Abstract: We propose to slightly generalize the DeWitt-Schwinger adiabatic renormalization subtractions in curved space to include an arbitrary renornialization mass scale mu. The new predicted running for the gravitational couplings are fully consistent with decoupling of heavy massive fields. This is a somewhat improvement with respect to the more standard treatment of minimal (DeWitt-Schwinger) subtractions via dimensional regularization. We also show how the vacuum metamorphosis model emerges from the running couplings.

Abstract: We perform a theoretical study of the D-s(+) ->pi(+)pi(+)pi(-)eta decay. We look first at the basic D-s(+) decay at the quark level from external and internal emission. Then we hadronize a pair or two pairs of q (q) over bar states to have mesons at the end. Posteriorly the pairs of mesons are allowed to undergo final state interaction, by means of which the a(0)(980), f(0)(980), a(1)(1260), and b(1)(1235) resonances are dynamically generated. The G parity is used as a filter of the possible channels, and from those with negative G parity only the ones that can lead to pi(+)pi(+)pi(-)eta at the final state are kept. Using transition amplitudes from the chiral unitary approach that generates these resonances and a few free parameters, we obtain a fair reproduction of the six mass distributions reported in the BESIII experiment.

Abstract: In this work we study the role of the f(0)(980) and a(0)(980) resonances in the low K+K- and K-0(K) over bar (0) invariant-mass region of the B- -> pi-K+K- and B- -> pi K--(0)(K) over bar (0) reactions. The amplitudes are calculated by using the chiral unitary SU(3) formalism, in which these two resonances are dynamically generated from the unitary pseudoscalar-pseudoscalar coupled-channel approach. The amplitudes are then used as input in the evaluation of the mass distributions with respect to the K+K- and K-0(K) over bar (0) invariant masses, where the contributions coming from the I = 0 and I = 1 components are explicitly assessed. Furthermore, the contribution of the K*(892)K-0(-) production and its influence on the pi K--(+) and K+K- systems are also evaluated, showing that there is no significant strength for small K+K- invariant mass. Finally, the final distributions of M-inv(2) ((KK -/+)-K-+/-) for the B--/+ -> pi(KK -/+)-K--/+-K-+/- reactions are estimated and compared with the LHCb data. Our results indicate that the I = 0 component tied to the f(0)(980) excitation generates the dominant contribution in the range of low K+K- invariant mass.

Abstract: We present the cosmological bounds on the thermal axion mass in an extended cosmological scenario in which the primordial power spectrum of scalar perturbations differs from the usual power-law shape predicted by the simplest inflationary models. The power spectrum is instead modeled by means of a “piecewise cubic Hermite interpolating polynomial” (PCHIP). When using cosmic microwave background measurements combined with other cosmological data sets, the thermal axion mass constraints are degraded only slightly. The addition of the measurements of sigma(8) and Omega(m) from the 2013 Planck cluster catalog on galaxy number counts relaxes the bounds on the thermal axion mass, mildly favoring a similar to 1 eV axion mass, regardless of the model adopted for the primordial power spectrum. However, in general, such a preference disappears if the sum of the three active neutrino masses is also considered as a free parameter in our numerical analyses, due to the strong correlation between the masses of these two hot thermal relics.

Abstract: Current cosmological tensions show that it is crucial to test the predictions from the canonical ACDM paradigm at different cosmic times. One very appealing test of structure formation in the Universe is the growth rate of structure in our universe f, usually parametrized via the growth index gamma, with f equivalent to Omega(m)(a)gamma and gamma similar or equal to 0.55 in the standard ACDM case. Recent studies have claimed a suppression of the growth of structure from a variety of cosmological observations, characterized by gamma > 0.55. By employing different self-consistent growth parametrizations schemes, we show here that gamma < 0.55, obtaining instead an enhanced growth of structure today. This preference reaches the 3 sigma significance using cosmic microwave background observations, supernova Ia and baryon acoustic oscillation measurements. The addition of cosmic microwave background lensing data relaxes such a preference to the 2 sigma level, since a larger lensing effect can always be compensated with a smaller structure growth, or, equivalently, with gamma > 0.55. We have also included the lensing amplitude AL as a free parameter in our data analysis, showing that the preference for AL > 1 still remains, except for some particular parametrizations when lensing observations are included. We also do not find any significant preference for an oscillatory dependence of AL, AL + Am sin l. To further reassess the effects of a nonstandard growth, we have computed by means of N-body simulations the dark matter density fields, the dark matter halo mass functions and the halo density profiles for different values of gamma. Future observations from the Square Kilometer Array, reducing by a factor of 3 the current errors on the gamma parameter, further confirm or refute with a strong statistical significance the deviation of the growth index from its standard value.