Abstract: We present the most comprehensive global fits to date of three supersymmetric models motivated by grand unification: the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (CMSSM), and its Non-Universal Higgs Mass generalisations NUHM1 and NUHM2. We include likelihoods from a number of direct and indirect dark matter searches, a large collection of electroweak precision and flavour observables, direct searches for supersymmetry at LEP and Runs I and II of the LHC, and constraints from Higgs observables. Our analysis improves on existing results not only in terms of the number of included observables, but also in the level of detail with which we treat them, our sampling techniques for scanning the parameter space, and our treatment of nuisance parameters. We show that stau co-annihilation is now ruled out in the CMSSM at more than 95% confidence. Stop co-annihilation turns out to be one of the most promising mechanisms for achieving an appropriate relic density of darkmatter in all threemodels, whilst avoiding all other constraints. We find high-likelihood regions of parameter space featuring light stops and charginos, making them potentially detectable in the near future at the LHC. We also show that tonne-scale direct detection will play a largely complementary role, probing large parts of the remaining viable parameter space, including essentially all models with multi-TeV neutralinos.

Abstract: Vacuum fluctuations of quantum fields are altered in the presence of a strong gravitational background, with important physical consequences. We argue that a nontrivial spacetime geometry can act as an optically active medium for quantum electromagnetic radiation, in such a way that the state of polarization of radiation changes in time, even in the absence of electromagnetic sources. This is a quantum effect, and is a consequence of an anomaly related to the classical invariance under electric-magnetic duality rotations in Maxwell theory.

Abstract: A test of lepton universality, performed by measuring the ratio of the branching fractions of the B-0 -> K*(0)mu(+) mu(-) and B-0 -> K*e(+)e(-) decays, R-K*0, is presented. The K*(0) meson is reconstructed in the final state K+pi(-), which is required to have an invariant mass within 100 MeV/c(2) of the known K*(892)(0) mass. The analysis is performed using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 3 fb(-1), collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The ratio is measured in two regions of the dilepton invariant mass squared, q(2), to be R-K*0 – {0.66(-0.007)(+0.11)(stat) +/- 0.03(syst) for 0.045 < q(2) < GeV2/c(4), 0.69(-0.07)(+0.11)(stat) +/- 0.05(syst) for 1.1 < q(2) < 6.0 GeV2/c(4). The corresponding 95.4% confidence level intervals are [0.52, 0.89] and [0.53, 0.94]. The results, which represent the most precise measurements of R-K*0 to date, are compatible with the Standard Model expectations at the level of 2.1-2.3 and 2.4-2.5 standard deviations in the two q(2) regions, respectively.

Abstract: Multi-particle cumulants and corresponding Fourier harmonics are measured for azimuthal angle distributions of charged particles in pp collisions at root S = 5.02 and 13 TeV and in p + Pb collisions at root S-NN = 5.02 TeV, and compared to the results obtained for low-multiplicity Pb + Pb collisions at root S-NN = 2.76 TeV. These measurements aim to assess the collective nature of particle production. The measurements of multi-particle cumulants confirm the evidence for collective phenomena in p + Pb and low-multiplicity Pb + Pb collisions. On the other hand, the pp results for four-particle cumulants do not demonstrate collective behaviour, indicating that they may be biased by contributions from non-flow correlations. A comparison of multi-particle cumulants and derived Fourier harmonics across different collision systems is presented as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity. For a given multiplicity, the measured Fourier harmonics are largest in Pb + Pb, smaller in p + Pb and smallest in pp collisions. The pp results show no dependence on the collision energy, nor on the multiplicity.

Abstract: We report on a measurement of the flavor-specific B-s(0) lifetime and of the D-s(-) lifetime using proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, collected by the LHCb experiment and corresponding to 3.0 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity. Approximately 407 000 B-s(0) -> D-s(()*()) -> D-s(()*()-) mu+v(mu) decays are partially reconstructed in the K+K-pi(-)mu(+) final state. The B-s(0) and D-s(-) natural widths are determined using, as a reference, kinematically similar B-0 -> Dd(*)(-) mu+v(mu) decays reconstructed in the same final state. The resulting differences between widths of B-s(0) and B-0 mesons and of D-s(-) and D- mesons are Delta(Gamma)(B) = -0.0115 +/- 0.0053(stat) +/- 0.0041 (syst) ps(-1) and Delta(Gamma)(D) = 1.0131 +/- 0.0117(stat) +/- 0.0065(syst) ps(-1), respectively. Combined with the known B-0 and D- lifetimes, these yield the flavor-specific B-s(0) lifetime, tau(fs)(Bs0) = 1.547 +/- 0.013 (stat) +/- 0.010 (syst) +/- 0.004(tau(B)) ps and the D-s(-) lifetime, tau(Ds-) = 0.5064 +/- 0.0030(stat) +/- 0.0017(syst) +/- 0.0017(sys) +/- 0.0017(tau(D)). The last uncertainties originate from the limited knowledge of the B-0 and D- lifetimes. The results improve upon current determinations.