Deep inelastic e−τe-\tau and μ−τ\mu-\tau conversion in the NA64 experiment at the CERN SPS

We study the Lepton Flavor Violating (LFV) $e(\mu)-\tau$ conversion in Deep Inelastic Scattering (DIS) of electron (muon) on fixed-target nuclei. Our model-independent analysis is based on the set of the low-energy effective four-fermion LFV operators composed of leptons and quarks with the corresponding mass scales $\Lambda_{k}$ for each operator. Using the estimated sensitivity of the search for this LFV process in events with large missing energy in the NA64 experiment at the CERN SPS, we derive lower limits for $\Lambda_{k}$ and compared them with the corresponding limits existing in the literature. We show that the DIS $e(\mu)-\tau$ conversion is able to provide a plenty of new limits as yet non-existing in the literature. We also analyzed the energy spectrum of the final-state $\tau$ and discussed viability of the observation of this process in the NA64 experiment and ones akin to it. The case of polarized beams and targets is also discussed.Comment: 18 page

Relating CP-violating decays to the neutron EDM

We use the present upper bound on the neutron electric dipole moment to give an estimate for the upper limit of the CP-violating couplings of the $\eta(\eta')$ meson to the neutron. Using this result, we derive constraints on the CP-violating two-pion decays of the $\eta(\eta')$. Our results are relevant for the running and planned GlueX and LHCb measurements of rare meson decays.Comment: NSTAR 2017 conference proceeding

Lepton phenomenology of Stueckelberg portal to dark sector

We propose an extension of the Standard Model (SM) with a UA′(1) gauge-invariant dark sector connected to the SM via a new portal—the Stueckelberg portal, arising in the framework of dark photon A′ mass generation via the Stueckelberg mechanism. This portal opens through the effective dim=5 operators constructed from the covariant term of the auxiliary Stueckelberg scalar field σ providing flavor nondiagonal renormalizable couplings of both σ and A′ to the SM fermions ψ. The Stueckelberg scalar plays a role of Goldstone boson in the generation of mass of the dark photon. Contrary to the conventional kinetic mixing portal, in our scenario, flavor diagonal A′−ψ couplings are not proportional to the fermion charges and are, in general, flavor nondiagonal. These features drastically change the phenomenology of dark photon A′ relaxing or avoiding some previously established experimental constraints. We focus on the phenomenology of the described scenario of the Stueckelberg portal in the lepton sector and analyze the contribution of the dark sector fields A′ to the anomalous magnetic moment of muon (g−2)μ, lepton flavor–violating decays li→lkγ, and μ−e conversion in nuclei. We obtain limits on the model parameters from the existing data on the corresponding observables

CP-violating decays of the pseudoscalars η and η' and their connection to the electric dipole moment of the neutron

Using the present upper bound on the neutron electric dipole moment, we give an estimate for the upper limit of the CP-violating couplings of the eta(eta') to the nucleon. Using this result, we then derive constraints on the CP-violating eta(eta')-pi-pi couplings, which define the two-pion CP-violating decays of the eta and eta' mesons. Our results are relevant for the running and planned measurements of rare decays of the eta and eta' mesons by the GlueX Collaboration at JLab and the LHCb Collaboration at CERN

Two-Photon Excitation Of Substituted Enediynes

Electronic spectroscopy of nine benzannelated enediynes and a related fulvene was studied under one-photon and two-photon excitation conditions. We utilize measured absorbance and emission spectra and time-resolved fluorescence decays of these molecules to calculate their radiative lifetimes and fluorescence quantum yields. The fluorescence quantum yields for the other compounds were referenced to the fluorescence quantum yield of compound 3 and used to determine relative two-photon absorption cross-sections. Further insight into experimental studies has been achieved using time-dependent density functional (TD-DFT) computations. The probability of two-photon absorption (TPA) increases noticeably for excitation to the higher excited states. The photophysical properties of benzannelated enediynes are sensitive to substitutions at both the core and the periphery of the enediyne chromophore. Considerably enhanced two-photon absorption is observed in an enediyne with donor substitution in the middle and acceptor substitution at the termini. Excited states with B symmetry are not active in TPA spectra. From a practical point of view, this study extends the range of wavelengths applicable for activation of the enediyne moiety from 350 to 600 nm and provides a\u27rational basis for future studies in this field. Our theoretical computations confirmed that lowest energy TPA in benzannelated enediynes involves different orbitals than lowest energy one-photon absorbance and provided further support to the notion that introduction of donor and acceptor substituents at different ends of a molecule increases TPA. © 2006 American Chemical Society

CP-violating decays of the pseudoscalars η and η' and their connection to the electric dipole moment of the neutron

Using the present upper bound on the neutron electric dipole moment, we give an estimate for the upper limit of the CP-violating couplings of the eta(eta') to the nucleon. Using this result, we then derive constraints on the CP-violating eta(eta')-pi-pi couplings, which define the two-pion CP-violating decays of the eta and eta' mesons. Our results are relevant for the running and planned measurements of rare decays of the eta and eta' mesons by the GlueX Collaboration at JLab and the LHCb Collaboration at CERN

Relating CP-violating decays to the neutron EDM

We use the present upper bound on the neutron electric dipole moment to give an estimate for the upper limit of the CP-violating couplings of the η(η′) to the neutron. Using this result, we derive constraints on the CP-violating two-pion decays of the η(η′) mesons. Our results are relevant for the running and planned GlueX and LHCb measurements of rare meson decays

C-Lysine Conjugates: pH-Controlled Light-Activated Reagents for Efficient Double-Stranded DNA Cleavage with Implications for Cancer Therapy

Double-stranded DNA cleavage of light-activated lysine conjugates is strongly enhanced at the slightly acidic pH (<7) suitable for selective targeting of cancer cells. This enhancement stems from the presence of two amino groups of different basicities. The first amino group plays an auxiliary role by enhancing solubility and affinity to DNA, whereas the second amino group, which is positioned next to the light-activated DNA cleaver, undergoes protonation at the desired pH threshold. This protonation results in two synergetic effects which account for the increased DNA-cleaving ability at the lower pH. First, lysine conjugates show tighter binding to DNA at the lower pH, which is consistent with the anticipated higher degree of interaction between two positively charged ammonium groups with the negatively charged phosphate backbone of DNA. Second, the unproductive pathway which quenches the excited state of the photocleaver through intramolecular electron transfer is eliminated once the donor amino group next to the chromophore is protonated. Experiments in the presence of traps for diffusing radicals show that reactive oxygen species do not contribute significantly to the mechanism of DNA cleavage at the lower pH, which is indicative of tighter binding to DNA under these conditions. This feature is valuable not only because many solid tumors are hypoxic but also because cleavage which does not depend on diffusing species is more localized and efficient. Sequence-selectivity experiments suggest combination of PET and base alkylation as the chemical basis for the observed DNA damage. The utility of these molecules for phototherapy of cancer is confirmed by the drastic increase in toxicity of five conjugates against cancer cell lines upon photoactivation