Top-quark decay via R-parity violating interactions at the Tevatron

We consider the top-quark decay $t\to \tilde \tau b$ and $t\to \tau b \tilde{\chi}^0_1$ via explicit R-parity violating interactions in SUSY theories. We discuss the observability of those channels at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. The existing Tevatron data indicate a 95% confidence level upper bound on the coupling to be less than 0.94(0.63) for a long-lived (short-lived) $\tilde{\chi}^0_1$ with $m_{\tilde\tau}=70$ GeV. At Tevatron Run II with an integrated luminosity of 2 (10) fb$^{-1}$, one can obtain a 2$\sigma$ constraint as 0.38 (0.24) for a long-lived $\tilde{\chi}^0_1$ and 0.29(0.19) for a short-lived $\tilde{\chi}^0_1$, beyond the current indirect limit.Comment: 16 pages, 7 eps figures. Using LaTeX with axodraw. LSP decay mode included; more refs.; to appear in PL

Probing neutralino properties in minimal supergravity with bilinear R-parity violation

Supersymmetric models with bilinear R-parity violation can account for the observed neutrino masses and mixing parameters indicated by neutrino oscillation data. We consider minimal supergravity versions of bilinear R-parity violation where the lightest supersymmetric particle is a neutralino. This is unstable, with a large enough decay length to be detected at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. We analyze the Large Hadron Collider potential to determine the lightest supersymmetric particle properties, such as mass, lifetime and branching ratios, and discuss their relation to neutrino properties

Searching for Leptoquarks in electron-photon Collisions

We study the production of composite scalar leptoquarks in $e\gamma$ colliders, and we show that an $e^+e^-$ machine operating in its $e\gamma$ mode is the best way to look for these particles in $e^+e^-$ collisions, due to the hadronic content of the photon.Comment: 12 pages in REVTeX3. 6 figures appended as postcript files. Report: IFT-P.014/93 and IFUSP-P 104

New Signatures for a Light Stop at LEP2 in SUSY Models with Spontaneously Broken R-Parity

In a class of supersymmetric models with R-parity breaking the lightest stop can have new decay modes into third generation fermions, $\tilde{t}_1 \rightarrow b + \tau$. We show that this decay may be dominant or at least comparable to the ordinary R-parity conserving mode $\tilde{t}_1 \rightarrow c + \tilde{\chi}_1^0$, where $\tilde{\chi}_1^0$ denotes the lightest neutralino. The new R-parity violating decay mode could provide new signatures for stop production at LEP.Comment: uudecoded latex file, 12 pages with 3 figures included. The complete uudecoded ps paper is also available via anonymous ftp at ftp://neutrinos.uv.es/pub/papers/ps/stop1.u

Probing bilinear R-parity violating supergravity at the LHC

We study the collider phenomenology of bilinear R-parity violating supergravity, the simplest effective model for supersymmetric neutrino masses accounting for the current neutrino oscillation data. At the CERN Large Hadron Collider the center-of-mass energy will be high enough to probe directly these models through the search for the superpartners of the Standard Model (SM) particles. We analyze the impact of R-parity violation on the canonical supersymmetry searches - that is, we examine how the decay of the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) via bilinear R-parity violating interactions degrades the average expected missing momentum of the reactions and show how this diminishes the reach in the 'usual' channels for supersymmetry searches. However, the R-parity violating interactions lead to an enhancement of the final states containing isolated same-sign di-leptons and trileptons, compensating the reach loss in the fully inclusive channel. We show how the searches for displaced vertices associated to LSP decay substantially increase the coverage in supergravity parameter space, giving the corresponding reaches for two reference luminosities of 10 and 100 fb$^{-1}$ and compare with those of the R-parity conserving minimal supergravity model.Comment: Corrected version. To appear at JHE

Anomaly Mediated Supersymmetry Breaking without R-Parity

We analyze the low energy features of a supersymmetric standard model where the anomaly--induced contributions to the soft parameters are dominant in a scenario with bilinear $R$--parity violation. This class of models leads to mixings between the standard model particles and supersymmetric ones which change the low energy phenomenology and searches for supersymmetry. In addition, $R$--parity violation interactions give rise to small neutrino masses which we show to be consistent with the present observations.Comment: 38 pages, 15 figures. For higher resolution figures go to http://www.fma.if.usp.br/~magro/figures

Probing R-parity violating models of neutrino mass at the Tevatron via top Squark decays

We have estimated the limiting branching ratio of the R-parity violating (RPV) decay of the lighter top squark, \tilde t_1 \ar l^+ d ($l=e$ or $\mu$ and d is a down type quark of any flavor), as a function of top squark mass(\MST) for an observable signal in the di-lepton plus di-jet channel at the Tevatron RUN-II experiment with 2 fb$^{-1}$ luminosity. Our simulations indicate that the lepton number violating nature of the underlying decay dynamics can be confirmed via the reconstruction of \MST. The above decay is interesting in the context of RPV models of neutrino mass where the RPV couplings ($\lambda'_{i3j}$) driving the above decay are constrained to be small (\lsim 10^{-3} - 10^{-4} ). If $\tilde t_1$ is the next lightest super particle - a theoretically well motivated scenario - then the RPV decay can naturally compete with the R-parity conserving (RPC) modes which also have suppressed widths. The model independent limiting BR can delineate the parameter space in specific supersymmetric models, where the dominating RPV decay is observable and predict the minimum magnitude of the RPV coupling that will be sensitive to Run-II data. We have found it to be in the same ballpark value required by models of neutrino mass, for a wide range of \MST. A comprehensive future strategy for linking top squark decays with models of neutrino mass is sketched.Comment: 28 pages, 14 Figure

LEP sensitivities to spontaneous R-parity violating signals

We illustrate the sensitivities of LEP experiments to leptonic signals associated to models where supersymmetry (SUSY) is realized with spontaneous breaking of R-parity. We focus on missing transverse momentum plus acoplanar muon events arising from lightest neutralino single production χν as well as pair production χχ, followed by χ decays, where χ denotes the lightest neutralino. We show that the integrated luminosity achieved at LEP already starts probing the basic parameters of the theory. We discuss the significance of these constraints for the simplest spontaneous R-parity breaking models and their relevance for future searches of SUSY particles

Phase Behavior of Type-II Superconductors with Quenched Point Pinning Disorder: A Phenomenological Proposal

A general phenomenology for phase behaviour in the mixed phase of type-II superconductors with weak point pinning disorder is outlined. We propose that the ``Bragg glass'' phase generically transforms via two separate thermodynamic phase transitions into a disordered liquid on increasing the temperature. The first transition is into a glassy phase, topologically disordered at the largest length scales; current evidence suggests that it lacks the long-ranged phase correlations expected of a ``vortex glass''. This phase has a significant degree of short-ranged translational order, unlike the disordered liquid, but no quasi-long range order, in contrast to the Bragg glass. This glassy phase, which we call a ``multi-domain glass'', is confined to a narrow sliver at intermediate fields, but broadens out both for much larger and much smaller field values. The multi-domain glass may be a ``hexatic glass''; alternatively, its glassy properties may originate in the replica symmetry breaking envisaged in recent theories of the structural glass transition. Estimates for translational correlation lengths in the multi-domain glass indicate that they can be far larger than the interline spacing for weak disorder, suggesting a plausible mechanism by which signals of a two-step transition can be obscured. Calculations of the Bragg glass-multi-domain glass and the multi-domain glass-disordered liquid phase boundaries are presented and compared to experimental data. We argue that these proposals provide a unified picture of the available experimental data on both high-T$_c$ and low-T$_c$ materials, simulations and current theoretical understanding.Comment: 70 pages, 9 postscript figures, modified title and minor changes in published versio

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset