We present a measurement of the elastic differential cross section $dsigma(pbar{p}rightarrow pbar{p})/dt$ as a function of the four-momentum-transfer squared t. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $approx 31 nb^{-1}$ collected with the D0 detector using dedicated Tevatron $pbar{p} $ Collider operating conditions at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV and covers the range $0.26 <|t|< 1.2 GeV^2$. For $|t|<0.6 GeV^2$, dsigma/dt is described by an exponential function of the form $Ae^{-b|t|}$ with a slope parameter $ b = 16.86 pm 0.10(stat) pm 0.20(syst) GeV^{-2}$. A change in slope is observed at $|t| approx 0.6 GeV^2$, followed by a more gradual |t| dependence with increasing values of |t|.
We present a search for the pair production of scalar top quarks ($tilde{t}_{1}$), the lightest supersymmetric partners of the top quarks, in $pbar{p}$ collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV, using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of {7.3 $fb^{-1}$} collected with the dzero experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. Each scalar top quark is assumed to decay into a $b$ quark, a charged lepton, and a scalar neutrino ($tilde{ u}$). We investigate final states arising from $tilde{t}_{1} bar{tilde{t}_{1}} rightarrow bbar{b}mutau tilde{ u} tilde{ u}$ and $tilde{t}_{1} bar{tilde{t}_{1}} rightarrow bbar{b}tautau tilde{ u} tilde{ u}$. With no significant excess of events observed above the background expected from the standard model, we set exclusion limits on this production process in the ($m_{tilde{t}_{1}}$,$m_{tilde{ u}}$) plane.
A measurement of the relative branching fraction of $B_{s}^{0} rightarrow J/ps i f_{0}(980), f_{0}(980) rightarrow pi^{+}pi^{-}$ to $B_{s}^{0} rightarrow J/psi phi, p hi rightarrow K^{+}K^{-}$ is presented. The decay mode $B_{s}^{0} rightarrow J/psi f_{0}(980)$ is an interesting mode since it is a CP-odd eigenstate which could be used in CP-violating studies. Using approximat ely 8 $rm{fb}^{-1}$ of data recorded with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider, a relative branching fraction of 0.210 $pm$ 0.032thinspace(stat) $pm$ 0.036thi nspace(syst) is found.
We measure the top quark mass (mt) in ppbar collisions at a center of mass energy of 1.96 TeV using dilepton ttbar->W+bW-bbar->l+nubl-nubarbbar events, where l denotes an electron, a muon, or a tau that decays leptonically. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb-1 collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We obtain mt = 174.0 +- 1.8(stat) +- 2.4(syst) GeV, which is in agreement with the current world average mt = 173.3 +- 1.1 GeV. This is currently the most precise measurement of mt in the dilepton channel.
We present a measurement of the helicity of the W boson produced in top quark decays using ttbar decays in the l+jets and dilepton final states selected from a sample of 5.4 fb^-1 of collisions recorded using the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron ppbar collider. We measure the fractions of longitudinal and right-handed W bosons to be f_0 = 0.669 +- 0.102 [ +- 0.078 (stat.) +- 0.065 (syst.)] and f_+ = 0.023 +- 0.053 [+- 0.041 (stat.) +- 0.034 (syst.)], respectively. This result is consistent at the 98% level with the standard model. A measurement with f_0 fixed to the value from the standard model yields f_+ = 0.010 +- 0.037 [+- 0.022 (stat.) +- 0.030 (syst.) ].
We report the result of a search for the pair production of the lightest supersymmetric partner of the top quark ($tilde{t}_1$) in $pbar{p}$ collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV at the Fermilab Tevatron collider corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb$^{-1}$. The scalar top quarks are assumed to decay into a $b$ quark, a charged lepton, and a scalar neutrino ($tilde{ u}$), and the search is performed in the electron plus muon final state. No significant excess of events above the standard model prediction is detected, and improved exclusion limits at the 95% C.L. are set in the the ($M_{tilde{t}_1}$,$M_{tilde{ u}}$) mass plane.
We extract the total width of the top quark, Gamma_t, from the partial decay width Gamma(t -> W b) measured using the t-channel cross section for single top quark production and from the branching fraction B(t -> W b) measured in ttbar events using up to 2.3 fb^-1 of integrated luminosity collected by the D0 Collaboration at the Tevatron ppbar Collider. The result is Gamma_t = 1.99 +0.69 -0.55 GeV, which translates to a top-quark lifetime of tau_t = (3.3 +1.3 -0.9) x 10^-25 s. Assuming a high mass fourth generation b quark and unitarity of the four-generation quark-mixing matrix, we set the first upper limit on |Vtb| < 0.63 at 95% C.L.
We report on an all-sky search with the LIGO detectors for periodic gravitational waves in the frequency range 50-1000 Hz and with the frequencys time derivative in the range -1.0E-8 Hz/s to zero. Data from the fourth LIGO science run (S4) have been used in this search. Three different semi-coherent methods of transforming and summing strain power from Short Fourier Transforms (SFTs) of the calibrated data have been used. The first, known as StackSlide, averages normalized power from each SFT. A weighted Hough scheme is also developed and used, and which also allows for a multi-interferometer search. The third method, known as PowerFlux, is a variant of the StackSlide method in which the power is weighted before summing. In both the weighted Hough and PowerFlux methods, the weights are chosen according to the noise and detector antenna-pattern to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio. The respective advantages and disadvantages of these methods are discussed. Observing no evidence of periodic gravitational radiation, we report upper limits; we interpret these as limits on this radiation from isolated rotating neutron stars. The best population-based upper limit with 95% confidence on the gravitational-wave strain amplitude, found for simulated sources distributed isotropically across the sky and with isotropically distributed spin-axes, is 4.28E-24 (near 140 Hz). Strict upper limits are also obtained for small patches on the sky for best-case and worst-case inclinations of the spin axes.
The goal of the Laser Interferometric Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is to detect and study gravitational waves of astrophysical origin. Direct detection of gravitational waves holds the promise of testing general relativity in the strong-field regime, of providing a new probe of exotic objects such as black hole and neutron stars, and of uncovering unanticipated new astrophysics. LIGO, a joint Caltech-MIT project supported by the National Science Foundation, operates three multi-kilometer interferometers at two widely separated sites in the United States. These detectors are the result of decades of worldwide technology development, design, construction, and commissioning. They are now operating at their design sensitivity, and are sensitive to gravitational wave strains smaller than 1 part in 1E21. With this unprecedented sensitivity, the data are being analyzed to detect or place limits on gravitational waves from a variety of potential astrophysical sources.
A detailed study is presented of the expected performance of the ATLAS detector. The reconstruction of tracks, leptons, photons, missing energy and jets is investigated, together with the performance of b-tagging and the trigger. The physics potential for a variety of interesting physics processes, within the Standard Model and beyond, is examined. The study comprises a series of notes based on simulations of the detector and physics processes, with particular emphasis given to the data expected from the first years of operation of the LHC at CERN.
