Abstract: The neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF features a white neutron source produced by spallation through 20 GeV/c protons impinging on a lead target. The facility, aiming primarily at the measurement of neutron-induced reaction cross sections, was operating at CERN between 2001 and 2004, and then underwent a major upgrade in 2008. This paper presents in detail all the characteristics of the new neutron beam in the currently available configurations, which correspond to two different collimation systems and two choices of neutron moderator. The characteristics discussed include the intensity and energy dependence of the neutron flux, the spatial profile of the beam, the in-beam background components and the energy resolution/broadening. The discussion of these features is based on dedicated measurements and Monte Carlo simulations, and includes estimations of the systematic uncertainties of the mentioned quantities.

Abstract: In this paper we examine the interaction of DN and D* N states, together with their coupled channels, by using an extension of the local hidden gauge formalism from the light meson sector, which is based on heavy quark spin symmetry. The scheme is based on the use of the impulse approximation at the quark level, with the heavy quarks acting as spectators, which occurs for the dominant terms where there is the exchange of a light meson. The pion exchange and the Weinberg-Tomozawa interactions are generalized and with this dynamics we look for states generated from the interaction, with a unitary coupled channels approach that mixes the pseudoscalar-baryon and vector-baryon states. We find two states with nearly zero width, which are associated to the I > (c) (2595) and I > (c) (2625). The lower state, with J (P) = 1/2(-), couples to DN and D* N, and the second one, with J (P) = 3/2(-), to D* N. In addition to these two I > (c) states, we find four more states with I = 0, one of them nearly degenerate in two states of J (P) = 1/2, 3/2. Furthermore we find three states in I = 1, two of them degenerate in J = 1/2, 3/2.

Abstract: We perform a calculation of the strong interaction effects between the B and D mesons in the B -> D nu l reaction, as a crossing process of reactions with BD in the final state, where the strong interaction between the mesons leads to a bound BD state. We find corrections to the tree level amplitude of the order of 15-25%. We further see the effect of the corrections studied in the R-D ratio for the rates of B -> D nu and B. D decays and find corrections of the order of 10%. Given the claims of 1.5% precision in this ratio from fits to data within the standardmodel, any theoretical model aiming at describing this ratio within the same precision must take into account the corrections described in the present work.

Abstract: We review recent progress in the study of the large N-c limit of gauge theories from lattice simulations. The focus is not only the planar limit but also the size of O(N-c(-1)) corrections for values of N-c greater than or similar to 3. Some concrete examples of the topics we include are tests of large- Nc factorization, the topological susceptibility, the glueball, meson and baryon spectra, the chiral dependence of masses and decay constants, and weak matrix elements related to the Delta I = 1/2 rule in kaon decays.

Abstract: We determine the helicity amplitudes A(1/2) and radiative decay widths in the transition Lambda(1670) -> gamma Y (Y = Lambda or Sigma(0)). The Lambda(1670) is treated as a dynamically generated resonance in meson-baryon chiral dynamics. We obtain the radiative decay widths of the Lambda(1670) to gamma Lambda as 2 +/- 1 keV and to -gamma Sigma(0) as 120 +/- 50 keV. Also, the Q(2)-dependence of the helicity amplitudes A(1/2) is calculated. We find that the K Xi component in the Lambda(1670) structure, mainly responsible for the dynamical generation of this resonance, is also responsible for the significant suppression of the decay ratio Gamma(gamma A)/Gamma(gamma Sigma 0). A measurement of the ratio would, thus, provide direct access to the nature of the Lambda(1670). To compare the result for the Lambda(1670), we calculate the helicity amplitudes Lambda(1/2) for the two states of the Lambda(1405). Also, the analytic continuation of Feynman parameterized integrals of more complicated loop amplitudes to the complex plane is developed which allows for an internally consistent evaluation of A(1/2).