Abstract: The transitional nuclei Ba-134 and Ba-133 are investigated after multinucleon transfer employing the high-resolution Advanced GAmma Tracking Array coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Italy, and after fusion-evaporation reaction at the FN tandem accelerator of the University of Cologne, Germany. The J(pi) = 19/2(+) state at 1942 keV in Ba-133 is identified as an isomer with a half-life of 66.6(20) ns corresponding to a B(E1) value of 7.7(4) x 10(-6) e(2) fm(2) for the J(pi) = 19/2(+) to J(pi) = 19/2(-) transition. The level scheme of Ba-134 above the J(pi) = 10(+) isomer is extended to approximately 6 MeV. A pronounced backbending is observed at h omega = 0.38 MeV along the positive-parity yrast band. The results are compared to the high-spin systematics of the Z = 56 isotopes. Large-scale shell-model calculations employing the GCN50:82, SN100PN, SNV, PQM130, Realistic SM, and EPQQM interactions reproduce the experimental findings and elucidate the structure of the high-spin states. The shell-model calculations employing the GCN50:82 and PQM130 interactions reproduce alignment properties and provide detailed insight into the microscopic origin of this phenomenon in transitional Ba-134.

Abstract: General relativity yields an analytical prediction of a minimum required mass of roughly similar to 0.08-0.09 M-circle dot for a star to stably burn sufficient hydrogen to fully compensate photospheric losses and, therefore, to belong to the main sequence. Those objects below this threshold ( brown dwarfs) eventually cool down without any chance to stabilize their internal temperature. In this work we consider quadratic Palatini f(R) gravity and show that the corresponding Newtonian hydrostatic equilibrium equation contains a new term whose effect is to introduce a weakening/strengthening of the gravitational interaction inside astrophysical bodies. This fact modifies the general relativity prediction for this minimum main sequence mass. Through a crude analytical modeling we use this result in order to constraint a combination of the quadratic f(R) gravity parameter and the central density according to astrophysical observations.

Abstract: A time-dependent analysis of the B-s(0) -> phi gamma decay rate is performed to determine the CP -violating observables S-phi gamma and C-phi gamma and the mixing-induced observable A(phi gamma)(Delta). The measurement is based on a sample of pp collision data recorded with the LHCb detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1) at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The measured values are S-phi gamma = 0.43 +/- 0.30 +/- 0.11, C-phi gamma = 0.11 +/- 0.29 +/- 0.11, and A(phi gamma)(Delta) = -0.67(-0.41)(+0.37) +/- 0.17, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This is the first measurement of the observables S and C in radiative B-s(0) decays. The results are consistent with the standard model predictions.

Abstract: An angular analysis of the decay (B) over bar -> D*l(-)(nu) over bar (l), l is an element of {e, mu}, is reported using the full e(+) e(-) collision data set collected by the BABAR experiment at the Upsilon(4S) resonance. One B meson from the Upsilon(4S) -> B (B) over bar decay is fully reconstructed in a hadronic decay mode, which constrains the kinematics and provides a determination of the neutrino momentum vector. The kinematics of the semileptonic decay is described by the dilepton mass squared, q(2), and three angles. The first unbinned fit to the full four-dimensional decay rate in the standard model is performed in the so-called Boyd-Grinstein-Lebed approach, which employs a generic q(2) parametrization of the underlying form factors based on crossing symmetry, analyticity, and QCD dispersion relations for the amplitudes. A fit using the more model-dependent Caprini-Lellouch-Neubert (CLN) approach is performed as well. Our form factor shapes show deviations from previous fits based on the CLN parametrization. The latest form factors also provide an updated prediction for the branching fraction ratio R(D*) B((B) over bar -> D* tau(-)(nu) over bar (tau)) /B((B) over bar -> D*l(-)(nu) over bar (l)) = 0.253 +/- 0.005. Finally, using the well-measured branching fraction for the (B) over bar -> D*l(-)(nu) over bar (l) decay, a value of vertical bar V-cb vertical bar = (38.36 +/- 0.90) x 10(-3) is obtained that is consistent with the current world average for exclusive (B) over bar -> D(*)l(-)(nu) over bar (l) decays and remains in tension with the determination from inclusive semileptonic B decays to final states with charm.

Abstract: The production fractions of (B) over bar (0)(s) and Lambda(0)(b) hadrons, normalized to the sum of B- and (B) over bar (0) fractions, arc measured in 13 TeV pp collisions using data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.67 fb(-1). These ratios, averaged over the b hadron transverse momenta from 4 to 25 GeV and pseudorapidity from 2 to 5, are 0.122 +/- 0.006 for (B) over bar (0)(s) and 0.259 +/- 0.018 for Lambda(0)(b) where the uncertainties arise from both statistical and systematic sources. The Lambda(0)(b) ratio depends strongly on transverse momentum, while the (B) over bar (0)(s) ratio shows a mild dependence. Neither ratio shows variations with pseudorapidity. The measurements are made using semileptonic decays to minimize theoretical uncertainties. In addition, the ratio of D+ to D-0 mesons produced in the sum of (B) over bar (0) and B- semileptonic decays is determined as 0.359 +/- 0.006 +/- 0.009, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic.