Abstract: We revisit the Delta F = 2 transitions in the K and B-d,B-s neutral meson systems in the context of the minimal left-right symmetric model. We take into account, in addition to up-to-date phenomenological data, the contributions related to the renormalization of the flavor-changing neutral Higgs tree-level amplitude. These contributions were neglected in recent discussions, albeit formally needed in order to obtain a gauge-independent result. Their impact on the minimal LR model is crucial and twofold. First, the effects are relevant in B meson oscillations, for both CP conserving and CP violating observables, so that for the first time these imply constraints on the LR scenario which compete with those of the K sector (plagued by long-distance uncertainties). Second, they sizably contribute to the indirect kaon CP violation parameter epsilon. We discuss the bounds from B and K mesons in both cases of LR symmetry: generalized parity (P) and charge conjugation (C). In the case of P, the interplay between the CP-violation parameters epsilon and epsilon' leads us to rule out the regime of very hierarchical bidoublet vacuum expectation values nu(2)/nu(1) < m(b)/m(t) similar or equal to 0.02. In general, by minimizing the scalar field contribution up to the limit of the perturbative regime and by definite values of the relevant CP phases in the charged right-handed currents, we find that a right-handed gauge boson W-R as light as 3 TeV is allowed at the 95% C. L. This is well within the reach of direct detection at the next LHC run. If not discovered, within a decade the upgraded LHCb and Super B factories may reach an indirect sensitivity to a left-right scale of 8 TeV.

Abstract: We study the processes gamma gamma -> K+K-eta and gamma gamma -> K+K-pi(0) using a data sample of 519 fb(-1) recorded with the BABAR detector operating at the SLAC PEP-II asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider at center-of-mass energies at and near the Upsilon(nS) (n = 2, 3, 4) resonances. We observe eta(c) -> K+K-pi(0) and eta(c) -> K+K-eta decays, measure their relative branching fraction, and perform a Dalitz plot analysis for each decay. We observe the K*(0)(1430) -> K eta decay and measure its branching fraction relative to the K pi decay mode to be R(K*(0)(1430)) = B(K*(0)(1430)-> K eta)/B(K*(0)(1430)-> K pi) = 0.092 +/- 0.025(- 0.025)(+0.010). The eta(c) -> K+K-eta and K*(0)(1430) -> K eta results correspond to the first observations of these channels. The data also show evidence for eta(c)(2S) -> K+K-pi(0) and first evidence for eta(c)(2S) -> K+K-eta.

Abstract: We present the first unquenched lattice QCD results for the bag parameters controlling the short distance contribution to D meson oscillations in the standard model and beyond. We have used the gauge configurations produced by the European Twisted Mass collaboration with N-f = 2 dynamical quarks, at four lattice spacings and light meson masses in the range 280-500 MeV. Renormalization is carried out nonperturbatively with the regularization-independent momentum subtraction method. The bag-parameter results have been used to constrain new physics effects in D-0 – (D) over bar (0) mixing, to put a lower bound to the generic new physics scale and to constrain off-diagonal squark mass terms for TeV-scale supersymmetry.

Abstract: The resonant structure of the reaction (B) over bar (0) --> J/psi pi(+)pi(-) is studied using data from 3 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected by the LHCb experiment, one third at 7 TeV center-of-mass energy and the remainder at 8 TeV. The invariant mass of the pi(+)pi(-) pair and three decay angular distributions are used to determine the fractions of the resonant and nonresonant components. Six interfering pi(+)pi(-) states, rho(770), f(0)(500), f(2)(1270), rho(1450), omega(782) and rho(1700), are required to give a good description of invariant mass spectra and decay angular distributions. The positive and negative charge parity fractions of each of the resonant final states are determined. The f(0)(980) meson is not seen and the upper limit on its presence, compared with the observed f(0)(500) rate, is inconsistent with a model where these scalar mesons are formed from two quarks and two antiquarks (tetraquarks) at the eight standard deviation level. In the q (q) over bar model, the absolute value of the mixing angle between the f(0)(980) and the f(0)(500) scalar mesons is limited to be less than 17 degrees at 90% confidence level.

Abstract: We study here the interaction of D (D) over bar* in the isospin I = 1 channel in light of recent theoretical advances that allow us to combine elements of the local hidden gauge approach with heavy quark spin symmetry. We find that the exchange of light q (q) over bar is Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka (OZI) suppressed and thus we concentrate on the exchange of heavy vectors and of two pion exchange. The latter is found to be small compared to the exchange of heavy vectors, which then determines the strength of the interaction. A barely D (D) over bar* bound state decaying into eta(c)rho and pi J/psi is found. At the same time we reanalyze the data of the BESIII experiment on e(+)e(-) -> pi(+/-)(D (D) over bar*)(-/+), from where a Z(c)(3885) state was claimed, associated to a peak in the (D (D) over bar*)(-/+) invariant mass distribution close to threshold, and we find the data compatible with a resonance with mass around 3875 MeV and width around 30 MeV. We discuss the possibility that this and the Z(c)(3900) state found at BESIII, reconfirmed at 3894 MeV at Belle, or 3885 MeV at CLEO, could all be the same state and correspond to the one that we find theoretically.