Invisible Quarkonium Decays as a Sensitive Probe of Dark Matter

We examine in a model-independent manner the measurements that can be performed at B-factories with sensitivity to dark matter. If a singlet scalar, pseudo-scalar, or vector is present and mediates the Standard Model - dark matter interaction, it can mediate invisible decays of quarkonium states such as the $\Upsilon$, $J/\Psi$, and $\eta$. Such scenarios have arisen in the context of supersymmetry, extended Higgs sectors, solutions the supersymmetric $\mu$ problem, and extra U(1) gauge groups from grand unified theories and string theory. Existing B-factories running at the $\Upsilon(4S)$ can produce lower $\Upsilon$ resonances by emitting an Initial State Radiation (ISR) photon. Using a combination of ISR and radiative decays, the initial state of an invisibly decaying quarkonium resonance can be tagged, giving sensitivity to the spin and CP-nature of the particle that mediates standard model-dark matter interactions. These measurements can discover or place strong constraints on dark matter scenarios where the dark matter is approximately lighter than the $b$-quark. For the decay chains $\Upsilon(nS) \to \pi^+ \pi^- \Upsilon(1S)$ (n=2,3) we analyze the dominant backgrounds and determine that with $400 fb^{-1}$ collected at the $\Upsilon(4S)$, the B-factories can limit BR(\Upsilon(1S) \to invisible) \lsim 0.1%.Comment: 20 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in PR

Visualization in distance learning

The article gives practical recommendations to improve the perception of distance course through the optimization of its visual presentationВ статье приводятся практические рекомендации по улучшению восприятия дистанционного курса посредством оптимизации его визуального представлени

The phenomenon of the home: Metaphysics of the innermost (as illustrated by the modern Russian culture)

The relevance of the problem under study is based on the influence of the expanding globalization processes that affect the view of life of a modern man: the internal balance is lost due to feeling of chaos, rhythm of life and constant changes. In these conditions there is a tendency to de-humanize the living environment, depersonalization of living space and desacralization of human dwelling which leads to re-thinking of the Home that ensures human existence in the world. The purpose of the article is to state the necessity of new understanding of the Home as the phenomenon of culture which would confront the absolute priority of the rational, pragmatic and utilitarian through the notion of “the innermost”, through studying the transformation of the innermost within the historical context and through revealing the dialectics of the innermost and the explicit in living space of the modern culture. The lead method for studying this problem is the interdisciplinary approach that provides the possibility of comprehensive consideration of the results of philosophical, cultural, architectural and other studies. The article reveals the essence and the main philosophical-cultural characteristics of the Home and the essence of the innermost as a special super-value, specifies the traditional image of the innermost in living space related to the Home as the centre of existence and reveals the attributes of transformation of the innermost in the Home resulting from the processes which are characteristic of the modern age. The materials of the article can be useful for developing the scientific-methodological support of general and special courses, for conducting lessons in philosophical-cultural disciplines and for usage for designing and modeling the living environment. © 2016 Shupletsova et al

Hadron Production via e+e- Collisions with Initial State Radiation

A novel method of studying e+e- annihilation into hadrons using initial state radiation at e+e- colliders is described. After brief history of the method, its theoretical foundations are considered. Numerous experiments in which exclusive cross sections of e+e- annihilation into hadrons below the center-of-mass energy of 5 GeV have been measured are presented. Some applications of the results obtained to fundamental tests of the Standard Model are listed.Comment: 50 pages, 88 figures, accepted for publication in Rev. Mod. Phy

Mass open online courses - features and prospects

The government of the Russian Federation adopted the state program "Development of Education", which pointed to the need to develop online courses. the article contains a brief history of MOOC, an online model of courses. The main place is given to issues related to the merits and demerits of online courses in comparison with traditional onesПравительством Российской Федерации принята государственная программа "Развитие образования", в которой указывалось на необходимость развития онлайн курсов. в статье изложена краткая история MOOC, модели онлайн курсов. Основное место уделено вопросам, связанным с достоинствами и недостатками онлайн курсов в сравнении с традиционным

Visualization in distance learning

Приводятся практические рекомендации по улучшению восприятия дистанционного курса посредством оптимизации его визуального представленияThe article gives practical recommendations to improve the perception of distance course through the optimization of its visual presentatio

Woe from stones: commemoration, identity politics and Estonia's 'War of Monuments'

No abstract available