Search for the flavour-changing neutral current B-s(0)->mu+mu- in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV with the D0 dectector

We present the results of a search for the flavor-changing neutral current decay B-s(0)-->mu(+)mu(-) using a data set with integrated luminosity of 240 pb(-1) of p (p) over bar collisions at roots=1.96 TeV collected with the D0 detector in run II of the Fermilab Tevatron collider. We find the upper limit on the branching fraction to be B(B-s(0)-->mu(+)mu(-))less than or equal to5.0x10(-7) at the 95% C.L. assuming no contributions from the decay B-d(0)-->mu(+)mu(-) in the signal region. This limit is the most stringent upper bound on the branching fraction B-s(0)-->mu(+)mu(-) to date.

Search for first-generation scalar leptoquarks in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

We report on a search for pair production of first-generation scalar leptoquarks (LQ) in p (p) over bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV using an integrated luminosity of 252 pb(-1) collected at the Fermilab Tevatron collider by the D0 detector. We observe no evidence for LQ production in the topologies arising from LQ(LQ) over bar -> eqeq and LQ(LQ) over bar -> eq nu q, and derive 95% C.L. lower limits on the LQ mass as a function of beta, where beta is the branching fraction for LQ -> eq. The limits are 241 and 218 GeV/c(2) for beta=1 and 0.5, respectively. These results are combined with those obtained by D0 at root s=1.8 TeV, which increases these LQ mass limits to 256 and 234 GeV/c(2).

Measurement of the t(t)over-bar production cross section in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV using lepton plus jets events with lifetime b-tagging

We present a measurement of the top quark pair (t (t) over bar) production cross section (sigma(t (t) over bar)) in pp collisions at root s = 1.96 TeV using 230 pb(-1) of data collected by the DO experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We select events with one charged lepton (electron or muon), missing transverse energy, and jets in the final state. We employ lifetime-based b-jet identification techniques to further enhance the t F purity of the selected sample. For a top quark mass of 175 GeV, we measure sigma(t (t) over bar) 8.6(-1.5)(+1.6) (stat. + syst.) +/- 0.6(lumi.) pb, in agreement with the standard model expectation. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Measurement of the t(t)over-bar production cross section in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV using kinematic characteristics of lepton plus jets events

We present a measurement of the top quark pair (t (t) over bar) production cross section (sigma(t (t) over bar)) in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV using 230 pb(-1) of data collected by the DO detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We select events with one charged lepton (electron or muon), large missing transverse energy, and at least four jets, and extract the t (t) over bar content of the sample based on the kinematic characteristics of the events. For a top quark mass of 175 GeV, we measure sigma(t (t) over bar) 6.7(-1.3)(+1.4)(stat)(-1.1)(+1.6)(syst) +/- 0.4(lumi) pb, in good agreement with the standard model prediction. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Search for pair production of second generation scalar leptoquarks in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s-=1.96 TeV

We report on a search for the pair production of second generation scalar leptoquarks (LQ(2)) in p (p) over bar collisions at the center-of-mass energy, root s = 1.96 TeV, using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 294 19 pb(-1) recorded with the DO detector. No evidence for a leptoquark signal in the LQ(2)LQ(2) -> mu q mu q channel has been observed, and upper bounds on the product of cross section times branching fraction were set. This yields lower mass limits of m(LQ2) > 247 GeV/c(2) for beta = B(LQ(2) -> mu q) = 1 and m(LQ2) > 182 GeV/c(2) for beta = 1/2. Combining these limits with previous DO results, the lower limits on the mass of a second generation scalar leptoquark are m(LQ2) > 251 GeV/c(2) and m(LQ2) > 204 GeV/c(2) for beta = I and beta = 1/2, respectively. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Measurement of the t(t)over-bar production cross section in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV using secondary vertex b tagging

We report a new measurement of the t (t) over bar production cross section in p (beta) over bar collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV using events with one charged lepton (electron or muon), missing transverse energy, and jets. Using 425 pb(-1) of data collected using the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider, and enhancing the t (t) over bar content of the sample by tagging b jets with a secondary vertex tagging algorithm, the t (t) over bar production cross section is measured to be sigma(p (t) over bar -> t (t) over bar +X)=6.6 +/- 0.9(stat+syst) +/- 0.4(lum) pb. This cross section is the most precise D0 measurement to date for t (t) over bar production and is in good agreement with standard model expectations.

Searching for anomalous Higgs couplings in peripheral heavy ion collisions at the LHC

We investigate the sensitivity of the heavy ion mode of the LHC to anomalous Higgs boson couplings to photons, H gamma gamma, through the analysis of the processes gamma gamma --> b (b) over bar and gamma gamma --> gamma gamma in peripheral heavy ion collisions. We suggest cuts to improve the signal over background ratio and determine the capability of LHC to impose bounds on anomalous couplings by searching for a Higgs boson signal in these modes. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Measurement of the WW production cross section in p(p)over-bar collisions at root(s)over-bar=1.96 TeV

We present a measurement of the W boson pair-production cross section in p(p) over bar collisions at a center-of-mass energy of root s=1.96 TeV. The data, collected with the Run II D0 detector at Fermilab, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 224-252 pb(-1) depending on the final state (ee, e mu, or mu mu). We observe 25 candidates with a background expectation of 8.1 +/- 0.6(stat)+/- 0.6(syst)+/- 0.5(lum) events. The probability for an upward fluctuation of the background to produce the observed signal is 2.3x10(-7), equivalent to 5.2 standard deviations. The measurement yields a cross section of 13.8(-3.8)(+4.3)(stat)(-0.9)(+1.2)(syst)+/- 0.9(lum) pb, in agreement with predictions from the standard model.

Search for squarks and gluinos in events with jets and missing transverse energy in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s-=1.96 TeV

The results of a search for squarks and gluinos using data from p (p) over bar collisions recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV by the DO detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider are reported. The topologies analyzed consist of acoplanar-jet and multijet events with large missing transverse energy. No evidence for the production of squarks or gluinos was found in a data sample of 310pb(-1). Lower limits of 325 and 241 GeV were derived at the 95% C.L. on the squark and gluino masses, respectively, within the framework of minimal supergravity with tan beta=3, A(0) = 0, and mu < 0. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Search for neutral Higgs bosons decaying to tau pairs in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

A search for the production of neutral Higgs bosons Phi decaying into tau(+)tau(-) final states in p (p) over bar collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV is presented. The data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 325 pb(-1), were collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. Since no excess compared to the expectation from standard model processes is found, limits on the production cross section times branching ratio are set. The results are combined with those obtained from the D0 search for Phi b((b) over bar)-> b (b) over barb((b) over bar) and are interpreted in the minimal supersymmetric standard model.

Limits on anomalous trilinear gauge couplings from WW -> e(+)e(-), WW -> e(+/-)mu(-/+), and WW ->mu(+)mu(-) events from pp collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

Limits are set on anomalous WW gamma and WWZ trilinear gauge couplings using W+W--> e(+)nu(e)e(-)(nu) over bar (e), W+W--> e(+/-)nu(e)mu(-/+)nu(mu), and W+W-->mu(+)nu(mu)mu(-)(nu) over bar (mu) events. The data set was collected by the Run II D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider and corresponds to approximately 250 pb(-1) of integrated luminosity at root s=1.96 TeV. Under the assumption that the WW gamma couplings are equal to the WWZ couplings and using a form factor scale of Lambda=2.0 TeV, the combined 95% C.L. one-dimensional coupling limits from all three channels are -0.32

Search for neutral, long-lived particles decaying into two muons in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

We present a search for a neutral particle, pair produced in pp collisions at root s=1.96 TeV, which decays into two muons and lives long enough to travel at least 5 cm before decaying. The analysis uses approximate to 380 pb(-1) of data recorded with the D0 detector. The background is estimated to be about one event. No candidates are observed, and limits are set on the pair-production cross section times branching fraction into dimuons + X for such particles. For a mass of 10 GeV and lifetime of 4x10(-11) s, we exclude values greater than 0.14 pb (95% C.L.). These results are used to limit the interpretation of NuTeV's excess of dimuon events.

Search for particles decaying into a Z boson and a photon in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

We present the results of a search for a new particle X produced in p (p) over bar collisions at root s- = 1.96 TeV and subsequently decaying to Z gamma. The search uses 0.3 fb(-1) of data collected with the DO detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We set limits on the production cross section times the branching fraction sigma(p (p) over bar -> X) x B(X -> Z gamma) that range from 0.4 to 3.5 pb at the 95% C.L. for X with invariant masses between 100 and 1000 GeV/c(2), over a wide range of X decay widths. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultra peripheral heavy ion collisions and the energy dependence of the nuclear radius

To estimate realistic cross sections in ultra peripheral heavy ion collisions we must remove effects of strong absorption. One method to eliminate these effects make use of a Glauber model calculation, where the nucleon-nucleon energy dependent cross sections at small impact parameter are suppressed. In another method we impose a geometrical cut on the minimal impact parameter of the nuclear collision ((b)min > R-1 + R-2, where R-i is the radius of ion 'i'). In this last case the effect of a possible nuclear radius dependence with the energy has not been considered in detail up to now. Here we introduce this effect showing that for final states with small invariant mass the effect is negligible. However when the final state has a relatively large invariant mass, e.g., an intermediate mass Higgs boson, the cross section can decrease up to 50%. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Two-photon final states in peripheral heavy ion collisions

We discuss processes leading to two photon final states in peripheral heavy ion collisions at RHIC. Due to the large photon luminosity we show that the continuum subprocess gamma gamma -> gamma gamma can be observed with a large number of events. We study this reaction when it is intermediated by a resonance made of quarks or gluons and discuss its interplay with the continuum process, verifying that in several cases the resonant process ovewhelms the continuum one. It is also investigated the possibility of observing a scalar resonance (the sigma meson) in this process. Assuming for the sigma, the mass and total decay width values recently reported by the E791 Collaboration we show that RHIC may detect this particle in its two photon decay mode if its partial photonic decay width is of the order of the ones discussed in the literature.