Abstract: In order to study the Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions from the T-z = +2 nucleus Ca-44 to the T-z = +1 nucleus Sc-44, where T-z is the z component of isospin T, we performed the (p, n)-type (He-3, t) charge-exchange (CE) reaction at 140 MeV/nucleon and the scattering angles 0 degrees and 2.5 degrees. An energy resolution of 28 keV, that was realized by applying matching techniques to the magnetic spectrometer system, allowed the study of fragmented states. The GT transition strengths, B(GT), were derived up to the excitation energy (E-x) of 13.7 MeV assuming the proportionality between cross sections and B(GT) values. The total sum of B(GT) values in discrete states was 3.7, which was 31% of the sum-rule-limit value of 12. Shell model calculations using the GXPF1J interaction could reproduce the gross features of the experimental B(GT) distribution, but not the fragmentation of the strength. By introducing the concepts of isospin, properties of isospin analogous transitions and states were investigated. (i) Assuming isospin symmetry, the T-z = +2 -> +1 and T-z = -2 -> -1 mirror GT transitions should have the same properties, where the latter can be studied in the beta decay of Cr-44 to V-44. First, we confirmed that the beta-decay half-life T-1/2 of Cr-44 can be reproduced using the B(GT) distribution from the Ca-44(He-3, t) measurement. Then, the 0 degrees, (3He, t) spectrum was modified to deduce the “beta-decay spectrum” and it was compared with the delayed-proton spectrum from the Cr-44 beta decay. The two spectra were mostly in agreement for the GT excitations, but suppression of the proton decay was found for the T = 2 isobaric analog state (IAS). (ii) Starting from the T = 2 ground state of 44Ca, the (3He, t) can excite GT states (state populated by GT transitions) with T = 1, 2, and 3. On the other hand, the Ca-44(p, p') reaction can excite spin-M1 states (states populated by spin-M1 transitions) with T = 2 and 3 that are analogous to the T = 2 and 3 GT states, respectively. By comparing the spectra from these two reactions, a T value of 2 is suggested for several GT states in the E-x = 11.5-13.7 MeV region. (iii) It has been suggested that the T = 2, J(pi) = 0(+) double isobaric analog state (DIAS) at 9.338 MeV in the T-z = 0 nucleus Ti-44 forms an isospin-mixed doublet with a subsidiary 0(+) state at 9.298 MeV. Since no corresponding state was found in the T-z = +1 nucleus Sc-44, we suggest T = 0 for the subsidiary state.

Abstract: In the present paper we address the interaction of pairs of charmed mesons with hidden charm in a finite box. We use the interaction from a recent model based on heavy-quark spin symmetry that predicts molecules of hidden charm in the infinite volume. The energy levels in the box are generated within this model, and from them some synthetic data are generated. These data are then employed to study the inverse problem of getting the energies of the bound states and phase shifts for D (D) over bar or D*(D) over bar*. Different strategies are investigated using the lowest two levels for different values of the box size, and the errors produced are studied. Starting from the upper level, fits to the synthetic data are carried out to determine the scattering length and effective range plus the binding energy of the ground state. A similar strategy using the effective range formula is considered with a simultaneous fit to the two levels-one above and the other one below the threshold. This method turns out to be more efficient than the previous one. Finally, a method based on the fit to the data by means of a potential and a conveniently regularized loop function, turns out to be very efficient and allows us to produce accurate results in the infinite volume starting from levels of the box with errors far larger than the uncertainties obtained in the final results. A regularization method based on Gaussian wave functions turns out to be rather efficient in the analysis and as a byproduct a practical and fast method to calculate the Luscher function with high precision is presented.

Abstract: A search for new particles that decay into top quark pairs (t (t) over bar) is performed with the ATLAS experiment at the LHC using an integrated luminosity of 4.7 fb(-1) of proton-proton (pp) collision data collected at a center-of-mass energy root s = 7 TeV. In the t (t) over bar) -> WbWb decay, the lepton plus jets final state is used, where one W boson decays leptonically and the other hadronically. The t (t) over bar) system is reconstructed using both small-radius and large-radius jets, the latter being supplemented by a jet substructure analysis. A search for local excesses in the number of data events compared to the Standard Model expectation in the t (t) over bar) invariant mass spectrum is performed. No evidence for a t (t) over bar) resonance is found and 95% credibility-level limits on the production rate are determined for massive states predicted in two benchmark models. The upper limits on the cross section times branching ratio of a narrow Z' resonance range from 5.1 pb for a boson mass of 0.5 TeV to 0.03 pb for a mass of 3 TeV. A narrow leptophobic topcolor Z' resonance with a mass below 1.74 TeV is excluded. Limits are also derived for a broad color-octet resonance with m 15.3%. A Kaluza-Klein excitation of the gluon in a Randall-Sundrum model is excluded for masses below 2.07 TeV.

Abstract: The DEPFET collaboration develops highly granular, ultra-transparent active pixel detectors for high-performance vertex reconstruction at future collider experiments. The characterization of detector prototypes has proven that the key principle, the integration of a first amplification stage in a detector-grade sensor material, can provide a comfortable signal to noise ratio of over 40 for a sensor thickness of 50-75 μm. ASICs have been designed and produced to operate a DEPFET pixel detector with the required read-out speed. A complete detector concept is being developed, including solutions for mechanical support, cooling, and services. In this paper, the status of the DEPFET R & D project is reviewed in the light of the requirements of the vertex detector at a future linear e(+)e(-) collider.

Abstract: The nature of dark matter is one of the most thrilling riddles for both cosmology and particle physics nowadays. While in the typical models the dark sector is composed only by weakly interacting massive particles, an arguably more natural scenario would include a whole set of gauge interactions which are invisible for the standard model but that are in contact with the dark matter. We present a method to constrain the number of massless gauge bosons and other relativistic particles that might be present in the dark sector using current and future cosmic microwave background data, and provide upper bounds on the size of the dark sector. We use the fact that the dark matter abundance depends on the strength of the interactions with both sectors, which allows one to relate the freeze-out temperature of the dark matter with the temperature of this cosmic background of dark gauge bosons. This relation can then be used to calculate how sizable is the impact of the relativistic dark sector in the number of degrees of freedom of the early Universe, providing an interesting and testable connection between cosmological data and direct/indirect detection experiments. The recent Planck data, in combination with other cosmic microwave background experiments and baryonic acoustic oscillations data, constrains the number of relativistic dark gauge bosons, when the freeze-out temperature of the dark matter is larger than the top mass, to be N less than or similar to 14 for the simplest scenarios, while those limits are slightly relaxed for the combination with the Hubble constant measurements to N less than or similar to 20. Future releases of Planck data are expected to reduce the uncertainty by approximately a factor of 3, which will reduce significantly the parameter space of allowed models.