Expansion around half-integer values, binomial sums and inverse binomial sums

I consider the expansion of transcendental functions in a small parameter around rational numbers. This includes in particular the expansion around half-integer values. I present algorithms which are suitable for an implementation within a symbolic computer algebra system. The method is an extension of the technique of nested sums. The algorithms allow in addition the evaluation of binomial sums, inverse binomial sums and generalizations thereof.Comment: 21 page

Antenna subtraction with massive fermions at NNLO: Double real initial-final configurations

We derive the integrated forms of specific initial-final tree-level four-parton antenna functions involving a massless initial-state parton and a massive final-state fermion as hard radiators. These antennae are needed in the subtraction terms required to evaluate the double real corrections to $t\bar{t}$ hadronic production at the NNLO level stemming from the partonic processes $q\bar{q}\to t\bar{t}q'\bar{q}'$ and $gg\to t\bar{t}q\bar{q}$.Comment: 24 pages, 1 figure, 1 Mathematica file attache

Measurement of the ttbar Production Cross Section in ppbar Collisions at sqrt{s} = 1.96 TeV using Kinematic Characteristics of Lepton + Jets Events

We present a measurement of the top quark pair ttbar production cross section in ppbar collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV using 230 pb**{-1} of data collected by the DO detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We select events with one charged lepton (electron or muon), large missing transverse energy, and at least four jets, and extract the ttbar content of the sample based on the kinematic characteristics of the events. For a top quark mass of 175 GeV, we measure sigma(ttbar) = 6.7 {+1.4-1.3} (stat) {+1.6- 1.1} (syst) +/-0.4 (lumi) pb, in good agreement with the standard model prediction.Comment: submitted to Phys.Rev.Let

Study of ZγZ\gamma events and limits on anomalous ZZγZZ\gamma and ZγγZ\gamma\gamma couplings in ppbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV

We present a measurement of the Z\gamma production cross section and limits on anomalous ZZ\gamma and Z\gamma\gamma couplings for form-factor scales of Lambda = 750 and 1000 GeV. The measurement is based on 138 (152) candidate events in the ee\gamma (\mu\mu\gamma) final state using 320 (290) pb^{-1} of ppbar collisions at \sqrt{s} = 1.96 TeV. The 95% C.L. limits on real and imaginary parts of individual anomalous couplings are |h_{10,30}^{Z}|<0.23, |h_{20,40}^{Z}|<0.020, |h_{10,30}^{\gamma}|<0.23, and |h_{20,40}^{\gamma}|<0.019 for Lambda = 1000 GeV.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev. Letter

A search for W bb and W Higgs production in ppbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV

We present a search for W b \bar{b} production in p \bar{p} collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV in events containing one electron, an imbalance in transverse momentum, and two b-tagged jets. Using 174 pb-1 of integrated luminosity accumulated by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron collider, and the standard-model description of such events, we set a 95% C.L. upper limit on W b \bar{b}$production of 6.6 pb for b quarks with transverse momenta p_T^b > 20 GeV and b \bar{b} separation in pseudorapidity-azimuth space Delta R_bb > 0.75. Restricting the search to optimized b \bar{b} mass intervals provides upper limits on$WH$production of 9.0$-$12.2 pb, for Higgs-boson masses of 105$-$135 GeV.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, submitted to Physical Review Letter

Measurement of the Ratio of B+ and B0 Meson Lifetimes

The ratio of B+ and B0 meson lifetimes was measured using data collected in 2002-2004 by the D0 experiment in Run II of the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. These mesons were reconstructed in B -> mu+ nu D*- X decays, which are dominated by B0, and B ->mu+ nu D0bar X decays, which are dominated by B+. The ratio of lifetimes is measured to be t+/t0 = 1.080 +- 0.016(stat) +- 0.014(syst).Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, LaTeX, to be submitted to Physical Review Letter

A Search for the Flavor-Changing Neutral Current Decay B0_s -> mu^+mu^- in pp(bar) Collisions at \sqrt{s} = 1.96 TeV with the D0 Detector

We present the results of a search for the flavor-changing neutral current decay B0_s -> mu+ mu- using a data set with integrated luminosity of 240 pb^{-1} of pp(bar) collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV collected with the D0 detector in Run II of the Fermilab Tevatron collider. We find the upper limit on the branching fraction to be Br(B0_s -> mu+ mu-) \leq 5.0 x 10^{-7} at the 95% C.L. assuming no contributions from the decay B0_d -> mu+ mu- in the signal region. This limit is the most stringent upper bound on the branching fraction B0_s -> mu+ mu- to date.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, LaTeX, to be submitted to Physical Review Letters, minor changes to text, reference adde

Double real radiation corrections to ttˉt\bar{t} production at the LHC: the all-fermion processes

We present the double real radiation corrections to the hadronic $t \bar{t}$ production stemming from partonic processes with fermions only. For this purpose, we extend the NNLO antenna subtraction formalism developed originally for the computation of jet observables in $e^+e^-$ annihilation to include the evaluation of hadronic observables involving a massive pair of particles. In all partonic processes, we checked the validity of our subtraction terms given for leading and subleading colour contributions numerically by showing that the ratio between real radiation matrix elements and subtraction terms approaches unity in all single and double unresolved configurations.Comment: 68 pages, 9 figure

Data assimilation in a system with two scales-combining two initialization techniques

11 pages, 11 figures, 1 tableFull-text version available Open Access at: http://clivar.iim.csic.es/?q=es/node/319An ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) is used to assimilate data onto a non-linear chaotic model, coupling two kinds of variables. The first kind of variables of the system is characterized as large amplitude, slow, large scale, distributed in eight equally spaced locations around a circle. The second kind of variables are small amplitude, fast, and short scale, distributed in 256 equally spaced locations. Synthetic observations are obtained from the model and the observational error is proportional to their respective amplitudes. The performance of the EnKF is affected by differences in the spatial correlation scales of the variables being assimilated. This method allows the simultaneous assimilation of all the variables. The ensemble filter also allows assimilating only the large-scale variables, letting the small-scale variables to freely evolve. Assimilation of the large-scale variables together with a few small-scale variables significantly degrades the filter. These results are explained by the spurious correlations that arise from the sampled ensemble covariances. An alternative approach is to combine two different initialization techniques for the slow and fast variables. Here, the fast variables are initialized by restraining the evolution of the ensemble members, using a Newtonian relaxation toward the observed fast variables. Then, the usual ensemble analysis is used to assimilate the large-scale observationsThis study is supported by the Spanish National Science Program under contracts ESP2005–06823-C05 and ESP2007–65667-C04Peer reviewe

Quantum Darwinism

Quantum Darwinism describes the proliferation, in the environment, of multiple records of selected states of a quantum system. It explains how the fragility of a state of a single quantum system can lead to the classical robustness of states of their correlated multitude; shows how effective `wave-packet collapse' arises as a result of proliferation throughout the environment of imprints of the states of quantum system; and provides a framework for the derivation of Born's rule, which relates probability of detecting states to their amplitude. Taken together, these three advances mark considerable progress towards settling the quantum measurement problem