Mauro, S., Balbinot, R., Fabbri, A., & Shapiro, I. L. (2015). Fourth derivative gravity in the auxiliary fields representation and application to the black-hole stability. Eur. Phys. J. Plus, 130(7), 135–8pp.
Abstract: We consider an auxiliary fields formulation for the general fourth-order gravity on an arbitrary curved background. The case of a Ricci-flat background is elaborated in detail and it is shown that there is an equivalence with the standard metric formulation. At the same time, using auxiliary fields helps to make perturbations to look simpler and the results clearer. As an application we reconsider the linear perturbations for the classical Schwarzschild solution. We also briefly discuss the relation to the effect of massive unphysical ghosts in the theory.
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Matsubara, H. et al, & Rubio, B. (2015). Nonquenched Isoscalar Spin-M1 Excitations in sd-Shell Nuclei. Phys. Rev. Lett., 115(10), 102501–6pp.
Abstract: Differential cross sections of isoscalar and isovector spin-M1 (0(+) -> 1(+)) transitions are measured using high-energy-resolution proton inelastic scattering at E-p = 295 MeV on Mg-24, Si-28, S-32, and Ar-36 at 0 degrees-14 degrees. The squared spin-M1 nuclear transition matrix elements are deduced from the measured differential cross sections by applying empirically determined unit cross sections based on the assumption of isospin symmetry. The ratios of the squared nuclear matrix elements accumulated up to E-x = 16 MeV compared to a shell-model prediction are 1.01(9) for isoscalar and 0.61(6) for isovector spin-M1 transitions, respectively. Thus, no quenching is observed for isoscalar spin-M1 transitions, while the matrix elements for isovector spin-M1 transitions are quenched by an amount comparable with the analogous Gamow-Teller transitions on those target nuclei.
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Martinez Torres, A., Oset, E., Prelovsek, S., & Ramos, A. (2015). Reanalysis of lattice QCD spectra leading to the Ds0*(2317) and Ds1*(2460). J. High Energy Phys., 05(5), 153–22pp.
Abstract: We perform a reanalysis of the energy levels obtained in a recent lattice QCD simulation, from where the existence of bound states of KD and KD* are induced and identified with the narrow D-s0*(2317) and D-s1*(2460) resonances. The reanalysis is done in terms of an auxiliary potential, employing a single-channel basis KD(*()), and a two-channel basis KD(*()), eta D-s(()*()). By means of an extended Luscher method we determine poles of the continuum t-matrix, bound by about 40 MeV with respect to the KD and KD* thresholds, which we identify with the D-s0*(2317) and D-s1*(2460) resonances. Using a sum rule that reformulates Weinberg compositeness condition we can determine that the state D-s0*(2317) contains a KD component in an amount of about 70%, while the state D-s1*(2460) contains a similar amount of KD*. We argue that the present lattice simulation results do not still allow us to determine which are the missing channels in the bound state wave functions and we discuss the necessary information that can lead to answer this question.
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Maiezza, A., Nemevsek, M., & Nesti, F. (2015). Lepton Number Violation in Higgs Decay at LHC. Phys. Rev. Lett., 115(8), 081802–7pp.
Abstract: We show that within the left-right symmetric model, lepton number violating decays of the Higgs boson can be discovered at the LHC. The process is due to the mixing of the Higgs boson with the triplet that breaks parity. As a result, the Higgs boson can act as a gateway to the origin of the heavy Majorana neutrino mass. To assess the LHC reach, a detailed collider study of the same-sign dileptons plus jets channel is provided. This process is complementary to the existing nuclear and collider searches for lepton number violation and can probe the scale of parity restoration even beyond other direct searches.
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Lorusso, G. et al, & Montaner-Piza, A. (2015). beta-Decay Half-Lives of 110 Neutron-Rich Nuclei across the N=82 Shell Gap: Implications for the Mechanism and Universality of the Astrophysical r Process. Phys. Rev. Lett., 114(19), 192501–7pp.
Abstract: The beta-decay half-lives of 110 neutron-rich isotopes of the elements from 37 Rb to 50 Sn were measured at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. The 40 new half-lives follow robust systematics and highlight the persistence of shell effects. The new data have direct implications for r-process calculations and reinforce the notion that the second (A approximate to 130) and the rare-earth-element (A approximate to 160) abundance peaks may result from the freeze-out of an (n, gamma) reversible arrow (gamma, n) equilibrium. In such an equilibrium, the new half-lives are important factors determining the abundance of rare-earth elements, and allow for a more reliable discussion of the r process universality. It is anticipated that universality may not extend to the elements Sn, Sb, I, and Cs, making the detection of these elements in metal-poor stars of the utmost importance to determine the exact conditions of individual r-process events.
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Lobo, F. S. N., Olmo, G. J., & Rubiera-Garcia, D. (2015). Crystal clear lessons on the microstructure of spacetime and modified gravity. Phys. Rev. D, 91(12), 124001–7pp.
Abstract: We argue that a microscopic structure for spacetime such as that expected in a quantum foam scenario, in which microscopic wormholes and other topological structures should play a relevant role, might lead to an effective metric-affine geometry at larger scales. This idea is supported by the role that microscopic defects play in crystalline structures. With an explicit model, we show that wormhole formation is possible in a metric-affine scenario, where the wormhole and the matter fields play a role analogous to that of defects in crystals. Such wormholes also arise in Born-Infeld gravity, which is favored by an analogy with the estimated mass of a point defect in condensed matter systems. We also point out that in metric-affine geometries, Einstein's equations with an effective cosmological constant appear as an attractor in the vacuum limit for a vast family of theories of gravity. This illustrates how lessons from solid state physics can be useful in unveiling the properties of the microcosmos and defining new avenues for modified theories of gravity.
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Llosa, G. (2015). Recent developments in photodetection for medical applications. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 787, 353–357.
Abstract: The use of the most advanced technology in medical imaging results in the development of high performance detectors that can significantly improve the performance of the medical devices employed in hospitals. Scintillator crystals coupled to photodetectors remain to be essential detectors in terms of performance and cost for medical imaging applications in different imaging modalities. Recent advances in photodetectors result in an increase of the performance of the medical scanners. Solid state detectors can provide substantial performance improvement, but are more complex to integrate into clinical detectors due mainly to their higher cost. Solid state photodetectors (APDs, SiPMs) have made new detector concepts possible and have led to improvements in different imaging modalities. Recent advances in detectors for medical imaging are revised.
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Liang, W. H., Xie, J. J., & Oset, E. (2015). (B)over-bar(0) decay into D-0 and f(0)(500), f(0)(980), a(0)(980), rho and (B)over-bar(s)(0) decay into D-0 and kappa(800), K*(0). Phys. Rev. D, 92(3), 034008–9pp.
Abstract: We make predictions for ratios of branching fractions of (B) over bar (0) decays into D-0 and the scalar mesons f(0)(500), f(0)(980), a(0)(980), plus (B) over bar (0)(s) decay into D-0 and kappa(800). We also compare the pi(+)pi(-) production in the scalar channel with that observed in the rho channel and make predictions for the (B) over bar (0)(s) decay into D-0 and K*(892), comparing the strength of this channel with that of kappa(800) production. The work is based on results of the chiral unitary approach where the scalar resonances are generated from the pseudoscalar-pseudoscalar interaction. Up to an arbitrary normalization, the mass distributions and rates for decays into the scalar resonances are predicted with no free parameters. Comparison with experimental data is done when available.
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Liang, W. H., Xie, J. J., & Oset, E. (2015). (B)over-bar(0), B- and (B)over-bar(S)(0) decays into J/psi and K (K)over-bar or pi eta. Eur. Phys. J. C, 75(12), 609–8pp.
Abstract: We study the (B) over bar (0)(S) -> J/psi K+ K-, (B) over bar (0) -> J/psi K+ K, B- -> J/psi K+ K-, (B) over bar (0) -> J/psi pi(0)eta(-), decays and compare their mass distributions with those obtained for the (B) over bar (0)(S) -> J/psi pi(+) pi(-) and (B) over bar (0)(S) -> J/psi pi(+)pi(-). The approach followed consist in a factorization of the weak part and the hadronization part into a factor which is common to all the processes. Then what makes the reactions different are some trivial CabibboKobayashi- Maskawa matrix elements and the weight by which the different pairs of mesons appear in a primary step plus their final state interaction. These elements are part of the theory and thus, up to a global normalization factor, all the invariant mass distributions are predicted with no free parameters. Comparison is made with the limited experimental information available. Further comparison of these results with coming LHCb measurements will be very valuable to make progress in our understanding of the meson- meson interaction and the nature of the low lying scalar meson resonances, f(0)(500), f(0)( 980) and a(0)(980).
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Liang, W. H., Uchino, T., Xiao, C. W., & Oset, E. (2015). Baryon states with open charm in the extended local hidden gauge approach. Eur. Phys. J. A, 51(2), 16–14pp.
Abstract: In this paper we examine the interaction of DN and D* N states, together with their coupled channels, by using an extension of the local hidden gauge formalism from the light meson sector, which is based on heavy quark spin symmetry. The scheme is based on the use of the impulse approximation at the quark level, with the heavy quarks acting as spectators, which occurs for the dominant terms where there is the exchange of a light meson. The pion exchange and the Weinberg-Tomozawa interactions are generalized and with this dynamics we look for states generated from the interaction, with a unitary coupled channels approach that mixes the pseudoscalar-baryon and vector-baryon states. We find two states with nearly zero width, which are associated to the I > (c) (2595) and I > (c) (2625). The lower state, with J (P) = 1/2(-), couples to DN and D* N, and the second one, with J (P) = 3/2(-), to D* N. In addition to these two I > (c) states, we find four more states with I = 0, one of them nearly degenerate in two states of J (P) = 1/2, 3/2. Furthermore we find three states in I = 1, two of them degenerate in J = 1/2, 3/2.
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