Abstract: We explore the potential of current and next generation of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE nu NS) experiments in probing neutrino electromagnetic interactions. On the basis of a thorough statistical analysis, we determine the sensitivities on each component of the Majorana neutrino transition magnetic moment (TMM), vertical bar Lambda(i)vertical bar, that follow from low-energy neutrino-nucleus experiments. We derive the sensitivity to neutrino TMM from the first CE nu NS measurement by the COHERENT experiment, at the Spallation Neutron Source. We also present results for the next phases of COHERENT using HPGe, LAr and NaI[Tl] detectors and for reactor neutrino experiments such as CONUS, CONNIE, MINER, TEXONO and RED100. The role of the CP violating phases in each case is also briefly discussed. We conclude that future CE nu NS experiments with low-threshold capabilities can improve current TMM limits obtained from Borexino data.

Abstract: We study in detail the method proposed recently to study the vector-vector interaction using the N/D method and dispersion relations, which concludes that, while, for J = 0, one finds bound states, in the case of J = 2, where the interaction is also attractive and much stronger, no bound state is found. In that work, approximations are done for N and D and a subtracted dispersion relation for D is used, with subtractions made up to a polynomial of second degree in s – s(th), matching the expression to 1 – VG at threshold. We study this in detail for the rho rho interaction and to see the convergence of the method we make an extra subtraction matching 1 – VG at threshold up to (s – s(th))(3). We show that the method cannot be used to extrapolate the results down to 1270 MeV where the f(2)(1270) resonance appears, due to the artificial singularity stemming from the “on-shell” factorization of the rho exchange potential. In addition, we explore the same method but folding this interaction with the mass distribution of the rho, and we show that the singularity disappears and the method allows one to extrapolate to low energies, where both the (s – s(th))(2) and (s – s(th))(3) expansions lead to a zero of Re D(s), at about the same energy where a realistic approach produces a bound state. Even then, the method generates a large Im D(s) that we discuss is unphysical.

Abstract: Nuclear matrix elements (NME) are a crucial input for the interpretation of neutrinoless double beta decay data. We consider a representative set of recent NME calculations from different methods and investigate the impact on the present bound on the effective Majorana mass m(& beta;& beta;) by performing a combined analysis of the available data as well as on the sensitivity reach of future projects. A crucial role is played by the recently discovered short-range contribution to the NME, induced by light Majorana neutrino masses. Depending on the NME model and the relative sign of the long- and short-range contributions, the current 3 & sigma; bound can change between m(& beta;& beta;)< 40 meV and 600 meV. The sign-uncertainty may either boost the sensitivity of next-generation experiments beyond the region for m(& beta;& beta;) predicted for inverted mass ordering or prevent even advanced setups to reach this region. Furthermore, we study the possibility to distinguish between different NME calculations by assuming a positive signal and by combining measurements from different isotopes. Such a discrimination will be impossible if the relative sign of the long- and short-range contribution remains unknown, but can become feasible if m(& beta;& beta;) & GSIM; 40 meV and if the relative sign is known to be positive. Sensitivities will be dominated by the advanced Ge-76 and Xe-136 setups assumed here, but NME model-discrimination improves if data from a third isotope is added, e.g., from Te-130 or Mo-100.

Abstract: Galactic gamma-ray diffuse emission (GDE) is emitted by cosmic rays (CRs), ultra-relativistic protons, and electrons, interacting with gas and electromagnetic radiation fields in the interstellar medium. Here we present the analysis of teraelectronvolt diffuse emission from a region of the Galactic plane over the range in longitude of l is an element of[43 degrees, 73 degrees], using data collected with the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) detector. Spectral, longitudinal, and latitudinal distributions of the teraelectronvolt diffuse emission are shown. The radiation spectrum is compatible with the spectrum of the emission arising from a CR population with an index similar to that of the observed CRs. When comparing with the DRAGON base model, the HAWC GDE flux is higher by about a factor of 2. Unresolved sources such as pulsar wind nebulae and teraelectronvolt halos could explain the excess emission. Finally, deviations of the Galactic CR flux from the locally measured CR flux may additionally explain the difference between the predicted and measured diffuse fluxes.

Abstract: We present the computation of the two-loop form factors for diphoton production in the quark annihilation channel. These quantities are relevant for the NNLO QCD corrections to diphoton production at LHC recently presented in [1]. The computation is performed retaining full dependence on the mass of the heavy quark in the loops. The master integrals are evaluated by means of differential equations which are solved exploiting the generalised power series technique.