arXiv subjects

A. Palladino

Publications and source records attributed to A. Palladino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2021

An NLP approach to quantify dynamic salience of predefined topics in a text corpus

The proliferation of news media available online simultaneously presents a valuable resource and significant challenge to analysts aiming to profile and understand social and cultural trends in a geographic location of interest. While an abundance of news reports documenting significant events, trends, and responses provides a more democratized picture of the social characteristics of a location, making sense of an entire corpus to extract significant trends is a steep challenge for any one analyst or team. Here, we present an approach using natural language processing techniques that seeks to quantify how a set of pre-defined topics of interest change over time across a large corpus of text. We found that, given a predefined topic, we can identify and rank sets of terms, or n-grams, that map to those topics and have usage patterns that deviate from a normal baseline. Emergence, disappearance, or significant variations in n-gram usage present a ground-up picture of a topic's dynamic salience within a corpus of interest.

cs.CL↗

arXiv2021

An Experiment Exploring Gravitational Effects on CP Violation

We suggest a new experiment sensitive to a possible difference between the amount of CP violation as measured on the surface of the Earth and in a lower gravity environment. Our proposed experiment is model independent and could yield a $5σ$ measurement within tens of days, indicating a dependence of the level of CP violation in the neutral kaon system on the local gravitational potential.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

EeV Astrophysical neutrinos from FSRQs?

Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars (FSRQ) are the most powerful blazars in the gamma-ray band. Although they are supposed to be good candidates in producing high energy neutrinos, no secure detection of FSRQs has been obtained up to now, except for a possible case of PKS B1424-418. In this work, we compute the expected flux of high energy neutrinos from FSRQs using standard assumptions for the properties of the radiation fields filling the regions surrounding the central supermassive black hole. We obtain as a result that high energy neutrinos are naturally expected from FSRQs in the sub-EeV-EeV energy range and not at PeV energies. This justifies the non-observation of neutrinos from FSRQs with the present technology, since only neutrinos below 10 PeV have been observed. We found that for a non-negligible range of the parameters the cumulative flux from FSRQs is comparable to or even exceeds the expected cosmogenic neutrino flux. This result is intriguing and highlights the importance to disentangle these point-source emissions from the diffuse cosmogenic background.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

Probing antigravitational effects through CP violation on the Moon

The environment on the Moon has numerous features that make it interesting not only for the study of astrophysical phenomena, but also elementary particle physics. In fact, vacuum conditions, low gravity, and exposure to a relatively intense irradiation of cosmic protons covering a large energy spectrum, make the lunar environment attractive for a wide range of particle physics experiments otherwise unworkable on Earth. We suggest one such experiment measuring the difference between the amount of CP violation as measured on the surface of the Earth and on the surface of the Moon, which could indicate quantum gravitational effects

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

PEN experiment: a precise test of lepton universality

With few open channels and uncomplicated theoretical description, charged pion decays are uniquely sensitive to certain standard model (SM) symmetries, the universality of weak fermion couplings, and to aspects of pion structure and chiral dynamics. We review the current knowledge of the pion electronic decay $π^+ \to e^+ ν_e(γ)$, or $π_{e2(γ)}$, and the resulting limits on non-SM processes. Focusing on the PEN experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Switzerland, we examine the prospects for further improvement in the near term.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

PEN: a low energy test of lepton universality

Allowed charged $π$ meson decays are characterized by simple dynamics, few available decay channels, mainly into leptons, and extremely well controlled radiative and loop corrections. In that sense, pion decays represent a veritable triumph of the standard model (SM) of elementary particles and interactions. This relative theoretical simplicity makes charged pion decays a sensitive means for testing the underlying symmetries and the universality of weak fermion couplings, as well as for studying pion structure and chiral dynamics. Even after considerable recent improvements, experimental precision is lagging far behind that of the theoretical description for pion decays. We review the current state of experimental study of the pion electronic decay $π^+ \to e^+ν_e(γ)$, or $π_{e2(γ)}$, where the $(γ)$ indicates inclusion and explicit treatment of radiative decay events. We briefly review the limits on non-SM processes arising from the present level of experimental precision in $π_{e2(γ)}$ decays. Focusing on the PEN experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Switzerland, we examine the prospects for further improvement in the near term.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2016

Limit on the production of a new vector boson in $\mathrm{e^+ e^-}\rightarrow {\rm U}γ$, U$\rightarrow π^+π^-$ with the KLOE experiment

The recent interest in a light gauge boson in the framework of an extra U(1) symmetry motivates searches in the mass range below 1 GeV. We present a search for such a particle, the dark photon, in ${\rm e^+ e^-}\rightarrow {\rm U}γ$, U$\rightarrow π^+π^-$ based on 28 million $\mathrm{e^+ e^-} \rightarrow π^+ π^-γ$ events collected at DA$Φ$NE by the KLOE experiment. The $π^+ π^-$ production by initial-state radiation compensates for a loss of sensitivity of previous KLOE ${\rm U} \rightarrow \mathrm{e^+ e^-}$, $μ^+μ^-$ searches due to the small branching ratios in the $ρ-ω$ resonance region. We found no evidence for a signal and set a limit at 90\% CL on the mixing strength between the photon and the dark photon, $\varepsilon^2$, in the U mass range between $527$ and $987$~MeV. Above 700 MeV this new limit is more stringent than previous ones.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2015

Limit on the production of a low-mass vector boson in $\mathrm{e}^{+}\mathrm{e}^{-} \to \mathrm{U}γ$, $\mathrm{U} \to \mathrm{e}^{+}\mathrm{e}^{-}$ with the KLOE experiment

The existence of a new force beyond the Standard Model is compelling because it could explain several striking astrophysical observations which fail standard interpretations. We searched for the light vector mediator of this dark force, the $\mathrm{U}$ boson, with the KLOE detector at the DA$Φ$NE $\mathrm{e}^{+}\mathrm{e}^{-}$ collider. Using an integrated luminosity of 1.54 fb$^{-1}$, we studied the process $\mathrm{e}^{+}\mathrm{e}^{-} \to \mathrm{U}γ$, with $\mathrm{U} \to \mathrm{e}^{+}\mathrm{e}^{-}$, using radiative-return to search for a resonant peak in the dielectron invariant-mass distribution. We did not find evidence for a signal, and set a 90\%~CL upper limit on the mixing strength between the Standard Model photon and the dark photon, $\varepsilon^2$, at $10^{-6}$--$10^{-4}$ in the 5--520~MeV/c$^2$ mass range.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2015

Testing neutrino decay scenarios with IceCube data

We test the hypothesis of non-radiative neutrinos decay using the latest IceCube data. Namely, we calculate the track-to-shower ratio expected in IceCube for the normal and inverted neutrino mass hierarchy taking into account the uncertainties in neutrino oscillation parameters. We show that the subset of data with energy above 60 TeV actually excludes the possibility of a neutrinos decay at the 1 sigma level of significance for both neutrino mass hierarchies.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Mu2e Technical Design Report

The Mu2e experiment at Fermilab will search for charged lepton flavor violation via the coherent conversion process mu- N --> e- N with a sensitivity approximately four orders of magnitude better than the current world's best limits for this process. The experiment's sensitivity offers discovery potential over a wide array of new physics models and probes mass scales well beyond the reach of the LHC. We describe herein the preliminary design of the proposed Mu2e experiment. This document was created in partial fulfillment of the requirements necessary to obtain DOE CD-2 approval.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2015

Which is the flavor of cosmic neutrinos seen by IceCube?

We analyze the high-energy neutrino events observed by IceCube, aiming to probe the initial flavor of cosmic neutrinos. We study the track-to-shower ratio of the subset with energy above 60 TeV, where the signal is expected to dominate and show that different production mechanisms give rise to different predictions even accounting for the uncertainties due to neutrino oscillations. We include for the first time the passing muons observed by IceCube in the analysis. They corroborate the hypotheses that cosmic neutrinos have been seen and their flavor matches expectations.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Search for dark Higgsstrahlung in e+ e- -> mu+ mu- and missing energy events with the KLOE experiment

We searched for evidence of a Higgsstrahlung process in a secluded sector, leading to a final state with a dark photon U and a dark Higgs boson h', with the KLOE detector at DAFNE. We investigated the case of h' lighter than U, with U decaying into a muon pair and h' producing a missing energy signature. We found no evidence of the process and set upper limits to its parameters in the range 2m_mu<m_U<1000 MeV, m_h'<m_U.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2014

Study of Dalitz decay phi -> eta e+e- with KLOE detector

We have studied the vector to pseudoscalar conversion decay phi -> eta e+e-, with eta -> pi0pi0pi0, with the KLOE detector at DAPHNE. The data set of 1.7 fb-1 of e+e- collisions at sqrt(s)~Mphi contains a clear conversion decay signal of ~31,000 events from which we measured a value of BR(phi -> eta e+e-)=(1.075+-0.007+-0.038)x10-4. The same sample is used to determine the transition form factor by a fit to the e+e- invariant mass spectrum, obtaining b(phi eta) =(1.17 +- 0.10 + 0.07) GeV-2, that improves by a factor of five the precision of the previous measurement and is in good agreement with VMD expectations.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2014

Search for light vector boson production in $e^+e^- \rightarrow μ^+ μ^- γ$ interactions with the KLOE experiment

We have searched for a light vector boson $U$, the possible carrier of a "dark force", with the KLOE detector at the DA$Φ$NE \epm\ collider, motivated by astrophysical evidence for the presence of dark matter in the universe. Using \epm\ collisions collected with an integrated luminosity of $239.3$~pb$^{-1}$, we look for a dimuon mass peak in the reaction \epm\to$μ^+ μ^-$\gam, corresponding to the decay $U\toμ^+μ^-$. We find no evidence for a $U$ vector boson signal. We set a 90\% CL upper limit for the mixing parameter squared between the photon and the $U$ boson of 1.6$\times$10$^{-5}$ to 8.6$\times$10$^{-7}$ for the mass region $520<m_{\rm U}<980$ MeV.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2014

New results in rare allowed muon and pion decays

Simple dynamics, few available decay channels, and highly controlled radiative and loop corrections, make pion and muon decays a sensitive means of exploring details of the underlying symmetries. We review the current status of the rare decays: pi+ -> e+ nu, pi+ -> e+ nu gamma, pi+ -> pi0 e+ nu, and mu+ -> e+ nu nu-bar gamma. For the latter we report new preliminary values for the branching ratio B(E_gamma >10 MeV, theta_(e-gamma) > 30deg) = 4.365 (9)_stat (42)_syst x 10^{-3}, and the decay parameter eta-bar = 0.006 (17)_stat (18)_syst, both in excellent agreement with standard model predictions. We review recent measurements, particularly by the PIBETA and PEN experiments, and near-term prospects for improvement. These and other similar precise low energy studies complement modern collider results materially.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2014

Test of CPT and Lorentz symmetry in entangled neutral kaons with the KLOE experiment

Neutral kaon pairs produced in phi decays in anti-symmetric entangled state can be exploited to search for violation of CPT symmetry and Lorentz invariance. We present an analysis of the CP-violating process phi->K_S K_L->pi+pi-pi+pi- based on 1.7 fb-1 of data collected by the KLOE experiment at the Frascati phi-factory DAFNE. The data are used to perform a measurement of the CPT-violating parameters Delta_amu for neutral kaons in the contest of the Standard Model Extension framework. The parameters measured in the reference frame of the fixed stars are: Delta_ao = (-6.0 +- 7.7_{stat} +- 3.1_{syst}) x 10^{-18} GeV Delta_ax = ( 0.9 +- 1.5_{stat} +- 0.6_{syst}) x 10^{-18} GeV Delta_ay = (-2.0 +- 1.5_{stat} +- 0.5_{syst}) x 10^{-18} GeV Delta_az = ( 3.1 +- 1.7_{stat} +- 0.5_{syst}) x 10^{-18} GeV These are presently the most precise measurements in the quark sector of the Standard Model Extension.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2013

Recent results on hadron physics at KLOE

One of the basic motivations of the KLOE and KLOE-2 collaborations is the test of fundamental symmetries and the search for phenomena beyond the Standard Model via the hadronic and leptonic decays of ground-state mesons and via their production in the fusion of virtual gamma quanta exchanged between colliding electrons and positrons. This contribution includes brief description of results of recent analysis of the KLOE data aimed at (i) the search for the dark matter boson, (ii) determination of the hadronic and light-by-light contributions to the g-2 muon anomaly and (iii) tests of QCD anomalies.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2012

New studies of allowed pion and muon decays

Building on the rare pion and muon decay results of the PIBETA experiment, the PEN collaboration has undertaken a precise measurement of B_{πe2} = R^π_{e/μ}, the π^+ -> e^+ν(γ) decay branching ratio, at the Paul Scherrer Institute, to reduce the present 40\times experimental precision lag behind theory to ~ 6-7\times. Because of large helicity suppression, R^π_{e/μ} is uniquely sensitive to contributions from non-(V-A) physics, making this decay a particularly suitable subject of study. Even at current precision, the experimental value of B_{πe2} provides the most accurate test of lepton universality available. During runs in 2008-10, PEN has accumulated over 2\times 10^7 π_{e2} events; a comprehensive maximum-likelihood analysis is currently under way. The new data will also lead to improved precision of the earlier PIBETA results on radiative πand μdecays.

hep-ex↗