The CP-Conserving Direction

A symmetry transformation is well defined in the case of an invariant theory, being the corresponding operator undetermined otherwise. However, we show that, even with CP violation, it is possible to determine the CP transformation by separating the Lagrangian of the Standard Model in a CP-conserving and a CP-violating part, in a unique way, making use of the empirically known quark mixing hierarchy. To order \lambda^3 for the Bd-system, the CP-conserving direction matches one of the sides of the (bd) unitarity triangle. We use this determination to calculate the rephasing invariant parameter \epsilon, which measures CP-mixing in the B0-B0bar system.Comment: 12 pages, no figure. Version to appear in JHE

A study of Wigner functions for discrete-time quantum walks

We perform a systematic study of the discrete time Quantum Walk on one dimension using Wigner functions, which are generalized to include the chirality (or coin) degree of freedom. In particular, we analyze the evolution of the negative volume in phase space, as a function of time, for different initial states. This negativity can be used to quantify the degree of departure of the system from a classical state. We also relate this quantity to the entanglement between the coin and walker subspaces.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figure

T and CPT in B-Factories

For the Bd meson system, CP, T and CPT indirect violation can be described using two physical parameters, epsilon and delta. The traditional observables based on flavour tag and used in the kaon system, are not helpful in the Bd case, and new asymmetries have to be introduced. Here such alternative observables, based on CP tag, are presented, together with the first estimation on the sensitivity that current asymmetric B-factories can achieve on their measurement.Comment: 7 pages, Talk given at the International Europhysics conference on HEP, HEP2001, July 2001, Budapest (Hungary

CPT violation in entangled B0-B0bar states and the demise of flavour tagging

We discuss the demise of flavour tagging due to the loss of the particle-antiparticle identity of neutral B-mesons in the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen correlated states. Such a situation occurs in cases where the CPT operator is ill-defined, as happens, for example, in quantum gravity models with induced decoherence in the matter sector. The time evolution of the perturbed B0-B0bar initial state, as produced in B-factories, is sufficient to generate new two-body states. For flavour specific decays at equal times, we discuss two definite tests of the two body entanglement: (i) search for the would-be forbidden B0 B0 and B0bar B0bar states; (ii) deviations from the indistinguishable probability between the permuted states B0bar B0 and B0 B0bar.Comment: 12 pages LATEX, one eps figure incorporate

Possible test for CPT invariance with correlated neutral B decays

We study breakdown of $CPT$ symmetry which can occur in the decay process $B \bar B \to l^\pm X^\mp f$ with $f$ being a CP eigenstate. In this process, the standard model expectations for time ordered semi-leptonic and hadronic events, i.e. which of the two decays takes place first, can be altered in the case that there is a violation of the $CPT$ symmetry. To illustrate this possibility, we identify and study several time integrated observables. We find that an experiment with $10^{9}$ $B\bar B$ pairs, has the capability for improving the bound on $CPT$ violating parameter or perhaps observe $CPT$ violation.Comment: Revised version to be published in PR

The magnetic moments of 'Lambda_b' and 'Lambda_c' baryons in light cone QCD sum rules

Using the most general form of the interpolating currents of heavy baryons, the magnetic moments of heavy baryons "Lambda_Q (Q=b,c)" are calculated in framework of the light cone QCD sum rules. A comparison of our results on magnetic moments with the existing theoretical results calculated in various other frameworks are presented.Comment: 14 pp, 6 figures (postscript formatted), LaTex formatte

Genetic diversity and population structure of Leishmania infantum from Southeastern France : evaluation using Multi-Locus Microsatellite Typing

In the south of France, Leishmania infantum is responsible for numerous cases of canine leishmaniasis (CanL), sporadic cases of human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and rare cases of cutaneous and muco-cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL and MCL, respectively). Several endemic areas have been clearly identified in the south of France including the Pyrenees-Orientales, Cevennes (CE), Provence (P), Alpes-Maritimes (AM) and Corsica (CO). Within these endemic areas, the two cities of Nice (AM) and Marseille (P), which are located 150 km apart, and their surroundings, concentrate the greatest number of French autochthonous leishmaniasis cases. In this study, 270 L. infantum isolates from an extended time period (1978-2011) from four endemic areas, AM, P, CE and CO, were assessed using Multi-Locus Microsatellite Typing (MLMT). MLMT revealed a total of 121 different genotypes with 91 unique genotypes and 30 repeated genotypes. Substantial genetic diversity was found with a strong genetic differentiation between the Leishmania populations from AM and P. However, exchanges were observed between these two endemic areas in which it seems that strains spread from AM to P. The genetic differentiations in these areas suggest strong epidemiological structuring. A model-based analysis using STRUCTURE revealed two main populations: population A (consisting of samples primarily from the P and AM endemic areas with MON-1 and non-MON-1 strains) and population B consisting of only MON-1 strains essentially from the AM endemic area. For four patients, we observed several isolates from different biological samples which provided insight into disease relapse and re-infection. These findings shed light on the transmission dynamics of parasites in humans. However, further data are required to confirm this hypothesis based on a limited sample set. This study represents the most extensive population analysis of L. infantum strains using MLMT conducted in France

Observation of Correlated Particle-Hole Pairs and String Order in Low-Dimensional Mott Insulators

Quantum phases of matter are characterized by the underlying correlations of the many-body system. Although this is typically captured by a local order parameter, it has been shown that a broad class of many-body systems possesses a hidden non-local order. In the case of bosonic Mott insulators, the ground state properties are governed by quantum fluctuations in the form of correlated particle-hole pairs that lead to the emergence of a non-local string order in one dimension. Using high-resolution imaging of low-dimensional quantum gases in an optical lattice, we directly detect these pairs with single-site and single-particle sensitivity and observe string order in the one-dimensional case.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

A new protocol for the propagation of dendritic cells from rat bone marrow using recombinant GM-CSF, and their quantification using the mAb OX-62

Bone marrow (BM)-derived dendritic cells (DC) are the most potent known antigen (Ag) presenting cell in vivo and in vitro. Detailed analysis of their properties and mechanisms of action requires an ability to produce large numbers of DC. Although DC have been isolated from several rat tissues, including BM, the yield is uniformly low. We describe a simple method for the propagation of large numbers of DC from rat BM and document cell yield with the rat DC marker, OX-62. After depletion of plastic-adherent and Fc+ cells by panning on dishes coated with normal serum, residual BM cells were cultured in gelatin coated flasks using murine rGM-CSF supplemented medium. Prior to analysis, non-adherent cells were re-depleted of contaminating Fc+ cells. Propagation of DC was monitored by double staining for FACS analysis (major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II+ OX-62+, OX-19-). Functional assay, morphological analysis and evaluation of homing patterns of cultured cells revealed typical DC characteristics. MHC class II and OX-62 antigen expression increased with time in culture and correlated with allostimulatory ability. DC yield increased until day 7, when 3.3 × 106 DC were obtained from an initial 3 × 108 unfractionated BM cells. Significant numbers of DC can be generated from rat BM using these simple methods. This should permit analysis and manipulation of rat DC functions in vivo and in vitro. © 1995