Understanding DsJ∗(2317)D_{sJ}^*(2317), DsJ(2460)D_{sJ}(2460)

I briefly review the experimental observations concerning the charmed mesons $D_{sJ}^*(2317)$, $D_{sJ}(2460)$ and survey on some of the interpretations proposed in order to understand their nature. I present an analysis of their decay modes in the hypothesis that they can be identified with the scalar and axial vector $s_\ell^P={1 \over 2}^+$ states of $c{\bar s}$ spectrum ($D_{s0}^*$, $D_{s1}^\prime$). The method is based on heavy quark symmetries and Vector Meson Dominance ansatz. Comparison with present data supports the interpretation.Comment: LaTex, 10 pages. Invited talk at Continuous Advances in QCD 2004, Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 13-16 200

Open charm meson spectroscopy: Where to place the latest piece of the puzzle

We discuss how to classify the $c{\bar s}$ meson $D_{sJ}(3040)$ recently discovered by the BaBar Collaboration. We consider four possible assignments, together with signatures useful to distinguish among them.Comment: RevTeX, 5 pages, 1 eps figur

Dynamics and Current Fluctuations in AC driven Charge Shuttle

The behavior of a charge shuttle under a pure AC field has been recently considered theoretically and experimentally. If the system presents an asymmetry in the tunneling amplitudes the device acts as a nano-electromechanical rectifier, transforming a pure AC voltage field into a direct curren. In this paper we first review the model and the appearance of the rectifying effect for bias voltages below the threshold of self-oscillation. We discuss in some details the dynamics of the central island that, like the current, presents strong dependence on the forcing AC field frequency. In presence of both a constant and a small oscillating bias voltage we analyze the transition from the static to self-oscillating solution. We then consider current fluctuations (full counting statistics) for periodic motion of the grain. We explicitly evaluate the current noise numerically and we find that it shows clear signatures of correlated transport at certain locking frequencies. In the adiabatic limit we obtain a simple expression for the full-counting statistics and calculate explicitly the first four moments.Comment: 16 pages, 7 Figures. Invited paper for the special issue on NEMS on New Journal of Physic

Properties of Mesoscopic Hybrid Superconducting Systems

In this paper we review several aspects of mesoscopic hybrid superconducting systems. In particular we consider charge and heat transport properties in hybrid superconducting-metal structures and the effect of charging energy in superconducting nanostructures.Comment: 27 pages, 8 figure

QCD Interactions of Heavy Mesons with Pions by Light-Cone Sum Rules

Light-cone QCD sum rules are employed to compute the strong coupling constants: g_{B^* B^* pi}, g_{B_1 B_0 pi} and g_{B_1 B^* pi}, where (B,B^*) and (B_0,B_1) are negative and positive parity (0^-,1^-) and (0^+,1^+) \bar qQ doublets. The couplings are calculated both for finite values of the heavy quark mass and in the infinite heavy quark mass limit, deriving sum rules for m_Q \to \infty.Comment: Latex, 23 pages, 6 figures. Revised version to appear in Z. Phys.

B -> X_u l nu decay distributions to order alpha_s

An analytic result for the O(alpha_s corrections to the triple differential B -> X_u l nu decay rate is presented, to leading order in the heavy-quark expansion. This is relevant for computing partially integrated decay distributions with arbitrary cuts on kinematic variables. Several double and single differential distributions are derived, most of which generalize known results. In particular, an analytic result for the O(alpha_s) corrections to the hadronic invariant mass spectrum is presented. The effects of Fermi motion, which are important for the description of decay spectra close to infrared sensitive regions, are included. The behaviour of perturbation theory in the region of time-like momenta is also investigatedComment: 24 pages, 11 figures, 1 typo in eq.(5.4) corrected; version published in JHEP06(1999)01

Huge nonequilibrium magnetoresistance in hybrid superconducting spin valves

A hybrid ferromagnet-superconductor spin valve is proposed. Its operation relies on the interplay between nonequilibrium transport and proximity-induced exchange coupling in superconductors. Huge tunnel magnetoresistance values as large as some 10^6% can be achieved in suitable ferromagnet-superconductor combinations under proper voltage biasing. The controllable spin-filter nature of the structure combined with its intrinsic simplicity make this setup attractive for low-temperature spintronic applications where reduced power dissipation is an additional requirement.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure