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J. Nieves

Publications and source records attributed to J. Nieves.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Summary of the NuSTEC Workshop on Neutrino-Nucleus Pion Production in the Resonance Region

The NuSTEC workshop held at the University of Pittsburgh in October 2019 brought theorists and experimentalists together to discuss the state of modeling and measurements related to pion production in neutrino-nucleus scattering in the kinematic region where pions are produced through both resonant and non-resonant mechanisms. Modeling of this region is of critical importance to the current and future accelerator- and atmospheric-based neutrino oscillation experiments. For the benefit of the community, links to the presentations are accompanied by annotations from the speakers highlighting significant points made during the presentations and resulting discussions.

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$\bar B_c \to η_c$, $\bar B_c \to J/ψ$ and $\bar B \to D^{(*)}$ semileptonic decays including new physics

We apply the general formalism derived in N. Penalva et al. [Phys. Rev. D 101, 113004 (2020)] to the semileptonic decay of pseudoscalar mesons containing a $b$ quark. While present $B\to D^{(*)}$ data give the strongest evidence in favor of lepton flavor universality violation, the observables that are normally considered are not able to distinguish between different new physics (NP) scenarios. In the above reference we discussed the relevant role that the various contributions to the double differential decay widths $d^2Γ/(dωd\cosθ_\ell)$ and $d^2Γ/(dωdE_\ell)$ could play to this end. Here $ω$ is the product of the two hadron four-velocities, $θ_\ell$ is the angle made by the final lepton and final hadron three-momenta in the center of mass of the final two-lepton system, and $E_\ell$ is the final charged lepton energy in the laboratory system. The formalism was applied there to the analysis of the $Λ_b\toΛ_c$ semileptonic decay showing the new observables were able to tell apart different NP scenarios. Here we analyze the $\bar B_c\to η_c τ\barν_τ$, $\bar B_c\to J/ψτ\barν_τ$, $\bar B\to Dτ\barν_τ$ and $\bar B\to D^*τ\barν_τ$ semileptonic decays. We show that, as a general rule, the $\bar B_c \to J/ψ$ observables, even including $τ$ polarization, are less optimal for distinguishing between NP scenarios than those obtained from $\bar B_c \to η_c$ decays, or those presented in N. Penalva et al. for the related $Λ_b \to Λ_c$ semileptonic decay. Finally, we show that $\bar B\to D$ and $\bar B_c\to η_c$, and $\bar B\to D^*$ and $\bar B_c\to J/ψ$ decay observables exhibit similar behaviors.

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Hadron and lepton tensors in semileptonic decays including new physics

We extend our general framework for semileptonic decay, originally introduced in N. Penalva et al. [Phys. Rev. D100, 113007 (2019)], with the addition of new physics (NP) tensor terms. In this way, all the NP effective Hamiltonians that are considered in lepton flavour universality violation (LFUV) studies have now been included. Besides, we now also give general expressions that allow for complex Wilson coefficients. The scheme developed is totally general and it can be applied to any charged current semileptonic decay, involving any quark flavors or initial and final hadron states. We show that all the hadronic input, including NP effects, can be parametrized in terms of 16 Lorentz scalar structure functions. In the second part of this work, we use this formalism to obtain the complete NP effects in the $Λ_b\to Λ_c τ\barν_τ$ semileptonic decay, where LFUV, if finally confirmed, is also expected to be seen. We stress the relevance of the center of mass (CM) $d^2Γ/(dωd\cosθ_\ell)$ and laboratory (LAB) $d^2Γ/(dωdE_\ell)$ differential decay widths. While models with very different strengths in the NP terms give the same differential $dΓ/dω$ and total decay widths for this decay, they predict very different numerical results for some of the $\cosθ_\ell$ and $E_\ell$ coefficient-functions that determine the above two distributions. Thus, the combined analysis of the CM $d^2Γ/(dωd\cosθ_\ell)$ and LAB $d^2Γ/ (dωdE_\ell)$ differential decay widths will help clarifying what kind of NP is a better candidate in order to explain LFUV.

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Exclusive final state hadron observables from neutrino-nucleus multi-nucleon knockout

We present results of an updated calculation of the 2p2h (two particle two hole) contribution to the neutrino-induced charge-current cross section. We provide also some exclusive observables, interesting from the point of view of experimental studies, e.g. distributions of momenta of the outgoing nucleons and of available energy, which we compare with the results obtained within the NEUT generator. We also compute, and separate from the total, the contributions of 3p3h mechanisms. Finally, we discuss the differences between the present results and previous implementations of the model in MC event-generators, done at the level of inclusive cross sections, which might significantly influence the experimental analyses, particularly in the cases where the hadronic observables are considered.

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Charmed excited baryons with heavy-quark spin symmetry

Recently five $Ω_c$ excited states have been reported by the LHCb Collaboration, four of them corroborated by Belle. The Belle Collaboration has also discovered in 2017 one excited $Ξ_c$ with mass of 2930 MeV. In view of these recent detections, we analyze the possible molecular description of these states, using a unitarized baryon-meson model that incorporates both chiral and heavy-quark spin symmetries in a consistent manner. We pay a special attention to the renormalization procedure, so as to determine the robustness of our predictions. Within our model, we generate dynamically several $Ω_c$ and $Ξ_c$ states. We find that, at least, three of our $Ω_c$ states can be identified with the experimental ones and have spin-parity $J=1/2^-$ or $J=3/2^-$. Moreover, we find a plausible molecular description of not only the $Ξ_c(2930)$ state, but also $Ξ_c(2790)$, $Ξ_c(2815)$ and $Ξ_c(2970)$, reported in the PDG. Interestingly, we determine that $Ξ_c(2930)$ and $Ξ_c(2970)$ are heavy-quark spin partners with $J=1/2^-$ and $J=3/2^-$, respectively, while obtaining that $Ξ_c(2930)$, $Ω_c(3090)$ or the $Ω_c(3119)$, and $Σ_c(2800)$ would belong to the same SU(3) multiplet.

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$Ξ_c$ and $Ξ_b$ excited states within a ${\rm SU(6)}_{\rm lsf}\times$HQSS model

We study odd parity $J=1/2$ and $J=3/2$ $Ξ_c$ resonances using a unitarized coupled-channel framework based on a ${\rm SU(6)}_{\rm lsf}\times$HQSS-extended Weinberg-Tomozawa baryon-meson interaction, while paying a special attention to the renormalization procedure. We predict a large molecular $Λ_c \bar K$ component for the $Ξ_c(2790)$ with a dominant $0^-$ light-degree-of-freedom spin configuration. We discuss the differences between the $3/2^-$ $Λ_c(2625)$ and $Ξ_c(2815)$ states, and conclude that they cannot be SU(3) siblings, whereas we predict the existence of other $Ξ_c-$states, two of them related to the two-pole structure of the $Λ_c(2595)$. It is of particular interest a pair of $J=1/2$ and $J=3/2$ poles, which form a HQSS doublet and that we tentatively assign to the $Ξ_c(2930)$ and $Ξ_c(2970)$, respectively. Within this picture, the $Ξ_c(2930)$ would be part of a SU(3) sextet, containing either the $Ω_c(3090)$ or the $Ω_c(3119)$, and that would be completed by the $Σ_c(2800)$. Moreover, we identify a $J=1/2$ sextet with the $Ξ_b(6227)$ state and the recently discovered $Σ_b(6097)$. Assuming the equal spacing rule and to complete this multiplet, we predict the existence of a $J=1/2$ $Ω_b$ odd parity state, with a mass of 6360 MeV and that should be seen in the $Ξ_b \bar K$ channel.

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Prediction of hidden charm strange molecular baryon states with heavy quark spin symmetry

We have studied the meson-baryon $S-$wave interaction, using coupled channels, in the isoscalar hidden-charm strange sector and $J^P = 1/2^-,3/2^-$ and $5/2^-$. We impose constraints of heavy quark spin symmetry in the interaction and obtain the non vanishing matrix elements from an extension of the local hidden gauge approach to the charm sector. The ultraviolet divergences are renormalized using the same meson-baryon-loops regulator previously employed in the non-strange hidden charm sector, where a good reproduction of the properties of the newly discovered pentaquark states is obtained. We obtain five states of $1/2^-$, four of $3/2^-$ and one of $5/2^-$, which could be compared in the near future with forthcoming LHCb experiments. The $5/2^-$, three of the $3/2^-$ and another three of the $1/2^-$ resonances are originated from isoscalar $\bar D^{(*)}Ξ_c^\prime$ and $\bar D^{(*)}Ξ_c^*$ interactions. They should be located just few MeV below the corresponding thresholds (4446, 4513, 4588 and 4655 MeV), and would be SU(3)-siblings of the isospin 1/2 $\bar D^{(*)} Σ_c^{(*)}$ quasi-bound states previously found, and that provided a robust theoretical description of the $P_c(4440)$, $P_c(4457)$ and $P_c(4312)$ LHCb exotic states. The another two $1/2^-$ and $3/2^-$ states obtained in this work are result of the $\bar D^{(*)}Ξ_c-D^{(*)}_sΛ_c$ coupled-channels isoscalar interaction, are significantly broader than the others, with widths of the order of 15 MeV, being $\bar D^{(*)}_sΛ_c$ the dominant decay channel.

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Polarization of tau in quasielastic (anti)neutrino scattering: the role of spectral functions

We present a study of the $τ$ polarization in charged-current quasielastic (anti)neutrino-nucleus scattering. The spectral function formalism is used to compute the differential cross section and the polarization components for several kinematical setups, relevant for neutrino-oscillation experiments. The effects of the nuclear corrections in these observables are investigated by comparing the results obtained using two different realistic spectral functions, with those deduced from the relativistic global Fermi gas model, where only statistical correlations are accounted for. We show that the spectral functions, although they play an important role when predicting the differential cross sections, produce much less visible effects on the polarization components of the outgoing $τ$.

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$Λ_b$ decays into $Λ_c^*\ell\barν_\ell$ and $Λ_c^*π^-$ $[Λ_c^*=Λ_c(2595)$ \& $Λ_c(2625)]$ and heavy quark spin symmetry

We study the implications for $Λ_b \to Λ_c^*\ell\barν_\ell$ and $Λ_b \to Λ_c^*π^-$ $[Λ_c^*=Λ_c(2595)$ and $Λ_c(2625)]$ decays that can be deduced from heavy quark spin symmetry (HQSS). Identifying the odd parity $Λ_c(2595)$ and $Λ_c(2625)$ resonances as HQSS partners, with total angular momentum--parity $j_q^P=1^-$ for the light degrees of freedom, we find that the ratios $Γ(Λ_b\rightarrowΛ_c(2595)π^-)/Γ(Λ_b\rightarrowΛ_c(2625)π^-)$ and $Γ(Λ_b\rightarrow Λ_c(2595) \ell \barν_\ell)/ Γ(Λ_b\rightarrowΛ_c(2625) \ell \barν_\ell)$ agree, within errors, with the experimental values given in the Review of Particle Physics. We discuss how future, and more precise, measurements of the above branching fractions could be used to shed light into the inner HQSS structure of the narrow $Λ_c(2595)$ odd-parity resonance. Namely, we show that such studies would constrain the existence of a sizable $j^P_q=0^-$ component in its wave-function, and/or of a two-pole pattern, in analogy to the case of the similar $Λ(1405)$ resonance in the strange sector, as suggested by most of the approaches that describe the $Λ_c(2595)$ as a hadron molecule. We also investigate the lepton flavor universality ratios $R[Λ_c^*] = {\cal B}(Λ_b \to Λ_c^* τ\,\barν_τ)/{\cal B}(Λ_b \to Λ_c^* μ\,\barν_μ)$, and discuss how $R[Λ_c(2595)]$ may be affected by a new source of potentially large systematic errors if there are two $Λ_c(2595)$ poles.

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Heavy quark spin symmetric molecular states from ${\bar D}^{(*)}Σ_c^{(*)}$ and other coupled channels in the light of the recent LHCb pentaquarks

We consider the ${\bar D}^{(*)}Σ_c^{(*)}$ states, together with $J/ψN$ and other coupled channels, and take an interaction consistent with heavy quark spin symmetry, with the dynamical input obtained from an extension of the local hidden gauge approach. By fitting only one parameter to the recent three pentaquark states reported by the LHCb collaboration, we can reproduce the three of them in base to the mass and the width, providing for them the quantum numbers and approximate molecular structure as $1/2^-$ $\bar{D} Σ_c$, $1/2^-$ $\bar{D}^* Σ_c$, and $3/2^-$ $\bar{D}^* Σ_c$, and isospin $I=1/2$. We find another state around 4374 MeV, of $3/2^-$ $\bar{D} Σ_c^*$ structure, for which indications appear in the experimental spectrum. Two other near degenerate states of $1/2^-$ $\bar{D}^* Σ_c^*$ and $3/2^-$ $\bar{D}^* Σ_c^*$ nature are also found around 4520 MeV, which although less clear, are not incompatible with the observed spectrum. In addition, a $5/2^-$ $\bar D^* Σ_c^*$ state at the same energy appears, which however does not couple to $J/ψp$ in $S-$wave, and hence it is not expected to show up in the LHCb experiment.

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Weak production of strange and charm ground-state baryons in nuclei

We present results for the quasi-elastic weak production of $Λ$ and $Σ$ hyperons induced by $\barν$ scattering off nuclei, in the kinematical region of interest for accelerator neutrino experiments. We employ realistic hole spectral functions and we describe the propagation of the hyperons in the nuclear medium by means of a Monte Carlo cascade. The latter strongly modifies the kinematics and the relative production rates of the hyperons, leading to a non-vanishing $Σ^+$ cross section, to a sizable enhancement of the $Λ$ production and to a drastic reduction of the $Σ^0$ and $Σ^-$ distributions. We also compute the quasi-elastic weak $Λ_c$ production cross section, paying special attention to estimate the uncertainties induced by the model dependence of the vacuum $n\to Λ_c$ weak matrix element. In this regard, the recent BESIII measurements of the branching ratios of $Λ_c\rightarrow Λl^+ν_l$ ($l=e,μ$) are used to benchmark the available theoretical predictions.

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Angular distributions in electroweak pion production off nucleons: odd parity hadron terms, strong relative phases and model dependence

The study of pion production in nuclei is important for signal and background determinations in current and future neutrino oscillation experiments. The first step, however, is to understand the pion production reactions at the free nucleon level. We present an exhaustive study of the charged-current and neutral-current neutrino and antineutrino pion production off nucleons, paying a special attention to the angular distributions of the outgoing pion. We show, using general arguments, that parity violation and time-reversal odd correlations in the weak differential cross sections are generated from the interference between different contributions to the hadronic current that are not relatively real. Next, we present a detailed comparison of three, state of the art, microscopic models for electroweak pion production off nucleons, and we also confront their predictions with polarized electron data, as a test of the vector content of these models. We also illustrate the importance of carrying out a comprehensive test at the level of outgoing pion angular distributions, going beyond comparisons done for partially integrated cross sections, where model differences cancel to a certain extent. Finally, we observe that all charged and neutral current distributions show sizable anisotropies, and identify channels for which parity violating effects are clearly visible. Based on the above results, we conclude that the use of isotropic distributions for the pions in the center of mass of the final pion-nucleon system, as assumed by some of the Monte Carlo event generators, needs to be improved by incorporating the findings of microscopic calculations.

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Contribution of constituent quark model $c\bar{s}$ states to the dynamics of the $D^\ast_{s0}(2317)$ and $D_{s1}(2460)$ resonances

The masses of the $D^\ast_{s0}(2317)$ and $D_{s1}(2460)$ resonances lie below the $DK$ and $D^\ast K$ thresholds respectively, which contradicts the predictions of naive quark models and points out to non-negligible effects of the $D^{(\ast)}K$ loops in the dynamics of the even-parity scalar ($J^π=0^+$) and axial-vector ($J^π=1^+$) $c\bar s$ systems. Recent lattice QCD studies, incorporating the effects of the $D^{(\ast)}K$ channels, analyzed these spin-parity sectors and correctly described the $D^\ast_{s0}(2317)-D_{s1}(2460)$ mass splitting. Motivated by such works, we study the structure of the $D_{s0}^\ast(2317)$ and $D_{s1}(2460)$ resonances in the framework of an effective field theory consistent with heavy quark spin symmetry, and that incorporates the interplay between $D^{(\ast)}K$ meson-meson degrees of freedom and bare P-wave $c\bar s$ states predicted by constituent quark models. We extend the scheme to finite volumes and fit the strength of the coupling between both types of degrees of freedom to the available lattice levels, which we successfully describe. We finally estimate the size of the $D^{(\ast)}K$ two-meson components in the $D^\ast_{s0}(2317)$ and $D_{s1}(2460)$ resonances, and we conclude that these states have a predominantly hadronic-molecular structure, and that it should not be tried to accommodate these mesons within $c\bar{s}$ constituent quark model patterns.

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Heavy-to-light scalar form factors from Muskhelishvili-Omnès dispersion relations

By solving the Muskhelishvili-Omnès integral equations, the scalar form factors of the semileptonic heavy meson decays $D\toπ\bar \ell ν_\ell$, $D\to \bar{K} \bar \ell ν_\ell$, $\bar{B}\to π\ell \barν_\ell$ and $\bar{B}_s\to K \ell \barν_\ell$ are simultaneously studied. As input, we employ unitarized heavy meson-Goldstone boson chiral coupled-channel amplitudes for the energy regions not far from thresholds, while, at high energies, adequate asymptotic conditions are imposed. The scalar form factors are expressed in terms of Omnès matrices multiplied by vector polynomials, which contain some undetermined dispersive subtraction constants. We make use of heavy quark and chiral symmetries to constrain these constants, which are fitted to lattice QCD results both in the charm and the bottom sectors, and in this latter sector to the light-cone sum rule predictions close to $q^2=0$ as well. We find a good simultaneous description of the scalar form factors for the four semileptonic decay reactions. From this combined fit, and taking advantage that scalar and vector form factors are equal at $q^2=0$, we obtain $|V_{cd}|=0.244\pm 0.022$, $|V_{cs}|=0.945\pm 0.041$ and $|V_{ub}|=(4.3\pm 0.7)\times10^{-3}$ for the involved Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix elements. In addition, we predict the following vector form factors at $q^2=0$: $|f_+^{D\toη}(0)|=0.01\pm 0.05$, $|f_+^{D_s\to K}(0)|=0.50 \pm 0.08$, $|f_+^{D_s\toη}(0)|=0.73\pm 0.03$ and $|f_+^{\bar{B}\toη}(0)|=0.82 \pm 0.08$, which might serve as alternatives to determine the CKM elements when experimental measurements of the corresponding differential decay rates become available. Finally, we predict the different form factors above the $q^2-$regions accessible in the semileptonic decays, up to moderate energies amenable to be described using the unitarized coupled-channel chiral approach.

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$Ω_c$ excited states within a ${\rm SU(6)}_{\rm lsf}\times$HQSS model

We have reviewed the renormalization procedure used in the unitarized coupled-channel model of Phys. Rev. D85 114032 (2012), and its impact in the $C=1$, $S=-2$, and $I=0$ sector, where five $Ω_c^{(*)}$ states have been recently observed by the LHCb Collaboration. The meson-baryon interactions used in the model are consistent with both chiral and heavy-quark spin symmetries and lead to a successful description of the observed lowest-lying odd parity resonances $Λ_c(2595)$ and $Λ_c(2625)$, and $Λ_b(5912)$ and $Λ_b(5920)$ resonances. We show that some (probably at least three) of the states observed by LHCb will also have odd parity and spins $J=1/2$ and $J=3/2$, belonging two of them to the same ${\rm SU(6)}_{\rm light-spin-flavor}\times$HQSS multiplets that the latter strangenessless heavy$-Λ$ baryons.

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Calculation of the ratios and absolute rates of the $Ξ_b^- \to π^- (D_s^- ) \ Ξ_c^0 (2790) \left(Ξ_c^0 (2815) \right)$ and $Ξ_b^- \to \barν_l l \ Ξ_c^0 (2790) \left(Ξ_c^0 (2815) \right)$ decays

In this work we calculate the ratios of rates of the $Ξ_b$ nonleptonic and semileptonic decays into the $Ξ_c$(2790) and $Ξ_c$(2815) ($Ξ_c^*$) resonances. These resonances are dynamically generated from the pseudoscalar-baryon and vector-baryon interactions, whose mixing is done using the chiral Weinberg-Tomozawa (WT) meson-baryon interaction extended to four flavors. The first part of the decay is a weak decay that we analyze through their quark constituents where it is noted that only the heavy quarks ($b$ and $c$) participate in the interaction, leaving the light pair ($ds$) as spectators. This first decay then produces a meson-baryon pair that creates the $Ξ_c^*$ through the WT interaction. We then proceed to calculate the decay rates to $Ξ_c$(2790) and $Ξ_c$(2815) for both the nonleptonic and semileptonic cases and then calculate the ratios between them. We do this calculation nonrelativistically and fully relativistically and notice that, even though both approaches yield somewhat different results in the rates, the ratios are very similar (difference on the order of 1\%) in both cases. The absolute values of the decay rates are also successfully calculated by obtaining the rates between our decays and $Λ_b \to π(D_s ) \ Λ_c (2595) \left(Λ_c (2625) \right)$ and $Λ_b \to \barν_l l \ Λ_c (2595) \left(Λ_c (2625) \right)$ for which there are experimental results, since the momentum transfer is similar such we can cancel out the influence of the quark wave functions in the ratios.

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Scaling within the Spectral Function approach

Scaling features of the nuclear electromagnetic response functions unveil aspects of nuclear dynamics that are crucial for interpretating neutrino- and electron-scattering data. In the large momentum-transfer regime, the nucleon-density response function defines a universal scaling function, which is independent of the nature of the probe. In this work, we analyze the nucleon-density response function of $^{12}$C, neglecting collective excitations. We employ particle and hole spectral functions obtained within two distinct many-body methods, both widely used to describe electroweak reactions in nuclei. We show that the two approaches provide compatible nucleon-density scaling functions that for large momentum transfers satisfy first-kind scaling. Both methods yield scaling functions characterized by an asymmetric shape, although less pronounced than that of experimental scaling functions. This asymmetry, only mildly affected by final state interactions, is mostly due to nucleon-nucleon correlations, encoded in the continuum component of the hole SF.

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NuSTEC White Paper: Status and Challenges of Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering

The precise measurement of neutrino properties is among the highest priorities in fundamental particle physics, involving many experiments worldwide. Since the experiments rely on the interactions of neutrinos with bound nucleons inside atomic nuclei, the planned advances in the scope and precision of these experiments requires a commensurate effort in the understanding and modeling of the hadronic and nuclear physics of these interactions, which is incorporated as a nuclear model in neutrino event generators. This model is essential to every phase of experimental analyses and its theoretical uncertainties play an important role in interpreting every result. In this White Paper we discuss in detail the impact of neutrino-nucleus interactions, especially the nuclear effects, on the measurement of neutrino properties using the determination of oscillation parameters as a central example. After an Executive Summary and a concise Overview of the issues, we explain how the neutrino event generators work, what can be learned from electron-nucleus interactions and how each underlying physics process - from quasi-elastic to deep inelastic scattering - is understood today. We then emphasize how our understanding must improve to meet the demands of future experiments. With every topic we find that the challenges can be met only with the active support and collaboration among specialists in strong interactions and electroweak physics that include theorists and experimentalists from both the nuclear and high energy physics communities.

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