Abstract: We compute the real and imaginary parts of the one-loop electroweak contributions to the left and right tensorial anomalous couplings of the tbW vertex in the Standard Model (SM). For both tensorial couplings we find that the real part of the electroweak SM correction is close to 10% of the leading contribution given by the QCD gluon exchange. We also find that the electroweak real and imaginary parts for the anomalous right coupling are almost of the same order of magnitude. The one loop SM prediction for the real part of the left coupling is close to the 3 sigma discovery limit derived from b -> s gamma. Besides, taking into account that the predictions of new physics interactions are also at the level of a few percents when compared with the one loop QCD gluon exchange, these electroweak corrections should be taken into account in order to disentangle new physics effects from the standard ones. These anomalous tensorial couplings of the top quark will be investigated at the LHC in the near future where sensitivity to these contributions may be achieved.

Abstract: We study the constraints imposed by neutrino oscillation experiments on the minimal extensions of the Standard Model (SM) with n(R) gauge singlet fermions (“right-handed neutrinos”), that can account for neutrino masses. We consider the most general coupling of the new fields to the SM fields, in particular those that break lepton number and we do not assume any a priori hierarchy in the mass parameters. We proceed to analyze these models starting from the lowest level of complexity, defined by the number of extra fermionic degrees of freedom. The simplest choice that has enough free parameters in principle (i.e. two mass differences and two angles) to explain the confirmed solar and atmospheric oscillations corresponds to n(R) = 1. This minimal choice is shown to be excluded by data. The next-to-minimal choice corresponds to n(R) = 2. We perform a systematic study of the full parameter space in the limit of degenerate Majorana masses by requiring that at least two neutrino mass differences correspond to those established by solar and atmospheric oscillations. We identify several types of spectra that can fit long-baseline reactor and accelerator neutrino oscillation data, but fail in explaining solar and/or atmospheric data. The only two solutions that survive are the expected seesaw and quasi-Dirac regions, for which we set lower and upper bounds respectively on the Majorana mass scale. Solar data from neutral current measurements provide essential information to constrain the quasi-Dirac region. The possibility to accommodate the LSND/MiniBoone and reactor anomalies, and the implications for neutrinoless double-beta decay and tritium beta decay are briefly discussed.

Abstract: We discuss the possibility and the description of bound states between B and (B) over bar* mesons. We argue that the existence of such a bound state can be deduced from (i) the weakly bound X(3872) state, (ii) certain assumptions about the short-range dynamics of the D (D) over bar* system and (iii) heavy quark symmetry. From these assumptions the binding energy of the possible B (B) over bar* bound states is determined, first in a theory containing only contact interactions which serves as a straightforward illustration of the method, and then the effects of including the one-pion exchange potential are discussed. In this latter case three isoscalar states are predicted: a positive and negative C-parity (3)S(1) – (3)D(1) state with a binding energy of 20 MeV and 6 MeV below threshold, respectively, and a positive C-parity (3)P(0) shallow state located almost at the B (B) over bar* threshold. However, large uncertainties are generated as a consequence of the 1/m(Q) corrections from heavy quark symmetry. Finally, the newly discovered isovector Z(b)(10610) state can be easily accommodated within the present framework by a minor modification of the short-range dynamics.

Abstract: Lifetimes of the 9/2(1)(-) and 3/2(1)(-) states in Co-63 and the 9/2(1)(-) state in Co-65 were measured using the recoil distance Doppler shift and the differential decay curve methods. The nuclei were populated by multinucleon transfer reactions in inverse kinematics. gamma rays were measured with the EXOGAM Ge array and the recoiling fragments were fully identified using the large-acceptance VAMOS spectrometer. The E2 transition probabilities from the 3/2(1)(-) and 9/2(1)(-) states to the 7/2(-) ground state could be extracted in Co-63 as well as an upper limit for the 9/2(1)(-) -> 7/2(1)(-) B(E2) value in Co-65. The experimental results were compared to large-scale shell-model calculations in the pf and pfg(9/2) model spaces, allowing us to draw conclusions on the single-particle or collective nature of the various states.

Abstract: A recent study of gamma-ray data from the Galactic center motivates the investigation of light (similar to 7-10 GeV) particle dark matter models featuring tau-lepton pairs as dominant annihilation final state. The lepton-specific two-Higgs-doublet model provides a natural framework where light, singlet scalar dark matter can pair-annihilate dominantly into tau leptons. We calculate the nucleon-dark matter cross section for singlet scalar dark matter within the lepton-specific two-Higgs-doublet model framework, and compare with recent results from direct detection experiments. We study how direct dark matter searches can be used to constrain the dark matter interpretation of gamma-ray observations, for different dominant annihilation final states. We show that models exist with the correct thermal relic abundance that could fit the claimed gamma-ray excess from the Galactic center region and have direct detection cross sections of the order of what is needed to interpret recent anomalous events reported by direct detection experiments.