Abstract: We use a constituent model to analyze the stability of pentaquark (Q) over bar qqqq configurations with a heavy antiquark (c) over bar or (b) over bar, and four light quarks uuds, ddsu or ssud. The interplay between chromoelectric and chromomagnetic effects is not favorable, and, as a consequence, no bound state is found below the lowest dissociation threshold.

Abstract: We investigate semiclassical backreaction on a conical naked singularity space-time with a negative cosmological constant in (2 + 1)-dimensions. In particular, we calculate the renormalized quantum stress-energy tensor for a conformally coupled scalar field on such naked singularity space-time. We then obtain the backreacted metric via the semiclassical Einstein equations. We show that, in the regime where the semiclassical approximation can be trusted, backreaction dresses the naked singularity with an event horizon, thus enforcing (weak) cosmic censorship.

Abstract: This Letter reports a measurement of the exclusive gamma gamma -> l(+)l(-) (l = e, mu) cross-section in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, based on an integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb(-1). For the electron or muon pairs satisfying exclusive selection criteria, a fit to the dilepton acoplanarity distribution is used to extract the fiducial cross-sections. The cross-section in the electron channel is determined to be sigma(excl)(gamma gamma -> e+e-) = 0.428 +/- 0.035 (stat.) +/- 0.018 (syst.) pbfor a phase-space region with invariant mass of the electron pairs greater than 24GeV, in which both electrons have transverse momentum p(T) > 12 GeV and pseudorapidity vertical bar eta vertical bar < 2.4. For muon pairs with invariant mass greater than 20GeV, muon transverse momentum pT> 10 GeV and pseudorapidity vertical bar eta vertical bar < 2.4, the cross-section is determined to be sigma(excl)(gamma gamma -> mu+mu-) = 0.628 +/- 0.032(stat.) +/- 0.021 (syst.) pb. When proton absorptive effects due to the finite size of the proton are taken into account in the theory calculation, the measured cross-sections are found to be consistent with the theory prediction.

Abstract: We present a novel approach to derive constraints on neutrino masses, as well as on other cosmological parameters, from cosmological data, while taking into account our ignorance of the neutrino mass ordering. We derive constraints from a combination of current as well as future cosmological datasets on the total neutrino mass M-nu and on the mass fractions f(nu),i = m(i)/M-nu (where the index i = 1, 2, 3 indicates the three mass eigenstates) carried by each of the mass eigenstates m(i), after marginalizing over the (unknown) neutrino mass ordering, either normal ordering (NH) or inverted ordering (IH). The bounds on all the cosmological parameters, including those on the total neutrino mass, take therefore into account the uncertainty related to our ignorance of the mass hierarchy that is actually realized in nature. This novel approach is carried out in the framework of Bayesian analysis of a typical hierarchical problem, where the distribution of the parameters of the model depends on further parameters, the hyperparameters. In this context, the choice of the neutrino mass ordering is modeled via the discrete hyperparameter h(type), which we introduce in the usual Markov chain analysis. The preference from cosmological data for either the NH or the IH scenarios is then simply encoded in the posterior distribution of the hyper-parameter itself. Current cosmic microwave background (CMB) measurements assign equal odds to the two hierarchies, and are thus unable to distinguish between them. However, after the addition of baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) measurements, a weak preference for the normal hierarchical scenario appears, with odds of 4 : 3 from Planck temperature and large-scale polarization in combination with BAO (3 : 2 if small-scale polarization is also included). Concerning next-generation cosmological experiments, forecasts suggest that the combination of upcoming CMB (COrE) and BAO surveys (DESI) may determine the neutrino mass hierarchy at a high statistical significance if the mass is very close to the minimal value allowed by oscillation experiments, as for NH and a fiducial value of M-nu = 0.06 eV there is a 9 : 1 preference of normal versus inverted hierarchy. On the contrary, if the sum of the masses is of the order of 0.1 eV or larger, even future cosmological observations will be inconclusive. The innovative statistical strategy exploited here represents a very simple, efficient and robust tool to study the sensitivity of present and future cosmological data to the neutrino mass hierarchy, and a sound competitor to the standard Bayesian model comparison. The unbiased limit on M-nu we obtain is crucial for ongoing and planned neutrinoless double beta decay searches.

Abstract: A search for new charged massive gauge bosons, called W', is performed with the ATLAS detector at the LHC, in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of root s = 8 TeV, using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb(-1). This analysis searches for W' bosons in the W' -> t (b) over tilde decay channel in final states with electrons or muons, using a multivariate method based on boosted decision trees. The search covers masses between 0.5 and 3.0 TeV, for right-handed or left-handed W' bosons. No significant deviation from the Standard Model expectation is observed and limits are set on the W' -> t (b) over bar cross-section times branching ratio and on the W'-boson effective couplings as a function of the W'-boson mass using the CLs procedure. For a left-handed (right-handed) W' boson, masses below 1.70 (1.92) TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level.