Showing papers in "European Physical Journal C in 2010"

The ATLAS Simulation Infrastructure

Abstract: The simulation software for the ATLAS Experiment at the Large Hadron Collider is being used for large-scale production of events on the LHC Computing Grid. This simulation requires many components, from the generators that simulate particle collisions, through packages simulating the response of the various detectors and triggers. All of these components come together under the ATLAS simulation infrastructure. In this paper, that infrastructure is discussed, including that supporting the detector description, interfacing the event generation, and combining the GEANT4 simulation of the response of the individual detectors. Also described are the tools allowing the software validation, performance testing, and the validation of the simulated output against known physics processes.

New Results from DAMA/LIBRA.

Abstract: DAMA/LIBRA is running at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the I.N.F.N. Here the results obtained with a further exposure of 0.34 ton x yr are presented. They refer to two further annual cycles collected one before and one after the first DAMA/LIBRA upgrade occurred on September/October 2008. The cumulative exposure with those previously released by the former DAMA/NaI and by DAMA/LIBRA is now 1.17 ton x yr, corresponding to 13 annual cycles. The data further confirm the previous positive results obtained investigating the presence of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the galactic halo by means of the model independent Dark Matter annual modulation signature; the confidence level is now 8.9 sigma for the cumulative exposure. In particular, with the cumulative exposure the modulation amplitude of the single-hit events in the (2-6) keV energy interval measured in NaI(Tl) target is (0.0116 +/- 0.0013) cpd/kg/keV; the measured phase is (146 +/- 7) days and the measured period is (0.999 +/- 0.002) yr, values well in agreement with those expected for the DM particles.

Trial factors for the look elsewhere effect in high energy physics

Abstract: When searching for a new resonance somewhere in a possible mass range, the significance of observing a local excess of events must take into account the probability of observing such an excess anywhere in the range. This is the so called “look elsewhere effect”. The effect can be quantified in terms of a trial factor, which is the ratio between the probability of observing the excess at some fixed mass point, to the probability of observing it anywhere in the range. We propose a simple and fast procedure for estimating the trial factor, based on earlier results by Davies. We show that asymptotically, the trial factor grows linearly with the (fixed mass) significance.

Finite-time future singularities in modified Gauss–Bonnet and ℱ(R,G) gravity and singularity avoidance

Abstract: We study all four types of finite-time future singularities emerging in the late-time accelerating (effective quintessence/phantom) era from ℱ(R,G)-gravity, where R and G are the Ricci scalar and the Gauss–Bonnet invariant, respectively. As an explicit example of ℱ(R,G)-gravity, we also investigate modified Gauss–Bonnet gravity, so-called F(G)-gravity. In particular, we reconstruct the F(G)-gravity and ℱ(R,G)-gravity models where accelerating cosmologies realizing the finite-time future singularities emerge. Furthermore, we discuss a possible way to cure the finite-time future singularities in F(G)-gravity and ℱ(R,G)-gravity by taking into account higher-order curvature corrections. The example of non-singular realistic modified Gauss–Bonnet gravity is presented. It turns out that adding such non-singular modified gravity to singular Dark Energy makes the combined theory a non-singular one as well.

f(R,L m ) gravity

Abstract: We generalize the f(R) type gravity models by assuming that the gravitational Lagrangian is given by an arbitrary function of the Ricci scalar R and of the matter Lagrangian L m . We obtain the gravitational field equations in the metric formalism, as well as the equations of motion for test particles, which follow from the covariant divergence of the energy-momentum tensor. The equations of motion for test particles can also be derived from a variational principle in the particular case in which the Lagrangian density of the matter is an arbitrary function of the energy density of the matter only. Generally, the motion is non-geodesic, and it takes place in the presence of an extra force orthogonal to the four-velocity. The Newtonian limit of the equation of motion is also considered, and a procedure for obtaining the energy-momentum tensor of the matter is presented. The gravitational field equations and the equations of motion for a particular model in which the action of the gravitational field has an exponential dependence on the standard general relativistic Hilbert–Einstein Lagrange density are also derived.

Charged-particle multiplicity measurement in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV with ALICE at LHC

Abstract: Charged-particle production was studied in proton-proton collisions collected at the LHC with the ALICE detector at centre-of-mass energies 0.9 TeV and 2.36 TeV in the pseudorapidity range vertical bar eta vertical bar < 1.4. In the central region (vertical bar eta vertical bar < 0.5), at 0.9 TeV, we measure charged-particle pseudo-rapidity density dN(ch)/d eta = 3.02 +/- 0.01(stat.)(-0.05)(+0.08)(syst.) for inelastic interactions, and dN(ch)/d eta = 3.58 +/- 0.01 (stat.)(-0.12)(+0.12)(syst.) for non-single-diffractive interactions. At 2.36 TeV, we find dN(ch)/d eta = 3.77 +/- 0.01(stat.)(-0.12)(+0.25)(syst.) for inelastic, and dN(ch)/d eta = 4.43 +/- 0.01(stat.)(-0.12)(+0.17)(syst.) for non-single-diffractive collisions. The relative increase in charged-particle multiplicity from the lower to higher energy is 24.7% +/- 0.5%(stat.)(-2.8)(+5.7)%(syst.) for inelastic and 23.7% +/- 0.5%(stat.)(-1.1)(+4.6)%(syst.) for non-single-diffractive interactions. This increase is consistent with that reported by the CMS collaboration for non-single-diffractive events and larger than that found by a number of commonly used models. The multiplicity distribution was measured in different pseudorapidity intervals and studied in terms of KNO variables at both energies. The results are compared to proton-antiproton data and to model predictions.

Physics with the KLOE-2 experiment at the upgraded DA Phi NE

Abstract: Investigation at a f-factory can shed light on several debated issues in particle physics. We discuss: (i) recent theoretical development and experimental progress in kaon physics relevant for the Standard Model tests in the flavor sector, (ii) the sensitivity we can reach in probing CPT and Quantum Mechanics from time evolution of entangled-kaon states, (iii) the interest for improving on the present measurements of non-leptonic and radiative decays of kaons and eta/eta' mesons, (iv) the contribution to understand the nature of light scalar mesons, and (v) the opportunity to search for narrow di-lepton resonances suggested by recent models proposing a hidden dark-matter sector. We also report on the e(+)e(-) physics in the continuum with the measurements of (multi) hadronic cross sections and the study of gamma gamma processes.

A posteriori inclusion of parton density functions in NLO QCD final-state calculations at hadron colliders: The APPLGRID Project

Abstract: A method to facilitate the consistent inclusion of cross-section measurements based on complex final-states from HERA, TEVATRON and the LHC in proton parton density function (PDF) fits has been developed. This can be used to increase the sensitivity of LHC data to deviations from Standard Model predictions. The method stores perturbative coefficients of NLO QCD calculations of final-state observables measured in hadron colliders in look-up tables. This allows the a posteriori inclusion of parton density functions (PDFs), and of the strong coupling, as well as the a posteriori variation of the renormalisation and factorisation scales in cross-section calculations. The main novelties in comparison to original work on the subject are the use of higher-order interpolation of Lagrangian form, which substantially improves the trade-off between accuracy and memory use, and a CPU and computer memory optimised way to construct and store the look-up table using modern software tools. It is demonstrated that a sufficient accuracy on the cross-section calculation can be achieved with reasonably small look-up table size by using the examples of jet production and electro-weak boson (Z, W) production in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 14 TeV at the LHC. The use of this technique in PDF fitting is demonstrated in a PDF-fit to HERA data and simulated LHC jet cross-sections as well as in a study of the jet cross-section uncertainties at various centre-of-mass energies.

Quest for precision in hadronic cross sections at low energy: Monte Carlo tools vs. experimental data

Abstract: We present the achievements of the last years of the experimental and theoretical groups working on hadronic cross section measurements at the low energy e+e- colliders in Beijing, Frascati, Ithaca, Novosibirsk, Stanford and Tsukuba and on tau decays. We sketch the prospects in these fields for the years to come. We emphasise the status and the precision of the Monte Carlo generators used to analyse the hadronic cross section measurements obtained as well with energy scans as with radiative return, to determine luminosities and tau decays. The radiative corrections fully or approximately implemented in the various codes and the contribution of the vacuum polarisation are discussed.

Possible alternatives to tri-bimaximal mixing

Abstract: Possible alternatives to tri-bimaximal mixing are presented based on other symmetry principles, and their predictions for |U e3|, sin 2 θ 12 and sin 2 θ 23 are compared to the present neutrino mixing data. In some cases perturbations are required to give better agreement with the data, and the use of a minimal approach is illustrated. Precise experimental determinations of the mixing parameters will be required to decipher the correct mixing pattern and to pin down the appropriate flavor symmetry.

Higgs production in gluon fusion at next-to-next-to-leading order QCD for finite top mass

Abstract: The inclusive Higgs production cross section from gluon fusion is calculated through NNLO QCD, including its top quark mass dependence. This is achieved through a matching of the 1/M t expansion of the partonic cross sections to the exact large- $\hat{s}$ limits which are derived from k T -factorization. The accuracy of this procedure is estimated to be better than 1% for the hadronic cross section. The final result is shown to be within 1% of the commonly used effective theory approach, thus confirming earlier findings.

Heavy-light meson spectroscopy and Regge trajectories in the relativistic quark model

Abstract: The masses of the ground, orbitally and radially excited states of heavy-light mesons are calculated within the framework of the QCD-motivated relativistic quark model based on the quasipotential approach. Both light (q=u,d,s) and heavy (Q=c,b) quarks are treated fully relativistically without application of the heavy-quark 1/m Q expansion. The Regge trajectories in the (M 2,J) and (M 2,n r ) planes are investigated and their parameters are obtained. The results are in good agreement with available experimental data except for the masses of the anomalous $D^{*}_{s0}(2317)$ , D s1(2460) and $D_{sJ}^{*}(2860)$ states.

An evaluation of |V us | and precise tests of the Standard Model from world data on leptonic and semileptonic kaon decays

Abstract: We present a global analysis of leptonic and semileptonic kaon decay data, including all recent results published by the BNL-E865, KLOE, KTeV, ISTRA+ and NA48 experiments. This analysis, in conjunction with precise lattice calculations of the hadronic matrix elements now available, leads to a very precise determination of |Vus| and allows us to perform several stringent tests of the Standard Model.

Hořava–Lifshitz dark energy

Abstract: We formulate Hořava–Lifshitz cosmology with an additional scalar field that leads to an effective dark energy sector. We find that, due to the inherited features from the gravitational background, Hořava–Lifshitz dark energy naturally presents very interesting behaviors, possessing a varying equation-of-state parameter, exhibiting phantom behavior and allowing for a realization of the phantom divide crossing. In addition, Hořava–Lifshitz dark energy guarantees for a bounce at small scale factors and it may trigger the turnaround at large scale factors, leading naturally to cyclic cosmology.

Readiness of the ATLAS Tile Calorimeter for LHC collisions.

Abstract: The Tile hadronic calorimeter of the ATLAS detector has undergone extensive testing in the experimental hall since its installation in late 2005. The readout, control and calibration systems have been fully operational since 2007 and the detector has successfully collected data from the LHC single beams in 2008 and first collisions in 2009. This paper gives an overview of the Tile Calorimeter performance as measured using random triggers, calibration data, data from cosmic ray muons and single beam data. The detector operation status, noise characteristics and performance of the calibration systems are presented, as well as the validation of the timing and energy calibration carried out with minimum ionising cosmic ray muons data. The calibration systems’ precision is well below the design value of 1%. The determination of the global energy scale was performed with an uncertainty of 4%.

CMS Tracking Performance Results from early LHC Operation.

Abstract: The first LHC pp collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 0.9 and 2.36 TeV were recorded by the CMS detector in December 2009. The trajectories of charged particles produced in the collisions were reconstructed using the all-silicon Tracker and their momenta were measured in the 3.8 T axial magnetic field. Results from the Tracker commissioning are presented including studies of timing, efficiency, signal-to-noise, resolution, and ionization energy. Reconstructed tracks are used to benchmark the performance in terms of track and vertex resolutions, reconstruction of decays, estimation of ionization energy loss, as well as identification of photon conversions, nuclear interactions, and heavy-flavour decays.

The ATLAS Inner Detector commissioning and calibration

Abstract: The ATLAS Inner Detector is a composite tracking system consisting of silicon pixels, silicon strips and straw tubes in a 2 T magnetic field. Its installation was completed in August 2008 and the detector took part in data-taking with single LHC beams and cosmic rays. The initial detector operation, hardware commissioning and in-situ calibrations are described. Tracking performance has been measured with 7.6 million cosmic-ray events, collected using a tracking trigger and reconstructed with modular pattern-recognition and fitting software. The intrinsic hit efficiency and tracking trigger efficiencies are close to 100%. Lorentz angle measurements for both electrons and holes, specific energy-loss calibration and transition radiation turn-on measurements have been performed. Different alignment techniques have been used to reconstruct the detector geometry. After the initial alignment, a transverse impact parameter resolution of 22.1 +/- 0.9 mu m and a relative momentum resolution sigma (p) /p=(4.83 +/- 0.16)x10(-4) GeV(-1)xp (T) have been measured for high momentum tracks.

Probing new physics models of neutrinoless double beta decay with SuperNEMO

Abstract: The possibility to probe new physics scenarios of light Majorana neutrino exchange and right-handed currents at the planned next generation neutrinoless double beta decay experiment SuperNEMO is discussed Its ability to study different isotopes and track the outgoing electrons provides the means to discriminate different underlying mechanisms for the neutrinoless double beta decay by measuring the decay half-life and the electron angular and energy distributions

Systematic event generator tuning for the LHC

Abstract: In this article we describe Professor, a new program for tuning model parameters of Monte Carlo event generators to experimental data by parameterising the per-bin generator response to parameter variations and numerically optimising the parameterised behaviour. Simulated experimental analysis data is obtained using the Rivet analysis toolkit. This paper presents the Professor procedure and implementation, illustrated with the application of the method to tunes of the Pythia 6 event generator to data from the LEP/SLD and Tevatron experiments. These tunes are substantial improvements on existing standard choices, and are recommended as base tunes for LHC experiments, to be themselves systematically improved upon when early LHC data is available.

Reevaluation of the hadronic contribution to the muon magnetic anomaly using new e + e - → π + π - cross section data from BABAR

Abstract: Using recently published, high-precision π + π − cross section data by the BABAR experiment from the analysis of e + e − events with high-energy photon radiation in the initial state, we reevaluate the lowest order hadronic contribution $(a_{\mu}^{\mathrm{had},\mathrm{LO}})$ to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. We employ newly developed software featuring improved data interpolation and averaging, more accurate error propagation and systematic validation. With the new data, the discrepancy between the e + e −- and τ-based results for the dominant two-pion mode reduces from previously 2.4σ to 1.5σ in the dispersion integral, though significant local discrepancies in the spectra persist. We obtain for the e + e −-based evaluation $a_{\mu}^{\mathrm{had},\mathrm{LO}}=(695.5\pm4.1)\times 10^{-10}$ , where the error accounts for all sources. The full Standard Model prediction of a μ differs from the experimental value by 3.2σ.

Heavy-quark mass dependence in global PDF analyses and 3- and 4-flavour parton distributions

Abstract: We study the sensitivity of our recent MSTW 2008 NLO and NNLO PDF analyses to the values of the charm- and bottom-quark masses, and we provide additional public PDF sets for a wide range of these heavy-quark masses. We quantify the impact of varying mc and mb on the cross sections for W, Z and Higgs production at the Tevatron and the LHC. We generate 3- and 4-flavour versions of the (5-flavour) MSTW 2008 PDFs by evolving the input PDFs and αS determined from fits in the 5-flavour scheme, including the eigenvector PDF sets necessary for calculation of PDF uncertainties. As an example of their use, we study the difference in the Z total cross sections at the Tevatron and LHC in the 4- and 5-flavour schemes. Significant differences are found, illustrating the need to resum large logarithms in \(Q^{2}/m_{b}^{2}\) by using the 5-flavour scheme. The 4-flavour scheme is still necessary, however, if cuts are imposed on associated (massive) b-quarks, as is the case for the experimental measurement of \(Zb\bar{b}\) production and similar processes.

The CCFM Monte Carlo generator CASCADE version 2.2.03

Abstract: Cascade is a full hadron level Monte Carlo event generator for ep, γp and ppˉ and pp processes, which uses the CCFM evolution equation for the initial state cascade in a backward evolution approach supplemented with off-shell matrix elements for the hard scattering. A detailed program description is given, with emphasis on parameters the user wants to change and common block variables which completely specify the generated events.

N=4 supersymmetric Yang–Mills scattering amplitudes at high energies: the Regge cut contribution

Abstract: We further investigate, in the planar limit of N=4 supersymmetric Yang–Mills theories, the high energy Regge behavior of six-point MHV scattering amplitudes. In particular, for the new Regge cut contribution found in our previous paper, we compute in the leading logarithmic approximation (LLA) the energy spectrum of the BFKL equation in the color octet channel, and we calculate explicitly the two-loop corrections to the discontinuities of the amplitudes for the transitions 2→4 and 3→3. We find an explicit solution of the BFKL equation for the octet channel for arbitrary momentum transfers and investigate the intercepts of the Regge singularities in this channel. As an important result we find that the universal collinear and infrared singularities of the BDS formula are not affected by this Regge-cut contribution. Any improvement of the BDS formula should reproduce this cut to all orders in the coupling.

Towards the experimental clarification of quarkonium polarization

Abstract: We highlight issues which are often underestimated in the experimental analyses on quarkonium polarization: the relation between the parameters of the angular distributions and the angular momentum composition of the quarkonium, the importance of the choice of the reference frame, the interplay between observed decay and production kinematics, and the consequent influence of the experimental acceptance on the comparison between experimental measurements and theoretical calculations. Given the puzzles raised by the available experimental results, new measurements must provide more detailed information, such that physical conclusions can be derived without relying on model-dependent assumptions. We describe a frame-invariant formalism which minimizes the dependence of the measurements on the experimental acceptance, facilitates the comparison with theoretical calculations, and probes systematic effects due to experimental biases. This formalism is a direct and generic consequence of the rotational invariance of the dilepton decay distribution and is independent of any assumptions specific to particular models of quarkonium production. The use of this improved approach, which exploits the intrinsic multidimensionality of the problem, will significantly contribute to a faster progress in our understanding of quarkonium production, especially if adopted as a common analysis framework by the LHC experiments, which will soon perform analyses of quarkonium polarization in proton-proton collisions.

The discrepancy between τ and e+e- spectral functions revisited and the consequences for the muon magnetic anomaly

Abstract: We revisit the procedure for comparing the pi pi spectral function measured in tau decays to that obtained in e (+) e (-) annihilation. We re-examine the isospin-breaking corrections using new experimental and theoretical input and find improved agreement between the tau (-)->pi (-) pi (0) nu (tau) branching fraction measurement and its prediction using the isospin-breaking-corrected e (+) e (-)->pi (+) pi (-) spectral function, though not resolving all discrepancies. We recompute the lowest order hadronic contributions to the muon g-2 using e (+) e (-) and tau data with the new corrections and find a reduced difference between the two evaluations. The new tau-based estimate of the muon magnetic anomaly is found to be 1.9 standard deviations lower than the direct measurement.

An attempt to understand exclusive π + electroproduction

Abstract: Hard exclusive π + electroproduction is investigated within the handbag approach. The prominent role of the pion-pole contribution is demonstrated. It is also shown that the experimental data require a twist-3 effect which ensues from the helicity-flip generalized parton distribution H T and the twist-3 pion wave function. The results calculated from this handbag approach are compared in detail with the experimental data on cross sections and spin asymmetries measured with a polarized target. It is also commented on consequences of this approach for exclusive π 0 and vector-meson electroproduction.

First proton--proton collisions at the LHC as observed with the ALICE detector: measurement of the charged particle pseudorapidity density at $\ sqrt(s)$= 900 GeV

Abstract: On 23rd November 2009, during the early commissioning of the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC), two counter-rotating proton bunches were circulated for the first time concurrently in the machine, at the LHC injection energy of 450 GeV per beam. Although the proton intensity was very low, with only one pilot bunch per beam, and no systematic attempt was made to optimize the collision optics, all LHC experiments reported a number of collision candidates. In the ALICE experiment, the collision region was centred very well in both the longitudinal and transverse directions and 284 events were recorded in coincidence with the two passing proton bunches. The events were immediately reconstructed and analyzed both online and offline. We have used these events to measure the pseudorapidity density of charged primary particles in the central region. In the range vertical bar eta vertical bar S collider. They also illustrate the excellent functioning and rapid progress of the LHC accelerator, and of both the hardware and software of the ALICE experiment, in this early start-up phase.

Same-sign W pair production as a probe of double-parton scattering at the LHC

Abstract: We study the production of same-sign W boson pairs at the LHC in double parton interactions. Compared with simple factorised double parton distributions (dPDFs), we show that the recently developed dPDFs, GS09, lead to non-trivial kinematic correlations between the W bosons. A numerical study of the prospects for observing this process using same-sign dilepton signatures, including W ± W ± jj, diboson and heavy flavour backgrounds, at 14 TeV centre-of-mass energy is then performed. It is shown that a small excess of same-sign dilepton events from double parton scattering over a background dominated by single scattering W ± Z(γ *) production could be observed at the LHC.

Measurement of the Charm and Beauty Structure Functions using the H1 Vertex Detector at HERA

Abstract: Inclusive charm and beauty cross sections are measured in e-p and e+p neutral current collisions at HERA in the kinematic region of photon virtuality 5

Thermodynamics of Hořava–Lifshitz black holes

Abstract: We study black holes in the Hořava–Lifshitz gravity with a parameter λ. For 1/3≤λ 3, the black holes behave the Reissner–Nordstrom type black hole in asymptotically flat spacetimes. Hence, these all are quite different from the Schwarzschild–AdS black hole of Einstein gravity. The temperature, mass, entropy, and heat capacity are derived for investigating thermodynamic properties of these black holes.