Abstract: We extend an alternative, phenomenological approach to inflation by means of an equation of state and a sound speed, both of them functions of the number of e-folds and four phenomenological parameters. This approach captures a number of possible inflationary models, including those with non-canonical kinetic terms or scale-dependent non-gaussianities. We perform Markov Chain Monte Carlo analyses using the latest cosmological publicly available measurements, which include Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) data from the Planck satellite. Within this parameterization, we discard scale invariance with a significance of about 10 sigma, and the running of the spectral index is constrained as alpha(s) = -0.60(-0.10)(+0.08) x 10(-3) (68% CL errors). The limit on the tensor-to-scalar ratio is r < 0.005 at 95% CL from CMB data alone. We find no significant evidence for this alternative parameterization with present cosmological observations. The maximum amplitude of the equilateral non-gaussianity that we obtain, vertical bar f(NL)(equil)vertical bar < 1, is much smaller than the current Planck mission errors, strengthening the case for future high-redshift, all-sky surveys, which could reach the required accuracy on equilateral non-gaussianities.

Abstract: A search is performed in the invariant mass spectrum of the B-c(+)pi(+) pi(-) system for the excited B-c(+) states B-c (2(1)S(0)) + and B-c(2(3)S(1)) + using a data sample of p p collisions collected by the LHCb experiment at the centre- of- mass energy of root s = 8TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2 fb(-1). No evidence is seen for either state. Upper limits on the ratios of the production cross- sections of the Bc (2(1)S(0)) + and B-c(2(3)S(1)) + states times the branching fractions of Bc (2(1)S(0))(+) -> B-c(+)pi(+) pi(-) and B-c (2(3) S-1)(+) -> B-c*(+)pi(+) pi(-) over the production cross- section of the B-c(+) state are given as a function of their masses. They are found to be between 0.02 and 0.14 at 95% con fi dence level for B-c (2(1)S(0)) + and B-c (2(3)S(1)) + in the mass ranges [6830; 6890] MeV/c(2) and [6795; 6890] MeV/c(2), respectively.

Abstract: The ratios of the branching fractions of the decays do Lambda(+)(c) -> , p pi(-)pi(+), Lambda(+->)(c) pK(-)K(+), and Lambda(+)(c) -> p pi K--(+) with respect to the Cabibbo-favoured Lambda(+)(c) -> pK(-)pi(+) decay are measured using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb experiment at a 7 TeV centre-of-mass energy and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb(-1): B(Lambda(+)(c) -> p pi(-)pi(+))/B(Lambda(+)(c) -> pK(-)pi(+)) = (7.44 +/- 0.08 +/- 0.18)%. B(Lambda(+)(c) -> pK(-)K(+))/B(Lambda(+)(c) -> pK(-)pi(+) = (1.70 +/- 0.03 +/- 0.03)%, B(Lambda(+)(c) -> p pi(-)pi K-+(+))/B(Lambda(+)(c) -> pK(-)pi(+) = (0.165 +/- 0.015 +/- 0.005)%, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. These results are the most precise measurements of these quantities to date. When multiplied by the world average value for B(Lambda(+)(c) -> p pi(-)pi(+)), the corresponding branching fractions are B(Lambda(+)(c) -> p pi(-)pi(+) = (4.72 +/- 0.05 +/- 0.11 +/- 0.25) x 10(-3), B(Lambda(+)(c) -> pK(-)K(+)) = (1.08 +/- 0.02 +/- 0.02 +/- 0.06) x 10(-3), B(Lambda(+)(c) -> , p pi K--(+)) = (1.04 +/- 0.09 +/- 0.03 +/- 0.05) x 10(-4), where the final uncertainty is due to B(Lambda(+)(c) -> pK(-)pi(+)).

Abstract: Excited states in the T-z = -1 nucleus Kr-70 have been populated using inelastic scattering of a radioactive Kr-70 beam as well as one- and two-neutron removal reactions from Kr-71,Kr-72 at intermediate beam energies. The level scheme of Kr-70 was constructed from the observed gamma-ray transitions and coincidences. Tentative spin and parity assignments were made based on comparison with the mirror nucleus Se-70. Asecond 2(+) state and a candidate for the corresponding 4(2)(+) state suggest shape coexistence in Kr-70.

Abstract: DTAS is a segmented total absorption y-ray spectrometer developed for the DESPEC experiment at FAIR. It is composed of up to eighteen NaI(Tl) crystals. In this work we study the performance of this detector with laboratory sources and also under real experimental conditions. We present a procedure to reconstruct offline the sum of the energy deposited in all the crystals of the spectrometer, which is complicated by the effect of NaI(Tl) light-yield non-proportionality. The use of a system to correct for time variations of the gain in individual detector modules, based on a light pulse generator, is demonstrated. We describe also an event-based method to evaluate the summing-pileup electronic distortion in segmented spectrometers. All of this allows a careful characterization of the detector with Monte Carlo simulations that is needed to calculate the response function for the analysis of total absorption gamma-ray spectroscopy data. Special attention was paid to the interaction of neutrons with the spectrometer, since they are a source of contamination in studies of beta-delayed neutron emitting nuclei.