Abstract: One of the fundamental parameters entering the neutrino oscillation framework is the leptonic CP phase delta(13), and its measurement is an important goal of the planned long baseline experiments. It should be noted that ordinary matter effects complicate the determination of this parameter, and there are studies in the literature that deal with separation of intrinsic vs extrinsic CP violation. It is important to investigate the consequences of new physics effects that can not only hamper the measurement of delta(13) but also impact the consequences of discrete symmetries such as CP, T, and unitarity in different oscillation channels. In the present work, we explore these discrete symmetries and implications on unitarity in the presence of two new physics scenarios (nonstandard interaction in propagation and the presence of sterile neutrinos) that serve as good examples of going beyond the standard scenario in different directions. We uncover the impact of new physics scenarios on disentangling intrinsic and extrinsic CP violation.

Abstract: A Rn-220 source is deployed on the XENON100 dark matter detector in order to address the challenges in calibration of tonne-scale liquid noble element detectors. We show that the Pb-212 beta emission can be used for low-energy electronic recoil calibration in searches for dark matter. The isotope spreads throughout the entire active region of the detector, and its activity naturally decays below background level within a week after the source is closed. We find no increase in the activity of the troublesome Rn-222 background after calibration. Alpha emitters are also distributed throughout the detector and facilitate calibration of its response to Rn-222. Using the delayed coincidence of Rn-220-Po-216, we map for the first time the convective motion of particles in the XENON100 detector. Additionally, we make a competitive measurement of the half-life of Po-212, t(1/2) = (293.9 +/- (1.0)(stat) +/- (0.6)(sys)) ns.

Abstract: We study the processes e(+)e(-) -> gamma ISRJ (/) (psi), where J / psi pi(+)pi(-) pi(0), J / psi -> K+K-pi(0), and J / psi -> (KSK +/-)-K-0 pi(-/+) using a data sample of 519 fb(-1) recorded with the BABAR detector operating at the SLAC PEP-II asymmetric-energy e(+) e(-) collider at center-of-mass energies at and near the Y(nS) (n = 2, 3, 4) resonances. We measure the ratio of branching fractions R-1 = B(J / psi -> K+K-pi(0))/B(J / psi ->pi(+)pi(-)pi(0)) and R-2 = B(J / psi -> K-S(0) K-+/- p(-/+))/B(J / psi ->pi(+)pi(-)pi(0)). We perform Dalitz plot analyses of the three J / psi decay modes and measure fractions for resonances contributing to the decays. We also analyze the J /psi -> pi(+)pi(-)pi(0) decay using the Veneziano model. We observe structures compatible with the presence of rho(1450) in all three J / psi decay modes and measure the relative branching fraction: R(rho(1450)) = B(rho(1450)-> K+K-)/B(rho(1450)->pi(+)pi(-)) = 0.307 +/- 0.084(stat) +/- 0.082(sys).

Abstract: We extend the adiabatic regularization method for an expanding universe to include the Yukawa interaction between quantized Dirac fermions and a homogeneous background scalar field. We give explicit expressions for the renormalized expectation values of the stress-energy tensor < T-mu nu > and the bilinear <(psi) over bar psi > in a spatially flat Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) spacetime. These are basic ingredients in the semiclassical field equations of fermionic matter in curved spacetime interacting with a background scalar field. The ultraviolet subtracting terms of the adiabatic regularization can be naturally interpreted as coming from appropriate counterterms of the background fields. We fix the required covariant counterterms. To test our approach we determine the contribution of the Yukawa interaction to the conformal anomaly in the massless limit and show its consistency with the heat-kernel method using the effective action.

Abstract: Semileptonic b -> c transitions, and in particular the ratios R(D-(*())) = Gamma(B -> D-(*())tau nu)/Gamma(B -> D-(*())l nu), can be used to test the universality of the weak interactions. In light of the recent discrepancies between the experimental measurements of these observables by the BABAR, Belle, and LHCb collaborations and the Standard Model predicted values, we study the robustness of the latter. Our analysis reveals that R(D) might be enhanced by lepton mass effects associated to the mostly unknown scalar form factor. In contrast, the Standard Model prediction for R(D*) is found to be more robust, because possible pollutions from B* contributions turn out to be negligibly small; this indicates that R(D) is a promising observable for searches of new physics.