• Publicationsclose
• Research dataclose
• 2014-2023close
• Article close
• European Commission close
• IT close

Neutrinoless double beta decay (0nubb) is one of the most sensitive probes for physics beyond the Standard Model, providing unique information on the nature of neutrinos. In this paper we review the status and outlook for bolometric 0nubb decay searches. We summarize recent advances in background suppression demonstrated using bolometers with simultaneous readout of heat and light signals. We simulate several configurations of a future CUORE-like bolometer array which would utilize these improvements and present the sensitivity reach of a hypothetical next-generation bolometric 0nubb experiment. We demonstrate that a bolometric experiment with the isotope mass of about 1 ton is capable of reaching the sensitivity to the effective Majorana neutrino mass (|mee|) of order 10-20 meV, thus completely exploring the so-called inverted neutrino mass hierarchy region. We highlight the main challenges and identify priorities for an R&D program addressing them. 22 pages, 15 figures, submitted to EPJC

As has been known since the 90s, there is an integrable structure underlying two-dimensional gravity theories. Recently, two-dimensional gravity theories have regained an enormous amount of attention, but now in relation with quantum chaos - superficially nothing like integrability. In this paper, we return to the roots and exploit the integrable structure underlying dilaton gravity theories to study a late time, large $e^{S_\text{BH}}$ double scaled limit of the spectral form factor. In this limit, a novel cancellation due to the integrable structure ensures that at each genus $g$ the spectral form factor grows like $T^{2g+1}$, and that the sum over genera converges, realising a perturbative approach to the late-time plateau. Along the way, we clarify various aspects of this integrable structure. In particular, we explain the central role played by ribbon graphs, we discuss intersection theory, and we explain what the relations with dilaton gravity and matrix models are from a more modern holographic perspective. 44 pages + appendices

Intrinsically disordered protein regions are commonly defined from missing electron density in X-ray structures. Experimental evidence for long disorder regions (LDRs) of at least 30 residues was so far limited to manually curated proteins. Here, we describe a comprehensive and large-scale analysis of experimental LDRs for 3133 unique proteins, demonstrating an increasing coverage of intrinsic disorder in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) in the last decade. The results suggest that long missing residue regions are a good quality source to annotate intrinsically disordered regions and perform functional analysis in large data sets. The consensus approach used to define LDRs allows to evaluate context dependent disorder and provide a common definition at the protein level.

Abstract: A measurement is presented of differential cross sections for t-channel single top quark and antiquark production in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 mml:mspace> by the CMS experiment at the LHC. From a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 mml:mspacefb-1, events containing one muon or electron and two or three jets are analysed. The cross section is measured as a function of the top quark transverse momentum (pT), rapidity, and polarisation angle, the charged lepton pT and rapidity, and the pT of the W boson from the top quark decay. In addition, the charge ratio is measured differentially as a function of the top quark, charged lepton, and W boson kinematic observables. The results are found to be in agreement with standard model predictions using various next-to-leading-order event generators and sets of parton distribution functions. Additionally, the spin asymmetry, sensitive to the top quark polarisation, is determined from the differential distribution of the polarisation angle at parton level to be 0.440 +/- 0.070, in agreement with the standard model prediction.

Abstract Superconducting YBa2Cu3O7-δ films with different amounts of BaZrO3 nanoinclusions were deposited on SrTiO3(001) by low-fluorine chemical solution deposition with the aim of introducing artificial vortex pinning centres. The Zr concentration over the film thickness could be determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy combined with Ar+ ion etching. The Zr/Y ratio has a constant behaviour in the film's bulk. Zr segregation occurs near the surface and Zr diffusion into the substrate is observed near the interface. Conversely, Sr and Ti from the substrate diffuse into the films. Y3d lineshape analysis and X-Ray Diffraction data pointed out that Ti diffusion causes the formation of Y-Ti-O based spurious phases.

The performance and long term stability of an optically readout Time Projection Chamber with an electron amplification structure based on three Gas Electron Multipliers was studied. He/CF$_4$ based gas mixtures were used in two different proportions (60/40 and 70/30) in a CYGNO prototype with 7 litres sensitive volume. With electrical configurations providing very similar electron gains, an almost full detection efficiency in the whole detector volume was found with both mixtures, while a light yield about 20\% larger for the 60/40 was found. The electrostatic stability was tested by monitoring voltages and currents during 25 days. The detector worked in very stable and safe condition for the whole period. In the presence of less CF$_4$, a larger probability of unstable events was clearly detected.