Flavour Physics and CP Violation in the Standard Model and Beyond

We present the invited lectures given at the Third IDPASC School which took place in Santiago de Compostela in January 2013. The students attending the school had very different backgrounds, some of them were doing their Ph.D. in experimental particle physics, others in theory. As a result, and in order to make the lectures useful for most of the students, we focused on basic topics of broad interest, avoiding the more technical aspects of Flavour Physics and CP Violation. We make a brief review of the Standard Model, paying special attention to the generation of fermion masses and mixing, as well as to CP violation. We describe some of the simplest extensions of the SM, emphasising novel flavour aspects which arise in their framework.Comment: Invited talk at the Third IDPASC School 2013, January 21st - February 2nd 2013, Santiago de Compostela, Galiza, Spain; 36 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables; version with few misprints correcte

Mean-field calculation of critical parameters and log-periodic characterization of an aperiodic-modulated model

We employ a mean-field approximation to study the Ising model with aperiodic modulation of its interactions in one spatial direction. Two different values for the exchange constant, $J_A$ and $J_B$, are present, according to the Fibonacci sequence. We calculated the pseudo-critical temperatures for finite systems and extrapolate them to the thermodynamic limit. We explicitly obtain the exponents $\beta$, $\delta$, and $\gamma$ and, from the usual scaling relations for anisotropic models at the upper critical dimension (assumed to be 4 for the model we treat), we calculate $\alpha$, $\nu$, $\nu_{//}$, $\eta$, and $\eta_{//}$. Within the framework of a renormalization-group approach, the Fibonacci sequence is a marginal one and we obtain exponents which depend on the ratio $r \equiv J_B/J_A$, as expected. But the scaling relation $\gamma = \beta (\delta -1)$ is obeyed for all values of $r$ we studied. We characterize some thermodynamic functions as log-periodic functions of their arguments, as expected for aperiodic-modulated models, and obtain precise values for the exponents from this characterization.Comment: 17 pages, including 9 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

In-plane stiffness of timber floors strengthened with CLT

Five full-scale timber floors were tested in order to analyse the in-plane behaviour of these structural systems. The main objective was an assessment of the effectiveness of in-plane strengthening using cross-laminated timber (CLT). To this end, one unstrengthened specimen (original), one specimen strengthened with a second layer of floorboards, two specimens strengthened with three CLT panels, and one specimen strengthened with two CLT panels, were tested. A numerical analysis was then performed in order to analyse the composite behaviour of the timber floors in more detail. Due to its importance as regards composite behaviour, the first phase of the experimental programme was composed of push-out tests on specimens representing the shear connection between the timber beams and the CLT panels. This paper describes the tests performed and the numerical modelling applied to evaluate the composite behaviour of the strengthened timber floors. The use of CLT panels is revealed to be an effective way to increase the in-plane stiffness of timber floors, through which the behaviour of the composite structure can be significantly changed, depending on the connection applied, or modified as required.The present work is part of a research project supported by the Quadro de Referencia Estrategico Nacional (QREN) programme, Project Number 21635, from the Agencia de Inovacao (ADI). This research activity fits into RILEM TC 245 "Reinforcement of Timber Elements in Existing Structures". The authors would like to thank Binderholz and Rotho Blaas for all the support offered, particularly in the preparation and execution of the experimental programme

Mass matrices and eigenstates for scalars / pseudoscalars; indirect CP violation, mass hierarchies and symmetry breaking

I study indirect CP violation for neutral kaons, and extend it to large values of the CP-violating parameter (taken to be real). I show how and at which condition there can exist a continuous set of basis in which the kinetic and mass terms in the Lagrangian can be diagonalized simultaneously. An ambiguity results for the mass spectrum, which then depends on the basis. In particular, for fixed (positive) (mass)^2 of the CP eigenstates K^0_1, K^0_2, and for certain ranges of values of the CP-violating parameter, a negative (mass)^2 can arise in the CP-violating basis. Under certain conditions, even a small perturbation, by lifting the ambiguity, can strongly alter the pattern of masses. These investigations extend in a natural way to indirect CP violation among a set of Higgs-like doublets. The C-odd commutator [K^0, K^0 bar], or its equivalent for Higgs multiplets, plays an important role. The condition for its vanishing and its consequences are among the main concerns of this work.Comment: LaTeX2e, 35 pages, 10 postscript figures + 1 log

On fermion masses and mixing in a model with A4A_4 symmetry

In a recently proposed multi-Higgs extension of the standard model in which discrete symmetries, $A_4$ and $Z_3$ are imposed we show that, after accommodating the fermion masses and the mixing matrices in the charged currents, the mixing matrices in the neutral currents induced by neutral scalars are numerically obtained. However, the flavor changing neutral currents are under control mainly by mixing and/or mass suppressions in the neutral scalar sector.Comment: Version accepted for publication in International Journal of Modern Physics A. In this version we added a discussion on the charged lepton and neutrino masses. The title has been changed. Other minor changes do not modify the conclusion

In-plane stiffness of traditional timber floors strengthened with CLT

Five full-scale timber floors were tested in order to analyze the in-plane behaviour of these structural systems. The main objective was to assess the effectiveness of the in-plane strengthening using cross laminated timber (CLT). For that, one unstrengthened specimen (original), one specimen strengthened with a second wood board, two specimens strengthened with 3 CLT panels and one specimen strengthened with 2 CLT panels were tested. Moreover, because of its importance in the composite behaviour, the first phase of the experimental program was composed by push-out tests on specimens representing the shear connection between the timber beams and the CLT panels. This paper describes the tests performed and the numerical modelling aimed to evaluate the composite behaviour of the strengthened timber floors

Seismic analysis of a 2-storey log house

The current paper deals with the analysis of the results yielded by a series of tests performed to evaluate the seismic behaviour of a model log construction. The study was based on an experimental investigation performed to improve the existing knowledge on log houses subject to seismic events. The main part of the experimental work is based on a full scale shaking table test, conducted on a two-storey log house designed by the Portuguese company Rusticasa® in compliance with design rules for timber buildings. The test was performed by the University of Minho within the framework of the SERIES Project ‘Multi-storey timber buildings’ and was coordinated by the University of Trento, at LNEC, Lisbon, Portugal. The geometry of the specimen, the design of the test, the setup and the instrumentation layout are first presented in this paper. The test procedure was conducted in stages with maximum accelerations (bi-directional) of 0.07g, 0.28g and 0.5g. The experimental results of each test have been analyzed and the resultant values of inter-storey drift, wall slippage and uplift measurements, shear deformations and hold-down forces measured are presented. Most importantly, the dynamic properties (fundamental period and mode shapes) of the system have been determined

A project contribution to the development of sustainable multi-storey timber buildings

Wood is a natural material, renewable, easily recyclable, and able to store carbon-dioxide, which makes tall timber buildings a solution with potential to answer the main sustainability targets. Cross laminated timber (CLT) has been pointed out as the best wood-based material to make this ambition a real thing. In order to understand why, this paper introduces the material and describe some demonstration buildings recently built. Based on diagnosed weaknesses of CLT buildings, it is presented an initial propose for a new CLT/glulam hybrid construction system, called Urban Timber (UT) system, which aims be able to support taller timber buildings. The main motivation was the development of a wood-based structural solution that provides more spatial flexibility and wider versatility for visual architectural expressions. The system is described and illustrated, considering concerns related with structural behavior, architectural value, structural connections and wood shrinkage.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Bounds on gamma from CP violation measurements in B -> pi+ pi- and B -> psi K_S

We study the determination of gamma from CP-violating observables in B -> pi+ pi- and B -> psi K_S. This determination requires theoretical input to one combination of hadronic parameters. We show that a mild assumption about this quantity may allow bounds to be placed on gamma, but we stress the pernicious effects that an eightfold discrete ambiguity has on such an analysis. The bounds are discussed as a function of the direct (C) and interference (S) CP-violating observables obtained from time-dependent B -> pi+ pi- decays, and their behavior in the presence of new physics effects in B-Bbar mixing is studied. (V2: Misprints corrected. Slightly improved discussion.)Comment: 11 pages, RevTex 4, 5 eps figures include