Two-Parton Contribution to the Heavy-Quark Forward-Backward Asymmetry in NNLO QCD

Forward-backward asymmetries, $A_{FB}^Q$, are important observables for the determination of the neutral-current couplings of heavy quarks in inclusive heavy quark production, $e^+ e^- \to \gamma^*, Z^* \to Q +X$. In view of the measurement perspectives on $A_{FB}^Q$ at a future linear collider, precise predictions of $A_{FB}^Q$ are required for massive quarks. We compute the contribution of the $Q \bar Q$ final state to $A_{FB}^Q$ to order \as^2 in the QCD coupling. We provide general formulae, and we show that this contribution to $A_{FB}^Q$ is infrared-finite. We evaluate these two-parton contributions for $b$ and $c$ quarks on and near the $Z$ resonance, and for $t$ quarks above threshold. Moreover, near the $t \bar t$ threshold we obtain, by expanding in the heavy-quark velocity $\beta$, an expression for $A_{FB}^{t \bar t}$ to order \as^2 and NNLL in $\beta$. This quantity is equal, to this order in $\beta$, to the complete forward-backward asymmetry $A_{FB}^t$.Comment: latex, 26 pages, 2 tables, 17 figure

Angular Correlations in Top Quark Pair Production and Decay at Hadron Colliders

We show how to observe sizable angular correlations between the decay products of the top quark and those of the anti-top quark in top quark pair production and decay at hadron colliders. These correlations result from the large asymmetry in the rate for producing like-spin versus unlike-spin top quark pairs provided the appropriate spin axes are used. The effects of new physics at production or decay on these correlations are briefly discussed.Comment: 34 pages, revtex, including 12 uuencoded postscript figure

Top Production in Hadron-Hadron Collisions and Anomalous Top-Gluon Couplings

We discuss the influence of anomalous tbar-t-G couplings on total and differential tbar-t production cross sections in hadron-hadron collisions. We study in detail the effects of a chromoelectric and a chromomagnetic dipole moment, d' and \mu', of the top quark. In the d'-\mu' plane, we find a whole region where the anomalous couplings give a zero net contribution to the total top production rate. In differential cross sections, the anomalous moments have to be quite sizable to give measurable effects. We estimate the values of d' and \mu' which are allowed by the present Tevatron experimental results on top production. A chromoelectric dipole moment of the top violates CP invariance. We discuss a simple CP-odd observable which allows for a direct search for CP violation in top production.Comment: footnote pg. 4 changed, acknowledgments extende

Heavy-Quark Form Factors and Threshold Cross Section at O(\alpha_S^2)

During the last year, analytic expressions for the two-loop QCD corrections to the form factors for the vector, axial-vector, scalar and pseudo-scalar vertices involving a pair of heavy quarks, $Q \bar{Q}$, were calculated. The results are valid for arbitrary momentum transfer and mass of the heavy quarks. These form factors have a number of applications, including anomalous couplings, the $e^{+}e^{-} \to Q \bar Q$ cross section, and the forward-backward asymmetry of heavy quarks. Here the $Q {\bar Q}$ threshold cross section is presented with some new second order axial vector contributions.Comment: 5 pages. Presented at the International Europhysics Conference on High Energy Physics (HEP2005), July 21-27 2005, Lisboa, Portuga

Large Electric Dipole Moments of Heavy Leptons

In many models of CP violation, the electric dipole moments (EDMs) of leptons scale as the cube of the lepton mass. In these models, the EDM of a 100 GeV heavy lepton would be a billion times greater than that of the muon, and could be as large as a 0.01 e-fermi. In other models, in which the heavy leptons have different properties from the lighter generations, a similarly large EDM can be obtained. A large EDM could dominate the electromagnetic properties of heavy leptons. The angular distribution and production cross-section of both charged and neutral heavy leptons with large dipole moments is calculated and discussed. The interesting possibility that a heavy neutrino with a large EDM could leave an ionization track in a drift chamber is investigated.Comment: Discussion expanded extensively to include model-dependence of results. Calculations unchanged. Note Added To Acknowledgments: This paper is dedicated to the memory of Nathan Isgu

Electroweak dipole moment form factors of the top quark in supersymmetry

The CP violating electric and weak dipole moment form factors of the top quark appear in the process $e^{+}e^{-} --> t\bar{t}$. We present a complete analysis of these dipole moment form factors within the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model with complex parameters. We include gluino, chargino, and neutralino exchange in the loop of the $\gamma t\bar{t}$ and $Z t\bar{t}$ vertex. We give the analytic expressions and present numerical results.Comment: originally 19 pages LaTeX with 14 figures included. In the replacement we have 1) updated some references, 2) added acknowledgements, 3) modified the plots according to small numerical errors, 4) added 12 new plots for \tan\beta = 3 together with the corresponding figure caption

CP Violation in the Top-Quark Pair Production at a Next Linear Collider

We provide a detailed, model-independent, study for CP violation effects due to the T-odd top-quark electric dipole moment (EDM) and weak dipole moment (WDM) in the top-quark pair production via $e^+e^-$ and two-photon annihilation at a next $e^+e^-$ linear collider (NLC). There are two methods in detecting CP violation effects in these processes. One method makes use of measurements of various spin correlations in the final decay products of the produced top-quark pair, while the other is to measure various CP-odd polarization asymmetry effects of the initial states. In the $e^+e^-$ case only the first method can be used, and in the $\gamma\gamma$ case both methods can be employed. We provide a complete classification of angular correlations of the $t$ and $\bar{t}$ decay products under CP and CP\tilde{T} which greatly faciliate CP tests in the $e^+e^-$ mode. Concentrating on the second method with the Compton back-scattered high-energetic laser light off the electron or positron beam in the two-photon mode, we construct two CP-odd and CP\tilde{T}-even initial polarization configurations and apply them to investigating CP-violating effects due to the top-quark EDM. With a typical set of experimental parameters at the NLC, we compare the 1-\sigma sensitivities to the top-quark EDM and WDM in the $e^+e^-$ mode and the two-photon mode. Some model expectation values of the T-odd parameters are compared with the results.Comment: 45 pages(LaTeX), 10 eps figures, uses epsfig.st

CP Violation in Semileptonic τ\tau Decays with Unpolarized Beams

CP violating signals in semileptonic $\tau$ decays are studied. These can be observed in decays of unpolarized single $\tau$'s even if their rest frame cannot be reconstructed. No beam polarization is required. The importance of the two meson channel, in particular the $K\pi$ final state is emphasized.Comment: Latex, 17 pages, 2 figures. The complete paper, including figures, is also available via anonymous ftp at ftp://ttpux2.physik.uni-karlsruhe.de/ , or via www at http://www-ttp.physik.uni-karlsruhe.de/cgi-bin/preprints

Two-Loop QCD Corrections to the Heavy Quark Form Factors: Anomaly Contributions

We present closed analytic expressions for the order $\alpha_s^2$ triangle diagram contributions to the matrix elements of the singlet and non-singlet axial vector currents between the vacuum and a quark-antiquark state. We have calculated these vertex functions for arbitrary momentum transfer and for four different sets of internal and external quark masses. We show that both the singlet and non-singlet vertex functions satisfy the correct chiral Ward identities. Using the exact expressions for the finite axial vector form factors, we check the quality and the convergence of expansions at production threshold and for asymptotic energies.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figure

Efficient chemotherapy of rat glioblastoma using Doxorubicin-loaded PLGA nanoparticles with different stabilizers

Background: Chemotherapy of glioblastoma is largely ineffective as the blood-brain barrier (BBB) prevents entry of most anticancer agents into the brain. For an efficient treatment of glioblastomas it is necessary to deliver anti-cancer drugs across the intact BBB. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles coated with poloxamer 188 hold great promise as drug carriers for brain delivery after their intravenous injection. In the present study the anti-tumour efficacy of the surfactant-coated doxorubicin-loaded PLGA nanoparticles against rat glioblastoma 101/8 was investigated using histological and immunohistochemical methods. Methodology: The particles were prepared by a high-pressure solvent evaporation technique using 1% polyvinylalcohol (PLGA/PVA) or human serum albumin (PLGA/HSA) as stabilizers. Additionally, lecithin-containing PLGA/HSA particles (Dox-Lecithin-PLGA/HSA) were prepared. For evaluation of the antitumour efficacy the glioblastoma-bearing rats were treated intravenously with the doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles coated with poloxamer 188 using the following treatment regimen: 3×2.5 mg/kg on day 2, 5 and 8 after tumour implantation; doxorubicin and poloxamer 188 solutions were used as controls. On day 18, the rats were sacrificed and the antitumour effect was determined by measurement of tumour size, necrotic areas, proliferation index, and expression of GFAP and VEGF as well as Isolectin B4, a marker for the vessel density. Conclusion: The results reveal a considerable anti-tumour effect of the doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles. The overall best results were observed for Dox-Lecithin-PLGA/HSA. These data demonstrate that the poloxamer 188-coated PLGA nanoparticles enable delivery of doxorubicin across the blood-brain barrier in the therapeutically effective concentrations