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Papavassiliou, J. (2022). Emergence of mass in the gauge sector of QCD. Chin. Phys. C, 46(11), 112001–23pp.
Abstract: It is currently widely accepted that gluons, while massless at the level of the fundamental QCD Lagrangian, acquire an effective mass through the non-Abelian implementation of the classic Schwinger mechanism. The key dynamical ingredient that triggers the onset of this mechanism is the formation of composite massless poles inside the fundamental vertices of the theory. These poles enter the evolution equation of the gluon propagator and nontrivially affect the way the Slavnov-Taylor identities of the vertices are resolved, inducing a smoking-gun displacement in the corresponding Ward identities. In this article, we present a comprehensive review of the pivotal concepts associated with this dynamical scenario, emphasizing the synergy between functional methods and lattice simulations and highlighting recent advances that corroborate the action of the Schwinger mechanism in QCD.
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LHCb Collaboration(Aaij, R. et al), Garcia Martin, L. M., Henry, L., Jashal, B. K., Martinez-Vidal, F., Oyanguren, A., et al. (2020). Isospin Amplitudes in Lambda(0)(b) -> J/psi Lambda (Sigma(0)) and Xi(0)(b)-> J/psi Xi(0) (Lambda) Decays. Phys. Rev. Lett., 124(11), 111802–11pp.
Abstract: Ratios of isospin amplitudes in hadron decays are a useful probe of the interplay between weak and strong interactions and allow searches for physics beyond the standard model. We present the first results on isospin amplitudes in b-baryon decays, using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 8.5 fb(-1), collected with the LHCb detector in pp collisions at center of mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. The isospin amplitude ratio vertical bar A(1) (Delta(0)(b) -> J/psi(Sigma(0)) /A(0) (Delta(0)(b) -> J/psi Lambda)vertical bar, where the subscript on A indicates the final-state isospin, is measured to be less than 1/21.8 at 95% confidence level. The Cabibbo suppressed Xi(0)(b) -> J/psi Lambda decay is observed for the first time, allowing for the measurement vertical bar A(0) (Xi(0)(b) -> J/psi Lambda) / A(1/2 )(Xi(0)(b) -> J/psi Xi(0))vertical bar = 0.37 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.02, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.
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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). Measurement of the Ratios of Branching Fractions R(D*) and R(D0). Phys. Rev. Lett., 131(11), 111802–13pp.
Abstract: The ratios of branching fractions R(D*) = B((B) over bar -> D* tau(-) (v) over bar (tau))/B((B) over bar -> D*.mu(-)(v) over bar mu) and R(D-0) = B(B- -> D(0)t-mu(-)(v) over bar mu) are measured, assuming isospin symmetry, using a sample of proton-proton collision data corresponding to 3.0 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2011 and 2012. The tau lepton is identified in the decay mode tau(-) -> mu(-)v(tau)(v) over bar mu. The measured values are R(D) = 0.281 +/- 0.018 +/- 0.024 and R(D-0) = 0.441 +/- 0.060 +/- 0.066, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The correlation between these measurements is rho = -0.43. The results are consistent with the current average of these quantities and are at a combined 1.9 standard deviations from the predictions based on lepton flavor universality in the standard model.
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LHCb Collaboration(Aaij, R. et al), Jashal, B. K., Martinez-Vidal, F., Oyanguren, A., Remon Alepuz, C., & Ruiz Vidal, J. (2021). Observation of the Mass Difference Between Neutral Charm-Meson Eigenstates. Phys. Rev. Lett., 127(11), 111801–12pp.
Abstract: A measurement of mixing and CP violation in neutral charm mesons is performed using data reconstructed in proton-proton collisions collected by the LHCb experiment from 2016 to 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb(-1). A total of 30.6 million D0 -> K-s(0)pi(+)pi(-) decays are analyzed using a method optimized for the measurement of the mass difference between neutral charmmeson eigenstates. Allowing for CP violation in mixing and in the interference between mixing and decay, the mass and decay-width differences are measured to be x(CP) = [3.97 +/- 0.46(stat) +/- 0.29(syst)] x 10(-3) and y(CP) = [4.59 +/- 1.20(stat) +/- 0.85(syst)] x 10(-3), respectively. The CP-violating parameters are measured as Delta x= [-0.27 +/- 0.18(stat)+/- 0.01(syst)] x 10 (-3) and Delta y = [0.20 +/- 0.36(stat) +/- 0.13(syst)] x 10(-3). This is the first observation of a nonzero mass difference in the D-0 meson system, with a significance exceeding seven standard deviations. The data are consistent with CP symmetry and improve existing constraints on the associated parameters.
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Fabbri, A., & Balbinot, R. (2021). Ramp-up of Hawking Radiation in Bose-Einstein-Condensate Analog Black Holes. Phys. Rev. Lett., 126(11), 111301–6pp.
Abstract: Inspired by a recent experiment by Steinhauer and co-workers, we present a simple model which describes the formation of an acoustic black hole in a Bose-Einstein condensate, allowing an analytical computation of the evolution in time of the corresponding density-density correlator. We show the emergence of analog Hawking radiation out of a “quantum atmosphere” region significantly displaced from the horizon. This is quantitatively studied both at T = 0 and even in the presence of an initial temperature T, as is always the case experimentally.
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NA64 Collaboration(Andreev, Y. M. et al), & Molina Bueno, L. (2021). Search for pseudoscalar bosons decaying into e(+)e(-) pairs in the NA64 experiment at the CERN SPS. Phys. Rev. D, 104(11), L111102–5pp.
Abstract: We report the results of a search for a light pseudoscalar particle a that couples to electrons and decays to e(+) e(-) perfbnned using the high-energy CERN SPS H4 electron beam. If such light pseudoscalar exists, it could explain the ATOMKI anomaly (an excess of e(+) e(-) pairs in the nuclear transitions of Be-8 and 4 He nuclei at the invariant mass similar or equal to 17 MeV observed by the experiment at the 5 MV Van de Graaff accelerator at ATOMKI, Hungary). We used the NA64 data collected in the “visible mode” configuration with a total statistics corresponding to 8.4 x 10(10) electrons on target (EOT) in 2017 and 2018. In order to increase sensitivity to small coupling parameter epsilon we also used the data collected in 2016-2018 in the “invisible mode” configuration of NA64 with a total statistics corresponding to 2.84 x 10(11) EOT. The background and efficiency estimates for these two configurations were retained from our previous analyses searching for light vector bosons and axionlike particles (ALP) (the latter were assumed to couple predominantly to gamma). In this work we recalculate the signal yields, which are different due to different cross section and lifetime of a pseudoscalar particle a, and perform a new statistical analysis. As a result, the region of the two dimensional parameter space m(a) – epsilon in the mass range from 1 to 17.1 MeV is excluded. At the mass of the central value of the ATOMKI anomaly (the first result obtained on the beryllium nucleus, 16.7 MeV) the values of epsilon in the range 2.1 x 10(-4) < epsilon < 3.2 x 10(-4) are excluded.
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Oliver, S., Vijande, J., Tejedor-Aguilar, N., Miro, R., Rovira-Escutia, J. J., Ballester, F., et al. (2023). Monte Carlo flattening filter design to high energy intraoperative electron beam homogenization. Radiat. Phys. Chem., 212, 111102–6pp.
Abstract: Intraoperative radiotherapy using mobile linear accelerators is used for a wide variety of malignancies. However, when large fields are used in combination with high energies, a deterioration of the flatness dose profile is measured with respect to smaller fields and lower energies. Indeed, for the LIAC HWL of Sordina, this deterioration is observed for the 12 MeV beam combined with 10 cm (or larger) diameter applicator. Aimed to solve this problem, a flattening filter has been designed and validated evaluating the feasibility of its usage at the upper part of the applicator. The design of the filter was based on Monte Carlo simulations because of its accuracy in modeling components of clinical devices, among other purposes. The LIAC 10 cm diameter applicator was modeled and simulated independently by two different research groups using two different MC codes, reproducing the heterogeneity of the 12 MeV energy beam. Then, an iterative process of filter design was carried out. Finally, the MC designed conical filter with the optimal size and height to obtain the desired flattened beam was built in-house using a 3D printer. During the experimental validation of the applicator-filter, percentage depth dose, beam profiles, absolute and peripheral dose measurements were performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the filter addition in the applicator. These measurements conclude that the beam has been flattened, from 5.9% with the standard configuration to 1.6% for the configuration with the filter, without significant increase of the peripheral dose. Consequently, the new filter-applicator LIAC configuration can be used also in a conventional surgery room. A reduction of 16% of the output dose and a reduction of 1.1 mm in the D50 of the percentage depth dose was measured with respect to the original configuration. This work is a proof-of-concept that demonstrates that it is possible to add a filter able to flatten the beam delivered by the Sordina LIAC HWL. Future studies will focus on more refined technical solutions fully compatible with the integrity of the applicator, including its sterilization, to be safely introduced in the clinical practice.
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BABAR Collaboration(Lees, J. P. et al), Martinez-Vidal, F., & Oyanguren, A. (2019). Search for B- -> Lambda(p)over-bar nu(nu)over-bar with the BABAR experiment. Phys. Rev. D, 100(11), 111101–8pp.
Abstract: A search for the rare flavor-changing neutral current process B- -> Lambda(p) over bar nu(nu) over bar using data from the BABAR experiment has been performed. A total of 424 fb(-1) of e(+) e(-) collision data collected at the center-of-mass energy of the Upsilon(4S) resonance is used in this study, corresponding to a sample of (471 +/- 3) x 10(6) B (B) over bar pairs. Signal B- -> Lambda(p) over bar nu(nu) over bar candidates arc identified by fast fully reconstructing a B+ decay in one of many possible exclusive decays to hadronic final states, then examining detector activity that is not associated with this reconstructed B+ decay for evidence of a signal B- -> Lambda(p) over bar nu(nu) over bar decay. The data yield is found to be consistent with the expected background contribution under a null signal hypothesis, resulting in an upper limit of B(B- -> Lambda(p) over bar nu(nu) over bar) < 3.0 x 10(-5) at the 90% confidence level.
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Barrientos, L., Borja-Lloret, M., Casana, J. V., Hueso-Gonzalez, F., Ros, A., Roser, J., et al. (2023). System characterization and performance studies with MACACO III Compton camera. Radiat. Phys. Chem., 208, 110922–13pp.
Abstract: The IRIS group of IFIC-Valencia has developed a Compton camera prototype. The system detectors are made of Lanthanum (III) bromide scintillator crystals coupled to silicon photomultipliers. Two models of silicon photomultipliers arrays with different micro pixel pitch (25 and 50 μm) have been chosen as possible candidates to improve the response of the new system. Characterization studies with a 22Na point-like source have indicated that the 25 μm photodetector provided better performance in terms of energy resolution (5.2% FWHM at 511 keV) and angular resolution (6.9 degrees FWHM at 1275 keV), and more stability with temperature variations. In addition, MACACO III imaging capabilities have been assessed using a structure composed of thirty-seven 22Na point-like sources. Furthermore, in order to evaluate possible ways of improving the system performance, several studies have been carried out by means of simulations both in realistic and performance improved conditions. In this work, the system performance is evaluated for its future application in different areas.
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Viegas, R., Roser, J., Barrientos, L., Borja-Lloret, M., Casaña, J. V., Lopez, J. G., et al. (2023). Characterization of a Compton camera based on the TOFPET2 ASIC. Radiat. Phys. Chem., 202, 110507–11pp.
Abstract: The use of Compton cameras for medical imaging and its interest as a hadron therapy treatment monitoring has increased in the last decade with the development of silicon photomultipliers. MACACOp is a Compton camera prototype designed and assembled at the IRIS group of IFIC-Valencia. This Compton camera is based on monolithic Lanthanum (III) Bromide crystals and silicon photomultipliers, and employs the novel TOFPET2 ASIC as readout electronics. This system emerged as an alternative to MACACO II prototype, with the aim of improving its limited time resolution. To test the performance of the ASIC in a Compton camera setup, the prototype was characterized, both in laboratory and in-beam. A time resolution of 1.5 ns was obtained after time corrections, which improves greatly the performance of the MACACO II. Moreover, the results obtained at high photon energies demonstrate the ability of the system to obtain 1 mm displacements of the reconstructed spots. The results reinforce the potential of the system as a monitoring device for hadron therapy.
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