Abstract: We analyse the possible presence of New Physics (NP) in the Flavour Sector and evaluate its potential for solving the tension between the experimental values of A(J/Psi KS) and Br(B+ -> tau(+)v(tau)) with respect to the Standard Model (SM) expectations. Updated model independent analyses, where NP contributions are allowed in B-d(0) – (B) over bar (0)(d) and B-s(0) – (B) over bar (0)(s) transitions, suggest the need of New Physics in the bd sector. A detailed analysis of recent Flavour data is then presented in the framework of a simple extension of the SM, where a Q = 2/3 vector-like isosinglet quark is added to the spectrum of the SM. Special emphasis is given to the implications of this model for correlations among various measurable quantities. We include constraints from all the relevant quark flavour sectors and give precise predictions for selected rare processes. We find important deviations from the SM in observables in the bd sector like the semileptonic asymmetry A(SL)(d), B-d(0) -> mu(+)mu(-) and A(SL)(s) – A(SL)(d). Other potential places where NP can show up include A(J/Psi Phi), gamma, K-L(0) -> pi(0)v (v) over bar, t -> Zq and D-0 -> mu(+)mu(-) among others. The experimental data favours in this model the existence of an up vector-like quark with a mass below 600(1000) GeV at 1(2) sigma.

Abstract: The differential branching fraction with respect to the dimuon invariant mass squared, and the CP asymmetry of the B-+/- -> pi(+/-)mu(+/-)mu(-) decay are measured for the first time. The CKM matrix elements vertical bar V-td vertical bar, and vertical bar V-ts vertical bar, and the ratio vertical bar V-td/V-ts vertical bar are determined. The analysis is performed using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1), collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The total branching fraction and CP asymmetry of B-+/- -> pi(+/-)mu(+/-)mu(-) decays are measured to be B(B-+/- -> pi(+/-)mu(+/-)mu(-)) = (1.83 +/- 0.24 +/- 0.05) x 10(-8) and A(cp)(B-+/- -> pi(+/-)mu(+/-)mu(-)) = -0.11 +/- 0.12 +/- 0.01, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. These are the most precise measurements of these observables to date, and they are compatible with the predictions of the Standard Model.

Abstract: A search for rare B. D mu+ mu- decays is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb-1. No significant signals are observed in the non-resonant mu+ mu- modes, and upper limits of B -> B0. D0 mu+ mu- < 5.1 x 10-8, B B+. D+ s mu+ mu- -> < 3.2 x 10-8, B -> B0 s. D0 mu+ mu--> < 1.6 x 10-7 and fc/fu center dot B B+ c. D+ s mu+ mu--> < 9.6 x 10-8 are set at the 95% confidence level, where fc and fu are the fragmentation fractions of a B meson with a c and u quark respectively in proton-proton collisions. Each result is either the first such measurement or an improvement by three orders of magnitude on an existing limit. Separate upper limits are calculated when the muon pair originates from a J/.. mu+ mu- decay. The branching fraction of B+ c. D+ s J/. multiplied by the fragmentation-fraction ratio is measured to be fc fu center dot B -> B+ c. D+ s J/.-> = (1.63 +/- 0.15 +/- 0.13) x 10-5, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

Abstract: The NEXT experiment aims at searching for the hypothetical neutrinoless double-beta decay from the Xe-136 isotope using a high-purity xenon TPC. Efficient discrimination of the events through pattern recognition of the topology of primary ionisation tracks is a major requirement for the experiment. However, it is limited by the diffusion of electrons. It is known that the addition of a small fraction of a molecular gas to xenon reduces electron diffusion. On the other hand, the electroluminescence (EL) yield drops and the achievable energy resolution may be compromised. We have studied the effect of adding several molecular gases to xenon (CO2, CH4 and CF4) on the EL yield and energy resolution obtained in a small prototype of driftless gas proportional scintillation counter. We have compared our results on the scintillation characteristics (EL yield and energy resolution) with a microscopic simulation, obtaining the diffusion coefficients in those conditions as well. Accordingly, electron diffusion may be reduced from about 10 for pure xenon down to 2.5 using additive concentrations of about 0.05%, 0.2% and 0.02% for CO2, CH4 and CF4, respectively. Our results show that CF4 admixtures present the highest EL yield in those conditions, but very poor energy resolution as a result of huge fluctuations observed in the EL formation. CH4 presents the best energy resolution despite the EL yield being the lowest. The results obtained with xenon admixtures are extrapolated to the operational conditions of the NEXT-100 TPC. CO2 and CH4 show potential as molecular additives in a large xenon TPC. While CO2 has some operational constraints, making it difficult to be used in a large TPC, CH4 shows the best performance and stability as molecular additive to be used in the NEXT-100 TPC, with an extrapolated energy resolution of 0.4% at 2.45 MeV for concentrations below 0.4%, which is only slightly worse than the one obtained for pure xenon. We demonstrate the possibility to have an electroluminescence TPC operating very close to the thermal diffusion limit without jeopardizing the TPC performance, if CO2 or CH4 are chosen as additives.

Abstract: A search for the decay B-s(0) -> (K) over bar (*0) mu(+) mu(-) is presented using data sets corresponding to 1.0, 2.0 and 1.6 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected during pp collisions with the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13TeV, respectively. An excess is found over the background-only hypothesis with a significance of 3.4 standard deviations. The branching fraction of the B-s(0) -> (K) over bar (*0) mu(+) mu(-) decay is determined to be B(B-s(0) -> (K) over bar (*0) mu(+) mu(-)) = [2.9 +/- 1.0 (stat) +/- 0.2 (syst) +/- 0.3 (norm)] x 10(-8), where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. The third uncertainty is due to limited knowledge of external parameters used to normalise the branching fraction measurement.