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1. Characterization of SABRE crystal NaI-33 with direct underground counting

   https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-021-09098-5  

   Antonello, M.; Arnquist, I. J.; Barberio, E.; Baroncelli, T.; Benziger, J.; Bignell, L. J.; Bolognino, I.; Calaprice, F.; Copello, S.; Dafinei, I.; et al (April 2021, The European Physical Journal C)

   Abstract Ultra-pure NaI(Tl) crystals are the key element for a model-independent verification of the long standing DAMA result and a powerful means to search for the annual modulation signature of dark matter interactions. The SABRE collaboration has been developing cutting-edge techniques for the reduction of intrinsic backgrounds over several years. In this paper we report the first characterization of a 3.4 kg crystal, named NaI-33, performed in an underground passive shielding setup at LNGS. NaI-33 has a record low$$^{39}$$ ${}^{39}$K contamination of 4.3 ± 0.2 ppb as determined by mass spectrometry. We measured a light yield of 11.1 ± 0.2 photoelectrons/keV and an energy resolution of 13.2% (FWHM/E) at 59.5 keV. We evaluated the activities of$$^{226}$$ ${}^{226}$Ra and$$^{228}$$ ${}^{228}$Th inside the crystal to be$$5.9\pm 0.6~\upmu $$ $5.9\pm 0.6\mu$Bq/kg and$$1.6\pm 0.3~\upmu $$ $1.6\pm 0.3\mu$Bq/kg, respectively, which would indicate a contamination from$$^{238}$$ ${}^{238}$U and$$^{232}$$ ${}^{232}$Th at part-per-trillion level. We measured an activity of 0.51 ± 0.02 mBq/kg due to$$^{210}$$ ${}^{210}$Pb out of equilibrium and a$$\alpha $$ $\alpha$quenching factor of 0.63 ± 0.01 at 5304 keV. We illustrate the analyses techniques developed to reject electronic noise in the lower part of the energy spectrum. A cut-based strategy and a multivariate approach indicated a rate, attributed to the intrinsic radioactivity of the crystal, of$$\sim $$ $\sim$1 count/day/kg/keV in the [5–20] keV region. 

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2. Search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson to a pair of pseudoscalars in the $$\upmu \upmu \text{ b } \text{ b } $$ and $$\uptau \uptau \text{ b } \text{ b } $$ final states

   https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-024-12727-4  

   Hayrapetyan, A; Tumasyan, A; Adam, W; Andrejkovic, J W; Bergauer, T; Chatterjee, S; Damanakis, K; Dragicevic, M; Del_Valle, A Escalante; Hussain, P S; et al (May 2024, The European Physical Journal C)

   Abstract A search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson ($$\text {H}$$ $\text{H}$) with a mass of 125$$\,\text {Ge}\hspace{-.08em}\text {V}$$ $\text{Ge}\text{V}$to a pair of light pseudoscalars$$\text {a}_{1} $$ ${\text{a}}_1$is performed in final states where one pseudoscalar decays to two$${\textrm{b}}$$ $\text{b}$quarks and the other to a pair of muons or$$\tau $$ $\tau$leptons. A data sample of proton–proton collisions at$$\sqrt{s}=13\,\text {Te}\hspace{-.08em}\text {V} $$ $\sqrt{s}=13\text{Te}\text{V}$corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138$$\,\text {fb}^{-1}$$ ${\text{fb}}^{-1}$recorded with the CMS detector is analyzed. No statistically significant excess is observed over the standard model backgrounds. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level ($$\text {CL}$$ $\text{CL}$) on the Higgs boson branching fraction to$$\upmu \upmu \text{ b } \text{ b } $$ $\mu \mu \text{b}\text{b}$and to$$\uptau \uptau \text{ b } \text{ b },$$ $\tau \tau \text{b}\text{b},$via a pair of$$\text {a}_{1} $$ ${\text{a}}_1$s. The limits depend on the pseudoscalar mass$$m_{\text {a}_{1}}$$ $m_{{\text{a}}_1}$and are observed to be in the range (0.17–3.3) $$\times 10^{-4}$$ $\times {10}^{-4}$and (1.7–7.7) $$\times 10^{-2}$$ $\times {10}^{-2}$in the$$\upmu \upmu \text{ b } \text{ b } $$ $\mu \mu \text{b}\text{b}$and$$\uptau \uptau \text{ b } \text{ b } $$ $\tau \tau \text{b}\text{b}$final states, respectively. In the framework of models with two Higgs doublets and a complex scalar singlet (2HDM+S), the results of the two final states are combined to determine upper limits on the branching fraction$${\mathcal {B}}(\text {H} \rightarrow \text {a}_{1} \text {a}_{1} \rightarrow \ell \ell \text{ b } \text{ b})$$ $B(\text{H}\to {\text{a}}_1{\text{a}}_1\to \ell \ell \text{b}\text{b})$at 95%$$\text {CL}$$ $\text{CL}$, with$$\ell $$ $\ell$being a muon or a$$\uptau $$ $\tau$lepton. For different types of 2HDM+S, upper bounds on the branching fraction$${\mathcal {B}}(\text {H} \rightarrow \text {a}_{1} \text {a}_{1} )$$ $B(\text{H}\to {\text{a}}_1{\text{a}}_1)$are extracted from the combination of the two channels. In most of the Type II 2HDM+S parameter space,$${\mathcal {B}}(\text {H} \rightarrow \text {a}_{1} \text {a}_{1} )$$ $B(\text{H}\to {\text{a}}_1{\text{a}}_1)$values above 0.23 are excluded at 95%$$\text {CL}$$ $\text{CL}$for$$m_{\text {a}_{1}}$$ $m_{{\text{a}}_1}$values between 15 and 60$$\,\text {Ge}\hspace{-.08em}\text {V}$$ $\text{Ge}\text{V}$. 

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3. Charm fragmentation fractions and $$\mathbf {c\overline{c}}$$ cross section in p–Pb collisions at $$\mathbf {\sqrt{s _{NN}}=5.02 TeV}$$

   https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-024-13394-1  

   Acharya, S; Adamová, D; Agarwal, A; Aglieri_Rinella, G; Aglietta, L; Agnello, M; Agrawal, N; Ahammed, Z; Ahmad, S; Ahn, S U; et al (December 2024, The European Physical Journal C)

   Abstract The total charm-quark production cross section per unit of rapidity$$\textrm{d}\sigma ({{\textrm{c}}\overline{\textrm{c}}})/\textrm{d}y$$ $\text{d}\sigma \left(\text{c}\overline{\text{c}}\right)/\text{d}y$, and the fragmentation fractions of charm quarks to different charm-hadron species$$f(\textrm{c}\rightarrow {\textrm{h}}_{\textrm{c}})$$ $f(\text{c}\to {\text{h}}_{\text{c}})$, are measured for the first time in p–Pb collisions at$$\sqrt{s_\textrm{NN}} = 5.02~\text {Te}\hspace{-1.00006pt}\textrm{V} $$ $\sqrt{s_{\text{NN}}}=5.02\text{Te}\text{V}$at midrapidity ($$-0.96<0.04$$ $-0.96<y<0.04$in the centre-of-mass frame) using data collected by ALICE at the CERN LHC. The results are obtained based on all the available measurements of prompt production of ground-state charm-hadron species:$$\textrm{D}^{0}$$ ${\text{D}}^0$,$$\textrm{D}^{+}$$ ${\text{D}}^{+}$,$$\textrm{D}_\textrm{s}^{+}$$ ${\text{D}}_{\text{s}}^{+}$, and$$\mathrm {J/\psi }$$ $J/\psi$mesons, and$$\Lambda _\textrm{c}^{+}$$ ${\Lambda }_{\text{c}}^{+}$and$$\Xi _\textrm{c}^{0}$$ ${\Xi }_{\text{c}}^0$baryons. The resulting cross section is$$ \textrm{d}\sigma ({{\textrm{c}}\overline{\textrm{c}}})/\textrm{d}y =219.6 \pm 6.3\;(\mathrm {stat.}) {\;}_{-11.8}^{+10.5}\;(\mathrm {syst.}) {\;}_{-2.9}^{+8.3}\;(\mathrm {extr.})\pm 5.4\;(\textrm{BR})\pm 4.6\;(\mathrm {lumi.}) \pm 19.5\;(\text {rapidity shape})+15.0\;(\Omega _\textrm{c}^{0})\;\textrm{mb} $$ $\text{d}\sigma \left(\text{c}\overline{\text{c}}\right)/\text{d}y=219.6\pm 6.3\left(\mathrm{stat}.\right)_{-11.8}^{+10.5}\left(\mathrm{syst}.\right)_{-2.9}^{+8.3}\left(\mathrm{extr}.\right)\pm 5.4\left(\text{BR}\right)\pm 4.6\left(\mathrm{lumi}.\right)\pm 19.5\left(\text{rapidity shape}\right)+15.0\left({\Omega }_{\text{c}}^0\right)\text{mb}$, which is consistent with a binary scaling of pQCD calculations from pp collisions. The measured fragmentation fractions are compatible with those measured in pp collisions at$$\sqrt{s} = 5.02$$ $\sqrt{s}=5.02$and 13 TeV, showing an increase in the relative production rates of charm baryons with respect to charm mesons in pp and p–Pb collisions compared with$$\mathrm {e^{+}e^{-}}$$ $e^{+}{e}^{-}$and$$\mathrm {e^{-}p}$$ $e^{-}p$collisions. The$$p_\textrm{T}$$ $p_{\text{T}}$-integrated nuclear modification factor of charm quarks,$$R_\textrm{pPb}({\textrm{c}}\overline{\textrm{c}})= 0.91 \pm 0.04\;\mathrm{(stat.)} ^{+0.08}_{-0.09}\;\mathrm{(syst.)} ^{+0.05}_{-0.03}\;\mathrm{(extr.)} \pm 0.03\;\mathrm{(lumi.)}$$ $R_{\text{pPb}}\left(\text{c}\overline{\text{c}}\right)=0.91\pm 0.04{(\mathrm{stat}.)}_{-0.09}^{+0.08}{(\mathrm{syst}.)}_{-0.03}^{+0.05}(\mathrm{extr}.)\pm 0.03(\mathrm{lumi}.)$, is found to be consistent with unity and with theoretical predictions including nuclear modifications of the parton distribution functions. 

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4. Search for CP violation in $${{{\textrm{D}}}^{{0}}} \rightarrow {{\textrm{K}} _{\text {S}}^{{0}}} {{\textrm{K}} _{\text {S}}^{{0}}} $$ decays in proton–proton collisions at $$\sqrt{s} = 13\,\text {Te}\hspace{-.08em}\text {V} $$

   https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-024-13244-0  

   Hayrapetyan, A; Tumasyan, A; Adam, W; Andrejkovic, J W; Bergauer, T; Chatterjee, S; Damanakis, K; Dragicevic, M; Hussain, P S; Jeitler, M; et al (December 2024, The European Physical Journal C)

   Abstract A search is reported for charge-parity$$CP$$ $\mathrm{CP}$violation in$${{{\textrm{D}}}^{{0}}} \rightarrow {{\textrm{K}} _{\text {S}}^{{0}}} {{\textrm{K}} _{\text {S}}^{{0}}} $$ ${\text{D}}^0\to {\text{K}}_{\text{S}}^0{\text{K}}_{\text{S}}^0$decays, using data collected in proton–proton collisions at$$\sqrt{s} = 13\,\text {Te}\hspace{-.08em}\text {V} $$ $\sqrt{s}=13\text{Te}\text{V}$recorded by the CMS experiment in 2018. The analysis uses a dedicated data set that corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 41.6$$\,\text {fb}^{-1}$$ ${\text{fb}}^{-1}$, which consists of about 10 billion events containing a pair of b hadrons, nearly all of which decay to charm hadrons. The flavor of the neutral D meson is determined by the pion charge in the reconstructed decays$${{{\textrm{D}}}^{{*+}}} \rightarrow {{{\textrm{D}}}^{{0}}} {{{\mathrm{\uppi }}}^{{+}}} $$ $\text{D}_{}^{\ast +}\to {\text{D}}^0{\pi }^{+}$and$${{{\textrm{D}}}^{{*-}}} \rightarrow {\overline{{\textrm{D}}}^{{0}}} {{{\mathrm{\uppi }}}^{{-}}} $$ $\text{D}_{}^{\ast -}\to {\overline{\text{D}}}^0{\pi }^{-}$. The$$CP$$ $\mathrm{CP}$asymmetry in$${{{\textrm{D}}}^{{0}}} \rightarrow {{\textrm{K}} _{\text {S}}^{{0}}} {{\textrm{K}} _{\text {S}}^{{0}}} $$ ${\text{D}}^0\to {\text{K}}_{\text{S}}^0{\text{K}}_{\text{S}}^0$is measured to be$$A_{CP} ({{\textrm{K}} _{\text {S}}^{{0}}} {{\textrm{K}} _{\text {S}}^{{0}}} ) = (6.2 \pm 3.0 \pm 0.2 \pm 0.8)\%$$ $A_{\mathrm{CP}}\left({\text{K}}_{\text{S}}^0{\text{K}}_{\text{S}}^0\right)=(6.2\pm 3.0\pm 0.2\pm 0.8)\%$, where the three uncertainties represent the statistical uncertainty, the systematic uncertainty, and the uncertainty in the measurement of the$$CP$$ $\mathrm{CP}$asymmetry in the$${{{\textrm{D}}}^{{0}}} \rightarrow {{\textrm{K}} _{\text {S}}^{{0}}} {{{\mathrm{\uppi }}}^{{+}}} {{{\mathrm{\uppi }}}^{{-}}} $$ ${\text{D}}^0\to {\text{K}}_{\text{S}}^0{\pi }^{+}{\pi }^{-}$decay. This is the first$$CP$$ $\mathrm{CP}$asymmetry measurement by CMS in the charm sector as well as the first to utilize a fully hadronic final state. 

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5. Measurement of non-prompt $${{\textrm{D}}^{0}}$$-meson elliptic flow in Pb–Pb collisions at $$\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}} = 5.02$$ TeV

   https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-023-12259-3  

   Acharya, S; Adamová, D; Aglieri_Rinella, G; Agnello, M; Agrawal, N; Ahammed, Z; Ahmad, S; Ahn, S U; Ahuja, I; Akindinov, A; et al (December 2023, The European Physical Journal C)

   Abstract The elliptic flow$$(v_2)$$ $\left(v_2\right)$of$${\textrm{D}}^{0}$$ ${\text{D}}^0$mesons from beauty-hadron decays (non-prompt$${\textrm{D}}^{0})$$ ${\text{D}}^0)$was measured in midcentral (30–50%) Pb–Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair$$\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}} = 5.02$$ $\sqrt{s_{\text{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The$${\textrm{D}}^{0}$$ ${\text{D}}^0$mesons were reconstructed at midrapidity$$(|y|<0.8)$$ $\left(\right|y|<0.8)$from their hadronic decay$$\mathrm {D^0 \rightarrow K^-\uppi ^+}$$ $D^0\to K^{-}{\pi }^{+}$, in the transverse momentum interval$$2< p_{\textrm{T}} < 12$$ $2<p_{\text{T}}<12$ GeV/c. The result indicates a positive$$v_2$$ $v_2$for non-prompt$${{\textrm{D}}^{0}}$$ ${\text{D}}^0$mesons with a significance of 2.7$$\sigma $$ $\sigma$. The non-prompt$${{\textrm{D}}^{0}}$$ ${\text{D}}^0$-meson$$v_2$$ $v_2$is lower than that of prompt non-strange D mesons with 3.2$$\sigma $$ $\sigma$significance in$$2< p_\textrm{T} < 8~\textrm{GeV}/c$$ $2<p_{\text{T}}<8\text{GeV}/c$, and compatible with the$$v_2$$ $v_2$of beauty-decay electrons. Theoretical calculations of beauty-quark transport in a hydrodynamically expanding medium describe the measurement within uncertainties. 

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