Search for new fermions ("quirks") at the Fermilab Tevatron collider

We report results of a search for particles with anomalously high ionization in events with a high transverse energy jet and large missing transverse energy in 2.4 fb?1 of integrated luminosity collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron pp collider. Production of such particles (quirks) is expected in scenarios with extra QCD-like SU(N) sectors, and this study is the first dedicated search for such signatures. We find no evidence of a signal and set a lower mass limit of 107, 119, and 133 GeV for the mass of a charged quirk with strong dynamics scale Λ in the range from 10 keV to 1 MeV and N=2, 3, and 5, respectively.     

Search for diphoton events with large missing transverse energy in 6.3 fb(-1) of pp collisions at √s=1.96 TeV

We report a search for diphoton events with large missing transverse energy produced in pp collisions at √s=1.96 TeV. The data were collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider and correspond to 6.3 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity. The observed missing transverse energy distribution is well described by the standard model prediction, and 95% C.L. limits are derived on two realizations of theories beyond the standard model. In a gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking scenario, the breaking scale Λ is excluded for Λ<124 TeV. In a universal extra dimension model including gravitational decays, the compactification radius R(c) is excluded for R(c)(-1)<477 GeV.     

Predicting the Relative Solubilities of Racemic and Enantiopure Crystals by Density‐Functional Theory

Isolation of chiral molecules as pure enantiomers remains a fundamental challenge in chemical research. Enantioselective enrichment through preferential crystallization is an efficient method to achieve enantiopure compounds, but its applicability depends on the relative stability of the enantiopure and racemic crystal forms. Using a simple thermodynamic model and first‐principles density‐functional calculations, it is possible to predict the difference in solubility between the enantiopure and racemic solid phases. This approach uses dispersion‐corrected density functionals and is capable of accurately predicting the solution‐phase entantiomeric excess to within about 10 % of experimental measurements on average. The accuracy of the exchange‐hole dipole moment (XDM) model of dispersion enables the viability of the proposed method.     

Application of an isomerization-ring-closing metathesis strategy to the synthesis of unsaturated seven-membered, benzo-fused heterocycles containing two heteroatoms

An isomerization-RCM approach was utilized to synthesize a number of seven-membered benzo-fused heterocycles containing two heteroatoms (N,O, N,S, and S,O). This approach utilized the ruthenium catalyst [RuClH(CO)(PPh₃)₃] for the isomerization of allyl groups, eventually followed by the use of the Grubbs second generation catalyst for the formation of the desired products. In most instances thermal RCM conditions were sufficient; however, in a number of cases where this methodology did not give the desired product a high temperature, short time microwave approach afforded the desired ring-closed products. In this manner, the following substituted benzo-fused scaffolds were successfully synthesized: 4,5-dihydro-1,5-benzoxazepine, 4,5- and 2,5-dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepine and 2H-1,5-benzoxathiepine.     

Measurement of spin correlation in tt production using a matrix element approach

We determine the fraction of tt events with spin correlation, assuming that the spin of the top quark is either correlated with the spin of the top antiquark as predicted by the standard model or is uncorrelated. For the first time we use a matrix-element-based approach to study tt spin correlation. We use tt → W+ b W- b → ?+ νb?- ν b final states produced in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV, where ? denotes an electron or a muon. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb(-1) and were collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. The result agrees with the standard model prediction. We exclude the hypothesis that the spins of the tt are uncorrelated at the 97.7% C.L.     

Search for single vectorlike quarks in pp ̄ collisions at √s=1.96 TeV

We present a search for hypothetical vectorlike quarks in pp ? collisions at √s=1.96 TeV. The data were collected by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb(-1). We select events with a final state composed of a W or Z boson and a jet consistent with a heavy object decay. We observe no significant excess in comparison to the background prediction and set limits on production cross sections for vectorlike quarks decaying to W+jet and Z+jet. These are the most stringent limits to date for electroweak single vectorlike quark production at hadron colliders.     

Precise study of the Z/γ* boson transverse momentum distribution in pp collisions using a novel technique

Using 7.3 fb?1 of pp collisions collected by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron, we measure the distribution of the variable φ(η)*, which probes the same physical effects as the Z/γ* boson transverse momentum, but is less susceptible to the effects of experimental resolution and efficiency. A QCD prediction is found to describe the general features of the φ(η)* distribution, but is unable to describe its detailed shape or dependence on boson rapidity. A prediction that includes a broadening of transverse momentum for small values of the parton momentum fraction is strongly disfavored.     

Search for R-parity violating supersymmetry in two-muon and four-jet topologies

We present results of a search for R-parity-violating decay of the neutralino chi;01, taken as the lightest supersymmetric particle, to a muon and two jets. The decay proceeds through a lepton-number violating coupling lambda(')(2jk) (j=1,2; k=1,2,3), with R-parity conservation in all other production and decay processes. In the absence of candidate events from 77.5+/-3.9 pb(-1) of data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.8 TeV, and with an expected background of 0.18+/-0.03+/-0.02 events, we set limits on squark and gluino masses within the framework of the minimal low-energy supergravity-supersymmetry model.     

Search for large extra dimensions in dielectron and diphoton production

We report a search for effects of large extra spatial dimensions in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.8 TeV with the D0 detector, using events containing a pair of electrons or photons. The data are in good agreement with the expected background and do not exhibit evidence for large extra dimensions. We set the most restrictive lower limits to date, at the 95% C.L. on the effective Planck scale between 1.0 and 1.4 TeV for several formalisms and numbers of extra dimensions.