LHCb Collaboration(Aaij, R. et al), Martinez-Vidal, F., Oyanguren, A., Ruiz Valls, P., & Sanchez Mayordomo, C. (2014). Study of the kinematic dependences of Lambda(0)(b) production in pp collisions and a measurement of the Lambda(0)(b) -> Lambda(+)(c)pi(-) branching fraction. J. High Energy Phys., 08(8), 143–19pp.
Abstract: The kinematic dependences of the relative production rates, f(Lambda b)(0)/f(d), of Lambda(0)(b) baryons and B-0 mesons are measured using Lambda(0)(b) -> Lambda(+)(c)pi(-) and (B) over bar (0) -> D+pi(-) decays. The measurements use proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1 fb(-1) at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, recorded in the forward region with the LHCb experiment. The relative production rates are observed to depend on the transverse momentum, pT, and pseudorapidity, eta, of the beauty hadron, in the studied kinematic region 1.5 < pT < 40 GeV/c and 2 < eta < 5. Using a previous LHCb measurement of f(Lambda b)(0)/f(d) in semileptonic decays, the branching fraction B (Lambda(0)(b) -> Lambda(+)(c)pi(-)) = (4.30 +/- 0.03(-0.11)(+0.12)+/- 0.26 +/- 0.21) x 10(-3) is obtained, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, the third is from the previous LHCb measurement of f(Lambda b)(0)/f(d) and the fourth is due to the (B) over bar (0) -> D+pi(-) branching fraction. This is the most precise measurement of a Lambda(0)(b) branching fraction to date.
|
LHCb Collaboration(Aaij, R. et al), Martinez-Vidal, F., Oyanguren, A., Ruiz Valls, P., & Sanchez Mayordomo, C. (2014). Observation of Z production in proton-lead collisions at LHCb. J. High Energy Phys., 09(9), 030–18pp.
Abstract: The first observation of Z boson production in proton-lead collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per proton-nucleon pair of root(s) N N = 5TeV is presented. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.6 nb(-1) collected with the LHCb detector. The Z candidates are reconstructed from pairs of oppositely charged muons with pseudorapidities between 2.0 and 4.5 and transverse momenta above 20 GeV/c. The invariant dimuon mass is restricted to the range 60-120 GeV/c. The Z production cross-section is measured to be sigma(Z ->mu+mu-) (fwd) = 13.5(-4.0)(+5.4)(stat.) +/- 1.2(syst.) nb in the direction of the proton beam and sigma(Z ->mu+mu-) (bwd) = 10.7(-5.1)(+8.4)(stat.) +/- 1.0(syst.) nb in the direction of the lead beam, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.
|
Easther, R., Price, L. C., & Rasero, J. (2014). Inflating an inhomogeneous universe. J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys., 08(8), 041–16pp.
Abstract: While cosmological inflation can erase primordial inhomogeneities, it is possible that inflation may not begin in a significantly inhomogeneous universe. This issue is particularly pressing in multifield scenarios, where even the homogeneous dynamics may depend sensitively on the initial configuration. This paper presents an initial survey of the onset of inflation in multifield models, via qualitative lattice-based simulations that do not include local gravitational backreaction. Using hybrid inflation as a test model, our results suggest that small subhorizon inhomogeneities do play a key role in determining whether inflation begins in multifield scenarios. Interestingly, some configurations which do not inflate in the homogeneous limit “succeed” after inhomogeneity is included, while other initial configurations which inflate in the homogeneous limit “fail” when inhomogeneity is added.
|
MoEDAL Collaboration(Acharya, B. et al), Bernabeu, J., Garcia, C., King, M., Mitsou, V. A., Vento, V., et al. (2014). The physics programme of the MoEDAL experiment at the LHC. Int. J. Mod. Phys. A, 29(23), 1430050–91pp.
Abstract: The MoEDAL experiment at Point 8 of the LHC ring is the seventh and newest LHC experiment. It is dedicated to the search for highly-ionizing particle avatars of physics beyond the Standard Model, extending significantly the discovery horizon of the LHC. A MoEDAL discovery would have revolutionary implications for our fundamental understanding of the Microcosm. MoEDAL is an unconventional and largely passive LHC detector comprised of the largest array of Nuclear Track Detector stacks ever deployed at an accelerator, surrounding the intersection region at Point 8 on the LHC ring. Another novel feature is the use of paramagnetic trapping volumes to capture both electrically and magnetically charged highly-ionizing particles predicted in new physics scenarios. It includes an array of TimePix pixel devices for monitoring highly-ionizing particle backgrounds. The main passive elements of the MoEDAL detector do not require a trigger system, electronic readout, or online computerized data acquisition. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the MoEDAL physics reach, which is largely complementary to the programs of the large multipurpose LHC detectors ATLAS and CMS.
|
Ilisie, V., & Pich, A. (2014). Low-mass fermiophobic charged Higgs phenomenology in two-Higgs-doublet models. J. High Energy Phys., 09(9), 089–32pp.
Abstract: After the recent discovery of a Higgs-like boson, the possibility of an enlarged scalar sector arises as a natural question. Experimental searches for charged scalars have been already performed with negative results. We analyze the phenomenology associated with a fermiophobic charged Higgs (it does not couple to fermions at tree level), in two-Higgs-doublet models. All present experimental bounds are evaded trivially in this case, and one needs to consider other decay and production channels. We study the associated production of a charged Higgs with either a W or a neutral scalar boson, and the relevant decays for a light fermiophobic charged Higgs. The interesting features of this scenario should result encouraging for the LHC collaborations to perform searches for such a particle.
|
