Showing papers in "European Physical Journal C in 2016"

Search for the lepton flavour violating decay μ + → e + γ with the full dataset of the MEG experiment

Abstract: The final results of the search for the lepton flavour violating decay $$\mathrm {\mu }^+ \rightarrow \mathrm {e}^+ \mathrm {\gamma }$$ based on the full dataset collected by the MEG experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institut in the period 2009–2013 and totalling $$7.5\times 10^{14}$$ stopped muons on target are presented. No significant excess of events is observed in the dataset with respect to the expected background and a new upper limit on the branching ratio of this decay of $$ \mathcal{B} (\mu ^+ \rightarrow \mathrm{e}^+ \gamma ) < 4.2 \times 10^{-13}$$ (90 % confidence level) is established, which represents the most stringent limit on the existence of this decay to date.

Event generator tunes obtained from underlying event and multiparton scattering measurements

Abstract: New sets of parameters ("tunes") for the underlying-event (UE) modeling of the PYTHIA8, PYTHIA6 and HERWIG++ Monte Carlo event generators are constructed using different parton distribution functions. Combined fits to CMS UE data at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV and to UE data from the CDF experiment at lower sqrt(s), are used to study the UE models and constrain their parameters, providing thereby improved predictions for proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV. In addition, it is investigated whether the values of the parameters obtained from fits to UE observables are consistent with the values determined from fitting observables sensitive to double-parton scattering processes. Finally, comparisons of the UE tunes to "minimum bias" (MB) events, multijet, and Drell-Yan (q q-bar to Z / gamma* to lepton-antilepton + jets) observables at 7 and 8 TeV are presented, as well as predictions of MB and UE observables at 13 TeV.

Herwig 7.0/Herwig++ 3.0 release note

Abstract: A major new release of the Monte Carlo event generator Herwig++ (version 3.0) is now available. This release marks the end of distinguishing Herwig++ and HERWIG development and therefore constitutes the first major release of version 7 of the Herwig event generator family. The new version features a number of significant improvements to the event simulation, including: built-in NLO hard process calculation for virtually all Standard Model processes, with matching to both angular-ordered and dipole shower modules via both subtractive (MC@NLO-type) and multiplicative (Powheg-type) algorithms; QED radiation and spin correlations in the angular-ordered shower; a consistent treatment of perturbative uncertainties within the hard process and parton showering. Several of the new features will be covered in detail in accompanying publications, and an update of the manual will follow in due course.

Heavy-flavour and quarkonium production in the LHC era: from proton–proton to heavy-ion collisions

Abstract: This report reviews the study of open heavy-flavour and quarkonium production in high-energy hadronic collisions, as tools to investigate fundamental aspects of Quantum Chromodynamics, from the proton and nucleus structure at high energy to deconfinement and the properties of the Quark–Gluon Plasma. Emphasis is given to the lessons learnt from LHC Run 1 results, which are reviewed in a global picture with the results from SPS and RHIC at lower energies, as well as to the questions to be addressed in the future. The report covers heavy flavour and quarkonium production in proton–proton, proton–nucleus and nucleus–nucleus collisions. This includes discussion of the effects of hot and cold strongly interacting matter, quarkonium photoproduction in nucleus–nucleus collisions and perspectives on the study of heavy flavour and quarkonium with upgrades of existing experiments and new experiments. The report results from the activity of the SaporeGravis network of the I3 Hadron Physics programme of the European Union 7 $$\mathrm{th}$$ Framework Programme.

Results on light dark matter particles with a low-threshold CRESST-II detector

Abstract: The CRESST-II experiment uses cryogenic detectors to search for nuclear recoil events induced by the elastic scattering of dark matter particles in CaWO $$_4$$ crystals. Given the low energy threshold of our detectors in combination with light target nuclei, low mass dark matter particles can be probed with high sensitivity. In this letter we present the results from data of a single detector module corresponding to 52 kg live days. A blind analysis is carried out. With an energy threshold for nuclear recoils of 307 eV we substantially enhance the sensitivity for light dark matter. Thereby, we extend the reach of direct dark matter experiments to the sub- GeV/ $$c^2$$ region and demonstrate that the energy threshold is the key parameter in the search for low mass dark matter particles.

Muon reconstruction performance of the ATLAS detector in proton–proton collision data at √ s =13 TeV

Abstract: This article documents the performance of the ATLAS muon identification and reconstruction using the first LHC dataset recorded at s√ = 13 TeV in 2015. Using a large sample of J/ψ→μμ and Z→μμ decays from 3.2 fb−1 of pp collision data, measurements of the reconstruction efficiency, as well as of the momentum scale and resolution, are presented and compared to Monte Carlo simulations. The reconstruction efficiency is measured to be close to 99% over most of the covered phase space (|η| 2.2, the pT resolution for muons from Z→μμ decays is 2.9% while the precision of the momentum scale for low-pT muons from J/ψ→μμ decays is about 0.2%.

Measurements of the Higgs boson production and decay rates and coupling strengths using pp collision data at √s = 7 and 8 TeV in the ATLAS experiment

Abstract: Combined analyses of the Higgs boson production and decay rates as well as its coupling strengths to vector bosons and fermions are presented. The combinations include the results of the analyses of the $H\to\gamma\gamma,\, ZZ^*,\, WW^*,\, Z\gamma,\, b\bar{b},\, \tau\tau$ and $\mu\mu$ decay modes, and the constraints on the associated production with a pair of top quarks and on the off-shell coupling strengths of the Higgs boson. The results are based on the LHC proton-proton collision datasets, with integrated luminosities of up to 4.7 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV and 20.3 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV, recorded by the ATLAS detector in 2011 and 2012. Combining all production modes and decay channels, the measured signal yield, normalised to the Standard Model expectation, is $1.18^{+0.15}_{-0.14}$. The observed Higgs boson production and decay rates are interpreted in a leading-order coupling framework, exploring a wide range of benchmark coupling models both with and without assumptions on the Higgs boson width and on the Standard Model particle content in loop processes. The observed data are found to be compatible with the Standard Model expectations for a Higgs boson at a mass of 125.36 GeV for all models considered.

On the standard model predictions for \(R_K\) and \(R_{K^*}\)

Abstract: We evaluate the impact of radiative corrections in the ratios \(\Gamma [B\rightarrow M \mu ^+\mu ^-]/\Gamma [B\rightarrow M \mathrm{e}^+\mathrm{e}^-]\) when the meson M is a K or a \(K^*\). Employing the cuts on \(m^2_{\ell \ell }\) and the reconstructed B-meson mass presently applied by the LHCb Collaboration, such corrections do not exceed a few \(\%\). Moreover, their effect is well described (and corrected for) by existing Monte Carlo codes. Our analysis reinforces the interest of these observables as clean probe of physics beyond the Standard Model.

Anomalies in B-decays and U(2) flavor symmetry

Abstract: The collection of a few anomalies in semileptonic B-decays invites to speculate about the emergence of some strikingly new phenomena. Here we offer a possible interpretation of these anomalies in the context of a weakly broken $$U(2)^5$$ flavor symmetry and leptoquark mediators.

Performance of pile-up mitigation techniques for jets in pp collisions at √s = 8 TeV using the ATLAS detector

Abstract: The large rate of multiple simultaneous protonproton interactions, or pile-up, generated by the Large Hadron Collider in Run 1 required the development of many new techniques to mitigate the advers ...

Luminosity determination in pp collisions at √s = 8 TeV using the ATLAS detector at the LHC

Abstract: The luminosity determination for the ATLAS detector at the LHC during pp collisions at s√= 8 TeV in 2012 is presented. The evaluation of the luminosity scale is performed using several luminometers ...

Search for an additional, heavy Higgs boson in the H → ZZ decay channel at √s = 8 TeV in pp collision data with the ATLAS detector

Abstract: A search is presented for a high-mass Higgs boson in the , , , and decay modes using the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The search uses proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb. The results of the search are interpreted in the scenario of a heavy Higgs boson with a width that is small compared with the experimental mass resolution. The Higgs boson mass range considered extends up to for all four decay modes and down to as low as 140 , depending on the decay mode. No significant excess of events over the Standard Model prediction is found. A simultaneous fit to the four decay modes yields upper limits on the production cross-section of a heavy Higgs boson times the branching ratio to boson pairs. 95 % confidence level upper limits range from 0.53 pb at GeV to 0.008 pb at GeV for the gluon-fusion production mode and from 0.31 pb at GeV to 0.009 pb at GeV for the vector-boson-fusion production mode. The results are also interpreted in the context of Type-I and Type-II two-Higgs-doublet models.

Parameterized neural networks for high-energy physics

Abstract: We investigate a new structure for machine learning classifiers built with neural networks and applied to problems in high-energy physics by expanding the inputs to include not only measured features but also physics parameters. The physics parameters represent a smoothly varying learning task, and the resulting parameterized classifier can smoothly interpolate between them and replace sets of classifiers trained at individual values. This simplifies the training process and gives improved performance at intermediate values, even for complex problems requiring deep learning. Applications include tools parameterized in terms of theoretical model parameters, such as the mass of a particle, which allow for a single network to provide improved discrimination across a range of masses. This concept is simple to implement and allows for optimized interpolatable results.

The PVLAS experiment: measuring vacuum magnetic birefringence and dichroism with a birefringent Fabry–Perot cavity

Abstract: Vacuum magnetic birefringence was predicted long time ago and is still lacking a direct experimental confirmation. Several experimental efforts are striving to reach this goal, and the sequence of results promises a success in the next few years. This measurement generally is accompanied by the search for hypothetical light particles that couple to two photons. The PVLAS experiment employs a sensitive polarimeter based on a high finesse Fabry–Perot cavity. In this paper we report on the latest experimental results of this experiment. The data are analysed taking into account the intrinsic birefringence of the dielectric mirrors of the cavity. Besides a new limit on the vacuum magnetic birefringence, the measurements also allow the model-independent exclusion of new regions in the parameter space of axion-like and milli-charged particles. In particular, these last limits hold also for all types of neutrinos, resulting in a laboratory limit on their charge.

Precise prediction for the light MSSM Higgs boson mass combining effective field theory and fixed-order calculations

Abstract: In the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model heavy superparticles introduce large logarithms in the calculation of the lightest $$\mathscr {CP}$$ -even Higgs-boson mass. These logarithmic contributions can be resummed using effective field theory techniques. For light superparticles, however, fixed-order calculations are expected to be more accurate. To gain a precise prediction also for intermediate mass scales, the two approaches have to be combined. Here, we report on an improvement of this method in various steps: the inclusion of electroweak contributions, of separate electroweakino and gluino thresholds, as well as resummation at the NNLL level. These improvements can lead to significant numerical effects. In most cases, the lightest $$\mathscr {CP}$$ -even Higgs-boson mass is shifted downwards by about 1 GeV. This is mainly caused by higher-order corrections to the $${\overline{\text {MS}}}$$ top-quark mass. We also describe the implementation of the new contributions in the code FeynHiggs.

Analysis of P_c(4380) and P_c(4450) as pentaquark states in the diquark model with QCD sum rules

Abstract: In this article, we construct the diquark–diquark–antiquark type interpolating currents, and we study the masses and pole residues of the $$J^P={\frac{3}{2}}^-$$ and $${\frac{5}{2}}^+$$ hidden charm pentaquark states in detail with the QCD sum rules by calculating the contributions of the vacuum condensates up to dimension-10 in the operator product expansion. In the calculations, we use the formula $$\mu =\sqrt{M^2_{P_c}-(2{\mathbb {M}}_c)^2}$$ to determine the energy scales of the QCD spectral densities. The present predictions favor assigning $$P_c(4380)$$ and $$P_c(4450)$$ to be the $${\frac{3}{2}}^-$$ and $${\frac{5}{2}}^+$$ pentaquark states, respectively.

Measurement of the transverse momentum and phi(eta)*. distributions of Drell-Yan lepton pairs in proton-proton collisions at root s=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Abstract: Distributions of transverse momentum [Formula: see text] and the related angular variable [Formula: see text] of DrellΓCoYan lepton pairs are measured in 20.3┬afb[Formula: see text] of protonΓCoproton collisions at [Formula: see text]┬aTeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Measurements in electron-pair and muon-pair final states are corrected for detector effects and combined. Compared to previous measurements in protonΓCoproton collisions at [Formula: see text]┬aTeV, these new measurements benefit from a larger data sample and improved control of systematic uncertainties. Measurements are performed in bins of lepton-pair mass above, around and below the Z-boson mass peak. The data are compared to predictions from perturbative and resummed QCD calculations. For values of [Formula: see text] the predictions from the Monte Carlo generator ResBos are generally consistent with the data within the theoretical uncertainties. However, at larger values of [Formula: see text] this is not the case. Monte Carlo generators based on the parton-shower approach are unable to describe the data over the full range of [Formula: see text] while the fixed-order prediction of Dynnlo falls below the data at high values of [Formula: see text]. ResBos and the parton-shower Monte Carlo generators provide a much better description of the evolution of the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] distributions as a function of lepton-pair mass and rapidity than the basic shape of the data.

Heat transfer analysis in a second grade fluid over and oscillating vertical plate using fractional Caputo–Fabrizio derivatives

Abstract: This paper presents a Caputo–Fabrizio fractional derivatives approach to the thermal analysis of a second grade fluid over an infinite oscillating vertical flat plate. Together with an oscillating boundary motion, the heat transfer is caused by the buoyancy force induced by temperature differences between the plate and the fluid. Closed form solutions of the fluid velocity and temperature are obtained by means of the Laplace transform. The solutions of ordinary second grade and Newtonian fluids corresponding to time derivatives of integer and fractional orders are obtained as particular cases of the present solutions. Numerical computations and graphical illustrations are used in order to study the effects of the Caputo–Fabrizio time-fractional parameter \(\upalpha \), the material parameter \(\alpha _2 \), and the Prandtl and Grashof numbers on the velocity field. A comparison for time derivative of integer order versus fractional order is shown graphically for both Newtonian and second grade fluids. It is found that fractional fluids (second grade and Newtonian) have highest velocities. This shows that the fractional parameter enhances the fluid flow.

Search for supersymmetry at √s= 13 TeV in final states with jets and two same-sign leptons or three leptons with the ATLAS detector

Abstract: A search for strongly produced supersymmetric particles is conducted using signatures involving multiple energetic jets and either two isolated leptons (e or μ) with the same electric charge or at ...

A critical appraisal and evaluation of modern PDFs

Abstract: We review the present status of the determination of parton distribution functions (PDFs) in the light of the precision requirements for the LHC in Run 2 and other future hadron colliders. We provide brief reviews of all currently available PDF sets and use them to compute cross sections for a number of benchmark processes, including Higgs boson production in gluon–gluon fusion at the LHC. We show that the differences in the predictions obtained with the various PDFs are due to particular theory assumptions made in the fits of those PDFs. We discuss PDF uncertainties in the kinematic region covered by the LHC and on averaging procedures for PDFs, such as advocated by the PDF4LHC15 sets, and provide recommendations for the usage of PDF sets for theory predictions at the LHC.

Numerical magneto-hydrodynamics for relativistic nuclear collisions

Abstract: We present an improved version of the ECHO-QGP numerical code, which self-consistently includes for the first time the effects of electromagnetic fields within the framework of relativistic magneto-hydrodynamics (RMHD). We discuss results of its application in relativistic heavy-ion collisions in the limit of infinite electrical conductivity of the plasma. After reviewing the relevant covariant $$3+1$$ formalisms, we illustrate the implementation of the evolution equations in the code and show the results of several tests aimed at assessing the accuracy and robustness of the implementation. After providing some estimates of the magnetic fields arising in non-central high-energy nuclear collisions, we perform full RMHD simulations of the evolution of the quark–gluon plasma in the presence of electromagnetic fields and discuss the results. In our ideal RMHD setup we find that the magnetic field developing in non-central collisions does not significantly modify the elliptic flow of the final hadrons. However, since there are uncertainties in the description of the pre-equilibrium phase and also in the properties of the medium, a more extensive survey of the possible initial conditions as well as the inclusion of dissipative effects are indeed necessary to validate this preliminary result.

Compact stars in f(R,\mathcal {T}) gravity

Abstract: In the present paper we generate a set of solutions describing the interior of a compact star under $$f(R,\mathcal {T})$$ theory of gravity which admits conformal motion. An extension of general relativity, the $$f(R,\mathcal {T})$$ gravity is associated to Ricci scalar R and the trace of the energy-momentum tensor $$\mathcal {T}$$ . To handle the Einstein field equations in the form of differential equations of second order, first of all we adopt the Lie algebra with conformal Killing vectors (CKV) which enable one to get a solvable form of such equations and second we consider the equation of state (EOS) $$p=\omega \rho $$ with $$0<\omega <1$$ for the fluid distribution consisting of normal matter, $$\omega $$ being the EOS parameter. We therefore analytically explore several physical aspects of the model to represent behavior of the compact stars such as—energy conditions, TOV equation, stability of the system, Buchdahl condition, compactness and redshift. It is checked that the physical validity and the acceptability of the present model within the specified observational constraint in connection to a dozen of the compact star candidates are quite satisfactory.

Acceleration of the charged particles due to chaotic scattering in the combined black hole gravitational field and asymptotically uniform magnetic field

Abstract: To test the role of large-scale magnetic fields in accretion processes, we study the dynamics of the charged test particles in the vicinity of a black hole immersed into an asymptotically uniform magnetic field. Using the Hamiltonian formalism of the charged particle dynamics, we examine chaotic scattering in the effective potential related to the black hole gravitational field combined with the uniform magnetic field. Energy interchange between the translational and oscillatory modes of the charged particle dynamics provides a mechanism for charged particle acceleration along the magnetic field lines. This energy transmutation is an attribute of the chaotic charged particle dynamics in the combined gravitational and magnetic fields only, the black hole rotation is not necessary for such charged particle acceleration. The chaotic scatter can cause a transition to the motion along the magnetic field lines with small radius of the Larmor motion or vanishing Larmor radius, when the speed of the particle translational motion is largest and it can be ultra-relativistic. We discuss the consequences of the model of ionization of test particles forming a neutral accretion disc, or heavy ions following off-equatorial circular orbits, and we explore the fate of heavy charged test particles after ionization where no kick of heavy ions is assumed and only the switch-on effect of the magnetic field is relevant. We demonstrate that acceleration and escape of the ionized particles can be efficient along the Kerr black hole symmetry axis parallel to the magnetic field lines. We show that a strong acceleration of the ionized particles to ultra-relativistic velocities is preferred in the direction close to the magnetic field lines. Therefore, the process of ionization of Keplerian discs around the Kerr black holes can serve as a model of relativistic jets.

Lepton flavor violation in exclusive \(b\rightarrow s\) decays

Abstract: Starting from the general effective hamiltonian relevant to the $$b\rightarrow s$$ transitions, we derive the expressions for the full angular distributions of the $$B \rightarrow K^{(*)} \ell _1 \ell _2$$ decay modes, as well as for $$\mathcal{B}(B_s \rightarrow \ell _1\ell _2 )$$ ( $$\ell _1 e \ell _2$$ ). We point out the differences in the treatment of the lepton flavor violating modes with respect to the lepton flavor conserving ones. The relevant Wilson coefficients we evaluate in two different scenarios: (i) The (pseudo-)scalar coefficients are obtained using the (pseudo-)scalar coupling extracted from the experimental non-zero value of $$\mathcal{B}(h\rightarrow \mu \tau )$$ , (ii) we revisit a $$Z^\prime $$ model in which the flavor changing neutral couplings are allowed. We provide the numerical estimates of the branching fractions of the above-mentioned modes in both scenarios.

Static spherically symmetric wormholes in f(R, T) gravity

Abstract: In this work, we explore wormhole solutions in f(R, T) theory of gravity, where R is the scalar curvature and T is the trace of stress-energy tensor of matter. To investigate this, we consider a static spherically symmetric geometry with matter contents as anisotropic, isotropic, and barotropic fluids in three separate cases. By taking into account the Starobinsky f(R) model, we analyze the behavior of energy conditions for these different kinds of fluids. It is shown that the wormhole solutions can be constructed without exotic matter in few regions of space-time. We also give the graphical illustration of the results obtained and discuss the equilibrium picture for the anisotropic case only. It is concluded that the wormhole solutions with anisotropic matter are realistic and stable in this theory of gravity.

Extending the Higgs sector: an extra singlet

Abstract: An extension of the Standard Model with an additional Higgs singlet is analyzed. Bounds on singlet admixture for the 125 GeV h boson from electroweak radiative corrections and data on h production and decays are obtained. The possibility of double h production enhancement at 14 TeV LHC due to a heavy Higgs contribution is considered.

LHC benchmark scenarios for the real Higgs singlet extension of the standard model

Abstract: We present benchmark scenarios for searches for an additional Higgs state in the real Higgs singlet extension of the Standard Model in Run 2 of the LHC. The scenarios are selected such that they fulfill all relevant current theoretical and experimental constraints, but can potentially be discovered at the current LHC run. We take into account the results presented in earlier work and update the experimental constraints from relevant LHC Higgs searches and signal rate measurements. The benchmark scenarios are given separately for the low-mass and high-mass region, i.e. the mass range where the additional Higgs state is lighter or heavier than the discovered Higgs state at around 125 GeV. They have also been presented in the framework of the LHC Higgs Cross Section Working Group.

A determination of the charm content of the proton

Abstract: We present an unbiased determination of the charm content of the proton, in which the charm parton distribution function (PDF) is parametrized on the same footing as the light quarks and the gluon in a global PDF analysis. This determination relies on the NLO calculation of deep-inelastic structure functions in the FONLL scheme, generalized to account for massive charm-initiated contributions. When the EMC charm structure function dataset is included, it is well described by the fit, and PDF uncertainties in the fitted charm PDF are significantly reduced. We then find that the fitted charm PDF vanishes within uncertainties at a scale [Formula: see text] GeV for all [Formula: see text], independent of the value of [Formula: see text] used in the coefficient functions. We also find some evidence that the charm PDF at large [Formula: see text] and low scales does not vanish, but rather has an "intrinsic" component, very weakly scale dependent and almost independent of the value of [Formula: see text], carrying less than [Formula: see text] of the total momentum of the proton. The uncertainties in all other PDFs are only slightly increased by the inclusion of fitted charm, while the dependence of these PDFs on [Formula: see text] is reduced. The increased stability with respect to [Formula: see text] persists at high scales and is the main implication of our results for LHC phenomenology. Our results show that if the EMC data are correct, then the usual approach in which charm is perturbatively generated leads to biased results for the charm PDF, though at small x this bias could be reabsorbed if the uncertainty due to the charm mass and missing higher orders were included. We show that LHC data for processes, such as high [Formula: see text] and large rapidity charm pair production and [Formula: see text] production, have the potential to confirm or disprove the implications of the EMC data.

A new model for spherically symmetric anisotropic compact star

Abstract: In this article we obtain a new anisotropic solution for Einstein’s field equations of embedding class one metric. The solution represents realistic objects such as Her X-1 and RXJ 1856-37. We perform a detailed investigation of both objects by solving numerically the Einstein field equations with anisotropic pressure. The physical features of the parameters depend on the anisotropic factor i.e. if the anisotropy is zero everywhere inside the star then the density and pressures will become zero and the metric turns out to be flat. We report our results and compare with the above mentioned two compact objects as regards a number of key aspects: the central density, the surface density onset and the critical scaling behaviour, the effective mass and radius ratio, the anisotropization with isotropic initial conditions, adiabatic index and red shift. Along with this we have also made a comparison between the classical limit and theoretical model treatment of the compact objects. Finally we discuss the implications of our findings for the stability condition in a relativistic compact star.