Abstract: We investigate theoretically baryon systems made of three hadrons which contain one nucleon and one D meson, and in addition another meson, (D) over tilde, K, or (K) over tilde. The systems are studied using the fixed center approximation to the Faddeev equations. The study is made assuming scattering of a K or a (K) over tilde on a DN cluster, which is known to generate the Lambda(c)(2595), or the scattering of a nucleon on the D (D) over tilde cluster, which has been shown to generate a hidden charm resonance named X(3700). We also investigate the configuration of scattering of N on the KD cluster, which is known to generate the D*(s0)(2317). In all cases we find bound states, with the NDK system, of exotic nature, more bound than the (K) over tilde DN.

Abstract: We present a study of the decays B(+) -> DK(+) with D mesons reconstructed in the K(+)pi(-)pi(0) or K(-)pi(+)pi(0) final states, where D indicates a D(0) or a (D) over bar (0) meson. Using a sample of 474 x 10(6) B (B) over bar pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP- II asymmetric- energy e(+)e(-) collider at SLAC, we measure the ratios R +/- equivalent to Gamma(B(+)->[K(-/+)pi(+)pi(0)](D)K(+))/Gamma(B(+)->[K(+)pi(-/+)pi(0)](D) K(+)). We obtain R+ = (5(-10)(+12)(stat)(4)(2)(syst)) X 10(-3) and R(-) = (12(-10)(+12)(stat)(-5)(+3)(syst)) X 10(-3), from which we extract the upper limits at 90% probability: R(+) < 23 X 10(-3) and R- < 29 X 10(-3). Using these measurements, we obtain an upper limit for the ratio r(B) of the magnitudes of the b -> u and b -> c amplitudes r(B) < 0.13 at 90% probability.

Abstract: We search for single-photon decays of the Gamma(1S) resonance, Gamma -> gamma + invisible, where the invisible state is either a particle of definite mass, such as a light Higgs boson A(0), or a pair of dark matter particles, chi(chi) over bar. Both A(0) and chi are assumed to have zero spin. We tag Gamma(1S) decays with a dipion transition Gamma(1S) -> pi(+)pi(-)Y(1S) and look for events with a single energetic photon and significant missing energy. We find no evidence for such processes in the mass range m(A0) <= 9.2 GeV and m(chi) <= 4.5 GeV in the sample of 98 x 10(6) Gamma(2S) decays collected with the BABAR detector and set stringent limits on new physics models that contain light dark matter states.

Abstract: Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions are the most common weak interaction processes of spin-isospin (sigma tau) type in atomic nuclei. They are of interest not only in nuclear physics but also in astrophysics; they play an important role in supernovae explosions and nucleosynthesis. The direct study of weak decay processes, however, gives relatively limited information about GT transitions and the states excited via GT transitions (GT states); beta decay can only access states at excitation energies lower than the decay Q-value, and neutrino-induced reactions have very small cross-sections. However, one should note that beta decay has a direct access to the absolute GT transition strengths B(GT) from a study of half-lives, Q(beta)-values and branching ratios. They also provide information on GT transitions in nuclei far-from-stability. Studies of M1 gamma transitions provide similar information. In contrast, the complementary charge-exchange (CE) reactions, such as the (p, n) or ((3)He, t) reactions at intermediate beam energies and 0 degrees, can selectively excite GT states up to high excitation energies in the final nucleus. It has been found empirically that there is a close proportionality between the cross-sections at 0 degrees and the transition strengths B(GT) in these CE reactions. Therefore, CE reactions are useful tools to study the relative values of B(GT) strengths up to high excitation energies. In recent ((3)He, t) measurements, one order-of-magnitude improvement in the energy resolution has been achieved. This has made it possible to make one-to-one comparisons of GT transitions studied in CE reactions and beta decays. Thus GT strengths in ((3)He, t) reactions can be normalised by the beta-decay values. In addition, comparisons with closely related M1 transitions studied in gamma decay or electron inelastic scattering [(e, e')1, and furthermore with “spin” M I transitions that can be studied by proton inelastic scattering [(p, p')[ have now been made possible. In these comparisons, the isospin quantum number T and associated symmetry structure in the same mass A nuclei (isobars) play a key role. Isospin symmetry can extend our scope even to the structures of unstable nuclei that are far from reach at present unstable beam factories.

Abstract: The search for neutrinoless double beta decay is a very active field in which the number of proposals for next-generation experiments has proliferated. In this paper we attempt to address both the sense and the sensitivity of such proposals. Sensitivity comes first, by means of proposing a simple and unambiguous statistical recipe to derive the sensitivity to a putative Majorana neutrino mass, m(beta beta). In order to make sense of how the different experimental approaches compare, we apply this recipe to a selection of proposals, comparing the resulting sensitivities. We also propose a “physics-motivated range” (PMR) of the nuclear matrix elements as a unifying criterium between the different nuclear models. The expected performance of the proposals is parametrized in terms of only four numbers: energy resolution, background rate (per unit time, isotope mass and energy), detection efficiency, and beta beta isotope mass. For each proposal, both a reference and an optimistic scenario for the experimental performance are studied. In the reference scenario we find that all the proposals will be able to partially explore the degenerate spectrum, without fully covering it, although four of them (KamLAND-Zen, CUORE, NEXT and EXO) will approach the 50 meV boundary. In the optimistic scenario, we find that CUORE and the xenon-based proposals (KamLAND-Zen, EXO and NEXT) will explore a significant fraction of the inverse hierarchy, with NEXT covering it almost fully. For the long term future, we argue that Xe-136-based experiments may provide the best case for a 1-ton scale experiment, given the potentially very low backgrounds achievable and the expected scalability to large isotope masses.