arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J. Nys.
We perform the first model independent analysis of experimental data using Deep Neural Networks to determine the nature of an exotic hadron. Specifically, we study the line shape of the $P_c(4312)$ signal reported by the LHCb collaboration and we find that its most likely interpretation is that of a virtual state. This method can be applied to other near-threshold resonance candidates.
We present the current status of the research activities of the Ghent group on neutrino-nucleus interactions. These consist in the modeling of some of the relevant neutrino-nucleus reaction channels at intermediate energies: low-energy nuclear excitations, quasielastic scattering, two-nucleon knockout processes and single-pion production. The low-energy nuclear excitations and the quasielastic peak are described using a Hartree-Fock-CRPA (continuum random phase approximation) model that takes into account nuclear long-range correlations as well as the distortion of the outgoing nucleon wave function. We include two-body current mechanisms through short-range correlations and meson-exchange currents. Their influence on one- and two-nucleon knockout responses is computed. Bound and outgoing nucleons are treated within the same mean-field framework. Finally, for modeling of the neutrino-induced single-pion production, we use a low-energy model that contains resonances and the background contributions required by chiral symmetry. This low-energy model is combined with a Regge approach into a Hybrid model, which allows us to make predictions beyond the resonance region.
Still under debate is the question of whether machine learning is capable of going beyond black-box modeling for complex physical systems. We investigate the generalizing and interpretability properties of learning algorithms. To this end, we use supervised and unsupervised learning to infer the phase boundaries of the active Ising model, starting from an ensemble of configurations of the system. We illustrate that unsupervised learning techniques are powerful at identifying the phase boundaries in the control parameter space, even in situations of phase coexistence. It is demonstrated that supervised learning with neural networks is capable of learning the characteristics of the phase diagram, such that the knowledge obtained at a limited set of control variables can be used to determine the phase boundaries across the phase diagram. In this way, we show that properly designed supervised learning provides predictive power to regions in the phase diagram that are not included in the training phase of the algorithm. We stress the importance of introducing interpretability methods in order to perform a physically relevant classification of the phases with deep learning.
We use Regge phenomenology to study the structure of the poles of the $N^*$ and $Δ^*$ spectrum. We employ the available pole extractions from partial wave analysis of meson scattering and photoproduction data. We assess the importance of the imaginary part of the poles (widths) to obtain a consistent determination of the parameters of the Regge trajectory. We compare the several pole extractions and show how Regge phenomenology can be used to gain insight in the internal structure of baryons. We find that the majority of the states in the parent Regge trajectories are compatible with a mostly compact three-quark state picture.
Mapping states with explicit gluonic degrees of freedom in the light sector is a challenge, and has led to controversies in the past. In particular, the experiments have reported two different hybrid candidates with spin-exotic signature, pi1(1400) and pi1(1600), which couple separately to eta pi and eta' pi. This picture is not compatible with recent Lattice QCD estimates for hybrid states, nor with most phenomenological models. We consider the recent partial wave analysis of the eta(') pi system by the COMPASS collaboration. We fit the extracted intensities and phases with a coupled-channel amplitude that enforces the unitarity and analyticity of the S-matrix. We provide a robust extraction of a single exotic pi1 resonant pole, with mass and width 1564 +- 24 +- 86 MeV and 492 +- 54 +- 102 MeV, which couples to both eta(') pi channels. We find no evidence for a second exotic state. We also provide the resonance parameters of the a2(1320) and a2'(1700).
We perform an analysis of the three-pion system with quantum numbers $J^{PC}=1^{++}$ produced in the weak decay of $τ$ leptons. The interaction is known to be dominated by the axial meson $a_1(1260)$. We build a model based on approximate three-body unitarity and fix the free parameters by fitting it to the ALEPH data on $τ^-\to π^-π^+π^-\,ν_τ$ decay. We then perform the analytic continuation of the amplitude to the complex energy plane. The singularity structures related to the $ππ$ subchannel resonances are carefully addressed. Finally, we extract the $a_1(1260)$ pole position $m_p^{(a_1(1260))}-iΓ_p^{(a_1(1260))}/2$ with $m_p^{(a_1(1260))} = (1209 \pm 4^{+12}_{-9})\text{MeV}$, $Γ_p^{(a_1(1260))} = (576 \pm 11 ^{+89}_{-20})\text{MeV}$}.
Further progress in hadron spectroscopy necessitates the phenomenological description of three particle reactions. We consider the isobar approximation, where the connected part of the $\mathbf{3}\to\mathbf{3}$ amplitude is first expressed as a sum over initial and final pairs, and then expanded into a truncated partial wave series. The resulting unitarity equation is automatically fulfilled by the $B$-matrix solution, which is an integral equation for the partial wave amplitudes, analogous to the $K$-matrix parameterization used to describe $\mathbf{2}\to\mathbf{2}$ amplitudes. We study the one particle exchange and how its analytic structure impacts rescattering solutions such as the triangle diagram. The analytic structure is compared to other parameterizations discussed in the literature. We briefly discuss the analogies with recent formalisms for extracting $\mathbf{3}\to\mathbf{3}$ scattering amplitudes in lattice QCD.
We discuss the differences between several partial-wave analysis formalisms used in the construction of three-body decay amplitudes involving fermions. Specifically, we consider the decay Lambda_b -> psi p K- , where the hidden charm pentaquark signal has been reported. We analyze the analytical properties of the amplitudes and separate kinematical and dynamical singularities. The result is an amplitude with the minimal energy dependence compatible with the S-matrix principles.
We derive and apply the finite energy sum rules to pion photoproduction. We evaluate the low energy part of the sum rules using several state-of-the-art models. We show how the differences in the low energy side of the sum rules might originate from different quantum number assignments of baryon resonances. We interpret the observed features in the low energy side of the sum rules with the expectation from Regge theory. Finally, we present a model, in terms of a Regge-pole expansion, that matches the sum rules and the high-energy observables.
Many experiments that are conducted to study the hadron spectrum rely on peripheral resonance production. Hereby, the rapidity gap allows the process to be viewed as an independent fragmen- tation of the beam and the target, with the beam fragmentation dominated by production and decays of meson resonances. We test this separation by determining the kinematic regimes that are dominated by factorizable contributions, indicating the most favorable regions to perform this kind of experiments. In doing so, we use a Regge model to analyze the available world data of charge exchange meson production with beam momentum above 5 GeV in the laboratory frame, that are not dominated by either pion or Pomeron exchanges. We determine the Regge residues and point out the kinematic regimes which are dominated by factorizable contributions.
We show that, in the Regge limit, beam asymmetries in $η$ and $η'$ photoproduction are sensitive to hidden strangeness components. Under reasonable assumptions about the couplings we estimate the contribution of the $ϕ$ Regge pole, which is expected to be the dominant hidden strangeness contribution. The ratio of the asymmetries in $η'$ and $η$ production is estimated to be close to unity in the forward region $0 < -t/\text{GeV}^2 \leq 1$ at the photon energy $E_\text{lab} = 9$~GeV, relevant for the upcoming measurements at Jefferson Lab.
The Khuri-Treiman formalism models the partial-wave expansion of a scattering amplitude as a sum of three individual truncated series, capturing the low-energy dynamics of the direct and cross channels. We cast this formalism into dispersive equations to study $ππ$ scattering, and compare their expressions and numerical output to the Roy and GKPY equations. We prove that the Khuri-Treiman equations and Roy equations coincide when both are truncated to include only $S$- and $P$-waves. When higher partial waves are included, we find an excellent agreement between the Khuri-Treiman and the GKPY results. This lends credence to the notion that the Khuri-Treiman formalism is a reliable low-energy tool for studying hadronic reaction amplitudes.
We propose a model based on Regge theory to describe photoproduction of light vector mesons. We fit the SLAC data and make predictions for the energy and momentum transfer dependence of the spin-density matrix elements in photoproduction of $ω$, $ρ^0$ and $ϕ$ mesons at $E_γ\sim 8.5$ GeV, which are soon to be measured at Jefferson Lab.
Hadron decay chains constitute one of the main sources of information on the QCD spectrum. We discuss the differences between several partial wave analysis formalisms used in the literature to build the amplitudes. We match the helicity amplitudes to the covariant tensor basis. Hereby, we pay attention to the analytical properties of the amplitudes and separate singularities of kinematical and dynamical nature. We study the analytical properties of the spin-orbit (LS) formalism, and some of the covariant tensor approaches. In particular, we explicitly build the amplitudes for the B -> psi pi K and B -> Dbar pi pi decays, and show that the energy dependence of the covariant approach is model dependent. We also show that the usual recursive construction of covariant tensors explicitly violates crossing symmetry, which would lead to different resonance parameters extracted from scattering and decay processes.
Hybrid/exotic meson spectroscopy searches at Jefferson Lab require the accurate theoretical description of the production mechanism in peripheral photoproduction. We develop a model for $πΔ$ photoproduction at high energies ($5 \leq E_{\text{lab}} \leq 16~\text{GeV}$) that incorporates both the absorbed pion and natural-parity cut contributions. We fit the available observables, providing a good description of the energy and angular dependencies of the experimental data. We also provide predictions for the photon beam asymmetry of charged pions at $E_{\text{lab}} = 9~\text{GeV}$ which is expected to be measured by GlueX and CLAS12 experiments in the near future.
Analyticity constitutes a rigid constraint on hadron scattering amplitudes. This property is used to relate models in different energy regimes. Using meson photoproduction as a benchmark, we show how to test contemporary low energy models directly against high energy data. This method pinpoints deficiencies of the models and treads a path to further improvement. The implementation of this technique enables one to produce more stable and reliable partial waves for future use in hadron spectroscopy and new physics searches.
The reaction $γN \to ηN$ is studied in the high-energy regime (with photon lab energies $E_γ^{\textrm{lab}} > 4$ GeV) using information from the resonance region through the use of finite-energy sum rules (FESR). We illustrate how analyticity allows one to map the t-dependence of the unknown Regge residue functions. We provide predictions for the energy dependence of the beam asymmetry at high energies.
We present a new amplitude analysis of the $ηπ$ $D$-wave in $π^- p\to ηπ^- p$ measured by COMPASS. Employing an analytical model based on the principles of the relativistic $S$-matrix, we find two resonances that can be identified with the $a_2(1320)$ and the excited $a_2^\prime(1700)$, and perform a comprehensive analysis of their pole positions. For the mass and width of the $a_2$ we find $M=(1307 \pm 1 \pm 6)$~MeV and $Γ=(112 \pm 1 \pm 8)$~MeV, and for the excited state $a_2^\prime$ we obtain $M=(1720 \pm 10 \pm 60)$~MeV and $Γ=(280\pm 10 \pm 70)$~MeV, respectively.