Abstract: The ANTARES experiment consists of an array of photomultipliers distributed along 12 lines and located deep underwater in the Mediterranean Sea. It searches for astrophysical neutrinos collecting the Cherenkov light induced by the charged particles, mainly muons, produced in neutrino interactions around the detector. Since at energies of similar to 10 TeV the muon and the incident neutrino are almost collinear, it is possible to use the ANTARES detector as a neutrino telescope and identify a source of neutrinos in the sky starting from a precise reconstruction of the muon trajectory. To get this result, the arrival times of the Cherenkov photons must be accurately measured. A to perform time calibrations with the precision required to have optimal performances of the instrument is described. The reconstructed tracks of the atmospheric muons in the ANTARES detector are used to determine the relative time offsets between photomultipliers. Currently, this method is used to obtain the time calibration constants for photomultipliers on different lines at a precision level of 0.5 ns. It has also been validated for calibrating photomultipliers on the same line, using a system of LEDs and laser light devices.

Abstract: The DO Collaboration has recently seen a resonant-like peak in the B-s pi invariant mass spectrum, claimed to be a new state called X(5568). Using a B-s pi-B (K) over bar coupled channel analysis, implementing unitarity, and with the interaction derived from Heavy Meson Chiral Perturbation Theory, we are able to reproduce the reported spectrum, with a pole that can be associated to the claimed X(5568) state, and with mass and width in agreement with the ones reported in the experimental analysis. However, if the T-matrix regularization is performed by means of a momentum cutoff, the value for the latter needed to reproduce the spectrum is Lambda = 2.80 +/- 0.04 GeV, which is much larger than a “natural” value Lambda similar or equal to 1 GeV. In view of this, it is difficult to interpret the nature of this new state. This state would not qualify as a resonance dynamically generated by the unitarity loops. Assuming the observed peak to correspond to a physical state, we make predictions for partners in the D, D*, and B* sectors. Their observation (or lack thereof) would shed light into this issue.

Abstract: The newly built second experimental area EAR2 of then n_ToF spallation neutron source at CERN allows to perform (n, charged particles) experiments on short-lived highly radioactive targets. This paper describes a detection apparatus and the experimental procedure for the determination of the cross-section of the Be-7(n,alpha)alpha reaction, which represents one of the focal points toward the solution of the cosmological Lithium abundance problem, and whose only measurement, at thermal energy, dates back to 1963. The apparently unsurmountable experimental difficulties stemming from the huge Be-7 gamma-activity, along with the lack of a suitable neutron beam facility, had so far prevented further measurements. The detection system is subject to considerable radiation damage, but is capable of disentangling the rare reaction signals from the very high background. This newly developed setup could likely be useful also to study other challenging reactions requiring the detectors to be installed directly in the neutron beam.