High Altitude test of RPCs for the ARGO-YBJ experiment

A 50 m**2 RPC carpet was operated at the YangBaJing Cosmic Ray Laboratory (Tibet) located 4300 m a.s.l. The performance of RPCs in detecting Extensive Air Showers was studied. Efficiency and time resolution measurements at the pressure and temperature conditions typical of high mountain laboratories, are reported.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, submitted to Nucl. Instr. Met

ARGO-YBJ constraints on very high energy emission from GRBs

The ARGO-YBJ (Astrophysical Radiation Ground-based Observatory at YangBaJing) experiment is designed for very high energy $\gamma$-astronomy and cosmic ray researches. Due to the full coverage of a large area ($5600 m^2$) with resistive plate chambers at a very high altitude (4300 m a.s.l.), the ARGO-YBJ detector is used to search for transient phenomena, such as Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Because the ARGO-YBJ detector has a large field of view ($\sim$2 sr) and is operated with a high duty cycle ($>$90%), it is well suited for GRB surveying and can be operated in searches for high energy GRBs following alarms set by satellite-borne observations at lower energies. In this paper, the sensitivity of the ARGO-YBJ detector for GRB detection is estimated. Upper limits to fluence with 99% confidence level for 26 GRBs inside the field of view from June 2006 to January 2009 are set in the two energy ranges 10$-$100 GeV and 10 GeV$-$1 TeV.Comment: accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physic

Measurement of Branching Ratios for ηc\eta_c Hadronic Decays

In a sample of 58 million $J/\psi$ events collected with the BES II detector, the process J/$\psi\to\gamma\eta_c$ is observed in five decay channels: $\eta_c \to K^+K^-\pi^+\pi^-$, $\pi^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-$, $K^\pm K^0_S \pi^\mp$ (with $K^0_S\to\pi^+\pi^-$), $\phi\phi$ (with $\phi\to K^+K^-$) and $p\bar{p}$. From these signals, we determine $Br(J/\psi\to\gamma\eta_c)\times Br(\eta_c\to K^+K^-\pi^+\pi^-)$ $=(1.5\pm0.2\pm0.2)\times10^{-4}$, $Br(J/\psi\to\gamma\eta_c)\times Br(\eta_c\to \pi^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-)$ $=(1.3\pm0.2\pm0.4)\times10^{-4}$, $Br(J/\psi\to\gamma\eta_c)\times Br(\eta_c\to K^\pm K_{S}^{0}\pi^\mp)$ $=(2.2\pm0.3\pm0.5)\times10^{-4}$, $Br(J/\psi\to\gamma\eta_c)\times Br(\eta_c\to \phi\phi)$ $=(3.3\pm0.6\pm0.6)\times10^{-5}$ and $Br(J/\psi\to\gamma\eta_c)\times Br(\eta_c\to p\bar{p})$ $=(1.9\pm0.3\pm0.3)\times10^{-5}$.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figures and 4 table. Submitted to Phys. Lett.

Measurements of J/psi --> p \bar{p}

The process J/\psi --> p \bar{p} is studied using 57.7 X 10^6 J/\psi events collected with the BESII detector at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider. The branching ratio is determined to be Br(J/\psi --> p \bar{p})=(2.26 +- 0.01 +- 0.14) X 10^{-3}, and the angular distribution is well described by \frac{dN}{d cos\theta_p}=1+\alpha\cos^2\theta_p with \alpha = 0.676 +- 0.036 +- 0.042, where \theta_p is the angle between the proton and beam directions. The value of \alpha obtained is in good agreement with the predictions of first-order QCD.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, RevTex4, Submitted to Phys.Lett.

Search for K_S K_S in J/psi and psi(2S) decays

The CP violating processes J/psi-->K_S K_S and psi(2S)-->K_S K_S are searched for using samples of 58 million J/psi and 14 million psi(2S) events collected with the Beijing Spectrometer at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider. No signal is observed, and upper limits on the decay branching ratios are determined to be BR(J/psi-->K_S K_S) K_S K_S) < 4.6x10^{-6} at the 95% confidence level.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Lett.

A Study of J/psi-->gamma gamma V(rho,phi) Decays with the BESII Detector

Using a sample of $58\times 10^6$ $J/\psi$ events collected with the BESII detector, radiative decays $J/\psi\to\gamma\gamma V$, where $V=\rho$ or $\phi$, are studied. A resonance around 1420 MeV/c$^2$ (X(1424)) is observed in the $\gamma\rho$ mass spectrum. Its mass and width are measured to be $1424\pm 10(stat)\pm 11(sys)$ MeV/c$^2$ and $101.0\pm 8.8 \pm 8.8$ MeV/c$^2$, respectively, and its branching ratio $B(J/\psi\to \gamma X(1424)\to \gamma \gamma \rho)$ is determined to be $(1.07\pm0.17 \pm 0.11)\times 10^{-4}$. A search for $X(1424)\to \gamma\phi$ yields a 95% C.L. upper limit $B(J/\psi\to \gamma X(1424)\to \gamma\gamma \phi) < 0.82 \times 10^{-4}$.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, submitted to PL

Searches for lepton-flavour-violating decays of the Higgs boson in s=13\sqrt{s}=13 TeV pp\mathit{pp} collisions with the ATLAS detector

This Letter presents direct searches for lepton flavour violation in Higgs boson decays, H → eτ and H → μτ , performed with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The searches are based on a data sample of proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy √s = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb−1. No significant excess is observed above the expected background from Standard Model processes. The observed (median expected) 95% confidence-level upper limits on the leptonflavour-violating branching ratios are 0.47% (0.34+0.13−0.10%) and 0.28% (0.37+0.14−0.10%) for H → eτ and H → μτ , respectively.publishedVersio

Combination of searches for Higgs boson pairs in pp collisions at \sqrts = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This letter presents a combination of searches for Higgs boson pair production using up to 36.1 fb(-1) of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy root s = 13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The combination is performed using six analyses searching for Higgs boson pairs decaying into the b (b) over barb (b) over bar, b (b) over barW(+)W(-), b (b) over bar tau(+)tau(-), W+W-W+W-, b (b) over bar gamma gamma and W+W-gamma gamma final states. Results are presented for non-resonant and resonant Higgs boson pair production modes. No statistically significant excess in data above the Standard Model predictions is found. The combined observed (expected) limit at 95% confidence level on the non-resonant Higgs boson pair production cross-section is 6.9 (10) times the predicted Standard Model cross-section. Limits are also set on the ratio (kappa(lambda)) of the Higgs boson self-coupling to its Standard Model value. This ratio is constrained at 95% confidence level in observation (expectation) to -5.0 &lt; kappa(lambda) &lt; 12.0 (-5.8 &lt; kappa(lambda) &lt; 12.0). In addition, limits are set on the production of narrow scalar resonances and spin-2 Kaluza-Klein Randall-Sundrum gravitons. Exclusion regions are also provided in the parameter space of the habemus Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model and the Electroweak Singlet Model. For complete list of authors see http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2019.135103</p

Search for flavour-changing neutral currents in processes with one top quark and a photon using 81 fb⁻¹ of pp collisions at \sqrts = 13 TeV with the ATLAS experiment

A search for flavour-changing neutral current (FCNC) events via the coupling of a top quark, a photon, and an up or charm quark is presented using 81 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data taken at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Events with a photon, an electron or muon, a b-tagged jet, and missing transverse momentum are selected. A neural network based on kinematic variables differentiates between events from signal and background processes. The data are consistent with the background-only hypothesis, and limits are set on the strength of the tqγ coupling in an effective field theory. These are also interpreted as 95% CL upper limits on the cross section for FCNC tγ production via a left-handed (right-handed) tuγ coupling of 36 fb (78 fb) and on the branching ratio for t→γu of 2.8×10−5 (6.1×10−5). In addition, they are interpreted as 95% CL upper limits on the cross section for FCNC tγ production via a left-handed (right-handed) tcγ coupling of 40 fb (33 fb) and on the branching ratio for t→γc of 22×10−5 (18×10−5). © 2019 The Author(s

Comparison between simulated and observed LHC beam backgrounds in the ATLAS experiment at Ebeam =4 TeV

Results of dedicated Monte Carlo simulations of beam-induced background (BIB) in the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are presented and compared with data recorded in 2012. During normal physics operation this background arises mainly from scattering of the 4 TeV protons on residual gas in the beam pipe. Methods of reconstructing the BIB signals in the ATLAS detector, developed and implemented in the simulation chain based on the \textscFluka Monte Carlo simulation package, are described. The interaction rates are determined from the residual gas pressure distribution in the LHC ring in order to set an absolute scale on the predicted rates of BIB so that they can be compared quantitatively with data. Through these comparisons the origins of the BIB leading to different observables in the ATLAS detectors are analysed. The level of agreement between simulation results and BIB measurements by ATLAS in 2012 demonstrates that a good understanding of the origin of BIB has been reached