First Principles Calculation of the Baryon Asymmetry of the Universe: Generalities and Application

We present a formalism that allows the computation of the lepton asymmetry of the universe from first principles of statistical physics and quantum field theory (this lepton asymmetry is then converted to a baryon asymmetry via sphaleron processes). This formalism includes a thermal bath of Standard Model particles (active neutrinos) coupled to a new sector that is out-of-equilibrium (sterile neutrinos). The key point that allows a first principles computation is that the number of sterile neutrinos produced during the relevant cosmological period remains small (we assume zero sterile neutrinos initially). In such a case, it is possible to expand the formal solution of Liouville's equation perturbatively and obtain a master formula for the lepton asymmetry expressed in terms of non-equilibrium Wightman functions. The master formula neatly separates CP-violating contributions from finite temperature correlation functions and satisfies all three Sakharov conditions. These correlation functions can then be evaluated perturbatively; the validity of the perturbative expansion depends on the parameters of the model considered. Here we choose the νMSM (i.e. a minimal extension of the Standard Model that includes three generations of sterile neutrinos with masses of the order of the electroweak scale) to illustrate the use of the formalism, but it could in principle be applied to other models.     

Bounds on sterile neutrino mixing for cosmologically interesting mass range

This talk summarizes our recent work which studied the impact of resonant ν_e → ν_s and (ν_s is a sterile neutrino) conversions on supernova physics, under the assumption that the mass of the sterile state is in the few eV -cosmologically significant range.     

Search for anomalous production of single photons at and 136 GeV

This letter reports the results of the measurement of single photon production in the reaction e⁺e⁻ → γ+ invisible particles at centre-of-mass energies and 136 GeV and an integrated luminosity of 5.83 pb⁻¹, collected with the DELPHI detector at LEP. The signal is compatible with the prediction of the Standard Model for the process , and the number of neutrino families has been determined to be N_ν = 3.1 ± 0.6. Limits have been derived on anomalous neutral gauge boson couplings and on compositeness in the framework of a specific model.     

Non-standard neutrino interactions in the Zee–Babu model

We investigate non-standard neutrino interactions (NSIs) in the Zee–Babu model. The size of NSIs predicted by this model is obtained from a full scan over the parameter space, taking into account constraints from low-energy experiments such as searches for lepton flavor violation (LFV) and the requirement to obtain a viable neutrino mass matrix. The dependence on the scale of new physics as well as on the type of the neutrino mass hierarchy is discussed. We find that NSIs at the source of a future neutrino factory may be at an observable level in the ν_e→ν_τ and/or ν_μ→ν_τ channels. In particular, if the doubly charged scalar of the model has a mass in reach of the LHC and if the neutrino mass hierarchy is inverted, a highly predictive scenario is obtained with observable signals at the LHC, in upcoming neutrino oscillation experiments, in LFV processes, and for NSIs at a neutrino factory.     

Neutrino mass from laboratory: contribution of double beta decay to the neutrino mass matrix

Double beta decay is indispensable to solve the question of the neutrino mass matrix together with ν oscillation experiments. The most sensitive experiment - since eight years the HEIDELBERG-MOSCOW experiment in Gran-Sasso - already now, with the experimental limit of m_ν < 0.26 eV practically excludes degenerate ν mass scenarios allowing neutrinos as hot dark matter in the universe for the smallangle MSW solution of the solar neutrino problem. It probes cosmological models including hot dark matter already now on the level of future satellite experiments MAP and PLANCK. It further probes many topics of beyond SM physics at the TeV scale. Future experiments should give access to the multi-TeV range and complement on many ways the search for new physics at future colliders like LHC and NLC. For neutrino physics some of them (GENIUS) will allow to test almost all neutrino mass scenarios allowed by the present neutrino oscillation experiments.     

An energy-momentum tensor in gauge theories

We consider the renormalization of the twist two, dimension four gauge invariant operator O_μν⁽¹⁾ = − F_μσF_νσ − g_{μν 0}. By using the general theory of renormalization of gauge invariant operators, we find the gauge noninvariant operator O⁽²⁾ with which it mixes. We construct a finite combination of O⁽¹⁾ and O⁽²⁾ and show that it is an acceptable energy momentum tensor for gauge theories. We compare our energy momentum tensor with that constructed by Freedman, Muzinich, and Weinberg.     

Future atmospheric neutrino data from Super-Kamiokande

Expected sensitivity of future atmospheric neutrino data from Super-Kamiokande on neutrino oscillation physics is discussed. We expect that the accuracy of the sin ²θ₂₃ measurement will be improved with (exposure time) . By analyzing high energy fully contained events, it could be possible to statistically demonstrate the existence of charged current ν_τ interactions at the 3 standard deviation level with a few more years of data. Subdominant ν_μ → ν_e oscillations could be observed if θ₁₃ is near the present limit. However, significantly more data will be required to observe a 3 standard deviation effect.     

Extracting (α/π) Σa,μνGμνGμν from gauge theories on a lattice

The quantity G = (α/π) Σ_a,μνG_μν^aG_μν^a is extracted from Monte Carlo data for SU(2) lattice gauge theory We find G = 0.015 ± 0.002 GeV⁴.     

Line Positions and Intensities of the ν1+ ν2+ 3ν3, ν2+ 4ν3, and 3ν1+ 2ν2Bands of Ozone

Using a Fourier transform spectrometer, we have recorded the spectra of ozone in the region of 4600 cm⁻¹, with a resolution of 0.008 cm⁻¹. The strongest absorption in this region is due to the ν₁+ ν₂+ 3ν₃band which is in Coriolis interaction with the ν₂+ 4ν₃band. We have been able to assign more than 1700 transitions for these two bands. To correctly reproduce the calculation of energy levels, it has been necessary to introduce the (320) state which strongly perturbs the (113) and (014) states through Coriolis- and Fermi-type resonances. Seventy transitions of the 3ν₁+ 2ν₂band have also been observed. The final fit on 926 energy levels withJ_max= 50 andK_max= 16 gives RMS = 3.1 × 10⁻³cm⁻¹and provides a satisfactory agreement of calculated and observed upper levels for most of the transitions. The following values for band centers are derived: ν₀(ν₁+ ν₂+ 3ν₃) = 4658.950 cm⁻¹, ν₀(3ν₁+ 2ν₂) = 4643.821 cm⁻¹, and ν₀(ν₂+ 4ν₃) = 4632.888 cm⁻¹. Line intensities have been measured and fitted, leading to the determination of transition moment parameters for the two bands ν₁+ ν₂+ 3ν₃and ν₂+ 4ν₃. Using these parameters we have obtained the following estimations for the integrated band intensities,S_V(ν₁+ ν₂+ 3ν₃) = 8.84 × 10⁻²²,S_V(ν₂+ 4ν₃) = 1.70 × 10⁻²², andS_V(3ν₁+ 2ν₂) = 0.49 × 10⁻²²cm⁻¹/molecule cm⁻²at 296 K, which correspond to a cutoff of 10⁻²⁶cm⁻¹/molecule cm⁻².     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-Decay and the electric dipole moment: Searches for time-reversal violation in radioactive nuclei and atoms

One of the greatest successes of the Standard Model of particle physics is the explanation of time-reversal violation (TRV) in heavy mesons. It also implies that TRV is immeasurably small in normal nuclear matter. However, unifying models beyond the Standard Model predict TRV to be within reach of measurement in nuclei and atoms, thus opening an important window to search for new physics. We will discuss two complementary experiments sensitive to TRV: Correlations in the β-decay of ²¹Na and the search for an electric dipole moment (EDM) in radium.     

High-Resolution Infrared Spectroscopy of Methyl Isocyanide: The ν3, ν6, and ν7 + ν8 Bands

The vibration-rotation spectrum of methyl isocyanide (CH₃NC) has been recorded with the aid of a high-resolution Fourier transform spectrometer in the region 1370 to 1560 cm⁻¹ containing the perpendicular band of the fundamental vibration ν₆ (species E), the weaker parallel band of the ν₃ (A₁) fundamental, and the perpendicular combination band ν₇ + ν₈ (E) enhanced by Fermi resonance with ν₆. Sixteen hundred seventy well-resolved lines were assigned to 15 subbands of ν₆, 6 subbands of ν₃, and 3 subbands of ν⁻₇ + ν⁻₈. A strong x, y-Coriolis resonance between ν₃ and ν₆ and Fermi resonance between ν^±₆ and the E component ν₇ + ν₈, as well as between ν₃ and the A_1,2 components ν^±₇ + ν₈, greatly affects the spectrum. Additional weaker anharmonic interaction of ν₆ with the ν₄ + 2ν²₈ combination and higher-order rotational interactions connecting the various states were also detected in the spectrum. All of these interactions have been incorporated into a 9 × 9 Hamiltonian matrix used for modeling the upper states of the observed transitions. A set of spectroscopic constants is reported for the upper states of the bands ν₃, ν₆, and ν₇ + ν₈ and for ν₄ + 2ν²₈ which reproduces the observed lines with an overall standard deviation of 0.0012 cm⁻¹.     

Carbon suboxide as a semirigid bender

The semirigid bender Hamiltonian [Bunker and Landsberg, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 67, 374–385 (1977)] is used to fit the rotation-vibration energy level separations in the carbon suboxide molecule C₃O₂. We allow the CC bond lengths and CCO bond angles to change with the CCC bending angle ρ. A very good fit to the energy levels is obtained and, in particular, the B values are systematically fitted better than when the rigid bender is used. The dependence of the effective CCC bending potential function on the vibrations ν₂, ν₃, and ν₄ is determined, and we find that excitation of ν₃ or ν₄ raises the barrier to linearity whereas excitation of ν₂ lowers it. These results can be understood by considering the ρ dependence of the G-matrix elements. We determine that the barrier to CCC linearity in the zero-point vibrational state is 28 cm⁻¹ but until more data are available for the ν₁, ν₅, and ν₆ vibrations we cannot precisely determine the true barrier. However, it has been previously shown that the barrier is little affected by excitation of ν₁ or ν₅, and that it is reduced by 10–15 cm⁻¹ by excitation of ν₆. From these results we deduce that the barrier to CCC linearity in the true bending potential function is 33 cm⁻¹ with an uncertainty of about 5 cm⁻¹. Thus the equilibrium structure is bent at the central carbon atom; the equilibrium CCC angle is 157°.     

Analysis of the ν9/ν10 band system of allene

The infrared spectrum of allene has been recorded with high resolution (0.002-0.004 cm⁻¹) on a Fourier transform instrument in the region 730 to 1170 cm⁻¹ containing the perpendicular bands, ν₉ and ν₁₀. A total of 21 subbands with KΔK ranging from −6 to +14 have been assigned in the ν₉ band, and 26 subbands with KΔK = −10 to +15 have been assigned in the ν₁₀ band. The bands are affected by a combination of a J_z-Coriolis and a quartic anharmonic interaction between their upper states ν₉ and ν₁₀. In addition, several other more localized perturbations are found in the spectrum. The nature of the interactions responsible for these perturbations is discussed, and five of the strongest perturbations are quantitatively accounted for by constructing a Hamiltonian matrix which includes five different perturbing states and their Coriolis and anharmonic resonances with the ν₉ and ν₁₀ upper states. A set of spectroscopic constants for the ν₉ and ν₁₀ states and for some of the perturbing states is reported.     

Effects of superstrings in collisions

Superstring theory in d = 10 dimensions after Calabi—Yau compactification yields a minimum low-energy gauge group SU(3)_C × SU(2)_L × U(1)_Y × U(1)_E. The low-energy theory includes particles with the quantum numbers of 27 representations of E₆, each of which contains an extra neutrino ν^c conventionally called a “right-handed neutrino”. The contributions of ν and ν^c to through Z⁰ and Z_E mixing is calculated. Small contributions are found of the new right-handed neutrino and of the superstring boson Z_E to σ(e⁺e⁻ → γ + nothing).     

Soft photon problem in leptonic B-decays

We point out at the peculiarity of B→μν_μ decay, namely the enhancement of the soft photon events which originate from the structure dependent part of the B→μν_μγ amplitude. This may be a dominant source of systematic uncertainty and compromise the projected experimental uncertainty on Γ(B→μν_μ). We show that the effect of these soft photons can be controlled if the experimental cut on identification of soft photons is lowered and especially if the better resolution in identifying the momentum of muon emerging from B→μν_μ is made. A lattice QCD computation of the relevant form factors would be highly helpful for a better numerical control over the structure dependent soft photon emission.     

High-accuracy frequency atlas of 13C2H2 in the 1.5 μm region

A pair of 1.5 μm semiconductor laser frequency standards have been developed for optical telecommunications use, stabilised to Doppler-free transitions of the ν₁ + ν₃ and ν₁ + ν₂ + ν₄ + ν₅ combination bands of ¹³C₂H₂. The Allan deviation σ/f for a laser locked to line P(10) of the former band follows a slope of 1.6 × 10⁻¹²τ^−1/2, reaching a minimum of 5.7 × 10⁻¹⁴ at τ = 4000 s. The absolute frequencies of 61 lines of the ν₁ + ν₃ band and 43 lines of the ν₁ + ν₂ + ν₄ + ν₅ band, covering the spectral region 1520 nm to 1552 nm, have been measured by use of a combined frequency chain and femtosecond comb, together with a passive optical frequency comb generator. The mean uncertainties for the line frequencies within each band are 1.4 kHz for the ν₁ + ν₃ band and 1.9 kHz for the ν₁ + ν₂ + ν₄ + ν₅ band, representing improvements on the precision of previously published data by factors of 100 and 10⁴, respectively. Improved values of the rotational constant B″ and centrifugal distortion coefficients D″, H″ and L″ of the vibrational ground state are presented.This article is published with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen’s Printer of Scotland     

Flavour physics and CP violation

It is well known that the study of flavour physics and CP violation is very important to critically test the Standard Model and to look for possible signature of new physics beyond it. The observation of CP violation in kaon system in 1964 has ignited a lot of experimental and theoretical efforts to understand its origin and to look for CP violation effects in other systems besides the neutral kaons. The two B-factories BABAR and BELLE, along with other experiments, in the last decade or so made studies in flavour physics and CP violation a very interesting one. In this article we discuss the status and prospectives of the flavour physics associated with the strange, charm and bottom sectors of the Standard Model. The important results in kaon sector will be briefly discussed. Recently, mixing in the charm system has been observed, which was being pursued for quite some time without any success. The smallness of the mixing parameters in the charm system is due to the hierarchical structure of the CKM matrix. Interestingly, so far we have not found CP violation in the charm system but in the future, with more dedicated experiments at charm threshold, the situation could change. Many interesting observations have been made in the case of bottom mesons and some of them show some kind of deviations from that of the Standard Model expectations which are mainly associated with the b → s flavour changing neutral current transitions. It is long believed that the B _s system could be the harbinger of new physics since it is a system in which both bottom and strange quarks are the constituents. Recently, D0 and CDF announced their result for the B _s mixing which is claimed to be the first possible new physics signature in the flavour sector. We plan to touch upon all important issues pointing out both theoretical and experimental developments and future prospects in this review article.     

Gauge symmetry and supersymmetry in the Higgsless standard model

The group SO(6) ⊗ SO(5) is shown to be the gauge group as well as supersymmetry group of a four dimensional superstring model. Here, we discuss how supersymmetry is realised in 4-dimensions and further, we successfully reproduce the gauge symmetry results. Using the SO(6) ⊗ SO(5) group, all the known aspects of the string theory are obtained. The model reduces to the Standard Model which has the capability of containing the ingredients of a successful theory of the present day physics. However, there are no Higgs in the model.     

Analysis of the Coriolis-coupled band system of ν5, ν2, and 2ν3 of methyl-d3 iodide

The Coriolis-coupled band system of ν₅, ν₂, and 2ν₃ of CD₃I was analyzed by making use of all of the experimental data now available. These data included the high-resolution infrared spectra, microwave spectra, and laser Stark spectra. The analysis gave values, more precise than before, of the spectroscopic constants for ν₅, ν₂, and 2ν₃ and the interaction constants. The determination of the rotational constant A for 2ν₃ gave a value for , with which all of the α^A constants for CD₃I have been completed. These α^A values were incorporated with the known value of A₆ to give a value for A₀.