Abstract: We have studied the meson-baryon S-wave interaction in the isoscalar hidden-charm strange sector with the coupled-channels, eta(c)Lambda, J/psi Lambda, (D) over bar Xi(c), (D) over bar (s)Lambda(c), (D) over bar Xi(c)', (D) over bar*Lambda(c), (D) over bar*Xi(c)', (D) over bar*Xi*(c) in J(p) = 1/2(-), J/psi Lambda, (D) over bar*Xi(c), (D) over bar (s)*Lambda(c), (D) over bar*Xi(c)', (D) over bar Xi(c)*, (D) over bar*Xi(c)* in 3/2(-) and (D) over bar*Xi(c)* in 5/2(-). We impose constraints of heavy quark spin symmetry in the interaction and obtain the non vanishing matrix elements from an extension of the local hidden gauge approach to the charm sector. The ultraviolet divergences are renormalized using the same meson-baryon-loops regulator previously employed in the non-strange hidden charm sector, where a good reproduction of the properties of the newly discovered pentaquark states is obtained. We obtain five states of 1/2(-), four of 3/2(-) and one of 5/2(-), which could be compared in the near future with forthcoming LHCb experiments. The 5/2(-), three of the 3/2(-) and another three of the 1/2(-) resonances are originated from isoscalar (D) over bar (()*())Xi(c)' and (D) over bar (()*()) Xi(c)* interactions. They should be located just few MeV below the corresponding thresholds (4446, 4513, 4588 and 4655 MeV), and would be SU(3)-siblings of the isospin 1/2 (D) over bar (()*())Sigma(()(c)*()) quasi-bound states previously found, and that provided a robust theoretical description of the P-c(4440), P-c(4457) and P-c(4312) LHCb exotic states. The another two 1/2(-) and 3/2(-) states obtained in this work are result of the (D) over bar (()*())Xi(c)- D-s(()*()) Lambda(c) coupled-channels isoscalar interaction, are significantly broader than the others, with widths of the order of 15 MeV, being (D) over bar (()(s)*())Lambda(c) the dominant decay channel.

Abstract: Nanoporous solids that stabilize trapped gas nanobubbles open new possibilities to fabricate solid targets for nuclear reactions. A methodology is described based on the magnetron sputtering (MS) technique operated under quasistatic flux conditions to produce such nanocomposites films with He-3 contents of up to 16 at.% in an amorphous-silicon matrix. In addition to the characteristic low pressure (3-6 Pa) needed for the gas discharge, the method ensures almost complete reduction of the process gas flow during film fabrication. The method could produce similar materials to those obtained under classical dynamic flux conditions for MS. The drastic reduction (>99.5%) of the gas consumption is fundamental for the fabrication of targets with scarce and expensive gases. Si:He-3 and W:He-3 targets are presented together with their microstructural (scanning and transmission electron microscopy, SEM and TEM respectively) and compositional (Ion Beam Analysis, IBA) characterization. The He-3 content achieved was over 1 x 10(18) at/cm(2) for film thicknesses between 1.5 and 3 μm for both Si and W matrices. First experiments to probe the stability of the targets for nuclear reaction studies in inverse kinematics configurations are presented.

Abstract: This Letter presents direct searches for lepton flavour violation in Higgs boson decays, H -> e tau and H -> μtau, performed with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The searches are based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy root s = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb(-1). No significant excess is observed above the expected background from Standard Model processes. The observed (median expected) 95% confidence-level upper limits on the lepton-flavour-violating branching ratios are 0.47%(0.34(-0.10)(+0.13)%) and 0.28%(0.37(-0.10)(+0.14)%) for H -> e tau and H -> μtau, respectively.

Abstract: This letter presents a combination of searches for Higgs boson pair production using up to 36.1 fb(-1) of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy root s = 13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The combination is performed using six analyses searching for Higgs boson pairs decaying into the b (b) over barb (b) over bar, b (b) over barW(+)W(-), b (b) over bar tau(+)tau(-), W+W-W+W-, b (b) over bar gamma gamma and W+W-gamma gamma final states. Results are presented for non-resonant and resonant Higgs boson pair production modes. No statistically significant excess in data above the Standard Model predictions is found. The combined observed (expected) limit at 95% confidence level on the non-resonant Higgs boson pair production cross-section is 6.9 (10) times the predicted Standard Model cross-section. Limits are also set on the ratio (kappa(lambda)) of the Higgs boson self-coupling to its Standard Model value. This ratio is constrained at 95% confidence level in observation (expectation) to -5.0 < kappa(lambda) < 12.0 (-5.8 < kappa(lambda) < 12.0). In addition, limits are set on the production of narrow scalar resonances and spin-2 Kaluza-Klein Randall-Sundrum gravitons. Exclusion regions are also provided in the parameter space of the habemus Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model and the Electroweak Singlet Model.

Abstract: i-TED consists of both a total energy detector and a Compton camera primarily intended for the measurement of neutron capture cross sections by means of the simultaneous combination of neutron time-of-flight (TOF) and gamma-ray imaging techniques. TOF allows one to obtain a neutron-energy differential capture yield, whereas the imaging capability is intended for the discrimination of radiative background sources, that have a spatial origin different from that of the capture sample under investigation. A distinctive feature of i-TED is the embedded Dynamic Electronic Collimation (DEC) concept, which allows for a trade-off between efficiency and image resolution. Here we report on some general design considerations and first performance characterization measurements made with an i-TED demonstrator in order to explore its gamma-ray detection and imaging capabilities.