Bernabeu, J., Espriu, D., & Puigdomenech, D. (2011). Gravitational waves in the presence of a cosmological constant. Phys. Rev. D, 84(6), 063523–13pp.
Abstract: We derive the effects of a nonzero cosmological constant Lambda on gravitational wave propagation in the linearized approximation of general relativity. In this approximation, we consider the situation where the metric can be written as g(mu nu) = eta(mu nu) + h(mu nu)(Lambda) + h(mu nu)(W), h(mu nu)(Lambda,W) << 1, where h(mu nu)(Lambda) is the background perturbation and h(mu nu)(W) is a modification interpretable as a gravitational wave. For Lambda not equal 0, this linearization of Einstein equations is self-consistent only in certain coordinate systems. The cosmological Friedmann-Robertson-Walker coordinates do not belong to this class and the derived linearized solutions have to be reinterpreted in a coordinate system that is homogeneous and isotropic to make contact with observations. Plane waves in the linear theory acquire modifications of order root Lambda, both in the amplitude and the phase, when considered in Friedmann-Robertson-Walker coordinates. In the linearization process for h(mu nu), we have also included terms of order O(Lambda h(mu nu)). For the background perturbation h(mu nu)(Lambda), the difference is very small, but when the term h(mu nu)(W)Lambda is retained the equations of motion can be interpreted as describing massive spin-2 particles. However, the extra degrees of freedom can be approximately gauged away, coupling to matter sources with a strength proportional to the cosmological constant itself. Finally, we discuss the viability of detecting the modifications caused by the cosmological constant on the amplitude and phase of gravitational waves. In some cases, the distortion with respect to gravitational waves propagating in Minkowski space-time is considerable. The effect of Lambda could have a detectable impact on pulsar timing arrays.
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Gunion, J. F., Lopez-Fogliani, D. E., Roszkowski, L., Ruiz de Austri, R., & Varley, T. A. (2011). Next-to-minimal supersymmetric model Higgs scenarios for partially universal GUT scale boundary conditions. Phys. Rev. D, 84(5), 055026–17pp.
Abstract: We examine the extent to which it is possible to realize the NMSSM “ideal Higgs” models espoused in several papers by Gunion et al. in the context of partially universal GUT scale boundary conditions. To this end we use the powerful methodology of nested sampling. We pay particular attention to whether ideal-Higgs-like points not only pass LEP constraints but are also acceptable in terms of the numerous constraints now available, including those from the Tevatron and B-factory data, (g – 2)(mu) and the relic density Omega h(2). In general for this particular methodology and range of parameters chosen, very few points corresponding to said previous studies were found, and those that were found were at best 2 sigma away from the preferred relic density value. Instead, there exist a class of points, which combine a mostly singlet-like Higgs with a mostly singlino-like neutralino coannihilating with the lightest stau, that are able to effectively pass all implemented constraints in the region 80 < m(h) < 100. It seems that the spin-independent direct detection cross section acts as a key discriminator between ideal Higgs points and the hard to detect singlino-like points.
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Hernandez, E., & Nieves, J. (2011). Study of the strong Sigma(b) -> Lambda(b)pi and Sigma*(b) -> Lambda(b)pi in a nonrelativistic quark model. Phys. Rev. D, 84(5), 057902–5pp.
Abstract: We present results for the strong widths corresponding to the Sigma(b) -> Lambda(b)pi and Sigma*(b) -> Lambda(b)pi decays. We apply our model from Phys. Rev. D 72, 094022 (2005), where we previously studied the corresponding transitions in the charmed sector. Our nonrelativistic constituent quark model uses wave functions that take advantage of the constraints imposed by heavy quark symmetry. The partial conservation of axial current hypothesis allows us to determine the strong vertices from an analysis of the axial current matrix elements.
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De Romeri, V., Hirsch, M., & Malinsky, M. (2011). Soft masses in supersymmetric SO(10) GUTs with low intermediate scales. Phys. Rev. D, 84(5), 053012–15pp.
Abstract: The specific shape of the squark, slepton and gaugino mass spectra, if measured with sufficient accuracy, can provide invaluable information not only about the dynamics underpinning their origin at some very high scale such as the unification scale M(G), but also about the intermediate scale physics encountered throughout their renormalization group equations evolution down to the energy scale accessible for the LHC. In this work, we study general features of the TeV scale soft supersymmetry breaking parameters stemming from a generic mSugra configuration within certain classes of supersymmetry SO(10) GUTs with different intermediate symmetries below M(G). We show that particular combinations of soft masses show characteristic deviations from the mSugra limit in different models and thus, potentially, allow to distinguish between these, even if the new intermediate scales are outside the energy range probed at accelerators. We also compare our results to those obtained for the three minimal seesaw models with mSugra boundary conditions and discuss the main differences between those and our SO(10) based models.
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Nieves, J., & Valderrama, M. P. (2011). Deriving the existence of B(B)over-bar* bound states from the X(3872) and heavy quark symmetry. Phys. Rev. D, 84(5), 056015–21pp.
Abstract: We discuss the possibility and the description of bound states between B and (B) over bar* mesons. We argue that the existence of such a bound state can be deduced from (i) the weakly bound X(3872) state, (ii) certain assumptions about the short-range dynamics of the D (D) over bar* system and (iii) heavy quark symmetry. From these assumptions the binding energy of the possible B (B) over bar* bound states is determined, first in a theory containing only contact interactions which serves as a straightforward illustration of the method, and then the effects of including the one-pion exchange potential are discussed. In this latter case three isoscalar states are predicted: a positive and negative C-parity (3)S(1) – (3)D(1) state with a binding energy of 20 MeV and 6 MeV below threshold, respectively, and a positive C-parity (3)P(0) shallow state located almost at the B (B) over bar* threshold. However, large uncertainties are generated as a consequence of the 1/m(Q) corrections from heavy quark symmetry. Finally, the newly discovered isovector Z(b)(10610) state can be easily accommodated within the present framework by a minor modification of the short-range dynamics.
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MiniBooNE Collaboration(Aguilar-Arevalo, A. A. et al), & Sorel, M. (2011). Measurement of the neutrino component of an antineutrino beam observed by a nonmagnetized detector. Phys. Rev. D, 84(7), 072005–14pp.
Abstract: Two methods are employed to measure the neutrino flux of the antineutrino-mode beam observed by the MiniBooNE detector. The first method compares data to simulated event rates in a high-purity nu(mu)-induced charged-current single pi(+) (CC1 pi(+)) sample while the second exploits the difference between the angular distributions of muons created in nu(mu) and nu(mu) charged-current quasielastic (CCQE) interactions. The results from both analyses indicate the prediction of the neutrino flux component of the predominately antineutrino beam is overestimated-the CC1 pi(+) analysis indicates the predicted nu(mu) flux should be scaled by 0: 76 +/- 0: 11, while the CCQE angular fit yields 0: 65 +/- 0: 23. The energy spectrum of the flux prediction is checked by repeating the analyses in bins of reconstructed neutrino energy, and the results show that the spectral shape is well-modeled. These analyses are a demonstration of techniques for measuring the neutrino contamination of antineutrino beams observed by future nonmagnetized detectors.
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BABAR Collaboration(Lees, J. P. et al), Lopez-March, N., Martinez-Vidal, F., & Oyanguren, A. (2011). Searches for rare or forbidden semileptonic charm decays. Phys. Rev. D, 84(7), 072006–13pp.
Abstract: We present searches for rare or forbidden charm decays of the form X(c)(+) -> h(+/-)l(+/-)l((l)+), where X(c)(+) is a charm hadron (D(+), D(s)(+), or A(c)(+)), h +/- is a pion, kaon, or proton, and l((l)+/-) is an electron or muon. The analysis is based on 384 fb(-1) of e(+)e(-) annihilation data collected at or close to the gamma(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. No significant signal is observed for any of the 35 decay modes that are investigated. We establish 90% confidence-level upper limits on the branching fractions between 1 x 10(-6) and 44 x 10(-6) depending on the channel. In most cases, these results represent either the first limits or significant improvements on existing limits for the decay modes studied.
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BABAR Collaboration(Lees, J. P. et al), Lopez-March, N., Martinez-Vidal, F., & Oyanguren, A. (2011). Study of radiative bottomonium transitions using converted photons. Phys. Rev. D, 84(7), 072002–17pp.
Abstract: We use (111 +/- 1) million Gamma(3S) and (89 +/- 1) million Gamma(2S) events recorded by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II B-factory at SLAC to perform a study of radiative transitions between bottomonium states using photons that have been converted to e(+)e(-) pairs by the detector material. We observe Gamma(3S) -> gamma chi b(0,2)(1P) decay, make precise measurements of the branching fractions for chi b(1,2)(1P, 2P) -> gamma Gamma(1S) and chi b(1,2)(2P) -> gamma Gamma(2S) decays, and search for radiative decay to the eta(b)(1S) and eta(b)(2S) states.
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Nieves, J., Pich, A., & Ruiz Arriola, E. (2011). Large-N(C) properties of the rho and f(0)(600) mesons from unitary resonance chiral dynamics. Phys. Rev. D, 84(9), 096002–20pp.
Abstract: We construct pi pi amplitudes that fulfill exact elastic unitarity, account for one-loop chiral perturbation theory contributions and include all 1/N(C) leading terms, with the only limitation of considering just the lowest-lying nonet of exchanged resonances. Within such a scheme, the N(C) dependence of sigma and rho masses and widths is discussed. Robust conclusions are drawn in the case of the rho resonance, confirming that it is a stable meson in the limit of a large number of QCD colors, N(C). Less definitive conclusions are reached in the scalar-isoscalar sector. With the present quality of data, we cannot firmly conclude whether or not the N(C) = 3 f(0)(600) resonance completely disappears at large N(C) or if it has a subdominant component in its structure, which would become dominant for a number of quark colors sufficiently large.
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Rodejohann, W., & Valle, J. W. F. (2011). Symmetrical parametrizations of the lepton mixing matrix. Phys. Rev. D, 84(7), 073011–6pp.
Abstract: Advantages of the original symmetrical form of the parametrization of the lepton mixing matrix are discussed. It provides a conceptually more transparent description of neutrino oscillations and lepton number violating processes like neutrinoless double beta decay, clarifying the significance of Dirac and Majorana phases. It is also ideal for parametrizing scenarios with light sterile neutrinos.
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