On the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Λ</Emphasis>CDM Universe in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis>) gravity

In the context of the so-called Gauss–Bonnet gravity, where the gravitational action includes function of the Gauss–Bonnet invariant, we study cosmological solutions, especially the well-known ΛCDM model. It is shown that the dark energy contribution and even the inflationary epoch can be explained in the frame of this kind of theories with no need of any other kind of component. Other cosmological solutions are constructed and the rich properties that this kind of theories provide are explored.     

Variable <Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Λ</Emphasis>: scalar-tensor versus RG-improved cosmology

We study the consequences due to time varying G and in scalar-tensor theories of gravity for cosmology, inspired by the modifications introduced by the Renormalization Group (RG) equations in the Quantum Einstein Gravity. We assume a power-law scale factor in presence contemporarily of both the scalar field and the matter components of the cosmic fluid, and analyze a special case and its generalization, also showing the possibility of a phantom cosmology. In both such situations we find a negative kinetic term for the scalar field Q and, possibly, an equation-of-state parameter w _Q < –1. A violation of dominant energy condition (DEC) for Q is also possible in both of them; but, while in the first special case the Q-energy density then remains positive, in the second one we find it negative.This revised version was published online in April 2005. The publishing date was inserted.     

Contribution of final-state interaction to the branching ratio of <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis>→<Emphasis Type="Italic">J</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">ψ</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis>

To test the validity of perturbative QCD (pQCD) and investigate its range of application, one should look for a suitable process. B→J/ψ D is a promising candidate. The linear momentum of the products is relatively small, so that there may exist a region where exchanged gluons are soft and the perturbative treatment may fail, so that the non-perturbative effect would be significant. We attribute such non-perturbative QCD effects to the long-distance final-state interaction (FSI) which is estimated in this work. We find that the contribution from the FSI to the branching ratio is indeed sizable and may span the rather wide range of 10⁻⁶∼10⁻⁵ and cover a region where the pQCD prediction is of the same order. A more accurate measurement of its branching ratio may provide important information about the application region of pQCD and help to clarify the picture of inelastic rescattering (i.e. FSI), which is generally believed to play an important role in B decays.     

The cusp effect in <Emphasis Type="Italic">η</Emphasis>′→<Emphasis Type="Italic">η</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">π</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">π</Emphasis> decays

Strong final-state interactions create a pronounced cusp in η′→η π ⁰ π ⁰ decays. We adapt and generalize the non-relativistic effective field theory framework developed for the extraction of π π scattering lengths from K→3π decays to this case. The cusp effect is predicted to have an effect of more than 8% on the decay spectrum below the π ⁺ π ⁻ threshold.     

Process <Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis>*<Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis> → <Emphasis Type="Italic">σ</Emphasis> at large virtuality of <Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis>*

The process γ*γ → σ is investigated in the framework of the SU(2)×SU(2) chiral NJL model. The form factor of the process is derived for arbitrary virtuality of γ* in the Euclidean kinematic domain. The asymptotic behavior of this form factor resembles the asymptotic behavior of the γ*γ → π form factor.     

Final state interactions in the decays <Emphasis Type="Italic">J</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">ψ</Emphasis>→<Emphasis Type="Italic">VPP</Emphasis>

We investigate the interplay between crossed channel final state interactions and the constraints from two-particle unitarity for the reactions J/ψ→V π π and VK[`(K)]VK\bar{K} , where V is either ω or φ. Using a model where the parameters are largely constrained by other sources, we find that, although small, crossed channel final state interaction can influence the amplitudes considerably, in special areas of phase space. These results cast doubt on the inapplicability of unitarity constraints on production amplitudes as recently claimed in the literature.     

Inclusive <Emphasis Type="Italic">J</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">ψ</Emphasis> photoproduction and polarization at HERA in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis></Subscript>-factorization approach

We investigate the inclusive photoproduction of J/ψ mesons at HERA within the framework of the k _T -factorization QCD approach. Our study is based on the color singlet model supplemented with the relevant off-shell matrix elements and the CCFM and KMR unintegrated gluon densities in a proton and in a photon. Both the direct and resolved photon contributions are taken into account. Our predictions are compared with the recent experimental data taken by the H1 and ZEUS collaborations. Special attention is put on the J/ψ polarization parameters λ and ν, which are sensitive to the production dynamics.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">HZZ</Emphasis>′ Coupling and the Higgs-Strahlung Production <Emphasis Type="Italic">pp</Emphasis> → <Emphasis Type="Italic">ZH</Emphasis> at the LHC

The Higgs-strahlung production process pp → Z′ → ZH is an important process for studying the HZZ′ interaction. We take the B ? L model and the nonuniversal S U(2)₁ × S U(2)₂ × U(1) _Y model as two examples and investigate their correction effects on ZH production at the LHC. Our numerical results show that, considering constraints on these two new physics models, the contributions of the B ? L model to the ZH production cross section are very small, while the S U(1)₁ × S U(2)₂ × U(1) _Y model can generate significant contributions.     

Eight resonances and a half for the reaction <Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis> + <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>→<Emphasis Type="Italic">η</Emphasis> + <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>

On the basis of the dynamical model for meson photoproduction on nucleons, it is shown that only eight broad resonances (of width in excess of 120 MeV), of which two belong to the class of missing resonances, are required for reproducing experimental data from the threshold for the reaction γp → ηp to the photon energy of 3 GeV.     

Exact solutions of some physical models using the (<Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis>′/<Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis>)-expansion method

The (G′/G)-expansion method and its simplified version are used to obtain generalized travelling wave solutions of five nonlinear evolution equations (NLEEs) of physical importance, viz. the (2+1)-dimensional Maccari system, the Pochhammer–Chree equation, the Newell–Whitehead equation, the Fitzhugh–Nagumo equation and the Burger–Fisher equation. A variety of special solutions like periodic, kink–antikink solitons, bell-type solitons etc. can easily be derived from the general results. Three-dimensional profile plots of some of the solutions are also drawn.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-cluster and <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-binucleon states of 1<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-shell nuclei

States that exhibit the properties of an α-cluster or an α-binucleon condensate are studied in 1p-shell nuclei. The generalized Hamiltonian of the Elliott SU(3) model is used to classify these states and to calculate their spectra. The results of the calculations are found to be in good agreement with experimental data. States not observed so far in the cluster spectra of the ¹²C, ¹⁶O, ¹⁰Be, and ¹²Be nuclei are predicted.     

The quest for <Emphasis Type="Italic">μ</Emphasis> → <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis>: present and future

The quest for μ → eγ is one of the most important endeavors to search for New Physics beyond the Standard Model. In this talk I will review the current status of the experimental searches by the MEG Collaboration at PSI. I will also present a study of the experimental limiting factors that will define the ultimate performances, and hence the sensitivity, in the search for μ → eγ with continuous muon beams of extremely high rate (one or even two orders of magnitude larger than the present beams), whose construction is under consideration for the next decade.     

Study of the nuclear interaction of isoscalar <Emphasis Type="Italic">η</Emphasis>-, <Emphasis Type="Italic">ω</Emphasis>-, <Emphasis Type="Italic">ή</Emphasis>-, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">ϕ</Emphasis>-mesons

The possibility of experimental study of the nuclear interaction of mesons with nucleons and nuclei is considered.     

Study of in-medium <Emphasis Type="Italic">ω</Emphasis>-meson properties in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ap</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">pA</Emphasis> collisions

The possibility to investigate the in-medium properties of the vector ω mesons at normal nuclear density is considered. The folding model and simulations with the RQMD generator have been used for studying of the ω-resonance production in Ap and pA reactions and its ω → π ⁰ γ → 3γ decay. We show that measurements in the inverse Ap kinematics is an effective way to get information about the ω-meson mass modification especially in not yet explored range of small meson momenta relative to the projectile nuclei where the strength of the effect is expected to be most strong. The traditional pA kinematics appears to be more preferable for the investigation of the in-medium ω-meson width. Using of compact electromagnetic calorimeter provides the possibility to collect large statistics and study the momentum dependencies of both the ω-meson mass and width at the density of normal nuclei.     

The anisotropic cosmological models in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>) gravity with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Λ(T)</Emphasis>

The rare decay \(B\rightarrow {K^{*}}\ell ^+\ell ^-\) is a very significant mode to search for physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). The mode provides a very rich spectrum of observables obtained from the angular distribution of its decay products. The recent LHCb measured values of these observables are used to conclude an evidence of right-handed currents at the kinematic endpoint of this decay mode. As the conclusion is drawn at the maximum dilepton invariant mass square (\(q^2\)) kinematic endpoint, it relies only on heavy quark symmetries where it is valid without significant corrections.