Abstract: We demonstrate that a scotogenic dark symmetry can be obtained as a residual subgroup of the global U(1)(B-L) symmetry already present in the Standard Model. In addition, we propose a general framework in which the U(1)(B-L) symmetry is spontaneously broken into an even Z(2n) subgroup, setting the general conditions for neutrinos to be Majorana and for dark matter stability to exist in terms of the residual Z(2n). As an example, under this general framework, we build a class of simple models where, in a scotogenic manner, the dark matter candidate is the lightest particle running inside the mass loop of a neutrino. The global U(1)(B-L) symmetry in our framework, being anomaly free, can also be gauged in a straightforward manner leading to a richer phenomenology.

Abstract: We explore how well reactor antineutrino experiments can constrain or measure the loss of quantum coherence in neutrino oscillations. We assume that decoherence effects are encoded in the size of the neutrino wave-packet, sigma. We find that the current experiments Daya Bay and the Reactor Experiment for Neutrino Oscillation (RENO) already constrain sigma >1.0x10(-4) nm and estimate that future data from the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) would be sensitive to sigma <2.1x10(-3) nm. If the effects of loss of coherence are within the sensitivity of JUNO, we expect sigma to be measured with good precision. The discovery of nontrivial decoherence effects in JUNO would indicate that our understanding of the coherence of neutrino sources is, at least, incomplete.

Abstract: The decays B+-> J/psi pi(+)pi(-)K(+)are studied using a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb(-1)collected with the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions between 2011 and 2018. Precise measurements of the ratios of branching fractions with the intermediate psi(2)(3823), chi(c1)(3872) and psi(2S) states are reported. The values areBB+->psi 2(“>3823K+xB psi 2(”>3823 -> J/psi pi+pi-BB+->chi c1>3872K+xB chi c1>3872 -> J/psi pi+pi-=>3.56 +/- 0.67 +/- 0.11x10-2,BB+->psi 2>3823K+xB psi 2>3823 -> J/psi pi+pi-BB+->psi>2SK+xB psi>2S -> J/psi pi+pi-=>1.31 +/- 0.25 +/- 0.04x10-3,BB+->chi c1>3872K+xB chi c1>3872 -> J/psi pi+pi-BB+->psi>2SK+xB psi>2S -> J/psi pi+pi-= where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The decay of B+->psi(2)(3823)K(+)with psi(2)(3823)-> J/psi pi(+)pi(-)is observed for the first time with a significance of 5.1 standard deviations. The mass differences between the psi(2)(3823), chi(c1)(3872) and psi(2S) states are measured to be m chi c1>3872-m psi 2>3823=47. 50 +/- 0.53 +/- 0.13MeV/c2,m psi 2 2S=185.49 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.03MeV/c2, resulting in the most precise determination of the chi(c1)(3872) mass. The width of the psi(2)(3823) state is found to be below 5.2 MeV at 90% confidence level. The Breit-Wigner width of the chi(c1)(3872) state is measured to be Gamma chi c13872BW=0.96-0.18+0.19 +/- 0.21MeV={0.96}_{-0.18}<^>{+0.19}\pm 0.21\;\mathrm{MeV} which is inconsistent with zero by 5.5 standard deviations.

Abstract: Symmetries in the Physical Laws of Nature lead to observable effects. Beyond the regularities and conserved magnitudes, the last few decades in particle physics have seen the identification of symmetries, and their well-defined breaking, as the guiding principle for the elementary constituents of matter and their interactions. Flavour SU(3) symmetry of hadrons led to the Quark Model and the antisymmetric requirement under exchange of identical fermions led to the colour degree of freedom. Colour became the generating charge for flavour-independent strong interactions of quarks and gluons in the exact colour SU(3) local gauge symmetry. Parity Violation in weak interactions led us to consider the chiral fields of fermions as the objects with definite transformation properties under the weak isospin SU(2) gauge group of the Unifying Electro-Weak SU(2) x U(1) symmetry, which predicted novel weak neutral current interactions. CP-Violation led to three families of quarks opening the field of Flavour Physics. Time-reversal violation has recently been observed with entangled neutral mesons, compatible with CPT-invariance. The cancellation of gauge anomalies, which would invalidate the gauge symmetry of the quantum field theory, led to Quark-Lepton Symmetry. Neutrinos were postulated in order to save the conservation laws of energy and angular momentum in nuclear beta decay. After the ups and downs of their mass, neutrino oscillations were discovered in 1998, opening a new era about their origin of mass, mixing, discrete symmetries and the possibility of global lepton-number violation through Majorana mass terms and Leptogenesis as the source of the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe. The experimental discovery of quarks and leptons and the mediators of their interactions, with physical observables in spectacular agreement with this Standard Theory, is the triumph of Symmetries. The gauge symmetry is exact only when the particles are massless. One needs a subtle breaking of the symmetry, providing the origin of mass without affecting the excellent description of the interactions. This is the Brout-Englert-Higgs Mechanism, which produces the Higgs Boson as a remnant, discovered at CERN in 2012. Open present problems are addressed with by searching the New Physics Beyond-the-Standard-Model.

Abstract: We study the capabilities of the DUNE near detector to probe deviations from unitarity of the leptonic mixing matrix, the 3+1 sterile formalism and Non-Standard Interactions affecting neutrino production and detection. We clarify the relation and possible mappings among the three formalisms at short-baseline experiments, and we add to current analyses in the literature the study of the nu(mu)-> nu(tau) appearance channel. We study in detail the impact of spectral uncertainties on the sensitivity to new physics using the DUNE near detector, which has been widely overlooked in the literature. Our analysis shows that this plays an important role on the results and, in particular, that it can lead to a strong reduction in the sensitivity to sterile neutrinos from nu(mu)-> nu(e) transitions, by more than two orders of magnitude. This stresses the importance of a joint experimental and theoretical effort to improve our understanding of neutrino nucleus cross sections, as well as hadron production uncertainties and beam focusing effects. Nevertheless, even with our conservative and more realistic implementation of systematic uncertainties, we find that an improvement over current bounds in the new physics frameworks considered is generally expected if spectral uncertainties are below the 5% level.