Quarkonium and Charm Hadrons : New Results on Spectroscopy in BaBar

We report on recent results in spectroscopy from BaBar. This includes the discovery of a new $\Lambda_c$ baryon, detailed studies of the $D^*_{sJ}(2317)^+$, $D_{sJ}(2460)^+$, X(3872) and Y(4260) particles and the first measurement of hadronic non-$B\bar{B}$ decays of the $\Upsilon(4S)$ meson.Comment: 4 pages (5 here), to appear in Proceedings of the XLIst Rencontres de Moriond, QCD and Hadronic Interactions, La Thuile, Italy, 18-25 March 200

Possible Application of Wavefront Coding to the LSST

Wavefront Coding has been applied as a means to increase the effective depth of focus of optical systems. In this note I discuss the potential for this technique to increase the depth of focus of the LSST and the resulting advantages for the construction and operation of the facility, as well as possible drawbacks. It may be possible to apply Wavefront Coding without changing the current LSST design, in which case Wavefront Coding might merit further study as a risk mitigation strategy.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure

Recent Results on Flavor Physics from BaBar

We report an update to our previous measurement of the CKM element $|V_{ub}|$ using exclusive $B \rightarrow \pi \ell \nu$ decays. In the charm sector we have performed a measurement of $f_{Ds}$ using $D_s\rightarrow\tau^+\nu_{\tau}$ decays, we have measured the mixing parameter $y_{CP}$ using the lifetime ratio $\frac{\langle\tau_{K\pi}\rangle}{\langle\tau_{hh}\rangle}$ in $D^0$ decays, and we have also searched for CP violation using T-odd correlations in $D^0$ decays to $K^+K^-\pi^+\pi^-$. Finally, in the tau sector we have performed a search for the lepton flavor violating decays $\tau^\pm \rightarrow e^\pm \gamma$ and $\tau^\pm \rightarrow \mu^\pm \gamma$.Comment: LaThuile2010 conference proceedings (8 pages

Pixel area variations in sensors: a novel framework for predicting pixel fidelity and distortion in flat field response

We describe the drift field in thick depleted silicon sensors as a superposition of a one-dimensional backdrop field and various three-dimensional perturbative contributions that are physically motivated. We compute trajectories for the conversions along the field lines toward the channel and into volumes where conversions are confined by the perturbative fields. We validate this approach by comparing predictions against measured response distributions seen in five types of fixed pattern distortion features. We derive a quantitative connection between "tree ring" flat field distortions to astrometric and shape transfer errors with connections to measurable wavelength dependence - as ancillary pixel data that may be used in pipeline analysis for catalog population. Such corrections may be tested on DECam data, where correlations between tree ring flat field distortions and astrometric errors - together with their band dependence - are already under study. Dynamic effects, including the brighter-fatter phenomenon for point sources and the flux dependence of flat field fixed pattern features are approached using perturbations similar in form to those giving rise to the fixed pattern features. These in turn provide drift coefficient predictions that can be validated in a straightforward manner. Once the three parameters of the model are constrained using available data, the model is readily used to provide predictions for arbitrary photo-distributions with internally consistent wavelength dependence provided for free.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures, submitted to "Precision Astronomy with Fully Depleted CCDs" - conference proceedings to be published by JINS

Adaptive Perturbation Theory I: Quantum Mechanics

Adaptive perturbation is a new method for perturbatively computing the eigenvalues and eigenstates of quantum mechanical Hamiltonians that heretofore were not believed to be obtainable by such methods. The novel feature of adaptive perturbation theory is that it decomposes a given Hamiltonian, $H$, into an unperturbed part and a perturbation in a way which extracts the leading non-perturbative behavior of the problem exactly. This paper introduces the method in the context of the pure anharmonic oscillator and then goes on to apply it to the case of tunneling between both symmetric and asymmetric minima. It concludes with an introduction to the extension of these methods to the discussion of a quantum field theory. A more complete discussion of this issue will be given in the second paper in this series. This paper will show how to use the method of adaptive perturbation theory to non-perturbatively extract the structure of mass, wavefunction and coupling constant renormalization.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures, uses psfig.sty. This paper is being replaced to add references to previously published work which I became aware of after posting the original pape

Applications of higher order QCD

In this talk we summarize some recent developments in perturbative QCD and their application to particle physics phenomenology.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures. Contribution to the proceedings of the international symposium on Physics in Collision 2013 (PIC 2013

Inclusive Hadronic Results at BaBar: ISR and Pentaquark Searches

We present recent measurements of hadronic cross-sections from the BaBar experiment and report preliminary results on searches for pentaquark states.Comment: 4 pages, 9 postscript figues, contributed to the Proceedings of DAFNE0

Search for CP Violating neutral Higgs bosons in the MSSM at LEP

The LEP collaborations ALEPH, DELPHI, L3 and OPAL have searched for the neutral Higgs bosons which are predicted within the framework of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). The data of the four collaborations are statistically combined and show no signicant excess of events which would indicate the production of Higgs bosons. The search results are thus used to set upper bounds on the cross sections of various Higgs-like event topologies and limits on MSSM benchmark models, including CP-conserving and CP-violating scenarios. Here, the limits on the model parameters of the CP-violating benchmark scenario CPX and derivates of this scenario are shown.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, contribution to the proceedings of the International Europhysics Conference on High Energy Physics, Lisbon, 200

Estimation of LHC and ILC Capabilities for Precision Higgs Boson Coupling Measurements

This paper discusses some aspects of the estimates of Higgs boson coupling sensitivities for LHC and ILC presented at the Snowmass 2013 meeting. I estimate the measurement accuracies underlying the CMS presentation to Snowmass. I present new fits for the ILC capabilities. I present some joints fits to prospective LHC and ILC data that demonstrates the synergy of the High-Luminosity LHC and ILC programs. Contributed to the proceedings of the Snowmass 2013 Community Summer Study.Comment: 23 pages, 4 figures; v3 - minor clarifications adde

Status of SM calculations of b > s transitions

We report recent progress in SM calculations of $b \to s$ transitions. We discuss the first NNLL prediction of the $\bar B \to X_s \gamma$ branching ratio, including important additional subtleties due to non-perturbative corrections and logarithmically-enhanced cut effects, and also recent results on the inclusive mode $\bar B \to X_s \ell^+ \ell^-$. Moreover, new results on the corresponding exclusive modes are reviewed. Finally, we comment on the present status of the so-called $B \to K \pi$ puzzle in hadronic $b \to s$ transitionsComment: 10 pages, 6 figures, minor changes, published versio