title:
Equations of motion as projectors and the gyromagnetic factor g_{s}=1/s}
  from first principles

abstract:
  In this work we adopt the point of view that the equations of motion
satisfied by a field are just a consequence of the representation space which
the field belongs to, and the discrete symmetries we impose on it. We
illustrate this view point by rederiving Dirac and Proca equations as
projectors over the subspaces with well defined parity of (1/2,0)+(0,1/2) and
(1/2,0)X(0,1/2) representations respectively. We formulate the equation of
motion corresponding to the identification of elementary systems with states in
the invariant subspaces of the squared Pauli-Lubanski operator and couple
minimally to electromagnetism the corresponding equation for the (s,0)+(0,s)
representation space using the gauge principle. We obtain g=1/s for particles
with arbitrary spin s as conjectured by Belinfante long ago.


title:
Heavy boson production through the collision of an ultrahigh-energy
  neutrino on a target nucleon

abstract:
  We discuss W and Z production through the deep inelastic neutrino-nucleon
scattering in the context of the standard model SU(3)x SU(2)x U(1) of the
strong and electroweak interactions. We find the cross section rates for the
process neutrino + nucleon --> lepton(-) + W(+) + X for the case of
ultrahigh-energy neutrinos colliding on a target nucleon.


title:
High-energy expansion of Coulomb corrections to the e+e- photoproduction
  cross section

abstract:
  First correction to the high-energy asymptotics of the total $e^+e^-$
photoproduction cross section in the electric field of a heavy atom is derived
with the exact account of this field. The consideration is based on the use of
the quasiclassical electron Green function in an external electric field. The
next-to-leading correction to the cross section is discussed. The influence of
screening on the Coulomb corrections is examined in the leading approximation.
It turns out that the high-energy asymptotics of the corresponding correction
is independent of the photon energy. In the region where both produced
particles are relativistic, the corrections to the high-energy asymptotics of
the electron (positron) spectrum are derived. Our results for the total cross
section are in good agreement with experimental data for photon energies down
to a few $MeV$. In addition, the corrections to the bremsstrahlung spectrum are
obtained from the corresponding results for pair production.


title:
Impact of the running QCD coupling on the value of the intercept of the
  structure function $g_1$ singlet

abstract:
  The running QCD coupling effects for $g_1$ singlet are studied. We predict
that asymptotically $g_1^S \sim x^{- \Delta_S}$, with the singlet intercept
$\Delta_S \approx 0.85$.


title: Extending the QCD Perturbative Domain to Higher Energies

abstract:
  After a brief introduction to low-x QCD and to resummation approaches, I
illustrate the predictions for the gluon Green function and splitting function
of a recent renormalization-group improved small-x resummation scheme. I argue,
on this basis, that the range of validity of perturbative calculations is
considerably extended in rapidity with respect to leading log expectations. The
perturbative high-energy exponents are predicted in a phenomenologically
interesting range, and significant preasymptotic effects are found. In
particular, the splitting function shows a shallow dip in the moderate-x
region, followed by the expected small-x power increase.


title:
Enhancement of charm quark production due to nonlinear corrections to
  the DGLAP equations

abstract:
  We have studied how parton distributions based on the inclusion of nonlinear
scale evolution and constraints from HERA data affect charm production in $pp$
collisions at center-of-mass energies of 5.5, 8.8 and 14 TeV. We find that,
while the resulting enhancement can be substantial, it is very sensitive to the
charm quark mass and the scale entering the parton densities and the strong
coupling constant.


title: Strongly interacting neutrinos as the highest energy cosmic rays

abstract:
  We show that all features of the ultrahigh energy cosmic ray spectrum from
10^{17} eV to 10^{21} eV can be described with a simple power-like injection
spectrum of protons under the assumption that the neutrino-nucleon
cross-section is significantly enhanced at center of mass energies above
\approx 100 TeV. In our scenario, the cosmogenic neutrinos produced during the
propagation of protons through the cosmic microwave background initiate air
showers in the atmosphere, just as the protons. The total air shower spectrum
induced by protons and neutrinos shows excellent agreement with the
observations. A particular possibility for a large neutrino-nucleon
cross-section exists within the Standard Model through electroweak
instanton-induced processes.


title: Spin Effects and Role of Constituent Quark Size

abstract:
  The nonperturbative mechanism for spin effects in inclusive production based
on the constituent quark model is considered. The main role belongs to the
orbital angular momentum and the polarization of the $\bar q q$--pairs in the
internal structure of the constituent quarks.


title: Strongly Coupled Plasmas in High-Energy Physics

abstract:
  One of the main activities in high-energy and nuclear physics is the search
for the so-called quark-gluon plasma, a new state of matter which should have
existed a few microseconds after the Big Bang. A quark-gluon plasma consists of
free color charges, i.e. quarks and gluons, interacting by the strong (instead
of electromagnetic) force. Theoretical considerations predict that the critical
temperature for the phase transition from nuclear matter to a quark-gluon
plasma is about 150 - 200 MeV. In the laboratory such a temperature can be
reached in a so-called relativistic heavy-ion collision in accelerator
experiments. Using the color charge instead of the electric charge, the Coulomb
coupling parameter of such a system is of the order 10 - 30. Hence the
quark-gluon plasma is a strongly coupled, relativistic plasma, in which also
quantum effects are important. In the present work the experimental and
theoretical status of the quark-gluon plasma physics will be reviewed,
emphasizing the similarities and differences with usual plasma physics.
Furthermore, the mixed phase consisting of free quarks and gluons together with
hadrons (e.g. pions) will be discussed, which can be regarded as a complex
plasma due to the finite extent of the hadrons.


title: Estimate of the charming penguin contributions to B -> pi pi

abstract:
  We consider the problem of factorization in B decays and illustrate the
calculation of nonfactorizable contributions employing the QCD light-cone sum
rule method. We present a more detailed calculation of the ``charming penguin''
contributions as a potential source of the substantial nonfactorizable O(1/m_b)
effects in the B -> pi pi decay. Although the predicted corrections are not
sizable, by calculating the CP asymmetry we illustrate how such corrections can
accumulate to a visible effect. In conclusion, nonfactorizable contributions in
nonleptonic B decays into charmonium are briefly discussed.


title: Noncommutative electrodynamics and ultra high energy gamma rays

abstract:
  Plane waves in noncommutative classical electrodynamics (NCED) have a
peculiar dispersion relation. We investigate the kinematical conditions on this
deformed "mass shell" which come from ultra high energy gamma rays and discuss
noncommutative dynamical effects on the gamma absorption by the infrared
background and on the intrinsic spectrum. Finally we note that in NCED there is
a strong correlation between the modified dispersion relation and the presence
of dynamical effects in electromagnetic phenomena such as in the case of the
synchrotron radiation. From this point of view, the limits on the typical
energy scale of the violation of Lorentz invariance obtained by deformed
dispersion relations and by assuming undeformed dynamical effects should be
taken with some caution.


title: Properties of baryon anti-decuplet

abstract:
  We study the group structure of baryon anti-decuplet containing the
$\Theta^+$. We derive the SU(3) mass relations among the pentaquark baryons in
the anti-decuplet, when there is either no mixing or ideal mixing with the
pentaquark octet, as advocated by Jaffe and Wilczek. This constitutes the
Gell-Mann--Okubo mass formula for the pentaquark baryons. We also derive SU(3)
symmetric Lagrangian for the interactions of the baryons in the anti-decuplet
with the meson octet and the baryon octet. Our analysis for the decay widths of
the anti-decuplet states suggests that the N(1710) is ruled out as a pure
anti-decuplet state, but it may have anti-decuplet component in its
wavefunction if the multiplet is mixed with the pentaquark octet.


title: Pentaquark spectrum in string dynamics

abstract:
  The masses of $uudd\bar s $ and $uudd\bar d$ pentaquarks are evaluated in a
framework of the Effective Hamiltonian approach to QCD using the Jaffe-Wilczek
$[ud]^2\bar q$ approximation. The mass of the $[ud]^2\bar s$ state is found to
be $\sim 300-500$ MeV higher than the observed $\Theta^+(1540)$ mass.


title: Supernova prompt neutronization neutrinos and neutrino magnetic moments

abstract:
  It is shown that the combined action of spin-flavor conversions of supernova
neutrinos due to the interactions of their Majorana-type transition magnetic
moments with the supernova magnetic fields and flavor conversions due to the
mass mixing can lead to the transformation of \nu_e born in the neutronization
process into their antiparticles \bar{\nu}_e. Such an effect would have a clear
experimental signature and its observation would be a smoking gun evidence for
the neutrino transition magnetic moments. It would also signify the leptonic
mixing parameter |U_{e3}| in excess of 10^{-2}.


title: Excited Baryon Decay Widths in Large N_c QCD

abstract:
  We study excited baryon decay widths in large N_c QCD. It was suggested
previously that some spin-flavor mixed-symmetric baryon states have strong
couplings of O(N_c^{-1/2}) to nucleons [implying narrow widths of O(1/N_c)], as
opposed to the generic expectation based on Witten's counting rules of an
O(N_c^0) coupling. The calculation obtaining these narrow widths was performed
in the context of a simple quark-shell model. This paper addresses the question
of whether the existence of such narrow states is a general property of large
N_c QCD. We show that a general large N_c QCD analysis does not predict such
narrow states; rather they are a consequence of the extreme simplicity of the
quark model.


title: Chiral effective model with the Polyakov loop

abstract:
  We discuss how the simultaneous crossovers of deconfinement and chiral
restoration can be realized. We propose a dynamical mechanism assuming that the
effective potential gives a finite value of the chiral condensate if the
Polyakov loop vanishes. Using a simple model, we demonstrate that our idea
works well for small quark mass, though there should be further constraints to
reach the perfect locking of two phenomena.


title: Precise bounds on the Higgs boson mass

abstract:
  We study the renormalization group evolution of the Higgs quartic coupling
$\lambda_{H}$ and the Higgs mass $m_{H}$ in the Standard Model. The one loop
equation for $\lambda_{H}$ is non linear and it is of the Riccati type which we
numerically and analytically solve in the energy range $[m_{t},E_{GU}]$ where
$m_{t}$ is the mass of the top quark and $E_{GU}=10^{14}$ GeV. We find that
depending on the value of $\lambda_{H}(m_{t})$ the solution for
$\lambda_{H}(E)$ may have singularities or zeros and become negative in the
former energy range so the ultra violet cut off of the standard model should be
below the energy where the zero or singularity of $\lambda_{H}$ occurs. We find
that for $0.369\leq\lambda_{H}(m_{t})\leq0.613$ the Standard Model is valid in
the whole range $[m_{t},E_{GU}]$. We consider two cases of the Higgs mass
relation to the parameters of the standard model: (a) the effective potential
method and (b) the tree level mass relations. The limits for
$\lambda_{H}(m_{t})$ correspond to the following Higgs mass relation $150\leq
m_{H}\lessapprox 193$ GeV. We also plot the dependence of the ultra violet cut
off on the value of the Higgs mass. We analyze the evolution of the vacuum
expectation value of the Higgs field and show that it depends on the value of
the Higgs mass. The pattern of the energy behavior of the VEV is different for
the cases (a) and (b). The behavior of $\lambda_{H}(E)$, $m_{H}(E)$ and $v(E)$
indicates the existence of a phase transition in the standard model. For the
effective potential this phase transition occurs at the mass range
$m_{H}\approx 180$ GeV and for the tree level mass relations at $m_{H}\approx
168$ GeV.


title: Towards a complete theory of thermal leptogenesis in the SM and MSSM

abstract:
  We perform a thorough study of thermal leptogenesis adding finite temperature
effects, RGE corrections, scatterings involving gauge bosons and by properly
avoiding overcounting on-shell processes. Assuming hierarchical right-handed
neutrinos with arbitrary abundancy, successful leptogenesis can be achieved if
left-handed neutrinos are lighter than 0.15 eV and right-handed neutrinos
heavier than 2 10^7 GeV (SM case, 3sigma C.L.). MSSM results are similar.
  Furthermore, we study how reheating after inflation affects thermal
leptogenesis. Assuming that the inflaton reheats SM particles but not directly
right-handed neutrinos, we derive the lower bound on the reheating temperature
to be T_RH > 2 10^9 GeV. This bound conflicts with the cosmological gravitino
bound present in supersymmetric theories. We study some scenarios that avoid
this conflict: `soft leptogenesis', leptogenesis in presence of a large
right-handed (s)neutrino abundancy or of a sneutrino condensate.


title:
BFKL Pomeron at non-zero temperature and integrability of the Reggeon
  dynamics in multi-colour QCD

abstract:
  We consider the QCD scattering amplitudes at high energies sqrt{s} and fixed
momentum transfers sqrt{-t} in the leading logarithmic approximation at a
non-zero temperature T in the t-channel. It is shown that the BFKL Hamiltonian
has the property of holomorphic separability. The Pomeron wave function for
arbitrary T is calculated using an integral of motion. In multi-colour QCD, the
holomorphic Hamiltonian for n-reggeized gluons at temperature T is shown to
coincide with the local Hamiltonian of an integrable Heisenberg model and can
be obtained from the T=0 Hamiltonian by an unitary transformation. We discuss
the wave functions and the spectrum of intercepts for the colourless reggeon
states.


title: Brief Neutrino Physics Update

abstract:
  The discovery of neutrino mass establishes the need for physics beyond the
Standard Model. I summarize the status of two- and three-neutrino oscillation
parameters from current solar, atmospheric, reactor and accelerator data.
Future neutrinoless double beta decay experiments will probe the nature of
neutrinos, as well as the absolute scale of neutrino mass, also tested by
tritium beta decay spectra and cosmological observations. Sterile neutrinos do
not provide a good way to account for the LSND hint, which needs further
confirmation. Finally I sketch the main theoretical ideas for generating
neutrino mass.


title: Supersymmetric Curvatons and Phase-Induced Curvaton Fluctuations

abstract:
  We consider the curvaton scenario in the context of supersymmetry (SUSY) with
gravity-mediated SUSY breaking. In the case of a large initial curvaton
amplitude during inflation and a negative order H^2 correction to the mass
squared term after inflation, the curvaton will be close to the minimum of its
potential at the end of inflation. In this case the curvaton amplitude
fluctuations will be damped due to oscillations around the effective minimum of
the curvaton potential, requiring a large expansion rate during inflation in
order to account for the observed energy density perturbations, in conflict
with cosmic microwave background constraints. Here we introduce a new curvaton
scenario, the phase-induced curvaton scenario, in which de Sitter fluctuations
of the phase of a complex SUSY curvaton field induce an amplitude fluctuation
which is unsuppressed even in the presence of a negative order H^2 correction
and large initial curvaton amplitude. This scenario is closely related to the
Affleck-Dine mechanism and a curvaton asymmetry is naturally generated in
conjunction with the energy density perturbations. Cosmological energy density
perturbations can be explained with an expansion rate H ~ 10^12 GeV during
inflation.


title: Cosmological constant in SUGRA models and the multiple point principle

abstract:
  The tiny order of magnitude of the cosmological constant is sought to be
explained in a model involving the following ingredients: supersymmetry
breaking in N=1 supergravity and the multiple point principle. We demonstrate
the viability of this scenario in the minimal SUGRA model.


title:
Two tricritical lines from a Ginzburg-Landau expansion: application to
  the LOFF phase

abstract:
  We study the behavior of the two plane waves configuration in the LOFF phase
close to T=0. The study is performed by using a Landau-Ginzburg expansion up to
the eighth order in the gap. The general study of the corresponding grand
potential shows, under the assumption that the eighth term in the expansion is
strictly positive, the existence of two tricritical lines. This allows to
understand the existence of a second tricritical point for two antipodal plane
waves in the LOFF phase and justifies why the transition becomes second order
at zero temperature. The general analysis done in this paper can be applied to
other cases.


title:
Non factorizable Effetcs in $B \to \chi_{c0} K^- $ from Charmed Meson
  Rescattering

abstract:
  The $B^{-} \to \chi_{c0} K^{-}$ decay which has no visible factorizable
amplitude, could be induced by the Cabibbo-allowed, color-favored $B^{-} \to
D_{s}D^{*0}$, $B^{-} \to D^{*0}_{s}D^{0}$ and $B \to D_{s}^{*}D^{*}$ via the
rescattering of these charmed mesons to $\chi_{co} K^{-}$. In this talk I would
like to discuss a recent calculation \cite{Colangelo} of these effects for
$B^{-} \to \chi_{c0} K^{-}$ and $B^{-} \to J/\psi K^{-}$ decays. We find that
charmed scattering effects seem capable of producing a large $B^{-} \to
\chi_{c0} K^{-}$ branching ratio measured by the Babar and Belle Collaboration
and make a significant contribution to the $B^{-} \to J/\psi K^{-}$ branching
ratios in agreement with experiments.


title:
QCD phenomenology of static sources and gluonic excitations at short
  distances

abstract:
  New lattice data for the Pi_u and Sigma_u^- potentials at short distances are
presented. We compare perturbation theory to the lower static hybrid potentials
and find good agreement at short distances, once the renormalon ambiguities are
accounted for. We use the non-perturbatively determined continuum-limit static
hybrid and ground state potentials at short distances to determine the gluelump
energies. The result is consistent with an estimate obtained from the gluelump
data at finite lattice spacings. For the lightest gluelump, we obtain
Lambda_B^{RS}(nu_f=2.5/r_0)=[2.25\pm 0.10(latt.)\pm 0.21 (th.)\pm 0.08
(Lambda_{MS})]/r_0 in the quenched approximation with r_0^{-1} approx 400 MeV.
We show that, to quote sensible numbers for the absolute values of the gluelump
energies, it is necessary to handle the singularities of the singlet and octet
potentials in the Borel plane. We propose to subtract the renormalons of the
short-distance matching coefficients, the potentials in this case. For the
singlet potential the leading renormalon is already known and related to that
of the pole mass, for the octet potential a new renormalon appears, which we
approximately evaluate. We also apply our methods to heavy light mesons in the
static limit and from the lattice simulations available in the literature we
obtain the quenched result \bar{Lambda}^{RS}(nu_f=2.5/r_0)=[1.17\pm
0.08(latt.)\pm 0.13 (th.) \pm 0.09 (Lambda_{MS})]/r_0.
  We calculate m_{b,MS}(m_{b,MS}) and apply our methods to gluinonia whose
dynamics are governed by the singlet potential between adjoint sources. We can
exclude non-standard linear short-distance contributions to the static
potentials, with good accuracy.


title:
Numerical simulation of vacuum particle production: applications to
  cosmology, dynamical Casimir effect and time-dependent non-homogeneous
  dielectrics

abstract:
  We develop a general numerical method aimed at studying particle production
from vacuum states in a variety of settings. As a first example we look at
particle production in a simple cosmological model. We apply the same approach
to the dynamical Casimir effect, with special focus on the case of an
oscillating mirror. We confirm previous estimates and obtain long-time
production rates and particle spectra for both resonant and off-resonant
frequencies. Finally, we simulate a system with space and time-dependent
optical properties, analogous to a one-dimensional expanding dielectric bubble.
  We obtain simple expressions for the dependence of the final particle number
on the expansion velocity and final dielectric constant.


title:
A Simple Approach to Fourth Generation Effects in $B\to X_s \ell^+
  \ell^-$ Decay

abstract:
  In a scenario in which fourth generation fermions exist, we study effects of
new physics on the differential decay width, forward-backward asymmetry
$A_{\text{FB}}$ and integrated branching ratio for $B\to X_s \ell^+ \ell^-$
decay with $(\ell=e,\mu)$. Prediction of the new physics on the mentioned
quantities essentially differs from the Standard Model results, in certain
regions of the parameter space, enhancement of new physics on the above
mentioned physical quantities can yield values as large as two times of the SM
predictions, whence present limits of experimental measurements of branching
ratio is spanned, contraints of the new physics can be extracted.
  For the fourth generation CKM factor $V_{t^\prime b}^\ast V_{t^\prime s}$ we
use $\pm 10^{-2}$ and $\pm 10^{-3}$ ranges, take into consideration the
possibility of a complex phase where it may bring sizable contributions,
obtained no significant dependency on the imaginary part of the new CKM factor.
  For the above mentioned quantities with a new family, deviations from the SM
are promising, can be used as a probe of new physics.


title: Out-of-equilibrium quantum fields with conserved charge

abstract:
  We study the out-of-equilibrium evolution of an O(2)-invariant scalar field
in which a conserved charge is stored. We apply a loop expansion of the
2-particle irreducible effective action to 3-loop order. Equations of motion
are derived which conserve both total charge and total energy yet allow for the
effects of scattering whereby charge and energy can transfer between modes.
Working in (1+1)-dimensions we solve the equations of motion numerically for a
system knocked out of equilibrium by a sudden temperature quench. We examine
the initial stages of the charge and energy redistribution. This provides a
basis from which we can understand the formation of Bose-Einstein condensates
from first principles.


title:
A phenomenological negatively charged pion-proton scattering length from
  pionic hydrogen

abstract:
  We derive a closed, model independent, expression for the electromagnetic
correction factor to a phenomenological hadronic scattering length extracted
from a hydrogenic atom. It is obtained in a non-relativistic approach and in
the limit of a short ranged hadronic interaction to terms of order
((alpha)**2)(log(alpha)) using an extended charge distribution. A hadronic
negatively charged pion-proton scattering length of 0.0870(5), in units of
inverse charged pion-mass, is deduced, leading to a pion-nucleon coupling
constant from the GMO relation equals to 14.04(17).


title: Is there a linear potential at short distances?

abstract:
  We argue that the lattice data of the static potential can be explained by
perturbation theory up to energies of the order of 1 GeV once renormalons
effects are taken into account


title: Quark Orbital Angular Momentum in the Wandzura-Wilczek Approximation

abstract:
  We show that quark orbital angular momentum is directly related to
off-forward correlation functions which include intrinsic transverse momentum
corresponding to a derivative with respect to the transverse coordinates. Its
possible contribution to scattering processes is therefore of higher twist and
vanishes in the forward limit. The relation of OAM to other twist 2 and 3
distributions known in the literature is derived and formalized by an
unintegrated sum rule.


title: The MSSM fine tuning problem: a way out

abstract:
  As is well known, electroweak breaking in the MSSM requires substantial
fine-tuning, mainly due to the smallness of the tree-level Higgs quartic
coupling, lambda_tree. Hence the fine tuning is efficiently reduced in
supersymmetric models with larger lambda_tree, as happens naturally when the
breaking of SUSY occurs at a low scale (not far from the TeV). We show, in
general and with specific examples, that a dramatic improvement of the fine
tuning (so that there is virtually no fine-tuning) is indeed a very common
feature of these scenarios for wide ranges of tan(beta) and the Higgs mass
(which can be as large as several hundred GeV if desired, but this is not
necessary). The supersymmetric flavour problems are also drastically improved
due to the absence of RG cross-talk between soft mass parameters.


title: Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and neutrinos

abstract:
  We present a brief review of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN). We discuss
theoretical and observational uncertainties in deuterium and helium-4
primordial abundances and their implications for the determination of important
cosmological parameters. We present, moreover, some recent results on
active-sterile neutrino oscillations in the early universe and on their effects
on BBN.


title: Non-Valence Fock States in Heavy-to-Light Form Factors at Large Recoil

abstract:
  We studied three-particle Fock state contributions to heavy-to-light form
factors in the context of soft-collinear effective theory and found that they
enter at leading power. These contributions are non-factorizable due to the
appearance of endpoint singularities, however they do not violate spin-symmetry
relations at leading power. In this talk I present their numerical estimation
in a crude model in which the "soft overlap" contribution is cut off and find
that they might lower the standard values for the form factors at maximum
recoil significantly. Furthermore I briefly discuss the role of soft-collinear
messenger modes in the region of soft overlap.


title: Nonperturbative light-front methods

abstract:
  Two methods for the nonperturbative solution of field-theoretic bound-state
problems, based on light-front coordinates, are briefly reviewed. One uses
Pauli-Villars regularization and the other supersymmetry. Applications to
Yukawa theory and super Yang-Mills theory with fundamental matter are
emphasized.


title: Bosonic Quartic Couplings at LHC

abstract:
  We analyze the potential of the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to study
anomalous quartic vector-boson interactions Z Z gamma gamma, Z Z Z gamma, W+ W-
gamma gamma, and W+ W- Z gamma through the weak boson fusion processes q q -> q
q gamma gamma and q q -> q q gamma Z(-> l+ l-) with l = electron or muon. After
a careful study of the backgrounds and how to extract them from the data, we
show that the process p p -> j j gamma l+ l- is potentially the most sensitive
to deviations from the Standard Model, improving the sensitivity to anomalous
couplings by up to a factor 10^4 (10^2) with respect to the present direct
(indirect) limits.


title: Upper Bound On Gluino Mass From Thermal Leptogenesis

abstract:
  Thermal leptogenesis requires the reheating temperature $T_R \gsim 3\times
10^{9}$ GeV, which contradicts a recently obtained constraint on the reheating
temperature, $T_R \lsim 10^6$ GeV, for the gravitino mass of 100 GeV-10 TeV.
This stringent constraint comes from the fact that the hadronic decays of
gravitinos destroy very efficiently light elements produced by the Big-Bang
nucleosynthesis. However, it is not applicable if the gravitino is the lightest
supersymmetric particle (LSP). We show that this solution to the gravitino
problem works for the case where the next LSP is a scalar charged lepton or a
scalar neutrino. We point out that there is an upper bound on the gluino mass
as $m_{\rm gluino} \lsim 1.8$ TeV so that the energy density of gravitino does
not exceed the observed dark matter density $\Omega_{\rm DM}h^2\simeq 0.11$.


title: The SCET_II and factorization

abstract:
  We reformulate the soft-collinear effective theory which includes the
collinear quark and soft gluons. The quark form factor is used to prove that
SCET$_{\rm II}$ reproduces the IR physics of the full theory. We give a
factorization proof in deep inelastic lepton-hadron scattering by use of the
position space formulation.


title:
Flavor Violation in Warped Extra Dimensions and CP Asymmetries in B
  Decays

abstract:
  We show that CP asymmetries in $b\to s$ hadronic decays are potentially
affected by the presence of massive color-octet particles strongly coupled to
the third generation quarks. Theories with warped extra dimensions provide
natural candidates in the Kaluza-Klein excitations of gluons in scenarios where
flavor-breaking by bulk fermion masses results in the localization of fermion
wave-functions. Topcolor models, in which a new gauge interaction leads to
top-condensation and a large top mass, also result in the presence of these
color-octet states with TeV masses . We find that large effects are possible in
modes such as $B\to\phi K_s$, $B\to \eta' K_s$ and $B\to\pi^0 K_s$ among
others.


title:
High density effective theory results for two and three massive flavors
  color-suoerconductivity

abstract:
  We describe some topics related to massive two and three flavors color
superconductivity (CSC), obtained in the framework of high density effective
theory (HDET); moreover we present a {\em modified} Nambu-Jona Lasinio model
with running - as opposite to fixed - ultraviolet cutoff, discussing the
troubles that one encounters with the former when discussing QCD at high
density.


title: Green-Schwarz Anomaly Cancellation, World Sheet Instantons and Wormholes

abstract:
  We consider the breaking of the global conservation of gauge field charges
which are commonly thought to survive the spontaneous breakdown of gauge
symmetry brought about by Kalb-Ramond fields. Depending on the dilaton field
and also the size of the compactifying space, the global charge breaking may
take place due to world sheet instantons. In going to 3+1 dimensions one could
have a serious problem in order to produce the hierarchies between the quark
and the charged lepton masses using the mass protecting charges with the
Green-Schwartz anomaly cancellation. Various unnatural features of this type of
models are discussed.


title: Study of $\theta$ dependence in Yang-Mills theories on the lattice

abstract:
  We discuss the use of field theoretical techniques in the lattice
determination of the free energy dependence on the $\theta$ angle in SU(N)
Yang-Mills theories.


title:
Neutrino-induced lepton flavor violation in gauge-mediated supersymmetry
  breaking

abstract:
  Gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking is known to greatly suppress flavor
changing neutral current effects. However, we show that gauge mediation in the
context of leptogenesis implies potentially large lepton flavor violating
signals. If the heavy right-handed neutrinos that participate in leptogenesis
are lighter than the messenger scale of gauge mediation, they will induce
flavor off-diagonal masses to the sleptons which in turn can induce large
effects in mu to e gamma, tau to mu gamma, and mu-e conversion in nuclei. We
demonstrate this result and compute numerically the lepton-flavor violating
decay and conversion rates in scenarios of direct gauge mediation.


title: BRST-driven cancellations and gauge invariant Green's functions

abstract:
  We study a fundamental, all order cancellation operating between graphs of
distinct kinematic nature, which allows for the construction of
gauge-independent effective self-energies, vertices, and boxes at arbitrary
order.


title: QCD and Transverse-Spin Physics

abstract:
  A pedagogical presentation of single-spin asymmetries and transversity is
offered. Detailed discussion is given of various aspects of single-spin
asymmetries in lepton-nucleon and in hadron-hadron scattering and of the role
of perturbative QCD and evolution in the context of transversity.


title: Little Higgs Phenomenology

abstract:
  Recently a new class of models has emerged that addresses the naturalness
problem of a light Higgs boson. In these ''little Higgs'' models, the Standard
Model Higgs boson is a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson of an approximate global
symmetry. The Higgs boson acquires mass radiatively only through ''collective
breaking'' of the global symmetry, so that more than one interaction is
required to give the Higgs a mass. This protects the Higgs mass from receiving
quadratically divergent radiative corrections at one-loop. These models contain
new vector bosons, fermions and scalars at the TeV scale that cancel the
quadratic divergences in the Higgs mass due to the Standard Model gauge, top
quark, and Higgs boson loops. In this talk I review the phenomenology of the
little Higgs models, focusing on collider signatures and electroweak precision
constraints.


title: Search for CP-Violation in KS -> 3pi0 decays with the NA48 detector

abstract:
  The decay KS -> 3pi0 is forbidden by CP conservation. Using a sample of more
than 6 million K -> 3pi0 decays, the NA48 Collaboration has improved the limit
on eta_{000} = A(KS -> 3pi0)/A(KS -> 3pi0) and on the branching ratio Br(KS ->
3pi0) by about one order of magnitude. Using this result and the
Bell-Steinberger relation, a new limit on the equality of the K0 and K0bar
masses is obtained improving by about 40% the test of CPT conservation in the
mixing of neutral kaons.


title: Experimental Results in Heavy Flavor Physics

abstract:
  The interplay of experiment and theory is explored in the context of current
data on b and c decay. Measurements of |Vcb| and |Vub| are extracted from
existing data. Conservative estimates give |Vcb|=(42.4 +/- 1.2{exp} +/-
2.3{thy})x10^{-3} and |Vub|=(3.90 +/- 0.16{exp} +/- 0.53{thy})x10^{-3}. Using
these values along with data on Bd, Bs mixing and CP violation in the K_{Long}
system, the allowed region of the CKM parameters rho and eta is derived. Tests
of factorization in two-body hadronic B decays to one heavy and one light meson
are shown and compared with modern theories which are also used to see if there
is new physics in two-body B decays to light mesons. The two new narrow D_{sJ}
states, discovered by BaBar and CLEO, respectively, are interpreted in light of
the observation of these states in B decays by Belle.


title: Analytic Estimates of the QCD Corrections to Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering

abstract:
  We study the QCD corrections to neutrino deep-inelastic scattering on a
nucleus, and analytically estimate their size. For an isoscalar target, we show
that the dominant QCD corrections to the ratio of the neutral- to
charged-current events are suppressed by sin^4 theta_W, where theta_W is the
weak mixing angle. We then discuss the implications for the NuTeV determination
of sin^2 theta_W.


title: Heterotic String Optical Unification

abstract:
  The lower limit to string coupling unification in weakly coupled heterotic
strings was shown by Kaplunovsky to be around Lambda_H ~ 5 x 10^{17} GeV. In
contrast, under the scenario of an intermediate scale desert, the SU(3)_C x
SU(2)_L x U(1)_Y ([321]) Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM)
unification scale is Lambda_U ~ 2.5 x 10^{16} GeV. Optical unification was
proposed by Giedt as a robust mechanism for relating these two scales. In this
mechanism, intermediate scale MSSM-charged exotic particles effect running
couplings like a diverging lens, always producing a ``virtual'' image of the
string unification point between the string scale and the exotic particle mass
scale. A heterotic string model that offers the potential to realize optical
unification was recently constructed. This paper reports the initial results of
an investigation into the possibility of optical unification realization in
this model. This paper is a product of the NSF REU program at Baylor University
and is based on a talk presented at the Second International Conference on
String Phenomenology, Durham, England, 29 July - 4 August, 2003.


title: QCD corrections to electroweak l nu_l jj and l^+ l^- jj production

abstract:
  The production of W or Z bosons in association with two jets is an important
background to the Higgs boson search in vector-boson fusion at the LHC. The
purely electroweak component of this background is dominated by vector-boson
fusion, which exhibits kinematic distributions very similar to the Higgs boson
signal. We consider the next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the
electroweak production of l nu_l jj and l^+ l^- jj events at the LHC, within
typical vector-boson fusion cuts. We show that the QCD corrections are modest,
increasing the total cross sections by about 10%. Remaining scale uncertainties
are below 2%. A fully-flexible next-to-leading order partonic Monte Carlo
program allows to demonstrate these features for cross sections within typical
vector-boson-fusion acceptance cuts. Modest corrections are also found for
distributions.


title:
Improved tests of extra-dimensional physics and thermal quantum field
  theory from new Casimir force measurements

abstract:
  We report new constraints on extra-dimensional models and other physics
beyond the Standard Model based on measurements of the Casimir force between
two dissimilar metals for separations in the range 0.2--1.2 $\mu$m. The Casimir
force between an Au-coated sphere and a Cu-coated plate of a
microelectromechanical torsional oscillator was measured statically with an
absolute error of 0.3 pN. In addition, the Casimir pressure between two
parallel plates was determined dynamically with an absolute error of $\approx
0.6$ mPa. Within the limits of experimental and theoretical errors, the results
are in agreement with a theory that takes into account the finite conductivity
and roughness of the two metals. The level of agreement between experiment and
theory was then used to set limits on the predictions of extra-dimensional
physics and thermal quantum field theory. It is shown that two theoretical
approaches to the thermal Casimir force which predict effects linear in
temperture are ruled out by these experiments. Finally, constraints on Yukawa
corrections to Newton's law of gravity are strengthened by more than an order
of magnitude in the range 56 nm to 330 nm.


title: Trinification from superstring toward MSSM

abstract:
  In this talk, I present a family unification in $Z_3$ orbifolded $E_8\times
E_8^\prime$ heterotic strings. It is argued that trinification is a plausible
candidate toward supersymmetric standard model at low energy.


title:
Probing Anomalous Top-Quark Couplings Induced by Dim.6 Operators at
  Photon Colliders

abstract:
  Possible anomalous top-quark couplings induced by SU(2) x U(1)
gauge-invariant dimension-6 effective operators were studied in the process of
t t-bar productions and decays at polarized gamma gamma colliders. Two
CP-violating asymmetries, a linear-polarization asymmetry and a
circular-polarization asymmetry, were computed including both non-standard [t
t-bar gamma] and [gamma gamma H] couplings. An optimal-observable analysis for
the process gamma gamma --> t t-bar --> l^{+-} ... was performed in order to
estimate the precision for determination of all relevant non-standard
couplings, including the anomalous tbW coupling.


title: Thermodynamics of strong coupling 2-color QCD

abstract:
  2-color QCD at finite temperature T and chemical potential \mu is revisited
in the strong coupling limit on the lattice. The phase structure in the space
of T, \mu and the quark mass m is elucidated with the use of the mean field
approximation and the large dimensional expansion. We put special emphasis on
the interplay among the chiral condensate, the diquark condensate and the quark
density in the T-\mu-m space. Qualitative comparison is made between our
results and those of recent Monte-Carlo simulations in 2-color QCD.


title: Tau Radiative Decays in the Light Front Quark Model

abstract:
  We study the decays of $\tau^- \to \nu_{\tau} P^-\gamma (P=\pi^-, K^-)$ in
the light front quark model. We calculate the form factors and use them to
evaluate the decay widths. We find that, in the standard model, the decay
widths are $1.62\times 10^{-2} (3.86\times10^{-3}) \Gamma_{\tau^- \to
\nu_{\tau} \pi^-}$ and $1.91\times 10^{-3} (5.38\times 10^{-4}) \Gamma_{\tau^-
\to \nu_{\tau} K^-}$ with the cuts of $E_{\gamma}=50 (400)$ MeV and $t_{0}=800
(1200)$ MeV for $\tau^- \to \nu_{\tau} \pi^- \gamma$ and $\tau^- \to \nu_{\tau}
K^- \gamma$, respectively. We also show that with including the radiative decay
widths, the experimental rate for $\tau^-\to \nu_\tau P^-$ can be explained.


title:
Reading the Number of Extra Dimensions in the Spectrum of Hawking
  Radiation

abstract:
  After a brief review of the production and decay of Schwarzschild-like
(4+n)-dimensional black holes in the framework of theories with Large Extra
Dimensions, we proceed to derive the greybody factors and emission rates for
scalars, fermions and gauge bosons on the brane. We present and discuss
analytic and numerical methods for obtaining the above results, and demonstrate
that both the amount and type of Hawking radiation emitted by the black hole
can help us to determine the number of spacelike dimensions that exist in
nature.


title: Lithium Experiment on Solar Neutrinos to Weight the CNO Cycle

abstract:
  The measurement of the flux of beryllium neutrinos with the accuracy of about
10% and CNO neutrinos with the accuracy 30% will enable to find the flux of
pp-neutrinos in the source with the accuracy better than 1% using the
luminosity constraint. The future experiments on \nu e- scattering will enable
to measure with very good accuracy the flux of beryllium and pp-neutrinos on
the Earth. The ratio of the flux of pp-neutrinos on the Earth and in the source
will enable to find with very good accuracy a mixing angle theta solar. Lithium
detector has high sensitivity to CNO neutrinos and can find the contribution of
CNO cycle to the energy generated in the Sun. This will be a stringent test of
the theory of stellar evolution and combined with other experiments will
provide a precise determination of the flux of pp-neutrinos in the source and a
mixing angle theta solar. The work on the development of the technology of
lithium experiment is now in progress.


title: Cancellation of infrared divergences at NNLO

abstract:
  Perturbative calculations at next-to-next-to-leading order for multi-particle
final states require a method to cancel infrared singularities. I discuss how
to setup the subtraction method at NNLO.


title: Systematics of quark-antiquark states: where are the lightest glueballs?

abstract:
  The analysis of the experimental data of Crystal Barrel Collaboration on the
p anti-p annihilation in flight with the production of mesons in the final
state resulted in a discovery of a large number of mesons over the region
1900-2400 MeV, thus allowing us to systematize quark-antiquark states in the
(n,M^2) and (J,M^2) planes, where n and J are radial quantum number and spin of
the meson with the mass M. The data point to meson trajectories in these planes
being approximately linear, with a universal slope. Basing on these data and
results of the recent K-matrix analysis a nonet classification is performed. In
the scalar-isoscalar sector, the broad resonance state f0(1200-1600) is
superfluous for the q anti-q classification, i.e. it is an exotic state. The
ratios of coupling constants for the transitions f0-> pi pi, K anti-K, eta eta,
eta eta' point to the gluonium nature of the broad state f0(1200-1600). The
problem of the location of the lightest pseudoscalar glueball is also
discussed.


title: Neutrino Scattering Physics at Superbeams and Neutrino Factories

abstract:
  Neutrino scattering physics is discussed for investigating internal structure
of the nucleon and nuclei at future neutrino facilities. We explain structure
functions in neutrino scattering. In particular, there are new polarized
functions g_3, g_4, and g_5, and they should provide us important information
for determining internal nucleon spin structure. Next, nuclear structure
functions are discussed. From F_3 structure function measurements,
valence-quark shadowing should be clarified. Nuclear effects on the NuTeV
sin^2\theta_W anomaly are explained. We also comment on low-energy neutrino
scattering, which is relevant to current long-baseline neutrino oscillation
experiments.


title:
Inferences from Bose-Einstein correlations in multiple particle
  production processes

abstract:
  Data on Bose-Einstein correlations yield information about the interaction
regions in multiple particle production processes. The conclusions are model
dependent. Several popular models are briefly presented, compared and
discussed.


title: Thermal photons from $\pi\rho \ra \pi\gamma$ revisited

abstract:
  We evaluate the photon spectra from the reaction $\pi\rho\ra \pi\gamma$ for
the exchange of $\pi$, $\rho$, $\omega$, $\phi$ and $a_1$ as intermediary
mesons. It is found that the contributions from the intermediary $a_1$ is more
than any other meson exchange processes up to photon energies 2.5 GeV.


title: Analytic structure in the coupling constant plane in perturbative QCD

abstract:
  We investigate the analytic structure of the Borel-summed perturbative QCD
amplitudes in the complex plane of the coupling constant. Using the method of
inverse Mellin transform, we show that the prescription dependent Borel-Laplace
integral can be cast, under some conditions, into the form of a dispersion
relation in the a-plane. We also discuss some recent works relating resummation
prescriptions, renormalons and nonperturbative effects, and show that a method
proposed recently for obtaining QCD nonperturbative condensates from
perturbation theory is based on special assumptions about the analytic
structure in the coupling plane that are not valid in QCD.


title: On the coupling $g_{f_0K^+K^-}$ and the structure of $f_0(980)$

abstract:
  We use light-cone QCD sum rules to evaluate the strong coupling $g_{f_0 K^+
K^-}$ which enters in several analyses concerning the scalar $f_0(980)$ meson.
The result: $6.2\le g_{f_0 K^+ K^-}\le 7.8$ GeV is larger than in previous
determinations.


title: Nonfactorizable effects in B to charmonium decays

abstract:
  Nonleptonic $B$ to charmonium decays generally deviate from the factorization
predictions. We study rescattering effects mediated by intermediate charmed
mesons in this class of decay modes and, in particular, we consider
  $B^- \to K^- h_c$ with $h_c$ the $J^{PC}=1^{+-}$ $\bar c c$ meson, relating
this mode to $B^- \to K^- \chi_{c0}$. We find ${\cal B}(B^- \to K^- h_c)$ large
enough to be measured at the $B$ factories, hence this process could be used to
study the poorly known $h_c$.


title: Polarization phenomena in open charm photoproduction processes

abstract:
  We analyze polarization effects in associative photoproduction of
pseudoscalar ($\bar{D}$) charmed mesons in exclusive processes $\gamma+ N\to
Y_c +\bar{D}$, $Y_c=\Lambda_c^+$, $\Sigma_c$. Circularly polarized photons
induce nonzero polarization of the $Y_c$-hyperon with $x$- and $z$-components
(in the reaction plane) and non vanishing asymmetries ${\cal A}_x$ and ${\cal
A}_z$ for polarized nucleon target. These polarization observables can be
predicted in model-independent way for exclusive $\bar{D}$-production processes
in collinear kinematics. The T-even $Y_c$-polarization and asymmetries for
non-collinear kinematics can be calculated in framework of an effective
Lagrangian approach. The depolarization coefficients $D_{ab}$, characterizing
the dependence of the $Y_c$-polarization on the nucleon polarization are also
calculated.


title: The factorization in exclusive B decays: a critical look

abstract:
  I review the theoretical ideas and concepts along the line of factorization
in the exclusive B decays. In order to understand the naive factorization, the
effective field theories and the perturbative method of QCD are introduced and
developed. We focus our discussions on the large energy effective theory, the
QCD factorization approach and the soft-collinear effective theory.


title: Rho Meson Properties

abstract:
  We study the mass, width and couplings of the lightest vector multiplet.
Effective field theories based on chiral symmetry and a 1/N_C counting are
adopted in order to describe the vector form factor associated to the
two-pseudoscalar matrix element of the QCD vector current. The bare poles of
the intermediate s-channel resonances are regularized through a
Dyson-Schwinger-like summation. This procedure provides many interesting
properties, as the pole mass M_rho{pole}= 764.1 +- 2.7 (^{+4.0}_{-2.5}) MeV and
the chiral coupling L9^r(mu0)= (7.04 +- 0.05 (^{+0.19}_{-0.27}))* 10^{-3}, at
mu0=770 MeV. We show how the running affects the resonance parameters and that
mu is really unphysical, so saturation occurs at any scale.


title: Flipping SU(5) Towards Five Dimensional Unification

abstract:
  It is shown that embedding of flipped SU(5) in a five-dimensional SO(10)
enables exact unification of the gauge coupling constants. The demand for the
unification uniquely determines both the compactification scale and the cutoff
scale. These are found to be 5.5 \times 10^{14} GeV and 1.0 \times 10^{17} GeV
respectively. The theory explains the absence of d=5 proton-decay operators
through the implementation of the missing partner mechanism. On the other hand,
the presence of d=6 proton-decay operators points towards the bulk localization
of the first and the second family of matter fields.


title: Loops and Power Counting in the High Density Effective Field Theory

abstract:
  We introduce the high density effective theory of QCD. We discuss, in
particular, the problem of developing a consistent power counting scheme.


title: Confinement as Felt by Hadrons

abstract:
  The critical behavior of non-order parameter fields is discussed. We show
that relevant features of the deconfining phase transition can be determined by
monitoring universal properties induced by the order parameter on the physical
excitations. Some of the behaviors we uncover are already supported by lattice
results.


title: QCD: Theoretical Developments

abstract:
  I review recent theoretical advances in quantum chromodynamics. Particular
emphasis is put on developments related to the precise prediction and
interpretation of experimental data from present and future high energy
colliders.


title: B-decays and B- antiB mixing within a heavy-light chiral quark model

abstract:
  We describe a recently developed heavy-light chiral quark model and show how
it can be used to calculate decay amplitudes for heavy mesons. In particular,
we discuss B- antiB mixing, B -> D antiD, B -> D eta' and the beta term for D*
-> D gamma .


title: Novel type of CPT violation for correlated EPR states

abstract:
  We discuss modifications to the concept of an ``antiparticle'', induced by a
breakdown of the CPT symmetry at a fundamental level, realized within an
extended class of quantum gravity models. The resulting loss of
particle-antiparticle identity in the neutral-meson system induces a breaking
of the EPR correlation imposed by Bose statistics. The latter is parametrized
by a complex parameter controlling the amount of contamination by the ``wrong''
symmetry state. The physical consequences are studied, and novel observables of
CPT-violation in $\phi$ factories are proposed.


title:
Isospin violating effects in e+e- vs. tau measurements of the pion form
  factor |F_pi|^2 (s)

abstract:
  We study possible so far unaccounted isospin breaking effects in the relation
between the pion form factor as determined in e^+e^- experiments and the
corresponding quantity obtained after accounting for known isospin breaking
effects by an isospin rotation from the tau--decay spectra. In fact the
observed 10% discrepancy in the respective pion form factors may be explained
by the isospin breaking which is due to the difference between masses and
widths of the charged and neutral rho mesons. Since the hadronic contribution
to the muon anomalous magnetic moment can be calculated directly in terms of
the e^+e^- - data the corresponding evaluation seems to be more reliable. Our
estimate is a_mu(had)=694.8(8.6) x 10^{-10}. The tau - data are usefull at the
presently aimed level of accuracy only after appropriate input from theory.


title: Slepton Production at e+e- and e-e- Linear Colliders

abstract:
  High-precision analyses are presented for the production of scalar sleptons,
selectrons and smuons in supersymmetric theories, at future e+e- and e-e-
linear colliders. Threshold production can be exploited for measurements of the
selectron and smuon masses, an essential ingredient for the reconstruction of
the fundamental supersymmetric theory at high scales. The production of
selectrons in the continuum will allow us to determine the Yukawa couplings in
the selectron sector, scrutinizing the identity of the Yukawa and gauge
couplings, which is a basic consequence of supersymmetry. The theoretical
predictions are elaborated at the one-loop level in the continuum, while at
threshold non-zero width effects and Sommerfeld rescattering corrections are
included. The phenomenological analyses are performed for e+e- and e-e- linear
colliders with energy up to about 1 TeV and with high integrated luminosity up
to 1 ab^-1 to cover the individual slepton channels separately with high
precision.


title: Electroweak corrections to e+ e- -> nu anti-nu H and e+ e- -> t anti-t H

abstract:
  The most interesting Higgs-production processes at future e+ e- colliders
belong to the process class e+ e- -> f anti-f H. We study the full O(alpha)
corrections to this reaction in the Standard Model for neutrinos and top quarks
in the final state. Leading higher-order corrections from initial-state
radiation and QCD corrections are also taken into account. Although
cancellations between the different kinds of corrections occur, the full
corrections are of the order of +/-10% and thus important ingredients in the
theoretical predictions for future e+ e- colliders.


title: A Model for the Off-forward Structure Functions of the Pion

abstract:
  We extend our model for the pion, which we used previously to calculate its
diagonal structure function, to the off-forward case. The imaginary part of the
off-forward gamma* pi -> gamma* pi scattering amplitude is evaluated in the
chiral limit (m_pi=0) and related to the twist-two and twist-three generalised
parton distributions, H, H3, H3tilde. Non-perturbative effects, linked to the
size of the pion and still preserving gauge invariance, are included.
Remarkable new relations between H, H3 and H3tilde are obtained and discussed.


title: Finite energy sum rules for the vector current: the strange quark mass

abstract:
  We determine the strange quark mass in the framework of finite energy sum
rules from the vector current channel. The theoretical contributions are
calculated in contour improved perturbation theory and a substantial difference
to fixed order perturbation theory is found. In our phenomenological
parametrisation we include recent experimental results from CMD-2.


title: In the debris of hadron interactions lies the beauty of QCD (part II)

abstract:
  Recent progress in understanding the strong physics regime of QCD is
described. The role played by condensates, particularly $<q{\bar q} >$, in
breaking chiral symmetry and generating constituent masses for $u$ and $d$
quarks is reviewed. The influence this has on hadrons with vacuum quantum
numbers is emphasised. What we know of this sector from recent experiments on
$\phi$-radiative decays and from $D$ decays to light hadrons is discussed. How
we may gain a more complete understanding of this vacuum sector is outlined.


title: New NNLL Results on the Decay B --> X(s) L+ L-

abstract:
  We present here new NNLL predictions on the inclusive rare decay B --> X(S)
L+ L- based on our new two-loop QCD analysis of the four-quark operators.


title: Strange Pentaquark Hadrons in Statistical Hadronization

abstract:
  We study, within the statistical hadronization model, the influence of narrow
strangeness carrying baryon resonances (pentaquarks) on the understanding of
particle production in relativistic heavy ion collisions. There is a great
variation of expected yields as function of heavy ion collision energy due to
rapidly evolving chemical conditions at particle chemical freeze-out. At
relatively low collision energies, these new states lead to improvement of
statistical hadronization fits.


title: Variational analysis of deconfinement in gluodynamics

abstract:
  The deconfinement transition in 3+1 dimensional gluodynamics is studied using
the gauge invariant variational method introduced by Kogan and Kovner a few
years ago. We identify a first order phase transition, characterized by a
discontinuous jump in the entropy of the system, resulting in a transparent
picture of the mechanism of deconfinement. The calculation of the ratio of the
transition temperature to the mass of the lightest glueball in the model yields
0.18 in complete agreement with the lattice estimate.


title: The QCD vacuum, confinement and strings in the Vacuum Correlator Method

abstract:
  In this review paper the QCD vacuum properties and the structure of color
fields in hadrons are studied using the complete set of gauge-invariant
correlators of gluon fields. Confinement in QCD is produced by the correlators
of some certain Lorentz structure, which violate abelian Bianchi identities and
therefore are absent in the case of QED. These correlators are used to define
an effective colorless field, which satisfies Maxwell equation with nonzero
effective magnetic current. With the help of the effective field and
correlators it is shown that quarks are confined due to effective magnetic
currents, squeezing gluonic fields into a string, in agreement with the ``dual
Meissner effect''. Distribution of effective gluonic fields are plotted in
mesons, baryons and glueballs with static sources.


title:
Restoration of supersymmetric Slavnov-Taylor and Ward identities in
  presence of soft and spontaneous symmetry breaking

abstract:
  Supersymmetric Slavnov-Taylor and Ward identities are investigated in
presence of soft and spontaneous symmetry breaking. We consider an abelian
model where soft supersymmetry breaking yields a mass splitting between
electron and selectron and triggers spontaneous symmetry breaking, and we
derive corresponding identities that relate the electron and selectron masses
with the Yukawa coupling. We demonstrate that the identities are valid in
dimensional reduction and invalid in dimensional regularization and compute the
necessary symmetry-restoring counterterms.


title:
Radiative muon pair production in high energy electron-positron
  annihilation process

abstract:
  The lowest order radiative correction to the differential cross-section of
process of muon pair production with emission of hard photon at high energy
electron-positron annihilation are calculated. Taking into account the emission
of additional soft and hard photon the cross-section can be put in the form of
Drell-Yan process in leading logarithmical approximation. Applying the crossing
transformation we obtain the cross section of radiative electron-muon
high-energy scattering process. Virtual and soft photon emission contributions
of non-leading form are tabulated for several typical kinematical points. The
limit of small invariant mass of muon pair is in agreement with our previous
analysis.


title:
Recent results in the Statistical Approach of Polarized PDF and
  Extension to Baryon Fragmentation Functions

abstract:
  Parton distributions are constructed in a statistical physical picture of the
nucleon. The chiral properties of QCD lead to strong relations between quarks
and antiquarks distributions and the importance of the Pauli exclusion
principle is also emphasized. A global next-to-leading order QCD analysis of
unpolarized and polarized deep-inelastic scattering data is performed to
determine a small number of free parameters. Some predictions are compared to
recent experimental results. We also present an extension of the statistical
approach to the description of baryon fragmentation functions.


title:
Hybrid Inflation without Flat Directions and without Primordial Black
  Holes

abstract:
  We investigate the possibility that the Universe may inflate due to moduli
fields, corresponding to flat directions of supersymmetry, lifted by
supergravity corrections. Using a hybrid-type potential we obtain a two-stage
inflationary model. Depending on the curvature of the potential the first stage
corresponds to a period of fast-roll inflation or a period of `locked'
inflation, induced by an oscillating inflaton. This is followed by a second
stage of fast-roll inflation. We demonstrate that these two consecutive
inflationary phases result in enough total e-foldings to encompass the
cosmological scales. Using natural values for the parameters (masses of order
TeV and vacuum energy of the intermediate scale corresponding to gravity
mediated supersymmetry breaking) we conclude that the $\eta$-problem of
inflation is easily overcome. The greatest obstacle to our scenario is the
possibility of copious production of cosmologically disastrous primordial black
holes due to the phase transition switching from the first into the second
stage of inflation. We study this problem in detail and show analytically that
there is ample parameter space where these black holes do not form at all. To
generate structure in the Universe we assume the presence of a curvaton field.
Finally we also discuss the moduli problem and how it affects our
considerations.


title: New Ideas for Transverse Spin Asymmetries in Inclusive Reactions

abstract:
  We will give convincing arguments to view transverse spin asymmetries in
inclusive reactions, as very exciting observables, although there were
considered as irrelevant for a long time. We look forward to new high energy
data in the near future.


title:
Two hadron production in e+e- annihilation to next-to-leading order
  accuracy

abstract:
  We discuss the production of two hadrons in e+e- annihilation within the
framework of perturbative QCD. The cross section for this process is calculated
to next-to-leading order accuracy with a selection of variables that allows the
consideration of events where the two hadrons are detected in the same jet. In
this configuration we contemplate the possibility that the hadrons come from a
double fragmentation of a single parton. The double-fragmentation functions
required to describe the transition of a parton to two hadrons are also
necessary to completely factorize all collinear singularities. We explicitly
show that factorization applies to next-to-leading order in the case of
two-hadron production.


title: QCD Hard Scattering and the Sign of the Spin Asymmetry A_LL^pi

abstract:
  Recent preliminary PHENIX data are consistent with a negative and sizable
longitudinal double-spin asymmetry A_LL^pi for pi^0 production at moderate
transverse momentum p_perp \simeq 1 - 4 GeV and central rapidity. By means of a
systematic investigation of the relevant degrees of freedom we show that the
perturbative QCD framework at leading power in p_perp produces at best a very
small negative asymmetry in this kinematic range.


title: The hard pomeron in soft data

abstract:
  We show that the data for the total cross section and for the real part of
the elastic amplitude indicate the presence of a hard pomeron in pi p and Kp
elastic scattering at t=0, compatible with that observed in deep inelastic
scattering. We show that such a hard pomeron is also compatible with pp and
pbar p data, provided one unitarises it at high energy.


title: Phenomenological Aspects of Supersymmetric Gauge Theories

abstract:
  In this thesis we study two important phenomenological issues in the context
of supersymmetric gauge theories. In the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model
(MSSM) we analyze properties of the neutral Higgs boson decays into two
neutralinos. In the second part of our work we study in detail the Proton decay
in the Minimal Supersymmetric SU(5) Theory.


title: The isotensor pentaquark

abstract:
  Further consequences of the 1540 MeV Theta+ resonance as an isotensor
pentaquark beyond Capstick et al. are explored. It is argued that the SAPHIR
data may not currently exclude the existence of the charged partner Theta++.
The usual prediction of the dominance of non-resonant Theta+ K, and Theta+ K*,
final states in photoproduction on the proton is argued not to obtain for an
isotensor Theta+. This enhances the importance of excited baryon final states,
where the excited baryon decays to Theta+ K or Theta+ K*; as well as the
non-resonant Theta+ K pi final state. The small width of the recently
discovered Xi-- cascade resonance to Xi- pi- is easier to explain if Theta+ is
an isotensor pentaquark than if it is in the 10bar representation, due to both
an isospin and U-spin selection rule. A new production diagram for Theta+ in
the photoproduction on the deuteron is suggested.


title: Loop Corrections in Higher Dimensions via Deconstruction

abstract:
  We calculate the one-loop corrections to the Kaluza-Klein gauge boson
excitations in the deconstructed version of the 5D QED. Deconstruction provides
a renormalizable UV completion of the 5D theory that enables to control the
cut-off dependence of 5D theories and study a possible influence of UV physics
on IR observables. In particular we calculate the cut-off-dependent non-leading
corrections that may be phenomenologically relevant for collider physics. We
also discuss the structure of the operators that are relevant for the quantum
corrections to the gauge boson masses in 5D and in deconstruction.


title: Constraining Electroweak Physics

abstract:
  I summarize the status of the Standard Model after the 2003 summer
conferences.


title: New interactions in the radiative pion decay

abstract:
  The preliminary results of PIBETA experiment strongly suggest the presence of
non V-A anomalous interactions in the radiative pion decay. Without a guiding
idea about the nature of these new interactions it is very difficult to
interpret and fit experimental data. We assume that they arise as a result of
the exchange of new intermediate chiral bosons which interact anomalously with
matter. Their mixing with W-bosons leads effectively to a small anomalous weak
moment for W. Based on these assumptions, we show that the most general form of
the radiative pion decay rate can be parametrized by three new coupling
constants of the anomalous interactions.


title: Neutrino Mass Models

abstract:
  This is a review article about neutrino mass models, particularly see-saw
models involving three active neutrinos which are capable of describing both
the atmospheric neutrino oscillation data, and the large mixing angle MSW solar
solution, which is now uniquely specified by recent data. We briefly review the
current experimental status, show how to parametrise and construct the neutrino
mixing matrix, and present the leading order neutrino Majorana mass matrices.
We then introduce the see-saw mechanism, and discuss a natural application of
it to current data using the sequential dominance mechanism, which we compare
to an early proposal for obtaining large mixing angles. We show how both the
Standard Model and the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model may be extended to
incorporate the see-saw mechanism, and show how the latter case leads to the
expectation of lepton flavour violation. The see-saw mechanism motivates models
with additional symmetries such as unification and family symmetry models, and
we tabulate some possible models, before focussing on two particular examples
based on SO(10) grand unification and either U(1) or SU(3) family symmetry as
specific examples. The article contains extensive appendices which include
techniques for analytically diagonalising different types of mass matrices
involving two large mixing angles and one small mixing angle, to leading order
in the small mixing angle.


title:
The method to determine the CP nature of Higgs bosons from decays to tau
  leptons at LC

abstract:
  We demonstrate how the transverse tau tau spin correlations can be used to
determine whether a decaying Higgs boson is a mixed CP eigenstate, thereby
directly probe the presence of CP violation in the neutral Higgs boson sector.
We investigate the subsequent decay chain H --> tau+ tau- --> rho+ nu rho- nu
--> pi+ pi0 nu pi- pi0 nu. The prospects for the measurement of the
pseudoscalar admixture in the H-tau-tau coupling to a Standard Model Higgs
boson with a mass of 120 GeV are quantified for the case of e+e- collisions at
350 GeV center-of-mass energy and 1 ab^{-1} integrated luminosity. The Standard
Model Higgsstrahlung production process is used as an example.


title: Comments on some chiral-dispersive calculations of $\pi\pi$ scattering

abstract:
  We consider the $\pi\pi$ scattering amplitude obtained by Colangelo, Gasser
and Leutwyler (CGL), using dispersion relations and chiral perturbation theory
to two loops. We point out that the input used by CGL for energies above 1.42
GeV is incompatible with a number of experimental results. Moreover, the error
they adscribe to the $\delta_0^{(0)}$ phase at 0.8 GeV, an important part of
their input, is much underestimated, and its central value is probably
displaced. Then, we compare CGL results with direct fits to experimental
$\pi\pi$ data; the outcome of this test is mismatch of the CGL amplitude, for
several quantities by as much as 4 standard deviations. We also evaluate
forward dispersion relations with the CGL amplitudes. We find that these
dispersion relations are fulfilled less and less well as the energy increases
towards 0.8 GeV. Moreover, the size that the experimental results for $\pi\pi$
scattering indicates for the two loop corrections in a chiral perturbation
theory analysis is less than those required by CGL, which suggests that at
least some of the CGL corrections are so large to cover biases in their
$\pi\pi$ amplitude and in the evaluation of the scalar form factor of the pion.
  We conclude on the necessity of repeating the analysis of CGL with correct
high energy amplitudes and a more realistic input for the $\delta_0^{(0)}$
phase at 0.8 GeV.


title: Infrared and extended on-mass-shell renormalization of two-loop diagrams

abstract:
  Using a toy model Lagrangian we demonstrate the application of both infrared
and extended on-mass-shell renormalization schemes to multiloop diagrams by
considering as an example a two-loop self-energy diagram. We show that in both
cases the renormalized diagrams satisfy a straightforward power counting.


title: Minimal Flavour Violation

abstract:
  These lectures give a description of models with minimal flavour violation
(MFV) that can be tested in $B$ and $K$ meson decays. This class of models can
be formulated to a very good approximation in terms of 11 parameters: 4
parameters of the CKM matrix and 7 values of the {\it universal} master
functions $F_r$ that parametrize the short distance contributions. In a given
MFV model, $F_r$ can be calculated in perturbation theory and are generally
correlated with each other but in a model independent analysis they must be
considered as free parameters. We conjecture that only 5 or even only 4 of
these functions receive significant new physics contributions. We summarize the
status of the CKM matrix, outline strategies for the determination of the
values of $F_r$ and present a number of relations between physical observables
that do not depend on $F_r$ at all. We emphasize that the formulation of MFV in
terms of master functions allows to study transparently correlations between
$B$ and $K$ decays which is very difficult if Wilson coefficients normalized at
low energy scales are used instead. We discuss briefly a specific MFV model:
the Standard Model with one universal large extra dimension.


title: PDF uncertainties in Higgs production at hadron colliders

abstract:
  Using the new schemes provided by the CTEQ and MRST collaborations and by
Alekhin, we analyse the uncertainties due to the parton distribution functions
(PDFs) on the next-to-leading-order cross sections of the four main production
processes of the Standard Model Higgs boson at the LHC and the Tevatron. In the
Higgs mass range where the production rates are large enough, the spread in the
uncertainties when the three sets of PDFs are compared is of about 15% in all
processes and at both colliders. However, within one given set of PDFs, the
deviations from the values obtained with the reference sets are much smaller,
being of ${\cal O}(5$%), except in the gluon--gluon fusion mechanism at
relatively large Higgs boson masses, where they can reach the level of 10%
(15%) at the LHC (Tevatron).


title:
Constraints on flavour-dependent long-range forces from atmospheric
  neutrino observations at Super-Kamiokande

abstract:
  In the minimal standard model it is possible to gauge any one of the
following global symmetries in an anomaly free way: (i)$L_{e}-L_{\mu}$, (ii)
$L_{e}-L_{\tau}$ or (iii) $L_{\mu}-L_{\tau}$. If the gauge boson corresponding
to (i) or (ii) is (nearly) massless then it will show up as a long range
composition dependent fifth force between macroscopic objects. Such a force
will also influence neutrino oscillations due to its flavour-dependence. We
show that the latter effect is quite significant in spite of very strong
constraints on the relevant gauge couplings from the fifth force experiments.
In particular, the $L_{e}- L_{\mu,\tau}$ potential of the electrons in the Sun
and the earth is shown to suppress the atmospheric neutrino $\nu_\mu \to
\nu_\tau$ oscillations which have been observed at Super-Kamiokande. The
Super-K data of oscillation of multi-GeV atmospheric neutrinos can be used to
put an upper bound on coupling $\alpha_{e\tau}< 6.4 \times 10^{-52}$ and
$\alpha_{e\mu}< 5.5 \times 10^{-52}$at 90% CL when the range of the force is
the earth-sun distance. This is an improvement by two orders on the earlier
fifth force bounds in this range.


title: Electromagnetic Form Factor of the eta meson in the Light Cone QCD

abstract:
  The electromagnetic form factor of the eta meson is studied using the Light
Cone QCD sum rules approach taking in to account higher twists contributions
and SU(3) flavor symmetry breaking effects.


title: Where are the missing members of the baryon antidecuplet?

abstract:
  We analyze what consequences has the observation of exotic pentaquark baryons
on the location of the non-exotic baryons belonging to the antidecuplet. We
suggest that there must be a new nucleon state at 1650-1690 MeV and a new Sigma
baryon at 1760-1810 MeV.


title:
Light mesons and infrared behavior of the running coupling constant in
  QCD

abstract:
  A previous method for handling bound states in QCD is briefly revisited.
Taking advantage of the Feynman-Schwinger representation for the iterated quark
propagator in an external field, it is possible to give closed representations
for certain appropriate (second order) two point and four point Green
functions, H^(2)(x-y) and H^(4)(x_1,x_2,y_1,y_2), as path integrals on quark
world lines. Then, starting from reasonable assumptions on the Wilson line
correlators, a Bethe-Salpeter equation for H^(4) and a Dyson-Schwinger equation
for H^(2) can be obtained, which are consistent with the Goldstone theorem in
the chiral limit. Such equations are too complicate to be solved directly.
However, a reduced Salpeter equation can be derived which is tractable and has
been applied to a calculation of the meson spectrum. The results are in general
good agreement with the data, but with the important exceptions of the light
pseudo scalars (that are related to the breaking of the chiral symmetry). In
this scenario two important improvements can be introduced: a) the fixed
coupling constant can be replaced by a running coupling constant
\alpha_{s}(Q^2) appropriately modified in the infrared region; b) the fixed
mass in the reduced equation can be replaced for light quarks by an effective
mass depending on the momentum of the particle, as suggested by the form of the
DS equation. Then even the light pseudo scalar mesons can be made to agree with
to their experimental value.


title:
Review on the inclusive rare decays B -> X_s gamma and B -> X_d gamma in
  the Standard Model

abstract:
  We review the NLL QCD calculations for the branching ratio of B -> X_s gamma
in the SM. In particular, we emphasize the problem related to the definition of
the charm quark mass which leads to a rather large uncertainty of the NLL
predictions. The various steps needed for a NNLL calculation, in which the m_c
issue can be settled, is also sketched. We briefly summarize the results of a
calculation of the O(alpha_s^2 n_f) corrections to BR(B -> X_s gamma), which
was recently performed as a first step in the NNLL program. We then also
briefly review the status of the photon energy spectrum and show the comparison
with experimental data. Finally, we review the status of the CKM suppressed
decay mode B -> X_d gamma.


title: Non Perturbative Effects in QCD

abstract:
  Non perturbative results from lattice QCD will be discussed, namely: Vacuum
Condensates and QCD Sum Rules; $U_A(1)$ and Topology; Confinement of Color.


title: Dynamics of radiation due to vacuum nonlinearities

abstract:
  In quantum electrodynamics, photon-photon scattering can be the result of the
exchange of virtual electron-positron pairs. This gives rise to a non-trivial
dispersion relation for a single photon moving on a background of
electromagnetic fields. Knowledge of the dispersion relation can be
transferred, using standard methods, into new insights in the dynamical
equations for the photons. Effectively, those equations will contain different
types of self-interaction terms, depending on whether the photons are coherent
or not. It is shown that coherent photons are governed by a nonlinear
Schroedinger type equation, such that the self-interaction terms vanish in the
limit of parallel propagating waves. For incoherent photons, a set of fluid
equations can determine the evolution of the corresponding radiation gas. In
the case of a self-interacting radiation fluid, it is shown that Landau damping
can occur.


title: Status of the Standard Model of Particle Phenomenology

abstract:
  The standard model is healthy is all respects except for the non-zero
neutrino masses which require an extension of the minimal version


title:
Model Independent Bound on the Unitarity Triangle from CP Violation in
  B-> pi+ pi- and B-> psi K_S

abstract:
  We derive model independent lower bounds on the CKM parameters (1-rhobar) and
etabar as functions of the mixing-induced CP asymmetry S in B-> pi+ pi- and
sin(2 beta) from B->psi K_S. The bounds do not depend on specific results of
theoretical calculations for the penguin contribution to B-> pi+ pi-. They
require only the very conservative condition that a hadronic phase, which
vanishes in the heavy-quark limit, does not exceed 90 degrees in magnitude. The
bounds are effective if -sin(2 beta) < S < 1. Dynamical calculations indicate
that the limits on rhobar and etabar are close to their actual values.


title: More Model-Independent Analysis of b->s Processes

abstract:
  We study model-independently the implications of non-standard scalar and
pseudoscalar interactions for the decays b ->s gamma, b -> s g, b -> s l^+l^-
(l=e,mu) and B_s -> mu^+ mu^-. We find sizeable renormalization effects from
scalar and pseudoscalar four-quark operators in the radiative decays and at
O(alpha_s) in hadronic b decays. Constraints on the Wilson coefficients of an
extended operator basis are worked out. Further, the ratios R_H = BR(B -> H
mu^+ mu^-)/BR(B -> H e^+ e^-), for H=K^(*), X_s, and their correlations with
B_s -> mu^+ mu^- decay are investigated. We show that the Standard Model
prediction for these ratios defined with the same cut on the dilepton mass for
electron and muon modes, R_H= 1 + O(m^2_mu/m^2_b), has a much smaller
theoretical uncertainty (<1%) than the one for the individual branching
fractions. The present experimental limit R_K < 1.2 puts constraints on scalar
and pseudoscalar couplings, which are similar to the ones from current data on
BR(B_s -> mu^+ mu^-). We find that new physics corrections to R_{K*} and
R_{X_s} can reach 13% and 10%, respectively.


title: Cosmology and neutrino masses - an update

abstract:
  Present cosmological observations yield an upper bound on the neutrino mass
which is significantly stronger than laboratory bounds. However, the exact
value of the cosmological bound is model dependent and therefore less robust.
Here, I review the current status of cosmological neutrino mass bounds and also
discuss implications for sterile neutrinos and LSND in particular.


title: Exotic baryons and the large-Nc expansion

abstract:
  The status of exotic baryons is analyzed in the limit of a large number of
colors Nc. Several toy models reproducing the main features of the large-Nc QCD
are studied in order to clarify the recent controversy concerning the
consistency of various approaches to the 1/Nc-expansion for exotic baryons. The
analysis reveals several difficulties of the rigid-rotator approximation
including the problems of this approximation in the description of exotic
baryons.


title: Light front thermal field theory at finite temperature and density

abstract:
  We investigate quark matter at finite temperature and finite chemical
potential as an example for a relativistic many-particle quantum system.
Special relativity is realized through the front form that allows for a
Hamiltonian formulation of a statistical operator. Utilizing our previous
results we generalize the present formulation of a relativistic thermal field
theory to include a finite chemical potential. As an application we use the
Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model to investigate the gap equation and chiral
restoration.


title:
Photoproduction of $J/\psi$ and $\Upsilon$ in pp and $\bar{p}p$
  Collisions

abstract:
  Exclusive vector meson photoproduction, $pp\to ppV$ and $\bar pp\to\bar ppV$
occurs with significant rates at hadron colliders. The reaction can be used to
study the gluon distribution of protons. Vector mesons may be produced with
either proton as a target; because of interference between the two production
channels, the $p_T$ spectra of vector mesons produced in $pp$ and $\bar pp$
collisions are quite different. Because of the unique event signature, vector
meson photoproduction can be separated from hadroproduction events, despite the
small ratio of cross sections. We consider production of $J/\psi$ and
$\Upsilon$ at RHIC, the Tevatron and the LHC.


title: Indication on the universal hadron substructure - constituent quarks

abstract:
  The universality of single-spin asymmetry on inclusive pi-meson production is
discussed. This universality can be related to the hadron substructure -
constituent quarks.


title: Relativistic five-quark equations and u, d- pentaquark spectroscopy

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 u, d quarks are calculated. The poles of the five-quark
amplitudes determine the masses of the lowest pentaquarks. The calculation of
pentaquark amplitudes estimates the contributions of four subamplitudes. The
main contributions to the pentaquark amplitude are determined by the
subamplitudes, which include the meson states M.


title: Radiative corrections to DVCS electron tensor

abstract:
  We had considered RC to the virtual Compton scattering in the high-energy
limit including additional hard photon emission in leading logarithmical
approximation. Our result is consistent with Drell-Yan picture of the process
and expressed in terms of electron structure function. The comparison with
previous work on VCS is done.


title: Pentaquarks in a relativistic quark model and nature of Theta-states

abstract:
  The relativistic five-quark equations are found in the framework of the
dispersion relation technique. The solutions of these equations using the
method based on the extraction of the leading singularities of the amplitudes
are obtained. 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 Theta-pentaquarks. The mass spectra of the isotensor
Theta-pentaquarks are calculated.


title: WMAP Data and Recent Developments in Supersymmetric Dark Matter

abstract:
  A brief review is given of the recent developments in the analyses of
supersymmetric dark matter. Chief among these is the very accurate
determination of the amount of cold dark matter in the universe from analyses
using WMAP data. The implications of this data for the mSUGRA parameter space
are analyzed. It is shown that the data admits solutions on the hyperbolic
branch (HB) of the radiative breaking of the electroweak symmetry. A part of
the hyperbolic branch lies in the so called inversion region where the LSP
neutralino $\chi_1^0$ becomes essentially a pure Higgsino and degenerate with
the next to the lightest neutralino $\chi_2^0$ and the light chargino
$\chi_1^{\pm}$. Thus some of the conventional signals for the observation of
supersymmetry at colliders (e.g., the missing energy signals) do not operate in
this region. On the other hand the inversion region contains a high degree of
degeneracy of $\chi_1^0$, $\chi_2^0$, $\chi_1^{\pm}$ leading to coannihilations
which allow for the satisfaction of the WMAP relic density constraints deep on
the hyperbolic branch. Further, an analysis of the neutralino-proton cross
sections in this region reveals that this region can still be accessible to
dark matter experiments in the future. Constraints from $g_{\mu}-2$ and from
$B^0_s\to \mu^+\mu^-$ are discussed. Future prospects are also discussed.


title: Beyond the standard model with B and K physics

abstract:
  In the first part of the talk the flavor physics input to models beyond the
Standard Model is described. One specific example of such a new physics model
is given: a model with bulk fermions in one non-factorizable extra dimension.
In the second part of the talk we discuss several observables that are
sensitive to new physics. We explain what type of new physics can produce
deviations from the Standard Model predictions in each of these observables.


title: The triple-pole pomeron: Regge theory and DGLAP evolution

abstract:
  We will explain how it is possible to link Regge theory with DGLAP evolution
using a triple-pole pomeron model. We will first show that Regge theory can be
used to constrain the initial condition for DGLAP evolution. We will then spell
out a method to extract Regge couplings at high Q^2 using DGLAP evolution.


title: Delta(1232) in piN -> pipiN reaction

abstract:
  The contribution of Delta(1232) to the piN -> pipiN reaction is examined by
making use of the chiral reduction formula developed by Yamagishi and Zahed.
The influence of the pi-Delta-Delta and rho-N-Delta interactions on this
reaction, which has not been regarded as important so far, is considered for
all channels with the initial pi^{+ -}p states. The total cross sections are
calculated to tree level for the energy up to T_{pi}=400 MeV. Although the
pi-Delta-Delta and rho-N-Delta interactions give a small effect on the pi^{+}p
-> pi^{+}pi^{+}n, pi^{-}p -> pi^{+}pi^{-}n and pi^{-}p -> pi^{0}pi^{0}p
channels, the pi^{+ -}p -> pi^{+ -}pi^{0}p channels are found to be sensitive
to these interactions.


title: GUT with Anomalous U(1) Suggests Heterotic M-Theory?

abstract:
  We show that a new GUT scenario we proposed indicates that heterotic M-theory
is one of the most interesting possibility to describe our world because of the
two features in the scenario. The first feature is that E_6 unified group plays
an essential role not only in understanding larger mixing angles in lepton
sector than in quark sector but also in solving the SUSY flavor Problem by
introducing non-abelian horizontal symmetry SU(2)_H or SU(3)_H. The second
feature is that the cutoff scale must be taken as the usual GUT scale
\Lambda_G\sim 2\times 10^{16} GeV to realize natural gauge coupling
unification. Because this cutoff scale is smaller than the Planck scale or
string scale, it may suggest the existence of extra dimension in which only
gravity modes can propagate. This talk is based on a dozen papars, some of
which are collaborated with T. Yamashita, M. Bando and Q. Shafi.


title: Generalized VDM and F_2 data at low Q^2

abstract:
  The generalised vector meson dominance model (GVDM) gives a good description
of F_2 data at very low Q^2. At intermediate Q^2 a GVDM component avoids
problems when applying the large-Q^2 DIS formalism, such as a negative gluon
distribution in the proton. The fluctuations of the exchanged photon into
vector mesons is also a natural part of a model with hadronic fluctuations of
the target proton, which gives a good description of the non-perturbative
x-shape of the proton's parton density functions at the starting scale Q^2_0
for DGLAP evolution.


title:
Theoretical precision in estimates of the hadronic contributions to
  (g-2)_mu and alpha_QED(M_Z)

abstract:
  I review recent estimates of the non-perturbative hadronic vacuum
polarization contributions. Since these at present can only be evaluated in
terms of experimental data of limited precision, the related uncertainties pose
a serious limitation in our ability to make precise predictions. Besides e+e- -
annihilation data also tau decay spectra can help to get better predictions.
Here, it is important to account for all possible iso-spin violations in tau -
decay spectra, from which e+e- cross sections may be obtained by an iso-spin
rotation. The observed 10% discrepancy in the region above the rho may be
understood as a so far unaccounted iso-spin breaking effect.


title: Candidates for Chiral Particles

abstract:
  We find possible candidates for the new type of q bar q meson, mesonic
chiralons, whose existence is predicted in the covariant level-classification
scheme of hadrons with U(12)_SF * O(3,1)_L symmetry, by assigning all the known
light-unflavored and strange mesons, with masses below about 1.8 GeV, to
U(12)_SF * O(3,1)_L multiplets.


title:
Universality of the Linear Potential in Effective Models for the Low
  Energy QCD coupled with the Dilaton Field

abstract:
  QCD motivated effective models coupled with the cosmological dilaton field
are analyzed. It is shown that all models possess confining solutions with the
linear potential of confinement even thought such solutions are not observed in
the original effective theory. In case of the Pagels-Tomboulis model analytical
solutions are explicit found.


title: Large N_c behavior of light resonances in meson-meson scattering

abstract:
  By scaling the parameters of meson-meson unitarized Chiral Perturbation
Theory amplitudes according to the QCD large N_c rules, one can study the
spectroscopic nature of light meson resonances. The scalars sigma, kappa
f_0(980) and, possibly, the a_0(980) do not seem to behave as q-qbar states, in
contrast to the vectors rho(770) and K*(892). The behavior shown by the scalars
is naturally explained in terms of diagrams with intermediate $\bar q\bar q
qq$-like states. Here we review our recent study and show how the results do
not depend on the different fits to data.


title: Neutrino Mixing

abstract:
  In this review we present the main features of the current status of neutrino
physics. After a review of the theory of neutrino mixing and oscillations, we
discuss the current status of solar and atmospheric neutrino oscillation
experiments. We show that the current data can be nicely accommodated in the
framework of three-neutrino mixing. We discuss also the problem of the
determination of the absolute neutrino mass scale through Tritium beta-decay
experiments and astrophysical observations, and the exploration of the Majorana
nature of massive neutrinos through neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments.
Finally, future prospects are briefly discussed.


title: Rotational Spectra of the Baryons and Mesons

abstract:
  An investigation of the rotational spectra of baryons and mesons is
conducted. Diakonov, Petrov and Polyakov claimed that all light baryons are
rotational excitations. A study of the history of particle physics indicates
that the ideas of rotational spectra can be originally attributed to a
constituent-quark (CQ) model as proposed by Mac Gregor. Later research advanced
spin-orbit splitting in a deformed model as suggested by Bhaduri and others. In
the present work, we show from current data that the rotational spectra of
baryons and mesons are in agreement with the original claims of Mac Gregor:
namely, the values for the rotational energies Erot of particles merge with
those of nuclear rotational bands in light nuclei. It is also shown that
particles of different isotopic spins are separated in mass by a 70 MeV
quantum, which is related to the SU(3) decuplet mass spacing as originally
proposed by Gell-Mann.


title: On the pion cloud of the nucleon

abstract:
  We evaluate the two--pion contribution to the nucleon electromagnetic form
factors by use of dispersion analysis and chiral perturbation theory. After
subtraction of the rho--meson component, we calculate the distributions of
charge and magnetization in coordinate space, which can be interpreted as the
effects of the pion cloud. We find that the charge distribution of this pion
cloud effect peaks at distances of about 0.3 fm. Furthermore, we calculate the
contribution of the pion cloud to the isovector charges and radii of the
nucleon.


title:
Beauty Hadron Lifetimes and B-Meson CP-Violation Parameters from Lattice
  QCD

abstract:
  The present status of the theoretical estimates of beauty hadron lifetime
ratios and of width differences and CP-violation parameters in $B_d$ and $B_s$
systems is reviewed. In the last two years accurate lattice calculations and
next-to-leading order perturbative computations have improved these theoretical
predictions, leading to the following updated results: \tau(B^+)/\tau(B_d)=1.06
+- 0.02, \tau(B_s)/\tau(B_d)=1.00 +- 0.01, \tau(\Lambda_b)/\tau(B_d)=0.88 +-
0.05, \Delta \Gamma_{d}/\Gamma_{d} = (2.42 +- 0.59)10^{-3}, \Delta
\Gamma_{s}/\Gamma_{s} = (7.4 +- 2.4)10^{-2}, |(q/p)_d|-1=(2.96 +- 0.67)
10^{-4}$ and |(q/p)_s|-1=-(1.28 +- 0.28) 10^{-5}


title: Comment on extracting alpha from B -> rho rho

abstract:
  Recent experimental results on $B\to\rho\rho$ decays indicate that the CP
asymmetry $S_{\rho^+\rho^-}$ will give an interesting determination of
$\alpha=\arg[-(V_{td}V_{tb}^*)/(V_{ud}V_{ub}^*)]$. In the limit when the $\rho$
width is neglected, the $B\to\pi\pi$ isospin analysis can also be applied to
$B\to\rho\rho$, once an angular analysis is used to separate transversity
modes. The present bound on the shift of $S_{\rho^+\rho^-}$ from the true
$\sin2\alpha$ is already stronger than it is for $S_{\pi^+\pi^-}$. We point out
a subtle violation of the isospin relations when the two $\rho$ mesons are
observed with different invariant masses, and how to constrain this effect
experimentally.


title:
Production of W-+ with an anomalous magnetic moment via the collision of
  an ultrahigh-energy (anti)neutrino on a target nucleon

abstract:
  We discuss the production of W-+ bosons in deep inelastic processes
(anti-nu)nu + nucleon --> l+- + W-+ + X, in the context of an electroweak model
in which the vector boson self interactions may be different from those
prescribed by the electroweak standard model. We present results which show the
strong dependence of the cross section on the anomalous magnetic dipole moment
kappa of the W+-. We show that even small deviations from the standard model
value of kappa (kappa=1) could imply large deviations in the cross section
rates of W-+ production through the collision of an ultrahigh energy
(anti)neutrino on a target nucleon. However, the enhancement of the cross
section rates is not large enough to be detectable.


title: Large scale power and running spectral index in New Old Inflation

abstract:
  We have proposed a new class of inflationary scenarios in which the first
stage of expansion is driven by "old" false vacuum inflation. This ends by
nucleation of a bubble, which then further inflates. Unlike the standard
slow-roll scenarios the "clock" ending the second inflationary phase is not a
local order parameter, but rather the average value of an oscillating scalar
field, which locks the system at a saddle point of the potential in a temporary
inflationary state. Inflation ends when the amplitude drops below a certain
critical point and liberates the system from the false vacuum state. The second
stage of inflation has only about 50 e-foldings, a number which is determined
entirely by the ratio of the fundamental mass scales, such as the Planck/string
scale and the supersymmetry breaking scale. The density perturbations are
generated due to fluctuations of moduli-dependent Yukawa couplings. In this
note we explore the observable imprints in the fluctuation spectrum of generic
cross-couplings in the superpotential and in the Kahler potential. We show that
in the presence of generic non-renormalizable interactions in the
superpotential between the fluctuating modulus and the oscillating inflaton,
the amplitude of the density perturbations is exponentially cut-off for
sufficiently large wavelengths. With reasonable choices of scales and
interactions, this long wavelength cutoff can occur at approximately the
current horizon size. The perturbative corrections in the K\"ahler potential
give non-trivial potentially observable tilt and a running of the spectral
index which is different from the standard inflationary models.