Nacher, E., Briz, J. A., Nerio, A. N., Perea, A., Tavora, V. G., Tengblad, O., et al. (2024). Characterization of a novel proton-CT scanner based on Silicon and LaBr3(Ce) detectors. Eur. Phys. J. Plus, 139(5), 404–9pp.
Abstract: Treatment planning systems at proton-therapy centres entirely use X-ray computed tomography (CT) as primary imaging technique to infer the proton treatment doses to tumour and healthy tissues. However, proton stopping powers in the body, as derived from X-ray images, suffer from important proton-range uncertainties. In order to reduce this uncertainty in range, one could use proton-CT images instead. The main goal of this work is to test the capabilities of a newly-developed proton-CT scanner, based on the use of a set of tracking detectors and a high energy resolution scintillator for the residual energy of the protons. Different custom-made phantoms were positioned at the field of view of the scanner and were irradiated with protons at the CCB proton-therapy center in Krakow. We measured with the phantoms at different angles and produced sinograms that were used to obtain reconstructed images by Filtered Back-Projection. The obtained images were used to determine the capabilities of our scanner in terms of spatial resolution and proton Relative Stopping Power (RSP) mapping and validate its use as proton-CT scanner. The results show that the scanner can produce medium-high quality images, with spatial resolution better than 2 mm in radiography, below 3 mm in tomography and resolving power in the RSP comparable to other state-of-the-art pCT scanners.
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IDS Collaboration(Yue, Z. et al), Algora, A., & Nacher, E. (2024). Charge radii of thallium isotopes near the N=126 shell closure. Phys. Rev. C, 110(3), 034315–9pp.
Abstract: The changes in the mean-squared charge radius of Tl-209(g )(N=128) and Tl-207(m) (N=126) relative to Tl-205 have been measured for the first time using the in-source laser resonance-ionization spectroscopy technique with the Laser Ion Source and Trap (LIST) at ISOLDE (CERN). The application of the LIST suppresses the dominant background from isobaric francium isotopes and allows access to thallium nuclides with A >= 207. The characteristic kink in the charge radii at the N=126 neutron shell closure, as well as the odd-even effect similar to that in the adjacent bismuth, lead, and mercury isotopic chains, have been observed. The self-consistent theory of finite Fermi systems based on the energy density functional by Fayans et al. reproduces the behavior of charge radii in these isotopic chains near N=126. The comparison with calculations in the framework of the relativistic mean field (RMF) approach is also presented. In the case of the Fayans functional it is a specific form of pairing interaction with the dependence on the density gradient that is essential to provide agreement with the experimental charge radii. In particular, the kink is reproduced without the inversion of g(9/2) and i(11/2) neutron single-particle states, which is a prerequisite to correctly describe the kink in the RMF models.
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Montesinos, V., Albaladejo, M., Nieves, J., & Tolos, L. (2024). Charge-conjugation asymmetry and molecular content: The Ds0*(2317)± in matter. Phys. Lett. B, 853, 138656–10pp.
Abstract: We analyze the modifications that a dense nuclear medium induces in the D-s0*(2317)(+/-) and D-s1(2460)(+/-). In the vacuum, we consider them as isoscalar D-(*K-) and (D) over bar (()*())(K) over bar S-wave bound states, which are dynamically generated from effective interactions that lead to different Weinberg compositeness scenarios. Matter effects are incorporated through the two-meson loop functions, taking into account the self energies that the D-(*()), (D) over bar (()*()), K, and (K) over bar develop when embedded in a nuclear medium. Although particle-antiparticle [D-s0,s1(()*())(2317,2460)(+) versus D-s0,s1(()*())(2317,2460)(-)] lineshapes are the same in vacuum, we find extremely different density patterns in matter. This charge-conjugation asymmetry mainly stems from the very different kaon and antikaon interaction with the nucleons of the dense medium. We show that the in-medium lineshapes found for these resonances strongly depend on their D-(*()), K/(D) over bar (()*()), K molecular content, and discuss how this novel feature can be used to better determine/constrain the inner structure of these exotic states.
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Araujo Filho, A. A., Jusufi, K., Cuadros-Melgar, B., Leon, G., Jawad, A., & Pellicer, C. E. (2024). Charged black holes with Yukawa potential. Phys. Dark Universe, 46, 101711–16pp.
Abstract: This study derives a novel family of charged black hole solutions featuring short- and long-range modifications. These are achieved through a Yukawa-like gravitational potential modification and a nonsingular electric potential incorporation. The short-range corrections encode quantum gravity effects, while the long-range adjustments simulate gravitational effects akin to those attributed to dark matter. Our investigation reveals that the total mass of the black hole undergoes corrections owing to the apparent presence of dark matter mass and the self-adjusted electric charge mass. Two distinct solutions are discussed: a regular black hole solution characterizing small black holes, where quantum effects play a crucial role, and a second solution portraying large black holes at considerable distances, where the significance of Yukawa corrections comes into play. Notably, these long-range corrections contribute to an increase in the total mass and hold particular interest as they can emulate the role of dark matter. Finally, we explore the phenomenological aspects of the black hole. Specifically, we examine the influence of electric charge and Yukawa parameters on thermodynamic quantities, the quasinormal modes for the charged scalar perturbations as well as for the vector perturbations, analysis of the geodesics of light/massive particles, and the accretion of matter onto the charged black hole solution.
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Sahin, E. et al, & Algora, A. (2024). Collectivity at the prolate-oblate transition: The 21+ lifetime of 190W. Phys. Lett. B, 857, 138976–8pp.
Abstract: The neutron-rich rare isotope W-190 is discussed as a candidate for a prolate-oblate transitional nucleus with maximum gamma-softness. The collectivity of this isotope is assessed for the first time by the measurement of the reduced E2 transition probability of its first 2(+) state to the ground state. The experiment employed the FAst TIming Array (FATIMA), comprised of 36 LaBr3(Ce) scintillators, which was part of the DESPEC setup at GSI, Darmstadt. The 4(1)(+) and 2(1)(+) states of W-190 were populated subsequently to the decay of its 127(12) μs isomeric J(pi )= 10(-) state. The mean lifetime of the 2(1)(+) state was determined to be tau = 274(28) ps, which corresponds to a B(E2; 2(1)(+ )-> 0(1)(+)) value of 95(10) W.u. The results motivated a revision of previous calculations within an energy-density functional-based interacting boson model-2 approach, yielding E2 transition properties and spectroscopic quadrupole moments for tungsten isotopes. From comparison to theory, the new data suggest that W-190 is at the transition from prolate to oblate structure along the W isotopic chain, which had previously been discussed as a nuclear shape-phase transition.
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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. (2024). Combination and summary of ATLAS dark matter searches interpreted in a 2HDM with a pseudo-scalar mediator using 139 fb-1 of √s=13 TeV pp collision data. Sci. Bull., 69(19), 3005–3035.
Abstract: Results from a wide range of searches targeting different experimental signatures with and without missing transverse momentum (E-T(miss)) are used to constrain a Two-Higgs-Doublet Model (2HDM) with an additional pseudo-scalar mediating the interaction between ordinary and dark matter (2HDM+a). The analyses use up to 139 fb(-1) of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy root s = 13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider during 2015-2018. The results from three of the most sensitive searches are combined statistically. These searches target signatures with large E-T(miss) and a leptonically decaying Z boson; large E-T(miss) and a Higgs boson decaying to bottom quarks; and production of charged Higgs bosons in final states with top and bottom quarks, respectively. Constraints are derived for several common and new benchmark scenarios in the 2HDM+a.
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ATLAS and CMS Collaborations(Hayrapetyan, A. et al), Aikot, A., Amos, K. R., Aparisi Pozo, J. A., Bailey, A. J., Bouchhar, N., et al. (2024). Combination of Measurements of the Top Quark Mass from Data Collected by the ATLAS and CMS Experiments at √s=7 and 8 TeV. Phys. Rev. Lett., 132(26), 261902–37pp.
Abstract: A combination of fifteen top quark mass measurements performed by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the LHC is presented. The datasets used correspond to an integrated luminosity of up to 5 and 20 fb(-1) of proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, respectively. The combination includes measurements in top quark pair events that exploit both the semileptonic and hadronic decays of the top quark, and a measurement using events enriched in single top quark production via the electroweak t channel. The combination accounts for the correlations between measurements and achieves an improvement in the total uncertainty of 31% relative to the most precise input measurement. The result is m(t) = 172.52 +/- 0.14(stat) +/- 0.30(stat) GeV, with a total uncertainty of 0.33 GeV.
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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. (2024). Combination of searches for heavy spin-1 resonances using 139 fb-1 of proton-proton collision data at √s=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector. J. High Energy Phys., 04(4), 118–47pp.
Abstract: A combination of searches for new heavy spin-1 resonances decaying into different pairings of W, Z, or Higgs bosons, as well as directly into leptons or quarks, is presented. The data sample used corresponds to 139 fb(-1) of proton-proton collisions at root s = 13 TeV collected during 2015-2018 with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. Analyses selecting quark pairs (qq, bb, t (t) over bar, and tb) or third-generation leptons (tau nu and tau tau) are included in this kind of combination for the first time. A simplified model predicting a spin-1 heavy vector-boson triplet is used. Cross-section limits are set at the 95% confidence level and are compared with predictions for the benchmark model. These limits are also expressed in terms of constraints on couplings of the heavy vector-boson triplet to quarks, leptons, and the Higgs boson. The complementarity of the various analyses increases the sensitivity to new physics, and the resulting constraints are stronger than those from any individual analysis considered. The data exclude a heavy vector-boson triplet with mass below 5.8 TeV in a weakly coupled scenario, below 4.4 TeV in a strongly coupled scenario, and up to 1.5 TeV in the case of production via vector-boson fusion.
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ATLAS Collaboration(Aad, G. et al), Aikot, A., Amos, K. R., Bouchhar, N., Cabrera Urban, S., Cantero, J., et al. (2024). Combination of searches for Higgs boson decays into a photon and a massless dark photon using pp collisions at √s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector. J. High Energy Phys., 08(8), 153–35pp.
Abstract: A combination of searches for Higgs boson decays into a visible photon and a massless dark photon (H -> gamma gamma(d)) is presented using 139 fb(-1) of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of root s = 13 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The observed (expected) 95% confidence level upper limit on the Standard Model Higgs boson decay branching ratio is determined to be B(H -> gamma gamma(d)) < 1.3% (1.5)%. The search is also sensitive to higher-mass Higgs bosons decaying into the same final state. The observed (expected) 95% confidence level limit on the cross-section times branching ratio ranges from 16 fb (20 fb) for m(H) = 400 GeV to 1.0 fb (1.5 fb) for m(H) = 3 TeV. Results are also interpreted in the context of a minimal simplified model.
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ATLAS Collaboration(Aad, G. et al), Aikot, A., Amos, K. R., Bouchhar, N., Cabrera Urban, S., Cantero, J., et al. (2024). Combination of Searches for Higgs Boson Pair Production in pp Collisions at √s=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector. Phys. Rev. Lett., 133(10), 101801–22pp.
Abstract: This Letter presents results from a combination of searches for Higgs boson pair production using 126-140 fb(-1) of proton-proton collision data at root s = 13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector. At 95% confidence level (CL), the upper limit on the production rate is 2.9 times the standard model (SM) prediction, with an expected limit of 2.4 assuming no Higgs boson pair production. Constraints on the Higgs boson self-coupling modifier kappa(lambda) =lambda(HHH) /lambda(SM)(HHH), and the quartic HHVV coupling modifier kappa(2V) = g(HHVV)/g(HHVV)(SM), are derived individually, fixing the other parameter to its SM value. The observed 95% CL intervals are -1.2 <kappa(lambda)< 7.2 and 0.6 <kappa(2V) < 1.5, respectively, while the expected intervals are -1.6 <kappa(lambda)< 7.2 and 0.4 <kappa(2V) < 1.6 in the SM case. Constraints obtained for several interaction parameters within Higgs effective field theory are the strongest to date, offering insights into potential deviations from SM predictions.
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