Abstract: Measurements of K-S(0) and Lambda(0) production in tt final states have been performed. They are based on a data sample with integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb(-1) from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, collected in 2011 with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Neutral strange particles are separated into three classes, depending on whether they are contained in a jet, with or without a b-tag, or not associated with a selected jet. The aim is to look for differences in their main kinematic distributions. A comparison of data with several Monte Carlo simulations using different hadronisation and fragmentation schemes, colour reconnection models and different tunes for the underlying event has been made. The production of neutral strange particles in tt dileptonic events is found to be well described by current Monte Carlo models for K-S(0) and Lambda(0) production within jets, but not for those produced outside jets.

Abstract: Although weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) have long been among the most studied and theoretically attractive classes of candidates for the dark matter of our universe, the lack of their detection in direct detection and collider experiments has begun to dampen enthusiasm for this paradigm. In this study, we set out to appraise the status of the WIMP paradigm, focusing on the case of dark matter candidates that interact with the Standard Model through a new gauge boson. After considering a wide range of Z' mediated dark matter models, we quantitatively evaluate the fraction of the parameter space that has been excluded by existing experiments, and that is projected to fall within the reach of future direct detection experiments. Despite the existence of stringent constraints, we find that a sizable fraction of this parameter space remains viable. More specifically, if the dark matter is a Majorana fermion, we find that an order one fraction of the parameter space is in many cases untested by current experiments. Future direct detection experiments with sensitivity near the irreducible neutrino floor will be able to test a significant fraction of the currently viable parameter space, providing considerable motivation for the next generation of direct detection experiments.

Abstract: The single electron track-reconstruction efficiency is calibrated using a sample corresponding to 1.3 fb(-1) of pp collision data recorded with the LHCb detector in 2017. This measurement exploits B+ -> J/psi (e(+)e(-))K+ decays, where one of the electrons is fully reconstructed and paired with the kaon, while the other electron is reconstructed using only the information of the vertex detector. Despite this partial reconstruction, kinematic and geometric constraints allow the B meson mass to be reconstructed and the signal to be well separated from backgrounds. This in turn allows the electron reconstruction efficiency to be measured by matching the partial track segment found in the vertex detector to tracks found by LHCb's regular reconstruction algorithms. The agreement between data and simulation is evaluated, and corrections are derived for simulated electrons in bins of kinematics. These correction factors allow LHCb to measure branching fractions involving single electrons with a systematic uncertainty below 1%.

Abstract: A search for the Xi(++)(cc) baryon through the Xi(++)(cc) -> D(+)pK(-)pi(+) decay is performed with a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.7 fb(-1) recorded by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. No significant signal is observed in the mass range from the kinematic threshold of the decay to 3800 MeV/c(2). An upper limit is set on the ratio of branching fractions R = B(Xi(++)(cc) -> D(+)pK(-)pi(+))/B(Xi(++)(cc) -> A(c)(+) K- pi(+)pi(+)) with R < 1.7 (2.1) x 10(-2) at the 90% (95%) confidence level at the known mass of the Xi(++)(cc) state.

Abstract: We analytically investigate the perturbative effects of a quantum conformally coupled scalar field on rotating (2 + 1)-dimensional black holes and naked singularities. In both cases we obtain the quantum-back-reacted metric analytically. In the black hole case, we explore the quantum corrections on different regions of relevance for a rotating black hole geometry. We find that the quantum effects lead to a growth of both the event horizon and the ergosphere, as well as to a reduction of the angular velocity compared to their corresponding unperturbed values. Quantum corrections also give rise to the formation of a curvature singularity at the Cauchy horizon and show no evidence of the appearance of a superradiant instability. In the naked singularity case, quantum effects lead to the formation of a horizon that hides the conical defect, thus turning it into a black hole. The fact that these effects occur not only for static but also for spinning geometries makes a strong case for the role of quantum mechanics as a cosmic censor in Nature.