Measurement of the masses and lifetimes of the charmed mesonsD 0,D + andD s +

We present the final results on the measurement of the masses and lifetimes of the mesonsD ⁰,D ⁺ andD _s ⁺ in the NA32 experiment at the CERN SPS, using silicon microstrip detectors and charge-coupled devices for vertex reconstruction. We measure the following lifetimes: \(\tau _{D^0 } = 3.88 \pm _{0.21}^{0.23} \cdot 10^{ - 13} s\) using a sample of 479D°→K ^?π⁺π^?π⁺ and 162D°→K ^?π⁺ decays; \(\tau _{D^ + } = 10.5 \pm _{0.72}^{0.77} \cdot 10^{ - 13} s\) with a sample of 317D ⁺→K ^?π⁺π⁺ decays; \(\tau _{D_s^ + } = 4.69 \pm _{0.86}^{1.02} \cdot 10^{ - 13} s\) with a sample of 54D _s ⁺ →K ⁺ K ^?π⁺ decays. We measure the following masses:m _D ⁰=1864.6±0.3±1.0 MeV,m _D ⁺=1870.0±0.5±1.0 MeV and \(m_{D_s^ + } \) =1967.0±1.0±1.0 MeV.     

Three-loop on-shell charge renormalization without integration:\Lambda _{QED}^{\overline {MS} } to four loops

Using algebraic methods, we find the three-loop relation between the bare and physical couplings of one-flavourD-dimensional QED, in terms of Γ functions and a singleF ₃₂ series, whose expansion nearD=4 is obtained, by wreath-product transformations, to the order required for five-loop calculations. Taking the limitD→4, we find that the \(\overline {MS} \) coupling \(\bar \alpha (\mu )\) satisfies the boundary condition $$\begin{gathered} \frac{{\bar \alpha (m)}}{\pi } = \frac{\alpha }{\pi } + \frac{{15}}{{16}}\frac{{\alpha ^3 }}{{\pi ^3 }} + \left\{ {\frac{{11}}{{96}}\zeta (3) - \frac{1}{3}\pi ^2 \log 2} \right. \hfill \\ \left. { + \frac{{23}}{{72}}\pi ^2 - \frac{{4867}}{{5184}}} \right\}\frac{{\alpha ^4 }}{{\pi ^4 }} + \mathcal{O}(\alpha ^5 ), \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ wherem is the physical lepton mass and α is the physical fine structure constant. Combining this new result for the finite part of three-loop on-shell charge renormalization with the recently revised four-loop term in the \(\overline {MS} \) β-function, we obtain $$\begin{gathered} \Lambda _{QED}^{\overline {MS} } \approx \frac{{me^{3\pi /2\alpha } }}{{(3\pi /\alpha )^{9/8} }}\left( {1 - \frac{{175}}{{64}}\frac{\alpha }{\pi } + \left\{ { - \frac{{63}}{{64}}\zeta (3)} \right.} \right. \hfill \\ \left. { + \frac{1}{2}\pi ^2 \log 2 - \frac{{23}}{{48}}\pi ^2 + \frac{{492473}}{{73728}}} \right\}\left. {\frac{{\alpha ^2 }}{{\pi ^2 }}} \right), \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ at the four-loop level of one-flavour QED.     

Neutralb→c non leptonic decays and their role in the search forB→K *γ

We estimate the rates ofB ⁰ decays into neutral charmed final states \(B^0 \to \overline {D^{ * 0} } \gamma ,B^0 \to \overline {D^{ * 0} } \pi ^0 ,B^0 \to \overline {D^0 } \pi ^0 ,B^0 \to \overline {D^0 } \omega \) , by considering factorizable, vector meson dominance and long distance contributions. We also discuss the role of these decay modes as a source of background events in the search for exclusiveb→sγ transitions in very high energy experiments, e.g. at LEP.     

Neutral strange particle exclusive production in charged current high-energy antineutrino interactions

The cross section of the quasi-elastic reactions \(\bar v_\mu p \to \mu ^ + \Lambda (\Sigma ^0 )\) in the energy range 5–100 GeV is determined from Fermilab 15′ bubble chamber antineutrino data. TheQ ² analysis of quasi-elastic Λ events yieldsM _A=1.0±0.3 GeV/c² for the axial mass value. With zero µΛ K ⁰ events observed, the 90% confidence level upper limit \(\sigma (\bar v_\mu p \to \mu ^ + \Lambda {\rm K}^0 )< 2.0 \cdot 10^{ - 40} cm^2 \) is obtained. At the same time, we found that the cross section of reaction \(\bar v_\mu p \to \mu ^ + \Lambda {\rm K}^0 + m\pi ^0 \) is equal to \(\left( {3.9\begin{array}{*{20}c} { + 1.6} \\ { - 1.3} \\ \end{array} } \right) \cdot 10^{ - 40} cm^2 \) .     

Three-loop relation of quark\overline {MS} and pole masses

We calculate, exactly, the next-to-leading correction to the relation between the \(\overline {MS} \) quark mass, \(\bar m\) , and the scheme-independent pole mass,M, and obtain $$\begin{gathered} \frac{M}{{\bar m(M)}} \approx 1 + \frac{4}{3}\frac{{\bar \alpha _s (M)}}{\pi } + \left[ {16.11 - 1.04\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N_F - 1} {(1 - M_i /M)} } \right] \hfill \\ \cdot \left( {\frac{{\bar \alpha _s (M)}}{\pi }} \right)^2 + 0(\bar \alpha _s^3 (M)), \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ as an accurate approximation forN _F?1 light quarks of massesM _i <M. Combining this new result with known three-loop results for \(\overline {MS} \) coupling constant and mass renormalization, we relate the pole mass to the \(\overline {MS} \) mass, \(\bar m\) (μ), renormalized at arbitrary μ. The dominant next-to-leading correction comes from the finite part of on-shell two-loop mass renormalization, evaluated using integration by parts and checked by gauge invariance and infrared finiteness. Numerical results are given for charm and bottom \(\overline {MS} \) masses at μ=1 GeV. The next-to-leading corrections are comparable to the leading corrections.     

Characteristics of π−,\bar p,and antinuclei frompp collisions

An investigation of inclusivepp→π^?+? in terms of the covariant Boltzmann factor (BF) including the chemical potential μ indicates a) that the temperatureT increases less rapidly than expected from Stefan's law, b) that a scaling property holds for the fibreball velocity of π^? secondaries, leading to a multiplicity law like ～E _cm ^1/2 at high energy, and c) that μ_π is related to the quark mass: μ_π=2m _q ?m _π the quark massm _q determined by \(T_{\pi ^ - } \) at \(\bar pp\) threshold beingm _q =3T_π?330 MeV. Because ofthreshold effects \(T_{\bar p}< T_{\pi ^ - } \) , whereas \({{\mu _p } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\mu _p } {\mu _{\pi ^ - } }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\mu _{\pi ^ - } }} \simeq {3 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {3 2}} \right. \kern-0em} 2}\) as expected from the quark contents of \(\bar p\) and π. The antinuclei \(\bar d\) and \({{\bar t} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\bar t} {\overline {He^3 } }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\overline {He^3 } }}\) observed inpp events are formed by coalescence of \(\bar p\) and \(\bar n\) produced in thepp collision. Semi-empirical formulae are proposed to estimate multiplicities of π^?, \(\bar p\) and antinuclei.     

Isomeric states in134Ba

Several new levels including two isomeric states have been established in¹³⁴Ba. Spin and parity assignments of 10⁺ and 5^? are proposed for the isomers. The former may have a \(\left( {vh_{1 1/2} } \right)_{10^ + } \) configuration while the latter may be either \((vs_{{1 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 2}} \right. \kern-0em} 2}} vh_{{{11} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{11} 2}} \right. \kern-0em} 2}} )_{5 - } \) or \(\left( {vd_{3/2} vh_{1 1/2} } \right)_{5^ - } \) .     

A coupled-channel treatment of Cabibbo-angle favoured (D,D s + )→VP decays

We have performed a two-channel calculation of Cabibbo-angle favoured decays,D _s ⁺ →VP. We find a satisfactory fit toS _s ⁺ →φπ ⁺,ρ ⁰ π ⁺ andK ⁺ \(\bar K^{ * 0} \) data from ARGUS and E-691. We have also studied Cabbibo-angle favouredD→VP decays in a coupled channel formalism. We coupleD→K ^*π,K _? and \(\bar K^0 \phi \) channels inI=1/2 state, andK ^*π andK _? channels inI=3/2 state. We leave the two channels, \(\bar K^0 \omega \) and \(\bar K^{ * 0} \eta \) out of our unitarization scheme. Particular attention is paid to the role of the weak annihilation term in these decays.     

Light quark masses in quantum chromodynamics and chiral symmetry breaking

We derive model independent lower bounds for the sums of effective quark masses \(\bar m_u + \bar m_d \) and \(\bar m_u + \bar m_s \) . The bounds follow from the combination of the spectral representation properties of the hadronic axial currents two-point functions and their behavior in the deep euclidean region (known from a perturbative QCD calculation to two loops and the leading non-perturbative contribution). The bounds incorporate PCAC in the Nambu-Goldstone version. If we define the invariant masses \(\hat m\) by $$\bar m_i = \hat m_i \left( {{{\frac{1}{2}\log Q^2 } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\frac{1}{2}\log Q^2 } {\Lambda ^2 }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\Lambda ^2 }}} \right)^{{{\gamma _1 } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\gamma _1 } {\beta _1 }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\beta _1 }}} $$ and <F ²> is the vacuum expectation value of $$F^2 = \Sigma _a F_{(a)}^{\mu v} F_{\mu v(a)} $$ , we find, e.g., $$\hat m_u + \hat m_d \geqq \sqrt {\frac{{2\pi }}{3} \cdot \frac{{8f_\pi m_\pi ^2 }}{{3\left\langle {\alpha _s F^2 } \right\rangle ^{{1 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 2}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 2}} }}} $$ ; with the value <α _u F ²?0.04GeV⁴, recently suggested by various analysis, this gives $$\hat m_u + \hat m_d \geqq 35MeV$$ . The corresponding bounds on \(\bar m_u + \bar m_s \) are obtained replacingm _π ² f _π bym _K ² f _K . The PCAC relation can be inverted, and we get upper bounds on the spontaneous masses, \(\hat \mu \) : $$\hat \mu \leqq 170MeV$$ where \(\hat \mu \) is defined by $$\left\langle {\bar \psi \psi } \right\rangle \left( {Q^2 } \right) = \left( {{{\frac{1}{2}\log Q^2 } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\frac{1}{2}\log Q^2 } {\Lambda ^2 }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\Lambda ^2 }}} \right)^d \hat \mu ^3 ,d = {{12} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{12} {\left( {33 - 2n_f } \right)}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\left( {33 - 2n_f } \right)}}$$ .     

Production of π0 mesons and charged hadrons in\bar v neon and ν neon charged current interactions

The average multiplicities of charged hadrons and of π⁺, π^? and π⁰ mesons, produced in \(\bar v\) Ne and νNe charged current interactions in the forward and backward hemispheres of theW ^±-nucleon center of mass system, are studied with data from BEBC. The dependence of the multiplicities on the hadronic mass (W) and on the laboratory rapidity (y _Lab) and the energy fraction (z) of the pion is also investigated. Special care is taken to determine the π⁰ multiplicity accurately. The ratio of average π multiplicities \(\frac{{2\left\langle {n_{\pi ^O } } \right\rangle }}{{[\left\langle {n_{\pi ^ + } } \right\rangle + \left\langle {n_{\pi ^ - } } \right\rangle ]}}\) is consistent with 1. In the backward hemisphere \(\left\langle {n_{\pi ^O } } \right\rangle \) is positively correlated with the charged multiplicity. This correlation, as well as differences in multiplicities between \(\mathop v\limits^{( - )} \) and \(\mathop v\limits^{( - )} \) , \(\mathop v\limits^{( - )} \) scattering, is attributed to reinteractions inside the neon nucleus of the hadrons produced in the initial \(\mathop v\limits^{( - )} \) interaction.     

Spectral signs of the internal heavy-atom effect in aliphatic carbonyl compounds

The CNDO/S method has been applied to the internal effect of Si on the electronic spectrum of the acetone molecule; there is a considerable bathochromic shift and an increase in the \(S_0 \to S_{n\pi ^ * } \) intensity for theα-silyl ketones, while theβ-silyl ketons give only an increase in the intensity of \(S_0 \to S_{n\pi ^ * } \) absorption relative to acetone. The heavy atom substantially alters \(f_{S_0 \to T_{n\sigma ^* } } \) and \(\tau _{T_{n\sigma ^* } }^0 \) but has little effect on \(f_{S_0 \to T_{n\pi ^* } } \) and \(\tau _{T_{n\pi ^* } }^0 \) .     

Quark-diagram estimates ofCP violation in two-body baryonicB_d^0 - \bar B_d^0 decays

CP violation in partial-decay-rate asymmetries are examined for some two-body baryonic decays of \(B_d^0 - \bar B_d^0 \) system. We discuss two feasible experimental circumstances: the symmetrice ⁺ e ^? collisions (i) on theZ ⁰ resonance to produce incoherent \(B_d^0 \bar B_d^0 \) states, and (ii) just above the ?(4S) resonance to produceC=even \(B_d^0 \bar B_d^0 \) states. Using the quark-diagram scheme, we estimate the branching ratios of those decays, and the numbers ofb \(\bar b\) pairs needed for testing theCP-violating effects for 3σ signature. We find that the promising channels may beB _d ⁰ , \(\bar B_d^0 \to p\bar p\) , \(\Delta ^ + \bar \Delta ^ - \) , \(p\bar \Delta ^ - \) , \(\Delta ^ + \bar p\) , \(n\bar n\) , \(\Delta ^0 \bar \Delta ^0 \) , \(n\bar \Delta ^0 \) , \(\Delta ^0 \bar n\) , \(\Sigma _c^ + \bar \Sigma _c^ - \) , \(\Lambda _c^ + \bar \Lambda _c^ - \) , \(\Sigma _c^ + \bar \Lambda _c^ - \) , \(\Lambda _c^ + \bar \Sigma _c^ - \) , \(\Sigma _c^0 \bar \Sigma _c^0 \) , \(\Xi _c^0 \bar \Xi _c^0 \) , which should be interesting for experimental observation.     

Alternative technique for Standard Model estimation of the rare kaon decay branchings \left. {BR(K \to \pi \nu \bar \nu )} \right|_{SM}

We estimate $BR(K \to \pi \nu \bar \nu )$ in the context of the Standard Model by fitting for λ _t≡V _tdV _ts ^* of the “kaon unitarity triangle” relation. To find the vertex of this triangle, we fit data from |? _K|, the CP-violating parameter describing K mixing, and a _ψ,K , the CP-violating asymmetry in B _d ⁰ → J/ψK ⁰ decays, and obtain the values $\left. {BR(K \to \pi \nu \bar \nu )} \right|_{SM} = (7.07 \pm 1.03) \times 10^{ - 11} $ and $\left. {BR(K_L^0 \to \pi ^0 \nu \bar \nu )} \right|_{SM} = (2.60 \pm 0.52) \times 10^{ - 11} $ . Our estimate is independent of the CKM matrix element V _cb and of the ratio of B-mixing frequencies ${{\Delta m_{B_s } } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\Delta m_{B_s } } {\Delta m_{B_d } }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\Delta m_{B_d } }}$ . We also use the constraint estimation of λ _t with additional data from $\Delta m_{B_d } $ and |V _ub|. This combined analysis slightly increases the precision of the rate estimation of $K^ + \to \pi ^ + \nu \bar \nu $ and $K_L^0 \to \pi ^0 \nu \bar \nu $ (by ?10 and ?20%, respectively). The measured value of $BR(K^ + \to \pi ^ + \nu \bar \nu )$ can be compared both to this estimate and to predictions made from ${{\Delta m_{B_s } } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\Delta m_{B_s } } {\Delta m_{B_d } }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\Delta m_{B_d } }}$ .     

Some implications of inclusive electro- and neutrino production data

We systematically exploit the reported data on \(F_2^{\gamma p} ,F_2^{\gamma n} ,\sigma ^{vN} ,\sigma ^{\bar vN} ,\left\langle {xy} \right\rangle _{vN} ,\left\langle {xy} \right\rangle _{\bar vN} ,\left\langle {1 - y} \right\rangle _{vN} \) and \(\left\langle {1 - y} \right\rangle _{\bar vN} \) in order to test various versions of the quark parton model and to obtain further predictions.     

Open beauty production in high energy π−-tungsten interactions

We present a study of \(B\bar B\) meson pair production inπ ^? interactions at 140, 194 and 286 GeV incident pion energy. At 286 GeV, where we have the best statistics, we find a model-dependent \(B\bar B\) production cross-section \(\sigma _{BB} = 14_{ - 6}^{ + 7} nb/nucleon\) .     

Multi-quark structure ofU(3.1)

We interpret the recently observedU(3.1) mesons with the \(\Lambda \bar p\) + pions decays as the bound state of \(\Lambda ,\bar p\) andX ₀(1480). TheX ₀(1480) is a mesonium with \(Q^2 \bar Q^2 \) structures observed in γγ reactions and \(\bar pn\) annihilations. With this interpretation, we can understand its decay modes. Furthermore, we predict the ratio of \(\sigma (\Lambda \bar p\pi ^ + \pi ^ - )/\sigma (\Lambda \bar p\pi ^ + \pi ^ + )\) to be ?3.1 for centrally produced events and that the width of \(U^ - (\Lambda \bar p\pi ^ + \pi ^ - )\) to be greater than that of \(U^ + (\Lambda \bar p\pi ^ + \pi ^ + )\) . Both predictions seem to be in reasonable accord with the available data. We call for the detection of the \(\Lambda \bar p\pi ^ - \pi ^ - \) mode to verify the present interpretation.     

Resonance studies at STAR

Preliminary results from measurements of resonances (K ^*0(892), $\overline {K*^0 } (892)$ , Φ(1020), and ρ(770)) and weakly decaying particles (Λ(1116), $\bar \Lambda (1116)$ , and K _S ⁰ (498)) are presented. The measurements are performed at mid-rapidity by the STAR detector in $\sqrt {s_{NN} } = 130$ GeV Au?Au collisions at RHIC. The ratios K ^*0/h?, $\overline {K*^0 } /K$ , and $\bar \Lambda /\Lambda $ are compared to measurements at different energies and colliding systems. Estimates of thermal parameters, such as temperature and baryon chemical potential, are also presented.