Abstract: We report on the spatial response characterization of large LaCl3(Ce) monolithic crystals optically coupled to 8 x 8 pixel silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) sensors. A systematic study has been carried out for 511 keV gamma-rays using three different crystal thicknesses of 10 mm, 20 mm and 30 mm, all of them with planar geometry and a base size of 50 x 50 mm(2). In this work we investigate and compare two different approaches for the determination of the main gamma-ray hit location. On one hand, methods based on the fit of an analytical model for the scintillation light distribution provide the best results in terms of linearity and field of view, with spatial resolutions close to similar to 1 mm FWHM. On the other hand, position reconstruction techniques based on neural networks provide similar linearity and field-of-view, becoming the attainable spatial resolution similar to 3 mm FWHM. For the third space coordinate z or depth-of-interaction we have implemented an inverse linear calibration approach based on the cross-section of the measured scintillation-light distribution at a certain height. The detectors characterized in this work are intended for the development of so-called Total Energy Detectors with Compton imaging capability (i-TED), aimed at enhanced sensitivity and selectivity measurements of neutron capture cross sections via the time-of-flight (TOF) technique.

Abstract: We study theoretically the decay tau(-) -> nu(tau)P(-)A, with P- a pi(-) or K- and A an axial-vector resonance b(1)(1235), h(1) (1170), h(1) (1380), a(1) (1260), f(1) (1285) or any of the two poles of the K-1 (1270). The process proceeds through a triangle mechanism where a vector meson pair is first produced from the weak current and then one of the vectors produces two pseudoscalars, one of which reinteracts with the other vector to produce the axial resonance. For the initial weak hadronic production we use a recent formalism to account for the hadronization after the initial quark-antiquark pair produced from the weak current, which explicitly filters G-parity states and obtain easy analytic formulas after working out the angular momentum algebra. The model also takes advantage of the chiral unitary theories to evaluate the vector-pseudoscalar (VP) amplitudes, where the axial-vector resonances were obtained as dynamically generated from the vector-pseudoscalar interaction. We make predictions for invariant mass distribution and branching ratios for the channels considered.

Abstract: A Sigma* resonance with spin-parity J(P) = 1/2(-) and mass in the vicinity of the (K) over barN threshold has been predicted in the unitary chiral approach and inferred from the analysis of CLAS data on the gamma p -> K+pi(0)Sigma(0) reaction. In this work, based on the dominant Cabibbo favored weak decay mechanism, we perform a study of Lambda(+)(c) -> pi(+)pi(0)Sigma* with the possible Sigma* state decaying into pi(-)Sigma(+) through a triangle diagram. This process is initiated by Lambda(+)(c) -> pi(+)(K) over bar *N, then the (K) over bar* decays into (K) over bar pi and (K) over barN produce the Sigma* through a triangle loop containing (K) over bar *N (K) over bar which develops a triangle singularity. We show that the pi(-)Sigma(+) state is generated from final state interaction of (K) over barN in S-wave and isospin I = 1, and the Lambda(+)(c) -> pi(+)pi(0)pi(-)Sigma(+) decay can be used to study the possible Sigma* state around the (K) over barN threshold. The proposed decay mechanism can provide valuable information on the nature of the Sigma* resonance and can in principle be tested by facilities such as LHCb, BelleII and BESIII.

Abstract: We show that a good description of the Upsilon(10860) properties, in particular the mass, the e(+) e(-) leptonic widths and the pi(+) pi(-) Upsilon(ns) (n = 1, 2, 3) production rates, can be obtained under the assumption that Upsilon(10860) is a mixing of the conventional Upsilon(5s) quark model state with the lowest P-wave hybrid state.

Abstract: Assuming axion-like particles account for the entirety of the dark matter in the Universe, we study the possibility of detecting their decay into photons at radio frequencies. We discuss different astrophysical targets, such as dwarf spheroidal galaxies, the Galactic Center and halo, and galaxy clusters. The presence of an ambient radiation field leads to a stimulated enhancement of the decay rate; depending on the environment and the mass of the axion, the effect of stimulated emission may amplify the photon flux by serval orders of magnitude. For axion-photon couplings allowed by astrophysical and laboratory constraints (and possibly favored by stellar cooling), we find the signal to be within the reach of next-generation radio telescopes such as the Square Kilometer Array.