Observation of Spin-Dependent Charge Symmetry Breaking in ΛN\Lambda N Interaction: Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy of Λ4^4_{\Lambda }He

The energy spacing between the ground-state spin doublet of $^4_\Lambda$He(1$^+$,0$^+$) was determined to be $1406 \pm 2 \pm 2$ keV, by measuring $\gamma$ rays for the $1^+ \to 0^+$ transition with a high efficiency germanium detector array in coincidence with the $^4$He$(K^-,\pi^-)$ $^4_\Lambda$He reaction at J-PARC. In comparison to the corresponding energy spacing in the mirror hypernucleus $^4_\Lambda$H, the present result clearly indicates the existence of charge symmetry breaking (CSB) in $\Lambda N$ interaction. It is also found that the CSB effect is large in the $0^+$ ground state but is by one order of magnitude smaller in the $1^+$ excited state, demonstrating that the $\Lambda N$ CSB interaction has spin dependence

Perturbative instabilities in Horava gravity

We investigate the scalar and tensor perturbations in Horava gravity, with and without detailed balance, around a flat background. Once both types of perturbations are taken into account, it is revealed that the theory is plagued by ghost-like scalar instabilities in the range of parameters which would render it power-counting renormalizable, that cannot be overcome by simple tricks such as analytic continuation. Implementing a consistent flow between the UV and IR limits seems thus more challenging than initially presumed, regardless of whether the theory approaches General Relativity at low energies or not. Even in the phenomenologically viable parameter space, the tensor sector leads to additional potential problems, such as fine-tunings and super-luminal propagation.Comment: 21 pages, version published at Class. Quant. Gra

Caustic avoidance in Horava-Lifshitz gravity

There are at least four versions of Horava-Lishitz gravity in the literature. We consider the version without the detailed balance condition with the projectability condition and address one aspect of the theory: avoidance of caustics for constant time hypersurfaces. We show that there is no caustic with plane symmetry in the absence of matter source if \lambda\ne 1. If \lambda=1 is a stable IR fixed point of the renormalization group flow then \lambda is expected to deviate from 1 near would-be caustics, where the extrinsic curvature increases and high-energy corrections become important. Therefore, the absence of caustics with \lambda\ne 1 implies that caustics cannot form with this symmetry in the absence of matter source. We argue that inclusion of matter source will not change the conclusion. We also argue that caustics with codimension higher than one will not form because of repulsive gravity generated by nonlinear higher curvature terms. These arguments support our conjecture that there is no caustic for constant time hypersurfaces. Finally, we discuss implications to the recently proposed scenario of ``dark matter as integration constant''.Comment: 19 pages; extended to general z \geq 3, typos corrected (v2); version accepted for publication in JCAP (v3

Thin accretion disk signatures of slowly rotating black holes in Ho\v{r}ava gravity

In the present work, we consider the possibility of observationally testing Ho\v{r}ava gravity by using the accretion disk properties around slowly rotating black holes of the Kehagias-Sfetsos solution in asymptotically flat spacetimes. The energy flux, temperature distribution, the emission spectrum as well as the energy conversion efficiency are obtained, and compared to the standard slowly rotating general relativistic Kerr solution. Comparing the mass accretion in a slowly rotating Kehagias-Sfetsos geometry in Ho\v{r}ava gravity with the one of a slowly rotating Kerr black hole, we verify that the intensity of the flux emerging from the disk surface is greater for the slowly rotating Kehagias-Sfetsos solution than for rotating black holes with the same geometrical mass and accretion rate. We also present the conversion efficiency of the accreting mass into radiation, and show that the rotating Kehagias-Sfetsos solution provides a much more efficient engine for the transformation of the accreting mass into radiation than the Kerr black holes. Thus, distinct signatures appear in the electromagnetic spectrum, leading to the possibility of directly testing Ho\v{r}ava gravity models by using astrophysical observations of the emission spectra from accretion disks.Comment: 12 pages, 15 figures. V2: 13 pages, clarifications and discussion added; version accepted for publication in Classical and Quantum Gravit

Horava-Lifshitz f(R) Gravity

This paper is devoted to the construction of new type of f(R) theories of gravity that are based on the principle of detailed balance. We discuss two versions of these theories with and without the projectability condition.Comment: 22 pages, references adde

Search for the Θ+\Theta^{+} pentaquark via the π−p→K−X\pi^-p\to K^-X reaction at 1.92 GeV/cc

The $\Theta^+$ pentaquark baryon was searched for via the $\pi^-p\to K^-X$ reaction in a missing-mass resolution of 1.4 MeV/$c^2$(FWHM) at J-PARC. $\pi^-$ meson beams were incident on the liquid hydrogen target with the beam momentum of 1.92 GeV/$c$. No peak structure corresponding to the $\Theta^+$ mass was observed. The upper limit of the production cross section averaged over the scattering angle of 2$^{\circ}$ to 15$^{\circ}$ in the laboratory frame was obtained to be 0.26 $\mu$b/sr in the mass region of 1.51$-$1.55 GeV/$c^2$.The upper limit of the $\Theta^+$ decay width using the effective Lagrangian approach was obtained to be 0.72 MeV/$c^2$ and 3.1 MeV/$c^2$ for $J^P_{\Theta}=1/2^+$ and $J^P_{\Theta}=1/2^-$, respectively.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

Strangeness nuclear physics: a critical review on selected topics

Selected topics in strangeness nuclear physics are critically reviewed. This includes production, structure and weak decay of $\Lambda$--Hypernuclei, the $\bar K$ nuclear interaction and the possible existence of $\bar K$ bound states in nuclei. Perspectives for future studies on these issues are also outlined.Comment: 63 pages, 51 figures, accepted for publication on European Physical Journal

Pattern and process in Amazon tree turnover, 1976-2001

Previous work has shown that tree turnover, tree biomass and large liana densities have increased in mature tropical forest plots in the late twentieth century. These results point to a concerted shift in forest ecological processes that may already be having significant impacts on terrestrial carbon stocks, fluxes and biodiversity. However, the findings have proved controversial, partly because a rather limited number of permanent plots have been monitored for rather short periods. The aim of this paper is to characterize regional-scale patterns of 'tree turnover' (the rate with which trees die and recruit into a population) by using improved datasets now available for Amazonia that span the past 25 years. Specifically, we assess whether concerted changes in turnover are occurring, and if so whether they are general throughout the Amazon or restricted to one region or environmental zone. In addition, we ask whether they are driven by changes in recruitment, mortality or both. We find that: (i) trees 10 cm or more in diameter recruit and die twice as fast on the richer soils of southern and western Amazonia than on the poorer soils of eastern and central Amazonia; (ii) turnover rates have increased throughout Amazonia over the past two decades; (iii) mortality and recruitment rates have both increased significantly in every region and environmental zone, with the exception of mortality in eastern Amazonia; (iv) recruitment rates have consistently exceeded mortality rates; (v) absolute increases in recruitment and mortality rates are greatest in western Amazonian sites; and (vi) mortality appears to be lagging recruitment at regional scales. These spatial patterns and temporal trends are not caused by obvious artefacts in the data or the analyses. The trends cannot be directly driven by a mortality driver (such as increased drought or fragmentation-related death) because the biomass in these forests has simultaneously increased. Our findings therefore indicate that long-acting and widespread environmental changes are stimulating the growth and productivity of Amazon forests

New agegraphic dark energy in Horava-Lifshitz cosmology

We investigate the new agegraphic dark energy scenario in a universe governed by Horava-Lifshitz gravity. We consider both the detailed and non-detailed balanced version of the theory, we impose an arbitrary curvature, and we allow for an interaction between the matter and dark energy sectors. Extracting the differential equation for the evolution of the dark energy density parameter and performing an expansion of the dark energy equation-of-state parameter, we calculate its present and its low-redshift value as functions of the dark energy and curvature density parameters at present, of the Horava-Lifshitz running parameter $\lambda$, of the new agegraphic dark energy parameter $n$, and of the interaction coupling $b$. We find that $w_0=-0.82^{+0.08}_{-0.08}$ and $w_1=0.08^{+0.09}_{-0.07}$. Although this analysis indicates that the scenario can be compatible with observations, it does not enlighten the discussion about the possible conceptual and theoretical problems of Horava-Lifshitz gravity.Comment: 17 pages, no figures, version published at JCA

INFN What Next: Ultra-relativistic Heavy-Ion Collisions

This document was prepared by the community that is active in Italy, within INFN (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare), in the field of ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions. The experimental study of the phase diagram of strongly-interacting matter and of the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP) deconfined state will proceed, in the next 10-15 years, along two directions: the high-energy regime at RHIC and at the LHC, and the low-energy regime at FAIR, NICA, SPS and RHIC. The Italian community is strongly involved in the present and future programme of the ALICE experiment, the upgrade of which will open, in the 2020s, a new phase of high-precision characterisation of the QGP properties at the LHC. As a complement of this main activity, there is a growing interest in a possible future experiment at the SPS, which would target the search for the onset of deconfinement using dimuon measurements. On a longer timescale, the community looks with interest at the ongoing studies and discussions on a possible fixed-target programme using the LHC ion beams and on the Future Circular Collider.Comment: 99 pages, 56 figure