BABAR Collaboration(Lees, J. P. et al), Martinez-Vidal, F., Oyanguren, A., & Villanueva-Perez, P. (2014). Search for a Dark Photon in e(+)e(-) Collisions at BABAR. Phys. Rev. Lett., 113(20), 201801–8pp.
Abstract: Dark sectors charged under a new Abelian interaction have recently received much attention in the context of dark matter models. These models introduce a light new mediator, the so-called dark photon (A'), connecting the dark sector to the standard model. We present a search for a dark photon in the reaction e(+)e(-) ->gamma A', A' -> e(+)e(-), mu(+) mu(-) using 514 fb(-1) of data collected with the BABAR detector. We observe no statistically significant deviations from the standard model predictions, and we set 90% confidence level upper limits on the mixing strength between the photon and dark photon at the level of 10(-4) – 10(-3) for dark photon masses in the range 0.02-10.2 GeV. We further constrain the range of the parameter space favored by interpretations of the discrepancy between the calculated and measured anomalous magnetic moment of the muon.
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Easther, R., Price, L. C., & Rasero, J. (2014). Inflating an inhomogeneous universe. J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys., 08(8), 041–16pp.
Abstract: While cosmological inflation can erase primordial inhomogeneities, it is possible that inflation may not begin in a significantly inhomogeneous universe. This issue is particularly pressing in multifield scenarios, where even the homogeneous dynamics may depend sensitively on the initial configuration. This paper presents an initial survey of the onset of inflation in multifield models, via qualitative lattice-based simulations that do not include local gravitational backreaction. Using hybrid inflation as a test model, our results suggest that small subhorizon inhomogeneities do play a key role in determining whether inflation begins in multifield scenarios. Interestingly, some configurations which do not inflate in the homogeneous limit “succeed” after inhomogeneity is included, while other initial configurations which inflate in the homogeneous limit “fail” when inhomogeneity is added.
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LHCb Collaboration(Aaij, R. et al), Martinez-Vidal, F., Oyanguren, A., Ruiz Valls, P., & Sanchez Mayordomo, C. (2014). Search for CP violation in D (+/-) -> (KSK +/-)-K-0 and D-s(+/-) -> K-S(0)pi(+/-) decays. J. High Energy Phys., 10(10), 025–19pp.
Abstract: A search for CP violation in Cabibbo-suppressed D (+/-) -> aEuro parts per thousand K (S) (0) K (+/-) and D (s) (+/-) -> aEuro parts per thousand K (S) (0) pi (+/-) decays is performed using pp collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb, recorded by the LHCb experiment. The individual CP-violating asymmetries are measured to be <Equation ID=“Equa”> <MediaObject> </MediaObject> </Equation> assuming that CP violation in the Cabibbo-favoured decays is negligible. A combination of the measured asymmetries for the four decay modes D ((s)) (+/-) -> aEuro parts per thousand K (S) (0) K (+/-) and D ((s)) (+/-) -> aEuro parts per thousand K (S) (0) pi (+/-) gives the sum <Equation ID=“Equb”> <MediaObject> </MediaObject> </Equation> In all cases, the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The results represent the most precise measurements of these asymmetries to date and show no evidence for CP violation.
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Odintsov, S. D., Olmo, G. J., & Rubiera-Garcia, D. (2014). Born-Infeld gravity and its functional extensions. Phys. Rev. D, 90(4), 044003–8pp.
Abstract: We investigate the dynamics of a family of functional extensions of the (Eddington-inspired) Born-Infeld gravity theory, constructed with the inverse of the metric and the Ricci tensor. We provide a generic formal solution for the connection and an Einstein-like representation for the metric field equations of this family of theories. For particular cases we consider applications to the early-time cosmology and find that nonsingular universes with a cosmic bounce are very generic and robust solutions.
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ATLAS Collaboration(Aad, G. et al), Cabrera Urban, S., Castillo Gimenez, V., Costa, M. J., Fassi, F., Ferrer, A., et al. (2014). Search for direct pair production of the top squark in all-hadronic final states in proton-proton collisions at root s=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector. J. High Energy Phys., 09(9), 015–51pp.
Abstract: The results of a search for direct pair production of the scalar partner to the top quark using an integrated luminosity of 20.1 fb(-1) of proton-proton collision data at = 8 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC are reported. The top squark is assumed to decay via or , where denotes the lightest neutralino (chargino) in supersymmetric models. The search targets a fully-hadronic final state in events with four or more jets and large missing transverse momentum. No significant excess over the Standard Model background prediction is observed, and exclusion limits are reported in terms of the top squark and neutralino masses and as a function of the branching fraction of . For a branching fraction of 100%, top squark masses in the range 270-645 GeV are excluded for masses below 30 GeV. For a branching fraction of 50% to either or , and assuming the mass to be twice the mass, top squark masses in the range 250-550 GeV are excluded for masses below 60 GeV.
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ATLAS Collaboration(Aad, G. et al), Cabrera Urban, S., Castillo Gimenez, V., Costa, M. J., Fassi, F., Ferrer, A., et al. (2014). Measurement of the underlying event in jet events from 7 proton-proton collisions with the ATLAS detector. Eur. Phys. J. C, 74(8), 2965–29pp.
Abstract: Distributions sensitive to the underlying event in QCD jet events have been measured with the ATLAS detector at the LHC, based on of proton-proton collision data collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 . Charged-particle mean and densities of all-particle and charged-particle multiplicity and have been measured in regions azimuthally transverse to the hardest jet in each event. These are presented both as one-dimensional distributions and with their mean values as functions of the leading-jet transverse momentum from 20 to 800 . The correlation of charged-particle mean with charged-particle multiplicity is also studied, and the densities include the forward rapidity region; these features provide extra data constraints for Monte Carlo modelling of colour reconnection and beam-remnant effects respectively. For the first time, underlying event observables have been computed separately for inclusive jet and exclusive dijet event selections, allowing more detailed study of the interplay of multiple partonic scattering and QCD radiation contributions to the underlying event. Comparisons to the predictions of different Monte Carlo models show a need for further model tuning, but the standard approach is found to generally reproduce the features of the underlying event in both types of event selection.
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ATLAS Collaboration(Aad, G. et al), Cabrera Urban, S., Castillo Gimenez, V., Costa, M. J., Fassi, F., Ferrer, A., et al. (2014). Search for squarks and gluinos with the ATLAS detector in final states with jets and missing transverse momentum using root s=8 TeV proton-proton collision data. J. High Energy Phys., 09(9), 176–52pp.
Abstract: A search for squarks and gluinos in final states containing high-pT jets, missing transverse momentum and no electrons or muons is presented. The data were recorded in 2012 by the ATLAS experiment in root s = 8 TeV proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider, with a total integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb(-1). Results are interpreted in a variety of simplified and specific supersymmetry-breaking models assuming that R-parity is conserved and that the lightest neutralino is the lightest supersymmetric particle. An exclusion limit at the 95% confidence level on the mass of the gluino is set at 1330 GeV for a simplified model incorporating only a gluino and the lightest neutralino. For a simplified model involving the strong production of first- and second-generation squarks, squark masses below 850 GeV (440 GeV) are excluded for a massless lightest neutralino, assuming mass degenerate ( single light-flavour) squarks. In mSUGRA/CMSSM models with tan beta = 30, A(0) = -2m(0) and μ> 0, squarks and gluinos of equal mass are excluded for masses below 1700 GeV. Additional limits are set for non-universal Higgs mass models with gaugino mediation and for simplified models involving the pair production of gluinos, each decaying to a top squark and a top quark, with the top squark decaying to a charm quark and a neutralino. These limits extend the region of supersymmetric parameter space excluded by previous searches with the ATLAS detector.
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MoEDAL Collaboration(Acharya, B. et al), Bernabeu, J., Garcia, C., King, M., Mitsou, V. A., Vento, V., et al. (2014). The physics programme of the MoEDAL experiment at the LHC. Int. J. Mod. Phys. A, 29(23), 1430050–91pp.
Abstract: The MoEDAL experiment at Point 8 of the LHC ring is the seventh and newest LHC experiment. It is dedicated to the search for highly-ionizing particle avatars of physics beyond the Standard Model, extending significantly the discovery horizon of the LHC. A MoEDAL discovery would have revolutionary implications for our fundamental understanding of the Microcosm. MoEDAL is an unconventional and largely passive LHC detector comprised of the largest array of Nuclear Track Detector stacks ever deployed at an accelerator, surrounding the intersection region at Point 8 on the LHC ring. Another novel feature is the use of paramagnetic trapping volumes to capture both electrically and magnetically charged highly-ionizing particles predicted in new physics scenarios. It includes an array of TimePix pixel devices for monitoring highly-ionizing particle backgrounds. The main passive elements of the MoEDAL detector do not require a trigger system, electronic readout, or online computerized data acquisition. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the MoEDAL physics reach, which is largely complementary to the programs of the large multipurpose LHC detectors ATLAS and CMS.
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Pallis, C., & Shafi, Q. (2014). From hybrid to quadratic inflation with high-scale supersymmetry breaking. Phys. Lett. B, 736, 261–266.
Abstract: Motivated by the reported discovery of inflationary gravity waves by the BICEP2 experiment, we propose an inflationary scenario in supergravity, based on the standard superpotential used in hybrid inflation. The new model yields a tensor-to-scalar ratio r similar or equal to 0.14 and scalar spectral index n(s) similar or equal to 0.964, corresponding to quadratic (chaotic) inflation. The important new ingredients are the high-scale, (1.6-10) . 10(13) GeV, soft supersymmetry breaking mass for the gauge singlet inflaton field and a shift symmetry imposed on the Kahler potential. The end of inflation is accompanied, as in the earlier hybrid inflation models, by the breaking of a gauge symmetry at (1.2-7.1) . 10(16) GeV, comparable to the grand-unification scale.
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Forero, D. V., Tortola, M., & Valle, J. W. F. (2014). Neutrino oscillations refitted. Phys. Rev. D, 90(9), 093006–10pp.
Abstract: Here, we update our previous global fit of neutrino oscillations by including the recent results that have appeared since the Neutrino 2012 conference. These include the measurements of reactor antineutrino disappearance reported by Daya Bay and RENO, together with latest T2K and MINOS data including both disappearance and appearance channels. We also include the revised results from the third solar phase of Super-Kamiokande, SK-III, as well as new solar results from the fourth phase of Super-Kamiokande, SK-IV. We find that the preferred global determination of the atmospheric angle theta(23) is consistent with maximal mixing. We also determine the impact of the new data upon all the other neutrino oscillation parameters with an emphasis on the increasing sensitivity to the CP phase, thanks to the interplay between accelerator and reactor data. In the Appendix, we present the updated results obtained after the inclusion of new reactor data presented at the Neutrino 2014 conference. We discuss their impact on the global neutrino analysis.
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