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At least 235 records · Page 13

Bringing the Peccei-Quinn mechanism down to Earth

It is conventionally assumed that the physics underlying the Peccei-Quinn (PQ) mechanism for addressing the strong C P problem is at very high energies, orders of magnitude above the weak scale. However, this may not be the case in general and the associated PQ boson ϕ , besides the signature state, i.e., the ultralight axion a , may emerge well below the weak scale. We consider this possibility and examine some of the conditions for its viability. The example model proposed here may also provide the requisite Standard Model Higgs mass parameter, without invoking new scalars above the giga-electron-volt (GeV) scale. The corresponding parameter space can maintain against quantum corrections. This scenario, depending on the choice of parameters, can potentially be constrained by flavor data. We point out that the current mild excess in B + → K + ν ν ¯ , reported by the Belle II experiment, could in principle be explained in this setup as B + → K + ϕ and B + → K + a , with both ϕ and a escaping the detector as missing energy. For a sufficiently heavy PQ boson, in the GeV regime (as the preferred explanation of the Belle II excess), one can separate these two contributions, due to the difference in K + momenta. In this case, the axion may also affect lighter meson, e.g., kaon, decays while ϕ would not be a kinematically allowed final state. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of the branching fraction and search for CP violation in D 0 → K $^{0}_{S}$ K $^{0}_{S}$ ⁢π + ⁢π - decays at Belle

We measure the branching fraction for the Cabibbo-suppressed decay D 0 → K $^{0}_{S}$ K $^{0}_{S}$ ⁢π + ⁢π - and search for CP violation via a measurement of the CP asymmetry A CP as well as the T-odd triple-product asymmetry a$^{T}_{CP}$. We use 922 fb -1 of data recorded by the Belle experiment, which ran at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e + ⁢e - collider. The branching fraction is measured relative to the Cabibbo-favored normalization channel D 0 → K $^{0}_{S}$ ⁢π + ⁢π - ; the result is $\mathscr{B}$⁡( D 0 → K $^{0}_{S}$ K $^{0}_{S}$ ⁢π + ⁢π - )=[4.79±0.08⁢(stat)±0.10⁢(syst)±0.31⁢(norm)]×10 -4 , where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is from uncertainty in the normalization channel. We also measure A CP =[-2.51±1.44⁢(stat)$^{+0.11}_{-0.10}$⁢(syst)]%, and a$^{T}_{CP}$=[-1.95±1.42⁢(stat)$^{+0.14}_{-0.12}⁢$(syst)]%. These results show no evidence of CP violation.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of φ-meson production in Cu + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV and U + U collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 193 GeV

The PHENIX experiment reports systematic measurements at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider of φ-meson production in asymmetric Cu + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV and in U + U collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 193 GeV. Measurements were performed via the φ → K + K – decay channel at midrapidity |η| < 0.35. Features of φ- meson production measured in Cu + Cu, Cu + Au, Au + Au, and U + U collisions were found to not depend on the collision geometry, which was expected because the yields are averaged over the azimuthal angle and follow the expected scaling with nuclear-overlap size. The elliptic flow of the φ meson in Cu + Au, Au + Au, and U + U collisions scales with second-order-participant eccentricity and the length scale of the nuclear-overlap region (estimated with the number of participating nucleons). At moderate $p_T$ , φ-meson production measured in Cu + Au and U + U collisions is consistent with coalescence-model predictions, whereas at high $p_T$ the production is in agreement with expectations for in-medium energy loss of parent partons prior to their fragmentation. Finally, the elliptic flow for φ mesons measured in Cu + Au and U + U collisions is well described by a (2+1)-dimensional viscous-hydrodynamic model with specific-shear viscosity η/s = 1/4π.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Observation of the rare decay of the $\eta$ meson to four muons

A search for the rare $\eta$$\to$$\mu^+\mu^-\mu^+\mu^-$ double-Dalitz decay is performed using a sample of proton-proton collisions, collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC with high-rate muon triggers in 2017-2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 101 fb$^{-1}$. A signal having a statistical significance well in excess of 5 standard deviations is observed. Using the \emm decay as normalization, the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}($η$ \to \mu^+\mu^-\mu^+\mu^-)$ = ( 5.0 $\pm$ 0.8 (stat) $\pm$ 0.7 (syst) $\pm$ 0.7 $\mathcal{B}_{2\mu}$ ) $\times$ 10$^{-9}$ is measured, where the last term is the uncertainty in the normalization channel branching fraction. This is the first measurement of this branching fraction and is found to be in agreement with theoretical predictions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Spectroscopic study of a possible $Λnn$ resonance and a pair of $ΣNN$ states using the $(e,e'K^+)$ reaction with a tritium target

Here, a mass spectroscopy experiment with a pair of nearly identical high resolution spectrometers and a tritium target was performed in Hall A at Jefferson Lab. Utilizing the (e,e'K + ) reaction, enhancements, which may correspond to a possible $\Lambda$nn resonance and a pair of ΣNN states, were observed with an energy resolution of about 1.21 MeV (σ), although greater statistics are needed to make definitive identifications. An experimentally measured Λnn state may provide a unique constraint in determining the Λn interaction, for which no scattering data exist. In addition, although bound A = 3 and 4 Σ hypernuclei have been predicted, only an A = 4 Σ hypernucleus ($^4_Σ$He) was found, utilizing the (K - ,π - ) reaction on a 4 He target. The possible bound ΣNN state is likely a Σ 0 nn state, although this has to be confirmed by future experiments.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Dalitz analysis of $D^0 → K^–π^+η$ decays at Belle

We present the results of the first Dalitz plot analysis of the decay D 0 → K – π + η . The analysis is performed on a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 953 fb – 1 collected by the Belle detector at the asymmetric-energy e + e – KEKB collider. The Dalitz plot is well described by a combination of the six resonant decay channels K ¯ * ( 892 ) 0 η , K – a 0 ( 980 ) + , K – a 2 ( 1320 ) + , K ¯ * ( 1410 ) 0 η , K * ( 1680 ) – π + and K 2 * ( 1980 ) – π + , together with K π and K η S-wave components. The decays K * ( 1680 ) – → K – η and K 2 * ( 1980 ) – → K – η are observed for the first time. We measure ratio of the branching fractions, B ( D 0 → K – π + η ) B ( D 0 → K – π + ) = 0.500 ± 0.002 ( stat ) ± 0.020 ( syst ) ± 0.003 ( B PDG ) . Using the Dalitz fit result, the ratio B ( K * ( 1680 ) → K η ) B ( K * ( 1680 ) → K π ) is measured to be 0.11 ± 0.02 ( stat ) – 0.04 + 0.06 ( syst ) ± 0.04 ( B PDG ) ; this is much lower than the theoretical expectations ( ≈ 1 ) made under the assumption that K * ( 1680 ) is a pure 1 3 D 1 state. The product branching fraction B ( D 0 → [ K 2 * ( 1980 ) – → K – η ] π + ) = ( 2. 2 – 1.9 + 1.7 ) × 10 – 4 is determined. In addition, the π η ' contribution to the a 0 ( 980 ) ± resonance shape is confirmed with 10.1 σ statistical significance using the three-channel Flatté model. We also measure B ( D 0 → K ¯ * ( 892 ) 0 η ) = ( 1.4 1 – 0.12 + 0.13 ) % . This is consistent with, and more precise than, the current world average ( 1.02 ± 0.30 ) % , deviates with a significance of more than 3 σ from the theoretical predictions of (0.51–0.92)%.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Measurement of the time-integrated 𝐶⁢𝑃 asymmetry in 𝐷 0 → 𝐾$^{0}_{S}$𝐾$^{0}_{S}$ decays using opposite-side flavor tagging at Belle and Belle II

We measure the time-integrated 𝐶⁢𝑃 asymmetry in 𝐷 0 → 𝐾$^{0}_{S}$𝐾$^{0}_{S}$ decays reconstructed in 𝑒 + ⁢𝑒 − → $c\bar{c}$ events collected by the Belle and Belle II experiments. The corresponding data samples have integrated luminosities of 980 and 428 fb −1 , respectively. To infer the flavor of the 𝐷 0 meson, we exploit the correlation between the flavor of the reconstructed decay and the electric charges of particles reconstructed in the rest of the 𝑒 + ⁢𝑒 − → $c\bar{c}$ event. This results in a sample which is independent from any other previously used at Belle or Belle II. The result, 𝐴 𝐶⁢𝑃 ⁡(𝐷 0 → 𝐾$^{0}_{S}$𝐾$^{0}_{S}$)=(1.3±2.0±0.2)%, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic, is consistent with previous determinations and with 𝐶⁢𝑃 symmetry.

CP violation↗

Measurement of kaon directed flow in Au+Au collisions in the high baryon density region

Rapidity-odd directed flow v 1 measurements are presented for $K^±$ and $K^0_S$ in Au + Au collisions for $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ from 3.0 to 3.9 GeV with the STAR experiment. For comparison, v 1 of π ± , protons, and Λ from the same collisions are also discussed. The mid-rapidity v 1 slope dv 1 /dy| y=0 for protons and Λ is positive in these collisions. On the other hand, v 1 slope of kaons exhibits a strong dependence: negative at p T < 0.6 GeV/c and positive at higher p T . A similar p T dependence is also evident for the v 1 slope of charged pions. Compared to the spectator-removed calculations in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 3.0–3.9 GeV, the JAM model demonstrates a pronounced shift of the v 1 slopes of mesons towards the negative direction. It suggests that the shadowing effect of the spectators plays an important role in the observed kaon anti-flow at low p T in the high baryon density region of non-central collisions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Observation of an exotic narrow doubly charmed tetraquark

Conventional, hadronic matter consists of baryons and mesons made of three quarks and a quark–antiquark pair, respectively. Here, we report the observation of a hadronic state containing four quarks in the Large Hadron Collider beauty experiment. This so-called tetraquark contains two charm quarks, a \(\overline{{{{{u}}}}}\) and a \(\overline{{{{{d}}}}}\) quark. This exotic state has a mass of approximately 3,875 MeV and manifests as a narrow peak in the mass spectrum of D 0 D 0 π + mesons just below the D *+ D 0 mass threshold. The near-threshold mass together with the narrow width reveals the resonance nature of the state.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗