Abstract: Based on a sample of 500 million e(+)e(-) -> c (c) over bar events recorded by the BABAR detector at c. m. energies of close to 10.6 GeV, we report on a study of the decay D0 ->pi(-)e(+)nu(e). We measure the ratio of branching fractions, R-D = B(D-0 -> pi(-)e(+)nu(e))/beta(D-0 -> K-pi(+)) = 0.0713 +/- 0.0017(stat) +/- 0.0024(syst), and use the present world average for B(D-0 -> K-pi(+)) to obtain B(D-0 -> pi(-)e(+)nu e) = (2.770 +/- 0.068(stat) +/- 0.092(syst) +/- 0.037(ext)) x 10(-3) where the third error accounts for the uncertainty on the branching fraction for the reference channel. The measured dependence of the differential branching fraction on q(2), the four-momentum transfer squared between the D and the pi meson, is compared to various theoretical predictions for the hadronic form factor, f(+,D)(pi)(q(2)), and the normalization vertical bar V-cd vertical bar x f(+,D)(pi)(q(2) = 0) = 0.1374 +/- 0.0038(stat) +/- 0.0022(sys)t +/- 0.0009(ext). is extracted from a fit to data. Using the most recent LQCD prediction of f(+,D)(pi)(q(2) = 0) = 0.666 +/- 0.029, we obtain vertical bar V-cd vertical bar = 0.206 +/- 0.007(exp) +/- 0.009(LQCD). Assuming, instead, vertical bar V-cd vertical bar = vertical bar V-us vertical bar = 0.2252 +/- 0.0009, we obtain f(+,D)(pi)(q(2) = 0) = 0.610 +/- 0.020(exp) +/- 0.005(ext). The q(2) dependence of f(+,D)(pi)(q(2)) is compared to a variety of multipole parametrizations. This information is applied to B-0 -> pi(-)e(+)nu(e) decays and, combined with an earlier B-0 -> pi(-)e(+)nu(e) measurement by BABAR, is used to derive estimates of vertical bar V-ub vertical bar.

Abstract: We use the local hidden gauge approach in order to study the B (B) over bar* and B*(B) over bar* interactions for isospin I = 1. We show that both interactions via one light meson exchange are not allowed by the Okubo-ZweigIizuka rule and, for that reason, we calculate the contributions due to the exchange of two pions, interacting and noninteracting among themselves, and also due to the heavy vector mesons. Then, to compare all these contributions, we use the potential related to the heavy vector exchange as an effective potential corrected by a factor which takes into account the contribution of the other light meson exchanges. In order to look for poles, this effective potential is used as the kernel of the Bethe-Salpeter equation. As a result, for the B (B) over bar* interaction we find a loosely bound state with mass in the range 10587-10601 MeV, very close to the experimental value of the Z(b)(10610) reported by the Belle Collaboration. For the B*(B) over bar* case, we find a cusp at 10650 MeV for all spin J = 0, 1, 2 cases.

Abstract: In this paper we use two different but complementary approaches in order to study the ghost propagator of a pure SU(3) Yang-Mills theory quantized in the linear covariant gauges, focusing on its dependence on the gauge-fixing parameter xi in the deep infrared. In particular, we first solve the Schwinger-Dyson equation that governs the dynamics of the ghost propagator, using a set of simplifying approximations, and under the crucial assumption that the gluon propagators for xi > 0 are infrared finite, as is the case in the Landau gauge (xi = 0). Then we appeal to the Nielsen identities, and express the derivative of the ghost propagator with respect to xi in terms of certain auxiliary Green's functions, which are subsequently computed under the same assumptions as before. Within both formalisms we find that for xi > 0 the ghost dressing function approaches zero in the deep infrared, in sharp contrast to what happens in the Landau gauge, where it is known to saturate at a finite (nonvanishing) value. The Nielsen identities are then extended to the case of the gluon propagator, and the xi-dependence of the corresponding gluon masses is derived using as input the results obtained in the previous steps. The result turns out to be logarithmically divergent in the deep infrared; the compatibility of this behavior with the basic assumption of a finite gluon propagator is discussed, and a specific Ansatz is put forth, which readily reconciles both features.

Abstract: This paper provides results for the spectra of triply charmed and bottom baryons based on a constituent-quark model approach. We take advantage of the assumption that potential models are expected to describe triply heavy baryons to a similar degree of accuracy as the successful results obtained in the charmonium and bottomonium sectors. The high precision calculation of the ground state and positive and negative parity excited states recently reported by nonperturbative lattice QCD provides us with a unique opportunity to confront model predictions with the data. This comparison may also help to build a bridge between two difficult to reconcile lattice QCD results, namely, the lattice SU(3) QCD static three-quark potential and the recent results of nonperturbative lattice QCD for the triply heavy baryon spectra.

Abstract: In this work, we analyze two possible alternative and model-independent approaches to describe the inflationary period. The first one assumes a general equation of state during inflation due to Mukhanov, while the second one is based on the slow-roll hierarchy suggested by Hoffman and Turner. We find that, remarkably, the two approaches are equivalent from the observational viewpoint, as they single out the same areas in the parameter space, and agree with the inflationary attractors where successful inflation occurs. Rephrased in terms of the familiar picture of a slowly rolling, canonically normalized scalar field, the resulting inflaton excursions in these two approaches are almost identical. Furthermore, once the Galactic dust polarization data from Planck are included in the numerical fits, inflaton excursions can safely take sub-Planckian values.