Abstract: We explore the effects of three-loop minimal supersymmetric standard model renormalisation group equation terms and some leading two-loop threshold corrections on gauge and Yukawa unification: each being one loop higher order than current public spectrum calculators. We also explore the effect of the higher order terms (often 2-3 GeV) on the lightest CP even Higgs mass prediction. We illustrate our results in the constrained minimal supersymmetric standard model. Neglecting threshold corrections at the grand unified scale, the discrepancy between the unification scale alpha(s) and the other two unified gauge couplings changes by 0.1% due to the higher order corrections and the difference between unification scale bottom-tau Yukawa couplings neglecting unification scale threshold corrections changes by up to 1%. The difference between unification scale bottom and top Yukawa couplings changes by a few percent. Differences due to the higher order corrections also give an estimate of the size of theoretical uncertainties in the minimal supersymmetric standard model spectrum. We use these to provide estimates of theoretical uncertainties in predictions of the dark matter relic density (which can be of order one due to its strong dependence on sparticle masses) and the LHC sparticle production cross-section (often around 30%). The additional higher order corrections have been incorporated into SOFTSUSY, and we provide details on how to compile and use the program. We also provide a summary of the approximations used in the higher order corrections. Program Summary Nature of problem: Calculating supersymmetric particle spectrum and mixing parameters in the minimal supersymmetric standard model. The solution to the renormalisation group equations must be consistent with boundary conditions on supersymmetry breaking parameters, as well as the weak-scale boundary condition on gauge couplings, Yukawa couplings and the Higgs potential parameters. Program title: SOFTSUSY Catalogue identifier: ADPMv50 Program summary URL: http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/ADPMv50.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.html No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 240528 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 2597933 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: C++, Fortran. Computer: Personal computer. Operating system: Tested on Linux 3.4.6. Word size: 64 bits. Classification: 11.1, 11.6. External routines: At least GiNaC1.3.5 [1] and CLN1.3.1 (both freely obtainable from http://www.ginac.de). Does the new version supersede the previous version?: Yes Catalogue identifier of previous version: ADPMv40 Journal reference of previous version: Comput. Phys. Comm. 185 (2014) 2322 Solution method: Nested iterative algorithm. Reasons for new version: Extension to include additional two and three-loop terms. Summary of revisions: All quantities in the minimal supersymmetric standard model are extended to have three-loop renormalisation group equations (including 3-family mixing) in the limit of real parameters and some leading two-loop threshold corrections are incorporated to the third family Yukawa couplings and the strong gauge coupling. Restrictions: SOFTSUSY will provide a solution only in the perturbative regime and it assumes that all couplings of the model are real (i.e. CP-conserving). If the parameter point under investigation is non-physical for some reason (for example because the electroweak potential does not have an acceptable minimum), SOFTSUSY returns an error message. The higher order corrections included are for the real R-parity conserving minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) only. Running time: A minute per parameter point. The tests provided with the package only take a few seconds to run.

Abstract: An explicit evaluation of the double parton distribution functions (dPDFs), within a relativistic Light-Front approach to constituent quark models, is presented. dPDFs encode information on the correlations between two partons inside a target and represent the non-perturbative QCD ingredient for the description of double parton scattering in proton-proton collisions, a crucial issue in the search of new Physics at the LHC. Valence dPDFs are evaluated at the low scale of the model and the perturbative scale of the experiments is reached by means of QCD evolution. The present results show that the strong correlation effects present at the scale of the model are still sizable, in the valence region, at the experimental scale. At the low values of x presently studied at the LHC the correlations become less relevant, although they are still important for the spin-dependent contributions to unpolarized proton scattering.

Abstract: The “Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon Time-Projection Chamber” (NEXT) is intended to investigate the neutrinoless double beta decay of Xe-136, which requires a severe suppression of potential backgrounds; therefore, an extensive screening and selection process is underway to control the radiopurity levels of the materials to be used in the experimental set-up of NEXT. The detector design combines the measurement of the topological signature of the event for background discrimination with the energy resolution optimization. Separate energy and tracking readout planes are based on different sensors: photomultiplier tubes for calorimetry and silicon multi-pixel photon counters for tracking. The design of a radiopure tracking plane, in direct contact with the gas detector medium, was specially challenging since the needed components like printed circuit boards, connectors, sensors or capacitors have typically, according to available information in databases and in the literature, activities too large for experiments requiring ultra-low background conditions. Here, the radiopurity assessment of tracking readout components based on gamma-ray spectroscopy using ultra-low background germanium detectors at the Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc (Spain) is described. According to the obtained results, radiopure enough printed circuit boards made of kapton and copper, silicon photomultipliers and other required components, fulfilling the requirement of an overall background level in the region of interest of at most 8 x 10(-4) counts keV(-1) kg(-1) y(-1), have been identified.

Abstract: The LHCb detector is a forward spectrometer at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. The experiment is designed for precision measurements of CP violation and rare decays of beauty and charm hadrons. In this paper the performance of the various LHCb sub-detectors and the trigger system are described, using data taken from 2010 to 2012. It is shown that the design criteria of the experiment have been met. The excellent performance of the detector has allowed the LHCb collaboration to publish a wide range of physics results, demonstrating LHCb's unique role, both as a heavy flavour experiment and as a general purpose detector in the forward region.

Abstract: A study is presented of central exclusive production of gamma(n S) states, where the gamma (n S) resonances decay to the mu(+) mu(-) final state, using p p collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment. The cross-section is measured in the rapidity range 2 < y (gamma) < 4.5 where the muons are reconstructed in the pseudorapidity range 2 < eta (mu(+/-)) < 4.5. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 2.9 fb(-1) and was collected at centreof- mass energies of 7TeV and 8TeV. The measured gamma(1 S) and gamma(2 S) production crosssections are sigma(pp -> p gamma(1S)p) = 9.0 +/- 1.7 pb and sigma(pp -> p gamma(2S)p) = 1.3 +/- 0.3 pb, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. The gamma (1S) cross-section is also measured as a function of rapidity and is found to be in good agreement with Standard Model predictions. An upper limit is set at 3.4 pb at the 95% confidence level for the exclusive gamma(3 S) production cross-section, including possible contamination from chi b (3P) -> gamma (3S)gamma decays.