Neutron background in large-scale xenon detectors for dark matter searches
Simulations of the neutron background for future large-scale particle dark matter detectors are presented. Neutrons were generated in rock and detector elements via spontaneous fission and (α,n) reactions, and by cosmic-ray muons. The simulation techniques and results are discussed in the context of the expected sensitivity of a generic liquid xenon dark matter detector. Methods of neutron background suppression are investigated. A sensitivity of 10 −9 –10 −10 pb to WIMP-nucleon interactions can be achieved by a tonne-scale detector.

title: The ZEPLIN-III dark matter detector: Performance study using an end-to-end simulation tool
abstract: We present results from a GEANT4-based Monte Carlo tool for end-to-end simulations of the ZEPLIN-III dark matter experiment. ZEPLIN-III is a two-phase detector which measures both the scintillation light and the ionisation charge generated in liquid xenon by interacting particles and radiation. The software models the instrument response to radioactive backgrounds and calibration sources, including the generation, ray-tracing and detection of the primary and secondary scintillations in liquid and gaseous xenon, and subsequent processing by data acquisition electronics. A flexible user interface allows easy modification of detector parameters at run time. Realistic datasets can be produced to help with data analysis, an example of which is the position reconstruction algorithm developed from simulated data. We present a range of simulation results confirming the original design sensitivity of a few times 10−8 pb to the WIMP-nucleon cross-section.

title: The potential of liquid xenon for WIMP search: the ZEPLIN diagnostic array
abstract: A Liquid Xenon based WIMP detector diagnostic array is currently developed by the UKDMC with the help of international collaborators. After a brief reminder on the detection principle in Liquid Xenon, the individual detectors will be described. ZEPLIN I, a detector with a 4 kg fiducial mass with a background discrimination based on Pulse Shape Analysis, is already underground and starting operation. Two setups with improved background discrimination tools (as the ionisation is also recorded) are designed and scheduled to move underground in the second half of 2001. Both of them, ZEPLIN II and ZEPLIN III, are predicted to be sensitive to rate of 0.1–0.01 events/kg/day within 2 years of data taking. Furthermore, new ideas for lower background readout devices are studied, in order to avoid the use of PhotoMultiplier Tubes (PMTs).

title: Progress report from the UK Dark Matter search at Boulby Mine
abstract: The UK Dark Matter Collaboration is currently running a series of scintillation devices at the Boulby mine in North Yorkshire to search for the neutralino, the hypothetical WIMP solution to the dark matter problem. Results of the current NaI(T1) detector array will be discussed, illustrating a population of events of unknown origin. Diagnostic tests performed to investigate the origin of these anomalous events will be outlined, including alpha, beta and neutron calibrations.

title: Particle polarization in inclusive reactions

title: Muon-induced background in the EDELWEISS dark matter search
abstract: A dedicated analysis of the muon-induced background in the EDELWEISS dark matter search has been performed on a data set acquired in 2009 and 2010. The total muon flux underground in the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (LSM) was measured to be Φ μ = ( 5.4 ± 0.2 - 0.9 + 0.5 )  muons/m 2 /d. The modular design of the μ -veto system allows the reconstruction of the muon trajectory and hence the determination of the angular dependent muon flux in LSM. The results are in good agreement with both MC simulations and earlier measurements. Synchronization of the μ -veto system with the phonon and ionization signals of the Ge detector array allowed identification of muon-induced events. Rates for all muon-induced events Γ μ = ( 0.172 ± 0.012 ) evts / ( kg d ) and of WIMP-like events Γ μ – n = 0.008 - 0.004 + 0.005 evts / ( kg d ) were extracted. After vetoing, the remaining rate of accepted muon-induced neutrons in the EDELWEISS-II dark matter search was determined to be Γ irred μ – n 6 · 10 - 4 evts / ( kg d ) at 90% C.L. Based on these results, the muon-induced background expectation for an anticipated exposure of 3000 kg d for EDELWEISS-III is N 3000 kg d μ – n 0.6 events.

title: Measurement of B meson production cross-sections in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=7 $ TeV
abstract: A bstractThe production cross-sections of B mesons are measured in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, using data collected with the LHCb detector corresponding to a integrated luminosity of 0.36 fb−1. The B+, B0 and $ B_s^0 $ mesons are reconstructed in the exclusive decays B+ → J/ψK+, B0 → J/ψK*0 and $ B_s^0\to {J \left/ {{\psi \phi }} \right.} $, with J/ψ → μ+μ−, K*0 → K+π− and ϕ → K+K−. The differential cross-sections are measured as functions of B meson transverse momentum pT and rapidity y, in the range 0 < pT< 40 GeV/c and 2.0 < y < 4.5. The integrated cross-sections in the same pT and y ranges, including charge-conjugate states, are measured to be
$ \begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {\sigma \left( {pp\to {B^{+}}+X} \right)=38.9\pm 0.3\left( {\mathrm{stat}.} \right)\pm 2.5\left( {\mathrm{syst}.} \right)\pm 1.3\left( {\mathrm{norm}.} \right)\upmu \mathrm{b},} \hfill \\ {\sigma \left( {pp\to {B^0}+X} \right)=38.1\pm 0.6\left( {\mathrm{stat}.} \right)\pm 3.7\left( {\mathrm{syst}.} \right)\pm 4.7\left( {\mathrm{norm}.} \right)\upmu \mathrm{b},} \hfill \\ {\sigma \left( {pp\to B_s^0+X} \right)=10.5\pm 0.2\left( {\mathrm{stat}.} \right)\pm 0.8\left( {\mathrm{syst}.} \right)\pm 1.0\left( {\mathrm{norm}.} \right)\upmu \mathrm{b},} \hfill \\ \end{array} $where the third uncertainty arises from the pre-existing branching fraction measurements.

title: Production of high-energy muons in extensive air showers from primary el rays
abstract: The primary mechanism for the production of high-energy muons (E/sub / > 5 TeV) in extensive air showers from primary el rays is the production of muon pairs by shower photons in the field of a nucleus.

title: Search for rare $B^0_{(s)}\rightarrow \mu^+ \mu^- \mu^+ \mu^-$ decays
abstract: A search for the decays $B^0_{s}\rightarrow \mu^+ \mu^- \mu^+ \mu^-$ and $B^0 \rightarrow \mu^+ \mu^- \mu^+ \mu^-$ is performed using data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0\ensuremath{\{\,fb}^{-1}}\xspace, collected with the LHCb detector in 2011. The number of candidates observed is consistent with the expected background and, assuming phase-space models of the decays, limits on the branching fractions are set: \{${\ensuremath{\cal B}\xspace}(B^0_{s}\rightarrow \mu^+ \mu^- \mu^+ \mu^-) < 1.6 \ (1.2) \times 10^{-8}$} and \{${\ensuremath{\cal B}\xspace}(B^0 \rightarrow \mu^+ \mu^- \mu^+ \mu^-)< 6.6 \ (5.3) \times 10^{-9}$} at 95\,% (90\,%) confidence level. In addition, limits are set in the context of a supersymmetric model which allows for the $B^0_{(s)}$ meson to decay into a scalar ($S$) and pseudoscalar particle ($P$), where $S$ and $P$ have masses of 2.5 GeV and 214.3 MeV, respectively, both resonances decay into $\mu^+\mu^-$. The branching fraction limits for these decays are \{${\ensuremath{\cal B}\xspace}(\ensuremath{B^0_{s}\rightarrow SP}\xspace) < 1.6 \ (1.2) \times 10^{-8}$} and \{${\ensuremath{\cal B}\xspace}(\ensuremath{B^0\rightarrow SP}\xspace)< 6.3 \ (5.1) \times 10^{-9}$} at 95% (90%) confidence level.

title: Heavy states of hadron string as weak interacting massive particles for Dark Matter
abstract: Massive states (of order 10 Gev and more) of hadron string (with scale 1 Gev) can have very small coupling constants with usual baryons of the Universe. Corresponding mean times for them are found to be order and even more than the age of the Universe. They are proposed as possible candidates for weak interacting massive particles (WIMP) of Dark Matter.

title: Model-independent search for $CP$ violation in $D^{0} \to K^{-}K^{+}\pi^{-}\pi^{+}$ and $D^{0} \to \pi^{-}\pi^{+}\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ decays
abstract: A search for CP violation in the phase-space structures of 130 and 15 decays to the final states K-K+pi(-)pi(+) and pi(-)pi(+)pi(+)pi(-) is presented. The search is carried out with a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb(-1) collected in 2011 by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. For the K-K+pi(-)pi(+) final state, the four-body phase space is divided into 32 bins, each bin with approximately 1800 decays. The p-value under the hypothesis of no CP violation is 9.1%, and in no bin is a CP asymmetry greater than 6.5% observed. The phase space of the pi(-)pi(+)pi(+)pi(-). final state is partitioned into 128 bins, each bin with approximately 2500 decays. The p-value under the hypothesis of no CP violation is 41%, and in no bin is a CP asymmetry greater than 5.5% observed. All results are consistent with the hypothesis of no CP violation at the current sensitivity.