Abstract: We extend the adiabatic regularization method to spin-1/2 fields. The ansatz for the adiabatic expansion for fermionic modes differs significantly from the WKB-type template that works for scalar modes. We give explicit expressions for the first adiabatic orders and analyze particle creation in de Sitter spacetime. As for scalar fields, the adiabatic method can be distinguished by its capability to overcome the UV divergences of the particle number operator. We also test the consistency of the extended method by working out the conformal and axial anomalies for a Dirac field in a Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker spacetime, in exact agreement with those obtained from other renormalization prescriptions. We finally show its power by computing the renormalized stress-energy tensor for Dirac fermions in de Sitter space.

Abstract: We present a coupled channel unitary approach to obtain states dynamically generated from the meson-baryon interaction with hidden charm, using constraints of heavy quark spin symmetry. As a basis of states, we use (D) over barB, (D) over bar *B states, with B baryon charmed states belonging to the 20 representations of SU(4) with J(P) = 1/2(+), 3/2(+). In addition we also include the eta N-c and J/psi N states. The inclusion of these coupled channels is demanded by heavy quark spin symmetry, since in the large m(Q) limit the D and D* states are degenerate and are obtained from each other by means of a spin rotation, under which QCD is invariant. The novelty in the work is that we use dynamics from the extrapolation of the local hidden gauge model to SU(4), and we show that this dynamics fully respects the constraints of heavy quark spin symmetry. With the full space of states demanded by the heavy quark spin symmetry and the dynamics of the local hidden gauge, we look for states dynamically generated and find four basic states that are bound, corresponding to (D) over bar Sigma(c), (D) over bar Sigma(c)*, (D) over bar*Sigma(c) and (D) over bar*Sigma*(c) decaying mostly into eta N-c and J/psi N. All the states appear in isospin I = 1/2, and we find no bound states or resonances in I = 3/2. The (D) over bar Sigma(c) state appears in J = 1/2 and the (D) over bar Sigma*(c) in J = 3/2; the (D) over bar*Sigma(c) appears nearly degenerate in J = 1/2, 3/2 and the (D) over bar*Sigma*(c) appears nearly degenerate in J = 1/2, 3/2, 5/2, with the peculiarity that in J = 5/2 the state has zero width in the space of states chosen. All the states are bound with about 50 MeV with respect to the corresponding (D) over barB thresholds, and the width, except for the J = 5/2 state, is also of the same order of magnitude. Finally, we discuss the uncertainties stemming from the expected breaking of SU(4) and the heavy quark spin symmetry.

Abstract: Recently we presented a successful strategy to extract the position of the two Lambda ( 1405) poles from experimental photoproduction data on the gamma p -> K+pi(0)Sigma(0) reaction at Jefferson Lab. Following a similar strategy, we extend the previous method to incorporate also the isospin 1 component which allows us to consider in addition the experimental data on gamma p -> K+pi(+/-)Sigma(-/+). The idea is based on considering a production mechanism as model independent as possible and implementing the final state interaction of the final meson-baryon pair based on small modifications of the unitary chiral perturbation theory amplitudes. Good fits to the data are obtained with this procedure, by means of which we can also predict the cross sections for the K- p -> (K) over barN, pi Sigma, and pi Lambda reactions for the different charge channels. Besides the two poles found for the Lambda(1405) resonance, we discuss the possible existence of an isospin 1 resonance in the vicinity of the (K) over barN threshold.

Abstract: We present a strategy to extract the position of the two Lambda(1405) poles from experimental photoproduction data measured recently at different energies in the gamma p -> K+pi(0)Sigma(0) reaction at Jefferson Laboratory. By means of a chiral dynamics motivated potential with free parameters, we solve the Bethe-Salpeter equation in the coupled channels (K) over barN and pi Sigma in isospin I = 0 and parametrize the amplitude for the photonuclear reaction in terms of a linear combination of the pi Sigma -> pi Sigma and (K) over barN -> pi Sigma scattering amplitudes in I = 0, with a different linear combination for each energy. Good fits to the data are obtained with some sets of parameters, by means of which one can also predict the cross section for the K- p -> pi(0)Sigma(0) reaction. These later results help us decide among the possible solutions. The result is that the different solutions lead to two poles similar to those found in the chiral unitary approach. With the best result we find the two Lambda(1405) poles at 1385 – 68i MeV and 1419 – 22i MeV.

Abstract: The pion mass dependence of the nucleon mass within the covariant SU(2) baryon chiral perturbation theory both without and with explicit Delta(1232) degrees of freedom up to order p(4) is investigated. By fitting to a comprehensive set of lattice QCD data in 2 and 2 + 1 flavors from several collaborations, for pion masses M-pi < 420 MeV, we obtain low energy constants of natural size that are compatible with pion-nucleon scattering data. Our results are consistent with the rather linear pion mass dependence showed by lattice QCD. In the 2 flavor case we have also performed simultaneous fits to nucleon mass and sigma(pi N) data. As a result of our analysis, which encompasses the study of finite volume corrections and discretization effects, we report a value of sigma(pi N) = 41(5)(4) MeV in the 2 flavor case and sigma(pi N) = 52(3)(8) MeV for 2 + 1 flavors, where the inclusion of the Delta(1232) resonance changes the results by around 9 MeV. In the 2 flavor case we are able to set independently the scale for lattice QCD data, given by a Sommer scale of r(0) = 0.493(23) fm.