Abstract: We make a theoretical study of the charge and forward-backward pion asymmetries in the e(+)e(-) -> pi(+) pi(-) gamma process on and off the phi resonance energy. These observables are rather sensitive to the inner details of the theoretical models to describe the reaction. In addition to the standard implementation of the initial state radiation and the bremsstrahlung contribution to the final state radiation, we use the techniques of the chiral unitary approach to evaluate the contribution from the mechanisms of phi decay into pi(+) pi(-) gamma. This contribution involves the implementation of final state interaction from direct chiral loops, the exchange of vector and axial-vector resonances and the final state interaction through the consideration of the meson-meson unitarized amplitudes, which were found important in a previous work describing the phi -> pi pi gamma. We find a good reproduction of the experimental data from KLOE for the forward-backward asymmetry, both at the phi peak and away from it. We also make predictions for the angular distributions of the charge asymmetry and show that this observable is very sensitive to the chiral loops involved in phi radiative decay.

Abstract: A search for contact interactions has been performed using dimuon events recorded with the ATLAS detector in proton-proton collisions at root s = 7 TeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 42 pb(-1). No significant deviation from the standard model is observed in the dimuon mass spectrum, allowing the following 95% C. L. limits to be set on the energy scale of contact interactions: Lambda > 4: 9 TeV (4.5 TeV) for constructive (destructive) interference in the left-left isoscalar compositeness model. These limits are the most stringent to date for μμqq contact interactions.

Abstract: We study inclusive dipion decays using a sample of 108 x 10(6)Y(3S) events recorded with the BABAR detector. We search for the decay mode Y(3S) -> pi(+)pi(-) h(b)(1P) and find no evidence for the bottomonium spin-singlet state h(b)(1P) in the invariant mass distribution recoiling against the pi(+)pi(-) system. Assuming the h(b)(1P) mass to be 9.900 GeV/c(2), we measure the upper limit on the branching fraction B[Y(3S) -> pi(+)pi(-) h(b)(1P)] < 1.2 x 10(-4), at 90% confidence level. We also investigate the chi(bJ)(2P) -> pi(+)pi(-) chi(bJ)(1P), Y(3S) -> pi(+)pi(-) Y(2S), and Y(2S) -> pi(+)pi(-) Y(1) dipion transitions and present an improved measurement of the branching fraction of the Y(3S) -> pi(+)pi(-) Y(2S) decay and of the Y(3S) – Y(2S) mass difference.

Abstract: Supersymmetry has often been invoked as the new physics that might reconcile the experimental muon magnetic anomaly, a(mu), with the theoretical prediction (basing the computation of the hadronic contribution on e(+)e(-) data). However, in the context of the constrained minimal supersymmetric standard model (CMSSM), the required supersymmetric contributions (which grow with decreasing supersymmetric masses) are in potential tension with a possibly large Higgs mass (which requires large stop masses). In the limit of very large m(h) supersymmetry gets decoupled, and the CMSSM must show the same discrepancy as the standard model with a(mu). But it is much less clear for which size of m(h) does the tension start to be unbearable. In this paper, we quantify this tension with the help of Bayesian techniques. We find that for m(h) >= 125 GeV the maximum level of discrepancy given the current data (similar to 3.2 sigma) is already achieved. Requiring less than 3 sigma discrepancy, implies m(h) less than or similar to 120 GeV. For a larger Higgs mass we should give up either the CMSSM model or the computation of a(mu) based on e(+)e(-); or accept living with such an inconsistency.

Abstract: We present branching fraction and CP asymmetry measurements as well as angular studies of B -> phi phi K decays using 464 x 10(6) B (B) over bar events collected by the BABAR experiment. The branching fractions are measured in the phi phi invariant mass range below the eta(c) resonance (m(phi phi) < 2.85 GeV). We find B(B(+) -> phi phi K(+)) = (5.6 +/- 0.5 +/- 0.3) x 10(-6) and B(B(0) -> phi phi K(0)) = (4.5 +/- 0.8 +/- 0.3) x 10(-6), where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The measured direct CP asymmetries for the B(+/-) decays are A(CP) = -0.10 +/- 0.08 +/- 0: 02 below the eta(c) threshold (m(phi phi) < 2.85 GeV) and A(CP) = 0.09 +/- 0.10 +/- 0.02 in the eta(c) resonance region (m(phi phi) in [2.94, 3.02] GeV). Angular distributions are consistent with J(P) = 0(-) in the eta(c) resonance region and favor J(P) = 0(+) below the eta(c) resonance.