A search is performed for a heavy scalar resonance X decaying to a Higgs boson (H) and a Higgs-like scalar boson (Y) in the two bottom quark (H $\to$ $\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$) and four quark (Y $\to$ VV $\to$ 4q) final state, where V denotes a W or Z boson. Masses of the X between 900 and 4000 GeV and the Y between 60 and 2800 GeV are considered. The search is performed in data collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC from proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV center-of-mass energy, with a data set corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. It targets the Lorentz-boosted regime, in which the products of the H $\to$ $\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$ decay can be reconstructed as a single large-area jet, and those from the Y $\to$ VV $\to$ 4q decay as either one Y $\to$ 4q or two V to $\mathrm{q\bar{q}}$ jets. Jet identification and mass reconstruction exploit machine-learning tools, including a novel attention-based "particle transformer" for Y $\to$ 4q identification. No significant excess is observed in the data above the standard model background expectation. Upper limits on the product of production cross section and branching fraction as low as 0.2 fb are derived at 95% confidence level for various mass hypotheses. This is the first search at the LHC for scalar resonances in the all-hadronic $\mathrm{b\bar{b}}$VV decay channel.

These proceedings present the outcome of a feasibility study using RapidSim simulation software that demonstrates that the LHCb experiment will be capable of observing the decays $B^+\to \tau^+ \nu_\tau$ and $B_c^+\to \tau^+ \nu_\tau$ using the data that is being collecting during Run 3 of the LHC. The proposed analysis exploits the small distance of only 5.1 millimetres between the sensing elements of LHCb's innermost silicon pixel detector, the VELO, and the LHC's proton beams to identify direct pixel hits in the VELO that can be associated with the charged $B^+$, $B_c^+$ or $\tau^+$ particles. By using this extra information, the limitations due to the missing momentum and vertex information will be significantly reduced. This provides enough statistical power to pursue the measurements of these two decay channels at the LHC. In particular for the decay $B_c^+\to \tau^+ \nu_\tau$, which has been identified by the high energy physics community as a key objective for experiments at the planned next-generation particle accelerators, this means we do not need to wait for the 2030s or beyond to get first experimental constraints.

The Belle and Belle~II experiments have accumulated a data set of $1.2~\mathrm{ab}^{-1}$ of $e^+e^- \to B\bar{B}$ collisions at the $\Upsilon(4S)$ resonance. Owing to the clean event environment and well-constrained initial-state kinematics, these data are ideally suited for searches for rare electroweak penguin and lepton-flavour violating $B$ decays with missing energy from neutrinos. We report results on $b\to s\nu\bar{\nu}$ processes and the interpretation, together with searches for $B\to K^{*0}\tau^+\tau^-$ and for the LFV decays $B^0\to K_S^0\tau^\pm\ell^\mp$ and $B^0\to K^{*0}\tau^\pm\ell^\mp$ ($\ell=e,\mu$).

Using $(10087 \pm 44) \times 10^6$ $J/\psi$ events collected with the BESIII detector at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=3.097$ GeV, the antihyperon-nucleon annihilation processes $\bar{\Lambda} p \to K^+ \pi^+ \pi^- + k\pi^0$ ($k=1,2,3$) are studied at an incident $\bar{\Lambda}$ momentum of approximately 1.074 GeV/$c$. The reactions $\bar{\Lambda} p \to K^+ \pi^+ \pi^- \pi^0$ and $\bar{\Lambda} p \to K^+ \pi^+ \pi^- 2\pi^0$ are observed for the first time, with corresponding cross sections $\sigma_{\bar{\Lambda} p \to K^+ \pi^+ \pi^- \pi^0} = 8.5^{+1.2}_{-1.1} (\rm{stat.}) \pm 0.4 (\rm {syst.})$ mb and $\sigma_{\bar{\Lambda} p \to K^+ \pi^+ \pi^- 2\pi^0} = 7.9^{+1.9}_{-1.7} \pm 0.4$ mb. No significant signal is found for $\bar{\Lambda} p \to K^+ \pi^+ \pi^- 3\pi^0$, and an upper limit of 7.2 mb is set at a 90\% confidence level. An evidence for the $K^{*}(892)^+$ resonance is seen in the $K^+\pi^0$ invariant mass spectrum $M_{K^+\pi^0}$ for $k=1$, and the corresponding cross section for $\bar{\Lambda} p \to K^{*}(892)^+ \pi^+ \pi^-$ is measured to be $\sigma_{\bar{\Lambda} p \to K^{*}(892)^+ \pi^+ \pi^-} = 12.5^{+3.8}_{-3.4} \pm 1.2$ mb. Owing to the limited statistics, possible interference effects are not considered. These findings offer crucial input to deepen our understanding of the antihyperon-nucleon interactions.

Three structures, X(6600), X(6900), and X(7100), have emerged from the J$/\psi\,$J$/\psi$ (J$/\psi$ $\to$ $\mu^+\mu^-$) mass spectrum. These are candidates of all-charm tetraquarks, an exotic form of hadronic matter. A clearer picture of these states is obtained using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS detector that corresponds to 315 fb$^{-1}$, which yields 3.6 times more J$/\psi\,$J$/\psi$ pairs than previous studies by CMS. All three structures, and their mutual interference, have statistical significances above five standard deviations. The presence of interference implies that the structures have common quantum numbers. Their squared masses align linearly with a resonance index and have natural widths that systematically decrease as the index increases. These features are consistent with radial excitations of tetraquarks composed of two aligned spin-1 diquarks without orbital excitation, and disfavor other interpretations. The J$/\psi\,$$\psi$(2S) $\to$ $\mu^+\mu^-\mu^+\mu^-$ decay mode is also explored and the X(6900) and X(7100) states are found with significances exceeding 8 and 4 standard deviations, respectively.

The determination of transverse single-spin asymmetries in experiments involving polarized targets and/or beams may encounter challenges when (1) the magnitude of the polarization varies greatly with time, (2) the polarization magnitude is not the same for each spin state, (3) different integrated luminosities occur for different spin states or different target materials, and/or (4) some kinematic variables require unfolding; these are just a few examples. We present general methods of determining the asymmetry based on both binned analysis and unbinned maximum likelihood optimization, incorporating the unfolding of kinematic variables that are smeared by detector effects, and also including the possibility of background subtraction.

We present a comprehensive comparison of convolutional and transformer-based models for distinguishing quark and gluon jets using simulated jet images from Pythia 8. By encoding jet substructure into a three-channel representation of particle kinematics, we evaluate the performance of convolutional neural networks (CNNs), Vision Transformers (ViTs), and Swin Transformers (Swin-Tiny) under both supervised and self-supervised learning setups. Our results show that fine-tuning only the final two transformer blocks of the Swin-Tiny model achieves the best trade-off between efficiency and accuracy, reaching 81.4% accuracy and an AUC (area under the ROC curve) of 88.9%. Self-supervised pretraining with Momentum Contrast (MoCo) further enhances feature robustness and reduces the number of trainable parameters. These findings highlight the potential of hierarchical attention-based models for jet substructure studies and for domain transfer to real collision data.

Although heavy-quark symmetry predicts a $B_1\bar{B}$ molecular partner of the $D_1\bar{D}$ molecule, no such state has been observed. We propose that the experimentally observed $\Upsilon(11020)$ may be a candidate for such a state, possibly containing a $B_1\bar{B}^{*}$ component. To test this, we interpret $\Upsilon(11020)$ as an $S$-wave $B_1\bar{B}$--$B_1\bar{B}^{*}$ molecule and compute its strong decay widths using the compositeness condition and effective Lagrangians. The couplings to $B_1$ and $\bar{B}^{(*)}$ are extracted by fitting $\Upsilon(11020)\to e^+ e^-$ and $\Upsilon(11020)\to \chi_{bJ} \pi\pi\pi$ data. Using these couplings, we evaluate partial widths into $B^{(*)}_{(s)}\bar{B}^{(*)}_{(s)}$, $\pi\pi \Upsilon(nS)$, $\pi\pi h_b(nP)$, and $\pi\pi\pi \chi_{b1}$ via hadronic loops, as well as three-body $B^{*}\pi \bar{B}^{(*)}$ decays via tree diagrams. The results indicate that $\Upsilon(11020)$ is predominantly a $B_1\bar{B}$ molecule, with its main decay channel being $B_s^{*}\bar{B}^{*}$. The $\pi\pi \Upsilon(nS)$ and $\pi\pi h_b(nP)$ widths are only a few eV, whereas $\pi\pi\pi \chi_{b1}$ reaches 0.167~MeV and the unobserved $\pi\pi\pi \chi_{b0}$ could be 0.754~keV. These distinctive decay patterns provide clear experimental signatures of the molecular nature of $\Upsilon(11020)$ and offer a test of heavy-quark symmetry.

Different bases for the spin-1 density matrix are discussed to clarify the connection between its components and observables measured in heavy-ion collisions. The theoretical advantage of using the adjoint representation for spin matrices is emphasized. Next, the equilibrium spin density matrix and the corresponding Wigner function are introduced. With appropriate definitions of the energy-momentum and spin tensors, this framework allows for the formulation of perfect spin hydrodynamics in the same way as previously done for spin-1/2 particles. Together, these results provide a unified description of spin-1/2 and spin-1 particles.

The possibility to study the nature of the famous charged bottomonium-like states $Z_b(10610)$ and $Z_b(10650)$, which is by far the best known, from their inclusive photoproduction off nuclei near the kinematic threshold is investigated within the collision model based on the nuclear spectral function. The model accounts for $Z_b(10610)^{\pm}$ and $Z_b(10650)^{\pm}$ production in direct photon--nucleon interactions as well as four different scenarios for their intrinsic configurations: compact tetraquarks, molecules of the two open-beauty mesons and two mixtures of both of them for each of $Z_b$ state. We calculate within these scenarios the absolute and relative excitation functions on $^{12}$C and $^{184}$W nuclei at photon energies of 61--90 GeV, the absolute momentum differential cross sections and ratios of them for their production off these target nuclei at laboratory polar angles of 0$^{\circ}$--5$^{\circ}$ and for photon energy of 75 GeV as well as the A-dependences of the transparency ratios for the $Z_b(10610)^{\pm}$ mesons at photon energy of 75 GeV. We show that the absolute and relative observables considered reveal distinct sensitivity to the $Z_b(10610)^{\pm}$ and $Z_b(10650)^{\pm}$ internal structures. Therefore, they might be useful for the determination of these structures from the comparison of them with the experimental data from the future high-precision experiments at the upcoming experimental facilities, such as the planned high-luminosity electron-ion colliders in the United States and China.

Three-dimensional spiral injection scheme enables storage in ultra-compact rings with nanosecond revolution period. We report the first successful storage of a $297\,\mathrm{keV/}c$ electron beam in a $22\,\mathrm{cm}$ weak-focusing storage ring with a $4.7\,\mathrm{ns}$ revolution period using multi-turn vertical kick with a $140\,\mathrm{ns}$ kicker pulse. Using a scintillating-fiber detector, we observe a signal exceeding $5\sigma$ of the pre-injection rms noise for $\geq 1\,\mathrm{\mu s}$, confirming beam storage. By varying the weak-focusing field configuration and measuring the stored beam distribution, we show that the storage beam resides within the predicted region by Monte Carlo simulations. This result is a key proof-of-principle for realizing ultra-compact storage rings for next-generation precision measurements including the muon experiments at J-PARC and PSI.

Identifying which observables most effectively constrain model parameters can be computationally prohibitive when considering full likelihoods of many correlated observables. This is especially important for, e.g., hadronization models, where high precision is required to interpret the results of collider experiments. We introduce the High-Dimensional Sensitivity (HDSense) score, a computationally efficient metric for ranking observable sets using only one-dimensional histograms. Derived by profiling over unknown correlations in the Fisher information framework, the score balances total information content against redundancy between observables. We apply HDSense to rank a set observables in terms of their constraining power with respect to five parameters of the Lund string model of hadronization implemented in Pythia using simulated leptonic collider events at the $Z$ pole. Validation against machine-learning--based full-likelihood approximations demonstrates that HDSense successfully identifies near-optimal observable subsets. The framework naturally handles data from multiple experiments with different acceptances and incorporates detector effects. While demonstrated on hadronization models, the methodology applies broadly to generic parameter estimation problems where correlations are unknown or difficult to model.

As an extension of our prior work, we analyze the resonance contributions for the kaon pair originating from the intermediate $\rho(770)$, $\omega(782)$ and their excited states in the three-body decays $B\to \eta^{(\prime)} K\bar{K}$ within the perturbative QCD approach. The information of subprocesses $\rho(770,1450,1700)\to K\bar K$ and $\omega(782,1420,1650)\to K\bar K$ are included in the distribution amplitudes for $K\bar K$ system by using the kaon vector time-like form factors. We calculate the $CP$ averaged branching fractions and the direct $CP$ asymmetries for the relevant quasi-two-body $B$ meson decays. The branching fractions of the virtual contributions for $K\bar K$ from the Breit-Wigner formula tails of $\rho(770)$ and $\omega(782)$ for these decays are found comparable to the corresponding contributions from the resonances $\rho(1450,1700)$ and $\omega(1420,1650)$. Consequently, they constitute a significant component that should be accounted for in the considered three-body decays. All the predictions in this work are expected to be tested by the LHCb and Belle-II experiments in the future.

Motivated by the recently reported resonant structure $X(2300)$, a strong candidate for a fully strange tetraquark with positive parity, we perform a systematic study of fully strange tetra- and penta-quark systems within a chiral quark model. Low-lying $S$-wave configurations of the $ss\bar s\bar s$ and $ssss\bar s$ systems are investigated using the Gaussian Expansion Method (GEM) combined with the Complex Scaling Method (CSM), which allows for a unified treatment of bound, resonant, and scattering states. For tetraquarks, all possible configurations: meson-meson, diquark-antidiquark, and K-type structures, with complete color bases, are incorporated, while baryon-meson and diquark-diquark-antiquark configurations are considered for pentaquarks. Several weakly bound states and narrow resonances are identified in both sectors. In particular, a compact fully strange tetraquark with $J^P=1^+$ is found near $2.3\,\text{GeV}$, providing a natural interpretation of the $X(2300)$ resonance. Additional exotic states with dominant hidden-color and K-type components are predicted in the mass ranges $1.6-3.1$ GeV for tetraquarks and $2.6-3.2$ GeV for pentaquarks. The internal structure of these states is analyzed through their sizes, magnetic moments, and wave-function compositions, highlighting the essential role of channel coupling and exotic color configurations. Finally, promising two-body strong decay channels are proposed to facilitate future experimental searches.

Domain-specialized FPGAs have delivered unprecedented performance for low-latency inference across scientific and industrial workloads, yet nearly all existing accelerators assume static models trained offline, relegating learning and adaptation to slower CPUs or GPUs. This separation fundamentally limits systems that must operate in non-stationary, high-frequency environments, where model updates must occur at the timescale of the underlying physics. In this paper, I argue for a shift from inference-only accelerators to ultrafast on-chip learning, in which both inference and training execute directly within the FPGA fabric under deterministic, sub-microsecond latency constraints. Bringing learning into the same real-time datapath as inference would enable closed-loop systems that adapt as fast as the physical processes they control, with applications spanning quantum error correction, cryogenic qubit calibration, plasma and fusion control, accelerator tuning, and autonomous scientific experiments. Enabling such regimes requires rethinking algorithms, architectures, and toolflows jointly, but promises to transform FPGAs from static inference engines into real-time learning machines.

Neutrinoless double beta decay ($0\nu\beta\beta$) may receive sizable contributions from short-range physics beyond the Standard Model. We present a systematical classification of all tree-level ultraviolet completions of the dimension-11 short-range $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay operators, renormalizable scenarios with scalar and fermion mediators are considered. We identify eight distinct topologies and twenty-eight viable diagrams, from which all consistent UV completions are generated by imposing Standard Model gauge invariance. All these models involve a total of 61 new fields beyond the Standard Model and they typically feature fractionally charged fermions and exotic bosons such as dileptons, diquarks, and leptoquarks. We further study a representative model without colored mediators and analyze its implications for the $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay half-life and light neutrino masses. We find that current and future $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay experiments impose stringent constraints. Our systematic decomposition provides a general framework for exploring exotic short-range contributions to $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay in future experiments.

Deflections in the propagation of charged ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) caused by magnetic fields make the identification of their sources challenging. On the other hand, the arrival directions at Earth of neutrons point directly to their origin. The emission of UHECRs from a source is expected to be accompanied by the production of neutrons in its vicinity through interactions with ambient matter and radiation. Since free neutrons travel a mean distance $d/\text{kpc}=9.2(E/\text{EeV})$ before decaying, a neutron flux in the EeV range could be detected on Earth from sources of UHECRs in our Galaxy. Using cosmic-ray data from the Phase\,I of the Surface Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory, we search for neutron fluxes from Galactic candidate sources. We select more than 1000 objects of astrophysical interest, stacking them into target sets. The targets all have declinations within the exposure of the Observatory, ranging from $-90^\circ$ up to $+45^\circ$ for energies above 1 EeV (and up to $+20^\circ$ for energies down to 0.1 EeV). Given that a neutron air shower is indistinguishable from a proton one, there is a significant background due to cosmic rays. A neutron flux from the direction of a candidate source would be identified by a celestial density of events that significantly exceeds the expected density of cosmic rays for that direction. No significant excess is found at any tested target direction, and an upper limit on the neutron flux is calculated for each candidate source.

The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider explores the use of modern neural networks for a multi-dimensional calibration of its calorimeter signal defined by clusters of topologically connected cells (topo-clusters). The Bayesian neural network (BNN) approach not only yields a continuous and smooth calibration function that improves performance relative to the standard calibration but also provides uncertainties on the calibrated energies for each topo-cluster. The results obtained by using a trained BNN are compared to the standard local hadronic calibration and to a calibration provided by training a deep neural network. The uncertainties predicted by the BNN are interpreted in the context of a fractional contribution to the systematic uncertainties of the trained calibration. They are also compared to uncertainty predictions obtained from an alternative estimator employing repulsive ensembles.

Using a sample of $(10087\pm44)\times10^{6}$ $J/\psi$ events accumulated with the BESIII detector, we analyze the decays $\eta\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-l^+l^-$ ($l=e$ or $\mu$) via the process $J/\psi\rightarrow\gamma\eta$. The branching fraction of $\eta\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-e^+e^-$ is measured to be $\mathcal{B}(\eta\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-e^+e^-)=(3.07\pm0.12_{\rm{stat.}}\pm0.19_{\rm{syst.}}) \times10^{-4}$. No signal events are observed for the $\eta\rightarrow\pi^{+}\pi^{-}\mu^{+}\mu^{-}$ decay, leading to an upper limit on the branching fraction of $\mathcal{B}(\eta\rightarrow\pi^{+}\pi^{-}\mu^{+}\mu^{-})<4.0\times10^{-7}$ at the 90\% confidence level. Furthermore, the $CP$-violation asymmetry parameter is found to be $\mathcal{A}_{CP}(\eta\rightarrow\pi^{+}\pi^{-}e^{+}e^{-})=(-4.04\pm4.69_{\rm{stat.}}\pm0.14_{\rm{syst.}})\%$, showing no evidence of $CP$-violation with current statistics. Additionally, we extract the transition form factor from the decay amplitude of $\eta\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-e^+e^-$. Finally, axion-like particles are searched for via the decay $\eta\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-a, a\rightarrow e^+e^-$, and upper limits on this branching fraction relative to that of $\eta\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-e^+e^-$ are presented as a function of the axion-like particle mass in the range $5-200\ \mathrm{MeV}/c^{2}$.

In recent neutrino detectors, neutrons produced in neutrino reactions play an important role. Muon capture on oxygen nuclei is one of the processes that produce neutrons in water Cherenkov detectors. We measured neutron multiplicity in the process using cosmic ray muons that stop in the gadolinium-loaded Super-Kamiokande detector. For this measurement, neutron detection efficiency is obtained with the muon capture events followed by gamma rays to be $50.2^{+2.0}_{-2.1}\%$. By fitting the observed multiplicity considering the detection efficiency, we measure neutron multiplicity in muon capture as $P(0)=24\pm3\%$, $P(1)=70^{+3}_{-2}\%$, $P(2)=6.1\pm0.5\%$, $P(3)=0.38\pm0.09\%$. This is the first measurement of the multiplicity of neutrons associated with muon capture on oxygen without neutron energy threshold.

Space missions require lightweight, low-power consuming, radiation-tolerant components. Silicon photomultipliers are increasingly used for detecting near-UV, optical, and infrared light in space due to their compact design, low cost, low power consumption, robustness, and high photo-detection efficiency, which makes them sensitive to single photons. Although SiPMs outperform traditional photomultiplier tubes in many areas, concerns about their radiation tolerance and noise remain. In this study, we estimate the radiation effects on a satellite in sun-synchronous low Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 550~km during the declining phase of solar cycle 25 (2026-2029). We evaluated silicon photomultipliers produced by the Foundation Bruno Kessler (FBK) using front-side illuminated technology with metal trenches (NUV-HD-MT), assessing their response to a 50~MeV proton beam and exposure to a $\beta$-radioactive source (strontium-90). Simulations with SPENVIS and Geant4 were used to validate the experimental results. Based on our findings, we propose a photosensor annealing strategy for space-based instruments.

Using a sample of $(2.712\pm0.014) \times 10^{9}$ $\psi(3686)$ events collected with the BESIII detector at the electron positron collider BEPCII, the decay $\psi(3686) \to \Xi^- K^0_S \bar{\Omega}^+ +c.c.$ is observed for the first time, which has a significance of 5.9 standard deviations. The branching fraction of this decay is measured to be $(2.91\pm0.47\pm0.33)\times 10^{-6}$, where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. The ratio between $\mathcal{B}_{\psi(3686) \to \Xi^- K^0_S \bar{\Omega}^+ +c.c.}$ and $\mathcal{B}_{\psi(3686) \to \Omega^- K^+ \bar{\Xi}^0 +c.c.}$ is determined to be $1.05\pm0.23\pm0.14 $, which deviates with the isospin symmetry conservation predicted value of 0.5 by $2.1\sigma$.

Dual-phase xenon time projection chambers (TPCs) are widely used in searches for rare dark matter and neutrino interactions, in part because of their excellent position reconstruction capability in 3D. Despite their millimeter-scale resolution along the charge drift axis, xenon TPCs face challenges in resolving single-site (SS) and multi-site (MS) interactions in the transverse plane. In this paper, we build a generic TPC model with an idealized signal readout, and use Fisher Information (FI) to predict its theoretical capability of differentiating SS and MS events using the electroluminescence signal. We also demonstrate via simulation that, when only statistical photon noise is present, the theoretical limits can be approached with conventional reconstruction algorithms like maximum likelihood estimation, and with a convolutional neural network classifier. The implications of this study on future TPC experiments will be discussed.

Using a data sample of $(10087 \pm 44) \times 10^6$ $J/\psi$ events collected with the BESIII detector at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=3.097\ \textrm{GeV}$, a dedicated search for the charmonium semileptonic weak decay $J/\psi\rightarrow D_s^-e^+\nu_e + \text{c.c.}$ is performed. No significant signal is observed. An upper limit on the branching fraction is set at $\mathcal{B}(J/\psi\rightarrow D_s^- e^+ \nu_e + \text{c.c.}) < 1.0 \times 10^{-7}$ at the 90\% confidence level. This result improves upon previous constraints by an order of magnitude, representing the most stringent experimental limit to date. It thus provides a critical test of Standard Model predictions and new physics scenarios in heavy-quark dynamics.

We present the results of searches for nucleon decays via $p\rightarrow\nu\pi^{+}$ and $n\rightarrow\nu\pi^{0}$ using a 0.484 Mt$\cdot$yr exposure of Super-Kamiokande I-V data covering the entire pure water phase of the experiment. Various improvements on the previous 2014 nucleon decay search, which used an exposure of 0.173 Mt$\cdot$yr, are incorporated. The physics models related to pion production and nuclear interaction are refined with external data, and a more comprehensive set of systematic uncertainties, now including those associated with the atmospheric neutrino flux and pion production channels is considered. Also, the fiducial volume has been expanded by 21\%. No significant indication of a nucleon decay signal is found beyond the expected background. Lower bounds on the nucleon partial lifetimes are determined to be $3.5\times10^{32}$~yr for $p\rightarrow\nu\pi^{+}$ and $1.4\times10^{33}$~yr for $n\rightarrow\nu\pi^{0}$ at 90\% confidence level.

The Run 3 of the LHC brings unprecedented luminosity and a surge in data volume to the LHCb detector, necessitating a critical reduction in the size of each reconstructed event without compromising the physics reach of the heavy-flavour programme. While signal decays typically involve just a few charged particles, a single proton-proton collision produces hundreds of tracks, with charged particle information dominating the event size. To address this imbalance, a suite of inclusive isolation tools have been developed, including both classical methods and a novel Inclusive Multivariate Isolation (IMI) algorithm. The IMI unifies the key strengths of classical isolation techniques and is designed to robustly handle diverse decay topologies and kinematics, enabling efficient reconstruction of decay chains with varying final-state multiplicities. It consistently outperforms traditional methods, with superior background rejection and high signal efficiency across diverse channels and event multiplicities. By retaining only the most relevant particles in each event, the method achieves a 45 % reduction in data size while preserving full physics performance, selecting signal particles with 99% efficiency. We also validate IMI on Run 3 data, confirming its robustness under real data-taking conditions. In the long term, IMI could provide a fast, lightweight front-end to support more compute-intensive selection strategies in the high-multiplicity environment of the High-Luminosity LHC.

There are 17,612 20-inch photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) installed at the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO). Developing a precise optical model for the PMTs is crucial for enhancing the accuracy of detector simulations and refining the energy response model at JUNO. In this study, we established a comprehensive PMT optical model based on prior studies, taking into account the non-uniformity of photon detection efficiency (PDE) across the PMT surface and the variances in PDE as well as reflections among different PMTs. By collecting reflectance data from 669 PMTs and utilizing PDE data from mass testing systems, we estimated the thickness maps of the photocathode (PC) and the anti-reflective coating (ARC) for each PMT. We also determined the collection efficiency (CE) by decomposing PDE with consideration of the optical processes occurring within the PMTs. The refractive index and extinction coefficient of both the PC and ARC, along with the escape factor, were evaluated over a broad wavelength range of 300~nm to 700~nm, covering the entire spectrum of interest for JUNO. Compared to the prediction from a simplified PMT optical model, which assumes uniform PC and ARC across all PMTs of the same type, the further developed PMT optical model yields much more reflectance for HPK PMTs and less for NNVT PMTs, and the change in PDE is at the level of a few percent. This comprehensive PMT optical model also provides a valuable reference for other PMT-based applications.

This contribution presents an overview of an improved extraction of the effective leptonic weak mixing angle, $\sin^2\theta^\ell_{\mathrm{eff}}$, based on the published CMS measurement of the forward-backward asymmetry in Drell-Yan events at 13 TeV [1]. While the original CMS analysis [2] achieved a significant reduction in experimental uncertainties, its overall precision remains limited by residual uncertainties in the parton distribution functions (PDFs). This proceeding highlights the impact of incorporating complementary CMS measurements that probe different combinations of parton densities, thereby providing additional PDF constraints beyond those obtained from the asymmetry measurement alone. The improved analysis leads to a substantially reduced total uncertainty, yielding $\sin^2\theta^\ell_{\mathrm{eff}} = 0.23156\pm0.00024$. This result is consistent with the Standard Model prediction and represents the most precise single determination of this parameter to date.

A model-independent search for low-mass resonances decaying into pairs of oppositely charged muons is presented. The analysis uses proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$, recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider between 2015 and 2018. The search targets hypothetical dimuon resonances in the invariant mass range from 35 GeV to 75 GeV. The modelling of this mass region is particularly challenging for conventional analytic background parameterisations. To address this, a Gaussian process regression technique is used to model the background. The dimuon mass spectrum is analysed for potential signals, and no statistically significant excess is observed. Upper limits at the 95% confidence level are set on the fiducial production cross-section of new resonances decaying promptly into muons, ranging from 20 fb to 110 fb, depending on the resonance mass. These results are further interpreted in the context of dark-photon and dark-matter-mediator models, leading to new constraints on their parameter spaces.

The effective string tension ($\kappa$) in the Schwinger mechanism and the effective temperature ($T$) in Bose-Einstein statistics are extracted from the transverse momentum ($p_T$) spectra of heavy quarkonia produced in proton-proton (p+p) collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Here, $T$ derived from the heavy quarkonium $p_T$ spectra also serves as the initial effective temperature (effective temperature at the initial stage) of small collision systems. This is because, despite the absence of quark-gluon plasma (QGP) formation during the collisions, which leaves $T$ largely unaffected by QGP-related effects, the initial geometric asymmetry and local partonic thermalization still induce radial and transverse flows, thereby contributing to an increase in $T$. The effective parameters ($\kappa$ and $T$) are obtained by fitting the experimental $p_T$ spectra of $J/\psi$ and $\Upsilon(nS)$ ($n=1$, 2, and 3) within various rapidity intervals, produced in p+p collisions at center-of-mass energies of $\sqrt{s}=13$ and 8 TeV, as measured by the LHCb Collaboration. It is found that the multi-component distribution structured within the framework of the Schwinger mechanism or Bose-Einstein statistics can effectively describe the heavy quarkonium $p_T$ spectra in small collision systems. With decreasing rapidity in the forward region, both $\kappa$ and $T$ increase, indicating a directly proportional relationship between them. Based on $\kappa$, the average minimum strong force radius of participant quarks is determined.

We investigate the general susceptibilities in the charm sector by using the van der Waals hadron resonance gas model (VDWHRG). We argue that the ideal hadron resonance gas (HRG), which assumes no interactions between hadrons, and the excluded volume hadron resonance gas (EVHRG), which includes only repulsive interactions, fail to explain the lQCD data at very high temperatures. In contrast, the VDWHRG model, incorporating both attractive and repulsive interactions, extends the degree of agreement with lQCD up to nearly 180 MeV. We estimate the partial pressure in the charm sector and study charm susceptibility ratios in a baryon-rich environment, which is tricky for lattice quantum chromodynamics (lQCD) due to the fermion sign problem. Our study further solidifies the notion that the hadrons shouldn't be treated as non-interacting particles, especially when studying higher order fluctuations, but rather one should consider both attractive and repulsive interactions between the hadrons.

Neutrinoless double beta decay ($0\nu\beta\beta$) and charged lepton flavor violation (cLFV) experiments provide promising avenues to probe new physics contributions from extended neutrino sectors in beyond Standard Model (BSM) scenarios. We consider a Left-Right Symmetric Model (LRSM) extended with three generations of sterile neutrinos to realize a double type-I seesaw mechanism for light neutrino mass generation. The double seesaw induces maximal lepton number violation in the right-handed sector and facilitates enhanced Majorana masses for right-handed neutrinos, thereby leading to their dominant contributions in both cLFV and $0\nu\beta\beta$ processes. We perform a comprehensive exploration of the parameter space for new-physics contributions to the cLFV decay $\mu \to e \gamma$ and to $0\nu\beta\beta$, considering two different textures for the Dirac mass matrices: (i) a symmetry-motivated limit with $M_D \propto \mathbb{1}$, and (ii) a texture fully determined by the model framework. A detailed analysis of the common parameter regions accessible to current experiments like KamLAND-Zen and LEGEND-200, and upcoming experiments, such as MEG-II and LEGEND-1000, is presented, underscoring the phenomenological relevance of this framework. Our results aim to provide optimistic benchmarks for future searches targeting right-handed current-mediated neutrino interactions.

The gradients act as invisible engines of transport, converting microscopic imbalances into macroscopic flows, and thus providing deep insights into the dynamics of physical systems. Thermal gradients do not merely drive the flow of heat, but they also set the microscopic constituents of the system into motion. In such scenarios, the constituents of the system not only transport energy but also diffuse collectively under the influence of these gradients. For the very first time, we present a first-principles investigation of the Soret and Dufour effects in hot and dense quantum chromodynamics (QCD) matter. We use the relativistic Boltzmann transport equation under the relaxation time approximation. By incorporating chemical potential and temperature gradients into the kinetic theory framework, we derive explicit expressions for the Dufour coefficient, which quantifies the heat flow due to concentration gradients, and the Soret coefficient, which describes the particle diffusion induced by thermal gradients. These coupled-transport phenomena are traditionally studied in multi-component classical systems at low energy scales. In this study, we follow quasiparticle models for the deconfined phase and the hadron resonance gas model for the confined hadronic phase in the context of heavy-ion collisions. This study provides novel insights into the thermo-diffusion and diffusion-thermo phenomena and opens avenues for incorporating such effects in hydrodynamic modeling and transport simulations of QCD matter.

The quality of the invariant mass reconstruction of the di-{\tau} system is crucial for searches and analyses of di-{\tau} resonances. Due to the presence of neutrinos in the final state, the {\tau} {\tau} invariant mass cannot be calculated directly at hadron colliders, where the longitudinal momentum sum constraint cannot be applied. A number of approaches have been adopted to mitigate this issue. The most general one uses Matrix Element (ME) integration for likelihood estimation, followed by invariant mass reconstruction as the value maximizing the likelihood. However, this method has a significant computational cost due to the need for integration over the phase space of the decay products. We propose an algorithm that reduces the computational cost by two orders of magnitude, while maintaining the resolution of the invariant mass reconstruction at a level comparable to the ME-based method. Moreover, we introduce additional features to estimate the uncertainty of the reconstructed mass and the kinematics of the initial {\tau} leptons (e.g., their momenta).

We present a comprehensive theoretical analysis of neutrino-induced decoherence in macroscopic matter-wave interferometry experiments designed to search for dark matter and beyond-Standard Model physics. Our calculation includes contributions from the cosmic neutrino background (C$\nu$B), solar neutrinos, and reactor antineutrinos, accounting for coherent scattering processes across nuclear, atomic, and macroscopic length scales. Within the Standard Model, we find negligible decoherence rates for planned experiments such as MAQRO ($s/\sigma_s \sim 10^{-27}$) and terrestrial interferometers like Pino ($s/\sigma_s \sim 10^{-22}$). However, these experiments achieve competitive sensitivity to beyond-Standard Model physics through light vector mediator interactions, with C$\nu$B constraining coupling products to $g_\nu g_n \lesssim 10^{-17}$ for $Z'$ masses below 1 eV. Our results provide a theoretical framework for interpreting matter-wave interferometry measurements in terms of neutrino interaction physics and for deriving constraints on BSM models from experimental data.

Although the axion is the most compelling solution to the strong CP problem, the ad hoc introduced global Peccei-Quinn symmetry suffers from a severe fine-tuning problem known as the quality problem. In this Letter, we show that the discrete gauge symmetry $\mathbb Z_4 \times \mathbb Z_3$ motivated from the internal structure of the Standard Model can naturally predict a high-quality axion, leading to a distinct and testable parameter space. Remarkably, this minimal framework simultaneously accounts for neutrino masses, baryon asymmetry, and dark matter.

We report on R&D study to improve the photon detection efficiency of water Cherenkov detectors by doping ultra-pure water with 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), a wavelength shifting additive. Cherenkov light yields from cosmic-ray muons were measured for various 4-MU concentrations and compared with those from pure water. At a concentration of 1 ppm, the detected light yield increased by approximately a factor of three. This enhancement can be attributed to wavelength shifting and improved photon collection efficiency. No noticeable degradation in optical transparency was observed across the tested concentrations of 0.5 and 1 ppm with different concentration of ethanol. These results suggest that 4-MU is a promising additive for improving the performance of water Cherenkov detectors.

We study the Dalitz decays of heavy quarkonia, which result from the internal virtual photon conversion into an $\ell^+ \ell^-$ lepton pair. Heavy-quark symmetries allow us to establish systematic relations between transitions of different quarkonium states, and to precisely determine the branching fractions for several charmonium and bottomonium decay modes. For charmonium, existing data on $\chi_{cJ}(1P)\to J/\psi \ell^+ \ell^-$ and $\psi(2S)\to \chi_{cJ}(1P) \ell^+ \ell^-$ enable us to determine the parameters of the transition form factors and to predict the rates of yet-unobserved modes. The Dalitz transitions of $\chi_{c1}(3872)$ are important, as they can help assessing the structure of this meson. For bottomonium, recent LHCb measurements allow us to predict the branching fractions of $\chi_{bJ}(nP)\to \Upsilon(1S)\ell^+ \ell^-$ and $h_b(nP)\to \eta_b(1S) \ell^+ \ell^-$ ($n=1,\,2)$. We also investigate the sensitivity of heavy quarkonia Dalitz modes to the contribution of a new light vector mediator, such as the putative $X(17)$.

I describe my activities in Flavour Physics from 1976 to 2026. However, this 50th anniversary is not the only motivation for this writing. The second reason is the 350th anniversary of the discovery of the first animalcula by van Leeuvanhoek in 1676. Flavour physics makes it possible to search for new animalcula at distance scales far shorter than those resolved by van Leeuwenhoek in 1676 and even shorter than those directly accessible at the Large Hadron Collider. Achieving this goal requires not only precise measurements of a wide variety of processes, but also equally precise theoretical calculations, both within the Standard Model (SM) and beyond it. In this respect, next-to-leading-order (NLO) and next-to-next-to-leading-order (NNLO) QCD calculations of various Wilson coefficients in the SM and beyond it, in which I was involved for two decades, as well as reliable treatments of non-perturbative QCD effects, are indispensable. Equally important is the proper choice of observables that are best suited to revealing these new animalcula of particle physics. Moreover, in my view it is crucial to develop strategies for the search for New Physics (NP) that go beyond the global fits that are very popular today. While effective field theories such as WET and SMEFT are formulated in terms of Wilson coefficients of the relevant operators, with correlations characteristic of the SM and of specific NP scenarios, the most direct tests of the SM and its extensions are, in my opinion, correlations among different observables that are characteristic of particular new animalcula at work. Numerous colourful plots in this article illustrate this point. I hope that these ideas are clearly conveyed in my Flavour Autobiography, which also includes my memories of many conferences, workshops, and schools, as well as related anecdotes that are not always directly connected to physics.

We re-evaluate the viability of a kinetically mixed dark photon ($A^{\prime}$) as a solution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment $(g-2)\mu$ discrepancy and the ATOMKI nuclear anomalies near 17~MeV, using the final FNAL measurement and the latest theory predictions (BMW21, WP25). For $m_{A^{\prime}} = 17$~MeV, the allowed kinetic mixing parameter narrows to $\varepsilon_\mu = 7.03(58)\times10^{-4}$ (WP25). We then directly compare the allowed region for the muon and X17 bands to those preferred by the electron magnetic moment measurements. For the electron, we obtain $\varepsilon_e = 1.19(15)\times10^{-3}$ (Cs, 2018) and $\varepsilon_e = 0.69(15)\times10^{-3}$ (Rb, 2020), based on two recent measurements of the fine structure constant compared to the most recent experimental value determined using a one-electron quantum cyclotron. This study focuses on the protophobic vector interpretation of X17 and assumes $\varepsilon_\nu<<\varepsilon_l$. While a mild tension persists, we identify a narrow overlapping region, $6.8\times10^{-4} \lesssim \varepsilon \lesssim 9.6\times10^{-4}$, between recent PADME results, the NA64 exclusion, and within the 2$\sigma$ preferred coupling region given by the Rb 2020 determination of $\alpha_\varepsilon$. These results provide well-defined targets for future experimental searches and motivate further theoretical refinements, both of which will play a decisive role in assessing the validity of the ATOMKI anomaly claims. Of particular note is the fixed target X17 experiment to be conducted in Hall-B of Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Summer of 2026.

Neutrino physics offers unique insights into phenomena beyond the Standard Model (BSM). This thesis presents phenomenological investigations organized around three pillars: consolidation of the three-flavor oscillation paradigm, exploration of new physics viability, and precise determination of solar neutrino fluxes. The theoretical framework introduces massive neutrinos, leptonic mixing, and flavor transitions, followed by experimental results emphasizing Borexino and NOvA data analyses. The first pillar establishes the three-flavor framework through global analysis of solar, atmospheric, reactor, and accelerator data, providing updated determinations of mixing angles ($\theta_{12}$, $\theta_{13}$, $\theta_{23}$) and mass-squared differences ($\Delta m^2_{21}$, $\Delta m^2_{31}$), while quantifying ambiguities in mass ordering and $\theta_{23}$ octant. The second pillar investigates Non-Standard Interactions (NSI) with electrons and quarks, combining Borexino data with COHERENT's CE$\nu$NS measurements to establish bounds on propagation and detection couplings, excluding viable NSI parameter regions including potential LMA-D solutions. The third pillar advances solar neutrino physics through precision flux determinations, integrating pp-chain and CNO-cycle measurements. Results show preference for high-metallicity Standard Solar Models and incompatibility between $3+1$ mixing parameters favored by Gallium experiments and solar observations. This synthesis guides future experiments toward resolving mass ordering, CP violation, and dark sector interactions.

We investigate how effectively final-state jet substructure can discriminate between QCD Compton and quark-antiquark annihilation processes from photon-jet production in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV. Using infrared- and collinear-safe jet observables, multivariate classifiers -- boosted decision trees and multilayer perceptrons -- are trained on labeled quark- and gluon-initiated jets from dijet events and applied to photon-jet samples. Observables probing soft and wide-angle radiation, in particular jet multiplicity and jet girth, dominate the discrimination. The jet mass provides a complementary but weaker contribution, while the jet charge exhibits negligible discriminating power. A comparison of the two classifiers demonstrates that the achievable separation is limited primarily by QCD radiation effects rather than by classifier complexity. These findings quantify the extent to which information about the underlying hard process survives hadronization and realistic jet reconstruction, providing a physics-driven baseline for precision jet measurements in $pp$, $ep/$A, and heavy-ion collisions.