Abstract: The production of chi(b) mesons in proton-proton collisions is studied using a data sample collected by the LHCb detector, at centre-of-mass energies of root s = 7 and 8 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1). The chi(b) mesons are identified through their decays to Upsilon(1 S)gamma and Upsilon(2 S)gamma using photons that converted to e(+)e (-) pairs in the detector. The relative prompt production rate of chi(b1)(1 P) and chi(b2)(1 P) mesons is measured as a function of the Upsilon(1 S) transverse momentum in the chi(b) rapidity range 2.0 < y < 4.5. A precise measurement of the chi(b) (3 P) mass is also performed. Assuming a mass splitting between the chi(b1)(3 P) and the chi(b2)(3 P) states of 10.5 MeV/c(2), the measured mass of the chi(b1)(3 P) meson is m (chi(b1)(3 P)) = 10515.7(-3.9)(+2.2)(stat)(-2.1)(+1.5)(syst) MeV/c(2).

Abstract: A search is performed for the central exclusive production of pairs of charmonia produced in proton-proton collisions. Using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1) collected at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, J/psi J/psi and J/psi psi (2S) pairs are observed, which have been produced in the absence of any other activity inside the LHCb acceptance that is sensitive to charged particles in the pseudorapidity ranges (-3.5,-1.5) and (1.5, 5.0). Searches are also performed for pairs of P-wave charmonia and limits are set on their production. The cross-sections for these processes, where the dimeson system has a rapidity between 2.0 and 4.5, are measured to be sigma (J/psi J/psi) = 58 +/- 10(stat) +/- 6(syst) pb, sigma(J/psi psi(2S)) = 63(-18)(+27)(stat) +/- 10(syst) pb, sigma(psi(2S)psi(2S)) < 237 pb, sigma(chi)(chi)(C0)(C0) < 69 nb, sigma(chi)(chi)(C1)(C1) < 45 pb, sigma(chi)(chi)(C2)(C2) < 141 pb, where the upper limits are set at the 90% confidence level. The measured J/psi J/psi and J/psi psi (2S) cross-sections are consistent with theoretical expectations.

Abstract: We analyse the singular behaviour of one-loop integrals and scattering amplitudes in the framework of the loop-tree duality approach. We show that there is a partial cancellation of singularities at the loop integrand level among the different components of the corresponding dual representation that can be interpreted in terms of causality. The remaining threshold and infrared singularities are restricted to a finite region of the loop momentum space, which is of the size of the external momenta and can be mapped to the phase-space of real corrections to cancel the soft and collinear divergences.

Abstract: The main aim of this study was a deeper understanding of the nuclear structure properties of the soft dipole modes in Ce-140, excited via inelastic scattering of weakly bound O-17 projectiles. An important aim was to investigate the 'splitting' of the PDR into two parts: a low-energy isoscalar component dominated by neutron-skin oscillations and a higher-energy component lying on the tail of the giant dipole resonance of a rather isovector character. This was already observed for this nucleus, investigated in (alpha, alpha') and (gamma,gamma') experiments. The experiment was performed at Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Italy. Inelastic scattering of O-17 ion beam at 20 MeV A(-1) was used to excite the resonance modes in the Ce-140 target. Gamma-rays were registered by five triple clusters of AGATA-Demonstrator and nine large volume scintillators (LaBr3). The scattered O-17 ions were identified by two Delta E – E Si telescopes of the TRACE array mounted inside the scattering chamber. The telescopes consisted of two segmented Si-pad detectors, each of 60 pixels. Very preliminary data have shown a strong domination of the E1 transitions in the 'pygmy' region with a character more similar to the one obtained in alpha scattering experiment.

Abstract: The development of novel detection devices and systems such as the AX-positron emission tomography (PET) demonstrator often introduce or increase the measurement of atypical coincidence events such as inter-crystal scattering (ICS). In more standard systems, ICS events often go undetected and the small measured fraction may be ignored. As the measured quantity of such events in the data increases, so too does the importance of considering them during image reconstruction. Generally, treatment of ICS events will attempt to determine which of the possible candidate lines of response (LoRs) correctly determine the annihilation photon trajectory. However, methods of assessment often have low success rates or are computationally demanding. In this investigation alternative approaches are considered. Experimental data was taken using the AX-PET prototype and a NEMA phantom. Three methods of ICS treatment were assessed-each of which considered all possible candidate LoRs during image reconstruction. Maximum likelihood expectation maximization was used in conjunction with both standard (line-like) and novel (V-like in this investigation) detection responses modeled within the system matrix. The investigation assumed that no information other than interaction locations was available to distinguish between candidates, yet the methods assessed all provided means by which such information could be included. In all cases it was shown that the signal to noise ratio is increased using ICS events. However, only one method, which used full modeling of the ICS response in the system matrix-the V-like model-provided enhancement in all figures of merit assessed in this investigation. Finally, the optimal method of ICS incorporation was demonstrated using data from two small animals measured using the AX-PET demonstrator.