Abstract: The Standard Model (SM) is a chiral theory, where right- and left-handed fermion fields transform differently under the gauge group. Extra fermions, if they do exist, need to be heavy otherwise they would have already been observed. With no complex mechanisms at work, such as confining interactions or extra-dimensions, this can only be achieved if every extra right-handed fermion comes paired with a left-handed one transforming in the same way under the Standard Model gauge group, otherwise the new states would only get a mass after electroweak symmetry breaking, which would necessarily be small (similar to 100 GeV). Such a simple requirement severely constrains the fermion content of Grand Unified Theories (GUTs). It is known for example that three copies of the representations (5) over bar + 10 of SU(5) or three copies of the 16 of SO(10) can reproduce the Standard Model's chirality, but how unique are these arrangements? In a systematic way, this paper looks at the possibility of having non-standard mixtures of fermion GUT representations yielding the correct Standard Model chirality. Family unification is possible with large special unitary groups for example, the 171 representation of SU(19) may decompose as 3(16) + 120 + 3(1) under SO(10).

Abstract: Tensorial non-standard neutrino interactions are studied through a combined analysis of nuclear structure calculations and a sensitivity chi(2)-type of neutrino events expected to be measured at the COHERENT experiment, recently planned to operate at the Spallation Neutron Source (Oak Ridge). Potential sizeable predictions on transition neutrino magnetic moments and other electromagnetic parameters, such as neutrino milli-charges, are also addressed. The non-standard neutrino-nucleus processes, explored from nuclear physics perspectives within the context of quasi-particle random phase approximation, are exploited in order to estimate the expected number of events originating from vector and tensor exotic interactions for the case of reactor neutrinos, studied with TEXONO and GEMMA neutrino detectors.

Abstract: The decay (B) over bar (0)(s) -> psi(2S)K+pi(-) is observed using a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1) collected by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The branching fraction relative to the B-0 -> psi(2S)K+pi(-) decay mode is measured to be B((B) over bar (0)(s) -> psi(2S)K+pi(-))/B(B-0 -> psi(2S)K+pi(-)) = 5.38 +/- 0.36 (stat) +/- 0.22 (syst) +/- 0.31 (f(s)/f(d)) %, where f(s)/f(d) indicates the uncertainty due to the ratio of probabilities for a b quark to hadronise into a B-s(0) or B-0 meson. Using an amplitude analysis, the fraction of decays proceeding via an intermediate K*(892)(0) meson is measured to be 0.645 +/- 0.049 (stat) +/- 0.049 (syst) and its longitudinal polarisation fraction is 0.524 +/- 0.056 (stat) +/- 0.029 (syst). The relative branching fraction for this component is determined to be B((B) over bar (0)(s) -> psi(2S)K*(892)(0))/B(B-0 -> psi(2S)K*(892)(0)) = 5.58 +/- 0.57 (stat) +/- 0.40 (syst) +/- 0.32 (f(s)/f(d)) %. In addition, the mass splitting between the B-s(0) and B-0 mesons is measured as M(B-s(0)) – M(B-0) = 87.45 +/- 0.44 (stat) +/- 0.09 (syst) MeV/c(2).