Abstract: We report a search for CP violation in the decay modes D-+/- -> (KSK +/-)-K-0, D-s(+/-) -> (KSK +/-)-K-0, and D-s(+/-) -> K-S(0)pi(+/-) using a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 469 fb(-1) collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric energy e(+)e(-) storage rings. The decay rate CP asymmetries, ACP, are determined to be (+0.13 +/- 0.36(stat) +/- 0.25(syst))%, (-0.05 +/- 0.23(stat) +/- 0.24(syst))%, and (+0.6 +/- 2.0(stat) +/- 0.3(syst))%, respectively. These measurements are consistent with zero, and also with the Standard Model prediction [(-0.332 +/- 0.006)% for the D-+/- -> (KSK +/-)-K-0 and D-s(+/-) -> (KSK +/-)-K-0 modes, and (+0.332 +/- 0.006)% for the D-s(+/-) -> K-S(0)pi(+/-) mode]. They are the most precise determinations to date.

Abstract: We report the determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa CP-violating angle gamma through the combination of various measurements involving B-+/- -> DK +/-, B-+/- -> D*K-+/-, and B-+/- -> DK*(+/-) decays performed by the BABAR experiment at the PEP-II e(+)e(-) collider at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Using up to 474 million B (B) over bar pairs, we obtain gamma = (69(-16)(+17))degrees modulo 180 degrees. The total uncertainty is dominated by the statistical component, with the experimental and amplitude-model systematic uncertainties amounting to +/- 4 degrees. The corresponding two-standard-deviation region is 41 degrees < gamma < 102 degrees. This result is inconsistent with gamma = 0 with a significance of 5.9 standard deviations.

Abstract: We construct lists of supersymmetric models with extended gauge groups at intermediate steps, all of which are inspired by SO(10) unification. We consider three different kinds of setups: (i) the model has exactly one additional intermediate scale with a left-right (LR) symmetric group; (ii) SO(10) is broken to the LR group via an intermediate Pati-Salam scale; and (iii) the LR group is broken into SU(3)(c) X SU(2)(L) X U(1)(R) X U(1)(B-L), before breaking to the standard model (SM) group. We use sets of conditions, which we call the “sliding mechanism,” which yield unification with the extended gauge group(s) allowed at arbitrary intermediate energy scales. All models thus can have new gauge bosons within the reach of the LHC, in principle. We apply additional conditions, such as perturbative unification, renormalizability and anomaly cancellation and find that, despite these requirements, for the ansatz (i) with only one additional scale still around 50 different variants exist that can have a LR symmetry below 10 TeV. For the more complicated schemes (ii) and (iii) literally thousands of possible variants exist, and for scheme (ii) we have also found variants with very low Pati-Salam scales. We also discuss possible experimental tests of the models from measurements of supersymmetry masses. Assuming mSugra boundary conditions we calculate certain combinations of soft terms, called “invariants,” for the different classes of models. Values for all the invariants can be classified into a small number of sets, which contain information about the class of models and, in principle, the scale of beyond-minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model physics, even in case the extended gauge group is broken at an energy beyond the reach of the LHC.

Abstract: The decay B-c(+) -> psi(2S)pi(+) with psi(2S) -> mu(+)mu(-) is observed with a significance of 5.2 sigma using pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb(-1) collected by the LHCb experiment. The branching fraction of B-c(+) -> psi(2S)pi(+) decays relative to that of the B-c(+) -> J/psi pi(+) mode is measured to be B(B-c(+) -> psi(2S)pi(+))/B(B-c(+) -> J/psi pi(+)) = 0.250 +/- 0.068(stat) +/- 0.014(syst) +/- 0.006(B). The last term is the uncertainty on the ratio B(psi(2S) -> mu(+)mu(-))/B(J/psi -> mu(+)mu(-)).

Abstract: A search for the decay B-s(0) -> D*(-/+)pi(+/-) is presented using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb(-1) of pp collisions collected by LHCb. This decay is expected to be mediated by a W-exchange diagram, with little contribution from rescattering processes, and therefore a measurement of the branching fraction will help us to understand the mechanism behind related decays such as B-s(0) -> pi(+)pi(-) and B-s(0) -> D (D) over bar. Systematic uncertainties are minimized by using B-0 -> D*(-/+)pi(+/-) as a normalization channel. We find no evidence for a signal, and set an upper limit on the branching fraction of B(B-s(0) -> D*(-/+)pi(+/-) < 6.1(7.8) x 10(-6) at 90% (95%) confidence level.