Abstract: Because the relatively small neutron capture cross sections of the zirconium isotopes are difficult to measure, the results of previous measurements are often not adequate for a number of problems in astrophysics and nuclear technology. Therefore, the Zr-92(n,gamma) cross section has been remeasured at the CERN n_TOF facility, providing a set of improved parameters for 44 resonances in the neutron energy range up to 40 keV. With this information the cross-section uncertainties in the keV region could be reduced to 5% as required for s-process nucleosynthesis studies and technological applications.

Abstract: We study the e(+)e(-) -> K+(D-s*D--(0) + Ds-D*(0)) reaction recently measured at BESIII, from where a new Z(cs) state has been reported. We study the interaction of (D) over bar D-s* with the coupled channels J/psi K-, K*(-)eta(c), Ds-D*(0), D-s*D--(0) by means of an extension to the charm sector of the local hidden gauge approach. We find that the Ds-D*(0) + D-s*D--(0) combination couples to J/psi K- and K*(-)eta(c), but the Ds-D*(0 ) -D-s*D--(0) combination does not. The coupled channels help to build up strength in the Ds-D*(0) + D-s*D--(0) diagonal scattering matrix close to threshold and, although the interaction is not strong enough to produce a bound state or resonance, it is sufficient to produce a large accumulation of strength at the (D) over bar D-s* threshold in the e(+)e(-) -> K+(D-s*D--(0) + Ds-D*(0)) reaction in agreement with experiment.

Abstract: The framed standard model (FSM), constructed initially for explaining the existence of three fermion generations and the hierarchical mass and mixing patterns of quarks and leptons,(1,2) suggests also a “hidden sector” of particles(3) including some dark matter candidates. It predicts in addition a new vector boson G, with mass of order TeV, which mixes with the gamma and Z of the standard model yielding deviations from the standard mixing scheme, all calculable in terms of a single unknown parameter mG. Given that standard mixing has been tested already to great accuracy by experiment, this could lead to contradictions, but it is shown here that for the three crucial and testable cases so far studied (i) m(Z) – m(W), (ii) Gamma(Z -> l(+)l(-)), (iii) Gamma(Z -> hadrons), the deviations are all within the present stringent experimental bounds provided m(G) > 1 TeV, but should soon be detectable if experimental accuracy improves. This comes about because of some subtle cancellations, which might have a deeper reason that is not yet understood. By virtue of mixing, G can be produced at the LHC and appear as a l(+)l(-) anomaly. If found, it will be of interest not only for its own sake but serve also as a window on to the “hidden sector” into which it will mostly decay, with dark matter candidates as most likely products.