Explanations of the DAMPE high energy electron/positron spectrum in the dark matter annihilation and pulsar scenarios

Many studies have shown that either the nearby astrophysical source or dark matter(DM)annihilation/decay can be used to explain the excess of high energy cosmic ray(CR)e~±,which is detected by many experiments,such as PAMELA and AMS-02.Recently,the dark matter particle explorer(DAMPE)collaboration has reported its first result of the total CR e~±spectrum from 25 Ge V to 4.6 Te V with high precision.In this work,we study the DM annihilation and pulsar interpretations of this result.We show that the leptonic DM annihilation channels toτ~+τ~-,4μ,4τ,and mixed charged lepton final states can well explain the DAMPE e~±spectrum.We also find that the mixed charged leptons channel would lead to a sharp drop structure at～Te V.However,the ordinary DM explanations have been almost excluded by the constraints from the observations of gamma-ray and CMB,unless some exotic DM models are introduced.In the pulsar scenario,we analyze 21 nearby known pulsars and assume that one of them dominantly contributes to the high energy CR e~±spectrum.Involving the constraint from the Fermi-LAT observation of the e~±anisotropy,we find that two pulsars could explain the DAMPE e~±spectrum.Our results show that it is difficult to discriminate between the DM annihilation and single pulsar explanations of high energy e~±with the current DAMPE result.     

Antiproton-nucleus electromagnetic annihilation as a way to access the proton timelike form factors

Contrary to the reaction \( \bar{{p}}\) p \( \rightarrow\) e ⁺ e ^- with a high-momentum incident antiproton on a free target proton at rest, in which the invariant mass M of the e ⁺ e ^- pair is necessarily much larger than the \( \bar{{p}}\) p mass 2m , in the reaction \( \bar{{p}}\) d \( \rightarrow\) e ⁺ e ^- n the value of M can take values near or below the \( \bar{{p}}\) p mass. In the antiproton-deuteron electromagnetic annihilation, this allows to access the proton electromagnetic form factors in the timelike region of q² near the \( \bar{{p}}\) p threshold. We estimate the cross-section \(d\sigma _{\bar pd \to e^ + e^ - n} /d\mathcal{M}\) for an antiproton beam momentum of 1.5GeV/c. We find that near the \( \bar{{p}}\) p threshold this cross-section is about 1pb/MeV. The case of heavy-nuclei target is also discussed. Elements of experimental feasibility are presented for the process \( \bar{{p}}\) d \( \rightarrow\) e ⁺ e ^- n in the context of the \( \overline{{{\rm P}}}\) ANDA project.     

Tests of discrete symmetries with the neutral kaon system at the KLOE and KLOE-2 experiments

The KLOE-2 experiment continues and extends the program of its predecessor KLOE in the field of discrete symmetry tests with the K meson system, among other studies which comprise light meson spectroscopy, dark matter searches and γγ physics. Together, KLOE and KLOE-2 have recorded the largest sample (almost 8 fb^??1) of e⁺e^? collisions at the energy equal to ? meson mass, amounting to 2.4 × 10¹⁰ of produced ? mesons. We report on the latest results and ongoing analyses of KLOE and KLOE-2 concerning discrete symmetry tests and measurements of symmetry-violating observables. A measurement of the CPT violation sensitive asymmetry in semileptonic decays of K˙S with 1.7 fb^??1 of KLOE data will be presented, which improves the sensitivity w.r.t. previous measurements about twice. Moreover, status of direct tests of T and CPT in transitions of neutral kaons performed with the ? →K˙SK˙L → πeν, 3π⁰(2π) processes will be reported, followed by the search of the CP-violating decay K˙S → 3π⁰ using the data recently acquired by KLOE-2.     

Photoproduction of Triplets on Free Electrons and the Search for the Dark Photon

We have investigated the photoproduction of triplets on free electrons, γe^– → e⁺e^–e^–, in which dark photon A′ can be formed as an intermediate state with subsequent decay into an e⁺e^– pair. This effect appears as a result of the so-called kinetic mixing and is characterized by the small parameter describing the intensity of the interaction of the dark photon with charged Standard Model (SM) particles in terms of electric charge e. The search for a manifestation of A′ in this process is advantageous since the background to the A′ signal is purely electrodynamic and, hence, can be calculated with the required accuracy. We calculate this background taking into account the identity of final electrons. As regards A′, its contribution is taken into account only in Compton-type diagrams (of virtual Compton scattering) in which a virtual dark photon is a time-like particle and its propagator has the form of a Breit–Wigner resonance. It is only in the vicinity of resonance that A′ can be manifested. We calculate the invariant mass distribution of both e⁺e^– pairs formed in the process and analyze the kinematic region in which relatively small squares of momenta transferred from the target electron to the formed electrons are excluded. In these conditions, the contribution to the differential cross section from Compton-type diagrams is not suppressed relative to the contribution of the remaining (Borsellino) diagrams. A number of limitations on parameter depending on the dark photon mass and the statistics (number) of events are obtained for a special method of gathering events in which the invariant mass of one e⁺e^– pair remains fixed and of the other pair is scanned.     

Search for a light dark photon in muonium decay

About 0.85 × 10⁵ events involving stopped μ ⁺ and muonium decay were observed in a nuclear photoemulsion with the aim of searches for a light dark photon (DPh) in the decay process DPh → e ⁺ e ^?. With a probability of about 10^?5, no event of the decay μ⁺ → е ⁺ ν _μ ν _е accompanied by an electron–positron pair was observed. In the interval of 1.1 MeV ≤ m _DPh ≤ 60 MeV, the mixing parameter ε ² was estimated at about 10^?5 to 10^?4.     

Analysis of the production of Higgs boson pairs at the one-loop level in the minimal supersymmetric standard model

Within theminimal supersymmetric standardmodel, the amplitudes and total cross sections for the processes e ⁺ e ^? → hh, e ⁺ e ^? → hH, e ⁺ e ^? → HH, and e ⁺ e ^? → AA are calculated in the first order of perturbation theory with allowance for a complete set of one-loop diagrams in the m _e → 0 approximation. Analytic expressions are obtained for the quantities under consideration; numerical results are presented in a graphical form. It is shown that the cross section for the process e ⁺ e ^? → hh is larger than those for the other processes (and is on the same order of magnitude as the cross section for the corresponding processes in the Standard Model). In the case of the collision energy equal to √s = 500 GeV, an integrated luminosity in the region ∫ ? ≥ 500 fb^?1, and a longitudinal polarization of the e ⁺ e ? beams used, 520, 320, and 300 production events are possible in the processes e ⁺ e ^? → hh (at M _h = 115 GeV), e ⁺ e ^? → HH, and e ⁺ e ^? → AA (at M _H,A = 120 GeV), respectively. Even at M _H,A ≈ 500 GeV and √s = 1.5 TeV, not less than 200 events for each of the processes can be accumulated. The cross section for the process e ⁺ e ^? → hH is small (about 10^?2 fb), which complicates the detection of the sought signal significantly.     

Analytic calculation of feynman amplitudes

A new method is proposed for calculating amplitudes of processes involving spin-1/2 fermions. The method is based on the use of the isotropic-vierbein vectors in Minkowski space and the basis spinors associated with them. The amplitudes for the electron-positron interaction processes e^?e⁺ → ff and e^?e⁺ → W^?W⁺ and the amplitude for one of the possible diagrams for the process e⁺e^? → e⁺e^?e⁺e^?e⁺e^? are calculated in order to test and illustrate the potential of the method.     

Measurement of cross sections for processes involving <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>+</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>−</Superscript> annihilation to hadrons at the VEPP-2M collider

Results obtained by measuring, in experiments at the VEPP-2M e ⁺ e ^? collider with the CMD-2 and SND detectors at the Novosibirsk Institute of Nuclear Physics, cross sections for e ⁺ e ^? → hadrons annihilation processes at energies in the range 360 ≤ √s ≤ 1380 MeV are surveyed. The measured cross sections and the vector-meson parameters deduced from an analysis of these cross sections are presented. The cross section for the process e ⁺ e ^? → π ⁺ π ^? is compared with the spectral function for the decay τ ^? → π ^? π ⁰ ν _τ.     

Separation of electrons and pions in the SND detector calorimeter

A method is developed for discriminating between e⁺e^? → e⁺e^? and e⁺e^? → π⁺π^? events in the center-of-mass (cms) energy range of 0.5 to 1.0 GeV by energy deposition in the electromagnetic calorimeter of the SND detector using a machine learning algorithm. Identification efficiencies for e⁺e^? → e⁺e^? and e⁺e^? → π⁺π^? events are 99.6 and 99.8%, respectively.     

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.     

Proj ect for m easuri ng th e n eutro n el ectromag n etic form factor i n th e r eactio n e+ e− → n$$ \bar n $$ at th e VEPP-2000 collid er

A project aimed at measuring the neutron electromagnetic form factor in the reaction e ⁺ e ^? → n \(\bar n\) with the SND detector at the VEPP-2000 e ⁺ e ^? collider is presented. The results obtained for the time resolution of the NaI(Tl) counter using flash-ADC are reported along with estimates of the efficiency of separation of neutron-antineutron events.     

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.     

37 Years with the light scalar mesons. The learned lessons

Attention is paid to the production mechanisms of light scalars that reveal their nature. We reveal the chiral shielding of the σ(600) meson. We show that the kaon loop mechanism of the ? radiative decays, ratified by experiment, is four-quark transition and points to the four-quark nature of light scalars. We show also that the light scalars are produced in the two photon collisions via four-quark transitions in contrast to the classic P wave tensor qq? mesons that are produced via two-quark transitions γγ → qq?. We study the mechanism of production of the light scalar mesons in the D _s ⁺ → π⁺π^? e ⁺ν decays: D _s ⁺ → ss?e ⁺ν → [σ(600) + f ₀(980)]e ⁺ν → π⁺π^? e ⁺ν, and compare it with the mechanism of production of the light pseudoscalar mesons in the D _s ⁺ → (η/η′)e ⁺ν decays: D _s ⁺ → ss?e ⁺ν → (η/η′)e ⁺ν. As a result we find support to four-quark nature of light scalars. In the end, we outline the future research program.     

Energy scan of cross sections for <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>+</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Superscript>–</Superscript> annihilation into quarkonia and light hadrons in the Belle experiment

The cross sections of the reactions e⁺e^– → ?(nS)π⁺π^? (n = 1, 2,3) and e⁺e^– → h _b (nP)π⁺π^? (n = 1, 2) are measured as a function of the cms collision energy from their thresholds up to 11.02 GeV using the data of the Belle experiment operating at the KEKB e⁺e^– collider. The peaks of the ?(10 860) and ?(11020) resonances are observed in the cross sections with an insignificant contribution of the continuum. The decay ?(11020) → h _b (nP)π⁺π^? is found to fully proceed through intermediate isovector states Z _b (10610) and Z _b (10650).     

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.     

Proc ess es e+ e− → cccc and e+ e− → J/ψ + gg at $$\sqrt s = 10.59 G eV$$

Experimental data obtained by the BELLE Collaboration for inclusive J/ψ production in the processes e⁺e^? → J/ψ + gg and e⁺e^? → J/ψ + cc are discussed. These data are compared with the predictions of perturbative QCD that were obtained by two methods, that which employs information about the J/ψ wave function and that which relies on the hypothesis of quark-hadron duality exclusively. Both computational methods yield results that disagree with the experimental data considerably. The dependence of the cross section for the process e⁺e^? → J/ψ + gg on the effective gluon mass is studied. The cross section for the production of doubly charmed baryons Ξ _cc ^* is estimated.     

On the binding of atoms with antiatoms

The stability of X⁺Y⁺X^?Y^? Coulomb molecules consisting of X⁺Y^? atoms and X^?Y⁺ antiatoms to dissociation is studied. On the basis of multiparameter variational calculations, it is found that such molecules are stable to dissociation into X⁺X^? atoms and Y⁺Y^? antiatoms if the mass ratio of particles X and Y lies in the range 0.4710<m _X /m _Y <2.1231. The e⁺e⁺e^?e^?, π⁺μ⁺π^?μ^?, t⁺d⁺t^?d^?, p⁺K⁺p^?K^?, and d⁺p⁺d^?p^? molecules satisfy this condition.     

CP violation at colliders

The prospects of experimental detection ofCP violation ate ⁺ e ^? and\(pp/p\bar p\) colliders are reviewed. After a general discussion on the quantities which can measureCP violation and on the implications of theCPT theorem, various possibilities of measuringCP violation arising outside the standard model are taken up.CP violation in leptonic processes, especially polarization effects ine ⁺ e ^?→l ⁺ l ^? are discussed next.CP violation in\(t\overline t \) andW ⁺ W ^? production and decay is also described.     

Determination of quark-antiquark component of the photon wave function for <Emphasis Type="Italic">u,d, s</Emphasis> quarks

Based on the data for the transitions π⁰, η, η′ → γγ*(Q²) and reactions of the e⁺e^? annihilations e⁺e^? → ρ⁰, ω, ? and e⁺e^? → hadrons at 1<E _e+e? <3.7 GeV, we determine the light-quark components of the photon wave function \(\gamma * (Q^2 ) \to q\bar q(q = u,d,s)\) for the region 0 ? Q² ? 1 (GeV/c)².     

Effects of four-fermion contact interactions in the Bhabha process at linear electron-positron colliders

For the case of longitudinally polarized primary beams, effects are investigated that are induced by four-fermion contact interactions in the process e⁺e^? → e⁺e^? occurring at linear electron-positron colliders of energy in the range \(\sqrt s = 0.5 - 1 TeV\). Model-independent constraints on the parameters of four-fermion contact interactions are obtained. It is shown that the sensitivity of the Bhabha process to the parameter Λ_LR is considerably higher than the sensitivity of the leptonic process e⁺e^? → μ⁺μ^?; at the same time, the sensitivities of these processes to the parameters Λ_RR and Λ_LL are commensurate.