GSI anomaly and spin–rotation coupling

We propose a model in which a recently reported modulation in the decay of the hydrogenlike ions ¹⁴⁰Pr⁵⁸⁺, ¹⁴²Pm⁶⁰⁺ and ¹²²I⁵²⁺ arises from the coupling of rotation to the spin of electron and nucleus. The model shows that the spin–spin coupling of electron and nucleus does not contribute to the modulation and predicts that the anomaly cannot be observed if the motion of the ions is rectilinear, or if the ions are stopped in a target. It also supports the notion that the modulation frequency is proportional to the inverse of the atomic mass and that no modulation is expected for the β⁺${\beta }^{+}$-decay. The model predicts that for He-like ions the modulation is still present.     

Nonlinear Bethe–Heitler pair creation with attosecond laser pulses at the LHC

The creation of lepton pairs (e⁺e⁻$e^{+}{e}^{-}$ and μ⁺μ⁻${\mu }^{+}{\mu }^{-}$) via multiphoton absorption in collisions of ultrarelativistic ion beams with ultrashort high-frequency laser pulses is considered. Both the free and the bound-free production channels are addressed, where in the latter case the negatively charged lepton is created in a bound atomic state. It is shown that these nonlinear QED processes are observable when a table-top source of intense xuv or X-ray laser radiation is operated in conjunction with the LHC. We discuss the relative effectiveness of protons versus Pb ions and specify for each pair production channel the most suitable collision system.     

Detecting Higgs bosons with muons at hadron colliders

We investigate the prospects for the discovery of neutral Higgs bosons with a pair of muons by direct searches at the CERN large hadron collider (LHC) as well as by indirect searches in the rare decay Bs→μ⁺μ⁻$B_s\to {\mu }^{+}{\mu }^{-}$ at the Fermilab Tevatron and the LHC. Promising results are found for the minimal supersymmetric standard model, the minimal supergravity (mSUGRA) model, and supergravity models with non-universal Higgs masses (NUHM SUGRA). For tanβ?50$\tan \beta ?50$, we find that (i) the contours for a branching fraction of B(Bs→μ⁺μ⁻)=1×¹⁰⁻⁸$B(B_s\to {\mu }^{+}{\mu }^{-})=1\times {10}^{\mathrm{-8}}$ in the parameter space are very close to the 5σ   contours for pp→b?⁰→bμ⁺μ⁻+X$pp\to b{?}^0\to b{\mu }^{+}{\mu }^{-}+X$, ?⁰=h⁰${?}^0=h^0$, H⁰$H^0$, A⁰$A^0$ at the LHC with an integrated luminosity (L) of 30 fb⁻¹, (ii) the regions covered by B(Bs→μ⁺μ⁻)?5×¹⁰⁻⁹$B(B_s\to {\mu }^{+}{\mu }^{-})?5\times {10}^{\mathrm{-9}}$ and the discovery region for b?⁰→bμ⁺μ⁻$b{?}^0\to b{\mu }^{+}{\mu }^{-}$ with 300 fb⁻¹ are complementary in the mSUGRA parameter space, (iii) in NUHM SUGRA models, a discovery of B(Bs→μ⁺μ⁻)?5×¹⁰⁻⁹$B(B_s\to {\mu }^{+}{\mu }^{-})?5\times {10}^{\mathrm{-9}}$ at the LHC will cover regions of the parameter space beyond the direct search for b?⁰→bμ⁺μ⁻$b{?}^0\to b{\mu }^{+}{\mu }^{-}$ with L=300 fb⁻¹$L=300{\text{fb}}^{\mathrm{-1}}$.     

Kaon pair production close to threshold

The total cross section of the reaction pp→ppK⁺K⁻$pp\to pp{K}^{+}{K}^{-}$ has been measured at excess energies Q=10 MeV$Q=10\text{MeV}$ and 28 MeV with the magnetic spectrometer COSY-11. The new data show a significant enhancement of the total cross section compared to pure phase space expectations or calculations within a one boson exchange model. In addition, we present invariant mass spectra of two particle subsystems. While the K⁺K⁻$K^{+}{K}^{-}$ system is rather constant for different invariant masses, there is an enhancement in the pK⁻$p{K}^{-}$ system towards lower masses which could at least be partially connected to the influence of the Λ(1405)$\Lambda (1405)$ resonance.     

Interpretation of the optical absorption spectrum of Co3O4 with normal spinel structure from first principles calculations

First principles calculations based on density functional theory have been employed to study the electronic, magnetic and optical properties of Co₃O₄ in a cubic normal spinel structure. Exchange and correlation effects between electrons were treated by a B3PW91 hybrid functional, which produced better results than others scheme, such as GGA+U or PBE0 hybrid functionals or mBJ semilocal potential. The work focuses on clarifying the nature of the optical absorption bands, which have motivated various theoretical and experimental works in the literature. The calculated optical absorption spectrum was compared with available experimental data. On the basis of this calculated electronic and magnetic structure, the optical absorption peaks (theoretical and experimental) could be satisfactorily explained in terms of d3d   charge transfer transitions between both CO²⁺${\mathrm{CO}}^{2^{+}}$→CO²⁺${\mathrm{CO}}^{2^{+}}$ and CO³⁺${\mathrm{CO}}^{3^{+}}$→CO³⁺${\mathrm{CO}}^{3^{+}}$ ions. The calculations also predicted that the crystal field splittings at both octahedral and tetrahedral sites in the Co₃O₄ compound are of the same magnitude.     

Evidence for a doubly magic O

The decay energy spectrum for neutron unbound states in ²⁴O (Z=8$Z=8$, N=16$N=16$) has been observed for the first time. The resonance energy of the lowest lying state, interpreted as the ²⁺$2^{+}$ level, has been observed at a decay energy above 600 keV. The resulting excitation energy of the ²⁺$2^{+}$ level above 4.7 MeV, supplies strong evidence that ²⁴O is a doubly magic nucleus. The data is also consistent with the presence of a second excited state around 5.33 MeV which can be interpreted as the ¹⁺$1^{+}$ level.     

Identification of one-phonon and two-phonon γ-vibrational bands in odd-ZNb nucleus

Collective bands in the neutron-rich ¹⁰³Nb nucleus have been investigated by measuring prompt γ-rays following spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf. Three new bands have been identified. The band based on the 716.8 keV level is proposed as a candidate for the Kπ=9/²⁺$K^{\pi }=9/2^{+}$ one-phonon γ  -vibrational band, and the band built on the 1282.1 keV level is proposed as a candidate for the Kπ=13/²⁺$K^{\pi }=13/2^{+}$ two-phonon γ-vibrational band. The two-phonon γ-vibrational band is the first such band identified in odd-Z nuclei.     

Dark matter: The leptonic connection

Recent observations of high-energy positrons and electrons by the PAMELA and ATIC experiments may be an indication of the annihilation of dark matter into leptons and not quarks. This leptonic connection was foreseen already some years ago in two different models of radiative neutrino mass. We discuss here the generic interactions (νη⁰−lη⁺)χ$(\nu {\eta }^0-l{\eta }^{+})\chi$ and lcζ⁻χc$l^c{\zeta }^{-}{\chi }^c$ which allow this to happen, where χ   and/or χc${\chi }^c$ are fermionic dark-matter candidates. We point out in particular the importance of χχ→l⁺l⁻γ$\chi \chi \to l^{+}{l}^{-}\gamma$ to both positron and gamma-ray signals within this framework.     

Entanglement entropy and variational methods: Interacting scalar fields

We develop a variational approximation to the entanglement entropy for scalar ?⁴${?}^4$ theory in 1+1$1+1$, 2+1$2+1$, and 3+1$3+1$ dimensions, and then examine the entanglement entropy as a function of the coupling. We find that in 1+1$1+1$ and 2+1$2+1$ dimensions, the entanglement entropy of ?⁴${?}^4$ theory as a function of coupling is monotonically decreasing and convex. While ?⁴${?}^4$ theory with positive bare coupling in 3+1$3+1$ dimensions is thought to lead to a trivial free theory, we analyze a version of ?⁴${?}^4$ with infinitesimal negative bare coupling, an asymptotically free theory known as precarious  ?⁴${?}^4$ theory, and explore the monotonicity and convexity of its entanglement entropy as a function of coupling. Within the variational approximation, the stability of precarious ?⁴${?}^4$ theory is related to the sign of the first and second derivatives of the entanglement entropy with respect to the coupling.     

Dielectron and diphoton channels in 2HDM

It was observed recently that [L. Randall, Mark B. Wise, arXiv: 0807.1746 [hep-ph]], any particle in the Standard Model cannot decay to e⁺e⁻$e^{+}{e}^{-}$ and γγ   final states with comparably measurable branching ratios. This is also true for most extensions of the Standard Model, with the Randall–Sundrum model as an outstanding exception. In this Letter, we show that two-Higgs-Doublet-Models (2HDM) yield another possible exception if certain parameters are properly chosen. In addition, we have checked that this model survives the tests of low energy processes, including the anomalous magnetic moment and electric dipole moment of leptons, lepton-flavor-violating decays μ⁻→e⁻γ${\mu }^{-}\to e^{-}\gamma$ and e⁻e⁺e⁻$e^{-}{e}^{+}{e}^{-}$.     

High-K multi-quasiparticle states in No

We report results from an experiment on the decay of the high-K isomers in ²⁵⁴No. We have been able to establish the decay from the known high-lying four-quasiparticle isomer, which we assign as a Kπ=¹⁶⁺${\mathrm{K}}^{\pi }={16}^{+}$ state at an excitation energy of Ex=2.928(3) MeV${\mathrm{E}}_x=2.928(3)\text{MeV}$. The decay of this state passes through a rotational band based on a previously unobserved state at Ex=2.012(2) MeV${\mathrm{E}}_x=2.012(2)\text{MeV}$, which we suggest is based on a two-quasineutron configuration with Kπ=¹⁰⁺${\mathrm{K}}^{\pi }={10}^{+}$. This state in turn decays to a rotational band based on the known Kπ=⁸⁻${\mathrm{K}}^{\pi }=8^{-}$ isomer, which we infer must also have a two quasineutron configuration. We are able to assign many new gamma-rays associated with the decay of the Kπ=⁸⁻${\mathrm{K}}^{\pi }=8^{-}$ isomer, including the identification of a highly K-forbidden ΔK=8$\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{K}=8$ E1 transition to the ground-state band. These results provide valuable new information on the orbitals close to the Fermi surface, pairing correlations, deformation and rotational response, and K-conservation in nuclei of the deformed trans-fermium region.     

Photon pair production at flavour factories with per mille accuracy

We present a high-precision QED calculation, with 0.1% theoretical accuracy, of two photon production in e⁺e⁻$e^{+}{e}^{-}$ annihilation, as required by more and more accurate luminosity monitoring at flavour factories. The accuracy of the approach, which is based on the matching of exact next-to-leading order corrections with a QED Parton Shower algorithm, is demonstrated through a detailed analysis of the impact of the various sources of radiative corrections to the experimentally relevant observables. The calculation is implemented in the latest version of the event generator BabaYaga, available for precision simulations of photon pair production at e⁺e⁻$e^{+}{e}^{-}$ colliders of moderately high energies.     

Phenomenological model of multiphoto-production of charged pion pairs on the proton

The production of charged pion pairs via multiphoton absorption from an intense X-ray laser wave colliding with an ultrarelativistic proton beam is studied. Our calculations include the contributions from both the electromagnetic and hadronic interactions where the latter are described approximately by a phenomenological meson-exchange potential. Order-of-magnitude estimates for π⁺π⁻${\pi }^{+}{\pi }^{-}$ production on the proton by two- and three-photon absorption from the high-frequency laser field are obtained and compared with the corresponding rates for μ⁺μ⁻${\mu }^{+}{\mu }^{-}$ pair creation.     

Pion radiative weak decays in nonlocal chiral quark models

We analyze the radiative pion decay π⁺→e⁺νeγ${\pi }^{+}\to e^{+}{\nu }_e\gamma$ within nonlocal chiral quark models that include wave function renormalization. In this framework we calculate the vector and axial-vector form factors FV$F_V$ and FA$F_A$ at q²=0$q^2=0$ — where q²$q^2$ is the e⁺νe$e^{+}{\nu }_e$ squared invariant mass — and the slope a   of FV(q²)$F_V(q^2)$ at q²→0$q^2\to 0$. The calculations are carried out considering different nonlocal form factors, in particular those taken from lattice QCD evaluations, showing a reasonable agreement with the corresponding experimental data. The comparison of our results with those obtained in the (local) NJL model and the relation of FV$F_V$ and a   with the form factor in π⁰→γ^?γ${\pi }^0\to {\gamma }^{?}\gamma$ decays are discussed.     

Another odd thing about unparticle physics

The peculiar propagator of scale invariant unparticles has phases that produce unusual patterns of interference with Standard Model processes. We illustrate some of these effects in e⁺e⁻→μ⁺μ⁻$e^{+}{e}^{-}\to {\mu }^{+}{\mu }^{-}$.     

Improvement of initial permeability for Z-type ferrite by Ti and Zn substitution

We have found that the initial permeability μ^′${\mu }^{\prime }$ of _Co2Z${\mathrm{Co}}_2\mathrm{Z}$ ferrite is improved by the substitution of Ti⁴⁺${\mathrm{Ti}}^{4+}$ and Zn²⁺${\mathrm{Zn}}^{2+}$ ions for Fe³⁺${\mathrm{Fe}}^{3+}$ ions. The substituted sample of _{Ba3Co2TixZnxFe24-2xO41}${\mathrm{Ba}}_3{\mathrm{Co}}_2{\mathrm{Ti}}_x{\mathrm{Zn}}_x{\mathrm{Fe}}_{24-2x}{\mathrm{O}}_{41}$ with x=0.85$x=0.85$ has a maximum μ^′${\mu }^{\prime }$ of 24, which is twice as large as that of the non-substituted sample with x=0$x=0$. The particle size and shape are changed by the substitution. This is influential in the densification and the preferential orientation of a toroidal-shape sample, which results in the improvement of μ^′${\mu }^{\prime }$.     

Isospin mixing and energy distributions in three-body decay

The structure of the second ²⁺$2^{+}$ resonance in ⁶Li is investigated with special emphasis on its isospin 0 components. The wave functions are computed in a three-body model (α+n+p$\alpha +n+p$) using the hyperspherical adiabatic expansion method combined with complex scaling. In the decay into three free particles the symmetry conserving short-range interaction dominates at short distance whereas the symmetry breaking Coulomb interaction dominates at intermediate and large distances resulting in substantial isospin mixing. We predict the mixing and the energy distributions of the fragments after decay. Computations are consistent with available experiments. We conjecture that nuclear three-body decays frequently produce such large isospin mixing at large distance where the energy distributions are determined.