Abstract: Simulation indicates that PET image could be improved by upgrading a conventional ring with a probe placed close to the imaged object. In this paper, timing issues related to a PET probe using high-resistivity silicon as a detector material are addressed. The final probe will consist of several (four to eight) 1-mm thick layers of silicon detectors, segmented into 1 x 1 mm(2) pads, each pad equivalent to an independent p + nn+ diode. A proper matching of events in silicon with events of the external ring can be achieved with a good timing resolution. To estimate the timing performance, measurements were performed on a simplified model probe, consisting of a single 1-mm thick detector with 256 square pads (1.4 mm side), coupled with two VATAGP7s, application-specific integrated circuits. The detector material and electronics are the same that will be used for the final probe. The model was exposed to 511 keV annihilation photons from an Na-22 source, and a scintillator (LYSO)-PMT assembly was used as a timing reference. Results were compared with the simulation, consisting of four parts: (i) GEANT4 implemented realistic tracking of electrons excited by annihilation photon interactions in silicon, (ii) calculation of propagation of secondary ionisation (electron-hole pairs) in the sensor, (iii) estimation of the shape of the current pulse induced on surface electrodes and (iv) simulation of the first electronics stage. A very good agreement between the simulation and the measurements were found. Both indicate reliable performance of the final probe at timing windows down to 20 ns.

Abstract: We describe a measurement of the time-integrated luminosity of the data collected by the BABAR experiment at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider at the Upsilon(4S), Upsilon(3S), and Upsilon(2S) resonances and in a continuum region below each resonance. We measure the time-integrated luminosity by counting e(+)e(-)-> e(+)e(-) and (for the Upsilon(4S) only) e(+)e(-)->mu(+)mu(-) candidate events, allowing additional photons in the final state. We use data-corrected simulation to determine the cross-sections and reconstruction efficiencies for these processes, as well as the major backgrounds. Due to the large cross-sections of e(+)e(-)-> e(+)e(-) and e(+)e(-)->mu(+)mu(-), the statistical uncertainties of the measurement are substantially smaller than the systematic uncertainties. The dominant systematic uncertainties are due to observed differences between data and simulation, as well as uncertainties on the cross-sections. For data collected on the Upsilon(3S) and Upsilon(2S) resonances, an additional uncertainty arises due to Upsilon -> e(+)e(-)X background. For data collected off the Upsilon resonances, we estimate an additional uncertainty due to time dependent efficiency variations, which can affect the short off-resonance runs. The relative uncertainties on the luminosities of the on-resonance (off-resonance) samples are 0.43% (0.43%) for the Upsilon(4S), 0.58% (0.72%) for the Upsilon(3S), and 0.68% (0.88%) for the Upsilon(2S).

Abstract: A measurement of B-s(0) -> J/psi phi decay parameters, including the CP-violating weak phase phi(s) and the decay width difference Delta Gamma(s) is reported, using 4.9 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected in 2011 by the ATLAS detector from LHC pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy root s = 7 TeV. The mean decay width Gamma(s) and the transversity amplitudes vertical bar A(0)(0)vertical bar(2) and vertical bar A(parallel to)(0)vertical bar(2) are also measured. The values reported for these parameters are: phi(s) = 0.22 +/- 0.41 (stat.) +/- 0.10 (syst.) rad Delta Gamma(s) = 0.053 +/- 0.021 (stat.) +/- 0.010 (syst.) ps(-1) Gamma(s) = 0.677 +/- 0.007 (stat.) +/- 0.004 (syst.) ps(-1) vertical bar A(0)(0)vertical bar(2) = 0.528 +/- 0.006 (stat.) +/- 0.009 (syst.) vertical bar A(parallel to)(0)vertical bar(2) = 0.220 +/- 0.008 (stat.) +/- 0.007 (syst.) where the values quoted for phi(s) and Delta Gamma(s) correspond to the solution compatible with the external measurements to which the strong phase delta(perpendicular to) is constrained and where is Delta Gamma(s) constrained to be positive. The fraction of S-wave KK or f(0) contamination through the decays B-s(0) -> J/psi K+K- (f(0)) is measured as well and is found to be consistent with zero. Results for phi(s) and Delta Gamma(s) are also presented as 68%, 90% and 95% likelihood contours, which show agreement with Standard Model expectations.

Abstract: We discuss the concepts and methodology to implement an experiment probing directly Time Reversal (T) non-invariance, without any experimental connection to CP violation, by the exchange of in and out states. The idea relies on the B-0(B) over bar (0)) entanglement and decay time information available at B factories. The flavor or CP tag of the state of the still living neutral meson by the first decay of its orthogonal partner overcomes the problem of irreversibility for unstable systems, which prevents direct tests of T with incoherent particle states. T violation in the time evolution between the two decays means experimentally a difference between the rates for the time-ordered (l+X, J/psi K-s) and (J/psi K-L, l(-)X) decays, and three other independent asymmetries. The proposed strategy has been applied to simulated data samples of similar size and features to those currently available, from which we estimate the significance of the expected discovery to reach many standard deviations.

Abstract: The ANTARES experiment consists of an array of photomultipliers distributed along 12 lines and located deep underwater in the Mediterranean Sea. It searches for astrophysical neutrinos collecting the Cherenkov light induced by the charged particles, mainly muons, produced in neutrino interactions around the detector. Since at energies of similar to 10 TeV the muon and the incident neutrino are almost collinear, it is possible to use the ANTARES detector as a neutrino telescope and identify a source of neutrinos in the sky starting from a precise reconstruction of the muon trajectory. To get this result, the arrival times of the Cherenkov photons must be accurately measured. A to perform time calibrations with the precision required to have optimal performances of the instrument is described. The reconstructed tracks of the atmospheric muons in the ANTARES detector are used to determine the relative time offsets between photomultipliers. Currently, this method is used to obtain the time calibration constants for photomultipliers on different lines at a precision level of 0.5 ns. It has also been validated for calibrating photomultipliers on the same line, using a system of LEDs and laser light devices.