119308656
Status of the SPHERE experiment
Here is presented the current state of the SPHERE-2 balloon-borne experiment. The detector is elevated up to 1 km above the snow surface and registers the reflected Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation from extensive air showers. This method has good sensitivity to the mass-composition of the primary cosmic rays due to its high resolution near the shower axis. The detector consists of a 1500 mm spherical mirror with a 109 PMT cluster in its focus. The electronics record a signal pulse profile in each PMT. In the last 2 years the detector was upgraded: time resolution of pulse registration was enhanced up to 12.5 ns, channel sensitivity was increased by a factor of 3, a new LED-based relative PMT calibration method was introduced, and new hardware and etc. was installed.
209048432
Search for supersymmetry in hadronic final states with missing transverse energy using the variables alphaT and b-quark multiplicity in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV
24410937
Measurement of the polarization of W bosons with large transverse momenta in W + jets events at the LHC.
A first measurement of the polarization of W bosons with large transverse momenta in pp collisions is presented. The measurement is based on 36 pb⁻¹ of data recorded at √s = 7 TeV by the CMS detector at the LHC. The left-handed, right-handed, and longitudinal polarization fractions (f(L), f(R), and f₀, respectively) of W bosons with transverse momenta larger than 50 GeV are determined by using decays to both electrons and muons. The muon final state yields the most precise measurement: (f(L) - f(R))⁻ = 0.240 ± 0.036(stat) ± 0.031(syst) and f₀⁻ = 0.183 ± 0.087(stat) ± 0.123(syst) for negatively charged W bosons and (f(L) - f(R))⁺ = 0.310 ± 0.036(stat) ± 0.017(syst) and f₀⁺ = 0.171 ± 0.085(stat) ± 0.099(syst) for positively charged W bosons. This establishes, for the first time, that W bosons produced in pp collisions with large transverse momenta are predominantly left-handed, as expected in the standard model.
118218838
Search for large extra dimensions in the diphoton final state at the Large Hadron Collider
A search for large extra spatial dimensions via virtual-graviton exchange in the diphoton channel has been carried out with the CMS detector at the LHC. No excess of events above the standard model expectations is found using a data sample collected in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt {s} = 7 $ TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 pb−1. New lower limits on the effective Planck scale in the range of 1.6–2.3TeV at the 95% confidence level are set, providing the most restrictive bounds to date on models with more than two large extra dimensions.
119232894
Search for heavy quarks decaying into a top quark and a W or Z boson using lepton + jets events in pp collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=7 $ TeV
A bstractResults are presented from a search for the pair-production of heavy quarks, $ \mathrm{Q}\overline{\mathrm{Q}} $, that decay exclusively into a top quark and a W or Z boson. The search is performed using a sample of proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=7 $ TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb−1, collected by the Compact Muon Solenoid experiment. The signal region is defined using a sample of events containing one electron or muon, missing transverse momentum, and at least four jets with large transverse momenta, where one jet is likely to originate from the decay of a bottom quark. No significant excess of events is observed with respect to the standard model expectations. Assuming a strong pair-production mechanism, quark masses below 675 (625) GeV decaying into tW (tZ) are excluded at the 95 % confidence level.
119163191
Search for a fermiophobic Higgs boson in pp collisions at $ \sqrt {s} = 7 $ TeV
A bstractCombined results are reported from searches for a fermiophobic Higgs boson in the γγ, WW, and ZZ decay modes in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt {s} = 7 $ TeV. The explored Higgs boson mass range is 110–300 GeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 4.9–5.1 fb−1. A fermiophobic Higgs boson is excluded at 95% confidence level in the mass range 110–194 GeV, and at 99% confidence level in the mass ranges 110–124.5 GeV, 127–147.5 GeV, and 155–180 GeV.
20878991
DISCOVERY OF A NEW SOFT GAMMA REPEATER: SGR J0418 + 5729
On 2009 June 5, the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) onboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope triggered on two short and relatively dim bursts with spectral properties similar to soft gamma repeater (SGR) bursts. Independent localizations of the bursts by triangulation with the Konus-RF and with the Swift satellite confirmed their origin from the same, previously unknown, source. The subsequent discovery of X-ray pulsations with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer confirmed the magnetar nature of the new source, SGR J0418+5729. we describe here the Fermi/GBM observations, the discovery and the localization of this new SGR, and our infrared and Chandra X-ray observations. We also present a detailed temporal and spectral study of the two GBM bursts. SGR J0501+5729 is the second source discovered in the same region of the sky in the last year, the other one being SGR J0501+4516. Both sources lie in the direction of the galactic anti-center and presumably at the nearby distance of similar to 2 kpc (assuming they reside in the Perseus arm of our Galaxy). The near-threshold GBM detection of bursts from SGR J0418+5729 suggests that there may be more such "dim" SGRs throughout our Galaxy, possibly exceeding the population of "bright" SGRs. Finally, using sample statistics, we conclude that the number of observable active magnetars in our Galaxy at any given time is less than or similar to 10, in agreement with our earlier estimates.
117765652
The Be/X-Ray Binary A0535+26 During Its Recent 2009/2010 Outbursts
The Be/X-ray binary A0535+26 showed a giant outburst in December 2009 that reached approximately 5.14 Crab in thc 15-50 keV range. Unfortunately, due to Sun constraints it could not be observed by most X-ray satellites. The outburst was preceded by four weaker outbursts associated with the periastron passage of the neutron star. The fourth of them, in August 2009, presented a peculiar double-peaked light curve, with a first peak lasting about 9 days that reached a (15- 50 keV) flux of 440 mCrab. The tl ux then decreased to less than 220 mCrab, and increased again reaching 440 mCrab around the periastron. The outburst was monitored with INTEGRAL, RXTE, and Suzaku TOO observations. One orbital period (approximately 111 days) after the 2009 giant outburst, a new and unexpectedly bright outburst took place (approximately 1.4Crab in the 15-50 keV range). It was monitored with TOO observations with INTEGRAL, RXTE, Suzaku, and Swift. First results of the spectral and timing analysis of these observations are presented. with a specific focus on the cyclotron lines present in thc system and its variation with the mass accretion rate.
122046777
Measuring the radio emission of cosmic ray air showers with LOPES
Abstract When ultra high energy cosmic rays hit the atmosphere, they produce a shower of millions of secondary particles. Thereby the charged particles in the shower emit a radio pulse whilst deflected in the Earth's magnetic field. LOPES is a digital antenna array measuring these radio pulses in the frequency range from 40 to 80 MHz. It is located at the site of and triggered by the air shower experiment KASCADE-Grande at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany. In its present configuration, it consists of 15 east–west-polarized and 15 north–south-polarized, absolutely calibrated short dipole antennas, as well as 10 LPDAs (with two channels each). Furthermore, it serves as a test bench for technological developments, like new antenna types or a radio-based self-triggering ( LOPES STAR ). To achieve a good angular reconstruction and to digitally form a beam into the arrival direction of the shower, it has a precise time calibration.
118566113
LOFT: the Large Observatory For X-ray Timing
The LOFT mission concept is one of four candidates selected by ESA for the M3 launch opportunity as Medium Size missions of the Cosmic Vision programme. The launch window is currently planned for between 2022 and 2024. LOFT is designed to exploit the diagnostics of rapid X-ray flux and spectral variability that directly probe the motion of matter down to distances very close to black holes and neutron stars, as well as the physical state of ultradense matter. These primary science goals will be addressed by a payload composed of a Large Area Detector (LAD) and a Wide Field Monitor (WFM). The LAD is a collimated (<1 degree field of view) experiment operating in the energy range 2-50 keV, with a 10 m2 peak effective area and an energy resolution of 260 eV at 6 keV. The WFM will operate in the same energy range as the LAD, enabling simultaneous monitoring of a few-steradian wide field of view, with an angular resolution of <5 arcmin. The LAD and WFM experiments will allow us to investigate variability from submillisecond QPO’s to yearlong transient outbursts. In this paper we report the current status of the project.
118560092
Discovery of a New Torque Reversal of the Accreting X-ray Pulsar 4U 1626-67 by Fermi/GBM
Recent X-ray observations by Fermi/GBM discovered a new torque reversal of 4U 1626-67 after 18 years of steady spinning down. Using Swift/BAT observations we were able to center this new torque reversal on Feb 4 2008, lasting approximately 150 days. From 2004 up to the end of 2007, the spin-down rate averaged at a mean rate of ~dnu/dt=-4.8e-13 Hz s-1 until the torque reversal reported here. Since then it has been following a steady spin-up at a mean rate of ~dnu/dt= 4e-13 Hz s-1. The properties of this torque reversal, as well as the lack of correlation between the X-ray flux and the torque applied to the neutron star before this transition, challenges our understanding of the physical mechanisms operating in this system.