Search for B0 decays to invisible final states and to nunugamma

We establish upper limits on branching fractions for B0 decays to final states where the decay products are purely invisible (i.e., no observable final state particles) and for B0 decays to nunugamma. Within the standard model, these decays have branching fractions that are below current experimental sensitivity, but various models of physics beyond the standard model predict significant contributions from these channels. Using 88.5 x 10(6) BB pairs collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance by the BABAR experiment at the PEP-II e(+)e- storage ring at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, we establish upper limits at the 90% confidence level of 22 x 10(-5) for the branching fraction of B0-->invisible and 4.7 x 10(-5) for the branching fraction of B0-->nunugamma.     

Measurement of the direct CP asymmetry in b-->s gamma Decays

We describe a measurement of the direct CP asymmetry between inclusive b-->s gamma and b-->s gamma decays. This asymmetry is expected to be less than 0.01 in the standard model, but could be enhanced up to about 0.10 by new physics contributions. We use a sample of 89 x 10(6) BB pairs recorded with the BABAR detector at SLAC PEP-II, from which we reconstruct a set of 12 exclusive b-->s gamma final states containing one charged or neutral kaon and one to three pions. We measure an asymmetry of A(CP)(b-->s gamma)=0.025+/-0.050(stat)+/-0.015(syst), corresponding to an allowed range of -0.06s gamma)<+0.11 at 90% confidence level.     

Measurement of the time-dependent CP asymmetry in the B0-->phiK0 decay

We present a measurement of the time-dependent CP asymmetry for the neutral B-meson decay B0-->phiK0. We use a sample of approximately 114 x 10(6) B-meson pairs taken at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II B-meson factory at SLAC. We reconstruct the CP eigenstates phiK0S and phiK0L, where phi-->K+K-, K0S-->pi+pi-, and K0L is observed via its hadronic interactions. The other B meson in the event is tagged as either a B0 or Bbar0 from its decay products. The values of the CP-violation parameters are SphiK=0.47+/-0.34(stat)+0.08-0.06(syst) and CphiK=0.01+/-0.33(stat)+/-0.10(syst).     

Observation of the decay B-->J/psietaK and search for X(3872)-->J/psieta

We report the observation of the B meson decay B+/- -->J/psietaK+/- and evidence for the decay B0-->J/psietaK0S, using 90 x 10(6) BB; events collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II e+e- asymmetric-energy storage ring. We obtain branching fractions of B(B+/- -->J/psietaK+/-) = [10.8 +/- 2.3(stat) +/- 2.4(syst)] x 10(-5) and B(B0-->J/psietaK0S) = [8.4 +/- 2.6(stat) +/- 2.7(syst)] x 10(-5). We search for the new narrow mass state, the X(3872), recently reported by the Belle Collaboration, in the decay B+/- -->X(3872)K+/-,X(3872)-->J/psieta and determine an upper limit of B[B +/- -->X(3872)K+/- -->J/psietaK+/-] < 7.7 x 10(-6) at 90% confidence level.     

Search for the rare leptonic decay B+-->mu(+)nu(mu)

We have performed a search for the rare leptonic decay B+-->mu(+)nu(mu) with data collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance by the BABAR experiment at the PEP-II storage ring. In a sample of 88.4 x 10(6) BB pairs, we find no significant evidence for a signal and set an upper limit on the branching fraction B(B+-->my(+)nu(my))< 6.6 x 10(-6) at the 90% confidence level.     

Measurement of the CP asymmetry amplitude sin2beta with B0 mesons

We present results on time-dependent CP asymmetries in neutral B decays to several CP eigenstates. The measurements use a data sample of about 88 x 10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->B(-)B decays collected between 1999 and 2002 with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B factory at SLAC. We study events in which one neutral B meson is fully reconstructed in a final state containing a charmonium meson and the other B meson is determined to be either a B(0) or B(-0) from its decay products. The amplitude of the CP asymmetry, which in the standard model is proportional to sin2beta, is derived from the decay-time distributions in such events. We measure sin2beta=0.741+/-0.067(stat)+/-0.034(syst) and |lambda|=0.948+/-0.051(stat)+/-0.030(syst). The magnitude of lambda is consistent with unity, in agreement with the standard model expectation of no direct CP violation in these modes.     

Measurement of the decays B--> phiK and B--> phiK*

We have observed the decays B--> phiK and phiK(*) in a sample of over 45 million B mesons collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II collider. The measured branching fractions are B(B+--> phiK+) = (7.7(+1.6)(-1.4)+/-0.8)x10(-6), B(B0--> phiK0) = (8.1(+3.1)(-2.5)+/-0.8)x10(-6), B(B+--> phiK(*+)) = (9.7(+4.2)(-3.4)+/-1.7)x10(-6), and B(B0--> phiK(*0)) = (8.7(+2.5)(-2.1)+/-1.1)x10(-6). We also report the upper limit B(B+--> phipi(+))<1.4x10(-6) ( 90% C.L.).     

Diffusion of obsidian in the Mediterranean basin in the neolithic period: A trace element characterization of obsidian from Sardinia by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Obsidian samples from Monte Arci in Sardinia (Italy) have been characterized by their minor and trace element concentration in order to find discriminating parameters useful to provenance the prime matter of obsidian artifacts. Obsidian samples were collected both at the SA, SB and SC outcrops and far away from them. All samples were submitted to INAA. The trace element concentration appears to be very useful to discriminate the three flows. Multivariate statistical analysis confirms the satisfactory distinction between the three sources. The assignment of the samples collected far away from outcrops to a specific flow (SC) validates the hypothesis that obsidian blocks might have been washed out by alluvial events.     

Rare-earth element abundance in tissues and plasma of healthy subjects and patients by neutron activation analysis

In recent years much attention has been paid to the presence and role played by trace metals in human tissues and body fluids. Rare-earth element ions are known to have high affinity for calcium binding sites and to antagonize calcium-mediate biological response. The present paper describes an investigation on rare-earth elements abundance in tissue and endogenous plasma of apparently healthy subjects and patients affected by epicondylitis, at the elbow or by laryngeal carcinoma. Some rare-earth elements, namely La, Ce, Nd, Eu, Gd, Yb and Lu were determined by radiochemical neutron activation analysis. Results are presented and discussed as far as precision, accuracy and sensitivity are concerned. The obtained data indicate that rare-earth elements levels in plasma and tissues are significantly affected by the occurence of pathological conditions.     

Practical considerations regarding high resolution gamma-spectrometry measurements of naturally occurring radioactive samples

High-resolution gamma-spectrometry provides fast, accurate, non-destructive isotopic analysis of natural radionuclides in environmental samples. Low energy HPGe detectors (30%) with resolution less than 2.0 keV at 1332 keV of ⁶⁰Co and with linked analytical software, provide good peakto-background performance and accurate unfolding of multiplet regions. A procedure regarding high-resolution gamma-spectrometry measurements of naturally occurring radioactive samples is presented here including calibration, background interference, self-absorption, practical considerations and validation with respect to IAEA reference materials. Recommended peaks for quantitative measurements, deriving from the analysis of observed spectral interferences as well as from radioactive equilibrium considerations, are reported.