Abstract: A measurement of the time-integrated CP asymmetry in the Cabibbo-suppressed decay D-0 -> K- K+ is performed using pp collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1), collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The flavour of the charm meson at production is determined from the charge of the pion in D*(+) -> D-0 pi(+) and D*(-) -> (D) over bar (0)pi(-) decays. The time-integrated CP asymmetry A(CP)(K- K+) is obtained assuming negligible CP violation in charm mixing and in Cabibbo-favoured D-0 -> K- pi(+), D+ -> K- pi(+) pi(+) and D+ -> (K) over bar (0)pi(+) decays used as calibration channels. It is found to be A(CP)(K- K+) = (0.14 +/- 0.15 (stat) +/- 0.10 (syst))%. A combination of this result with previous LHCb measurements yields A(CP)(K- K+) = (0.04 +/- 0.12 (stat) +/- 0.10 (syst))%, A(CP)(pi(-) pi(+)) = (0.07 +/- 0.14 (stat) +/- 0.11 (syst))%. These are the most precise measurements from a single experiment. The result for ACP(K- K+) is the most precise determination of a time-integrated CPasymmetry in the charm sector to date, and neither measurement shows evidence of CP asymmetry.

Abstract: The so far only known charmed non-strange scalar meson is dubbed as D-0(*)(2400) in the Review of Particle Physics. We show, within the framework of unitarized chiral perturbation theory, that there are in fact two (I = 1/2, J(P) = 0(+)) poles in the region of the D-0(*)( 2400) in the coupled-channel D pi, D eta and D-s (K) over bar scattering amplitudes. With all the parameters previously fixed, we predict the energy levels for the coupled-channel system in a finite volume, and find that they agree remarkably well with recent lattice QCD calculations. This successful description of the lattice data is regarded as a strong evidence for the two-pole structure of the D-0(*)( 2400). With the physical quark masses, the poles are located at (2105(-8)(+6) – i102(-12)(+10)) MeV and (2451(-26)(+36) – i134(-8)(+7)) MeV, with the largest couplings to the D pi and D-s (K) over bar channels, respectively. Since the higher pole is close to the D-s (K) over bar threshold, we expect it to show up as a threshold enhancement in the D-s (K) over bar invariant mass distribution. This could be checked by high-statistic data in future experiments. We also show that the lower pole belongs to the same SU(3) multiplet as the D-s0(*)(2317) state. Predictions for partners in the bottom sector are also given.

Abstract: In this work we report on the Monte Carlo study performed to understand and reproduce experimental measurements of a new plastic beta-detector with cylindrical geometry. Since energy deposition simulations differ from the experimental measurements for such a geometry, we show how the simulation of production and transport of optical photons does allow one to obtain the shapes of the experimental spectra. Moreover, taking into account the computational effort associated with this kind of simulation, we develop a method to convert the simulations of energy deposited into light collected, depending only on the interaction point in the detector. This method represents a useful solution when extensive simulations have to be done, as in the case of the calculation of the response function of the spectrometer in a total absorption gamma-ray spectroscopy analysis.

Abstract: This work reports on accurate, high-resolution measurements of the Mg-25(n, gamma)Mg-26 and Mg-25(n, tot) cross sections in the neutron energy range from thermal to about 300 keV, leading to a significantly improved Mg-25(n, gamma)Mg-26 parametrization. The relevant resonances for n+Mg-25 were characterized from a combined R-matrix analysis of the experimental data. This resulted in an unambiguous spin/parity assignment of the corresponding excited states in Mg-26. With this information experimental upper limits of the reaction rates for Ne-22(alpha, n)Mg-25 and Ne-22(alpha, gamma)Mg-26 were established, potentially leading to a significantly higher (alpha, n)/(alpha, gamma) ratio than previously evaluated. The impact of these results has been studied for stellar models in the mass range 2 to 25 M-circle dot. (C) 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.

Abstract: Recent constrains on the sum of neutrino masses inferred by analyzing cosmological data, show that detecting a non-zero neutrino mass is within reach of forthcoming cosmological surveys. Such a measurement will imply a direct determination of the absolute neutrino mass scale. Physically, the measurement relies on constraining the shape of the matter power spectrum below the neutrino free streaming scale: massive neutrinos erase power at these scales. However, detection of a lack of small-scale power from cosmological data could also be due to a host of other effects. It is therefore of paramount importance to validate neutrinos as the source of power suppression at small scales. We show that, independent on hierarchy, neutrinos always show a footprint on large, linear scales; the exact location and properties are fully specified by the measured power suppression (an astrophysical measurement) and atmospheric neutrinos mass splitting (a neutrino oscillation experiment measurement). This feature cannot be easily mimicked by systematic uncertainties in the cosmological data analysis or modifications in the cosmological model. Therefore the measurement of such a feature, up to 1% relative change in the power spectrum for extreme differences in the mass eigenstates mass ratios, is a smoking gun for confirming the determination of the absolute neutrino mass scale from cosmological observations. It also demonstrates the synergy between astrophysics and particle physics experiments.