmetry, as well as the massless Goldstone bosons emerging from the breaking of the continuous symmetries. We find the existence of domain walls from the breaking of Z(2), CP1 and CP2 discrete symmetries, vortices in models with broken U(1)(PQ) and CP3 symmetries and a global monopole in the SO(3)(HF)-broken model. The spatial profile of the topological defect solutions is studied in detail, as functions of the potential parameters of the two-Higgs doublet model. The application of our Majorana scalar-field formalism in studying more general scalar potentials that are not constrained by the U(1)(Y) hypercharge symmetry is discussed. In particular, the same formalism may be used to properly identify seven additional symmetries that may take place in a U(1)(Y)-invariant scalar potential.

Abstract: The t (t) over bar production cross-section dependence on jet multiplicity and jet transverse momentum is reported for proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV in the single-lepton channel. The data were collected with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider and comprise the full 2011 data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb(-1). Differential cross-sections are presented as a function of the jet multiplicity for up to eight jets using jet transverse momentum thresholds of 25, 40, 60, and 80 GeV, and as a function of jet transverse momentum up to the fifth jet. The results are shown after background subtraction and corrections for all known detector effects, within a kinematic range closely matched to the experimental acceptance. Several QCD-based Monte Carlo models are compared with the results. Sensitivity to the parton shower modelling is found at the higher jet multiplicities, at high transverse momentum of the leading jet and in the transverse momentum spectrum of the fifth leading jet. The MC@NLO+HERWIG MC is found to predict too few events at higher jet multiplicities.