Abstract: Within an effective field theory framework, we discuss the possibility to discriminate among different operators that contribute to lepton flavor violating (LFV) tau decays. Correlations among decay rates in different channels are shown to provide a basic handle to unravel the origin of LFV in these processes. More information about the underlying dynamics responsible for LFV can be gathered from differential distributions in three-body decays like tau -> μpi pi or tau -> 3 mu: these are considered in some detail. We incorporate in our analysis recent developments in the determination of the hadronic form factors for tau -> μpi pi. Future prospects for the observation of LFV tau decays and its interpretation are also discussed.

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 process pp -> W (+/-) J/psi provides a powerful probe of the production mechanism of charmonium in hadronic collisions, and is also sensitive to multiple parton interactions in the colliding protons. Using the 2011 ATLAS dataset of 4.5 fb(-1) of root s= 7 TeV pp collisions at the LHC, the first observation is made of the production of W (+/-) + prompt J/psi events in hadronic collisions, using W (+/-) -> μnu(mu) and J/psi -> mu(+)mu(-) center dot A yield of W (+/-) + prompt J/psi events is observed, with a statistical significance of 5.1 sigma. The production rate as a ratio to the inclusive W (+/-) boson production rate is measured, and the double parton scattering contribution to the cross section is estimated.