Production of light fermion–antifermion pairs in \gamma\gamma collisions

The corrections to in the standard model are calculated for arbitrary light fermions f. The relevant analytical results are listed in a form that is appropriate for practical applications, and numerical results for integrated cross sections are discussed. The corresponding QED corrections are generally of the order of some per mille for arbitrary energies. The weak corrections to are negligible below the electroweak scale, reach the percent level at a few hundred GeV, and grow to about at 2 TeV. The weak corrections to and production have a shape similar to the one for , but they are larger by factors of about 1.4 and 3, respectively. Received: 18 December 1998 / Revised version: 1 March 1999 / Published online: 18 June 1999     

No Sommerfeld resummation factor in e^ + e^ - \to p\bar p?

The Sommerfeld rescattering formula is compared to the $e^ + e^ - \to p\bar p$ BABAR data at threshold and above. While there is the expected Coulomb enhancement at threshold, two unexpected outcomes have been found: the modulus of the proton form factor is normalized to one at threshold, i.e. |G ^p (4M _p ² )| = 1, as a pointlike fermion, and, moreover, data show that the resummation factor in the Sommerfeld formula is not needed. Other e ⁺ e ^? ?? baryon-antibaryon cross-sections show similar behavior near threshold.     

Nonlinear coupling between the mean polarizability \bar \gamma of molecules and the local-field anisotropy in a liquid crystal and change of the “ \bar \gamma = const” paradigm

The nonlinear relation between the mean effective polarizability $ \bar \gamma $ of molecules and the local-field anisotropy in uniaxial liquid crystals is demonstrated. Stringent constraints on $ \bar \gamma $ from below, indicative of the dependence of $ \bar \gamma $ on the liquid-crystal state and the change of the “ $ \bar \gamma $ = const” paradigm, are established. The theoretical results are confirmed by experiments with nematic liquid crystals having high and low birefringences.     

Next-to-leading order QCD corrections to W\gamma production in association with two jets

Stronger constraints on the pseudoscalar coupling constants of an axion to a proton and a neutron are obtained from an indirect measurement of the effective Casimir pressure between two Au-coated plates by means of micromechanical torsional oscillator. For this purpose, the additional effective pressure due to two-axion exchange is calculated. The role of boundary effects and the validity region of the proximity force approximation in application to forces of axion origin are determined. The obtained constraints are up to factors of 380 and 3.2 stronger than those found recently from other laboratory experiments and are relevant to axion masses from $10^{-3}$ to 15 eV.     

Study of fermion pair production in \mathrm{e^+ e^-} collisions at 130–183 GeV

The cross sections and forward-backward asymmetries of hadronic and leptonic events produced in collisions at centre-of-mass energies from 130 to 183 GeV are presented. Results for , , , , and production show no significant deviation from the Standard Model predictions. This enables constraints to be set upon physics beyond the Standard Model such as four-fermion contact interactions, leptoquarks, bosons and R-parity violating squarks and sneutrinos. Limits on the energy scale of contact interactions are typically in the range from 2 to 10 TeV. Limits on R-parity violating sneutrinos reach masses of a few hundred GeV/ for large values of their Yukawa couplings. Received: 8 March 1999 / Published online: 8 December 1999     

Lifetime measurements in $$^{182}\hbox {Pt}$$ using $$\gamma $$ – $$\gamma $$ fast-timing

The European Physical Journal A - In this paper, we discuss the evolution of breakup models from fully quantum mechanical, such as the Ichimura–Austern–Vincent model to semiclassical,...     

Can \phi mesons give an answer to the baryon puzzle at RHIC?

The PHENIX experiment at RHIC has observed a large enhancement of baryon and anti-baryon production at 2-5 GeV/c, compared to expectations from jet fragmentation. While a number of theoretical interpretations of the data are available, there is not yet a definitive answer to the "baryon puzzle". We investigate the centrality dependence of -meson production at mid-rapidity in Au + Au collisions with GeV. Comparison with the proton and anti-proton spectra reveal similar shapes, as expected for soft production described by hydrodynamics. However, the absolute yields show a different centrality dependence. The nuclear modification factors for are similar to those of pions, rather than (anti)protons that have similar mass. At intermediate , baryon/meson effects seem to be more important than the mass effects, in support of recombination models. Arrival of the final proofs: 30 June 2005 PACS: 25.75 -q     

Polarization observablesΣ,P y,T 1 in the reaction\vec \gamma d \to \vec pn at photon energies between 200 and 600 MeV and dibaryon resonances

The polarization observables Σ,P _y ,T ₁,P _y ^⊥ ,P _y ^∥ are derived in proton polarization measurements of the \(\vec \gamma d \to \vec pn\) reaction, using a linearly polarized photon beam of energies between 300 and 600 MeV for c.m.s. proton emission angles of 90° and 120°. A multipole analysis is performed in the framework of the gauge-invariant pole model considering theγN→πN amplitudes and the deuteron structure without dibaryon resonances and with different sets of isovector and isoscalar dibaryon resonances. It is shown that the inclusion of dibaryon resonances substantially improves agreement with experimental data.     

Can we live in the bulk without a brane?

We suggest a braneless scenario that still hides large-volume extra dimensions. Ordinarily the strength of bulk gauge interactions would be diluted over the large internal volume, making all the four-dimensional forces weak. We use the fact that if the gauge fields result from the dimensional reduction of pure higher-dimensional gravity, then the strengths of the four-dimensional gauge interactions are related to the sizes of corresponding cycles averaged over the compact internal manifold. Therefore, if a gauge force is concentrated over a small cycle it will not be diluted over the entire manifold. Gravity, however, remains diluted over the large volume. Thus large-volume, large mass-gap extra dimensions with small cycles can remain hidden and result in a hierarchy between gravity and the other forces. However, problematically, the cycles are required to be smaller than the higher-dimensional Planck length and this raises concern over quantum gravity corrections. We speculate on possible cures.     

Can renormalization group flow end in a Big Mess?

The field theoretical renormalization group equations have many common features with the equations of dynamical systems. In particular, the manner how Callan–Symanzik equation ensures the independence of a theory from its subtraction point is reminiscent of self-similarity in autonomous flows towards attractors. Motivated by such analogies we propose that besides isolated fixed points, the couplings in a renormalizable field theory may also flow towards more general, even fractal attractors. This could lead to Big Mess scenarios in applications to multiphase systems, from spin-glasses and neural networks to fundamental string (M?) theory. We consider various general aspects of such chaotic flows. We argue that they pose no obvious contradictions with the known properties of effective actions, the existence of dissipative Lyapunov functions, and even the strong version of the c-theorem. We also explain the difficulties encountered when constructing effective actions with chaotic renormalization group flows and observe that they have many common virtues with realistic field theory effective actions. We conclude that if chaotic renormalization group flows are to be excluded, conceptually novel no-go theorems must be developed.     

Can inflation induce supersymmetry breaking in a metastable vacuum?

We argue that fields responsible for inflation and supersymmetry breaking are connected by gravitational couplings. In view of the recent progress in studying supersymmetry breaking in a metastable vacuum, we have shown that in models of supersymmetric hybrid inflation, where R-symmetry plays an important role, the scale of supersymmetry breaking is generated dynamically at the end of inflation and turns out to be consistent with gravity mediation.     

A novel probe of new physics in e^+e^-→Zγ

One could compare the discovery of a new particle to a big shining firework,lighting up the night sky.But sometimes discoveries can be subtle,less flamboyant,and still point to the existence of new particles in an indirect way.     

Experimental determination of the branching ratiosp\bar p \to 2\pi ^0 ,\pi ^0 \gamma,and 2γ at rest

The branching ratios of \(p\bar p\) annihilations into the neutral final states 2π⁰, π⁰γ, and 2γ are measured by stopping antiprotons in liquid hydrogen. They are \(B_{2\pi ^0 } = \left( {2.06 \pm 0.14} \right) \times 10^{ - 4} \) , \(B_{\pi ^0 \gamma } = \left( {1.74 \pm 0.22} \right) \times 10^{ - 5} \) , andB _γγ<1.7×10^?6 (95% c.l.).     

Experimental test of the PCAC hypothesis in the reactionsv μ p→ μ− pπ+ and \bar v_\mu p \to \mu ^ + p\pi ^ - in theΔ(1232) region

Data on the reactionsv _μ p→ μ^? pπ⁺ and \( \bar v_\mu p \to \mu ^ + p\pi ^ - \) in the Δ(1232) region are presented and a test of the PCAC hypothesis, using a modified version of the Adler model, is performed. The analysis is based on 1081 events in the neutrino and on 180 events in the antineutrino reaction, obtained in a bubble chamber experiment with BEBC at CERN. The experimental cross-sections for an invariant hadronic massW<1.4 GeV and an (anti-)neutrino energyE _v ^L >10 GeV are determined to be (0.628±0.059)·10^?38 cm² for the neutrino and (0.168±0.023)·10^?38 cm² for the antineutrino reaction. TheQ ² andW distributions, the density matrix elements of the Δ resonance, and moments of the pion angular distribution are discussed. The data are found to be in good agreement with the Adler model in theQ ² region below 1 GeV². A maximum likelihood fit for the axial massm _A in the axial-vector form factor yields a value ofm _A =1.31±0.12 GeV. At lowQ ² the data confirm the PCAC hypothesis and the discrepancy, formerly observed between the experimental and theoretical cross-sections forv _μ p→ μ^? pπ⁺ at low momentum transfers (Q ²?0.2 GeV²), is understood as being due to inadequate pion ‘off-mass-shell’ corrections.