Abstract: We discuss some general and relevant features of longitudinal gravitational modes in Horndeski gravity and their interaction with matter media. Adopting a gauge-invariant formulation, we clarify how massive scalar and vector fields can induce additional transverse and longitudinal excitations, resulting in breathing, vector, and longitudinal polarizations. We review, then, the interaction of standard gravitational waves with a molecular medium, outlining the emergence of effective massive gravitons, induced by the net quadrupole moment due to molecule deformation. Finally, we investigate the interaction of the massive mode in Horndeski gravity with a noncollisional medium, showing that Landau damping phenomenon can occur in the gravitational sector as well. That allows us to introduce the concept of “gravitational plasma”, where inertial forces associated with the background field play the role of cold ions in electromagnetic plasma.

Abstract: The beta decay of the neutron-rich In-134 and In-135 was investigated experimentally in order to provide new insights into the nuclear structure of the tin isotopes with magic proton number Z = 50 above the N = 82 shell. The beta-delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy measurement was performed at the ISOLDE facility at CERN, where indium isotopes were selectively laser-ionized and on-line mass separated. Three beta-decay branches of In-134 were established, two of which were observed for the first time. Population of neutron-unbound states decaying via gamma rays was identified in the two daughter nuclei of In-134, Sn-134 and Sn-133, at excitation energies exceeding the neutron separation energy by 1 MeV. The beta-delayed one-and two-neutron emission branching ratios of In-134 were determined and compared with theoretical calculations. The beta-delayed one-neutron decay was observed to be dominant beta-decay branch of In-134 even though the Gamow-Teller resonance is located substantially above the two-neutron separation energy of Sn-134. Transitions following the beta decay of In-135 are reported for the first time, including gamma rays tentatively attributed to Sn-135. In total, six new levels were identified in Sn-134 on the basis of the beta gamma gamma coincidences observed in the In-134 and In-135 beta decays. A transition that might be a candidate for deexciting the missing neutron single-particle 13/2(+) state in Sn-133 was observed in both beta decays and its assignment is discussed. Experimental level schemes of Sn-134 and Sn-135 are compared with shell-model predictions. Using the fast timing technique, half-lives of the 2(+), 4(+), and 6(+) levels in Sn-134 were determined. From the lifetime of the 4(+) state measured for the first time, an unexpectedly large B(E2; 4(+) -> 2(+)) transition strength was deduced, which is not reproduced by the shell-model calculations.

Abstract: In this work we investigated a method to determine time walk in an active silicon pixel sensor prototype using Edge-TCT with infrared laser charge injection. Samples were investigated before and after neutron irradiation to 5 . 10(14) n(eq)/cm(2). Threshold, noise and calibration of the analogue front end were determined with external charge injection. A spatially sensitive measurement of collected charge and time walk was carried out with Edge-TCT, showing a uniform charge collection and output delay in pixel centre. On pixel edges charge sharing was observed due to finite beam width resulting in smaller signals and larger output delay. Time walk below 25 ns was observed for charge above 2000 e(-) at a threshold above the noise level. Time walk measurement with external charge injection yielded identical results.

Abstract: We study the processes e(+)e(-) -> pi+ pi-pi(0)pi(0)pi(0)pi(0)gamma and pi(+) pi(-) pi(0)pi(0)pi eta gamma in which an energetic photon is radiated from the initial state. The data were collected with the BABAR detector at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. About 7300 and 870 events, respectively, are selected from a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 469 fb(-1). The invariant mass of the hadronic final state defines the effective e(+)e(-) center-of-mass energy. The center-of-mass energies range from threshold to 4.5 GeV. From the mass spectra, the first ever measurements of the e(+)e(-) -> pi(+)pi(-) pi(0)pi(0)pi(0)pi(0) and the e(+)e(-) -> pi(+)pi(-) pi(0)pi(0)pi(0)eta cross sections are performed. The contributions from omega pi(0)pi(0)pi(0), eta pi(+)pi(-)pi(0), omega eta, and other intermediate states are presented. We observe the J=psi and psi(2S) in most of these final states and measure the corresponding branching fractions, many of them for the first time.

Abstract: We study the nature of the recently observed Pcs(4459) by the LHCb collaboration by employing three methods based on the elastic effective-range expansion and the resulting size of the effective-range, the saturation of the compositeness relation and width of the resonance, and a direct fit to data involving the channels J/psi Lambda, Xi ' c over line D, and Xi c over line D*. We have also considered the addition of a Castillejo-Dalitz-Dyson (CDD) pole but this scenario can be discarded. Our different analyses clearly indicate the molecular nature of the Pcs(4459) with a clear Xi c over line D* dominant component. In relation with heavy-quark-spin symmetry our results also favor the actual existence of two resonances with J=1/2 (the lighter one) and 3/2 (the heavier one) in the energy region of the Pcs(4459). In the scenario of two-resonance for the Pcs(4459), the inclusion of the Xi ' c over line D channel is required for their mass splitting and it allows one to determine the spin structures of the two resonances.