Aguilar, A. C., Ferreira, M. N., Papavassiliou, J., & Santos, L. R. (2024). Four-gluon vertex in collinear kinematics. Eur. Phys. J. C, 84(7), 676–27pp.
Abstract: To date, the four-gluon vertex is the least explored component of the QCD Lagrangian, mainly due to the vast proliferation of Lorentz and color structures required for its description. In this work we present a nonperturbative study of this vertex, based on the one-loop dressed Schwinger-Dyson equation obtained from the 4PI effective action. A vast simplification is brought about by resorting to “collinear” kinematics, where all momenta are parallel to each other, and by appealing to the charge conjugation symmetry in order to eliminate certain color structures. Out of the fifteen form factors that comprise the transversely-projected version of this vertex, two are singled out and studied in detail; the one associated with the classical tensorial structure is moderately suppressed in the infrared regime, while the other diverges logarithmically at the origin. Quite interestingly, both form factors display the property known as “planar degeneracy” at a rather high level of accuracy. With these results we construct an effective charge that quantifies the strength of the four-gluon interaction, and compare it with other vertex-derived charges from the gauge sector of QCD.
|
ATLAS Collaboration(Aad, G. et al), Amos, K. R., Aparisi Pozo, J. A., Bailey, A. J., Bouchhar, N., Cabrera Urban, S., et al. (2023). Search for pair production of third-generation leptoquarks decaying into a bottom quark and a τ-lepton with the ATLAS detector. Eur. Phys. J. C, 83(11), 1075–35pp.
Abstract: A search for pair-produced scalar or vector leptoquarks decaying into a b-quark and a tau-lepton is presented using the full LHC Run 2 (2015-2018) data sample of 139 fb(-1) collected with the ATLAS detector in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of root s = 13TeV. Events in which at least one tau-lepton decays hadronically are considered, and multivariate discriminants are used to extract the signals. No significant deviations from the Standard Model expectation are observed and 95% confidence-level upper limits on the production cross-section are derived as a function of leptoquark mass and branching ratio B into a tau-lepton and b-quark. For scalar leptoquarks, masses below 1460GeV are excluded assuming B = 100%, while for vector leptoquarks the corresponding limit is 1650GeV (1910GeV) in the minimal-coupling (Yang-Mills) scenario.
|
Di Gregorio, E., Staelens, M., Hosseinkhah, N., Karimpoor, M., Liburd, J., Lim, L., et al. (2024). Raman Spectroscopy Reveals Photobiomodulation-Induced α-Helix to β-Sheet Transition in Tubulins: Potential Implications for Alzheimer's and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases. Nanomaterials, 14(13), 1093–21pp.
Abstract: In small clinical studies, the application of transcranial photobiomodulation (PBM), which typically delivers low-intensity near-infrared (NIR) to treat the brain, has led to some remarkable results in the treatment of dementia and several neurodegenerative diseases. However, despite the extensive literature detailing the mechanisms of action underlying PBM outcomes, the specific mechanisms affecting neurodegenerative diseases are not entirely clear. While large clinical trials are warranted to validate these findings, evidence of the mechanisms can explain and thus provide credible support for PBM as a potential treatment for these diseases. Tubulin and its polymerized state of microtubules have been known to play important roles in the pathology of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, we investigated the effects of PBM on these cellular structures in the quest for insights into the underlying therapeutic mechanisms. In this study, we employed a Raman spectroscopic analysis of the amide I band of polymerized samples of tubulin exposed to pulsed low-intensity NIR radiation (810 nm, 10 Hz, 22.5 J/cm2 dose). Peaks in the Raman fingerprint region (300-1900 cm-1)-in particular, in the amide I band (1600-1700 cm-1)-were used to quantify the percentage of protein secondary structures. Under this band, hidden signals of C=O stretching, belonging to different structures, are superimposed, producing a complex signal as a result. An accurate decomposition of the amide I band is therefore required for the reliable analysis of the conformation of proteins, which we achieved through a straightforward method employing a Voigt profile. This approach was validated through secondary structure analyses of unexposed control samples, for which comparisons with other values available in the literature could be conducted. Subsequently, using this validated method, we present novel findings of statistically significant alterations in the secondary structures of polymerized NIR-exposed tubulin, characterized by a notable decrease in alpha-helix content and a concurrent increase in beta-sheets compared to the control samples. This PBM-induced alpha-helix to beta-sheet transition connects to reduced microtubule stability and the introduction of dynamism to allow for the remodeling and, consequently, refreshing of microtubule structures. This newly discovered mechanism could have implications for reducing the risks associated with brain aging, including neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, through the introduction of an intervention following this transition.
|
Martins, A., da Mota, A. F., Stanford, C., Contreras, T., Martin-Albo, J., Kish, A., et al. (2024). Simple strategy for the simulation of axially symmetric large-area metasurfaces. J. Opt. Soc. Am. B, 41(5), 1261–1269.
Abstract: Metalenses are composed of nanostructures for focusing light and have been widely explored in many exciting applications. However, their expanding dimensions pose simulation challenges. We propose a method to simulate metalenses in a timely manner using vectorial wave and ray tracing models. We sample the metalens's radial phase gradient and locally approximate the phase profile by a linear phase response. Each sampling point is modeled as a binary blazed grating, employing the chosen nanostructure, to build a transfer function set. The metalens transmission or reflection is then obtained by applying the corresponding transfer function to the incoming field on the regions surrounding each sampling point. Fourier optics is used to calculate the scattered fields under arbitrary illumination for the vectorial wave method, and a Monte Carlo algorithm is used in the ray tracing formalism. We validated our method against finite -difference time domain simulations at 632 nm, and we were able to simulate metalenses larger than 3000 wavelengths in diameter on a personal computer.
|
CALICE Collaboration(Lai, S. et al), & Irles, A. (2024). Software compensation for highly granular calorimeters using machine learning. J. Instrum., 19(4), P04037–28pp.
Abstract: A neural network for software compensation was developed for the highly granular CALICE Analogue Hadronic Calorimeter (AHCAL). The neural network uses spatial and temporal event information from the AHCAL and energy information, which is expected to improve sensitivity to shower development and the neutron fraction of the hadron shower. The neural network method produced a depth-dependent energy weighting and a time-dependent threshold for enhancing energy deposits consistent with the timescale of evaporation neutrons. Additionally, it was observed to learn an energy-weighting indicative of longitudinal leakage correction. In addition, the method produced a linear detector response and outperformed a published control method regarding resolution for every particle energy studied.
|
Penas, J., Alejo, A., Bembibre, A., Apiñaniz, J. I., Garcia-Garcia, E., Guerrero, C., et al. (2024). Production of carbon-11 for PET preclinical imaging using a high-repetition rate laser-driven proton source. Sci Rep, 14(1), 11448–12pp.
Abstract: Most advanced medical imaging techniques, such as positron-emission tomography (PET), require tracers that are produced in conventional particle accelerators. This paper focuses on the evaluation of a potential alternative technology based on laser-driven ion acceleration for the production of radioisotopes for PET imaging. We report for the first time the use of a high-repetition rate, ultra-intense laser system for the production of carbon-11 in multi-shot operation. Proton bunches with energies up to 10-14 MeV were systematically accelerated in long series at pulse rates between 0.1 and 1 Hz using a PW-class laser. These protons were used to activate a boron target via the 11 \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$<^>{11}$$\end{document} B(p,n) 11 \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$<^>{11}$$\end{document} C nuclear reaction. A peak activity of 234 kBq was obtained in multi-shot operation with laser pulses with an energy of 25 J. Significant carbon-11 production was also achieved for lower pulse energies. The experimental carbon-11 activities measured in this work are comparable to the levels required for preclinical PET, which would be feasible by operating at the repetition rate of current state-of-the-art technology (10 Hz). The scalability of next-generation laser-driven accelerators in terms of this parameter for sustained operation over time could increase these overall levels into the clinical PET range.
|
Mantovani Sarti, V., Feijoo, A., Vidana, I., Ramos, A., Giacosa, F., Hyodo, T., et al. (2024). Constraining the low-energy S =-2 meson-baryon interaction with two-particle correlations. Phys. Rev. D, 110(1), L011505–8pp.
Abstract: In this paper we present a novel method to extract information on hadron-hadron interactions using for the first time femtoscopic data to constrain the low-energy constants of a QCD effective Lagrangian. This method offers a new way to investigate the nonperturbative regime of QCD in sectors where scattering experiments are not feasible, such as the multistrange and charm ones. As an example of its application, we use the very precise K-Lambda correlation function data, recently measured in pp collisions at LHC, to constrain the strangeness S = -2 meson-baryon interaction. The model obtained delivers new insights on the molecular nature of the Xi(1620) and Xi(1690) states.
|
LHCb Collaboration(Aaij, R. et al), Jaimes Elles, S. J., Jashal, B. K., Martinez-Vidal, F., Oyanguren, A., Rebollo De Miguel, M., et al. (2023). Test of lepton flavor universality using B0 → D*- τ+ ντ decays with hadronic τ channels. Phys. Rev. D, 108(1), 012018–18pp.
Abstract: The branching fraction B(B-0 -> D*(-)tau(+)nu(tau)) is measured relative to that of the normalization mode B-0 -> D*(-) pi(+)pi(-)pi(+) using hadronic tau(+) -> pi(+)pi(-)pi(+) (pi(0))(nu) over bar (tau) decays in proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2 fb(-1). The measured ratio is B(B-0 -> D*(-)tau(+)nu(tau))/B(B-0 -> D*(-) pi(+)pi(-)pi(+)) = 1.70 +/- 0.10(-0.10)(+0.11), where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is related to systematic effects. Using established branching fractions for the B-0 -> D*(-) pi(+)pi(-)pi(+) and B-0 -> D*(-)mu(+)nu(mu) modes, the lepton universality test R(D*(-)) = B(B-0 -> D*(-)tau(+)nu(tau))/B(B-0 -> D*(-)mu(+)nu(mu)) is calculated, R(D*(-)) = 0.247 +/- 0.015 +/- 0.015 +/- 0.012, where the third uncertainty is due to the uncertainties on the external branching fractions. This result is consistent with the Standard Model prediction and with previous measurements.
|
IDS Collaboration(Benito, J. et al), & Nacher, E. (2024). Detailed structure of 131Sn populated in the β decay of isomerically purified 131In states. Phys. Rev. C, 110(1), 014328–19pp.
Abstract: The excited structure of the single-hole nucleus 131 Sn populated by the beta – decay of 131 In was investigated in detail at the ISOLDE facility at CERN. This new experiment took advantage of isomeric purification capabilities provided by resonant ionization, making it possible to independently study the decay of each isomer for the first time. The position of the first-excited nu h 11 / 2 neutron-hole state was confirmed via an independent mass spectroscopy experiment performed at the Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line facility at the University of Jyv & auml;skyl & auml;. The level scheme of 131 Sn was notably expanded with the addition of 31 new gamma-ray transitions and 22 new excited levels. The gamma-emitting excited levels above the neutron separation energy in 131 Sn were investigated, revealing a large number of states, which in some cases decay by transitions to other neutron-unbound states. Our analysis showed the dependence between the population of these states in 131 Sn and the beta-decaying 131 In state feeding them. Profiting from the isomer selectivity, it was possible to estimate the direct beta feeding to the 3/2+ / 2 + ground and 11/2- / 2 – isomeric states, disentangling the contributions from the three indium parent states. This made possible to resolve the discrepancies in log ft for first-forbidden transitions observed in previous studies, and to determine the beta-delayed neutron decay probability (Pn) P n ) values of each indium isomers independently. The first measurement of subnanosecond lifetimes in 131 Sn was performed in this work. A short T 1 / 2 = 18(4)-ps value was measured for the 1/2+ / 2 + neutron single-hole 332-keV state, which indicates an enhanced l-forbidden M 1 behavior for the nu 3 s – 1 1/2 / 2 -> nu 3 d – 13 / 2 transition. The measured half-lives of high-energy states populated in the beta decay of the (21/2+) / 2 + ) second isomeric state ( 131 m 2 In) provided valuable information on transition rates, supporting the interpretation of these levels as core-excited states analogous to those observed in the doubly-magic 132 Sn.
|
Hagedorn, C., Lopez-Ibañez, M. L., Jay Perez, M., Hossain Rahat, M., & Vives, O. (2024). Flavon vacuum alignment beyond SUSY. Phys. Rev. D, 110(1), 015009–17pp.
Abstract: In flavor models the vacuum alignment of flavons is typically achieved via the F-terms of certain fields in the supersymmetric limit. We propose a method for preserving such alignments, up to a rescaling of the vacuum expectation values, even after softly breaking supersymmetry (and the flavor symmetry). This facilitates the vacuum alignment in models which are nonsupersymmetric at low energies. Examples of models with different flavor groups, namely, A4, T7, S4, and Delta & eth;27 & THORN;, are discussed.
|
