Abstract: The low-lying structures of the midshell vg(9/2) Ni isotopes Ni-72 and Ni-74 have been investigated at the RIBF facility in RIKEN within the EURICA collaboration. Previously unobserved low-lying states were accessed for the first time following beta decay of the mother nuclei Co-72 and Co-74. As a result, we provide a complete picture in terms of the seniority scheme up to the first (8(+)) levels for both nuclei. The experimental results are compared to shell-model calculations in order to define to what extent the seniority quantum number is preserved in the first neutron g(9/2) shell. We find that the disappearance of the seniority isomerism in the (8(1)(+)) states can be explained by a lowering of the seniority-four (6(+)) levels as predicted years ago. For Ni-74, the internal de-excitation pattern of the newly observed (6(2)(+)) state supports a restoration of the normal seniority ordering up to spin J = 4. This property, unexplained by the shell-model calculations, is in agreement with a dominance of the single-particle spherical regime near Ni-78.

Abstract: A search for decays of B-c(+) mesons to two charm mesons is performed for the first time using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1), collected by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The decays considered are B-c(+)-> D-(s)(()*())(+) (D) over bar (()*()0) and Bc(+)-> D-(s)(()*D-)+(()*())(0), which are normalised to high-yield B+-> D-(s)(+)(D) over bar (0)decays. No evidence for a signal is found and limits are set on twelve B-c(+) decay modes.

Abstract: Given the strong variations in the sensitivity of Compton cameras for the detection of events originating from different points in the field of view (FoV), sensitivity correction is often necessary in Compton image reconstruction. Several approaches for the calculation of the sensitivity matrix have been proposed in the literature. While most of these models are easily implemented and can be useful in many cases, they usually assume high angular coverage over the scattered photon, which is not the case for our prototype. In this work, we have derived an analytical model that allows us to calculate a detailed sensitivity matrix, which has been compared to other sensitivity models in the literature. Specifically, the proposed model describes the probability of measuring a useful event in a two-plane Compton camera, including the most relevant physical processes involved. The model has been used to obtain an expression for the system and sensitivity matrices for iterative image reconstruction. These matrices have been validated taking Monte Carlo simulations as a reference. In order to study the impact of the sensitivity, images reconstructed with our sensitivity model and with other models have been compared. Images have been reconstructed from several simulated sources, including point-like sources and extended distributions of activity, and also from experimental data measured with Na-22 sources. Results show that our sensitivity model is the best suited for our prototype. Although other models in the literature perform successfully in many scenarios, they are not applicable in all the geometrical configurations of interest for our system. In general, our model allows to effectively recover the intensity of point-like sources at different positions in the FoV and to reconstruct regions of homogeneous activity with minimal variance. Moreover, it can be employed for all Compton camera configurations, including those with low angular coverage over the scatterer.

Abstract: In 1988 the NA31 experiment presented the first evidence of direct CP violation in the K-0 -> pi pi decay amplitudes. A clear signal with a 7.2 sigma statistical significance was later established with the full data samples from the NA31, E731, NA48 and KTeV experiments, confirming that CP violation is associated with a Delta S = 1 quark transition, as predicted by the Standard Model. However, the theoretical prediction for the measured ratio epsilon'/epsilon has been a subject of strong controversy along the years. Although the underlying physics was already clarified in 2001, the recent release of improved lattice data has revived again the theoretical debate. We review the current status, discussing in detail the different ingredients that enter into the calculation of this observable and the reasons why seemingly contradictory predictions were obtained in the past by several groups. An update of the Standard Model prediction is presented and the prospects for future improvements are analysed. Taking into account all known short-distance and long-distance contributions, one obtains Re (epsilon' / epsilon) = (15 +/- 7) . 10(-4), in good agreement with the experimental measurement.

Abstract: To study the properties of the N*(1535) and N*(1650), we calculate the mass distributions of MB in the Lambda(c) -> (K) over bar (MB)-M-0 decay, with MB = pi N(I = 1/2), eta p, and K Sigma(I = 1/2). We do this by calculating the tree-level and loop contributions, mixing pseudoscalar-baryon and vector-baryon channels using the local hidden gauge formalism. The loop contributions for each channel are calculated using the chiral unitary approach. We observe that for the eta N mass distribution only the N* (1535) is seen, with the N* (1650) contributing to the width of the curve, but for the pi N mass distribution both resonances are clearly visible. In the case of MB = K Sigma, we found that the strength of the K E mass distribution is smaller than that of the mass distributions of the pi N and eta p in the Lambda(+)(c)-> (K) over bar (0)pi N and Lambda(+)(c) -> (K) over bar (0)eta p processes, in spite of this channel having a large coupling to the N* (1650). This is because the K Sigma pair production is suppressed in the primary production from the Lambda(c) decay.