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At least 253 records · Page 14

New type of hill-top inflation

We suggest a new type of hill-top inflation originating from the initial conditions in the form of the microcanonical density matrix for the cosmological model with a large number of quantum fields conformally coupled to gravity. Initial conditions for inflation are set up by cosmological instantons describing underbarrier oscillations in the vicinity of the inflaton potential maximum. These periodic oscillations of the inflaton field and cosmological scale factor are obtained within the approximation of two coupled oscillators subject to the slow roll regime in the Euclidean time. This regime is characterized by rapid oscillations of the scale factor on the background of a slowly varying inflaton, which guarantees smallness of slow roll parameters ϵ and η of the following inflation stage. A hill-like shape of the inflaton potential is shown to be generated by logarithmic loop corrections to the tree-level asymptotically shift-invariant potential in the non-minimal Higgs inflation model and R{sup 2}-gravity. The solution to the problem of hierarchy between the Planckian scale and the inflation scale is discussed within the concept of conformal higher spin fields, which also suggests the mechanism bringing the model below the gravitational cutoff and, thus, protecting it from large graviton loop corrections.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Cogenerating and pre-annihilating dark matter by a new gauge interaction in a unified model

Grand unified theories based on large groups (with rank ≥6) are a natural context for dark matter models. They contain Standard-Model-singlet fermions that could be dark matter candidates, and can contain new non-abelian interactions whose sphalerons convert baryons, leptons, and dark matter into each other, “cogenerating' a dark matter asymmetry comparable to the baryon asymmetry. In this paper it is shown that the same non-abelian interactions can “pre-annihilate' the symmetric component of heavy dark matter particles χ, which then decay late into light stable dark matter particles ζ that inherit their asymmetry. We derive cosmological constraints on the parameters of such models. The mass of χ must be <3000 TeV and their decays must happen when 2×10{sup −7}<T{sub dec}/m{sub χ}<10{sup −4}. It is shown that such decays can come from d=5 operators with coefficients of order 1/M{sub GUT} or 1/M{sub Pℓ}. We present a simple realization of our model based on the group SU(7).

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Oscillatory attractors: a new cosmological phase

In expanding FRW spacetimes, it is usually the case that homogeneous scalar fields redshift and their amplitudes approach limiting values: Hubble friction usually ensures that the field relaxes to its minimum energy configuration, which is usually a static configuration. Here we discover a class of relativistic scalar field models in which the attractor behavior is the field oscillating indefinitely, with finite amplitude, in an expanding FRW spacetime, despite the presence of Hubble friction. This is an example of spontaneous breaking of time translation symmetry. We find that the effective equation of state of the field has average value ( w )=−1, implying that the field itself could drive an inflationary or dark energy dominated phase. This behavior is reminiscent of ghost condensate models, but in the new models, unlike in the ghost condensate models, the energy-momentum tensor is time dependent, so that these new models embody a more definitive breaking of time translation symmetry. We explore (quantum) fluctuations around the homogeneous background solution, and find that low k -modes can be stable, while high k -modes are typically unstable. We discuss possible interpretations and implications of that instability.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A new measure of tension between experiments

Tensions between cosmological measurements by different surveys or probes have always been important —and are presently much discussed —as they may lead to evidence of new physics. Several tests have been devised to probe the consistency of datasets given a cosmological model, but they often have undesired features such as dependence on the prior volume, or burdensome requirements such as that of near-Gaussian posterior distributions. We propose a new quantity, defined in a similar way as the Bayesian evidence ratio, in which these undesired properties are absent. We test the quantity on simple models with Gaussian and non-Gaussian likelihoods. Here, we then apply it to data from the Planck satellite: we investigate the consistency of ΛCDM model parameters obtained from TT and EE angular power spectrum measurements, as well as the mutual consistency of cosmological parameters obtained from large scale (multipoles, ℓ<1000) and small scale (ℓ ≥ 1000) portions of each measurement and find no significant discrepancy in the six-dimensional ΛCDM parameter space.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

ON THE NATURE OF THE GAMMA-RAY SOURCE 2FGL J1823.8+4312: THE DISCOVERY OF A NEW CLASS OF EXTRAGALACTIC X-RAY SOURCES

One of the unsolved mysteries of gamma-ray astronomy concerns the nature of unidentified gamma-ray sources. Recently, using the Second Fermi LAT source catalog (2FGL) and the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) archive, we discovered that the WISE counterparts of gamma-ray blazars, a class of active galactic nuclei, delineate a region (the WISE Gamma-ray Strip) in three-dimensional infrared color space well separated from the locus of other astronomical objects. Based on this result, we built an association procedure to recognize if there are WISE blazar candidates within the positional uncertainty region of the unidentified gamma-ray sources. Here we report on our analysis of 2FGL J1823.8+4312, a gamma-ray active galactic nucleus of uncertain type associated with the X-ray source 1RXS J182418.7+430954 according to the 2FGL, to verify whether it is a blazar. Applying our association method we found two sources with IR colors typical of gamma-ray blazars, located within the 99.9% confidence region of 2FGL J1823.8+4312: WISE J182352.33+431452.5 and WISE J182409.25+431404.7. We then searched in the Chandra, NVSS, and SDSS archival observations for their counterparts. We discovered that WISE J182352.33+431452.5, our preferred gamma-ray blazar candidate according to our WISE association procedure, is detected in the optical and in the X-rays but not in the radio, making it extremely unusual if it is a blazar. Given its enigmatic spectral energy distribution, we considered the possibility that it is a 'radio-faint blazar' or the prototype of a new class of extragalactic sources; our conclusion is independent of whether WISE J182352.33+431452.5 is the actual counterpart of 2FGL J1823.8+4312.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Independent and parallel evolution of new genes by gene duplication in two origins of C4 photosynthesis provides new insight into the mechanism of phloem loading in C4 species

C4 photosynthesis is considered one of the most remarkable examples of evolutionary convergence in eukaryotes. However, it is unknown whether the evolution of C4 photosynthesis required the evolution of new genes. Genome-wide gene-tree species-tree reconciliation of seven monocot species that span two origins of C4 photosynthesis revealed that there was significant parallelism in the duplication and retention of genes coincident with the evolution of C4 photosynthesis in these lineages. Specifically, 21 orthologous genes were duplicated and retained independently in parallel at both C4 origins. Analysis of this gene cohort revealed that the set of parallel duplicated and retained genes is enriched for genes that are preferentially expressed in bundle sheath cells, the cell type in which photosynthesis was activated during C4 evolution. Moreover, functional analysis of the cohort of parallel duplicated genes identified SWEET-13 as a potential key transporter in the evolution of C4 photosynthesis in grasses, and provides new insight into the mechanism of phloem loading in these C4 species.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

New low-energy 0 + state and shape coexistence in Ni 70

We report that in recent models, the neutron-rich Ni isotopes around N=40 are predicted to exhibit multiple low-energy excited 0 + states attributed to neutron and proton excitations across both the N=40 and Z=28 shell gaps. In 68 Ni, the three observed 0 + states have been interpreted in terms of triple shape coexistence between spherical, oblate, and prolate deformed shapes. In the present work a new (0 2 + ) state at an energy of 1567 keV has been discovered in 70 Ni by using β-delayed, γ-ray spectroscopy following the decay of 70 Co. The precipitous drop in the energy of the prolate-deformed 0 + level between 68 Ni and 70 Ni with the addition of two neutrons compares favorably with results of Monte Carlo shell-model calculations carried out in the large f pg9/2 d 5/2 model space, which predict a 0 2 + state at 1525 keV in 70 Ni. Finally, the result extends the shape-coexistence picture in the region to 70 Ni and confirms the importance of the role of the tensor component of the monopole interaction in describing the structure of neutron-rich nuclei.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Search for new phenomena in events with two Z bosons and missing transverse momentum in pp̄ collisions at √s=1.96 TeV

We present a search for new phenomena in events with two reconstructed Z bosons and large missing transverse momentum, sensitive to processes pp̄→X₂X₂→ZZX₁X₁, where X₂ is an unstable particle decaying as X₂→ZX₁ and X₁ is undetected. The particles X₁ and X₂ may be, among other possibilities, fourth-generation neutrinos or supersymmetric particles. We study the final state in which one Z boson decays to two charged leptons and the second decays hadronically. In data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.2 fb⁻¹ from proton-antiproton collisions recorded by the CDF II detector at the Tevatron, with center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV, we find agreement between data and standard-model backgrounds. We calculate 95% confidence level upper limits on the cross section of the process pp̄→X₂X₂→ZZX₁X₁ ranging from 50 fb to 1 pb, depending on the masses of X₁ and X₂.

Aaltonen, T.↗

Observation of a new charged charmoniumlike state in B ¯ 0 → J / ψ K – π + decays

We present the results of an amplitude analysis of B¯ 0 → J/ψK – π + decays. A new charged charmoniumlike state Z c (4200) + decaying to J/ψπ + is observed with a significance of 6.2σ. The mass and width of the Z c (4200) + are 4196$^{+31+17}_{–29–13}$ MeV/c 2 and 370$^{+70+70}_{–70–132}$ MeV, respectively; the preferred assignment of the quantum numbers is J P = 1 + . In addition, we find evidence for Z c (4430) + → J/ψπ + . In conclusion, the analysis is based on a 711 fb –1 data sample collected by the Belle detector at the asymmetric-energy e + e – collider KEKB.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Search for pair production of a new heavy quark that decays into a W boson and a light quark in p p collisions at s = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

We present a search for pair production of a new heavy quark ( Q ) that decays into a W boson and a light quark (q) in the final state where one W boson decays leptonically (to an electron or muon plus a neutrino) and the other W boson decays hadronically. The analysis is performed using an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb -1 of pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 8 TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. No evidence of $Q\overline{Q}$ production is observed. New chiral quarks with masses below 690 GeV are excluded at 95% confidence level, assuming BR ( Q → W q ) = 1 . Results are also interpreted in the context of vectorlike quark models, resulting in the limits on the mass of a vectorlike quark in the two-dimensional plane of BR ( Q → W q ) versus BR ( Q → H q ) .

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Searching for new spin-dependent interactions with SmCo 5 spin sources and a spin-exchange-relaxation-free comagnetometer

We propose a novel method to search for possible new macroscale spin- and/or velocity-dependent forces (SVDFs) based on specially designed SmCo 5 spin sources and a spin exchange relaxation-free (SERF) comagnetometer. A simulation shows that, by covering a SmCo 5 permanent magnet with a layer of pure iron, a high net spin density source of about $1×10^{22}/cm^3$ could be obtained. Taking advantages of the high spin density of this iron-shielded SmCo 5 and the high sensitivity of the SERF, the proposed method could set up new limits of greater than 10 orders of magnitude more sensitive than those from previous experiments or proposals in exploring SVDFs in force ranges larger than 1 cm.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

New light Higgs boson and short-baseline neutrino anomalies

Here, the low-energy excesses observed by the MiniBooNE experiment have, to date, defied a convincing explanation under the standard model even with accommodation for nonzero neutrino mass. In this paper we explore a new oscillation mechanism to explain these anomalies, invoking a light neutrinophilic Higgs boson, conceived to induce a low Dirac neutrino mass in accord with experimental limits. Beam neutrinos forward scattering off of a locally overdense relic neutrino background give rise to a novel matter effect with an energy-specific resonance. An enhanced oscillation around this resonance peak produces flavor transitions which are highly consistent with the MiniBooNE neutrino- and antineutrino-mode data sets. The model provides substantially improved χ2 values beyond either the no-oscillation hypothesis or the more commonly explored 3+1 sterile neutrino hypothesis. This mechanism would introduce distinctive signatures at each baseline in the upcoming short-baseline neutrino program at Fermilab, presenting opportunities for further exploration.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of the CP-Violation Parameter sin2Φ 1 with a New Tagging Method at the Υ(5S) Resonance

We report a measurement of the CP-violation parameter sin2Φ 1 at the Υ(5S) resonance using a new tagging method, called “B-π tagging.” In Υ(5S) decays containing a neutral B meson, a charged B, and a charged pion, the neutral B is reconstructed in the J/ψK$0\atop{S}$ CP-eigenstate decay channel. The initial flavor of the neutral B meson at the moment of the Υ(5S) decay is opposite to that of the charged B and may thus be inferred from the charge of the pion without reconstructing the charged B. From the asymmetry between B - π + and B - π - tagged J/ψK$0\atop{S}$ yields, we determine sin2Φ 1 =0.57±0.58(stat)±0.06(syst). The results are based on 121 fb -1 of data recorded by the Belle detector at the KEKB e + e - collider.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Evidence of a New Narrow Resonance Decaying to χ c 1 γ in B → χ c 1 γ K

We report measurements of B → χ c 1 γ K and χ c 2 γ K decays using 772 × 10 6 B B ¯ events collected at the Υ ( 4 S ) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e + e - collider. Evidence of a new resonance in the χ c 1 γ final state is found with a statistical significance of 3.8 σ . This state has a mass of 3823.1 ± 1.8 ( stat ) ± 0.7 ( syst ) MeV / c 2 , a value that is consistent with theoretical expectations for the previously unseen 1 D 2 3 c c ¯ meson. We find no other narrow resonance and set upper limits on the branching fractions of the X ( 3872 ) → χ c 1 γ and χ c 2 γ decays.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗