Isospin analysis of charmless <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis>-meson decays

We discuss the determination of the CKM angle \(\alpha \) using the non-leptonic two-body decays \(B\rightarrow \pi \pi \), \(B\rightarrow \rho \rho \) and \(B\rightarrow \rho \pi \) using the latest data available. We illustrate the methods used in each case and extract the corresponding value of \(\alpha \). Combining all these elements, we obtain the determination \(\alpha _\mathrm{dir}={({86.2}_{-4.0}^{+4.4} \cup {178.4}_{-5.1}^{+3.9})}^{\circ }\). We assess the uncertainties associated to the breakdown of the isospin hypothesis and the choice of the statistical framework in detail. We also determine the hadronic amplitudes (tree and penguin) describing the QCD dynamics involved in these decays, briefly comparing our results with theoretical expectations. For each observable of interest in the \(B\rightarrow \pi \pi \), \(B\rightarrow \rho \rho \) and \(B\rightarrow \rho \pi \) systems, we perform an indirect determination based on the constraints from all the other observables available and we discuss the compatibility between indirect and direct determinations. Finally, we review the impact of future improved measurements on the determination of \(\alpha \).     

Photoreflectance spectroscopy of the chalcopyrite semiconductor <Emphasis Type="Bold">AgInS</Emphasis><Subscript>2</Subscript> for ordinary and extraordinary rays

Photoreflectance spectra have been measured on the chalcopyrite semiconductor silver indium disulfide (\(\hbox {AgInS}_{2}\)) for light polarization \({\varvec{E}}\) perpendicular (\({\varvec{E}} \bot {c}\)) and parallel to the c-axis (\({\varvec{E}} \vert \vert {c}\)) at temperature between 10 and 300 K. The measured photoreflectance spectra revealed distinct structures at 1.8–2.1 eV. The lowest bandgap energies \(E_{0A}\), \(E_{0B}\), and \(E_{0C}\) of \(\hbox {AgInS}_{2}\) show unusual temperature dependence at low temperatures (\(\le\)140 K). The \(E_{0\alpha }\) (\(\alpha =A, B, C\)) is found to increase with increasing temperature from 10 to \(\sim\)140 K and decreases with a further increase in temperature. This result has been successfully explained by taking into account the effects of thermal expansion and electron–phonon interaction. The spin–orbit and crystal-field splitting parameters of \(\hbox {AgInS}_{2}\) are determined to be \(\Delta _{{\mathrm{so}}}=38\) meV and \(\Delta _{{\mathrm{cr}}}=-168\) meV at T = 10 K, respectively, and are discussed from an aspect of the electronic energy band structure consequences. The temperature dependence of spin–orbit and crystal-field splitting parameters of \(\hbox {AgInS}_{2}\) was also presented.     

One-dimensional backreacting holographic <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-wave superconductors

We analytically and numerically study the properties of one-dimensional holographic p-wave superconductors in the presence of backreaction. We employ the Sturm–Liouville eigenvalue problem for the analytical calculation and the shooting method for the numerical investigations. We apply the \(\hbox {AdS}_{{3}}\)/\(\hbox {CFT}_{{2}}\) correspondence and determine the relation between the critical temperature \(T_{c}\) and the chemical potential \(\mu \) for different values of the mass m of a charged spin-1 field \(\rho _{\mu }\) and backreacting parameters. We observe that the data of both analytical and numerical studies are in good agreement. We find that increasing the backreaction and the mass parameter causes the greater values for \({T_{c}}/{\mu }\). Thus, it makes the condensation harder to form. In addition, the analytical and numerical approaches show that the value of the critical exponent \( \beta \) is 1 / 2, which is the same as in the mean field theory. Moreover, both methods confirm the existence of a second order phase transition.     

Absence of Dobrushin States for 2<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> Long-Range Ising Models

We consider the two-dimensional Ising model with long-range pair interactions of the form \(J_{xy}\sim |x-y|^{-\alpha }\) with \(\alpha >2\), mostly when \(J_{xy} \ge 0\). We show that Dobrushin states (i.e. extremal non-translation-invariant Gibbs states selected by mixed ± boundary conditions) do not exist. We discuss possible extensions of this result in the direction of the Aizenman–Higuchi theorem, or concerning fluctuations of interfaces. We also mention the existence of rigid interfaces in two long-range anisotropic contexts.     

1/<Emphasis Type="Italic">r</Emphasis> potential in higher dimensions

In Einstein gravity, gravitational potential goes as \(1/r^{d-3}\) in d non-compactified spacetime dimensions, which assumes the familiar 1 / r form in four dimensions. On the other hand, it goes as \(1/r^{\alpha }\), with \(\alpha =(d-2m-1)/m\), in pure Lovelock gravity involving only one mth order term of the Lovelock polynomial in the gravitational action. The latter offers a novel possibility of having 1 / r potential for the non-compactified dimension spectrum given by \(d=3m+1\). Thus it turns out that in the two prototype gravitational settings of isolated objects, like black holes and the universe as a whole – cosmological models, the Einstein gravity in four and mth order pure Lovelock gravity in \(3m+1\) dimensions behave in a similar fashion as far as gravitational interactions are considered. However propagation of gravitational waves (or the number of degrees of freedom) does indeed serve as a discriminator because it has two polarizations only in four dimensions.     

Decay widths of the spin-2 partners of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">X</Emphasis>(3872)

We consider the X(3872) resonance as a \(J^\mathrm{{PC}}=1^{++}\) \(D\bar{D}^*\) hadronic molecule. According to heavy quark spin symmetry, there will exist a partner with quantum numbers \(2^{++}\), \(X_{2}\), which would be a \(D^*\bar{D}^*\) loosely bound state. The \(X_{2}\) is expected to decay dominantly into \(D\bar{D}\), \(D\bar{D}^*\) and \(\bar{D} D^*\) in d-wave. In this work, we calculate the decay widths of the \(X_{2}\) resonance into the above channels, as well as those of its bottom partner, \(X_{b2}\), the mass of which comes from assuming heavy flavor symmetry for the contact terms. We find partial widths of the \(X_{2}\) and \(X_{b2}\) of the order of a few MeV. Finally, we also study the radiative \(X_2\rightarrow D\bar{D}^{*}\gamma \) and \(X_{b2} \rightarrow \bar{B} B^{*}\gamma \) decays. These decay modes are more sensitive to the long-distance structure of the resonances and to the \(D\bar{D}^{*}\) or \(B\bar{B}^{*}\) final state interaction.     

Analysis of charmless two-body <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis> decays in factorization-assisted topological-amplitude approach

We analyze charmless two-body non-leptonic B decays \(B \rightarrow PP, PV\) under the framework of a factorization-assisted topological-amplitude approach, where P(V) denotes a light pseudoscalar (vector) meson. Compared with the conventional flavor diagram approach, we consider the flavor SU(3) breaking effect assisted by a factorization hypothesis for topological diagram amplitudes of different decay modes, factorizing out the corresponding decay constants and form factors. The non-perturbative parameters of topology diagram magnitudes \(\chi \) and the strong phase \(\phi \) are universal; they can be extracted by \(\chi ^2\) fit from current abundant experimental data of charmless Bdecays. The number of free parameters and the \(\chi ^2\) per degree of freedom are both reduced compared with previous analyses. With these best fitted parameters, we predict branching fractions and CP asymmetry parameters of nearly 100 \(B_{u,d}\) and \(B_s\) decay modes. The long-standing \(\pi \pi \) and \(\pi K\)-CP puzzles are solved simultaneously.     

The strong decays of <Emphasis Type="Italic">X</Emphasis>(3940) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">X</Emphasis>(4160)

The new mesons X(3940) and X(4160) have been found by Belle Collaboration in the processes \(e^+e^-\rightarrow J/\psi D^{(*)}{\bar{D}}^{(*)}\). Considering X(3940) and X(4160) as \(\eta _c(3S)\) and \(\eta _c(4S)\) states, the two-body open charm OZI-allowed strong decay of \(\eta _c(3S)\) and \(\eta _c(4S)\) are studied by the improved Bethe–Salpeter method combined with the \(^3P_0\) model. The strong decay width of \(\eta _c(3S)\) is \(\Gamma _{\eta _c(3S)}=(33.5^{+18.4}_{-15.3})\) MeV, which is close to the result of X(3940); therefore, \(\eta _c(3S)\) is a good candidate of X(3940). The strong decay width of \(\eta _c(4S)\) is \(\Gamma _{\eta _c(4S)}=(69.9^{+22.4}_{-21.1})\) MeV, considering the errors of the results, it is close to the lower limit of X(4160). But the ratio of the decay width \(\frac{\Gamma (D{\bar{D}}^*)}{\Gamma (D^*{\bar{D}}^*)}\) of \(\eta _c(4S)\) is larger than the experimental data of X(4160). According to the above analysis, \(\eta _c(4S)\) is not the candidate of X(4160), and more investigations of X(4160) is needed.     

Model-independent reconstruction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>) teleparallel cosmology

We propose a model-independent formalism to numerically solve the modified Friedmann equations in the framework of f(T) teleparallel cosmology. Our strategy is to expand the Hubble parameter around the redshift \(z=0\) up to a given order and to adopt cosmographic bounds as initial settings to determine the corresponding \(f(z)\equiv f(T(H(z)))\) function. In this perspective, we distinguish two cases: the first expansion is up to the jerk parameter, the second expansion is up to the snap parameter. We show that inside the observed redshift domain \(z\le 1\), only the net strength of f(z) is modified passing from jerk to snap, whereas its functional behavior and shape turn out to be identical. As first step, we set the cosmographic parameters by means of the most recent observations. Afterwards, we calibrate our numerical solutions with the concordance \(\Lambda \)CDM model. In both cases, there is a good agreement with the cosmological standard model around \(z\le 1\), with severe discrepancies outer of this limit. We demonstrate that the effective dark energy term evolves following the test-function: \(f(z)={\mathcal {A}}+{\mathcal {B}}{z}^2e^{{\mathcal {C}}{z}}\). Bounds over the set \(\left\{ {\mathcal {A}}, {\mathcal {B}}, {\mathcal {C}}\right\} \) are also fixed by statistical considerations, comparing discrepancies between f(z) with data. The approach opens the possibility to get a wide class of test-functions able to frame the dynamics of f(T) without postulating any model a priori. We thus re-obtain the f(T) function through a back-scattering procedure once f(z) is known. We figure out the properties of our f(T) function at the level of background cosmology, to check the goodness of our numerical results. Finally, a comparison with previous cosmographic approaches is carried out giving results compatible with theoretical expectations.     

Bound on dissipative effects from semileptonic neutral <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis>-meson decays

The semileptonic decay asymmetry \(\mathcal {A}_{{\Delta }m}\) is studied within the open quantum systems approach to the physics of the neutral meson \(B^0\)–\(\overline{B^0}\) system: this extended treatment takes into account possible non-standard, dissipative effects induced by the presence of an external environment. A bound on these effects is provided through the analysis of available experimental data from the Belle Collaboration.     

Strange stars in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>) theories of gravity in the Palatini formalism

In the present work we study strange stars in f(R) theories of gravity in the Palatini formalism. We consider two concrete well-known cases, namely the \(R+R^2/(6 M^2)\) model as well as the \(R-\mu ^4/R\) model for two different values of the mass parameter M or \(\mu \). We integrate the modified Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff equations numerically, and we show the mass-radius diagram for each model separately. The standard case corresponding to the General Relativity is also shown in the same figure for comparison. Our numerical results show that the interior solution can be vastly different depending on the model and/or the value of the parameter of each model. In addition, our findings imply that (i) for the cosmologically interesting values of the mass scales \(M,\mu \) the effect of modified gravity on strange stars is negligible, while (ii) for the values predicting an observable effect, the modified gravity models discussed here would be ruled out by their cosmological effects.     

$$\varvec{B^0\rightarrow K^{*0}\mu ^+\mu ^-}$$ decay in the aligned two-Higgs-doublet model

In the aligned two-Higgs-doublet model, we perform a complete one-loop computation of the short-distance Wilson coefficients \(C_{7,9,10}^{(\prime )}\), which are the most relevant ones for \(b\rightarrow s\ell ^+\ell ^-\) transitions. It is found that, when the model parameter \(\left| \varsigma _{u}\right| \) is much smaller than \(\left| \varsigma _{d}\right| \), the charged scalar contributes mainly to chirality-flipped \(C_{9,10}^\prime \), with the corresponding effects being proportional to \(\left| \varsigma _{d}\right| ^2\). Numerically, the charged-scalar effects fit into two categories: (A) \(C_{7,9,10}^\mathrm {H^\pm }\) are sizable, but \(C_{9,10}^{\prime \mathrm {H^\pm }}\simeq 0\), corresponding to the (large \(\left| \varsigma _{u}\right| \), small \(\left| \varsigma _{d}\right| \)) region; (B) \(C_7^\mathrm {H^\pm }\) and \(C_{9,10}^{\prime \mathrm {H^\pm }}\) are sizable, but \(C_{9,10}^\mathrm {H^\pm }\simeq 0\), corresponding to the (small \(\left| \varsigma _{u}\right| \), large \(\left| \varsigma _{d}\right| \)) region. Taking into account phenomenological constraints from the inclusive radiative decay \(B\rightarrow X_{s}{\gamma }\), as well as the latest model-independent global analysis of \(b\rightarrow s\ell ^+\ell ^-\) data, we obtain the much restricted parameter space of the model. We then study the impact of the allowed model parameters on the angular observables \(P_2\) and \(P_5'\) of \(B^0\rightarrow K^{*0}\mu ^+\mu ^-\) decay, and we find that \(P_5'\) could be increased significantly to be consistent with the experimental data in case B.     

The open-charm radiative and pionic decays of molecular charmonium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Y</Emphasis>(4274)

In this work, we investigate the decay widths and the line shapes of the open-charm radiative and pionic decays of Y(4274) with the \(D_{s}\bar{D}_{s0}(2317)\) molecular charmonium assignment. Our calculation indicates that the decay widths of \(Y(4274)\to D^{+}_{s}D^{*-}_{s}\gamma\) and \(Y(4274)\to D^{+}_{s}D^{-}_{s}\pi^{0}\) can reach up to 0.05 keV and 0.75 keV, respectively. In addition, the result of the line shape of the photon spectrum of \(Y(4274)\to D_{s}^{+} {D}_{s}^{*-} \gamma\) shows that there exists a very sharp peak near the large end point of photon energy. The line shape of the pion spectrum of \(Y(4274)\to D_{s}^{+} {D}_{s}^{*-} \pi^{0}\) is similar to that of the pion spectrum of \(Y(4274)\to D_{s}^{+} {D}_{s}^{*-} \gamma\), where we also find a very sharp peak near the large end point of pion energy. According to our calculation, we suggest further experiments to carry out the search for the open-charm radiative and pionic decays of Y(4274).     

Solutions for <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>) gravity coupled with electromagnetic field

In the presence of external, linear/nonlinear electromagnetic fields we integrate \(f(R)\sim R+2\alpha \sqrt{R+\mathrm{const.}}\) gravity equations. In contrast to their Einsteinian cousins the obtained black holes are non-asymptotically flat with a deficit angle. In proper limits we obtain from our general solution the global monopole solution in f(R) gravity. The scale symmetry breaking term adopted as the nonlinear electromagnetic source adjusts the sign of the mass of the resulting black hole to be physical.     

Substituted <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-aminothioglycolurils containing thiosemicarbazone moiety and their cytotoxic activity in vitro

A library of hybrid molecules bearing thioglycoluril and (hetero)aromatic aldehyde thiosemicarbazone moieties was synthesized via a tandem hydrazone formation—ring contraction reaction of 5,7-dialkyl-3-thioxoperhydroimidazo[4,5-e]-1,2,4-triazin-6-ones with (hetero)aromatic aldehydes. All synthesized compounds were tested for their cytotoxic activity against rhabdomyosarcoma, A549, and MS human cancer cell lines by MTT-assay. Among the derivatives, (E)-4-benzylideneamino-1,3-dimethyl-5-thioxohexahydroimidazo[4,5-d]imidazol-2(1H)-one 1f was found to have the most marked antiproliferative activity toward the tested cell lines (1f: IC\(_{50}= 20.6,\) 23.7, and 6.4 \(\upmu \)M, respectively). The IC\(_{50}\) value of thioglycoluril 1f against normal human embryonic kidney cells HEK293 was 72.5 \(\upmu \)M, which appeared to be 3–11-fold higher than IC\(_{50}\) values of 1f against human cancer cells.     

Synthesis of new quinazolin-2,4-diones as anti-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leishmania mexicana</Emphasis> agents

The quinazolin-2,4-dione moiety is found in many compounds with important biological activities making it a target for its synthesis. In this work, a one-pot three-step synthesis of new quinazolin-2,4-diones from phthalic anhydrides and their activity against Leishmania mexicana are described. The new quinazolin-2,4-diones were isolated with yields in the range of 32–70 %. All compounds displayed lower cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 macrophage over miltefosine. Compound 6,7-dichloro-3-phenylquinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (6e) displayed an attractive profile which includes anti-Leishmania mexicana activity (\(\hbox {IC}_{50} = 6.05\) \(\upmu \)M), much lower cytotoxic activity (\(\hbox {CC}_{50} = 111\) \(\upmu \)M) and a high selective index (\(\text {SI} = 18.35\)) proving to be superior to miltefosine.     

Quantum Fisher Information for <Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">u</Emphasis>(2) Atomic Coherent States and <Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">u</Emphasis>(1, 1) Coherent States

We investigate quantum Fisher information (QFI) for s u(2) atomic coherent states and s u(1, 1) coherent states. In this work, we find that for s u(2) atomic coherent states, the QFI with respect to \(\vartheta ~(\mathcal {F}_{\vartheta })\) is independent of φ, the QFI with respect to \(\varphi (\mathcal {F}_{\varphi })\) is governed by ??. Analogously, for s u(1,1) coherent states, \(\mathcal {F}_{\tau }\) is independent of φ, and \(\mathcal {F}_{\varphi }\) is determined by τ. Particularly, our results show that \(\mathcal {F}_{\varphi }\) is symmetric with respect to ?? = π/2 for s u(2) atomic coherent states. And for s u(1,1) coherent states, \(\mathcal {F}_{\varphi }\) also possesses symmetry with respect to τ = 0.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">U</Emphasis>(2) and minimal flavour violation in supersymmetry

Rather than sticking to the full U(3)³ approximate symmetry normally invoked in Minimal Flavour Violation, we analyze the consequences on the current flavour data of a suitably broken U(2)³ symmetry acting on the first two generations of quarks and squarks. A definite correlation emerges between the ΔF=2 amplitudes \(\mathcal{M}( K^{0} \to \bar{K}^{0} )\), \(\mathcal{M}( B_{d} \to \bar{B}_{d} )\) and \(\mathcal{M}( B_{s} \to \bar{B}_{s} )\), which can resolve the current tension between \(\mathcal{M}( K^{0} \to \bar{K}^{0} )\) and \(\mathcal{M}( B_{d} \to \bar{B}_{d} )\), while predicting \(\mathcal{M}( B_{s}\to \bar{B}_{s} )\). In particular, the CP violating asymmetry in B _s →ψφ is predicted to be positive S _ψφ =0.12±0.05 and above its Standard Model value (S _ψφ =0.041±0.002). The preferred region for the gluino and the left-handed sbottom masses is below about 1÷1.5 TeV. An existence proof of a dynamical model realizing the U(2)³ picture is outlined.     

Two-Higgs-doublet type-II and -III models and $$t\rightarrow c h$$ at the LHC

We study the constraints of the generic two-Higgs-doublet model (2HDM) type-III and the impacts of the new Yukawa couplings. For comparisons, we revisit the analysis in the 2HDM type-II. To understand the influence of all involving free parameters and to realize their correlations, we employ a \(\chi \)-square fitting approach by including theoretical and experimental constraints, such as the S, T, and U oblique parameters, the production of standard model Higgs and its decay to \(\gamma \gamma \), \(WW^*/ZZ^*\), \(\tau ^+\tau ^-\), etc. The errors of the analysis are taken at 68, 95.5, and \(99.7~\%\) confidence levels. Due to the new Yukawa couplings being associated with \(\cos (\beta -\alpha )\) and \(\sin (\beta -\alpha )\), we find that the allowed regions for \(\sin \alpha \) and \(\tan \beta \) in the type-III model can be broader when the dictated parameter \(\chi _F\) is positive; however, for negative \(\chi _F\), the limits are stricter than those in the type-II model. By using the constrained parameters, we find that the deviation from the SM in \(h\rightarrow Z\gamma \) can be of \(\mathcal{O}(10~\%)\). Additionally, we also study the top-quark flavor-changing processes induced at the tree level in the type-III model and find that when all current experimental data are considered, we get \(Br(t\rightarrow c(h, H) )< 10^{-3}\) for \(m_h=125.36\) and \(m_H=150\) GeV, and \(Br(t\rightarrow cA)\) slightly exceeds \(10^{-3}\) for \(m_A =130\) GeV.     

Decay Behaviors of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">P</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis></Subscript> Hadronic Molecules

In this proceeding, we present our recent work on decay behaviors of the P_c hadronic molecules, which can help to disentangle the nature of the two P_c pentaquark-like structures. The results turn out that the relative ratio of the decays of P _c ⁺ (4380) to \({\bar D *}{\Lambda _c}\) and J/ψp is very different for P_c being a \({\bar D *}{\Sigma _c}\) or \(\bar D\Sigma _c *\) bound state with \({J^P} = \frac{{{3 - }}}{2}\) And from the total decay width, we find that P_c(4380) being a \(\bar D\Sigma _c *\) molecule state with \({J^P} = \frac{{{3 - }}}{2}\) and P_c(4450) being a \({\bar D *}{\Sigma _c}\) molecule state with \({J^P} = \frac{{{5 + }}}{2}\) is more favorable to the experimental data.