Consistently computing the K -> pi long distance weak transition

First we extract the long-distance (LD) weak matrix element from certain data and give compatible theoretical estimates. We also link this LD scale to the single-quark-line (SQL) transition scale and then test the latter SQL scale against the decuplet weak decay amplitude ratio. Finally, we study LD decay. All of these experimental and theoretical values are in good agreement. We deduce an average value from eleven experimental determinations compared to the theoretical SQL values average.Comment: 19 pages, 9 figures minor change to the Conclusions and abstract sectio

Constraining Radio Emission from Magnetars

We report on radio observations of five magnetars and two magnetar candidates carried out at 1950 MHz with the Green Bank Telescope in 2006-2007. The data from these observations were searched for periodic emission and bright single pulses. Also, monitoring observations of magnetar 4U0142+61 following its 2006 X-ray bursts were obtained. No radio emission was detected was detected for any of our targets. The non-detections allow us to place luminosity upper limits (at 1950 MHz) of approximately L < 1.60 mJy kpc^2 for periodic emission and L < 7.6 Jy kpc^2 for single pulse emission. These are the most stringent limits yet for the magnetars observed. The resulting luminosity upper limits together with previous results are discussed, as is the importance of further radio observations of radio-loud and radio-quiet magnetars.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Lepton flavor violation in muonium decay and muon colliders in models with heavy neutrinos

We study the lepton-flavor-violating reaction $\mu^+ e^- \to e^+ e^-$ within two extensions of the standard model that include heavy neutrinos. The reaction is studied in the low energy limit in the form of muonium decay $M\to e^+ e^-$ and in the high energy regime of a muon collider. The two theoretical models we consider are: model I, a typical see-saw model that violates lepton flavor and number by inclusion of extra right handed neutrinos, and model II, a variant where lepton number is conserved and which includes extra right handed as well as left handed neutrinos, singlets under the gauge group. We find for muonium decay into $e^+e^-$ the extremely small result $Br(M\to e^+ e^-) < 10^{-19}$ in both scenarios. Alternatively, for $\mu^+ e^-$ collisions up to $\sqrt{s}\sim 50$ GeV we find $\sigma(\mu^+ e^- \to e^+ e^-)< 10^{-5}$ fb, while for energies above the $W^+ W^-$ threshold we find $\sigma(\mu^+ e^- \to W^+ W^-)$ up to 1 fb.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures; new version recalculates the figures and results using the correlated bound on mu-e mixing from $B(\mu\to e\gamma)$ (Eq.34

NGC 7538 : Multiwavelength Study of Stellar Cluster Regions associated with IRS 1-3 and IRS 9 sources

We present deep and high-resolution (FWHM ~ 0.4 arcsec) near-infrared (NIR) imaging observations of the NGC 7538 IRS 1-3 region (in JHK bands), and IRS 9 region (in HK bands) using the 8.2m Subaru telescope. The NIR analysis is complemented with GMRT low-frequency observations at 325, 610, and 1280 MHz, molecular line observations of H13CO+ (J=1-0), and archival Chandra X-ray observations. Using the 'J-H/H-K' diagram, 144 Class II and 24 Class I young stellar object (YSO) candidates are identified in the IRS 1-3 region. Further analysis using 'K/H-K' diagram yields 145 and 96 red sources in the IRS 1-3 and IRS 9 regions, respectively. A total of 27 sources are found to have X-ray counterparts. The YSO mass function (MF), constructed using a theoretical mass-luminosity relation, shows peaks at substellar (~0.08-0.18 Msolar) and intermediate (~1-1.78 Msolar) mass ranges for the IRS 1-3 region. The MF can be fitted by a power law in the low mass regime with a slope of Gamma ~ 0.54-0.75, which is much shallower than the Salpeter value of 1.35. An upper limit of 10.2 is obtained for the star to brown dwarf ratio in the IRS 1-3 region. GMRT maps show a compact HII region associated with the IRS 1-3 sources, whose spectral index of 0.87+-0.11 suggests optical thickness. This compact region is resolved into three separate peaks in higher resolution 1280 MHz map, and the 'East' sub-peak coincides with the IRS 2 source. H13CO+ (J=1-0) emission reveals peaks in both IRS 1-3 and IRS 9 regions, none of which are coincident with visible nebular emission, suggesting the presence of dense cloud nearby. The virial masses are approximately of the order of 1000 Msolar and 500 Msolar for the clumps in IRS 1-3 and IRS 9 regions, respectively.Comment: 27 pages, 18 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Can One Measure the Weak Phase of a Penguin Diagram?

The b -> d penguin amplitude receives contributions from internal u, c and t-quarks. We show that it is impossible to measure the weak phase of any of these penguin contributions without theoretical input. However, it is possible to obtain the weak phase if one makes a single assumption involving the hadronic parameters. With such an assumption, one can test for the presence of new physics in the b -> d flavour-changing neutral current by comparing the weak phase of B_d^0-{\bar B}_d^0 mixing with that of the t-quark contribution to the b -> d penguin.Comment: 20 pages, no figure

Testing the ΔS=ΔQ\Delta S=\Delta Q Rule with Exclusive Semi-Leptonic Kaon Decays

We consider the possibility of violations of the selection rule $\Delta S=\Delta Q$ at an appreciable level in {\it exclusive} semi-leptonic decays of Kaons. At $\Phi$-Factories, intense Kaon beams will be available and will probe among others, the semi-leptonic decays $K_{l4}$ and $K_{l3\gamma}$ in addition to $K_{l3}$ and could provide novel testing grounds for the $\Delta S=\Delta Q$ rule. In particular, the branching ratio of $K_{l3\gamma}$ is non-negligible and could be used to probe new phenomena associated with the violation of this selection rule. Furthermore, we modify certain di-lepton event rate ratios and asymmetries and time asymmetries that have been constructed by Dass and Sarma for di-lepton events from Beon decays to test the $\Delta B=\Delta Q$ at the $\Upsilon (4S)$, to the Kaon system at the $\phi(1020)$. We find that the large width of the $K_S$ relative to that of $K_L$ plays an important role in enhancing some of the time asymmetries.Comment: 10 pages, Plain Latex, To be run twice

Extracting Weak Phase Information from B -> V_1 V_2 Decays

We describe a new method for extracting weak, CP-violating phase information, with no hadronic uncertainties, from an angular analysis of B -> V_1 V_2 decays, where V_1 and V_2 are vector mesons. The quantity $\sin^2 (2\beta + \gamma)$ can be cleanly obtained from the study of decays such as B_d^0(t) -> D^{*\pm} \rho^\mp, D^{*\pm} a_1^{\mp}, D^{*0} K^{*0}, etc. Similarly, one can use B_s^0(t) -> D_s^{*\pm} K^{*\mp} to extract $\sin^2 \gamma$. There are no penguin contributions to these decays. It is possible that $\sin^2 (2\beta + \gamma)$ will be the second function of CP phases, after $\sin 2\beta$, to be measured at B-factories.Comment: 4 pages, RevTeX, no figure

Quantification of Dendritic Cells and Osteoclasts in the Bone Marrow of Patients with Monoclonal Gammopathy

The purpose of this study was to find histological clues for reliable differentiation between monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and myeloma when clinical parameters are controversial. Differential appearance of dendritic cells and osteoclasts, two cell types developing from the monocytic lineage upon distinct cytokine activation profile, might be a useful approach. Bone and bone-marrow biopsies performed in 105 patients were studied using histomorphometry after identification of osteoclasts (by histochemical identification of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase) and dendritic cells (by immunohistochemical detection of the S-100 protein). Patients were classified by the World Health Organization criteria but histopathological criteria were more adapted to identify MGUS (53 cases), myeloma (46), B-cell lymphoma (six) since six myeloma were not correctly classified. Histomorphometry was compared to 15 control cases. The number of marrow dendritic cell was significantly increased with B-cell lymphoma &gt;MGUS &gt;myeloma &gt; controls. Dendritic cell were often mixed with lymphoma cells. Myeloma had increased bone resorption with a high osteoclast number and moderate increase in dendritic cells. B-cell lymphomas had a considerable increase in dendritic cell but presented mononucleated osteoclasts. These findings can help in the classification of MGUS in the early stages of the disease and could help to propose preventive treatments

Phenomenological Bounds on B to Light Semileptonic Form Factors

The form factors for the weak currents between B and light mesons are studied by relating them to the corresponding D form factors at q^2_{max} according to HQET, by evaluating them at q^2=0 by QCD sum rules, and by assuming a polar q^2 dependence. The results found are consistent with the information obtained from exclusive non-leptonic two-body decays and, with the only exception of A_1, with lattice calculations.Comment: 8 LaTeX pages + 2 figures. Will appear in Mod. Phys. Lett.