The strange quark plays a unique role in QCD, reflecting its intermediate mass between the light and heavy quarks. In recent years, remarkable progress has been made in the spectroscopy of baryons with strangeness. Many new features of the strange baryon spectrum have been revealed by accurate experimental data with novel techniques, as well as systematic developments of theoretical framework to describe

The discovery of the Higgs boson has opened a new avenue for exploring physics beyond the Standard Model. In this review, we discuss cosmological aspects of the simplest Higgs couplings to the hidden sector, known as the Higgs portal. We focus on implications of such couplings for inflation, vacuum stability and dark matter, with the latter including both the traditional weakly interacting massive

We make an updated review and a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the decays of Higgs bosons in the Standard Model (SM) and its three well-defined prototype extensions such as the complex singlet extension of the SM (cxSM), the four types of two Higgs-doublet models (2HDMs) without tree-level Higgs-mediated flavor-changing neutral current (FCNC) and the minimal supersymmetric extension of the

Under certain running conditions, the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) can be considered as a photon–photon collider. Indeed, in proton–proton, proton–ion, ion–ion collisions, when incoming particles pass very close to each other in very peripheral collisions, the incoming protons or ions remain almost intact and continue their path along the beam axis. Then, only the electromagnetic (EM) fields of

Recent measurements of b-hadron decays show a pattern of consistent tensions with the respective Standard Model (SM) predictions. These tensions appear both in the sector of rare flavour-changing neutral currents and in tree-level semileptonic b-hadron decays. Flavour-changing neutral-current decays are loop-suppressed in the SM and are thus very susceptible to contributions from new heavy particles

Recent developments in precision mass spectrometry of radioactive isotopes (RI) and some selected related physics subjects are reviewed. In the last decades, besides conventional technologies in RI beam experiments, mass spectrometry of short-lived nuclei has significantly boosted its performance in terms of sensitivity and precision. Whereas single-path measurements are still employed for studies

There are two mass generating mechanisms in the standard model of particle physics (SM). One is related to the Higgs boson and fairly well understood. The other is embedded in quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the SM’s strong interaction piece; and although responsible for emergence of the roughly 1 GeV mass scale that characterises the proton and hence all observable matter, the source and impacts of

We review the current status and recent progress of microscopic many-body approaches and phenomenological models, which are employed to construct the equation of state of neutron stars. The equation of state is relevant for the description of their structure and dynamical properties, and it rules also the dynamics of core-collapse supernovae and binary neutron star mergers. We describe neutron star

We review the current understanding of time-like virtual photon emission from QCD matter. The phenomenology of dilepton emission is discussed and basic theoretical concepts are introduced. The experimental findings are presented, grouped into production of lepton pairs in elementary processes, production off cold nuclear matter and emission from heavy-ion collisions. The review emphasizes the role

This review focuses on the calculation of infinite nuclear matter response functions using phenomenological finite-range interactions, equipped or not with tensor terms. These include Gogny and Nakada families, which are commonly used in the literature. Because of the finite-range, the main technical difficulty stems from the exchange terms of the particle–hole interaction. We first present results

Precision studies at electron–positron colliders with centre-of-mass energies in the charm–tau region and below have strongly contributed to our understanding of light-meson interactions at low energies. We focus on the processes involving two or three light mesons with invariant masses below nucleon–antinucleon threshold. A prominent role is given to the interactions of the nine lightest pseudoscalar

The generalization of the color gauge group SU(3) to SU(Nc), with Nc taking arbitrarily large values, as had been proposed and developed by ’t Hooft, has allowed for a decisive progress in the understanding of many qualitative, as well as quantitative, aspects of QCD in its nonperturbative regime. In particular, the notion of valence quarks receives there a precise meaning. The present work reviews

Fifty years ago the standard model offered an elegant new step towards understanding elementary fermion and boson fields, making several assumptions, suggested by experiments. The assumptions are still waiting for an explanation. There are many proposals in the literature for the next step. The spin-charge-family theory of one of us (N.S.M.B.) is offering the explanation for not only all by the standard

Quantum Phase Transitions arising in algebraic and collective models of nuclear structure are reviewed. The concept of quantum phases and phase transitions are described as well as those of critical point symmetries and quasi-dynamical symmetries. Algebraic and collective models are compared and the connections between them are explored. Differences between even-even and odd-even systems are discussed

Exascale computing could soon enable a predictive theory of nuclear structure and reactions rooted in the Standard Model, with quantifiable and systematically improvable uncertainties. Such a predictive theory will help exploit experiments that use nucleons and nuclei as laboratories for testing the Standard Model and its limitations. Examples include direct dark matter detection, neutrinoless double

This review focuses on the calculation of infinite nuclear matter response functions using phenomenological finite-range interactions, equipped or not with tensor terms. These include Gogny and Nakada families, which are commonly used in the litterature. Because of the finite-range, the main technical difficulty stems from the exchange terms of the particle-hole interaction. We first present results

The Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA), the new generation high-resolution γ-ray spectrometer, has seen the realization of the first phases of its construction and exploitation. A number of nuclear structure studies based on experiments utilizing the principle of γ-ray tracking were carried out in this decade. The combination of highest detection efficiency and position sensitivity allowed very

Dark matter represents currently an outstanding problem in both cosmology and particle physics. In this review we discuss the possible explanations for dark matter and the experimental observables which can eventually lead to the discovery of dark matter and its nature, and demonstrate the close interplay between the cosmological properties of the early Universe and the observables used to constrain

In this review, we describe the experimental facilities and methods which make it possible to produce and measure the properties of the extreme neutron-rich nuclei. We then develop the theoretical framework that predicts and explains these properties; the shell-model approach with large-scale configuration interaction (mixing) SM-CI, with special emphasis in the competition between the spherical mean

Quasifission competes with fusion, and can suppress the cross sections for formation of heavy elements by orders of magnitude. Its understanding is important both to map out opportunities to synthesise superheavy elements and isotopes, and to understand the non-equilibrium dynamics that controls heavy ion reactions. A review of experimental studies of quasifission is presented, summarising significant

Nuclear processes not only generate the energy and drive the evolution of stars, but also are responsible for the synthesis of the elements in the Universe. Helium (4He, or α) is the second most abundant element after hydrogen, thus α-particle induced reactions such as (α,γ), (α,n) and (α,p) play a crucial role in nuclear astrophysics, especially for understanding stellar helium burning. Direct measurement

The Spin Physics Detector (SPD) is a future multipurpose experiment foreseen to run at the NICA collider, which is currently under construction at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR, Dubna, Russia). The physics program of the experiment is based on collisions of longitudinally and transversely polarized protons and deuterons at s up to 27 GeV and luminosity up to 1032 cm−2 s−1. SPD will

The inclusive production of hadrons through electroweak currents can be rigorously analysed with short-distance theoretical tools. The associated observables are insensitive to the involved infrared behaviour of the strong interaction, allowing for very precise tests of Quantum Chromodynamics. The theoretical predictions for $\sigma(e^+e^-\to\mathrm{hadrons})$ and the hadronic decay widths of the $\tau$

The importance of $S$-matrix unitarity in realistic meson spectroscopy is reviewed, both its historical development and more recent applications. First the effects of imposing $S$-matrix unitarity on meson resonances is demonstrated in both the elastic and the inelastic case. Then, the static quark model is revisited and its theoretical as well as phenomenological shortcomings are highlighted. A detailed

Depending on the point of view, the Casimir force arises from variation in the energy of the quantum vacuum as boundary conditions are altered or as an interaction between atoms in the materials that form these boundary conditions. Standard analyses of such configurations are usually done in terms of ordinary, equal-time (Minkowski) coordinates. However, physics is independent of the coordinate choice

1Technische Universität Darmstadt, Fachbereich Physik, Institut für Kernphysik, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany 2 GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany 3 Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom 4 Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, I-20133 Milano, Italy 5 INFN, Sez. di Milano, Via Celoria 16, I-20133

The last decade has seen a marked shift in how the internal structure of hadrons is understood. Modern experimental facilities, new theoretical techniques for the continuum bound-state problem and progress with lattice-regularised QCD have provided strong indications that soft quark+quark (diquark) correlations play a crucial role in hadron physics. For example, theory indicates that the appearance

The interest to perform laser spectroscopy in the heaviest elements arises from the strong impact of relativistic effects, electron correlations and quantum electrodynamics on their atomic structure. Once this atomic structure is well understood, laser spectroscopy also provides access to nuclear properties such as spins, mean square charge radii and electromagnetic moments in a nuclear-model independent

Abstract The standard model (SM) of elementary particles involves particle symmetry and the mechanism of its breaking. It finds no contradictions in the collider experiments, but appeals to extensions for solutions of its internal problems and in view of its evident incompleteness. The paradigm of the modern cosmology is based on inflationary models with baryosynthesis and dark matter/energy that involves

We review lattice studies of the color screening in the quark-gluon plasma. We put the phenomena related to the color screening into the context of similar aspects of other physical systems (electromagnetic plasma or cold nuclear matter). We discuss the onset of the color screening and its signature and significance in the QCD transition region, and elucidate at which temperature and to which extent

This article presents a number of technical tools and results that may be instrumental to discern the nature of the Higgs particle. In scenarios where an additional strongly interacting sector is present in the electroweak theory resulting in a composite Higgs and longitudinal components of the massive gauge bosons, unitarity, analyticity and related techniques will be crucial to understand the properties

In the understanding of the fundamental interactions, the origin of an arrow of time is viewed as problematic. However, quantum field theory has an arrow of causality, which tells us which time direction is the past lightcone and which is the future. This direction is tied to the conventions used in the quantization procedures. The different possible causal directions have related physics - in this

Storage rings have been employed over three decades in various kinds of nuclear and atomic physics experiments with highly charged ions. Storage ring operation and precision physics experiments benefit from the availability of beam cooling which is common to nearly all facilities. The basic aspects of the storage ring components and the operation of the ring in various ion-optical modes as well as

Exascale computing could soon enable a predictive theory of nuclear structure and reactions rooted in the Standard Model, with quantifiable and systematically improvable uncertainties. Such a predictive theory will help exploit experiments that use nucleons and nuclei as laboratories for testing the Standard Model and its limitations. Examples include direct dark matter detection, neutrinoless double

Abstract Experimental observations and theoretical arguments at galactic and larger scales pointed out that a large fraction of the Universe is composed of Dark Matter (DM) particles. This has motivated the pioneer DAMA experimental efforts to investigate the presence of such particles in the galactic halo, by exploiting a model independent signature and very highly radio-pure apparatus in deep underground

Since the discovery of CP violation more than 5 decades ago, this phenomenon is still attracting a lot of interest. Among the many fascinating aspects of this subject, this review is dedicated to direct CP violation in non-leptonic decays. The advances within the last decade have been enormous, driven by the increasingly large samples of b- and c-hadron decays, and have led to very interesting results

Abstract A Review on attempts to propose alternative theories to the General Relativity is presented. The restriction is on classical models/theories and comprise rather algebraic extensions of the theory of General Relativity. First, possible algebraic extensions of the space–time coordinates and metric extensions are presented, with a discussion of their problems and limits. The pseudo-complex General

The nucleons (protons and neutrons) are by far the most abundant form of matter in our visible Universe; they are composite particles made of quarks and gluons, the fundamental quanta of Quantum Chromo Dynamics (QCD). The usual interpretation of the nucleon dynamics in high energy interactions is often limited to a simple one-dimensional picture of a fast moving nucleon as a collection of co-linearly

The first activities of the Canfranc Underground Laboratory ("Laboratorio Subterr\'aneo de Canfranc", LSC) started in the mid-eighties in a railway tunnel located under the Spanish Pyrenees; since then, it has become an international multidisciplinary facility equipped with different services for underground science. The research activity at LSC is about Astroparticle Physics, dark matter searches

We review the current understanding of heavy quark parton distributions in nucleons and their impact on deep inelastic scattering, collider physics, and other processes at high energies. The determination of the heavy-quark parton distribution functions is particularly significant for the analysis of hard processes at LHC energies, including the forward rapidity high $x_\mathrm{F}$ domain. The contribution

Abstract Neutrino-less double-beta decay (0 ν β β ) is a hypothetical nuclear transition which violates lepton-number conservation and is therefore forbidden by the Standard Model of particle physics. Its observation would unambiguously demonstrate that neutrinos are Majorana particles and would provide unique information about the ordering and absolute scale of neutrino masses. This would have fundamental

Heavy flavor hadrons have long been considered as a probe of the quark gluon plasma created in high energy nuclear collisions. In this paper we review the heavy flavor properties under extreme conditions and the realization in heavy ion experiments. After a short introduction on heavy flavor properties in vacuum, we emphasize the cold and hot nuclear matter effects on heavy flavors, including shadowing

This paper presents one of the case studies of the Gamma Factory initiative -- a proposal of a new operation scheme of ion beams in the CERN accelerator complex. Its goal is to extend the scope and precision of the LHC-based research by complementing the proton-proton collision programme with the high-luminosity nucleus-nucleus one. Its numerous physics highlights include studies of the exclusive Higgs-boson

Abstract This article aims at covering various low energy nuclear physics themes that can benefit from taking advantage of active targets and time projection chambers. They are naturally oriented towards the study of short-lived radioactive nuclei, for which high efficiency and thick targets are necessary to boost the luminosity of the experiments due to the weak intensity of the available beams. The

We construct a generalized EFT approach to dense compact-star matter that exploits the CCP for hadron-quark continuity at high density, hidden topology and hidden symmetries of QCD. No Landau-Ginzburg-Wilsonian-type phase transition is involved. The microscopic DoF of QCD possibly intervening at high baryonic density are traded in for fractionalized topological objects. Essential in the description

Abstract (1) The classical way to determine the electron anti-neutrino mass is the single Beta Decay of Tritium [3H → 3He + e − + ν e c ] (Particle Physics Booklet, 2014; Aker et al., 2019). This special decay is favored by the small Q-value Q = 18 . 5737 ± 0.00025 keV (Aker et al., 2019). Presently KATRIN (Aker et al., 2019) yields an upper limit of 1.1 eV (90% CL) for the neutrino mass the best result

We review lattice determinations of the charm and bottom quark masses and the strong coupling constant obtained by different methods. We explain how effective field theory approaches, such as Non-Relativistic QCD (NRQCD), potential Non-Relativistic QCD (pNRQCD), Heavy Quark Effective Theory (HQET) and Heavy Meson rooted All-Staggered Chiral Perturbation Theory (HMrAS$\chi$PT) can help in these determinations

Axion-like particle (ALP) dark matter shows distinctive behavior on scales where wavelike effects dominate over self-gravity. Ultralight axions are candidates for fuzzy dark matter (FDM) whose de Broglie wavelength in virialized halos reaches scales of kiloparsecs. Important features of FDM scenarios are the formation of solitonic halo cores, suppressed small-scale perturbations, and enhanced gravitational

Recent results connected to nuclear collision dynamics, from low up to relativistic energies, are reviewed. Heavy ion reactions offer the unique opportunity to probe the complex nuclear many-body dynamics and to explore, in laboratory experiments, transient states of nuclear matter under several conditions of density, temperature and charge asymmetry. From the theoretical point of view, transport models

The aim of the hadron physics research programs conducted at J-PARC is to explore the structure of hadronic matter using the world's highest-intensity meson beams. Since the first beam was extracted at the hadron experimental facility (HEF) in February 2009, a wide variety of physics experiments have been proposed and performed to address open questions regarding quantum chromodynamics (QCD) at low

Abstract The Global and Modular Beyond-Standard Model Inference Tool ( GAMBIT ) is an open source software framework for performing global statistical fits of particle physics models, using a wide range of particle and astroparticle data. In this review, we describe the design principles of the package, the statistical and sampling frameworks, the experimental data included, and the first two years

Abstract Nuclear-structure studies with reaccelerated radioactive ion beams at the ISOLDE facility, CERN commenced with the REX-ISOLDE facility and continued after a major upgrade of the facility with the HIE-ISOLDE post-accelerator. The experiments are based on in-beam high-resolution γ -ray spectroscopy with Miniball, a spectrometer which comprises 24 six-fold segmented, encapsulated high-purity

Abstract Despite decades of research, we still lack a detailed quantitative understanding of the way quantum chromodynamics (QCD) generates the spectrum of hadrons. Precise experimental studies of the hadron excitation spectrum and the dynamics of hadrons help to improve models and to test effective theories and lattice QCD simulations. In addition, QCD seems to allow hadrons beyond the three-quark

Hadron properties and interactions are emergent from QCD. Atomic and condensed matter physics are emergent from QED. Could the local gauge symmetries of particle physics also be emergent? We give an introduction to this question and recent ideas connecting it to the (meta)stability of the Standard Model Higgs vacuum. With an emergent Standard Model the gauge symmetries would "dissolve" in the ultraviolet

This review gives an update on virtual Compton scattering (VCS) off the nucleon, γ∗N → Nγ, in the low-energy regime. We recall the theoretical formalism related to the generalized polarizabilities (GPs) and model predictions for these observables. We present the GP extraction methods that are used in the experiments: the approach based on the low-energy theorem for VCS and the formalism of Dispersion

Abstract The diffuse backgrounds of relic gravitons with frequencies ranging between the aHz band and the GHz region encode the ultimate information on the primeval evolution of the plasma and on the underlying theory of gravity well before the electroweak epoch. While the temperature and polarization anisotropies of the microwave background radiation probe the low-frequency tail of the graviton spectra

General Relativity is today the best theory of gravity addressing a wide range of phenomena. Our understanding of physical laws, from cosmology to local scales, cannot be properly formulated without taking into account it. It is based on one of the most fundamental principles of Nature, the Equivalence Principle, which represents the core of the Einstein theory of gravity. The confirmation of its validity

Second order beta-decay processes with and without neutrinos in the final state are key probes of nuclear physics and of the nature of neutrinos. Neutrinoful double-beta decay is the rarest Standard Model process that has been observed and provides a unique test of the understanding of weak nuclear interactions. Observation of neutrinoless double-beta decay would reveal that neutrinos are Majorana

Abstract We review the present status of the experimental and theoretical developments in the field of strangeness in nuclei and neutron stars. We start by discussing the K N interaction, that is governed by the presence of the Λ ( 1405 ) . We continue by showing the two-pole nature of the Λ ( 1405 ) , and the production mechanisms in photon-, pion-, kaon-induced reactions as well as proton–proton

Abstract Applications of cosmic-ray muons have grown in numbers in the last decades. This was possible thanks to the development of detectors and techniques employed in particle and nuclear physics. Indeed the first famous application, the scanning of the Chephren’s pyramid, was performed by L. W. Alvarez, that was a great expert in particle detectors and indeed was awarded a Nobel prize for his work