Spin physics at e<Superscript>+</Superscript>e<Superscript>−</Superscript> colliders

A large number of measurement related to spin was performed during the last decade at the e ⁺ e ^? colliders LEP and SLC providing important information on the dynamics of high energy interactions. In this paper three main topics will be covered: the measurements of the electroweak couplings, the study of fragmentation dynamics and the search for physics beyond the Standard Model.     

Statistical hadronization with exclusive channels in e<Superscript>+</Superscript>e<Superscript>−</Superscript> annihilation

We perform a systematic analysis of exclusive hadronic channels in e⁺e⁻ collisions at center-of-mass energies between 2.1 and 2.6 GeV within the statistical hadronization model. Because of the low multiplicities involved, calculations have been carried out in the full microcanonical ensemble, including conservation of energy-momentum, angular momentum, parity, isospin, and all relevant charges. We show that the data are in an overall good agreement with the model for an energy density of about 0.5 GeV/fm³ and an extra-strangeness suppression parameter γ _S ∼0.7, essentially the same values found with fits to inclusive multiplicities at higher energy.     

Two photons into π<Superscript>0</Superscript>π<Superscript>0</Superscript>

We perform a theoretical study based on dispersion relations of the reaction γγ → π ⁰ π ⁰ emphasizing the low-energy region. We discuss how the ƒ ⁰(980) signal emerges in γγ → ππ within the dispersive approach and how this fixes to a large extent the phase of the isoscalar S-wave γγ → ππ amplitude above the threshold. This allows us to make sharper predictions for the cross-section at lower energies and our results could then be used to distinguish between different ππ isoscalar S-wave parameterizations with the advent of new precise data on ππ → π ⁰ π ⁰. We compare our dispersive approach with an updated calculation employing the unitary chiral perturbation theory (U _gC PT). We also pay special attention to the role played by the σ-resonance in γγ → ππ and calculate its coupling and width to γγ, for which we obtain Γ(σ → γγ) = (1.68 ± 0.15) keV.     

A new determination of the γπ → ππ anomalous amplitude via πe<Superscript>-</Superscript> → π<Superscript>-</Superscript>e<Superscript>-</Superscript>π<Superscript>0</Superscript> data

We discuss the reaction π^-e^- → π^-e^-π⁰ with the purpose of obtaining information on the γπ → ππ anomalous amplitude _3π. We compare a full calculation at (p⁶) in chiral perturbation theory and various phenomenological predictions with the existing data of Amendolia et al. By integrating our theory results using Monte Carlo techniques, we obtain σ = 2.05 nb at (p⁶) and σ = 2.17 nb after including the dominant electromagnetic correction. Both results are in good agreement with the experimental cross-section of σ = (2.11±0.47) nb. On the basis of the ChPT results one would extract from the experimental cross-section as amplitudes _3π^(0)extr = (9.9±1.1) GeV^-3 and _3π^(0)extr = (9.6±1.1) GeV^-3, respectively, which have to be compared with the low-energy theorem _3π = e/(4π²F_π³) = 9.72GeV^-3. We emphasize the need for new data to allow for a comparison of experimental and theoretical distributions and to obtain _3π with smaller uncertainty.     

A study of the dynamical-fluctuation property inside jets in e<Superscript>+</Superscript>e<Superscript>−</Superscript> collisions

A study of the dynamical-fluctuation property of 2-jet events is carried out. It is found that the dynamical fluctuations of the hadronic system inside 2-jet events change with the variation of the cut parameter Y_cut. There is a transition point, where the dynamical fluctuations in these systems are circular in the transverse plane; and are elliptical in the longitudinal-transverse planes. It is shown that this transition point corresponds to the scale of visible jets. Meanwhile, the dynamical fluctuation properties inside a single-jet in 2-jet and 3-jet events are compared. The dynamical fluctuations inside quark- and gluon-jets are found to be qualitatively different. A scale for the “visible gluon jet” production is thus obtained.     

Rare decay π<Superscript>0</Superscript> → <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>+</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>−</Superscript> as a test of standard model

Experimental and theoretical progress concerning the rare decay π⁰ → e ⁺ e ⁻ is briefly reviewed. It includes the latest data from KTeV and a new model-independent estimate of the decay branching which show the deviation between experiment and theory at the level of 3.3σ. The predictions for η and η′ decays into lepton pair are presented. We also comment on the impact on the pion rare decay estimate of the data of BABAR collaboration on the pion transition form factor at large momentum transfer.     

Exclusive ωπ<Superscript>0</Superscript> production with muons<Superscript>⋆</Superscript>

Using 160GeV muon scattering data collected with the COMPASS experiment at CERN, the exclusive production of ωπ⁰ via virtual photons was studied. Selective population of a peak around 1250MeV is observed. Possible contributions from spin-parity 1^- are searched for, inspecting decay angular correlations. In particular, the orientation of the ω decay plane may allow a distinction from the 1⁺ b ₁(1235) state. Our observation is compared with indications of a (1250) in annihilation and in γp . Original article based on material presented at HADRON 2007.     

Energy dependence of Lévy stability and multi-fractal spectrum in e<Superscript>+</Superscript>e<Superscript>−</Superscript> collisions

Various nuclear reactions like quasi-fission, fusion-fission or particle and cluster evaporation from excited compound nuclei were studied in heavy-ion reactions at the velocity filter SHIP of GSI. The velocity filter offers the possibility to detect all reaction products under zero degree relative to the beam direction. Together with the measurement of the product velocity distribution this allows for an identification of the underlying reaction mechanism. This article is focussed on reactions of ²⁵Mg and ⁶⁴Ni beams on ^{206, 207}Pb targets at energies of 5.9×AMeV and 8.7×AMeV . Besides evaporation residues from ²⁵Mg + ²⁰⁶Pb collisions we found evidence for rotation and quasi-fission of nuclear molecules formed in the entrance channel after the capture stage. The break-up of the systems showed a preferred clustering leading to isotopes in the region 84 ⩽ Z ⩽ 88 and 122 ⩽ N ⩽ 127 of the chart of nuclei.     

Probing little Higgs model in e<Superscript>+</Superscript>e<Superscript>-</Superscript>→νν̄γ process

We study the process e⁺e^-→νν̄γ to search for its sensitivity to the extra gauge bosons Z₂, Z₃ and W₂ ^±, which are suggested by the little Higgs models. We find that the ILC with and CLIC with cover different regions of the LHM parameters. We show that this channel can provide a determination of the parameters, complementary to measurements of the extra gauge bosons obtainable at the upcoming LHC experiments. PACS 14.80.Cp; 12.60.Fr; 12.60.Cn     

Two-neutrino positron double-beta decay of <Superscript>106</Superscript>Cd for the 0<Superscript>+</Superscript> → 0<Superscript>+</Superscript> transition

The two-neutrino positron double-beta decay of ¹⁰⁶Cd for the 0 ⁺ 0⁺ transition has been studied in the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov model in conjunction with the summation method. In the first step, the reliability of the intrinsic wave functions of ¹⁰⁶Cd and ¹⁰⁶Pd nuclei has been tested by comparing the theoretically calculated results for yrast spectra, reduced B(E2: 0⁺ 2⁺) transition probabilities, quadrupole moments Q(2⁺) and gyromagnetic factors g(2⁺) with the available experimental data. In the second step, the nuclear transition matrix element M₂ and the half-life T_1/2² for the 0 ⁺ 0⁺ transition have been calculated with these wave functions. Moreover, we have studied the effect of deformation on the nuclear transition matrix element M₂.     

Two-photon production of vector resonance in <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>+</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>−</Superscript> collisions

A parameterization of the amplitude of the two-photon production of 1⁺⁺ and 1^?+ vector resonances V in the e ⁺ e ^? → e ⁺ e ^? V reaction has been obtained. The differential (in momentum transfer) scattering cross section dσ/dQ ² has been found for this reaction in the equivalent-photon approximation. The result obtained is model-independent.     

Parity-Violating in <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>−</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>+</Superscript> Scattering at Finite Temperature

Parity violation implies that physics laws are not invariant under spatial coordinate reversal. Electron-positron scattering is a process that displays parity violation. Using the Thermo Field Dynamics formalism this scattering at finite temperature is analyzed. The transition amplitude is calculated as a function of temperature. The parity violation at very high temperatures tend to go to zero.     

On <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>+</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>−</Superscript> pair production by colliding electromagnetic pulses

Electron-positron pair production from vacuum in an electromagnetic field created by two counterpropagating focused laser pulses interacting with each other is analyzed. The dependence of the number of produced pairs on the intensity of a laser pulse and the focusing parameter is studied with a realistic three-dimensional model of the electromagnetic field of the focused wave, which is an exact solution of the Maxwell equations. It has been shown that e⁺e^? pair production can be experimentally observed when the intensity of each beam is I～10²⁶ W/cm², which is two orders of magnitude lower than that for a single pulse.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">J</Emphasis><Superscript>π</Superscript>0<Superscript>−</Superscript> levels in <Superscript>156</Superscript>Gd and <Superscript>158</Superscript>Gd

The 0^? states in the ¹⁵⁶Gd nucleus at E = 1952.38 keV and in the ¹⁵⁸Gd nucleus at E = 2269.16 keV are established on the basis of an analysis of available data on even-even deformed nuclei. From data on the deexcitation of the levels and on the probability of their population by beta transitions, it is found that these states have a two-particle proton structure. A comparison of our data with information about the 0^? levels in the ¹⁷⁰Yb and ¹⁷⁶Hf nuclei makes it possible to conclude that J^π0^? two-particle states exist at an excitation energy of about 2 MeV and higher.     

The evaluation of the branching ratios of the decays φ(1020)→2π<Superscript>+</Superscript>2π<Superscript>−</Superscript>π<Superscript>0</Superscript>, π<Superscript>+</Superscript>π<Superscript>−</Superscript>3π<Superscript>0</Superscript>

Combining the Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka rule in the decay φ→ρπ→π⁺π^?π⁰ with the ρ→4π decay amplitudes, we calculate the φ→2π⁺2π^?π⁰ and φ→π⁺π^?3π⁰ ones. The partial widths of the above φ decays are evaluated, and the excitation curves in e⁺e^? annihilation are obtained, assuming reasonable particular relations among the parameters characterizing the anomalous terms of the HLS Lagrangian. The evaluated branching ratios B_φ→π⁺_π^?_3π⁰ ≈ 2 × 10^?7 and B_φ→2π⁺_2π^?_π⁰ ≈ 7 × 10^?7 are such that, with the luminosity L=500 pb^?1 attained at DAΦNE φ factory, one may already possess about 1685 events of the decays φ→5π.     

Pseudoscalar Higgs boson in experiments at <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>+</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>−</Superscript> colliders

The potential of experiments at e ⁺ e ^? colliders to search for a signal of a new pseudoscalar Higgs boson and to study its CP properties is analyzed. A new Higgs boson coupling to the b quark and τ lepton, which is parameterized in a model-independent way as m _b /v(a + iγ₅ b), is chosen to be an indicator of its CP nature. We study the e ⁺ e ^? → τ⁺τ^?vv, e ⁺ e ^? → b \(\bar b\)vv, and e ⁺ e ^? → e ⁺ e ^? b \(\bar b\) processes highly sensitive to anomalous Higgs boson couplings due to the dominant contributions from the vector boson fusion processes W*W* → H and Z*Z* → H in the central region. It is shown that the study of polarization of particles in the final state could help to separate the contributions from the scalar and pseudoscalar Higgs bosons. For instance, the consideration of the cascade decays of τ leptons in the e ⁺ e ^? → τ⁺τ^?vv process allows one to determine reliably the CP state of the Higgs boson as well as the value and the sign of the b parameter. As a result of our analysis, we develop a search strategy for a signal of a new pseudoscalar Higgs boson in future experiments at linear e ⁺ e ^? colliders, which will allow one to understand the CP nature of the Higgs boson and set the bounds on its couplings to fermions.     

Light dark sector searches at low-energy high-luminosity <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>+</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>−</Superscript> colliders

Although the standard model (SM) is extremely successful, there are various motivations for considering the physics beyond the SM. For example, the SM includes neither dark energy nor dark matter, which has been confirmed through astrophysical observations. Examination of the dark sector, which contains new, light, weakly-coupled particles at the GeV scale or lower, is well motivated by both theory and dark-matter detection experiments. In this mini-review, we focus on one particular case in which these new particles can interact with SM particles through a kinematic mixing term between U(1) gauge bosons. The magnitude of the mixing can be parameterized by a parameter ?. Following a brief overview of the relevant motivations and the constraints determined from numerous experiments, we focus on the light dark sector phenomenology at low-energy high-luminosity e ⁺ e ^? colliders. These colliders are ideal for probing the new light particles, because of their large production rates and capacity for precise resonance reconstruction. Depending on the details of a given model, the typical observed signatures may also contain multi lepton pairs, displaced vertices, and/or missing energy. Through the use of extremely large data samples from existing experiments, such as KLOE, CLEO, BABAR, Belle, and BESIII, the magnitude of the mixing can be parameterized by a parameter ? < 10^?4–10^?3 constraint can be obtained. Obviously, future experiments with larger datasets will provide opportunities for the discovery of new particles in the dark sector, or for stricter upper limits on ?. Once the light dark sector is confirmed, the particle physics landscape will be changed significantly.     

Inclusive production of vector charmonium in two-photon <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>+</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>−</Superscript> annihilation

One of the processes involving the inclusive production of the vector-charmonium states J/ψ. and ψ(2S) in two-photon electron-positron annihilation at \(\sqrt s = 10.6 GeV\) is studied on the basis of the singlet model. Analytic expressions are derived for respective differential cross sections, and numerical values of the total cross sections are given, along with graphs that represent the distributions of cross sections in the scattering angle and in the vector-meson energy. It is shown that these distributions differ substantially from the analogous distributions for charmonium production in one-photon electron-positron annihilation. For this reason, the process under consideration can readily be isolated despite the smallness caused by an extra power of α.     

On the question of supersymmetric particles production in <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>+</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>−</Superscript> annihilation

Some aspects of supersymmetric particles pair production in e ⁺ e ^?-annihilation in processes \(e^ + + e^ - \to \tilde l^ + + \tilde l^ -\), \(e^ + + e^ - \to \tilde \chi ^ + + \tilde \chi ^ -\) are studied. Aparatus, in which long-lived charged particles deceleraition and accumulation take place, is considered. Binding energy of a negatively charged particle with nucleus is obtained. Probability of β-decay of a nucleus bounded with a long-lived negatively charged particle is considered.     

Unparticle Effects on Axion-Like Particles Production in <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>+</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>−</Superscript> Collisions

In this work, we study the effects of the vector unparticle on e⁺e^?→ γa processes. From the numerical results, we show that the cross-section with unparticle effects should be about 10¹⁴ ??10²³ times larger than the one without unparticle effects. This could have important implication for axion like particle searches in near future experiments.