Topological signatures in CMB temperature anisotropy maps

We propose an alternative formalism to simulate cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature maps in Lambda CDM universes with nontrivial spatial topologies. This formalism avoids the need to explicitly compute the eigenmodes of the Laplacian operator in the spatial sections. Instead, the covariance matrix of the coefficients of the spherical harmonic decomposition of the temperature anisotropies is expressed in terms of the elements of the covering group of the space. We obtain a decomposition of the correlation matrix that isolates the topological contribution to the CMB temperature anisotropies out of the simply connected contribution. A further decomposition of the topological signature of the correlation matrix for an arbitrary topology allows us to compute it in terms of correlation matrices corresponding to simpler topologies, for which closed quadrature formulas might be derived. We also use this decomposition to show that CMB temperature maps of (not too large) multiply connected universes must show patterns of alignment, and propose a method to look for these patterns, thus opening the door to the development of new methods for detecting the topology of our Universe even when the injectivity radius of space is slightly larger than the radius of the last scattering surface. We illustrate all these features with the simplest examples, those of flat homogeneous manifolds, i.e., tori, with special attention given to the cylinder, i.e., T-1 topology.

Search for Wbb(-) and WH production in pp(-) collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

We present a search for Wb (b) over bar production in p (p) over bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV in events containing one electron, an imbalance in transverse momentum, and two b-tagged jets. Using 174 pb(-1) of integrated luminosity accumulated by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron collider, and the standard-model description of such events, we set a 95% C.L. upper limit on Wb (b) over bar production of 6.6 pb for b quarks with transverse momenta p(T)(b)> 20 GeV and b (b) over bar separation in pseudorapidity-azimuth space Delta R-bb> 0.75. Restricting the search to optimized b (b) over bar mass intervals provides upper limits on WH production of 9.0-12.2 pb for Higgs-boson masses of 105-135 GeV.

Measurement of the Lambda(0)(b) lifetime in the decay Lambda(0)(b)-> J/psi Lambda(0) with the D0 detector

We present measurements of the Lambda(b)(0) lifetime in the exclusive decay channel Lambda(b)(0)-> J/psi Lambda(0), with J/psi ->mu(+)mu(-) and Lambda(0)-> p pi(-), the B-0 lifetime in the decay B-0-> J/psi K-S(0) with J/psi ->mu(+)mu(-) and K-S(0)->pi(+)pi(-), and the ratio of these lifetimes. The analysis is based on approximately 250 pb(-1) of data recorded with the D0 detector in p (p) over bar collisions at root s = 1.96 TeV. The Lambda(b)(0) lifetime is determined to be tau(Lambda(b)(0))=1.22(-0.18)(+0.22)(stat)+/- 0.04(syst) ps, the B-0 lifetime tau(B-0)=1.40(-) (+0.11)(0.10)(stat)+/- 0.03(syst) ps, and the ratio tau(Lambda(b)(0))/tau(B-0)=0.87(-) (+0.17)(0.14)(stat)+/- 0.03(syst). In contrast with previous measurements using semileptonic decays, this is the first determination of the Lambda(b)(0) lifetime based on a fully reconstructed decay channel.

Measurement of the ratio of inclusive cross sections sigma(p(p)over-bar -> Z plus b jet)/sigma(p(p)over-bar -> Z plus jet) at root s=1.96 TeV

Using the data collected with the D0 detector at root s=1.96 TeV, for integrated luminosities of about 180 pb(-1), we have measured the ratio of inclusive cross sections for p(p) over bar -> Z+b jet to p(p) over bar -> Z+jet production. The inclusive Z+b-jet reaction is an important background to searches for the Higgs boson in associated ZH production at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. Our measurement is the first of its kind, and relies on the Z -> e(+)e(-) and Z ->mu(+)mu(-) modes. The combined measurement of the ratio yields 0.021 +/- 0.005 for hadronic jets with transverse momenta p(T)> 20 GeV/c and pseudorapidities vertical bar eta vertical bar < 2.5, consistent with next-to-leading-order predictions of the standard model.

Electron exchange model potential: Application to positronium helium scattering

The formulation of a suitable nonlocal model potential for electron exchange is presented, checked with electron-hydrogen and electron-helium scattering, and applied to the study of elastic and inelastic scattering and ionization of orthopositronium (Ps) by helium. The elastic scattering and the n=2 excitations of Ps are investigated using a three-Ps-state close-coupling approximation. The higher (n greater than or equal to 3) excitations and ionization of Ps atoms are treated in the framework of the Born approximation with present exchange. Calculations are reported of phase shifts and elastic, Ps excitation, and total cross sections. The present target elastic total cross section agrees well with experimental results at thermal to medium energies. [S1050-2947(99)04201-8].

Search for supersymmetry via associated production of charginos and neutralinos in final states with three leptons

A search for associated production of charginos and neutralinos is performed using data recorded with the D0 detector at a p (p) over bar center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. This analysis considers final states with missing transverse energy and three charged leptons, of which at least two are electrons or muons. No evidence for supersymmetry is found in a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 320 pb(-1). Limits on the product of the production cross section and leptonic branching fraction are set. For the minimal supergravity model, a chargino lower mass limit of 117 GeV at the 95% C.L. is derived in regions of parameter space with enhanced leptonic branching fractions.

Search for large extra spatial dimensions in dimuon production with the D0 detector

We present the results of a search for the effects of large extra spatial dimensions in p (p) over bar collisions at root s = 1: 96 TeV in events containing a pair of energetic muons. The data correspond to 246 pb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. Good agreement with the expected background was found, yielding no evidence for large extra dimensions. We set 95% C. L. lower limits on the fundamental Planck scale between 0.85 and 1.27 TeV within several formalisms. These are the most stringent limits achieved in the dimuon channel to date.

Search for the Higgs boson in H -> WW(*) decays in p(p)over-bar collisions at root(s)=1.96 TeV

We present a search for the standard model Higgs boson in H -> WW(*) decays with e(+)e(-), e(+/-)mu(-/+), and mu(+)mu(-) final states in p (p) over bar collisions at a center-of-mass-energy of root s = 1.96 TeV. The data, collected from April 2002 to june 2004 with the D0 detector, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 300-325 pb(-1), depending on the final state. The number of events observed is consistent with the expectation from backgrounds. Limits from the combination of all three channels on the Higgs boson production cross section times branching ratio sigma x BR(H -> WW(*)) are presented.

First quantized approaches to neutrino oscillations and second quantization

Neutrino oscillations are treated from the point of view of relativistic first quantized theories and compared to second quantized treatments. Within first quantized theories, general oscillation probabilities can be found for Dirac fermions and charged spin 0 bosons. A clear modification in the oscillation formulas can be obtained and its origin is elucidated and confirmed to be inevitable from completeness and causality requirements. The left-handed nature of created and detected neutrinos can also be implemented in the first quantized Dirac theory in the presence of mixing; the probability loss due to the changing of initially left-handed neutrinos to the undetected right-handed neutrinos can be obtained in analytic form. Concerning second quantized approaches, it is shown in a calculation using virtual neutrino propagation that both neutrinos and antineutrinos may also contribute as intermediate particles. The sign of the contributing neutrino energy may have to be chosen explicitly without being automatic in the formalism. At last, a simple second quantized description of the flavor oscillation phenomenon is devised. In this description there is no interference terms between positive and negative components, but it still gives simple normalized oscillation probabilities. A new effect appearing in this context is an inevitable but tiny violation of the initial flavor of neutrinos. The probability loss due to the conversion of left-handed neutrinos to right-handed neutrinos is also presented.

Custodial symmetry and extensions of the standard model

We show that the extension of the approximate custodial SU(2)(L+R) global symmetry to all the Yukawa interactions of the standard model Lagrangian implies the introduction of sterile right-handed neutrinos and the seesaw mechanism in this sector. In this framework, the observed quark and lepton masses may be interpreted as an effect of physics beyond the standard model. The mechanism used for breaking this symmetry in the Yukawa sector could be different from the one at work in the vector boson sector. We give three model independent examples of these mechanisms.

Experimental discrimination between charge 2e/3 top quark and charge 4e/3 exotic quark production scenarios

We present the first experimental discrimination between the 2e/3 and 4e/3 top quark electric charge scenarios, using top quark pairs (t (t) over bar) produced in p (p) over bar collisions at root s =1.96 TeV by the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We use 370 pb(-1) of data collected by the D0 experiment and select events with at least one high transverse momentum electron or muon, high transverse energy imbalance, and four or more jets. We discriminate between b- and (b) over bar -quark jets by using the charge and momenta of tracks within the jet cones. The data are consistent with the expected electric charge, |q|=2e/3. We exclude, at the 92% C.L., that the sample is solely due to the production of exotic quark pairs Q (Q) over bar with |q|=4e/3. We place an upper limit on the fraction of Q (Q) over bar pairs rho < 0.80 at the 90% C.L.

Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the p(p)over-bar -> ZH -> v(v)over-barb(b)over-bar channel

We report a search for the standard model (SM) Higgs boson based on data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 260 pb(-1). We study events with missing transverse energy and two acoplanar b jets, which provide sensitivity to the ZH production cross section in the nu nu bb channel, and to WH production when the lepton from the W ->center dot nu decay is undetected. The data are consistent with the SM background expectation, and we set 95% C.L. upper limits on sigma(pp -> ZH/WH) x B(H -> bb) from 3.4/8.3 to 2.5/6.3 pb, for Higgs-boson masses between 105 and 135 GeV.

Short-time dynamics of percolation observables

We consider the critical short-time evolution of magnetic and droplet-percolation order parameters for the Ising model in two and three dimensions, through Monte Carlo simulations with the (local) heat-bath method. We find qualitatively different dynamic behaviors for the two types of order parameters. More precisely, we find that the percolation order parameter does not have a power-law behavior as encountered for the magnetization, but develops a scale (related to the relaxation time to equilibrium) in the Monte Carlo time. We argue that this difference is due to the difficulty in forming large clusters at the early stages of the evolution. Our results show that, although the descriptions in terms of magnetic and percolation order parameters may be equivalent in the equilibrium regime, greater care must be taken to interpret percolation observables at short times. In particular, this concerns the attempts to describe the dynamics of the deconfinement phase transition in QCD using cluster observables.

Measurement of the CP-violation parameter of B-0 mixing and decay with p(p)over-bar ->mu mu X data

We measure the dimuon charge asymmetry A in p (p) over bar collisions at a center of mass energy root s=1960 GeV. The data was recorded with the D0 detector and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of approximately 1.0 fb(-1). Assuming that the asymmetry A is due to asymmetric B-0 <->(B) over bar (0) mixing and decay, we extract the CP-violation parameter of B-0 mixing and decay: ((epsilon B0))/(1+vertical bar epsilon B0 vertical bar 2)=(AB0)/(4)= -0.0023 +/- 0.0011(stat)+/- 0.0008(syst).A(B)(0) is the dimuon charge asymmetry from decays of B-0(B) over bar (0) pairs. The general case, with CP violation in both B-0 and B-s(0) systems, is also considered. Finally we obtain the forward-backward asymmetry that quantifies the tendency of mu(+) to go in the proton direction and mu(-) to go in the antiproton direction. The results are consistent with the standard model and constrain new physics.

Mixing-demixing transition and collapse of a vortex state in a quasi-two-dimensional boson-fermion mixture

We investigate the mixing-demixing transition and the collapse in a quasi-two-dimensional degenerate boson-fermion mixture (DBFM) with a bosonic vortex. We solve numerically a quantum-hydrodynamic model based on a new density functional which accurately takes into account the dimensional crossover. It is demonstrated that with the increase of interspecies repulsion, a mixed state of DBFM could turn into a demixed state. The system collapses for interspecies attraction above a critical value which depends on the vortex quantum number. For interspecies attraction just below this critical limit there is almost complete mixing of boson and fermion components. Such mixed and demixed states of a DBFM could be experimentally realized by varying an external magnetic field near a boson-fermion Feshbach resonance, which will result in a continuous variation of interspecies interaction.