Abstract: We propose a novel minimal scenario which simultaneously addresses the following theoretical/cosmological/phenomenological puzzles: (i) the origin of scales, (ii) primordial inflation, (iii) matter-antimatter asymmetry, (iv) tiny neutrino masses, (v) dark matter, and (vi) the strong CP-problem. Exact scale-symmetry was assumed. A global U(1)PQ-symmetry was also assumed but only in the matter sector. The novelty of the scenario is the introduction of explicit U(1)PQ-breaking terms with field-dependent coefficients in the gravity sector. Such a term does not disturb the axion solution whereas naturally realizes an axi-majoron hybrid inflation which allows a natural realization of Affleck-Dine mechanism for generating Peccei-Quinn number asymmetry. The asymmetry can be transferred to the visible sector via the right-handed neutrino portal through non-thermal decay and thermal processes, even without the presence of a CP-violating phase in the matter sector. Dark matter and dark radiation are obtained by cold and hot components of axi-majorons, respectively.

Abstract: The spectroscopic studies of very neutron-rich nucleus 128Ag have been performed for the first time at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory of RIKEN. A new seniority isomer with a half-life of 1.60(7) μs has been identified and is proposed to have a spin-parity of 16-with a maximally aligned configuration comprising three proton holes in the g9/2 orbital and one neutron hole in the h11/2 orbital. The new level structure in 128Ag is quite well described by shell model calculations without invoking excitations across the Z = 50 and N = 82 shell gaps, and presents a good case of seniority scheme in odd-odd nuclei in the south vicinity of the double-magic nucleus 132Sn. With a classification of various components of the proton-neutron interaction, the inversion of lowest-lying 9-and 10-states between 128Ag and its neighboring isotone 130In is found to be dynamically ascribed to the seniority-nonconserving proton-neutron interaction components. The structure above 10-up to the 16-isomer in 128Ag shows remarkable similarities to seniority structures in the semimagic nuclei 128Pd and 130Cd. These spectroscopic features in 128Ag indicate that the N = 82 shell closure is still robust in silver isotopes.

Abstract: We present the design and performance of a four-phased radiofrequency (RF) carpet system for ion transport between 200-600 mbar, significantly higher than previously demonstrated RF carpet applications. The RF carpet, designed with a 160 mu\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\upmu $$\end{document}m pitch, is applied to the lateral collection of ions in xenon at pressures up to 600 mbar. We demonstrate transport efficiency of caesium ions across varying pressures, and compare with microscopic simulations made in the SIMION package. The novel use of an N-phased RF carpet can achieve ion levitation and controlled lateral motion in a denser environment than is typical for RF ion transport in gases. This feature makes such carpets strong candidates for ion transport to single ion sensors envisaged for future neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments in xenon gas.