Analysis of (1/2)+ baryon states containing fourth-family quarks from QCD sum rules

When the fourth generation of quarks have sufficiently small mixing with ordinary standard-model quarks, the hadrons made up from these quarks can be long-lived enough. We analyze the (1/2)⁺ baryon states containing fourth-generation quarks and standard-model quarks, i.e. the charm or bottom quarks, in the QCD sum rules approach. Considering the perturbative and two gluon condensate contributions in the calculation, we give the numerical results of the masses and pole residues.     

The decay constant of the holographic techni-dilaton and the 125 GeV boson

We critically discuss the possibility that the 125 GeV boson recently discovered at the LHC is the holographic techni-dilaton, a composite state emerging from a strongly-coupled model of electroweak symmetry breaking. This composite state differs from the SM for three main reasons. Its decay constant is in general larger than the electroweak scale, hence suppressing all the couplings to standard-model particles with respect to an elementary Higgs boson, with the exception of the coupling to photons and gluons, which is expected to be larger than the standard-model equivalent.     

Next-to-next-to-leading-order charm-quark contribution to the CP violation parameter ϵ(K) and ΔM(K)

The observables ?(K) and ΔM(K) play a prominent role in particle physics due to their sensitivity to new physics at short distances. To take advantage of this potential, a firm theoretical prediction of the standard-model background is essential. The charm-quark contribution is a major source of theoretical uncertainty. We address this issue by performing a next-to-next-to-leading-order QCD analysis of the charm-quark contribution η(cc) to the effective |ΔS|=2 Hamiltonian in the standard model. We find a large positive shift of 36%, leading to η(cc)=1.87(76). This result might cast doubt on the validity of the perturbative expansion; we discuss possible solutions. Finally, we give an updated value of the standard-model prediction for |?(K)|=1.81(28)×10(-3) and ΔM(K)(SD)=3.1(1.2)×10(-15) GeV.     

Cavity bounds on higher-order lorentz-violating coefficients

We determine the sensitivity of a modern Michelson-Morley resonant-cavity experiment to higher-order nonbirefringent and nondispersive coefficients of the Lorentz-violating standard-model extension. Data from a recent year-long run of the experiment are used to place the first experimental bounds on coefficients associated with nonrenormalizable Lorentz-violating operators.     

Testing Lorentz invariance and CPT conservation with NuMI neutrinos in the MINOS near detector

A search for a sidereal modulation in the MINOS near detector neutrino data was performed. If present, this signature could be a consequence of Lorentz and CPT violation as predicted by the effective field theory called the standard-model extension. No evidence for a sidereal signal in the data set was found, implying that there is no significant change in neutrino propagation that depends on the direction of the neutrino beam in a sun-centered inertial frame. Upper limits on the magnitudes of the Lorentz and CPT violating terms in the standard-model extension lie between 10(-4) and 10(-2) of the maximum expected, assuming a suppression of these signatures by a factor of 10(-17).     

Nearly mass-degenerate Majorana neutrinos: Double-beta decay and neutrino oscillations

Assuming equal tree-level Majorana masses for the standard-model neutrinos, either from the canonical seesaw mechanism or from a heavy scalar triplet, I discuss how their radiative splitting may be relevant to neutrinoless double-beta decay and neutrino oscillations.     

Standard model and gravity from spinors

It is shown how the Lorentz and standard-model gauge groups can be unified by using algebraic spinors of the standard four-dimensional Clifford algebra, in left–right symmetric fashion. This defines a framework of unification with gravity and generates exactly a standard-model family of fermions, while a Pati–Salam unification group emerges, at the Planck scale, where (chiral) gravity decouples. We show that this low-energy broken phase emerges from the VEV of extended vierbein fields, which at this stage are assumed to be dynamically generated from a theory in the fully symmetric phase valid beyond the Planck scale (and whose consistency and dynamics is thus yet to be assessed) providing thus a geometrical and group-theoretical framework for the unification and breaking. At low energy, on the other hand, it is intriguing to find, as a remnant of this unification, new isospin-triplet spin-two particles that may naturally lie at the weak scale, providing a striking signal at the LHC.     

n-n* oscillations in models with large extra dimensions

We analyze n-n* oscillations in generic models with large extra dimensions in which standard-model fields propagate and fermion wave functions have strong localization. We find that in these models n-n* oscillations might occur at levels not too far below the current limit.     

Vacuum Cerenkov radiation

Within the classical Maxwell-Chern-Simons limit of the standard-model extension, the emission of light by uniformly moving charges is studied confirming the possibility of a Cerenkov-type effect. In this context, the exact radiation rate for charged magnetic point dipoles is determined and found in agreement with a phase-space estimate under certain assumptions.     

Weak interaction of quarks

A theory of weak interaction of quarks is developed in the framework of SU (2) symmetry. Expressions are obtained for the probability of decay of quarks into leptoquarks, quarks into leptons, and leptoquarks into leptons. A model is also constructed of the interaction of quarks with matter in which strong and electromagnetic interactions of quarks with matter are forbidden. In this model, the weak interaction of quarks is the main form of interaction between quarks and matter. In this connection, it is suggested that quarks should be looked for in nature in the products of their weak decay in accordance with the theory developed here.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 7, pp. 30–36, July, 1974.     

Heavy quark energy loss in proton proton collisions at LHC

A promising probe to study deconfined matter created in high energy nuclear collisions is the energy loss of (heavy) quarks. Experiments at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) have shown that heavy quarks, i.e. charm and bottom quarks show a remarkable high momentum suppression, comparable to light quarks. In this exploratory study we investigate the energy loss of heavy quarks in high multiplicity proton proton collisions at LHC energies. We will find a small, however non-negligible energy loss of high momentum charm quarks.     

Noncommutative field theory and Lorentz violation

The role of Lorentz symmetry in noncommutative field theory is considered. Any realistic noncommutative theory is found to be physically equivalent to a subset of a general Lorentz-violating standard-model extension involving ordinary fields. Some theoretical consequences are discussed. Existing experiments bound the scale of the noncommutativity parameter to (10 TeV)(-2).     

Meson hyperfine splittings and asymptotic freedom

Meson hyperfine splittings give empirical evidence that the short-ranged part of the potential binding quarks has the behavior expected of single color gluon exchange in an asymptotically free theory. Since the interaction of light confined quarks depends on only one length scale, while that of heavy confined quarks depends on two length scales, it is argued that the spin-dependent interactions are qualitatively different in the cases. Phenomenological evidence suggests that the spin-dependent interactions of light quarks are short-ranged only, while that of heavy quarks are predominantly long-ranged. It is proposed that a measurement of the F¹-F mass-difference will help clarify the nature of a possible long-ranged spin-spin interaction of strange quarks.     

Two-particle kinematic distributions from new physics at an electron–positron collider with polarized beams

The kinematic distributions in two-particle inclusive processes at an e⁺e^- collider arising from standard-model s-channel exchange of a virtual γ or Z and the interference of the standard-model contribution with contributions from physics beyond the standard model involving s-channel exchanges are derived entirely in terms of the space-time signature of such new physics. Transverse as well as longitudinal polarizations of the electron and positron beams are taken into account. We show how these model-independent distributions can be used to deduce some general properties of the nature of the interaction. We then specialize to two specific two-particle final states, viz., ZH, where H is one of the Higgs bosons in a model with an extended Higgs sector, and ff̄, where f, f̄ are a pair of conjugate charged fermions, wherein distributions of two (of the possibly several) decay products are measured. We show how some of the properties of the distributions have been realized in the analysis of physics beyond the standard model in earlier work which made use of two-particle angular distributions.     

Stability of Multiquarks in an Improved Flip-Flop Model of Confinement

We review some recent studies on the string model of confinement inspired by the strong-coupling regime of QCD and its application to exotic multiquark configurations. This includes two quarks and two antiquarks, four quarks and one antiquark, six quarks, and three quarks and three antiquarks with a careful treatment of the corresponding few-body problem.     

Enhancement of high PT hadrons due to collapsing Z(3) walls in heavy-ion collisions

We discuss enhancement of multiplicities of hadrons at high transverse momentum due to multiple reflections of quarks from collapsing Z(3) interfaces in the QGP produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. By modeling the dependence of effective mass of the quarks on the Polyakov loop order parameter, we evaluate the reflection coefficient of quarks from collapsing Z(3) interfaces. We use the effective potential proposed by Pisarski for the Polyakov loop to determine the profile of the Z(3) interfaces and calculate the reflection probability for quarks. We discuss the formation of a network of these Z(3) walls in relativistic heavy-ion collisions, in the QGP phase. We do a numerical simulation to calculate the modifications in the thermal transverse momentum spectra of the quarks/anti-quarks that results from a collapsing wall. We then use the recombination model to calculate the transverse momentum spectrum of final hadrons. Our results show enhancement of high P _T hadrons, with the enhancement being stronger for heavier quarks. Further, we find that due to larger reflection coefficient for heavier quarks, the density of strange and charm quarks/anti-quarks increases inside the collapsing walls. This implies enhancement in the multiplicities of multi-strange and multi-charmed hadrons.     

Renormalization-group improved calculation of top-quark production near threshold

The top-quark cross section close to threshold in e(+)e(-) annihilation is computed including the summation of logarithms of the velocity at next-to-next-to-leading-logarithmic order in QCD. The remaining theoretical uncertainty in the normalization of the total cross section is at the few-percent level, an order of magnitude smaller than in previous next-to-next-to-leading order calculations. This uncertainty is smaller than the effects of a light standard-model Higgs boson.     

Diquark structure in heavy quark baryons in a geometric model

Using a geometric model to study the structure of hadrons, baryons having one, two and three heavy quarks have been studied here. The study reveals diquark structure in baryons with one and two heavy quarks but not with three heavy identical quarks.     

Spatial and temporal hadron correlators below and above the chiral phase transition

Hadronic correlation functions at finite temperature in QCD, with four flavours of dynamical quarks, have been analyzed both above and below the chiral symmetry restoration temperature. We have used both point and extended sources for spatial as well as temporal correlators. The effect of periodic temporal boundary conditions for the valence quarks on the spatial meson correlators has also been investigated. All our results are consistent with the existence of individual quarks at high temperatures. A measurement of the residual interaction between the quarks is presented.