Soliton-antisoliton pair production in particle collisions

We propose general semiclassical method for computing the probability of soliton-antisoliton pair production in particle collisions. The method is illustrated by explicit numerical calculations in (1+1)-dimensional scalar field model. We find that the probability of the process is suppressed by an exponentially small factor which is almost constant at high energies.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, journal versio

New bounds on the neutrino magnetic moment from the plasma induced neutrino chirality flip in a supernova

The neutrino chirality-flip process under the conditions of the supernova core is investigated in detail with the plasma polarization effects in the photon propagator taken into account, in a more consistent way than in earlier publications. It is shown in part that the contribution of the proton fraction of plasma is essential. New upper bounds on the neutrino magnetic moment are obtained: mu_nu < (0.5 - 1.1) 10^{-12} mu_B from the limit on the supernova core luminosity for nu_R emission, and mu_nu < (0.4 - 0.6) 10^{-12} mu_B from the limit on the averaged time of the neutrino spin-flip. The best upper bound on the neutrino magnetic moment from SN1987A is improved by the factor of 3 to 7.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX, 7 EPS figures, submitted to Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physic

Reconciling the X(3872) with the near-threshold enhancement in the D^0\bar{D}^{*0} final state

We investigate the enhancement in the D^0\bar{D}^0\pi^0 final state with the mass M=3875.2\pm 0.7^{+0.3}_{-1.6}\pm 0.8 MeV found recently by the Belle Collaboration in the B\to K D^0\bar{D}^0\pi^0 decay and test the possibility that this is yet another manifestation of the well-established resonance X(3872). We perform a combined Flatte analysis of the data for the D^0\bar{D}^0\pi^0 mode, and for the \pi^+\pi^- J/\psi mode of the X(3872). Only if the X(3872) is a virtual state in the D^0\bar{D}^{*0} channel, the data on the new enhancement comply with those on the X(3872). In our fits, the mass distribution in the D^0\bar{D}^{*0} mode exhibits a peak at 2-3 MeV above the D^0\bar{D}^{*0} threshold, with a distinctive non-Breit-Wigner shape.Comment: RevTeX4, 17 pages, some references updated and corrected, version published in Phys. Rev.

The decay eta_c^prime -> eta_c pi pi

It is pointed out that the decay of the recently observed charmonium eta_c^prime resonance, eta_c^prime -> eta_c pi pi is simply related to the well studied decay psi^prime -> J/psi pi pi and can thus be used for absolute normalization of other decay modes of the eta_c^prime. The total rate of the discussed decay should be approximately three to four times the corresponding rate for the psi^prime$ resonance making the channel with charged pions the most probable exclusive decay mode of the eta_c^prime with the branching ratio in the range 5-10 %.Comment: 5 pages, references adde

Power Counting and Perturbative One Pion Exchange in Heavy Meson Molecules

We discuss the possible power counting schemes that can be applied in the effective field theory description of heavy meson molecules, such as the X(3872) or the recently discovered Zb(10610) and Zb(10650) states. We argue that the effect of coupled channels is suppressed by at least two orders in the effective field theory expansion, meaning that they can be safely ignored at lowest order. The role of the one pion exchange potential between the heavy mesons, and in particular the tensor force, is also analyzed. By using techniques developed in atomic physics for handling power-law singular potentials, which have been also successfully employed in nuclear physics, we determine the range of center-of-mass momenta for which the tensor piece of the one pion exchange potential is perturbative. In this momentum range, the one pion exchange potential can be considered a subleading order correction, leaving at lowest order a very simple effective field theory consisting only on contact-range interactions.Comment: 21 pages, 1 figur

Catalyzed decay of false vacuum in four dimensions

The probability of destruction of a metastable vacuum state by the field of a highly virtual particle with energy $E$ is calculated for a (3+1) dimensional theory in the leading WKB approximation in the thin-wall limit. It is found that the induced nucleation rate of bubbles, capable of expansion, is exponentially small at any energy. The negative exponential power in the rate reaches its maximum at the energy, corresponding to the top of the barrier in the bubble energy, where it is a finite fraction of the same power in the probability of the spontaneous decay of the false vacuum, i.e. at $E=0$.Comment: 9 pages (standard LaTeX)+ 3 figures (one figure in LaTeX, two are appended in PostScript). TPI-MINN-92/31-

Dirac neutrino magnetic moment and the shock wave revival in a supernova explosion

The process of the two-step conversion of the neutrino helicity, $\nu_L \to \nu_R \to \nu_L$, is analysed in the supernova conditions, where the first stage is realized due to the interaction of the neutrino magnetic moment with the plasma electrons and protons in the supernova core. The second stage is caused by the neutrino resonant spin-flip in a magnetic field of the supernova envelope. Given the neutrino magnetic moment within the interval $10^{-13} \mu_{\rm B} < \mu_\nu < 10^{-12} \mu_{\rm B}$, and with the existence of the magnetic field at the scale $\sim 10^{13}$ G between the neutrinosphere and the shock-wave stagnation region, it is shown that an additional energy of the order of $10^{51}$ erg can be injected into this region during the typical time of the shock-wave stagnation. This energy could be sufficient for stumulation of the damped shock wave.Comment: 6 pages, LaTeX, 2 PS figures, based on the talk presented by N.V. Mikheev at the XV International Seminar Quarks'2008, Sergiev Posad, Moscow Region, May 23-29, 2008, to appear in the Proceeding

The Heavy Quark Spin Symmetry Partners of the X(3872)

We explore the consequences of heavy quark spin symmetry for the charmed meson-antimeson system in a contact-range (or pionless) effective field theory. As a trivial consequence, we theorize the existence of a heavy quark spin symmetry partner of the X(3872), with $J^{PC}=2^{++}$, which we call X(4012) in reference to its predicted mass. If we additionally assume that the X(3915) is a $0^{++}$ heavy spin symmetry partner of the X(3872), we end up predicting a total of six $D^{(*)}\bar{D}^{(*)}$ molecular states. We also discuss the error induced by higher order effects such as finite heavy quark mass corrections, pion exchanges and coupled channels, allowing us to estimate the expected theoretical uncertainties in the position of these new states.Comment: 18 pages; final version accepted for publicatio

Dirac-Neutrino Magnetic Moment and the Dynamics of a Supernova Explosion

The double conversion of the neutrino helicity $\nu_L \to \nu_R \to \nu_L$ has been analyzed for supernova conditions, where the first stage is due to the interaction of the neutrino magnetic moment with plasma electrons and protons in the supernova core, and the second stage, due to the resonance spin flip of the neutrino in the magnetic field of the supernova envelope. It is shown that, in the presence of the neutrino magnetic moment in the range $10^{-13} \mu_{\rm B} < \mu_\nu < 10^{-12} \mu_{\rm B}$ and a magnetic field of $\sim 10^{13}$ G between the neutrinosphere and the shock-stagnation region, an additional energy of about $10^{51}$ erg, which is sufficient for a supernova explosion, can be injected into this region during a typical shock-stagnation time.Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX, 4 EPS figures, accepted to JETP Letter

Production of the X(3872) in B Meson Decay by the Coalescence of Charm Mesons

If the recently-discovered charmonium state X(3872) is a loosely-bound S-wave molecule of the charm mesons \bar D^0 D^{*0} or \bar D^{*0} D^0, it can be produced in B meson decay by the coalescence of charm mesons. If this coalescence mechanism dominates, the ratio of the differential rate for B^+ \to \bar D^0 D^{*0} K^+ near the \bar D^0 D^{*0} threshold and the rate for B^+ \to X K^+ is a function of the \bar D^0 D^{*0} invariant mass and hadron masses only. The identification of the X(3872) as a \bar D^0 D^{*0}/\bar D^{*0} D^0 molecule can be confirmed by observing an enhancement in the \bar D^0 D^{*0} invariant mass distribution near the threshold. An estimate of the branching fraction for B^+ \to X K^+ is consistent with observations if X has quantum numbers J^{PC} = 1^{++} and if J/\psi \pi^+ \pi^- is one of its major decay modes.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, revtex