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DOE OSTI2025

Amplitude Analysis of $\omega\pi^0$ Photoproduction at GlueX

Excited meson states can often lie hidden within mass spectra beneath more dominant resonances, making it difficult to extract their physical properties. We can unveil these states through amplitude analysis, which disentangles the overlapping states via fits to their unique production and decay angular distributions. Understanding the light-meson spectrum is essential for confirming Lattice QCD predictions, especially in regards to the search for possible hybrid mesons. The Gluonic Excitation (GlueX) experiment at Jefferson Lab aids this search by studying the production of excited light mesons in $\gamma p$ interactions in the 8.2 - 8.8 GeV photon-beam energy range. We show in these proceedings preliminary results of an amplitude analysis of a large $\omega\pi^0$ dataset, concentrating on measuring the interference between the $b_1(1235)$ and an excited $J^{PC}=1^{--}$ vector resonance.

Scheuer, Kevin↗

DOE OSTI2025

Exploring Photoproduced $\eta^{(}{'^{)}} \pi^{0}$ Systems in the Search for Exotic Hadrons at GlueX

Physicists have long been captivated by the spectrum of hadrons, aiming to better comprehend the fundamental building blocks of matter. While various experiments have laid the foundation for this spectrum, Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics has revealed new states with forbidden JPC values. This has challenged the constituent quark model, suggesting spin-exotic hybrid mesons that could reshape our understanding of hadronic structure and quark-gluon interactions through gluonic excitations. The GlueX experiment at Jefferson Lab has played a pivotal role in this pursuit, with its efforts centered on analyzing photoproduction data. In order to investigate the lightest predicted exotic state with JPC=1−+ , known as the π1(1600) meson, significant attention has been directed towards both ηπ0 and η′π0 systems. Detailed ongoing amplitude analysis studies of γp→η(′)π0p , leveraging the polarization of the photon beam at the GlueX experiment will be highlighted. Furthermore, first studies on the moments of angular distributions for these channels will also be shown, along with the differential cross section results for the a2(1320) meson. These results aid in identifying the dominant production mechanisms and offer valuable insights into complex hadronic interactions. Ultimately, this contributes to the ongoing search for and future identification of exotic hybrid meson candidates.

Baldwin, Zachary↗

DOE OSTI2024

Photoproduction of K0K0-bar with the GlueX Experiment

In this dissertation, we study photoproduction of K0 ?K 0 through the KSKLp and KSKSp ?nal states with the GlueX Phase-I (GlueX-I) data set. We measure the spin-density matrix elements (SDMEs) and di?erential cross section of ?(1020) ! KSKL to better understand photoproduction of light vector mesons. A mass independent Partial Wave Analysis (PWA) of the KSKL and KSKS meson spectrum below 2 GeV is also undertaken to study the meson spectrum with JPC = even++ and odd??. The ?(1020) di?erential cross section is measured at E = 8:2 ? 8:8 GeV and ?t = 0:15 ? 1:00 GeV2. The di?erential cross section is well described by an exponential decay with slope 4:44?0:01 GeV?2 and the integrated cross section is determined to be 295:7?0:4 nb, only statistical uncertainties are quoted. Both measurements are consistent and far more precise than the previous measurement by Ballam et al. [1]. The ?(1020) SDMEs were measured in nine bins of ?t in the same range. At low ?t, we ?nd the data were consistent with s-channel helicity conservation, SCHC, i. e. the only non-zero SDMEs were ?1 1?1 = ?Im(?2 1?1) = 1=2. At higher ?t, the SDMEs deviate from SCHC and the measurements indicate this is due to natural parity exchange since we observe that the SDMEs are consistent with zero unnatural exchange. We also ?find that the contribution from helicity double-flip amplitudes is consistent with zero. The measured SDMEs are in poor agreement with theoretical predictions put forward by JPAC [35]. These measurements will serve as input to re?ne models of production processes, which will be essential for the interpretation of possible signals of exotic mesons in GlueX. Analysis of the spectrum above the ?(1020) indicates the presence of at least three particles at ? 1:50, ? 1:75, and 2:20 GeV. We employ simple parametrizations of the resonance line shape based on relativistic Breit-Wigner functions considering cases with and without interference. The resonance at ? 1:50 GeV is not identifi?ed as any specifi?c resonance, but could be due to interference between the ?(1450) and !(1420). Our models favor the resonance at ~1:75 GeV as the X(1750) rather than the ?(1680). We ?find that introducing a third Breit-Winger into the models improves the ?t quality with the ?2/ndf going from 1.75 to 1.59 and 1.41 to 1.18 for models without and with interference respectively. A PWA of the KSKL spectrum indicates that the spectrum is consistent with exclusively spin-1 contribution up to ? 1:6 GeV. Above ? 1:6 GeV we ?find evidence for a small spin-3 contribution. We also ?nd that the spectrum predominantly positive reflectivity up to ? 1:6 GeV, after which the spectrum becomes a nearly equal mix of both. The KSKS system shows a rich spectrum with multiple resonance structures but is more statistically limited than the KSKL system. Modelling the line shape we ?find evidence at greater than 10? level in favor of a resonance at ? 1:75 GeV. The model parameters suggest this resonance is the f0(1710). The PWA of the KSKS system was inconclusive. However, using a small set of amplitudes suggests that the spin-2 contribution to the spectrum is primarily in the range 1:2?1:6 GeV, where f2(1270), a2(1320) and f02 (1525) are expected.

Linera, Gabriel Rodriguez↗

DOE OSTI2024

Charm physics with overlap fermions on 2+1-flavor domain wall fermion configurations*

Decay constants of pseudoscalar mesons D, D s , η c , and vector mesons D*, D$^{*}_{s}$, J/ψ are determined from the N f = 2 + 1 lattice QCD at a lattice spacing a ~ 0.08 fm. For vector mesons, the decay constants defined by tensor currents are given in the $\overline{MS}$ scheme at 2 GeV. The calculation is performed on domain wall fermion configurations generated by the RBC-UKQCD collaborations and the overlap fermion action is used for the valence quarks. Comparing the current results with our previous results at a coarser lattice spacing a ~ 0.11 fm provides a better understanding of the discretization error. We obtain $f$$^{T}_{D^*_s}$($\overline{MS}$, 2 GeV)/f D$^{*}_{s}$ = 0.909(18) with a better precision than our previous result. Combining our f D$^{*}_{s}$ = 277(11) MeV with the total width of D$^{*}_{s}$ determined in a recent study gives a branching fraction 4.26(52) x 10 –5 for D$^{*}_{s}$ leptonic decay.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Dynamical coupled-channel models for hadron dynamics

Dynamical coupled-channel (DCC) approaches parametrize the interactions and dynamics of two and more hadrons and their response to different electroweak probes. The inclusion of unitarity, three-body channels, and other properties from scattering theory allows for a reliable extraction of resonance spectra and their properties from data. Here, we review the formalism and application of the ANL-Osaka, the Juelich-Bonn-Washington, and other DCC approaches in the context of light baryon resonances from meson, (virtual) photon, and neutrino-induced reactions, as well as production reactions, strange baryons, light mesons, heavy meson systems, exotics, and baryon-baryon interactions. Finally, we also provide a connection of the formalism to study finite-volume spectra obtained in Lattice QCD, and review applications involving modern statistical and machine learning tools.

Amplitude analysis↗

DOE OSTI2026

FLAG review 2024

We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, 𝐷-meson, 𝐵-meson, and nucleon physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the nuclear and particle physics communities. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor 𝑓+⁡(0) arising in the semileptonic 𝐾 → 𝜋 transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay-constant ratio 𝑓 𝐾 ⁡/𝑓 𝜋 and its consequences for the Cabibbo–Kobayashi–Maskawa (CKM) matrix elements 𝑉 𝑢⁢𝑠 and 𝑉 𝑢⁢𝑑 . We review the determination of the 𝐵 𝐾 parameter of neutral kaon mixing as well as the additional four 𝐵 parameters that arise in theories of physics beyond the Standard Model. For the heavy-quark sector, we provide results for 𝑚 𝑐 and 𝑚 𝑏 as well as those for the decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters of charmed and bottom mesons and baryons. These are the heavy-quark quantities most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. We review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant 𝛼 𝑠 . We review the determinations of nucleon charges from the matrix elements of both isovector and flavor-diagonal axial, scalar and tensor local quark bilinears, and momentum fraction, helicity moment and the transversity moment from one-link quark bilinears. We also review determinations of scale-setting quantities. Finally, in this review we have added a new section on the general definition of the low-energy limit of the Standard Model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Measurement of beauty production via non-prompt charm hadrons in p–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV

The production cross sections of D 0 , D + , and Λ$^{+}_{c}$ hadrons originating from beauty-hadron decays (i.e. non-prompt) were measured for the first time at midrapidity in proton–lead (p–Pb) collisions at the center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of $\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV. Nuclear modification factors (R pPb ) of non-prompt D 0 , D + , and Λ$^{+}_{c}$ are calculated as a function of the transverse momentum (p T ) to investigate the modification of the momentum spectra measured in p–Pb collisions with respect to those measured in proton–proton (pp) collisions at the same energy. The R pPb measurements are compatible with unity and with the measurements in the prompt charm sector, and do not show a significant p T dependence. The p T -integrated cross sections and p T -integrated R pPb of non-prompt D 0 and D + mesons are also computed by extrapolating the visible cross sections down to p T = 0. The non-prompt D-meson R pPb integrated over p T is compatible with unity and with model calculations implementing modification of the parton distribution functions of nucleons bound in nuclei with respect to free nucleons. The non-prompt Λ$^{+}_{c}$/D 0 and D + /D 0 production ratios are computed to investigate hadronisation mechanisms of beauty quarks into mesons and baryons. The measured ratios as a function of p T display a similar trend to that measured for charm hadrons in the same collision system.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Spatial imaging of polarized deuterons at the Electron-Ion Collider

We study diffractive vector meson production at small-x in the collision of electrons and polarized deuterons e + d $\uparrow$ . We consider the polarization dependence of the nuclear wave function of the deuteron, which results in an azimuthal angular dependence of the produced vector meson when the deuteron is transversely polarized. The Fourier coefficients extracted from the azimuthal angular dependence of the vector meson differential cross-section exhibit notable differences between longitudinally and transversely polarized deuterons. The angular dependence of the extracted effective deuteron radius provides direct insight into the structure of the polarized deuteron wave function. Furthermore, we observe slightly increased gluon saturation effects when the deuteron is longitudinally polarized compared to the transversely polarized case. The small-x observables studied in this work will be accessible at the future Electron-Ion Collider.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Studying charm hadronisation into baryons with azimuthal correlations of Λ$^+_c$ with charged particles in pp collisions at $\sqrt{𝑠}$ = 13 TeV

The distribution of angular correlations between prompt charm hadrons and primary charged particles in pp collisions is sensitive to the charm-quark hadronisation process. In this letter, charm-baryon correlations are measured for the first time by studying the azimuthal-angle difference between charged particles and prompt Λ$^+_c$ baryons produced in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{𝑠}$ = 13 TeV, with the ALICE detector. Λ$^+_c$ baryons are reconstructed at midrapidity (|𝑦| < 0.5) in the transverse-momentum interval 3 < 𝑝 T < 16 GeV/𝑐, and correlated with charged particles with 𝑝 T > 0.3 GeV/𝑐 and pseudorapidity |𝜂| < 0.8. For 3 < 𝑝$^{Λ{^{+}_{c} ,D}}_{T}$ < 5 GeV/𝑐, the comparison with published measurements of D-meson and charged-particle correlations in the same collision system hints at a larger number of low-momentum particles associated with Λ$^+_c$-baryon triggers than with D-meson triggers, both in the collinear and opposite directions with respect to the trigger particle. These differences can be quantified by the comparison of the properties of the near- and away-side correlation peaks, and are not reproduced by predictions of various Monte Carlo event generators, generally underpredicting the associated particle yields at 𝑝$^{assoc}_{T}$ < 1 GeV/𝑐. This tension between Λ$^+_c$-baryon and D-meson associated peak yields could suggest a modified fragmentation of the charm quark, or a different hadronisation process, when a charm baryon is produced in the final state.

Acharya, S. (ORCID:0000000292135329)↗

DOE OSTI2026

Investigating charm quark energy loss in medium with the nuclear modification factor of D 0 -tagged jets

The nuclear modification factor R AA of charm jets, identified by the presence of a D 0 meson among the jet constituents, has been measured for the first time in Pb–Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The D 0 mesons and their charge conjugates are reconstructed from the hadronic decay D 0 → K – π + . Jets are reconstructed from D 0 -meson candidates and charged particles using the anti-k T algorithm with jet resolution parameter R = 0.3, in the jet transverse momentum (p T ) range 5 < $p^{ch}_{T}$$^{jet}$ < 50 GeV/c and pseudorapidity |η ch jet| < 0.6. A hint of reduced suppression in the charm-jet R AA is observed in comparison to inclusive jets in central Pb–Pb collisions with a significance of about 2σ in 20 < $p^{ch}_{T}$$^{jet}$ < 50 GeV/c, suggesting the in-medium energy loss to depend on both the difference between quark and gluon coupling strength (Casimir colour-charge effect) and quark mass (dead-cone effect). The data are compared with model calculations that include mass effects in the in-medium energy loss. Several state-of-the-art models are consistent with the data, with the LIDO model providing the best description of the data in the common kinematic range of inclusive and D 0 -tagged jets, highlighting the role of mass effects in interpreting the results.

Acharya, S. (ORCID:0000000292135329)↗

DOE OSTI2025

Hyperstealth dark matter and long-lived particles

A new dark matter candidate is proposed that arises as the lightest baryon from a confining 𝑆⁢𝑈⁡(𝑁) gauge theory which equilibrates with the Standard Model only through electroweak interactions. Surprisingly, this candidate can be as light as a few GeV. The lower bound arises from the intersection of two competing requirements: (i) the equilibration sector of the model must be sufficiently heavy, at least several TeV, to avoid bounds from colliders, and (ii) the lightest dark meson (that may be the dark 𝜂′, 𝜎, or the lightest glueball) has suppressed interactions with the SM and must decay before big bang nucleosynthesis. The low-energy dark sector consists of one flavor that is electrically neutral and an almost electroweak singlet. The dark matter candidate is the lightest baryon consisting of 𝑁 of these light flavors leading to a highly suppressed elastic scattering rate with the Standard Model (SM). The equilibration sector consists of vectorlike dark quarks that transform under the electroweak group, ensuring that the dark sector can reach thermal equilibrium with the SM in the early Universe. The lightest dark meson lifetimes vary between 10 −3 ≲ 𝑐⁢𝜏 ≲ 10 7 m, providing an outstanding target for LHC production and experimental detection. We delineate the interplay between the lifetime of the light mesons, the suppressed direct detection cross section of the lightest baryon, and the scale of equilibration sector that can be probed at the LHC.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2026

Mesogenesis through the ephemeral dark decay of Beauty

Mesogenesis provides a path for generating the baryon asymmetry of the Universe, using only the CP violation furnished by the Standard Model in the decay of B mesons. While this is an intriguing possibility, it is largely constrained by the data on B meson branching fractions into baryons and missing energy carried into the dark sector. We point out that it is possible to make this branching fraction dominant only in the early Universe, through an ultralight scalar coupled to the dark sector and the Standard Model leptons. A scenario is examined where the thermal density of muons in the early Universe temporarily lowers the mass of a dark fermion, allowing for efficient B meson decays. This `dark’ decay channel is shut off later when the muon number density falls, making the scenario compatible with flavor data. Our model can be consistent with the LHC constraints on color-charged heavy bosons required to implement Mesogenesis; such states may be discovered in the future runs as their masses cannot be far above the current bounds. We also outline other possible signals, which can arise in future displaced vertex searches, long range force searches, and observations of neutron star binary mergers.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Consistency of the pion form factor and unpolarized transverse momentum dependent parton distributions beyond leading twist in the light-front quark model

We investigate the interplay among the pion’s form factor, transverse momentum dependent distributions (TMDs), and parton distribution functions (PDFs) extending our light-front quark model (LFQM) computation based on the Bakamjian-Thomas construction for the two-point function [1,2] to the three-point and four-point functions. Ensuring the four-momentum conservation at the meson-quark vertex from the Bakamjian-Thomas construction, the meson mass is taken consistently as the corresponding invariant meson mass both in the matrix element and the Lorentz factor in our LFQM computation. We achieve the current-component independence in the physical observables such as the pion form factor and delve into the derivation of unpolarized TMDs and PDFs associated with the forward matrix element. We address the challenges posed by twist-4 TMDs and exhibit the fulfillment of the sum rule. Effectively, our LFQM successfully handles the light-front zero modes and offers insights for broader three-point and four-point functions and related observables.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Nonlocal chiral contributions to generalized parton distributions of the proton at nonzero skewness

We compute the one-loop contributions to spin-averaged generalized parton distributions (GPDs) in the proton from pseudoscalar mesons with intermediate octet and decuplet baryon states at nonzero skewness. Our framework is based on nonlocal covariant chiral effective theory, with ultraviolet divergences regularized by introducing a relativistic regulator derived consistently from the nonlocal Lagrangian. Using the splitting functions calculated from the nonlocal Lagrangian, we find the nonzero skewness GPDs from meson loops by convoluting with the phenomenological pion GPD and the generalized distribution amplitude, and verify that these satisfy the correct polynomiality properties. We also compute the lowest two moments of GPDs to quantify the meson loop effects on the Dirac, Pauli, and gravitational form factors of the proton.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Model-independent determination of the strong-phase difference between D 0 and D ¯ 0 → π + π − π + π − decays

Measurements of the strong-phase difference between D 0 and D ¯ 0 → π + π − π + π − are performed in bins of phase space. The study exploits a sample of quantum-correlated D D ¯ mesons collected by the BESIII experiment in e + e − collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.93 fb − 1 . Here, D denotes a neutral charm meson in a superposition of flavor eigenstates. The reported results are valuable for measurements of the C P -violating phase γ (also denoted ϕ 3 ) in B ± → D K ± , D → π + π − π + π − decays, and the binning schemes are designed to provide good statistical sensitivity to this parameter. The expected uncertainty on γ arising from the precision of the strong-phase measurements, when applied to very large samples of B -meson decays, is around 1.5° or 2°, depending on the binning scheme. The binned strong-phase parameters are combined to give a value of F + 4 π = 0.746 ± 0.010 ± 0.004 for the C P -even fraction of D 0 → π + π − π + π − decays, which is around 30% more precise than the previous best measurement of this quantity. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Ablikim, M.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Search for B 0 → K *0 𝜏 + ⁢𝜏 − Decays at the Belle II Experiment

We present a search for the rare flavor-changing neutral-current decay 𝐵 0 →𝐾 *0 ⁢𝜏 + ⁢𝜏 − with data collected by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider. The analysis uses a 365 fb −1 data sample recorded at the center-of-mass energy of the ϒ⁡(4⁢𝑆) resonance. One of the 𝐵 mesons produced in the ϒ⁡(4⁢𝑆)→𝐵 0 $⁢\overline{𝐵}$ 0 process is fully reconstructed in a hadronic decay mode, while its companion 𝐵 meson is required to decay into a 𝐾 *0 and two 𝜏 leptons of opposite charge. The 𝜏 leptons are reconstructed in final states with a single electron, muon, charged pion or charged 𝜌 meson, and additional neutrinos. We set an upper limit on the branching fraction of ℬ⁡(𝐵 0 →𝐾 *0 ⁢𝜏 + ⁢𝜏 − )<1.8×10 −3 at the 90% confidence level, which is the most stringent constraint reported to date.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Universal mass equation for equal-quantum excited-states sets I

The masses of fifteen baryon sets and twenty-four meson sets of three or more equal-quantum excited states, using Breit-Wigner PDG masses and their uncertainties at fixed J P for baryons and J PC for mesons, are fitted by a simple two-parameter logarithmic function, M n = αLn(n)+β, where n is the level of radial excitation. The conjecture is made that accurately measured masses of all equal-quantum baryons (including LHCb exotic P$_{c\bar{c}}^+$s) and meson excited states (including s$\bar{s}$, s$\bar{c}$, c$\bar{c}$, c$\bar{b}$, and b$\bar{b}$ states) are related by the logarithmic function used here; at least for the mass range of currently known excited states. The baryon “star” rating case is evaluated. The Cornell potential is an example of how a logarithmic behavior can be explained by an appropriate potential. Thus, a “universal mass equation” (UME) for equal-quantum excited-state sets is presented.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2025

ACHILLES-GENIE Interface for Neutrino Simulations, ADRIANO2 Tile Prototype for High-Granularity Dual-Readout Calorimetry

ICARUS (Imaging Cosmic And Rare Underground Signals) is a liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) detector that pursues the sterile neutrino, which relies on accurate simulations of neutrino-argon interactions. REDTOP (Rare Eta Decays To Observe new Physics) is a proposed low-energy, high-intensity meson factory designed to explore rare $\eta$/$\eta'$ meson decays and probe physics beyond the Standard Model. As a next-generation experiment, this requires both accurate simulations and innovative detector technologies. This project contributes to both ICARUS, from a simulation perspective, and REDTOP, from both a simulation and detection perspective, through the event generation of lepton-nucleon interactions and the physical enhancement of the calorimeter technology within the REDTOP detector. We developed an interface between ACHILLES (A CHIcago Land Lepton Event Simulator), a theory-driven lepton-level event generator, and GENIE, a robust event generator framework used for neutrino physics. By incorporating the precise theoretical cross-section calculations of ACHILLES into the experimental realism of GENIE, the interface allows for improved accuracy of neutrino-nucleon simulations, which can be adapted for the proton beam specifications of the REDTOP meson factory as well as for the ICARUS experiment. In parallel, we developed an improved prototype for the ADRIANO2 (A Dual Readout Integrally Active Non-segmented Option) dual-readout calorimeter tiles for the REDTOP detector. To improve the efficiency of the lead-glass tiles trapping Cherenkov light for energy reconstruction and particle identification, we optimized the application of a highly reflective coating. Through viscosity and thickness control, masking, and a custom spray technique, we refined the coating process to reduce surface defects and improve light yield. Together, these efforts strengthen the ICARUS neutrino program and REDTOP's capability of detecting rare decay events.

Visser, Erin [Michigan State U.]↗