Abstract: In this work we show that modifying the thermal history of the Universe by including an early period of matter domination can lead to the formation of astronomical objects. However, the survival of these objects can only be possible if the dominating matter decays to a daughter particle which is not only almost degenerate with the parent particle but also has an open annihilation channel. This requirement translates in an upper bound for the coupling of such a channel and makes the early structure formation viable.

Abstract: We present a plausible mechanism for the origin of the XYZ mesons in the heavy meson spectra within a standard quark-model picture. We discuss the conditions required for the existence of four-quark bound states or resonances contributing to the heavy meson spectra, being either compact or molecular. We concentrate on charmonium and bottomonium spectra, where several new states, difficult to understand as simple quark-antiquark pairs, have been reported by different experimental collaborations. The pivotal role played by entangled meson-meson thresholds is emphasized.

Abstract: After the recent discovery of a Higgs-like boson, the possibility of an enlarged scalar sector arises as a natural question. Experimental searches for charged scalars have been already performed with negative results. We analyze the phenomenology associated with a fermiophobic charged Higgs (it does not couple to fermions at tree level), in two-Higgs-doublet models. All present experimental bounds are evaded trivially in this case, and one needs to consider other decay and production channels. We study the associated production of a charged Higgs with either a W or a neutral scalar boson, and the relevant decays for a light fermiophobic charged Higgs. The interesting features of this scenario should result encouraging for the LHC collaborations to perform searches for such a particle.

Abstract: A novel realization of the Starobinsky inflationary model within a moderate extension of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) is presented. The proposed superpotential is uniquely determined by applying a continuous R and a Z2 discrete symmetry, whereas the Kahler potential is associated with a no-scale-type SU(54, 1)/ SU(54) x U(1) R X Z2 Kahler manifold. The inflaton is identified with a Higgs-like modulus whose the vacuum expectation value controls the gravitational strength. Thanks to a strong enough coupling (with a parameter CT involved) between the inflaton and the Ricci scalar curvature, inflation can be attained even for subplanckian values of the inflaton with CT >= 76 and the corresponding effective theory being valid up to the Planck scale. The inflationary observables turn out to be in agreement with the current data and the inflaton mass is predicted to be 3 10(3) GeV. At the cost of a relatively small superpotential coupling constant, the model offers also a resolution of the f,t problem of MSSM for CT <= 4500 and gravitino heavier than about 10(4) GeV. Supplementing MSSM by three right-handed neutrinos we show that spontaneously arising couplings between the inflaton and the particle content of MSSM not only ensure a sufficiently low reheating temperature but also support a scenario of non-thermal leptogenesis consistently with the neutrino oscillation parameters.

Abstract: We study the f(+) form factor for the semileptonic (B) over bar (s) -> K+ l(-) (V) over bar (l) decay in a constituent quark model. The valence quark estimate is supplemented with the contribution from the (B) over bar* pole that dominates the high q(2) region. We use a multiply-subtracted Omnes dispersion relation to extend the quark model predictions from its region of applicability near q(max)(2) = (M-Bs – M-K)(2) similar to 23.75 GeV2 to all q(2) values accessible in the physical decay. To better constrain the dependence of f(+) on q(2), we fit the subtraction constants to a combined input from previous light cone sum rule by Duplancic and Melic (2008) [11] and the present quark model results. From this analysis, we obtain Gamma ( (B) over bar (s) -> K+ l(-) (V) over bar (l)) = (5.47(-0.46)(+0.54)) vertical bar Vub vertical bar(2) x 10(-9) MeV, which is about 10% and 20% higher than the predictions based on Lattice QCD and QCD light cone sum rules respectively. The former predictions, for both the form factor f(+) (q(2)) and the differential decay width, lie within the 1 sigma band of our estimated uncertainties for all q(2) values accessible in the physical decay, except for a quite small region very close to q(max)(2). Differences with the light cone sum results for the form factor f(+) are larger than 20% in the region above q(2) = 15 GeV2.