title: Colour strings vs. hard pomeron in perturbative QCD

abstract:
  Average multiplicities and transverse momenta in AA collisions are studied in
the soft and hard regions, in fusing string and perturbative QCD scenarios
respectively. Striking similarities are found between the predictions of the
two approaches. Multiplicities per string and average p_t^2 are found to,
respectively, drop and rise with A in a very similar manner, so that their
product is nearly a constant. In both approaches total multiplicities grow as
A, that is as the number of participants. The high tail of the p_t distribution
is found to behave as A^1.1 in the perturbative QCD scenario.


title: CP Violation in Kaons: epsilon'/epsilon vs. K-> 3 pi

abstract:
  The measurement of epsilon'/epsilon has left open several theoretical
problems, the most important of which is an accurate calculation of the
relevant hadronic matrix elements. Here we study the possibility of relating
epsilon' to CP violation in charged K-> 3 pi, which can provide information on
the reliability of such calculations. We discuss the role of final state
interactions and the main sources of uncertainties. We find that the
measurement of Delta g_C in K-> 3 pi is a crucial consistency test for the
Standard Model calculations of epsilon'. Valuable information can be deduced
also from other observables.


title: Small-x physics near the saturation regime

abstract:
  We consider the T-matrix near the unitarity limit and the energy dependence
of the saturation momentum. We discuss the solution to the Kovchegov equation,
or equivalently, to the BFKL evolution in the presence of a single saturation
boundary. We include some of the correlations missed in the Kovchegov equation
by solving the BFKL equation in the presence of two boundaries. The T-matrix
now turns out to be frame-independent, which was not the case for the solution
in the case of a single boundary, and it doesn't show the scaling behavior of
the solution to the Kovchegov equation. We find for the saturation momentum an
energy dependence which differs from the one following from the Kovchegov
equation.


title:
Four-point correlator constraints on electromagnetic chiral parameters
  and resonance effective Lagrangians

abstract:
  We pursue the analysis of a set of generalized DGMLY sum rules for the
electromagnetic chiral parameters at order $e^2p^2$ and discuss implications
for effective Lagrangians with resonances. We exploit a formalism in which
charge spurions are introduced and treated as sources. We show that no
inconsistency arises from anomalies up to quadratic order in the spurions. We
focus on the sum rules associated with QCD 4-point correlators which were not
analyzed in detail before. Convergence properties of the sum rules are deduced
from a general analysis of the form of the counterterms in the presence of
electromagnetic spurions. Following the approach in which vector and
axial-vector resonances are described with antisymmetric tensor fields and have
a chiral order, we show that the convergence constraints are violated at chiral
order four and can be satisfied by introducing a set of terms of order six. The
relevant couplings get completely and uniquely determined from a set of
generalized Weinberg sum-rule relations. An update on the corrections to
Dashen's low-energy theorem is given.


title: Onset of asymptotic scaling in deuteron photodisintegration

abstract:
  We investigate the transition from the nucleon-meson to quark-gluon
description of the strong interaction using the photon energy dependence of the
$d(\gamma,p)n$ differential cross section for photon energies above 0.5 GeV and
center-of-mass proton angles between $30^{\circ}$ and $150^{\circ}$. A possible
signature for this transition is the onset of cross section $s^{-11}$ scaling
with the total energy squared, $s$, at some proton transverse momentum, $P_T$.
The results show that the scaling has been reached for proton transverse
momentum above about 1.1 GeV/c. This may indicate that the quark-gluon regime
is reached above this momentum.


title: The Tcc = DD* molecular state

abstract:
  We show that the molecule-like configuration of DD^* enables weak binding
with two realistic potential models (Bhaduri and Grenoble AL1). Three-body
forces may increase the binding and strengthen the cc diquark configuration. As
a signature we propose the branching ratio between radiative and pionic decay.


title: Orientifold theory dynamics and symmetry breaking

abstract:
  We show that it is possible to construct explicit models of electroweak
symmetry breaking in which the number of techniflavors needed to enter the
conformal phase of the theory is small and weakly dependent on the number of
technicolors. Surprisingly, the minimal model with {\it just} two
(techni)flavors, together with a suitable gauge dynamics, can be made almost
conformal. The theories we consider are generalizations of orientifold type
gauge theories, in which the fermions are in either two index symmetric or
antisymmetric representation of the gauge group, as the underlying dynamics
responsible for the spontaneous breaking of the electroweak symmetry. We first
study their phase diagram, and use the fact that specific sectors of these
theories can be mapped into supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory to strengthen our
results. This correspondence allows us also to have information on part of the
nonperturbative spectrum. We propose and investigate some explicit models while
briefly exploring relevant phenomenological consequences. Our theories not only
can be tested at the next collider experiments but, due to their simple
structure, can also be studied via current lattice simulations.


title: Indirect, Direct and Collider Detection of Neutralino Dark Matter

abstract:
  We examine the prospects for supersymmetry discovery in the minimal
supergravity (mSUGRA) model via indirect detection of neutralino dark matter.
We investigate rates for muon detection in neutrino telescopes, and detection
of photons, positrons and anti-protons by balloon and space based experiments.
We compare the discovery reach in these channels with the reach for direct
detection of dark matter, and also with the reach of collider experiments such
as Fermilab Tevatron, CERN LHC and a $\sqrt{s}=0.5-1$ TeV linear $e^+e^-$
collider. We pay particular attention to regions of model parameter space in
accord with recent WMAP results on the dark matter density of the universe. We
find that the IceCube neutrino telescope as well as 3rd generation direct dark
matter detection experiments should be able to cover the {\it entire} WMAP
allowed portion of the hyperbolic branch/focus point (HB/FP) region of
parameter space. This is in contrast to the case of the CERN LHC or a linear
$e^+e^-$ collider, where only a fraction of the HB/FP region can be accessed.
In addition, we show that detection of $\gamma$s, $e^+$s and $\bar{p}$s should
occur in much of the HB/FP region, as well as in the low $m_{1/2}$ portion of
the $A$ annihilation funnel, and will be complementary to searches via
colliders in these regions.


title: Double distributions: Loose ends

abstract:
  We point out that double distributions need not vanish at their boundary.
Boundary terms do not change the ambiguity inherent in defining double
distributions; instead, boundary conditions must be satisfied in order to
switch between different decompositions. We analyze both the spin zero and spin
one-half cases.


title: Beauty and Charm Production in Fixed Target Experiments

abstract:
  We present calculations of NNLO threshold corrections for beauty and charm
production in pi- p and pp interactions at fixed-target experiments.


title:
LHC prospects in searches for neutral scalars in pp\to\gamma\gamma+jet:
  SM Higgs boson, radion, sgoldstino

abstract:
  At hadron colliders the $\gamma\gamma+jet$ channel provides larger
signal-to-background ratio in comparison with inclusive $\gamma\gamma$ channel
in hunting for scalars uncharged under the SM gauge group. At NLO in QCD
perturbation theory we evaluate selfconsistently the signal significance for
the SM Higgs boson production in $\gamma\gamma+jet$ channel at LHC. Three-body
final state kinematics allows for refined cuts. The adjustment of these cuts
increases the signal significance upto the level of inclusive channel. Applying
a justified simple rescaling procedure to the results obtained for SM Higgs
boson, we estimate the LHC prospects in searches for radion and sgoldstino in
$\gamma\gamma+jet$ channel. We have found that this channel is comparable with
$\gamma\gamma$ channel in searches for new physics and deserves further
detailed investigations.


title:
The Contribution from Neutrino Yukawa Couplings to Lepton Electric
  Dipole Moments

abstract:
  To explain the observed neutrino masses through the seesaw mechanism, a
supersymmetric generalization of the Standard Model should include heavy
right-handed neutrino supermultiplets. Then the neutrino Yukawa couplings can
induce CP violation in the lepton sector. In this paper, we compute the
contribution of these CP violating terms to lepton electric dipole moments. We
introduce a new formalism that makes use of supersymmetry to expose the GIM
cancellations. In the region of small tan beta, we find a different result from
that given previously by Ellis, Hisano, Raidal, and Shimizu. We confirm the
structure found by this group, but with a much smaller overall coefficient. In
the region of large tan beta, we recompute the leading term that has been
identified by Masina and confirm her result.We discuss the implications of
these results for constraints on the neutrino Yukawa couplings.


title: Supersymmetry and Cosmology

abstract:
  Cosmology now provides unambiguous, quantitative evidence for new particle
physics. I discuss the implications of cosmology for supersymmetry and vice
versa. Topics include: motivations for supersymmetry; supersymmetry breaking;
dark energy; freeze out and WIMPs; neutralino dark matter; cosmologically
preferred regions of minimal supergravity; direct and indirect detection of
neutralinos; the DAMA and HEAT signals; inflation and reheating; gravitino dark
matter; Big Bang nucleosynthesis; and the cosmic microwave background. I
conclude with speculations about the prospects for a microscopic description of
the dark universe, stressing the necessity of diverse experiments on both sides
of the particle physics/cosmology interface.


title: Quantum Anomalies in Dense Matter

abstract:
  We consider the effects of quantum anomalies involving the baryon current for
high-density matter. In the effective Lagrangian, the anomaly terms describe
the interaction of three light fields: the electromagnetic photons A_mu,
neutral light Nambu-Goldstone bosons (pi, eta, eta'), and the superfluid
phonon. The anomaly induced interactions lead to a number of interesting
phenomena which may have phenomenological consequences observable in neutron
stars.


title: $\Delta S=0$ Effective Weak Chiral Lagrangian from the Instanton Vacuum

abstract:
  We investigate the $\Delta S=0$ effective chiral Lagrangian from the
instanton vacuum. Based on the $\Delta S=0$ effective weak Hamiltonian from the
operator product expansion and renormalization group equations, we derive the
strangeness-conserving effective weak chiral Lagrangian from the instanton
vacuum to order ${\cal O}(p^2)$ and the next-to-leading order in the $1/N_c$
expansion at the quark level. We find that the quark condensate and a dynamical
term which arise from the QCD and electroweak penguin operators appear in the
next-to-leading order in the $1/N_c$ expansion for the $\Delta S =0$ effective
weak chiral Lagrangian, while they are in the leading order terms in the
$\Delta S = 1$ case. Three different types of the form factors are employed and
we find that the dependence on the different choices of the form factor is
rather insensitive. The low-energy constants of the Gasser-Leutwyler type are
determined and discussed in the chiral limit.


title: A First Glimpse of String Theory in the Sky?

abstract:
  We propose a new method for identifying new physics imprints on present
observational data in cosmology whereby signatures of string theory are clearly
distinguished from imprints of possible features on the inflaton potential. Our
method relies on the cross-correlations spectra of cosmic shear from large
scale structure (LSS) with the CMB temperature anisotropies and E-mode
polarization, by using the following properties: inflationary cosmology
provides only one source term for all CMB spectra and LSS which highly
constrains any deviations from the standard predictions; string theory can add
new non-inflationary channels to the source of perturbations as well as modify
clustering properties at large scales. Discrepancies in the source terms of
correlations and clustering properties provide the evidence for new physics.
Models of single-field inflation with a feature are disfavored even with
present data. Upcoming WMAP results and future data from weak lensing of LSS
will further improve our ability to probe new physics in this manner and could
open the first direct window to string theory.


title:
Next-to-leading Log Resummation of Scalar and Pseudoscalar Higgs Boson
  Differential Cross-Sections at the LHC and Tevatron

abstract:
  The region of small transverse momentum in q qbar- and gg-initiated processes
must be studied in the framework of resummation to account for the large,
logarithmically-enhanced contributions to physical observables. In this paper,
we will calculate the fixed order next-to-leading order (NLO) perturbative
total and differential cross-sections for both a Standard Model (SM) scalar
Higgs boson and the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model's (MSSM) pseudoscalar
Higgs boson in the Heavy Quark Effective Theory (HQET) where the mass of the
top quark is taken to be infinite. Resummation coefficients B^2_g, C^2_gg for
the total cross-section resummation for the pseudoscalar case are given, as
well as C^1_gg for the differential cross-section.


title: Collider Signature of Bulk Neutrinos in Large Extra Dimensions

abstract:
  We consider the collider signature of right-handed neutrinos propagating in
$\delta$ (large) extra dimensions, and interacting with Standard Model fields
only through a Yukawa coupling to the left-handed neutrino and the Higgs boson.
These theories are attractive as they can explain the smallness of the neutrino
mass, as has already been shown. We show that if $\delta$ is bigger than two,
it can result in an enhancement in the production rate of the Higgs boson,
decaying either invisibly or to a $b$ anti-$b$ quark pair, associated with an
isolated high $p_T$ charged lepton and missing transverse energy at future
hadron colliders, such as the LHC. The enhancement is due to the large number
of Kaluza-Klein neutrinos produced in the final state. The observation of the
signal event would provide an opportunity to distinguish between the normal and
inverted neutrino mass hierarchies, and to determine the absolute scale of
neutrino masses by measuring the asymmetry of the observed event numbers in the
electron and muon channels.


title: QCD Aspects of the NuTeV Anomaly

abstract:
  The weak mixing angle measured in neutrino scattering differs from the world
average of other measurements by about 3 sigma. I discuss QCD corrections of
perturbative and nonperturbative (parton structure) origin to the underlying
neutrino observables.


title: Towards exploring $U_{e3}$

abstract:
  It is emphasized that resolution of the $\theta_{23}$ ambiguity is important
for determination of $\theta_{13}$ if $\sin^22\theta_{23}<1$, and resolution of
the sgn($\Delta m^2_{31}$) ambiguity is important for determination of the CP
phase $\delta$. I discuss the prospects of resolution of the $\theta_{23}$
ambiguity etc. in the future long baseline experiment after the JPARC
experiment measures the oscillation probabilities $P(\nu_\mu\to\nu_e)$ and
$P(\bar{\nu}_\mu\to\bar{\nu}_e)$ at $|\Delta m^2_{31}|L/4E=\pi/2$.


title: The pomeron conjecture and two gluon glueballs

abstract:
  In this talk the pomeron conjecture is reviewed and constituent gluon models
are derived. In a simple two-gluon glueball spectrum the pomeron trajectory and
the daughter trajectories are computed. The open problems of two-gluon
glueballs are discussed, including transversality and Yang's theorem, the spin
tensor interactions, the structure of the string and decays. The related
systems of charmed hybrids and of the gluelump are also addressed. To conclude,
different aspects of glueballs that could be measured at PANDA are highlighted.


title: M-Theory Phenomenology and See-Saw Mechanisms

abstract:
  A version of M-theory phenomenology is proposed in which the symmetry is
based on the group $SO(10) \times SO(10) \times SO(10) \times U(1) \times
U(1)$. Each SO(10) group acts on a single generation. The $U(1) \times U(1)$ is
regarded as the hidden sector symmetry group. The supersymmetry is broken in
the hidden sector by the Fayet-Iliopoulos $D$-term for each group. The $D$-term
is needed also to circumvent the powerful non-renormalization theorem since the
$SO(10) \times SO(10) \times SO(10)$ is broken down to the usual SO(10) by the
pair condensation of certain messenger sector multiplets. The exchange of U(1)
gauge bosons gives an attractive force for the pair to be created and
condensed. The off-diagonal mass matrix elements among the generations in these
messenger sector multiplets are the source of the flavor dynamics including the
CP violation. The pair condensation of another multiplet in the messenger
sector leads to the doublet-triplet splitting. The SO(10) decuplet Higgs
couples only to one of the generations. The other couplings should, therefore,
be calculated as higher order corrections. We present our preliminary results
on the calculation of the mass matrices and the mixing angles for leptons and
quarks in this model.


title: Transversity and intrinsic motion of the constituents

abstract:
  The probabilistic model of parton distributions, previously developed by one
of the authors, is generalized to include the transversity distribution. When
interference effects are attributed to quark level only, the intrinsic quark
motion produces the transversity, which is about twice as large as the usual
polarized distribution. The applicability of such a picture is considered and
possible corrections, accounting for interference effects at the parton-hadron
transition stage are discussed.


title: Renormalization and resummation in finite temperature field theories

abstract:
  Resummation, ie. reorganization of perturbative series, can result in an
inconsistent perturbation theory, unless the counterterms are reorganized in an
appropriate way. In this paper two methods are presented for resummation of
counterterms: one is a direct method where the necessary counterterms are
constructed order by order; the other is a general one, based on
renormalization group arguments. We demonstrate at one hand that, in mass
independent schemes, mass resummation can be performed by gap equations
renormalized prior to the substitution of the resummed mass for its argument.
On the other hand it is shown that any (momentum-independent) form of mass and
coupling constant resummation is compatible with renormalization, and one can
explicitly construct the corresponding counterterms.


title:
Production of the pentaquark exotic baryon Xi_5 in bar{K} N scattering :
  bar{K} N -> K Xi_5 and bar{K} N -> K* Xi_5

abstract:
  We investigate the production of the newly found pentaquark exotic baryon
Xi_5 in the bar{K} N -> K Xi_5 and the bar{K} N -> K* Xi_5 reactions at the
tree level. We consider both positive- and negative parities of the Xi_5. The
reactions are dominated by the s- and u-channel processes, and the resulting
cross sections depend very much on the parity of Xi_5 and on the type of form
factor. We have seen that the cross sections for the positive-parity Xi_5 are
generally about a hundred times larger than those of the negative-parity one.
This large difference in the cross sections will be useful for further study of
pentaquark baryons.


title:
Unitary chiral dynamics in J/Psi to VPP decays and the role of scalar
  mesons

abstract:
  We make a theoretical study of the J/Psi decays into \omega\pi\pi,
\phi\pi\pi, \omega K \bar{K} and \phi K\bar{K} using the techniques of the
chiral unitary approach stressing the important role of the scalar resonances
dynamically generated through the final state interaction of the two
pseudoscalar mesons. We also discuss the importance of new mechanisms with
intermediate exchange of vector and axial-vector mesons and the role played by
the OZI rule in the J/\Psi\phi\pi\pi vertex, quantifying its effects. The
results nicely reproduce the experimental data for the invariant mass
distributions in all the channels considered.


title:
On CP-Odd Effects in K_L \to 2\pi and K^{\pm} \to \pi^{\pm} \pi^{\pm}
  \pi^{\mp} Decays Generated by Direct CP Violation

abstract:
  The amplitudes of the K^{\pm} \to 3\pi and K \to 2\pi decays are expressed in
terms of different combinations of one and the same set of CP-conserving and
CP-odd parameters. Extracting the magnitudes of these parameters from the data
on K \to 2\pi decays, we estimate an expected CP-odd difference between the
values of the slope parameters g^+ and g^- of the energy distributions of "odd"
pions in K^+ \to \pi^+\pi^+\pi^- and K^- \to \pi^-\pi^-\pi^+ decays.


title: z-Scaling and Prompt J/psi Production at High-pT in bar pp at Tevatron

abstract:
  New data on high-pT spectra of J/psi measured by the CDF Collaboration at the
Tevatron are analyzed in the framework of z-scaling. F-dependence of
z-presentation of the data is used to construct the scaling function of J/psi.
The energy independence of the scaling function is used to predict inclusive
cross section of prompt J/psi production in bar pp collisions at high-pT. The
concept of z-scaling is considered to reflect the general features of high-pT
particle production in hadron-hadron and hadron-nucleus collisions. Violation
of z-scaling is suggested to consider as a signature of new physics.


title: Scalar self-interactions loosen constraints from fifth force searches

abstract:
  The mass of a scalar field mediating a fifth force is tightly constrained by
experiments. We show, however, that adding a quartic self-interaction for such
a scalar makes most tests much less constraining: the non-linear equation of
motion masks the coupling of the scalar to matter through the chameleon
mechanism. We discuss consequences for fifth force experiments. In particular,
we find that, with quartic coupling of order unity, a gravitational strength
interaction with matter is allowed by current constraints. We show that our
chameleon scalar field results in experimental signatures that could be
detected through modest improvements of current laboratory set-ups.


title:
Two-loop electroweak correction of O(G_F M_t^2) to the Higgs-boson decay
  into photons

abstract:
  We compute the dominant two-loop electroweak correction, of O(G_F M_t^2), to
the partial width of the decay of an intermediate-mass Higgs boson into a pair
of photons. We use the asymptotic-expansion technique in order to extract the
leading dependence on the top-quark mass plus four expansion terms that
describe the dependence on the W- and Higgs-boson masses. This correction
reduces the Born result by approximately 2.5%. As a by-product of our analysis,
we also recover the O(G_F M_t^2) correction to the partial width of the
Higgs-boson decay to two gluon jets.


title: NNLO Corrections to the Polarized Drell-Yan Coefficient Function

abstract:
  We present the full next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) corrections to the
coefficient function for the polarized cross section $d \Delta\sigma/d Q$ of
the Drell-Yan process. We study the effect of these corrections on the process
$p+p\to l^+l^-+`X'$ at an C.M. energy $\sqrt{S}=200 GeV$. All QCD partonic
subprocesses have been included provided the lepton pair is created by a
virtual photon, which is a valid approximation for a lepton pair invariant mass
$Q<50 GeV$. For this reaction the dominant subprocess is given by $q+\bar q\to
\gamma^*+`X'$ and its higher order corrections so that it provides us with an
excellent tool to measure the polarized sea-quark densities.


title:
Bounds on the derivatives of the Isgur-Wise function with a
  non-relativistic light quark

abstract:
  In a preceeding study in the heavy quark limit of QCD, it has been
demonstrated that the best lower bound on the curvature of the Isgur-Wise
function Xsi(w) is Xsi"(1) > (4rho2+3(rho2)2) > 15/16. The quadratic term
(rho2)2 is dominant in a non-relativistic expansion in the light quark, both
Xsi"(1) and (rho2)2 scaling like (R2m2)2, where m is the light quark mass and R
the bound state radius. The non-relativistic limit is thus a good guide-line in
the study of the shape of Xsi(w). In the present paper we obtain similar bounds
on all the derivatives of XsiNR(w), the IW function with the light quark
non-relativistic, and we demons- trate that these bounds are optimal. We
formulate a general method, based on the positivity of matrices of moments of
the ground state wave function, that allows to bound the n-th derivative
XsiNR(n)(w) in terms of the m-th ones (m < n). We argue that this method can be
generalized to the true Isgur-Wise function of QCD Xsi(w).


title:
Electromagnetic form factors of the (rho) meson in light cone QCD sum
  rules

abstract:
  We investigate the electromagnetic form factors of the (rho) meson in light
cone QCD sum rules. We find that the ratio of the magnetic and charge form
factors is larger than two at all values of Q^2, (Q^2 >= 0.5 GeV^2). The values
of the individual form factors at fixed values of Q^2 predicted by the light
cone QCD sum rules are quite different compared to the results of other
approaches. These results can be checked in future, when more precise data on
(rho) meson form factors is available.


title: Two-loop splitting functions in QCD

abstract:
  We present the universal two-loop splitting functions that describe the
limits of two-loop $n$-point amplitudes of massless particles when two of the
momenta are collinear. To derive the splitting amplitudes, we take the
collinear limits of explicit two-loop four-point helicity amplitudes computed
in the 't Hooft-Veltman scheme. The $g \to gg$ splitting amplitude has recently
been computed using the unitarity sewing method and we find complete agreement
with the results of Ref. \cite{Bern:2lsplit}. The two-loop $q \to qg$ and $g
\to q\bar q$ splitting functions are new results. We also provide an expression
for the two-loop soft splitting function.


title:
Nuclear Matrix Elements of $0\nu\beta\beta$-Decay: Possible Test of the
  Calculations

abstract:
  A possible model independent test of the theoretically calculated nuclear
matrix elements of $0\nu\beta\beta$-decay is proposed. The test can be
accomplished if $0\nu\beta\beta$-decay of three (or more) nuclei is observed.
The selection of the nuclei for the next generation of $0\nu\beta\beta$-decay
experiments should be done taking into account {\it also} considerations
regarding the possibility to test the nuclear matrix element calculations.


title: Diquarks and pentaquark nature

abstract:
  The relativistic five-quark equations are found in the framework of the
dispersion relation technique. The five-quark amplitudes for the low-lying
pentaquarks including the u,d,s-quarks are calculated. The poles of these
amplitudes determine the masses of N- and Xi- pentaquarks. The mass spectra of
the lowest pentaquarks with the 1/2+,1/2-,3/2+ are calculated. The mass values
of the positive and negative parity pentaquarks are determined by the mixing of
both 0+ and 1+ diquarks.


title:
On the determination of $\Theta^+$ quantum numbers and other topics of
  exotic baryons

abstract:
  In this talk I look into three different topics, addressing first a method to
determine the quantum numbers of the $\Theta^+$, then exploiting the
possibility that the $\Theta^+$ is a bound state of $K \pi N$ and in the third
place I present results on a new resonant exotic baryonic state which appears
as dynamically generated by the Weinberg Tomozawa $\Delta K$ interaction.


title: Implications of a new light gauge boson for neutrino physics

abstract:
  We study the impact of light gauge bosons on neutrino physics. We show that
they can explain the NuTeV anomaly and also escape the constraints from
neutrino experiments if they are very weakly coupled and have a mass of a few
GeV. Lighter gauge bosons with stronger couplings could explain both the NuTeV
anomaly and the positive anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. However, in the
simple model we consider in this paper (say a purely vectorial extra U(1)
current), they appear to be in conflict with the precise measurements of \nu-e
elastic scattering cross sections. The surprising agreement that we obtain
between our naive model and the NuTeV anomaly for a Z' mass of a few GeV may be
a coincidence. However, we think it is interesting enough to deserve attention
and perhaps a more careful analysis, especially since a new light gauge boson
is a very important ingredient for the Light Dark Matter scenario.


title: CP Violation in the B System: Measuring New-Physics Parameters

abstract:
  I review CP violation in the standard model (SM). I also describe the
predictions for CP violation in the B system, along with signals for physics
beyond the SM. I stress the numerous contributions of Pat O'Donnell to this
subject. Finally, I discuss a new method for measuring new-physics parameters
in B decays. This knowledge will allow us to partially identify any new physics
which is found, before its direct production at high-energy colliders.


title: Composite Vector Mesons from QCD to the Little Higgs

abstract:
  We review how the rho meson can be modeled in an effective theory and discuss
the implications of applying this approach to heavier spin-one resonances.
Georgi's vector limit is explored, and its relationship to locality in a
deconstructed extra-dimension is discussed. We then apply the formalism for
rho's to strongly coupled theories of electroweak symmetry breaking, studying
the lightest spin-one techni-rho resonances. Understanding these new particles
in Little Higgs models can shed light on previously incalculable, ultraviolet
sensitive physics, including the mass of the Higgs boson.


title: Little Hierarchy, Little Higgses, and a Little Symmetry

abstract:
  Little Higgs theories are an attempt to address the little hierarchy problem,
i.e., the tension between the naturalness of the electroweak scale and the
precision measurements showing no evidence for new physics up to 5-10 TeV. In
little Higgs theories, the Higgs mass-squareds are protected to the one-loop
order from the quadratic divergence. This allows the cutoff to be raised up to
\~10 TeV, beyond the scales probed by the precision data. However, strong
constraints can still arise from the contributions of the new TeV scale
particles and hence re-introduces the fine-tuning problem. In this paper we
show that a new symmetry, denoted as T-parity, under which all heavy gauge
bosons and scalar triplets are odd, can remove all the tree-level contributions
to the electroweak observables and therefore makes the little Higgs theories
completely natural. The T-parity can be manifestly implemented in a majority of
little Higgs models by following the most general construction of the low
energy effective theory a la Callan, Coleman, Wess and Zumino. In particular,
we discuss in detail how to implement the T-parity in the littlest Higgs model
based on SU(5)/SO(5). The symmetry breaking scale f can be even lower than 500
GeV if the contributions from the unknown UV physics at the cutoff are somewhat
small. The existence of $T$-parity has drastic impacts on the phenomenology of
the little Higgs theories. The T-odd particles need to be pair-produced and
will cascade down to the lightest T-odd particle (LTP) which is stable. A
neutral LTP gives rise to missing energy signals at the colliders which can
mimic supersymmetry. It can also serve as a good dark matter candidate.


title: The Higgs Sector in a $U(1)^\prime$ Extension of the MSSM

abstract:
  We consider the Higgs sector in an extension of the MSSM with extra SM
singlets, involving an extra $U(1)^\prime$ gauge symmetry, in which the
domain-wall problem is avoided and the effective $\mu$ parameter is decoupled
from the new gauge boson $Z^\prime$ mass. The model involves a rich Higgs
structure very different from that of the MSSM. In particular, there are large
mixings between Higgs doublets and the SM singlets, significantly affecting the
Higgs spectrum, production cross sections, decay modes, existing exclusion
limits, and allowed parameter range. Scalars considerably lighter than the LEP2
bound (114 GeV) are allowed, and the range $\tan \beta \sim 1$ is both allowed
and theoretically favored. Phenomenologically, we concentrate our study on the
lighter (least model-dependent, yet characteristic) Higgs particles with
significant SU(2)-doublet components to their wave functions, for the case of
no explicit CP violation in the Higgs sector. We consider their spectra,
including the dominant radiative corrections to their masses from the top/stop
loop. We computed their production cross sections and reexamine the existing
exclusion limits at LEP2. We outline the searching strategy for some
representative scenarios at a future linear collider. We emphasize that
gaugino, Higgsino, and singlino decay modes are indicative of extended models
and have been given little attention. We present a comprehensive list of model
scenarios in the Appendices.


title: The Topological Nature Of Defects

abstract:
  The subject of topological defects has become a very attractive field of
study given its apparent relevance to as diverse systems as the early universe
and condensed matter. As usually envisaged the topology of the manifold M of
the minima of the relevant to our physical system effective potential V,
provides reliable information about the capacity of that system to accommodate
topological defects. Here we will examine the premises for that statement to be
true.


title: Kaon-Soliton Bound State Approach to the Pentaquark States

abstract:
  We show that in hidden local symmetry theory with the vector manifestation
(VM), a K^+ can be bound to skyrmion to give the Theta^+ pentaquark with spin
1/2 and even parity which is consistent with large N_c counting. The vector
meson K^* subject to the VM in the chiral limit plays an essential role in
inducing the binding.


title:
The Monte Carlo Event Generator AcerMC 2.0 with Interfaces to PYTHIA 6.2
  and HERWIG 6.5

abstract:
  The AcerMC Monte Carlo generator is dedicated to the generation of Standard
Model background processes which were recognised as critical for the searches
at LHC, and generation of which was either unavailable or not straightforward
so far. The program itself provides a library of the massive matrix elements
(coded by MADGRAPH) and native phase space modules for generation of a set of
selected processes. The hard process event can be completed by the initial and
final state radiation, hadronisation and decays through the existing interface
with either PYTHIA, HERWIG or ARIADNE event generators and (optionally) TAUOLA
and PHOTOS. Interfaces to all these packages are provided in the distribution
version. The matrix element codes have been derived with the help of the
MADGRAPH package. The phase-space generation is based on the multi-channel
self-optimising approach using the modified Kajantie-Byckling formalism for
phase space construction and further smoothing of the phase space was obtained
by using a modified ac-VEGAS algorithm.


title: Improved Phase Space Treatment of Massive Multi-Particle Final States

abstract:
  In this paper the revised Kajantie-Byckling approach and improved phase space
sampling techniques for the massive multi-particle final states are presented.
The application of the developed procedures to the processes representative for
LHC physics indicates the possibility of a substantial simplification of
multi-particle phase space sampling while retaining a respectable weight
variance reduction and unweighing efficiencies in the event generation process.


title: Exploring the Superimposed Oscillations Parameter Space

abstract:
  The space of parameters characterizing an inflationary primordial power
spectrum with small superimposed oscillations is explored using Monte Carlo
methods. The most interesting region corresponding to high frequency
oscillations is included in the analysis. The oscillations originate from some
new physics taking place at the beginning of the inflationary phase and
characterized by the new energy scale Mc. It is found that the standard
slow-roll model remains the most probable one given the first year WMAP data.
At the same time, the oscillatory models better fit the data on average, which
is consistent with previous works on the subject. This is typical of a
situation where volume effects in the parameter space play a significant role.
Then, we find the amplitude of the oscillations to be less than 22% of the mean
amplitude and the new scale Mc to be such that H/Mc < 6.6 x 10^(-4) at 1-sigma
level, where H is the scale of inflation.


title: Vector Meson Contributions in epsilon'/epsilon

abstract:
  The CP violating parameter epsilon'/epsilon is computed using the low-energy
dynamics of a chiral theory supplemented by vector resonances. The divergent
contributions coming from strong pi-pi scattering are tamed by vector-meson
exchange terms. This amounts to softening the fast growing high-energy
behaviour of pi-pi scattering. The final result for epsilon'/epsilon shows a
smooth dependence on the cut-off where low energy dynamics is matched with that
of QCD.


title:
Clan structure analysis and QCD parton showers in multiparticle
  dynamics. An intriguing dialog between theory and experiment

abstract:
  This paper contains a review of the main results of a search of regularities
in collective variables properties in multiparticle dynamics, regularities
which can be considered as manifestations of the original simplicity suggested
by QCD. The method is based on a continuous dialog between experiment and
theory. The paper follows the development of this research line, from its
beginnings in the seventies to the current state of the art, discussing how it
produced both sound interpretations of the most relevant experimental facts and
intriguing perspectives for new physics signals in the TeV energy domain.


title: B=2 Oblate Skyrmions

abstract:
  The numerical solution for the B=2 static soliton of the SU(2) Skyrme model
shows a profile function dependence which is not exactly radial. We propose to
quantify this with the introduction of an axially symmetric oblate ansatz
parametrized by a scale factor d. We then obtain a relatively deformed bound
soliton configuration with M_{B=2}/M_{B=1}=1.958. This is the first step
towards to description of B>1 quantized states such as the deuteron with a
non-rigid oblate ansatz where deformations due to centrifugal effects are
expected to be more important.


title: micrOMEGAs: Version 1.3

abstract:
  We present the latest version of micromegas, a code that calculates the relic
density of the lightest supersymmetric particle in the MSSM. All tree-level
processes for the annihilation of the LSP are included as well as all possible
coannihilation processes with neutralinos, charginos, sleptons, squarks and
gluinos. The cross-sections extracted from CalcHEP are calculated exactly using
loop-corrected masses and mixings as specified in the SUSY Les Houches Accord.
Relativistic formulae for the thermal average are used and care is taken to
handle poles and thresholds by adopting specific integration routines. The
input parameters can be either the soft SUSY parameters in a general MSSM or
the parameters of a SUGRA model specified at some high scale (GUT). In the
latter case, a link with Suspect, Softsusy, Spheno and Isajet allows to
calculate the supersymmetric spectrum, Higgs masses, as well as mixing
matrices. Higher-order corrections to Higgs couplings to quark pairs including
QCD as well as some SUSY corrections (deltaMb) are implemented. Routines
calculating (g-2), bsgamma and bsmumu are also included. In particular the
bsgamma routine includes an improved NLO for the SM and the charged Higgs while
the SUSY large tan(beta) effects beyond leading-order are included. This new
version also provides cross-sections for any 2->2 process as well as partial
decay widths for two-body final states in the MSSM allowing for easy simulation
at colliders.


title:
Are the Theta+(1540), Xi--(1860) and D*-p(3100) Pentaquarks or
  Heptaquarks?

abstract:
  We study the Theta+(1540) discovered at SPring-8. We apply Quark Model
techniques, that explain with success the repulsive hard core of
nucleon-nucleon and kaon-nucleon exotic scattering, and the short range
attraction present in pion-nucleon and pion-pion non-exotic scattering. We find
a K-N repulsion which excludes the Theta+ as a K-N s-wave pentaquark. We
explore the Theta+ as a crypto-heptaquark, equivalent to a K-pi-N borromean
boundstate, with positive parity and total isospin I=0. The attraction is
provided by the pion-nucleon and pion-kaon interactions. The other candidates
to pentaquarks Xi--(1860), observed at NA49, and D*-p(3100), observed at H1,
are also studied as linear molecular heptaquarks.


title: Electroweak and supersymmetric two-loop corrections to (g-2)_\mu

abstract:
  We present the up to now most precise evaluation of electroweak and
supersymmetric contributions to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon \amu,
describing in detail also the calculational techniques. We calculate the
bosonic two-loop contributions in the Standard Model without the approximation
of a heavy Higgs-boson mass, finding corrections up to 0.2*10^{-10} for a light
Higgs boson. In the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model the corresponding
two-loop contributions from the two-Higgs-doublet model part differ from the
Standard Model result by up to 0.3*10^{-10}. Finally, we evaluate the diagrams
where a loop of charginos or neutralinos, the superpartners of gauge and Higgs
bosons, is inserted into a two-Higgs-doublet one-loop diagram. These
corrections can amount up to 10*10^{-10}, which is almost 2\sigma of the
current experimental uncertainty.


title: Is There a Peccei-Quinn Phase Transition?

abstract:
  The nature of axion cosmology is usually said to depend on whether the
Peccei-Quinn (PQ) symmetry breaks before or after inflation. The PQ symmetry
itself is believed to be an accident, so there is not necessarily a symmetry
during inflation at all. We explore these issues in some simple models, which
provide examples of symmetry breaking before and after inflation, or in which
there is no symmetry during inflation and no phase transition at all. One
effect of these observations is to relax the constraints from isocurvature
fluctuations due to the axion during inflation. We also observe new
possibilities for evading the constraints due to cosmic strings and domain
walls, but they seem less generic.


title: Little Higgses and Turtles

abstract:
  We present an ultra-violet extension of the "simplest little Higgs" model.
The model marries the simplest little Higgs at low energies to two copies of
the "littlest Higgs'' at higher energies. The result is a weakly coupled theory
below 100 TeV with a naturally light Higgs. The higher cutoff suppresses the
contributions of strongly coupled dynamics to dangerous operators such as those
which induce flavor changing neutral currents and CP violation. We briefly
survey the distinctive phenomenology of the model.


title:
Approximate solutions for the single soliton in a Skyrmion-type model
  with a dilaton scalar field

abstract:
  We consider the analytical properties of the single-soliton solution in a
Skyrmion-type Lagrangian that incorporates the scaling properties of quantum
chromodynamics (QCD) through the coupling of the chiral field to a scalar field
interpreted as a bound state of gluons. The model was proposed in previous
works to describe the Goldstone pions in a dense medium, being also useful for
studying the properties of nuclear matter and the in-medium properties of
mesons and nucleons. Guided by an asymptotic analysis of the Euler-Lagrange
equations, we propose approximate analytical representations for the single
soliton solution in terms of rational approximants exponentially localized.
Following the Pad\'e method, we construct a sequence of approximants from the
exact power series solutions near the origin. We find that the convergence of
the approximate representations to the numerical solutions is considerably
improved by taking the expansion coefficients as free parameters and then
minimizing the mass of the Skyrmion using our ans\"atze for the fields. We also
perform an analysis of convergence by computation of physical quantities
showing that the proposed analytical representations are very useful useful for
phenomenological calculations.


title: Pentaquark Baryons in String Theory

abstract:
  The recently observed pentaquark baryons $\Theta^{+}$ and $\Xi^{--}$ are
studied in the dual gravity theory of QCD.
  By developing a general formulation useful for studying the branched string
web in a curved space, simple mass formulae of the pentaquark baryons are
derived in the Maldacena prototype model for supersymmetric QCD and a more
realistic model for ordinary QCD. Even though the approximations adopted here
in deriving these formulae are extremely naive, the predicted values of the
masses do not differ significantly from their experimental values. We thus
conclude that this approach is promising for the purpose of obtaining a
description of the observed masses of pentaquarks and of their extremely narrow
decay widths. With the aim of constructing more reliable mass formulae, a
preliminary sketch is given of how spin, the hyperfine interaction and parity
are considered in the string picture.


title: Spin correlations due to antishadowing

abstract:
  The effects of antishadowing related to the spin correlations of particles in
multiparticle production are discussed. It is shown that significant spin
correlations should be expected at the LHC energies.


title: Models of maximal atmospheric neutrino mixing and leptogenesis

abstract:
  We discuss two extensions of the Standard Model based on the seesaw mechanism
and on non-abelian family symmetry groups O(2) and $D_4$, respectively. Both
models have a twofold-degenerate neutrino Dirac mass matrix $M_D$, a Majorana
mass matrix invariant under a $\mu$--$\tau$ interchange symmetry and the
predictions of maximal atmospheric neutrino mixing and vanishing mixing angle
$\theta_{13}$. Leptogenesis can naturally be incorporated if $10^{-3} \lesssim
m_1 \lesssim 10^{-2}$ eV where $m_1$ the mass of the lightest neutrino and if
the relevant heavy neutrinos are in the range $10^{11}$ to $10^{12}$ GeV. The
$D_4$ model is more constrained and leptogenesis requires $m_1$ to be in the
vicinity of $4 \times 10^{-3}$ eV.


title: Sub-millimeter Tests of the Gravitational Inverse-square Law

abstract:
  Motivated by a variety of theories that predict new effects, we tested the
gravitational 1/r^2 law at separations between 10.77 mm and 137 microns using
two different 10-fold azimuthally symmetric torsion pendulums and rotating
10-fold symmetric attractors. Our work improves upon other experiments by up to
a factor of about 100. We found no deviation from Newtonian physics at the 95%
confidence level and interpret these results as constraints on extensions of
the Standard Model that predict Yukawa or power-law forces. We set a constraint
on the largest single extra dimension (assuming toroidal compactification and
that one extra dimension is significantly larger than all the others) of R <=
160 microns, and on two equal-sized large extra dimensions of R <= 130 microns.
Yukawa interactions with |alpha| >= 1 are ruled out at 95% confidence for
lambda >= 197 microns. Extra-dimensions scenarios stabilized by radions are
restricted to unification masses M >= 3.0 TeV/c^2, regardless of the number of
large extra dimensions. We also provide new constraints on power-law potentials
V(r)\propto r^{-k} with k between 2 and 5 and on the gamma_5 couplings of
pseudoscalars with m <= 10 meV/c^2.


title: NNLO Corrections to the Higgs Production Cross Section

abstract:
  We discuss the next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) corrections to the total
cross section for (pseudo-) scalar Higgs boson production. The computation is
carried out in the effective Lagrangian approach which emerges from the
standard model by taking the limit $m_t \to \infty$ where $m_t$ denotes the
mass of the top quark.


title: Higgs Bosons in the Two-Doublet Model with CP Violation

abstract:
  We consider the effective two-Higgs-doublet potential with complex
parameters, when the CP invariance is broken both explicitly and spontaneously.
Diagonal mass term in the local minimum of the potential is constructed for the
physical basis of Higgs fields, keeping explicitly the limiting case of
CP-conservation if the parameters are taken real. For special case of the
two-doublet Higgs sector of the minimal supersymmetric model, when CP
invariance is violated by the Higgs bosons interaction with scalar quarks of
the third generation, we calculate by means of the effective pothential method
the Higgs boson masses and evaluate the two-fermion Higgs boson decay widths
and the widths of rare one-loop mediated decays H -> \gamma \gamma, H -> gg.


title: Dipion invariant mass spectrum in $X(3872) \to J/\psi \pi \pi$

abstract:
  It is pointed out that dipion invariant mass spectrum in $X (3872) \to \pi
\pi J/\psi$ is a useful probe for the $J^{PC}$ quantum number of the X(3872),
complementary to the angular distributions. If X(3872) is a $^1 P_1$ state, the
dipion has a peak at low $m_{\pi\pi}$ region, which is not in accord with the
preliminary Belle data. If X(3872) is a $^3 D_2$ or $^3 D_3$ state, the dipion
spectrum shows a peak at high $m_{\pi\pi}$ region, which is broader than the
$\rho$ resonance that might come from the decay of a molecular state: $(D
\bar{D^*}) (I=1) \to J/\psi \rho \to J/\psi \pi^+ \pi^-$. Better measurement of
$m_{\pi\pi}$ spectrum will shed light on the nature of X(3872).


title: Inclusive Two-Gluon and Valence Quark-Gluon Production in DIS and pA

abstract:
  We calculate production cross sections of a forward quark-gluon pair and of
two gluons at mid-rapidity in Deep Inelastic Scattering and in high energy
proton-nucleus collisions. The calculation is performed in the framework of the
Color Glass Condensate formalism. We first calculate the cross sections in the
quasi-classical approximation, which includes multiple rescatterings in the
target. We then proceed to include the effects of non-linear small-x evolution
in the production cross sections. It is interesting to note that our result for
the two-gluon production cross section appears to be in direct violation of AGK
cutting rules, which is the first example of such violation in QCD. The
calculated quark-gluon and gluon-gluon production cross sections can be used to
construct theoretical predictions for two-particle azimuthal correlations at
RHIC and LHC (I^{p(d)A}) as well as for Deep Inelastic Scattering experiments
at HERA and eRHIC.


title: The New Fat Higgs: Slimmer and More Attractive

abstract:
  In this paper we increase the MSSM tree level higgs mass bound to a value
that is naturally larger than the LEP-II search constraint by adding to the
superpotential a $\lambda S H_{u}H_{d}$ term, as in the NMSSM, and UV
completing with new strong dynamics {\it before} $\lambda$ becomes
non-perturbative. Unlike other models of this type the higgs fields remain
elementary, alleviating the supersymmetric fine-tuning problem while
maintaining unification in a natural way.


title: Comment on hep-ph/0404212 by D. Diakonov, V. Petrov, and M. Polyakov

abstract:
  In hep-ph/0404212 Diakonov, Petrov, and Polyakov respond to my recent
comments on their 1997 paper, ``Exotic anti-decuplet of baryons: prediction
from chiral solitons''. Their responses do not address the basic issues or
alter the conclusions in my paper.


title:
Probing Trilinear Gauge Boson Interactions via Single Electroweak Gauge
  Boson Production at the LHC

abstract:
  We analyze the potential of the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to study
anomalous trilinear vector-boson interactions W^+ W^- \gamma and W^+ W^- Z
through the single production of electroweak gauge bosons via the weak boson
fusion processes q q -> q q W (-> \ell^\pm \nu) and q q -> q q Z(-> \ell^+
\ell^-) with \ell = e or \mu. After a careful study of the standard model
backgrounds, we show that the single production of electroweak bosons at the
LHC can provide stringent tests on deviations of these vertices from the
standard model prediction. In particular, we show that single gauge boson
production exhibits a sensitivity to the couplings \Delta \kappa_{Z,\gamma}
similar to that attainable from the analysis of electroweak boson pair
production.


title: Parton Model in Lorentz Invariant Non-Commutative Space

abstract:
  We consider the Lorentz invariant non-commutative QED and complete the
Feynman rules for the theory up to the order $\theta^2$. In the Lorentz
invariant version of the non-commutative QED the particles with fractional
charges can be also considered. We show that in the parton model, even at the
lowest order, the Bjorken scaling violates as $\sim\theta^2Q^4$.


title: [SU(3)XSU(2)XU(1)]^2 and Strong Unification

abstract:
  A supersymmetric model with gauge symmetry G_1 X G_2, where G_i=SU(3)_i X
SU(2)_i X U(1)_i, is constructed within the framework of gauge mediated
supersymmetry breaking. At the energy scale (10-100) TeV where the gauge
symmetry breaks down to the Standard Model (SM), G_1 is strong and G_2 is weak.
The observed gauge coupling constant unification of the SM is attributed to
that of G_2. The messenger fields and Higgs fields just satisfy the condition
that makes G_2 a realization of strong unification. The SM gauginos are
predicted to be generally heavier than the sleptons and squarks.


title: Sequential Dominance

abstract:
  We review the mechanism of sequential right-handed neutrino dominance
proposed in the framework of the type I see-saw mechanism to account for
bi-large neutrino mixing and a neutrino mass hierarchy in a natural way. We
discuss how sequential dominance may also be applied to the right-handed
charged leptons, which alternatively allows bi-large lepton mixing from the
charged lepton sector. We review how such sequential dominance models may be
upgraded to include type II see-saw contributions, resulting in a partially
degenerate neutrino mass spectrum with bi-large lepton mixing arising from
sequential dominance. We also summarise the model building applications and the
phenomenological implications of sequential dominance.


title:
Finite temperature pion vector form factors in Chiral Perturbation
  Theory

abstract:
  We discuss the thermal behaviour of the pion vector form factors and
calculate them in one-loop Chiral Perturbation Theory. The perturbative result
is used to analyze the $T$-dependent electromagnetic pion charge radius,
obtaining a rough estimate of the deconfinement critical temperature. Imposing
thermal unitarity, we generate the $\rho$ resonance pole for the form factor in
the center of mass frame. The $\rho$ peak height in the modulus of the form
factor decreases for increasing temperature, while its width increases and the
peak position is slightly shifted downwards for $T\simeq$ 150 MeV. These
results point in the direction suggested by many analysis of dilepton
production data in relativistic heavy ion collisions.


title: Proton-proton and deuteron-gold collisions at RHIC

abstract:
  We try to understand recent data on proton-proton and deuteron-gold
collisions at RHIC, employing a modified parton model approach.


title: Two-Loop N_F=1 QED Bhabha Scattering Differential Cross Section

abstract:
  We calculate the two-loop virtual, UV renormalized corrections at order
\alpha^4 (N_F=1) in QED to the Bhabha scattering differential cross section,
for arbitrary values of the squared c.m. energy s and momentum transfer t, and
on-shell electrons and positrons of finite mass m. The calculation is carried
out within the dimensional regularization scheme; the remaining IR divergences
appear as polar singularities in (D-4). The result is presented in terms of 1-
and 2-dimensional harmonic polylogarithms, of maximum weight 3.


title: Method 2 at NLO

abstract:
  This note describes a theoretical study of Wbb and Wjj final states at the
Tevatron using the NLO program MCFM. We extensively study the effect of NLO
corrections with respect to variations of input parameters such as the minimum
jet p_T and the choice of renormalization and factorization scales. In
particular, we examine possible implications for the Method 2 QCD background
subtraction technique for tt production.


title: The 3rd Flow Component as a QGP Signal

abstract:
  Earlier fluid dynamical calculations with QGP show a softening of the
directed flow while with hadronic matter this effect is absent. On the other
hand, we indicated that a third flow component shows up in the reaction plane
as an enhanced emission, which is orthogonal to the directed flow. This is not
shadowed by the deflected projectile and target, and shows up at measurable
rapidities, $y_cm = 1-2$. To study the formation of this effect initial stages
of relativistic heavy ion collisions are studied. An effective string rope
model is presented for heavy ion collisions at RHIC energies. Our model takes
into account baryon recoil for both target and projectile, arising from the
acceleration of partons in an effective field. The typical field strength
(string tension) for RHIC energies is about 5-12 GeV/fm, what allows us to talk
about "string ropes". The results show that QGP forms a tilted disk, such that
the direction of the largest pressure gradient stays in the reaction plane, but
deviates from both the beam and the usual transverse flow directions. The
produced initial state can be used as an initial condition for further
hydrodynamical calculations. Such initial conditions lead to the creation of
third flow component. Recent $v_1$ measurements are promising that this effect
can be used as a diagnostic tool of the QGP.


title: DAMA Dark Matter Detection Compatible with Other Searches

abstract:
  We present two examples of velocity distributions for light dark matter
particles that reconcile the annual modulation signal observed by DAMA with all
other negative results from dark matter searches. They are: (1) a conventional
Maxwellian distribution for particle masses of 6 to 9 GeV; (2) a dark matter
stream coming from the general direction of Galactic rotation (not the
Sagittarius stream). Our idea is based on having a signal in Na, instead of I,
in DAMA, and can be tested in the immediate future by CDMS-II (using Si) and
CRESST-II (using O).


title: Instantons in Quantum Mechanics and Resurgent Expansions

abstract:
  Certain quantum mechanical potentials give rise to a vanishing perturbation
series for at least one energy level (which as we here assume is the ground
state), but the true ground-state energy is positive. We show here that in a
typical case, the eigenvalue may be expressed in terms of a generalized
perturbative expansion (resurgent expansion). Modified Bohr-Sommerfeld
quantization conditions lead to generalized perturbative expansions which may
be expressed in terms of nonanalytic factors of the form exp(-a/g), where a > 0
is the instanton action, and power series in the coupling g, as well as
logarithmic factors. The ground-state energy, for the specific Hamiltonians, is
shown to be dominated by instanton effects, and we provide numerical evidence
for the validity of the related conjectures.


title: The Interplay of Ultrahigh-Energy Cosmic Rays and Extra Dimensions

abstract:
  Regarding ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) as a probe and extra
dimensions as a possible ingredient of the fantastic ultrahigh-energy world, we
discuss possible interplay between them. On the one hand small extra dimensions
and Kaluza-Klein bursts present a feasible way to the origin of UHECRs. On the
other hand large extra dimensions may change various interactions between
particles at ultrahigh energies and therefore impact on air showers created by
UHECRs. Conversely, UHECR data may tell us secrets veiled in extra dimensions.


title: A note on Charmed and Bottomed Pentaquark Production by Fragmentation

abstract:
  H1 Collaboration recently observed the charmed pentaquark. In this short
note, we point out that the dominant production mechanism for pentaquark
consisting of a heavy quark is heavy quark fragmentation. We obtain a crude
estimate on the fragmentation probability for charm quark into Theta_c^0, based
on the known fragmentation probabilities of charm quark into mesons and
baryons: f(c-bar --> Theta_c^0) =~ (2-7) x 10^{-3}. Similarly, we also obtain
the fragmentation probability for bottom quark into Theta_b^+: f(b-bar -->
Theta_b^+) =~ (5-20) x 10^{-3}. We also estimate the prospect of observing
Theta_c^0 and Theta_b^+ at HERA, LEP, and Tevatron.


title: Multi-soliton solutions in the chiral quark soliton model

abstract:
  In this article a series of solutions with higher baryon numbers in the
chiral quark soliton model are reported. The chiral quark soliton model is a
simple quark model that incorporates the basic features of QCD. The B=2 axially
symmetric soliton solution within this model was obtained numerically. For $B
\ge 3$, in a series of our papers we obtained $B=3 \sim 9,17$ minimal energy
soliton solutions with point-like symmetries and $B=3 \sim 5$ axially symmetric
saddle-point solutions, using rational map ansatz constructed for multi-baryon
number skyrmions. An interesting property of the solutions is that the symmetry
of the background configuration is reflected in the degeneracy of the valence
quark spectra. We also confirm the existence of the quark shell structure. The
shells consist of the four-fold degenerate ground state and higher levels with
various patterns, which are realized by the interplay of two symmetries,
$SU(2)_L\times SU(2)_R$ symmetry for the quarks and the symmetries of the
chiral fields. To obtain correct physical observable, the quantum corrections
are necessary. We shall show the quantum states of the axisymmetric solitons
within the collective quantization. Upon quantization, various observable
spectra of the chiral solitons are obtained. According to the
Finkelstein-Rubinstein constraints, the quantum numbers of the solitons
coincide with the physical observations only for B=2 and 4 while B=3 and 5 do
not. The SU(3) extension of the B=2 soliton is also studied to predict various
strange dibaryon states within this model.


title: Radiative Baryonic $B$ Decays

abstract:
  We study the structure-dependent contributions to the radiative baryonic $B$
decays of $B \to {\bf B}{\bf \bar B'}\gamma$ in the standard model. We show
that the decay branching ratios of $Br(B \to {\bf B}{\bf \bar B'}\gamma)$ are
$O(10^{-7})$, which are larger than the estimated values of $O(10^{-9})$
induced from inner bremsstrahlung effects of the corresponding two-body modes.
In particular, we find that $Br(B^- \to \Lambda \bar p \gamma)$ is around $1
\times 10^{-6}$, which is close to the pole model estimation but smaller than
the experimental measurement from BELLE.


title:
On the non-vanishing of the Collins mechanism for single spin
  asymmetries

abstract:
  The Collins mechanism provides a non-perturbative explanation for the large
single spin asymmetries found in hard semi-inclusive reactions involving a
transversely polarized nucleon. However, there are seemingly convincing reasons
to suspect that the mechanism vanishes, and indeed it does vanish in the naive
parton model where a quark is regarded as an essentially 'free' particle. We
give an intuitive analysis which highlights the difference between the naive
picture and the realistic one, and shows how the Collins mechanism arises when
the quark is described as an off-shell particle by a field in interaction. A
typographical error is corrected in this version.


title: Pentaquarks and Radially Excited Baryons

abstract:
  In this talk I report on a computation of the spectra of exotic pentaquarks
and radial excitations of the low--lying ${1/2}^+$ and ${3/2}^+$ baryons in a
chiral soliton model.


title: Branon search in hadronic colliders

abstract:
  In the context of the brane-world scenarios with compactified extra
dimensions, we study the production of brane fluctuations (branons) in hadron
colliders ($p \bar p$, $pp$ and $e^\pm p$) in terms of the brane tension
parameter $f$, the branon mass $M$ and the number of branons $N$. From the
absence of monojets events at HERA and Tevatron (run I), we set bounds on these
parameters and we also study how such bounds could be improved at Tevatron (run
II) and the future LHC. The single photon channel is also analyzed for the two
last colliders.


title: Unquenching the Quark-Antiquark Green's Function

abstract:
  We propose a nonperturbative resummation scheme for the four-point connected
quark-antiquark Green's function $G^4$ that shows how the Bethe-Salpeter
equation may be `unquenched' with respect to quark-antiquark loops. This
mechanism allows to dynamically account for hadronic meson decays and
multiquark structures whilst respecting the underlying symmetries. An initial
approximation to the four-point Schwinger-Dyson equation -- suitable for
phenomenological application -- is examined numerically in a couple of aspects.
It is demonstrated that this approximation explicitly maintains the correct
asymptotic limits and contains the physical resonance structures in the near
timelike region in the quark-antiquark channel whereas no resonances are found
in the diquark channel, respectively.


title: The neutrino charge radius in the presence of fermion masses

abstract:
  We show how the crucial gauge cancellations leading to a physical definition
of the neutrino charge radius persist in the presence of non-vanishing fermion
masses. An explicit one-loop calculation demonstrates that, as happens in the
massless case, the pinch technique rearrangement of the Feynman amplitudes,
together with the judicious exploitation of a fundamental current relation
leads to a completely gauge independent definition of the effective neutrino
charge radius. Using the formalism of the Nielsen identities it is further
proved that the same cancellation mechanism operates unaltered to all orders in
perturbation theory.


title: Neutrinos: recent developments and origin of neutrino mass matrix

abstract:
  Certainly one of the most exciting areas of research at present is neutrino
physics. The neutrinos are fantastically numerous in the universe and as such
they have bearing on our understanding of the universe. Therefore, we must
understand the neutrinos, particularly their mass. There is compelling evidence
from solar and atmospheric neutrinos and those from reactors for neutrino
oscillations implying that neutrinos mix and have nonzero mass but without
pinning down their absolute mass. This is reviewed. The implications of
neutrino oscillations and mass squared splitting between neutrinos of different
flavor on pattern of neutrino mass matrix is discussed. In particular, a
neutrino mass matrix, which shows approximate flavor symmetry where the
neutrino mass differences arise from flavor violation in off-diagonal Yukawa
couplings is elaborated on. The implications in double beta decay are also
discussed.


title: Heavy Quark Symmetry in Nonleptonic B-Decays to Excited Charmed Mesons

abstract:
  We show in a model independent way the equality of the branching fractions
and strong phases for B-> D_1M and B-> D_2^*M at leading order in Lambda
_{QCD}/Q and alpha_s(Q) where Q={m_b,m_c,E_M} and M is a light meson. These
results apply in the color allowed and color suppressed channels and follow
from a factorization theorem in SCET combined with heavy quark symmetry. The
expected heavy quark symmetry suppression of leading order contributions in the
color allowed sector based on analysis of semileptonic decays, is shown to
disappear at maximum recoil. Subleading corrections are suppressed by at least
one power of Lambda_{QCD}/Q and this is explicitly verified for subleading
semileptonic form factors at maximum recoil.


title: Transverse Momentum Distribution in B Decays

abstract:
  We derive the strange quark transverse momentum distribution for the $% b\to
s\gamma $ decay. A resummed formula is presented showing the singularity
structure in the impact parameter $b$. We observe the appearance of a new
next-to-leading soft singularity. The first term of the coefficient function is
calculated to complete the evaluation of the distribution with next-to-leading
accuracy and the constant term. The connection with the shape function for the
mass spectrum is briefly discussed. The extension of the shape function
interpretation to the transverse momentum distribution seems not to be longer
possible. The complete perturbative $O(\alpha)$ transverse momentum
distribution formula for the $b \to s \gamma$ process is given. The coefficient
function, the double and single logarithmic terms together with the remainder
function are explicitely evaluated and presented in analytic form. A resummed
expression is also shown.


title: NLO-QCD corrections to e+ e- --> hadrons in models of TeV-scale gravity

abstract:
  We present results on NLO-QCD corrections to the process e+ e- --> hadrons
via photon-, Z- and graviton-exchange in the context of TeV-scale gravity
models. The quantitative impact of these QCD corrections for searches of extra
dimensions at a Linear Collider is briefly discussed.


title:
Path Dependence of the Quark Nonlocal Condensate within the Instanton
  Model

abstract:
  Within the instanton liquid model, we study the dependence of the gauge
invariant two--point quark correlator on the path used to perform the color
parallel transport between two points in the Euclidean space.


title: B^0_{d,s} - \bar{B}^0_{d,s} mixing in the model III 2HDM

abstract:
  In the model III 2HDM there are new CP violating phases which would affect
the $B_{d,s}^0 - \bar{B}_{d,s}^0$ mixing. In this paper, we calculate the new
physics contributions to the neutral B meson mass splitting $\Delta M_{B_q}$
(q=d, s) at the next-to-leading order (NLO) level. Using the high accuracy data
and other relevant data, we draw the constraints on the parameter space of the
model III 2HDM. Moreover, we calculate the new physics corrections to the ratio
$q/p$. It is found that the phase of $(q/p)_n$ for $B_d$ which is due to the
new contributions is very small and consequently in agreement with the
measurements of the time dependent CP asymmetry $S_{J/\psi K}$ in $B\to J/\psi
K_S$. On the contrary, the phase of $(q/p)_n$ for $B_s$ is large enough to give
significant effects on CP violation in the neutral $B_s$ system.


title: Applications of instantons to hadronic processes

abstract:
  In this thesis we study two processes in which instantons may play an
important role: the decays of charmonium states $\eta_c$, $\chi_c$ and glueball
and the OZI violation in channels relevant to the proton spin decomposition
puzzle. We also present an algorithm for computation of integrals over compact
groups and exemplify it on integrals over SU(N) fundamental and adjoint
representations.


title:
Helicity Precession of Spin-1/2 Particles in Weak Inertial and
  Gravitational Fields

abstract:
  We calculate the helicity and chirality effects experienced by a spin-1/2
particle subjected to classical electromagnetic and gravitational fields. The
helicity evolution is then determined in the non-relativistic, relativistic,
and ultra-relativistic regimes. We find that inertia-gravitation can
distinguish between helicity and chirality. Helicity is not conserved, in
general, even when the particles are massless. In this case, however, the
inertial fields can hardly be applied to the fermions.


title:
The impact factor for the virtual photon to light vector meson
  transition

abstract:
  We evaluate in the next-to-leading approximation the forward impact factor
for the virtual photon to light vector meson transition in the case of
longitudinal polarization. We find that in the hard kinematic domain, both in
the leading and in the next-to-leading approximation, the expression for the
impact factor factorizes, up to power suppressed corrections, into the
convolution of a perturbatively calculable hard-scattering amplitude and a
meson twist-2 distribution amplitude.


title:
Full One-Loop Radiative Corrections to the Asymmetry Parameter of
  Polarised Neutron Beta Decay

abstract:
  We present a calculation of full one-loop radiative corrections, including
the constant term, to the asymmetry parameter of polarised neutron beta decay.
This gives the radiative correction to the axial coupling constant $g_A$
extracted from the beta asymmetry so that it ties to $g_A$ that appears in
neutron decay lifetime in a consistent renormalisation scheme. We find that the
ratio of axial-vector to vector couplings determined from the beta asymmetry,
after taking account of the outer radiative correction, is related to the bare
value as $G_A/G_V=1.0012 G_A^0/G_V^0$.


title: Scalar condensate decay in a fermionic heat bath in the early universe

abstract:
  We consider one-loop thermal effects on the decay of a scalar field zero mode
initially dominating the energy density of the universe. We assume fermionic
decay channels and take into account the effects due to both particle and hole
excitations, and present approximate expressions for the absorption and decay
rates. We apply the results to the inflaton and solve the Boltzmann equations
to find the temperature evolution of the fermionic plasma. We show that the
reheat temperature can be greater than the inflaton mass if the inflaton decays
into more than one fermionic species.


title: SO(10) Group Theory for the Unified Model Building

abstract:
  The complete tables of Clebsh-Gordan (CG) coefficients for a wide class of
SO(10) SUSY grand unified theories (GUTs) are given. Explicit expression of all
states and corresponding multiplets under standard model gauge group G_{321} =
SU(3)_C x SU(2)_L x U(1)_Y, necessary for evaluation of the CG coefficients are
presented. The SUSY SO(10) GUT model considered here incudes most of the Higgs
irreducible representations usually used in the literature: 10, 45, 54, 120,
126 126-bar and 210. Mass matrices of all G_{321} multiplets are found for the
most general superpotential. These results are indispensible for the precision
calculations of the gauge coupling unification and proton decay, etc.


title: Measuring The Collective Flow With Jets

abstract:
  In nucleus--nucleus collisions, high-pT partons interact with a dense medium,
which possesses strong collective flow components. Here, we demonstrate that
the resulting medium-induced gluon radiation does not depend solely on the
energy density of the medium, but also on the collective flow. Both components
cannot be disentangled on the basis of leading hadron spectra, but the
measurement of particle production associated to high-pT trigger particles,
jet-like correlations and jets, allows for their independent characterization.
In particular, we show that flow effects lead to a characteristic breaking of
the rotational symmetry of the average jet energy and jet multiplicity
distribution in the $\eta \times \phi$-plane. We argue that data on the
medium-induced broadening of jet-like particle correlations in Au+Au collisions
at RHIC provide a first evidence for a significant distortion of parton
fragmentation due to the longitudinal collective flow.


title: Higgs Boson Production in Association with Bottom Quarks

abstract:
  In the Standard Model, the coupling of the Higgs boson to b quarks is weak,
leading to small cross sections for producing a Higgs boson in association with
b quarks. However, Higgs bosons with enhanced couplings to b quarks, such as
occur in supersymmetric models for large values of tan beta, will be copiously
produced at both the Tevatron and the LHC in association with b quarks, which
will be an important discovery channel. We investigate the connections between
the production channels, bg -> bh and gg ->b bbar h, at next-to-leading order
(NLO) in perturbative QCD and present results for the cases with two high p_T b
jets and with one high p_T b jet at both the Tevatron the the LHC. Finally, the
total cross sections without cuts are compared between gg -> b bbar h at NLO
and b bbar ->h at NNLO.


title:
Resonance estimates for single spin asymmetries in elastic
  electron-nucleon scattering

abstract:
  We discuss the target and beam normal spin asymmetries in elastic
electron-nucleon scattering which depend on the imaginary part of two-photon
exchange processes between electron and nucleon. We express this imaginary part
as a phase space integral over the doubly virtual Compton scattering tensor on
the nucleon. We use unitarity to model the doubly virtual Compton scattering
tensor in the resonance region in terms of $\gamma^* N \to \pi N$
electroabsorption amplitudes. Taking those amplitudes from a phenomenological
analysis of pion electroproduction observables, we present results for beam and
target normal single spin asymmetries for elastic electron-nucleon scattering
for beam energies below 1 GeV and in the 1-3 GeV region, where several
experiments are performed or are in progress.


title: 1/Nc Countings in Baryons

abstract:
  The $1/N_c$ power countings for baryon decays and configuration mixings are
determined by means of a non-relativistic quark picture. Such countings are
expected to be robust under changes in the quark masses, and therefore valid as
these become light. It is shown that excited baryons have natural widths of
${\cal{O}}(N_c^0)$. These dominant widths are due to the decays that proceed
directly to the ground state baryons, with cascade decays being suppressed to
${\cal{O}}(1/N_c)$. Configuration mixings, defined as mixings between states
belonging to different $O(3)\times SU(2 N_f)$ multiplets, are shown to be
sub-leading in an expansion in $1/\sqrt{N_c}$ when they involve the ground
state baryons, while the mixings between excited states can be
${\cal{O}}(N_c^0)$.


title: Searching Evidence for the Color Glass Condensate at RHIC

abstract:
  This contribution discusses the phenomenon of parton saturation, the color
glass picture of hadronic wavefuntions, and their relevance in the early stages
of nucleus-nucleus collisions. Evidence for the color glass condensate in the
presently available RHIC data is critically reviewed.


title:
Imaging the Earth's Interior: the Angular Distribution of Terrestrial
  Neutrinos

abstract:
  Decays of radionuclides throughout the Earth's interior produce geothermal
heat, but also are a source of antineutrinos. The (angle-integrated)
geoneutrino flux places an integral constraint on the terrestrial radionuclide
distribution. In this paper, we calculate the angular distribution of
geoneutrinos, which opens a window on the differential radionuclide
distribution. We develop the general formalism for the neutrino angular
distribution, and we present the inverse transformation which recovers the
terrestrial radioisotope distribution given a measurement of the neutrino
angular distribution. Thus, geoneutrinos not only allow a means to image the
Earth's interior, but offering a direct measure of the radioactive Earth, both
(1) revealing the Earth's inner structure as probed by radionuclides, and (2)
allowing for a complete determination of the radioactive heat generation as a
function of radius. We present the geoneutrino angular distribution for the
favored Earth model which has been used to calculate geoneutrino flux. In this
model the neutrino generation is dominated by decays in the Earth's mantle and
crust; this leads to a very ``peripheral'' angular distribution, in which 2/3
of the neutrinos come from angles > 60 degrees away from the downward vertical.
We note the possibility of that the Earth's core contains potassium; different
geophysical predictions lead to strongly varying, and hence distinguishable,
central intensities (< 30 degrees from the downward vertical). Other
uncertainties in the models, and prospects for observation of the geoneutrino
angular distribution, are briefly discussed. We conclude by urging the
development and construction of antineutrino experiments with angular
sensitivity. (Abstract abridged.)


title:
Gauge dependence of the fermion quasiparticle poles in hot gauge
  theories

abstract:
  The gauge dependence of the complex fermion quasiparticle poles corresponding
to soft collective excitations is studied in hot gauge theories at one-loop
order and next-to-leading order in the high-temperature expansion, with a view
towards going beyond the leading order hard thermal loops and resummations
thereof. We find that for collective excitations of momenta k ~ eT the
dispersion relations are gauge independent, but the corresponding damping rates
are gauge dependent. For k<<eT and in k \to 0 limit, both the dispersion
relations and the damping rates are found to be gauge dependent. The gauge
dependence of the position of the complex quasiparticle poles signals the need
for resummation. Possible cancellation of the leading gauge dependence at
two-loop order in the case of QED is briefly discussed.


title: Fermion Mass Hierarchy and Electric Dipole Moments

abstract:
  We show that in supersymmetric models with a gauged flavor symmetry
explaining the hierarchy of fermion masses and mixings, the electron, muon,
neutron and the deuteron acquire sizable electric dipole moments (EDM) through
loop diagrams involving the flavor gaugino/gauge boson near the Planck scale.
These EDMs are proportional to the phases in the fermion Yukawa couplings and
are typically much larger than the neutrino seesaw induced EDM for the leptons.
In a popular class of models based on anomalous U(1) flavor symmetry of string
origin, we find d_e ~ (10^{-26}-10^{-27}) e cm, d_\mu ~ (10^{-24}-10^{-26}) e
cm, d_n ~ 10^{-27} e cm, and d_D ~ (10^{-26}-10^{-27}) e cm, which are within
reach of next generation experiments.


title: Empirical formulas for the fermion spectra and Yukawa matrices

abstract:
  We present empirical relations that connect the dimensionless ratios of
fermion masses for the charged lepton, up-type quark and down-type quark
sectors. Explaining these relations from first principles imposes strong
constraints on the search for the theory of flavor. We present a simple set of
normalized Yukawa matrices, with only two real parameters and one complex
phase, which accounts with precision for these mass relations and for the CKM
matrix elements and also suggests a simpler parametrization of the CKM matrix.
The proposed Yukawa matrices accommodate the measured CP-violation, giving a
particular relation between standard model CP-violating phases, beta=Arg(2 -
exp^{-i*gamma}). According to this relation, the measured value of beta is
close to the maximum value that can be reached. Finally, the particular mass
relations with the charged lepton sector find their simplest explanation in the
context of grand unified models through the use of the Georgi-Jarlskog factor.


title:
Mass Spectra of Heavy Quarkonia and B_{c} Decay Constant for Static
  Scalar-Vector Interactions with Relativistic Kinematics

abstract:
  We reproduce masses of the self-conjugate and non-self-conjugate mesons in
the context of the spinless Salpeter equation taking into account the
relativistic kinematics and the quark spins. The hyperfine splittings for the
${\rm 2S}$ charmonium and ${\rm 1S}$ bottomonium are also calculated. Further,
the pseudoscalar and vector decay constants of the $B_{c}$ meson and the
unperturbed radial wave function at the origin are also calculated. We have
obtained a local equation with a complete relativistic corrections to a class
of three attractive static interaction potentials of the general form
$V(r)=-Ar^{-\beta}+\kappa r^{\beta}+V_{0},$ with $\beta =1,1/2,~3/4$ decomposed
into scalar and vector parts in the form $V_{V}(r)=-Ar^{-\beta
}+(1-\epsilon)\kappa r^{\beta}$ and $V_{S}(r)=\epsilon \kappa r^{\beta
}+V_{0};$ where $0\leq \epsilon \leq 1.$ We have used the shifted
large-N-expansion technique (SLNET) to solve the reduced equation for the
scalar $(\epsilon =1),$ equal mixture of scalar-vector $(\epsilon =1/2),$ and
vector $(\epsilon =0)$ confinement interaction kernels. The energy eigenvalues
are carried out up to the third order approximation.


title: Radiative Corrections to K^0_{l3} Decays

abstract:
  We calculate the long-distance radiative corrections \delta^e_{LD} and
\delta^{\mu}_{LD} to the K^0 -> \pi^- e^+ \nu_e and the K^0 -> pi^- \mu^+
\nu_{\mu} decay rates. This analysis includes contributions to the
long-distance radiative corrections from outside the kinematically-allowed
three-body Dalitz region and tests the sensitivity of the radiative corrections
to the hadronic K-pi form factors. A program, KLOR, was written to numerically
evaluate the radiative corrections and to generate Monte Carlo events for
experimental acceptance studies. The K^0_{e3} and the K^0_{\mu 3} long-distance
radiative correction parameters are determined to be (1.3 +/- 0.3)% and (1.9
+/- 0.3)%, respectively. We also present predictions for the fraction of
radiative K^0_{l3} events satisfying various requirements on final-state photon
kinematics.


title:
A two-loop contribution to B_s --> mu^+ mu^- at large tan(beta) in the
  MSSM

abstract:
  We consider a two-loop contribution of Higgs-mediated penguin diagram to
$B(B_s \to \mu^+\mu^-)$ at large $\tan\beta$ in the MSSM, motivated by a
recently proposed two-loop magnetic penguin diagrams by Chen and Geng [1].
Typically the two-loop diagram is a $\alpha_s$ correction to the one-loop
contributions. However the new contribution can dominate one-loop contributions
in a region of parameter space where $\mu$, $A_t$ and $A_b$ are very large and
scalar top, scalar bottom and charged Higgs are light. Both constructive and
destructive interferences are possible. The total branching ratio can be
drastically changed from the one-loop result.


title: Compton effect in dielectric medium

abstract:
  We determine the Compton effect from the Volkov solution of the Dirac
equation for a process in a medium with the index of refraction n. Volkov
solution involves the mass shift, or, the mass renormalization of an electron
mass. We determine the modified Compton formula for the considered physical
situation. The index of refraction causes that the wave lenghths of the
scattered photons are shorter for some angles than the wave lengths of the
original photons. This is anomalous Compton effect. Since the wave length shift
for the visible light is only 0,01 percent, it means that the Compton effect
for the visible light in the dielectric medium needs experimental virtuosity.


title:
Pion nucleon coupling constant, Goldberger-Treiman discrepancy and $\pi
  N$ $\sigma$ term

abstract:
  We start by studying the Goldberger-Treiman discrepancy (GTd) $\Delta =
(2.259\pm 0.591)%$. Then we look at the $\pi N$ $\sigma$ term, with the
dimensionless ratio $\sigma_N/2m_N=3.35%$. Finally we return to predicting (via
the quark model) the $\pi N$ coupling constant, with GTd $\Delta\to 0$ as
$m_q\to m_N/3$.


title:
Experimental Implications for a Linear Collider of the SUSY Dark Matter
  Scenario

abstract:
  This paper presents the detection issues for the lightest slepton
\tilde{\tau}_1 at a future e^+e^- TeV collider given the dark matter
constraints set on the SUSY mass spectrum by the WMAP results. It intends to
illustrate the importance of an optimal detection of energetic electrons in the
very forward region for an efficient rejection of the
  \gamma\gamma background. The TESLA parameters have been used in the case of
head-on collisions and in the case of a 10, mrad half crossing angle.


title:
CP Violation in the Decays B -> K Kbar in the Presence of D Dbar <-> K
  Kbar Mixing

abstract:
  We have recently shown that the large direct CP violation observed in the
decay B^0 -> pi^+ pi^-, and the enhanced branching ratio for B^0 -> pi^0 pi^0,
can be understood by invoking a small mixing of the pi pi system with the
dominant D Dbar channel. We examine here the analogous effect of D Dbar <-> K
Kbar mixing on the rare decays B^0 -> K^0 K^0bar, B^- -> K^- K^0 and B^0 -> K^+
K^-. We find (a) significant values for the asymmetry parameters C and S in B^0
/ B^0bar -> K^0 K^0bar, (b) a possible enhancement of the suppressed mode B^0
-> K^+ K^-, (c) a correlation between the three decay channels following from a
triangle relation between amplitudes A_{K^0 K^0bar} - A_{K^+ K^-} = A_{K^-
K^0}. The pattern of asymmetries and branching ratios is compared with that
derived from the short-distance QCD penguin interaction.


title: QCD pressure up to four loops at finite temperature and density

abstract:
  In recent years the perturbative expansion of the pressure of massless QCD
has been driven to order g^6ln(g) at high temperatures and finite chemical
potentials, which has required calculations up to three-loop order in the full
theory and up to four-loop order in three-dimensional effective theories. In
the present paper we briefly review the theoretical background behind this work
and explain some of the methods used in the computations.


title:
The ATLAS discovery potential for a heavy charged Higgs boson in
  gg->tbH^{+-} with H^{+-}->tb

abstract:
  The feasibility of detecting a heavy charged Higgs boson,
m(H^{+-})>m(t)+m(b), decaying in the H^{+-}->tb channel is studied with the
fast simulation of the ATLAS detector. We study the gg->H^{+-}tb production
process at the LHC which together with the aforementioned decay channel leads
to four b-quarks in the final state. The whole production and decay chain reads
gg->H^{+-}tb->t\bar{t}b\bar{b}->b\bar{b}b\bar{b}l\nu\bar{q}q'. Combinatorial
background is a major difficulty in this multi-jet environment but can be
overcome by employing multivariate techniques in the event reconstruction.
Requiring four b-tagged jets in the event helps to effectively suppress the
Standard Model backgrounds but leads to no significant improvement in the
discovery potential compared to analyses requiring only three b-tagged jets.
This study indicates that charged Higgs bosons can be discovered at the LHC up
to high masses (m(H^{+-})>400 GeV) in the case of large tan(beta).


title: Some Aspects of Thermal Leptogenesis

abstract:
  Properties of neutrinos may be the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry
of the universe. In the seesaw model for neutrino masses this leads to
important constraints on the properties of light and heavy neutrinos. In
particular, an upper bound on the light neutrino masses of 0.1 eV can be
derived. We review the present status of thermal leptogenesis with emphasis on
the theoretical uncertainties and discuss some implications for lepton and
quark mass hierarchies, CP violation and dark matter. We also comment on the
`leptogenesis conspiracy', the remarkable fact that neutrino masses may lie in
the range where leptogenesis works best.


title: Chiral dynamics for exotic open-charm resonances

abstract:
  We review the open-charm spectrum of chiral excitations in QCD. At leading
order in a chiral expansion a parameter-free prediction is obtained for the
coupled-channel scattering of Goldstone bosons off open-charm mesons and
baryons with 0^-,1^- and {1/2}^+ quantum numbers. The recently announced narrow
D_s(2317) and $D_s(2463)$ mesons observed by the BABAR and CLEO collaborations
are reproduced. Also the baryon states \Lambda_{c}(2593), \Lambda_{c}(2880) and
\Xi_{c}(2790) discovered earlier by the CLEO collaboration are recovered
naturally. Besides describing resonances with conventional quantum numbers
additional multiplets with members that carry exotic quantum numbers are
predicted. In particular, so far unobserved narrow isospin-singlet open-charm
mesons with negative strangeness are generated dynamically. Similarly, narrow
isospin-doublet open-charm baryons with positive strangeness are suggested.


title: CP Violation in B -> pi+ pi- and the Unitarity Triangle

abstract:
  We analyze the extraction of weak phases from CP violation in
$B\to\pi^+\pi^-$ decays. We propose to determine the unitarity triangle
$(\bar\rho,\bar\eta)$ by combining the information on mixing induced CP
violation in $B\to\pi^+\pi^-$, $S$, with the precision observable $\sin 2\beta$
obtained from the CP asymmetry in $B\to\psi K_S$. It is then possible to write
down exact analytical expressions for $\bar\rho$ and $\bar\eta$ as simple
functions of the observables $S$ and $\sin 2\beta$, and of the penguin
parameters $r$ and $\phi$. As an application clean lower bounds on $\bar\eta$
and $1-\bar\rho$ can be derived as functions of $S$ and $\sin 2\beta$,
essentially without hadronic uncertainty. Computing $r$ and $\phi$ within QCD
factorization yields precise determinations of $\bar\rho$ and $\bar\eta$ since
the dependence on $r$ and $\phi$ is rather weak. It is emphasized that the
sensitivity to the phase $\phi$ enters only at second order and is extremely
small for moderate values of this phase, predicted in the heavy-quark limit.
Transparent analytical formulas are further given and discussed for the
parameter $C$ of direct CP violation in $B\to\pi^+\pi^-$. We also discuss
alternative ways to analyze $S$ and $C$ that can be useful if new physics
affects $B_d$--$\bar B_d$ mixing. Predictions and uncertainties for $r$ and
$\phi$ in QCD factorization are examined in detail. It is pointed out that a
simultaneous expansion in $1/m_b$ and 1/N leads to interesting simplifications.
At first order infrared divergences are absent, while the most important
effects are retained. Independent experimental tests of the factorization
framework are briefly discussed.


title:
Neutrino Masses and Mixing, Quark-lepton Symmetry and Strong
  Right-handed Neutrino Hierarchy

abstract:
  Assuming the same form of all mass matrices as motivated by quark-lepton
symmetry, we discuss conditions under which bi-large mixing in the lepton
sector can be obtained with a minimal amount of fine tuning requirements for
possible models. We assume hierarchical mass matrices, dominated by the 3-3
element, with off-diagonal elements much smaller than the larger neighboring
diagonal element. Characteristic features of this scenario are strong hierarchy
in masses of right-handed neutrinos, and comparable contributions of both
lighter right-handed neutrinos to the resulting left-handed neutrino Majorana
mass matrix. Due to obvious quark lepton symmetry, this approach can be
embedded into grand unified theories. The mass of the lightest neutrino does
not depend on details of a model in the leading order. The right-handed
neutrino scale can be identified with the GUT scale in which case the mass of
the lightest neutrino is given as (m_{top}^2/M_{GUT}) |U_{\tau 1}|^2.


title:
The Role of Antimatter Searches in the Hunt for Supersymmetric Dark
  Matter

abstract:
  We analyze the antimatter yield of supersymmetric (SUSY) models with large
neutralino annihilation cross sections. We introduce three benchmark scenarios,
respectively featuring bino, wino and higgsino-like lightest neutralinos, and
we study in detail the resulting antimatter spectral features. We carry out a
systematic and transparent comparison between current and future prospects for
direct detection, neutrino telescopes and antimatter searches. We demonstrate
that often, in the models we consider, antimatter searches are the only
detection channel which already constrains the SUSY parameter space.
Particularly large antiprotons fluxes are expected for wino-like lightest
neutralinos, while significant antideuteron fluxes result from resonantly
annihilating binos. We introduce a simple and general recipe which allows to
assess the visibility of a given SUSY model at future antimatter search
facilities. We provide evidence that upcoming space-based experiments, like
PAMELA or AMS, are going to be, in many cases, the unique open road towards
dark matter discovery.


title: Renormalization of Lepton Mixing for Majorana Neutrinos

abstract:
  We discuss the one-loop electroweak renormalization of the leptonic mixing
matrix in the case of Majorana neutrinos, and establish its relationship with
the renormalization group evolution of the dimension five operator responsible
for the light Majorana neutrino masses. We compare our results in the effective
theory with those in the full seesaw theory.


title: 6D Higgsless Standard Model

abstract:
  We present a 6D Higgsless Standard Model with a realistic gauge sector. The
model uses only the Standard Model gauge group SU(2)xU(1) with the gauge bosons
propagating in flat extra dimensions which are compactified on a rectangle. The
electroweak symmetry is broken by boundary conditions, and the correct
splitting between the W and Z boson masses can be arranged by a suitable choice
of the compactification scales. The higher Kaluza-Klein excitations of the
gauge bosons decouple from the low-energy theory due to dominant brane kinetic
terms. The model has the following two key features compared to 5D models. The
bulk kinetic couplings, responsible for electroweak symmetry breaking using
mixed boundary conditions, are of order the electroweak scale. Moreover, the
agreement with the precision electroweak parameters is improved compared to 5D
warped or flat models. We also argue that the calculability of Higgsless models
can be ameliorated in more than five dimensions.


title: Axinos as Dark Matter in the Universe

abstract:
  The axino is the fermionic superpartner of the axion. Assuming the axino is
the lightest supersymmetric particle and stable due to R-parity conservation,
we compute the relic axino density from thermal reactions in the early
Universe. From the comparison with the WMAP results, we find that thermally
produced axinos could provide the dominant part of cold dark matter, for
example, for an axino mass of 100 keV and a reheating temperature of 10^6 GeV.