### Z production in pPb collisions at LHCb

This article presents results of the Z boson production in the proton-lead collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV and $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}= 8.16$ TeV collected in 2013 and 2016, respectively, by the LHCb detector at the LHC in forward and backward rapidity. The great precision of the 2016 data are found compatible with nPDFs theoretical predictions within large theoretical uncertainties, and can be useful to constraint new predictions.

### Covariant density functional theory for nuclear chirality in $^{135}$Nd

The three-dimensional tilted axis cranking covariant density functional theory (3D-TAC CDFT) is used to study the chiral modes in $^{135}$Nd. By modeling the motion of the nucleus in rotating mean field as the interplay between the single-particle motions of several valence particle(s) and hole(s) and the collective motion of a core-like part, a classical Routhian is extracted. This classical Routhian gives qualitative agreement with the 3D-TAC CDFT result for the critical frequency corresponding to the transition from planar to aplanar rotation. Based on this investigation a possible understanding of tilted rotation appearing in a microscopic theory is provided.

### Two-photon exchange effects in $e^+ e^-\rightarrowπ^+π^-$ at small $\sqrt{s}$

In this work, the two-photon-exchange (TPE) effects in $e^+e^- \rightarrow \pi^+ \pi^-$ at small $\sqrt{s}$ are discussed within a hadronic model. In the limit $m_e\rightarrow 0$, the TPE contribution to the amplitude can be described by one scalar function $\overline{c}_{1}^{(2\gamma)}$. The ratio between this function and the corresponding contribution in one-photon exchange $c_{1}^{(1\gamma)}$ reflects all the information of the TPE corrections. The numerical results on this ratio are presented and an artificial function is used to fit the numerical results. The latter can be used conveniently in the further experimental data analysis. The numerical results show the asymmetry of the differential cross sections in $e^+e^- \rightarrow \pi^+ \pi^-$ is about $-4\%$ at $\sqrt{s}\sim 0.7$ GeV.

### Large-P_T inclusive photoproduction of J/psi in electron-proton collisions at HERA and the EIC

We study the inclusive J/psi production at large transverse momenta at lepton-hadron colliders in the limit when the exchange photon is quasi real, also referred to as photoproduction. Our computation includes the leading-P_T leading-v next-to-leading alpha_s corrections. In particular, we consider the contribution from J/psi plus another charm quark, by employing for the first time in quarkonium photoproduction the variable-flavour-number scheme. We also include a QED-induced contribution via an off-shell photon which remained ignored in the literature and which we show to be the leading contribution at high P_T within the reach of the EIC. In turn, we use our computation of J/psi+charm to demonstrate its observability at the future EIC and the EIC sensitivity to probe the non-perturbative charm content of the proton at high x.

### Detailed $β$ spectrum calculations of $^{214}$Pb for new physics searches in liquid Xenon

We present a critical assessment of the calculation and uncertainty of the $^{214}$Pb $\to$ $^{214}$Bi ground state to ground state $\beta$ decay, the dominant source of background in liquid Xenon dark matter detectors, down to below 1 keV. We consider contributions from atomic exchange effects, nuclear structure and radiative corrections. For each of these, we find changes much larger than previously estimated uncertainties and discuss shortcomings of the original calculation. Specifically, through the use of a self-consistent Dirac-Hartree-Fock-Slater calculation, we find that the atomic exchange effect increases the predicted flux by $10(3)\%$ at 1 keV relative to previous exchange calculations. Further, using a shell model calculation of the nuclear structure contribution to the shape factor, we find a strong disagreement with the allowed shape factor and discuss several sources of uncertainty. In the 1-200 keV window, the predicted flux is up to 20$\%$ lower. Finally, we discuss omissions and detector effects in previously used QED radiative corrections, and find small changes in the slope at the $\gtrsim 1\%$ MeV$^{-1}$ level, up to $3\%$ in magnitude due to omissions in $\mathcal{O}(Z\alpha^2, Z^2\alpha^3)$ corrections and $3.5\%$ uncertainty from the neglect of as of yet unavailable higher-order contributions. Combined, these give rise to an increase of at least a factor 2 of the uncertainty in the 1-200 keV window. We comment on possible experimental schemes of measuring this and related transitions.

### Deciphering the mechanism of near-threshold $J/ψ$ photoproduction

The photoproduction of the $J/\psi$ off the proton is believed to deepen our understanding of various physics issues. On the one hand, it is proposed to provide access to the origin of the proton mass, based on the QCD multipole expansion. On the other hand, it can be employed in a study of pentaquark states. The process is usually assumed to proceed through vector-meson dominance, that is the photon couples to a $J/\psi$ which rescatters with the proton to give the $J/\psi p$ final state. In this Letter, we provide a compelling hint for and propose measurements necessary to confirm a novel production mechanism via the $\Lambda_c \bar D^{(*)}$ intermediate states. In particular, there must be cusp structures at the $\Lambda_c \bar D^{(*)}$ thresholds in the energy dependence of the $J/\psi$ photoproduction cross section. The same mechanism also implies the $J/\psi$-nucleon scattering lengths of order 1 mfm. Given this, one expects only a minor contribution of charm quarks to the nucleon mass.