Gomez-Cadenas, J. J., Martin-Albo, J., Menendez, J., Mezzetto, M., Monrabal, F., & Sorel, M. (2024). The search for neutrinoless double-beta decay. Riv. Nuovo Cimento, 46, 619–692.
Abstract: Neutrinos are the only particles in the Standard Model that could be Majorana fermions, that is, completely neutral fermions that are their own antiparticles. The most sensitive known experimental method to verify whether neutrinos are Majorana particles is the search for neutrinoless double-beta decay. The last 2 decades have witnessed the development of a vigorous program of neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments, spanning several isotopes and developing different strategies to handle the backgrounds masking a possible signal. In addition, remarkable progress has been made in the understanding of the nuclear matrix elements of neutrinoless double-beta decay, thus reducing a substantial part of the theoretical uncertainties affecting the particle-physics interpretation of the process. On the other hand, the negative results by several experiments, combined with the hints that the neutrino mass ordering could be normal, may imply very long lifetimes for the neutrinoless double-beta decay process. In this report, we review the main aspects of such process, the recent progress on theoretical ideas and the experimental state of the art. We then consider the experimental challenges to be addressed to increase the sensitivity to detect the process in the likely case that lifetimes are much longer than currently explored, and discuss a selection of the most promising experimental efforts.
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Balbinot, R., & Fabbri, A. (2024). The Unruh Vacuum and the “In-Vacuum” in Reissner-Nordström Spacetime. Universe, 10(1), 18–14pp.
Abstract: The Unruh vacuum is widely used as a quantum state to describe black hole evaporation since, near the horizon, it reproduces the physical state of a quantum field, the so-called “in-vacuum”, in the case where a black hole is formed by gravitational collapse. We examine the relation between these two quantum states in the background spacetime of a Reissner-Nordstrom black hole (both extremal and not), highlighting the similarities and striking differences.
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ATLAS Collaboration(Aad, G. et al), Aikot, A., Amos, K. R., Aparisi Pozo, J. A., Bailey, A. J., Bouchhar, N., et al. (2023). Search for a new pseudoscalar decaying into a pair of muons in events with a top-quark pair at √s=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector. Phys. Rev. D, 108(9), 092007–26pp.
Abstract: A search for a new pseudoscalar a-boson produced in events with a top-quark pair, where the a-boson decays into a pair of muons, is performed using root s=13 TeV pp collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb(-1). The search targets the final state where only one top quark decays to an electron or muon, resulting in a signature with three leptons e μμand μμmu. No significant excess of events above the Standard Model expectation is observed and upper limits are set on two signal models: pp -> tta and pp -> tt with t -> H(perpendicular to)b, H-perpendicular to -> W(perpendicular to)a, where a ->mu mu, in the mass ranges 15 GeV<m(a)<72 GeV and 120 GeV <= m(H +/-)<= 160 GeV.
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Azevedo, C. D. R., Baeza, A., Chauveau, E., Corbacho, J. A., Diaz, J., Domange, J., et al. (2023). Development of a real-time tritium-in-water monitor. J. Instrum., 18(12), T12008–14pp.
Abstract: In this paper, we report the development and performance of a detector module envisaging a tritium-in-water real-time activity monitor. The monitor is based on modular detection units whose number can be chosen according to the required sensitivity. The full system is being designed to achieve a Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA) of 100 Bq/L of tritium-in-water activity which is the limit established by the E.U. Council Directive 2013/51/Euratom for water intended for human consumption. The same system can be used as a real-time pre-alert system for nuclear power plant regarding tritium-in water environmental surveillance. The first detector module was characterized, commissioned and installed immediately after the discharge channel of the Arrocampo dam (Almaraz nuclear power plant, Spain) on the Tagus river. Due to the high sensitivity of the single detection modules, the system requires radioactive background mitigation techniques through the use of active and passive shielding. We have extrapolated a MDA of 3.6 kBq/L for a single module being this value limited by the cosmic background. The obtained value for a single module is already compatible with a real-time environmental surveillance and pre-alert system. Further optimization of the single-module sensitivity will imply the reduction of the number of modules and the cost of the detector system.
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Lin, J. X., Li, J. T., Liang, W. H., Chen, H. X., & Oset, E. (2024). J/ψ decays into ω(φ) f1(1285) and ω(φ) “f1(1420)”. Eur. Phys. J. C, 84(1), 52–8pp.
Abstract: We perform a theoretical study of the J/psi -> omega (Phi)K* K + c.c. -> omega(Phi)K-0 pi+ K- reactions with the assumption that the f1(1285) is dynamically generated from a single channel K*K + c.c interaction in the chiral unitary approach. Two peaks in the K-0 pi+ K- invariant mass distribution are observed, one clear peak locates at the f(1)(1285) nominal mass, the other peak locates at around 1420MeV with about 70MeV width. We conclude that the former peak is associated with the f(1)(1285) and the latter peak is not a genuine resonance but a manifestation of the kinematic effect in the higher energy region caused by the K* K + c.c. decay mode of the f(1)(1285).
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