Dominant decays of scalar leptoquarks and scalar gluons in the minimal four-color symmetry model

Fermionic and weak decays of the scalar leptoquarks S = S ₁ ⁽⁺⁾ , S ₁ ^(?) , and S _m and the scalar gluons F = F ₁ and F ₂ predicted by the minimal model involving four-color symmetry and the Higgs mechanism of quark-and lepton-mass splitting are considered. The widths and the branching ratios are calculated for these decays, and the results are analyzed versus the couplings and masses of decaying particles. It is shown that, at relatively small mass splittings Δm within scalar doublets (Δm < m _W), the fermionic decays S ₁ ⁽⁺⁾ → tl _j ⁺ , S ₁ ^(?) → v _i \(\tilde b\), S _m → t \(\tilde \nu \) _j, F ₁ → t \(\tilde b\), and F ₂ → t \(\tilde t\), which are characterized by few-GeV widths for m _S, m _F < 1 TeV and decay branching ratios close to unity, are dominant, but that, for Δm > m _W, the weak decays S → S′W and F → F’W compete with the above fermionic decays. In the case of m _S < m _t, the processes S ₁ ⁽⁺⁾ → cl _j ⁺ , S ₁ ^(?) → v _i \(\tilde b\), S _m → bl _j ⁺ , and S _m → c \(\tilde \nu \) _j, whose total branching ratios are Br(S ₁ ⁽⁺⁾ → cl ⁺) ≈ Br(S ₁ ^(?) → v \(\tilde b\)) ≈ 1, Br(S _m → bl ⁺) ≈ 0.9, and Br(S _m → c \(\tilde \nu \)) ≈ 0.1, appear to be dominant decays of scalar leptoquarks. Searches for these decays at LHC and the Tevatron are of interest.     

The Elusive p-air cross section

For the \(\bar pp\) and pp systems, we have used all of the extensive data of the Particle Data Group [K. Hagiwara et al. (Particle Data Group), Phys. Rev. D 66, 010001 (2002)]. We then subject these data to a screening process, the “Sieve” algorithm [M. M. Block, physics/0506010], in order to eliminate “ outliers” that can skew a χ² fit. With the “Sieve” algorithm, a robust fit using a Lorentzian distribution is first made to all of the data to sieve out abnormally high Δχ _i ² , the individual i^th point’s contribution to the total χ². The χ² fits are then made to the sieved data. We demonstrate that we cleanly discriminate between asymptotic ln s and ln² s behavior of total hadronic cross sections when we require that these amplitudes also describe, on average, low energy data dominated by resonances. We simultaneously fit real analytic amplitudes to the “sieved” high energy measurements of \(\bar pp\) and pp total cross sections and ρ-values for \(\sqrt s \) ≥ GeV, while requiring that their asymptotic fits smoothly join the the σ _pp and σ_pp total cross sections at \(\sqrt s \) = 4.0 GeV—again both in magnitude and slope. Our results strongly favor a high energy ln² s fit, basically excluding a ln s fit. Finally, we make a screened Glauber fit for the p-air cross section, using as input our precisely-determined pp cross sections at cosmic ray energies.     

$$\bar K$$ optical potential at finite temperatureoptical potential at finite temperature

The \(\bar K\) optical potential is microscopically calculated from the \(\bar K\)N effective interaction in nuclear matter at T=0 and finite temperature, with the aim to adapt our calculations to the experimental conditions in heavy-ion collisions. In the rank of densities (0-2_ρ0), the finite temperature \(\bar K\) optical potential shows a smoother behaviour compared to the T=0 case. The model has also been applied to the study of the ratio between K⁺ and K^? produced at GSI with T around 70 MeV. The results point at the necessity of introducing an attractive \(\bar K\) optical potential.     

VEPP-2000 project: Collider,detectors, and physics program

The new VEPP-2000 e⁺e^? collider of maximum energy 2000 MeV, which is under construction at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics (Siberian Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk), is briefly described. Experiments at VEPP-2000 will be performed with two upgraded detectors, CMD-2M and SND. A precise measurement of the total cross section for the process e⁺e^? → hadrons and of the partial cross sections for its exclusive hadronic channels is the main point of the physics program for this machine. These measurements will be aimed at testing QCD and the VMD and CVC models, as well as at refining the hadron contribution to fundamental constants such as the muon anomalous magnetic moment \(a_\mu = \frac{{g - 2}}{2}\) and the fine-structure constant α_em(M _Z ² ). Measurements of the nucleon form factors in the reactions e⁺e^? → p\(\bar p\), n\(\bar n\) at their threshold will also be of great importance.     

Pentaquarks—status report

I discuss the recent experimental and theoretical developments following the discovery of the 8⁺ pentaquark, an exoticuudd \(\bar s\) baryon resonance observed in theKN channel by several experiments, and an exotic Ξ^*?? (ddss \(\bar u\)) reported by NA49 at CERN. I focus on the theoretical interpretation of the data, both in terms of quark and chiral degrees of freedom, on the predictions for related exotic states, and on several unresolved questions raised by the experimental data, such as why some experiments observe the pentaquarks and other don't, the apparently extremely narrow width of the Θ⁺ and the determination of its parity. I also describe the likely properties of the proposed heavy-quark pentaquarks, an anticharmed exotic baryon Θ _c uudd \(\bar c\) and Θ _b ⁺ (uudd \(\bar b\)) which are expected to be extremely narrow or even stable against strong decays. H1 recently reported observation of a possible Θ _c candidate inD ^*? p channel. Pentaquarks are also being searched for ine ⁺ e ^? annihilation and γγ collisions in the LEP data and atB-factories.     

Ds+ → π+ π+ π− decay: The $$1^3 P_0 s\bar s$$ component in scalar-isoscalar mesons

We calculate the processes \(D_s^ + \to \pi ^ + s\bar s\) and D _s ⁺ → π⁺resonance, respectively, in the spectator and W-annihilation mechanisms. The data on the reaction D _s ⁺ → π⁺ρ⁰, which is due to the W-annihilation mechanism only, point to a negligibly small contribution of the W annihilation to the production of scalar-isoscalar resonances D _s ⁺ ?π⁺f₀. As to spectator mechanism, we evaluate the \(1^3 P_0 s\bar s\) component in the resonances f₀(980), f₀(1300), and f₀(1500) and broad state f₀(1200–1600) on the basis of data on the decay ratios D _s ⁺ ?π⁺f₀/(D _s ⁺ ?π⁺_θ). The data point to a large \(s\bar s\) component in the \(f_0 (980):40 \lesssim s\bar s \lesssim 70\% \). Nearly 30% of the \(1^3 P_0 s\bar s\) component flows to the mass region 1300–1500 MeV, being shared by f₀(1300), f₀(1500), and broad state f₀(1200–1600): the interference of these states results in a peak near 1400 MeV with the width around 200 MeV. Our calculations show that the yield of the radial-excitation state\(2^3 P_0 s\bar s\)is relatively suppressed, \({{\Gamma (D_s^ + \to \pi ^ + (2^3 P_0 s\bar s))} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\Gamma (D_s^ + \to \pi ^ + (2^3 P_0 s\bar s))} {\Gamma (D_s^ + \to \pi ^ + (1^3 P_0 s\bar s))}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\Gamma (D_s^ + \to \pi ^ + (1^3 P_0 s\bar s))}} \lesssim 0.05\).     

Influence of photon-neutrino processes on the cooling of a magnetar

The influence of a strongly magnetized dense plasma on the photon-neutrino processes γe ^± → e ^±ν\(\bar \nu \), γ → ν\(\bar \nu \), and γγ → ν\(\bar \nu \) is considered; invariant amplitudes of the γe ^± → e ^±ν\(\bar \nu \) and γγ → ν\(\bar \nu \) reactions are calculated. The contributions from these processes to the neutrino luminosity are calculated in the special case of a cold plasma. Under these conditions, the contribution from the process γ → ν\(\bar \nu \) to the neutrino emissivity is shown to be strongly suppressed compared to the contributions from the photoneutrino and photon conversion processes. Since the neutron star cooling curve can be modified through a change of the neutrino luminosity in a strong magnetic field, the magnetic field strength in the outer crust of the magnetar is assumed to be constrained.     

The Fermi–Pasta–Ulam Problem and Its Underlying Integrable Dynamics: An Approach Through Lyapunov Exponents

FPU models, in dimension one, are perturbations either of the linear model or of the Toda model; perturbations of the linear model include the usual \(\beta \)-model, perturbations of Toda include the usual \(\alpha +\beta \) model. In this paper we explore and compare two families, or hierarchies, of FPU models, closer and closer to either the linear or the Toda model, by computing numerically, for each model, the maximal Lyapunov exponent \(\chi \). More precisely, we consider statistically typical trajectories and study the asymptotics of \(\chi \) for large N (the number of particles) and small \(\varepsilon \) (the specific energy E / N), and find, for all models, asymptotic power laws \(\chi \simeq C\varepsilon ^a\), C and a depending on the model. The asymptotics turns out to be, in general, rather slow, and producing accurate results requires a great computational effort. We also revisit and extend the analytic computation of \(\chi \) introduced by Casetti, Livi and Pettini, originally formulated for the \(\beta \)-model. With great evidence the theory extends successfully to all models of the linear hierarchy, but not to models close to Toda.     

Neutron-antineutron oscillations in the trapping box

The problem of n-\(\bar n\) oscillations for ultracold neutrons confined within a trap is reexamined. It is shown that the growth of the \(\bar n\) component with time is to a decent accuracy given by \(P(\bar n) = \varepsilon _{n\bar n}^2 t_L t\), where \(\varepsilon _{n\bar n}\) is the mixing parameter and t _L ～ 1 s is the neutron propagation time between subsequent collisions with the trap walls. Possible corrections to this law and open questions are discussed.     

Associative open charm photoproduction $$\gamma + N \to Y_c + \bar D_c (\bar D_c^ * ), Y_c = \Lambda _c^ + or \Sigma _c $$

We analyze polarization effects in associative photoproduction of pseudoscalar\((\bar D_c )\) and vector\((\bar D_c^ * )\) charmed mesons in exclusive processes\(\gamma + N \to Y_c + \bar D_c , Y_c = \Lambda _c^ + , \Sigma _c \). We calculate the differential cross section and all polarization observables in framework of au effective Lagrangian approach. In case of collinear kinematics it is possible to give model independent predictions for polarization observables in case of\(\bar D_c \) production, and the analysis for\(\bar D_c^ * \) is largely simplified.     

Formation of microcracks in an indented Ti<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al intermetallic compound

Microcracks in the Ti₃Al alloy indented at room temperature have been analyzed by electron microscopy. Analysis of the microstructure has revealed that microcracks propagate in the {0\(\overline 1 \)11} pyramidal planes and in the slip bands of the 2c + a superdislocations in the {20\(\overline 2 \)1} and {11\(\overline 2 \)1} pyramidal planes. It is found that the formation of a slip band in the basal plane at the microcrack tip leads to a change in the character of microcrack propagation from straight-line to steplike.     

Condensates in quantum chromodynamics

The paper presents a short review of our knowledge today on vacuum condensates in quantum chromodynamics (QCD). The condensates are defined as vacuum averages of the operators which arise due to nonperturbative effects. The important role of condensates in determining physical properties of hadrons and of their low-energy interactions in QCD is underlined. The special value of the quark condensate, connected to the existence of baryon masses, is mentioned. Vacuum condensates induced by external fields are discussed. QCD at low energy is checked on the basis of the data on hadronic τ decay. In theoretical analysis, the terms of perturbation theory (PT) up to α _s ³ are accounted for; in the operator product expansion (OPE), those up to dimension 8. The total probability of the decay τ → hadrons (with zero strangeness) and of the τ-decay structure functions are best described at α _s (m _τ ² )=0.330±0.025. It is shown that the Borel sum rules for τ-decay structure functions along the rays in the q ²-complex plane are in agreement with experiment, having an accuracy of ～2% at the values of the Borel parameter |M ²|>0.8 GeV². The magnitudes of dimension 6 and 8 condensates were found, and the limitations on gluon condensates were obtained. The sum rules for the charmed-quark vector-current polarization operator were analyzed in three loops (i.e., in order α _s ² ). The value of the charmed-quark mass (in an \(\overline {MS} \) regularization scheme) was found to be \(\bar m_c (\bar m_c^2 ) = 1.275 \pm 0.015\) GeV, and the value of gluon condensate was estimated as 〈0|(α _s/π)G ²|0〉=0.009±0.007 GeV⁴. The general conclusion is that the QCD described by PT + OPE is in good agreement with experiment at Q ²?1 GeV².     

On the structure of the von Neumann algebras generated by local functions of the free bose field

It is shown that the von Neumann algebra\(R_\mathfrak{B} \)(B) generated by any scalar local functionB(x) of the free fieldA ₀(x) is equal either to\(R_\mathfrak{B} \)(A ₀) or to\(R_\mathfrak{B} \)(:A ₀ ² :). The latter statement holds if the state space space\(\mathfrak{H}_B \) obtained from the vacuum state by repeated application ofB(x) is orthogonal to the one particle subspace. In the proof of these statements, space-time limiting techniques are used.     

Generalized polarizabilities of the nucleon in baryon chiral perturbation theory

The nucleon generalized polarizabilities (GPs), probed in virtual Compton scattering (VCS), describe the spatial distribution of the polarization density in a nucleon. They are accessed experimentally via the process of electron–proton bremsstrahlung (\(ep\rightarrow ep\gamma \)) at electron-beam facilities, such as MIT-Bates, CEBAF (Jefferson Lab), and MAMI (Mainz). We present the calculation of the nucleon GPs and VCS observables at next-to-leading order in baryon chiral perturbation theory (B\(\chi \)PT), and confront the results with the empirical information. At this order our results are predictions, in the sense that all the parameters are well known from elsewhere. Within the relatively large uncertainties of our calculation we find good agreement with the experimental observations of VCS and the empirical extractions of the GPs. We find large discrepancies with previous chiral calculations – all done in heavy-baryon \(\chi \)PT (HB\(\chi \)PT) – and discuss the differences between B\(\chi \)PT and HB\(\chi \)PT responsible for these discrepancies.     

Effective conductivity of 2D isotropic two-phase systems in a magnetic field

Using the linear fractional transformation, which connects the effective conductivities \(\hat \sigma _e \) of isotropic two-phase systems with and without magnetic field, explicit approximate expressions for \(\hat \sigma _e \) in a magnetic field are obtained. They allow one to describe \(\hat \sigma _e \) of various inhomogeneous media at arbitrary phase concentrations x and magnetic fields. The x-dependence plots of \(\hat \sigma _e \) at some values of inhomogeneity and magnetic field are constructed. Their behavior is qualitatively compatible with the existing experimental data. The obtained results are applicable to different two-phase systems (regular and irregular as well as random), which satisfy the symmetry and self-duality conditions, and admit direct experimental checking.     

Calculation of the fine structure of the triplet state $$\tilde a^3 A_2 $$ of the ozone molecule by the method of multiconfiguration self-consistent field

The zero-field splitting of the \(\tilde a^3 A_2 \) state of the O₃ molecule is interpreted on the basis of ab initio quantum-chemical calculations. The spin—orbit coupling with the ground X¹A₁ state is shown to make the main contribution to the zero-field splitting of the \(\tilde a^3 A_2 \) term (the state of the ³σπ type). The calculated parameters D and E agree well with experiment.     

Schrödinger equation in multiply connected spaces and phase optics

The magnetic vector potential\(\vec A\) in a field free spaceR ₀ cannot be removed by gauge transformations in general, ifR ₀ is multiply connected.Aharonov andBohm ¹ have noticed recently that\(\vec A\) therefore should have more physical meaning than only to give the magnetic field by differentiation. They could show that\(\vec A\) inR ₀ may influence the phase ofSchrödinger'sψ-function in an observable manner. We want to point out here that this influence can be expressed in a simple, general form: “A closed magnetic field line operates uponψ like ae Φ/?-phase-shifter placed on any area bounded by the field line.” Surface like phase shifters are familiar in phase optics. There exists a narrow relationship between electron scattering at magnetic fields and some special problems of phase optics. An electron phase contrast microscope is discussed.     

Pentaquark decay is suppressed by chirality conservation

It is shown that, if the pentaquark \(\Theta ^ + = uudd\bar s\) baryon can be represented by the local quark current η_Θ, its decay Θ⁺→nK⁺(pK⁰) is forbidden in the limit of chirality conservation. The Θ⁺ decay width Γ is proportional to \(\alpha _s^2 \left\langle {0\left| {\bar qq} \right|0} \right\rangle ^2\), where \(\left\langle {0\left| {\bar qq} \right|0} \right\rangle ,q = u,d,s\), is quark condensate, and, therefore, is strongly suppressed. The polarization operator of the pentaquark current is calculated using the operator product expansion. The Θ⁺ mass found by the QCD sum rules method is in reasonable agreement with experiment.     

Determination of the effective nuclear charge for free ions of transition metals from experimental spectra

The refined set of values of the effective nuclear charge (\(\bar Z_{ef} \)) and the set of one-electron spin-orbital constants (ξ _3d ^teor ) are obtained for ions of transition metals with the help of a semiempirical method of calculation of the spectrum of free ions with allowance for the spin-orbital interaction. The effective nuclear charge, which is a variable theoretical parameter, was determined from a comparison of theoretically calculated ion absorption spectra with experimental ones. The form of the potential for the calculation of the spin-orbital constant was chosen such that the calculated value ξ _3d ^teor would coincide with the experimental one ξ _3d ^exp . The calculated set of values \(\bar Z_{ef} \), ξ _3d ^teor } can be used in semiempirical calculations of energy levels of 3d ions (ions with an incomplete 3d shell).     

Pion decay constants in a strong magnetic field

Decay constants of the charged and neutral pions in magnetic field are considered in the framework of the effective quark-antiquark lagrangian respecting Gell-Mann–Oakes–Renner (GOR) relations at zero field. The \(\sqrt {\frac{{{e_q}B}}{\sigma }} \) dependence is found in strong fields e_qB ? σ for the neutral pion, while the charged pion constant decreases as \(\sqrt {\frac{\sigma }{{{e_q}B}}} \).