arXiv subjects

R. Lewis

Publications and source records attributed to R. Lewis.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Enhanced production of 60Fe in massive stars

Massive stars are a major source of chemical elements in the cosmos, ejecting freshly produced nuclei through winds and core-collapse supernova explosions into the interstellar medium. Among the material ejected, long lived radioisotopes, such as 60Fe (iron) and 26Al (aluminum), offer unique signs of active nucleosynthesis in our galaxy. There is a long-standing discrepancy between the observed 60Fe/26Al ratio by {\gamma}-ray telescopes and predictions from supernova models. This discrepancy has been attributed to uncertainties in the nuclear reaction networks producing 60Fe, and one reaction in particular, the neutron-capture on 59Fe. Here we present experimental results that provide a strong constraint on this reaction. We use these results to show that the production of 60Fe in massive stars is higher than previously thought, further increasing the discrepancy between observed and predicted 60Fe/26Al ratios. The persisting discrepancy can therefore not be attributed to nuclear uncertainties, and points to issues in massive-star models.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2024

Quark mass dependence of doubly heavy tetraquark binding

The existence of bound doubly heavy tetraquark states was confirmed by the recent LHCb discovery of the doubly charmed $T_{cc}$, less than 1 MeV below the meson pair threshold. Others states with two heavy (bottom or charm) quarks could also be bound, perhaps more deeply. Here we discuss our previous work, and the improvements in our current, updated analysis of various heavy-heavy-light-light tetraquark candidates, including the light and heavy quark mass dependence of the binding.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2024

Improved analysis of strong-interaction-stable doubly-bottom tetraquarks on the lattice

We update earlier lattice results for the binding energies of the flavor antitriplet of strong-interaction-stable doubly bottom, $J^P=1^+$ tetraquarks, employing an extended sink construction which produces significantly improved ground-state effective-mass plateaus, as well as new, larger-volume ensembles which reduce possible finite-volume effects at lighter pion masses. The updated bindings are $115(17)$ MeV for the $I=0$ member of the antitriplet and $47(8)$ MeV for its $I=1/2$ partner. We also provide an update of our earlier study of the variable heavy mass dependence of binding in the $1^+$ channel and new results on this dependence for binding in the $0^+$ channel, accessible when the two heavy quarks have unequal masses. Implications of these results of potential relevance to experimental searches for signals of the production of doubly bottom tetraquarks and/or a possible bottom-charm partner of the $T_{cc}$ are also discussed.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2021

$\beta$-decay of $^{61}$V and its Role in Cooling Accreted Neutron Star Crusts

The interpretation of observations of cooling neutron star crusts in quasi-persistent X-ray transients is affected by predictions of the strength of neutrino cooling via crust Urca processes. The strength of crust Urca neutrino cooling depends sensitively on the electron-capture and $\beta$-decay ground-state to ground-state transition strengths of neutron-rich rare isotopes. Nuclei with mass number $A=61$ are predicted to be among the most abundant in accreted crusts, and the last remaining experimentally undetermined ground-state to ground-state transition strength was the $\beta$-decay of $^{61}$V. This work reports the first experimental determination of this transition strength, a ground-state branching of 8.1$^{+2.2}_{-2.0} \%$, corresponding to a log $ft$ value of 5.5$^{+0.2}_{-0.2}$. This result was achieved through the measurement of the $\beta$-delayed $\gamma$ rays using the total absorption spectrometer SuN and the measurement of the $\beta$-delayed neutron branch using the neutron long counter system NERO at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. This method helps to mitigate the impact of the Pandemonium effect in extremely neutron-rich nuclei on experimental results. The result implies that $A=61$ nuclei do not provide the strongest cooling in accreted neutron star crusts as expected by some predictions, but that their cooling is still larger compared to most other mass numbers. Only nuclei with mass numbers 31, 33, and 55 are predicted to be cooling more strongly. However, the theoretical predictions for the transition strengths of these nuclei are not consistently accurate enough to draw conclusions on crust cooling. With the experimental approach developed in this work all relevant transitions are within reach to be studied in the future.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2020

A lattice investigation of exotic tetraquark channels

We perform an $n_f=2+1$ lattice study of a number of channels where past claims exist in the literature for the existence of strong-interaction-stable light-heavy tetraquarks. We find no evidence for any such deeply-bound states, beyond the $J^P=1^+$, $I=0$ $ud\bar{b}\bar{b}$ and $I=1/2$ $ls\bar{b}\bar{b}$ states already identified in earlier lattice studies. We also describe a number of systematic improvements to our previous lattice studies, including working with larger $m_\pi L$ to better suppress possible finite volume effects, employing extended sinks to better control excited-state contamination, and expanding the number of operators used in the GEVP analyses. Our results also allow us to rule out several phenomenological models which predict significant tetraquark binding in channels where no such binding is found.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2018

Enhanced low-energy $\gamma$-decay strength of $^{70}$Ni and its robustness within the shell model

Neutron-capture reactions on very neutron-rich nuclei are essential for heavy-element nucleosynthesis through the rapid neutron-capture process, now shown to take place in neutron-star merger events. For these exotic nuclei, radiative neutron capture is extremely sensitive to their $\gamma$-emission probability at very low $\gamma$ energies. In this work, we present measurements of the $\gamma$-decay strength of $^{70}$Ni over the wide range $1.3 \leq E_{\gamma} \leq 8 $ MeV. A significant enhancement is found in the $\gamma$-decay strength for transitions with $E_\gamma < 3$ MeV. At present, this is the most neutron-rich nucleus displaying this feature, proving that this phenomenon is not restricted to stable nuclei. We have performed $E1$-strength calculations within the quasiparticle time-blocking approximation, which describe our data above $E_\gamma \simeq 5$ MeV very well. Moreover, large-scale shell-model calculations indicate an $M1$ nature of the low-energy $\gamma$ strength. This turns out to be remarkably robust with respect to the choice of interaction, truncation and model space, and we predict its presence in the whole isotopic chain, in particular the neutron-rich $^{72,74,76}\mathrm{Ni}$.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2016

Lattice calculation of the leading strange quark-connected contribution to the muon $g-2$

We present results for the leading hadronic contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment due to strange quark-connected vacuum polarisation effects. Simulations were performed using RBC--UKQCD's $N_f=2+1$ domain wall fermion ensembles with physical light sea quark masses at two lattice spacings. We consider a large number of analysis scenarios in order to obtain solid estimates for residual systematic effects. Our final result in the continuum limit is $a_\mu^{(2)\,{\rm had},\,s}=53.1(9)\left(^{+1}_{-3}\right)\times10^{-10}$.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2015

A resolution of the puzzle of low V_us values from inclusive flavor-breaking sum rule analyses of hadronic tau decay

Continuum and lattice methods are used to investigate systematic issues in the sum rule determination of $V_{us}$ using inclusive hadronic $\tau$ decay data. Results for $V_{us}$ employing assumptions for $D>4$ OPE contributions used in previous conventional implementations of this approach are shown to display unphysical dependence on the sum rule weight, $w$, and choice of upper limit, $s_0$, of the relevant experimental spectral integrals. Continuum and lattice results suggest a new implementation of the sum rule approach with not just $\vert V_{us}\vert$, but also $D>4$ effective condensates, fit to data. Lattice results are also shown to provide a quantitative assessment of truncation uncertainties for the slowly converging $D=2$ OPE series. The new sum rule implementation yields $\vert V_{us}\vert$ results free of unphysical $s_0$- and $w$-dependences and $\sim 0.0020$ higher than that obtained using the conventional implementation. With preliminary new experimental results for the $K\pi$ branching fraction, the resulting $\vert V_{us}\vert$ is in excellent agreement with that based on $K_{\ell 3}$, and compatible within errors with expectations from three-family unitarity.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

A resolution of the inclusive flavor-breaking sum rule $\tau$ $V_{us}$ puzzle

A combination of continuum and lattice methods is used to investigate systematic issues in the finite-energy-sum-rule determination of $V_{us}$ based on flavor-breaking combinations of hadronic $\tau$ decay data. Results for $V_{us}$ obtained using assumptions for $D>4$ OPE contributions employed in previous conventional implementations of this approach are shown to display significant unphysical dependences on the choice of sum rule weight, $w$, and upper limit, $s_0$, of the relevant experimental spectral integrals. Continuum and lattice results suggest the necessity of a new implementation of the flavor-breaking sum rule approach, in which not only $\vert V_{us}\vert$, but also $D>4$ effective condensates are fit to data. Lattice results also provide a means of quantifying the truncation error for the slowly converging $D=2$ OPE series. The new implementation is shown to produce $\vert V_{us}\vert$ results free of unphysical $s_0$- and $w$-dependences and typically $\sim 0.0020$ higher than the (unstable) results found using the conventional implementation. With preliminary new experimental results for the $K\pi$ branching fraction, the resulting $\vert V_{us}\vert$ is in excellent agreement with that obtained from $K_{\ell 3}$, and compatible within errors with expectations from three-family unitarity.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

Lightest scalar in the SU_L(2)*SU_R(2) linear σmodel

We consider the lightest scalar meson in the frame of the $SU_L(2)\times SU_R(2)$ linear $σ$ model, keeping in mind that this model could be the low energy realization of the two-flavour QCD. We show that the $σ$ field is described by its four-quark component at least in the $σ$ resonance energy (virtuality) region and the $σ\toγγ$ decay is the four quark transition. We emphasize that residues of the $σ$ pole in the $ππ\toππ$ and $γγ\toππ$ amplitudes do not give an idea about the $σ$ meson nature, and the progress in studying the $σ$ meson production mechanisms in different processes could essentially further us in understanding its nature.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2006

Chiral corrections to the Roper mass

We analyze the quark mass dependence of the Roper mass to one-loop order in relativistic baryon chiral perturbation theory. The loop integrals are evaluated using infrared regularization which preserves chiral symmetry and establishes a chiral counting scheme. The derived chiral expansion of the Roper mass may prove useful for chiral extrapolations of lattice data. For couplings of natural size the quark mass dependence of the Roper mass is similar to the one of the nucleon.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2005

Volume dependences from lattice chiral perturbation theory

The physics of pions within a finite volume is explored using lattice regularized chiral perturbation theory. This regularization scheme permits a straightforward computational approach to be used in place of analytical continuum techniques. Using the pion mass, decay constant, form factor and charge radius as examples, it is shown how numerical results for volume dependences are obtained at the one-loop level from simple summations.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2004

Particle decay branching ratios for states of astrophysical importance in 19Ne

We have measured proton and alpha-particle branching ratios of excited states in 19Ne formed using the 19F(3He,t) reaction at a beam energy of 25 MeV. These ratios have a large impact on the astrophysical reaction rates of 15O(alpha,gamma), 18F(p,gamma) and 18F(p,alpha), which are of interest in understanding energy generation in x-ray bursts and in interpreting anticipated gamma-ray observations of novae. We detect decay protons and alpha-particles using a silicon detector array in coincidence with tritons measured in the focal plane detector of our Enge split-pole spectrograph. The silicon array consists of five strip detectors of the type used in the Louvain-Edinburgh Detector Array, subtending angles from 130 degrees to 165 degrees with approximately 14% lab efficiency. The correlation angular distributions give additional confidence in some prior spin-parity assignments that were based on gamma branchings. We measure Gamma_p/Gamma=0.387+-0.016 for the 665 keV proton resonance, which agrees well with the direct measurement of Bardayan et al.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2003

The 21Na(p,gamma)22Mg Reaction and Oxygen-Neon Novae

The 21Na(p,gamma)22Mg reaction is expected to play an important role in the nucleosynthesis of 22Na in Oxygen-Neon novae. The decay of 22Na leads to the emission of a characteristic 1.275 MeV gamma-ray line. This report provides the first direct measurement of the rate of this reaction using a radioactive 21Na beam, and discusses its astrophysical implications. The energy of the important state was measured to be E$_{c.m.}$= 205.7 $\pm$ 0.5 keV with a resonance strength $\omega\gamma = 1.03\pm0.16_{stat}\pm0.14_{sys}$ meV.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Long distance regularization in chiral perturbation theory with decuplet

We investigate the use of long distance regularization in SU(3) baryon chiral perturbation theory with decuplet fields. The one-loop decuplet contributions to the octet baryon masses, axial couplings, S-wave nonleptonic hyperon decays and magnetic moments are evaluated in a chirally consistent fashion by employing a cutoff to implement long distance regularization. The convergence of the chiral expansions of these quantities is improved compared to the dimensionally regularized version which indicates that the propagation of Goldstone bosons over distances smaller than a typical hadronic size, which is beyond the regime of chiral perturbation theory but included by dimensional regularization, is removed by use of a cutoff.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Strange-quark Current in the Nucleon from Lattice QCD

The contribution of the strange-quark current to the electromagnetic form factors of the nucleon is studied using lattice QCD. The strange current matrix elements from our lattice calculation are analyzed in two different ways, the differential method used in an earlier work by Wilcox and a cumulative method which sums over all current insertion times. The preliminary results of our simulation indicate the importance of high statistics, and that consistent results between the varying analysis methods can be achieved. Although this simulation does not yet yield a number that can be compared to experiment, several criteria useful in assessing the robustness of a signal extracted from a noisy background are presented.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1999

The ZEUS Forward Plug Calorimeter with Lead-Scintillator Plates and WLS Fiber Readout

A Forward Plug Calorimeter (FPC) for the ZEUS detector at HERA has been built as a shashlik lead-scintillator calorimeter with wave length shifter fiber readout. Before installation it was tested and calibrated using the X5 test beam facility of the SPS accelerator at CERN. Electron, muon and pion beams in the momentum range of 10 to 100 GeV/c were used. Results of these measurements are presented as well as a calibration monitoring system based on a $^{60}$Co source.

hep-ex↗

arXiv1999

The Goldberger-Treiman Discrepancy in SU(3)

The Goldberger-Treiman discrepancy in SU(3) is analyzed in the framework of heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory (HBChPT). It is shown that the discrepancy at leading order is entirely given by counterterms from the order p^3 Lagrangian, and that the first subleading corrections are suppressed by two powers in the HBChPT expansion. These subleading corrections include meson-loop contributions as well as counterterms from the order p^5 Lagrangian. Some one-loop contributions are calculated and found to be small. Using the three discrepancies (pi-N-N, K-N-Lambda and K-N-Sigma) which can be extracted from existing experimental data, we find that the HBChPT calculation favors the smaller g(pi-N-N) values obtained in recent partial wave analyses.

hep-ph↗