Thu·Nov 6, 2025Thursday·November 6, 2025

1. 01*

   Semi-visible emerging jets

   Juliana Carrasco🇪🇸 · Suchita Kulkarni🇦🇹 · Wei Liu🇨🇳 · Joshua Lockyer🇦🇹 · Jose Zurita🇪🇸

   We propose a new class of dark-shower signatures in Standard Model extensions featuring Hidden Valleys or dark sectors coupled through an s-channel mediator. In this framework, unstable dark pions appear as long-lived particles (LLPs), with their lifetimes treated as free parameters. The resulting signatures, which we term semi-visible emerging jets (SVEJ), continuously interpolate between the established semi-visible and emerging jet regimes. We outline an analysis strategy optimized for dark pion lifetimes of order $\mathcal{O}(10)$ mm, and reinterpret existing LLP searches targeting lifetimes of $\mathcal{O}(100)$-$\mathcal{O}(1000)$ mm. Our proposed SVEJ search, exploiting the current ATLAS emerging-jet trigger, achieves sensitivity to cross sections of $\mathcal{O}(0.1)$ fb for lifetimes around $\mathcal{O}(10)$ mm. Finally, we advocate a more detailed study, including hadronization uncertainties and detector-level effects.

   hep-phhep-exJHEP(2026)·6 citations
2. 02*

   A Consistent Path Integral Approach to Higher Derivative Oscillators

   Jose A. R. Cembranos🇪🇸 · Eric G. Hemon🇪🇸 · Juan J. Sanz-Cillero🇪🇸

   In this work, we study the Quantum Field Theory version of the higher derivative Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator. We quantize canonically this system and construct its Fock space, as well as study its path integral. We demonstrate that the inclusion of canonical coordinates in the path integral necessarily introduces a new field, a Lagrange multiplier, which is essential for the consistent application of these coordinates in the canonical quantization framework. Finally, we analyze the improved ultraviolet convergence of the Green functions that this theory exhibits in the presence of an interaction.

   hep-phhep-th0 citations
3. 03*

   Studying the thermoelectric properties of an anisotropic QGP medium

   Shubhalaxmi Rath🇨🇱 · Nicolás A. Neill🇨🇱

   We have studied how the thermoelectric properties of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) are affected by a weak-momentum anisotropy arising from the asymptotic expansion of matter in the initial stages of ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. The highly energetic medium produced in such collisions exhibits a notable temperature difference between its central and peripheral regions. This temperature gradient induces an electric field whose magnitude per unit temperature gradient, in the limit of vanishing electric current, defines the Seebeck coefficient of the medium. We have calculated the Seebeck coefficient for both individual quark flavors and the entire QGP medium in the presence of expansion-induced anisotropy by solving the relativistic Boltzmann transport equation in the relaxation time approximation within the kinetic theory framework. The partonic interactions are incorporated through their effective thermal masses within the quasiparticle model for an anisotropic QGP medium. We have observed that the magnitude of the Seebeck coefficient for each quark flavor as well as for the entire QGP medium increases in the presence of expansion-induced anisotropy, indicating a stronger induced electric field in the anisotropic medium compared to the isotropic case. Given that an increase in the Seebeck coefficient may lead to observable signatures such as charge asymmetries in particle distributions and to modifications in the transport behavior of the QGP, these results may provide useful input for future phenomenological studies investigating the internal structure and phase properties of the QGP in heavy-ion collisions.

   hep-phhep-thnucl-thPRD(2026)·4 citations
4. 04*

   Updated flexible global parametrization of generalized parton distributions from elastic and deep inelastic inclusive scattering data

   Zaki Panjsheeri🇺🇸 · Douglas Q. Adams🇺🇸 · Adil Khawaja🇺🇸 · Saraswati Pandey🇺🇸 · Kemal Tezgin🇺🇸 · Simonetta Liuti🇺🇸

   An updated flexible parametrization of the generalized parton distributions in the quark, antiquark and gluon sectors is presented using constraints from high precision electron nucleon deep inelastic scattering data, as well as from the $u$, $d$ quark and gluonic contributions to the nucleon electromagnetic elastic form factors. The latter include recently updated lattice QCD moment calculations. The generalized parton distributions in the vector sector are $H$ and $E$. We rigorously constrain the partonic components, $H_{u_v}$, $H_{d_v}$, $H_{\bar{u}}$, $H_{\bar{d}}$, $H_{\bar{s}}$ and $H_g$, and the analogous quantities for $E$, with proper uncertainty quantification. These distributions obey leading order perturbative QCD evolution equations in ${\alpha }_S$. Parametric forms at the initial scale, $Q_o^2=0.58$ ${\mathrm{GeV}}^2$, for both quarks and gluon distributions are presented as a function of the relevant kinematic variables, namely, the parton momentum fraction, $x$, the skewness, $\xi$, and the invariant, $t$. We also present the Compton form factors entering the deeply virtual Compton scattering process in the kinematic regimes for both fixed target and electron-ion collider settings.

   hep-phnucl-th6 citations
5. 05*

   Filling the Gap: Hunting for Vector Bosons at the MUonE Experiment with Displaced Decay Signature

   Duncan Rocha🇺🇸 · Isaac R. Wang🇺🇸

   The upcoming MUonE experiment aims to precisely measure the running of the fine structure constant via elastic muon-electron scattering, to shed light on the current tension in the muon's anomalous magnetic moment. In addition to its primary function as a precision experiment, MUonE also offers a unique testing ground to probe long-lived vector bosons. Such vector bosons can be produced via $\mu e\to \mu eV$ or $\mu N\to \mu NV$ scattering and decay into an electron/positron pair a few centimeters away from the interaction point. With its high-resolution tracking system and unique geometric design, MUonE is well-suited to reconstruct displaced vertices close to the target, allowing it to probe parameter space previously unattainable at colliders and longer-baseline beam dump experiments. We present a comprehensive study of the discovery potential of BSM vector boson mediators at the MUonE experiment. We show that MUonE can fill the long-standing gap in the parameter space of vector boson mediators with masses up to around 100 MeV.

   hep-phJHEP(2026)·3 citations
6. 06*

   Chiral symmetry breaking in accelerating and rotating frames

   Zhi-Bin Zhu🇨🇳 · Hao-Lei Chen🇨🇳 · Xu-Guang Huang🇨🇳

   We study chiral symmetry breaking and restoration in accelerating and rotating frames using low-energy effective models. By analyzing the chiral condensate in Rindler coordinates, we show that different renormalization schemes lead to distinct conclusions in accelerating frame: the scheme with subtracting divergences in Rindler vacuum supports an acceleration-independent critical temperatures, while the other scheme with subtracting divergences in Minkowski vacuum suggests enhanced critical temperature. We further investigate system with both rotation and acceleration. We find that the critical acceleration (see definition in Section V) for chiral symmetry restoration decreases with angular velocity, indicating cooperative effects from acceleration-induced thermalization and rotation-induced effective chemical potential.

   hep-phPRD(2026)·8 citations
7. 07*

   Quantum Error Correction-like Noise Mitigation for Wave-like Dark Matter Searches with Quantum Sensors

   Hajime Fukuda🇯🇵 · Takeo Moroi🇯🇵 · Thanaporn Sichanugrist🇯🇵

   We propose a quantum error correction-like noise mitigation protocol for enhancing the sensitivity of wave-like dark matter searches with quantum sensors. Our protocol uses multiple sensors to mitigate the noise affecting each sensor individually, allowing for the suppression of excitation noise that is parallel to the dark matter signal. We demonstrate that our protocol can improve the sensitivity to dark matter signals by a factor of $\sqrt{N}$, where $N$ is the number of sensors used, for small $N$. Furthermore, for sufficiently large $N$, we find that our protocol achieves the same performance as the standard quantum limit by the ideal measurement, which non-entangled sensors with parallel noise cannot reach due to the unknown phase of the dark matter field. Our work can be widely applied to various types of signals with unknown phases, and has the potential to enhance the sensitivity of quantum sensors such as arrays of resonant cavities.

   hep-phhep-exquant-phPRL(2026)·6 citations
8. 08*

   Test of the GENIE neutrino event generator against reduced cross sections extracted from ${}^{16}$O $(e,e^{\prime }p)$ data

   A.V. Butkevich🇷🇺 · S.V. Luchuk🇷🇺

   The reduced cross section of the semiexclusive $(l,l^{\prime }p)$ lepton scat tering process irrespective of the type of interaction is determined mainly by bound nucleon momentum distribution in target and nucleon final state interaction with residual nucleus. These cross sections can be identified with distorted nuclear spectral functions and therefore are similar up to Coulomb c orrections for neutrino and electron scattering on nuclei. In this article we exploit this similarity and use data with precise kinematics and large statistics for semiexclusive electron scattering on oxygen target to test models employed in the GENIE neutrino event generator. We find that these models can not reproduce well the measured reduced cross sections in all allowed kinematic region and the GENIE event generator needs to better describe both the nuclear ground states and nucleon final state interaction. The approach presented in this paper provides a great opportunity to test better the accuracy of nuclear models of quasielastic neutrino-nucleus scattering, employed in neutrino event generators.

   hep-phPRD(2026)·1 citation
9. 09*

   Stellar-like Galactic center excess challenges particle dark matter

   Silvia Manconi🇫🇷 · Christopher Eckner🇸🇮 · Francesca Calore🇫🇷 · Fiorenza Donato🇮🇹

   The Galactic Center (GC) is potentially hosting the largest indirect signal from particle dark matter (DM), which in many well-motivated models would produce gamma rays as their final states. However, this region has often been dismissed for DM studies because of the evidence for an unexpected gamma-ray component over astrophysical backgrounds at GeV energies, firstly discovered in the data of the \textit{Fermi} Large Area Telescope (LAT), the so-called Galactic Center Excess (GCE). While this was initially considered to hint at GeV thermal relics, recent work supports a GCE interpretation in terms of a stellar population of millisecond pulsar-like sources in the Galactic bulge. Building on this preference, we re-evaluate the GC as a powerful target for indirect DM searches via gamma rays. This is achieved by combining adaptive template fitting and photon-count statistical methods to assess the role of sub-threshold point sources in the observed \textit{Fermi}-LAT gamma-ray counts, while minimizing the mismodeling of Galactic diffuse emission backgrounds. In a fully self-consistent way, the gamma-ray data are fitted with a mixed model comprising a DM signal and a stellar bulge, both potentially contributing to the GCE. The space left for signals from weak-scale DM particle annihilations is quantified by extracting 95\% C.L. upper limits on the annihilation cross section, which, depending on the DM density profile, result in stringent limits for masses $\lesssim 300$ GeV. The robustness of our results is supported by tests on simulated data.

   hep-phastro-ph.HEPRD(2026)·7 citations
10. 10*

    Correlated PQCD Analysis of the Semileptonic Decays ${\overline{B}}^0\to D^{(\ast )+}{\ell }^{-}{\bar{\nu }}_{\ell }$ and the Nonleptonic Decays ${\overline{B}}^0\to D^{(\ast )+}{\pi }^{-}$

    Mao-Jing Liu🇨🇳 · Ying Li🇨🇳 · Zhi-Tian Zou🇨🇳

    We present a unified analysis of ${\overline{B}}^0\to D^{(\ast )+}{\ell }^{-}{\bar{\nu }}_{\ell }$ and ${\overline{B}}^0\to D^{(\ast )+}{\pi }^{-}$ decays using the perturbative QCD (PQCD) approach. The $B\to D^{(\ast )}$ transition form factors are calculated at low $q^2$ and extrapolated to the high-$q^2$ region using the latest lattice QCD results via a model-independent $z$-expansion. This hybrid method provides a precise form factor description across the full kinematic range. We then predict the branching fractions and the lepton flavor universality ratios $R(D)=0.336_{-0.013}^{+0.014}$ and $R(D^{\ast })=0.271_{-0.010}^{+0.010}$, which are consistent with the latest experimental averages. Furthermore, we perform a correlated study of the nonleptonic ${\overline{B}}^0\to D^{(\ast )+}{\pi }^{-}$ decays, calculating both factorizable and nonfactorizable amplitudes. To reduce hadronic uncertainties, we introduce and calculate the differential ratio $R_{\pi /\ell }^{(\ast )}(q^2)$, defined between nonleptonic and semileptonic decay rates, providing a sensitive test of factorization and possible new physics effects. The predictions presented here can be directly tested in ongoing Belle II and LHCb experiments.

    hep-phhep-exEPJC(2025)·1 citation
11. 11*

    CP asymmetry factor in decays at finite temperature

    Károly Seller🇭🇺 · Zsolt Szép🇭🇺 · Zoltán Trócsányi🇭🇺

    We present in the conventional equilibrium approach to leptogenesis the complete leading order prediction for the CP asymmetry factor in finite-temperature decays involving Majorana neutrinos. As thermal effects are generally not negligible, the knowledge of the high temperature behavior of the underlying particle physics model, in particular that of mass generation, is required for reliable estimates of matter-antimatter asymmetry through the mechanism of leptogenesis. We present all necessary information needed to obtain the full one-loop evaluation for the thermal CP asymmetry factors for the processes $N_i\to \varphi +L$ and $\varphi \to N_i+L$ at temperatures where they are kinematically allowed. We present a numerical comparison with previous formulae given in the literature.

    hep-phEPJC(2025)·1 citation
12. 12*

    $J/\psi$ production in proton-proton collisions at Spin Physics Detector energies of the JINR Nuclotron-based Ion Collider fAcility

    Shubham Sharma🇷🇺 · Alexey Aparin🇷🇺

    We investigate inclusive $J/\psi$ production in proton-proton collisions at tens of GeV $\sqrt{s}$ energy, relevant for forthcoming measurements with the Spin Physics Detector (SPD) at NICA. Simulations are performed using the PEGASUS event generator with transverse-momentum-dependent (TMD) gluon densities, comparing the recent KMR-based KL${}^{\prime }2025$ and CCFM-based LLM${}^{\prime }2024$ parametrizations. Differential cross sections in rapidity and transverse momentum exhibit smooth, stable behavior under renormalization-scale variation. Normalized $p_T$ spectra reveal distinct hardening patterns linked to the underlying gluon $k_T$ broadening in each model. The relative contributions of color-singlet and color-octet channels are also quantified, demonstrating the dominance of color-octet mechanisms in the SPD energy regime. These results provide the first detailed assessment of quarkonium production sensitivity to gluon TMDs near threshold, offering timely theoretical guidance for upcoming $J/\psi$ measurements at SPD/NICA.

    hep-phhep-exPRC(2026)·0 citations
13. 13*

    Exploring the Discovery Reach for a 95 GeV Scalar in Future $e^{+}{e}^{-}$ Collisions

    Mukesh Kumar · Pramod Sharma · Karabo Mosala · Bruce Mellado

    The observed indications for a new scalar resonance with a mass around 95\,GeV, initially reported by LEP and supported by CMS and ATLAS in di-photon, $\tau \tau$, and $W^{+}{W}^{-}$ channels, motivate exploring its discovery potential at future electron-positron colliders. This study focuses on the production of the new scalar ($S$) via $e^{+}{e}^{-}\to ZS$ with $Z\to {\mu }^{+}{\mu }^{-}$ and $S\to b\bar{b}$ and optimizes the signal recognition using the recoil-mass method. By employing deep neural networks for signal-background discrimination, we demonstrate that a 95\,GeV scalar, mixing with the Standard Model Higgs by an angle of $\sim$0.1, can be observed with a 5$\sigma$ significance at $\sqrt{s}$ = 250\,GeV or 200\,GeV with 5~ab${}^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity.

    hep-phPoS(2025)·1 citation
14. 14*

    Oscillon decay via parametric resonance: the case of three-point scalar interactions

    Siyao Li🇯🇵

    We investigate the decay dynamics of oscillons through interactions with an external scalar field. To examine how robust the decay dynamics of oscillons via parametric resonance we previously found in Li et al. 2025 are to the specific form of the coupling, we extend the analysis to include a three-point interaction $g_3\varphi {\chi }^2$. We compute the Floquet exponents of the external field $\chi$ under an oscillating oscillon background and analyze how the instability bands depend on the coupling constants and the oscillon shapes. Numerical simulations of the two-field system show that, similar to the four-point case, the parametric resonance may cease before the oscillon is destroyed, leaving a smaller oscillon that decays only perturbatively. This indicates that the partial decay of oscillons through parametric resonance is a generic phenomenon of oscillon-scalar couplings, qualitatively insensitive to the specific interaction form, while the shape of instability bands, parameter dependence, and the precise critical oscillon energies depend on the specific coupling. Our findings provide further insights into the decay dynamics of oscillons and their potential role in the post-inflationary reheating process.

    hep-phastro-ph.COgr-qchep-th2 citations
15. 15*

    Scalar molecules ${\eta }_b{B}_c^{-}$ and ${\eta }_c{B}_c^{+}$ with asymmetric quark contents

    S. S. Agaev🇦🇿 · K. Azizi🇮🇷 · H. Sundu🇹🇷

    The hadronic scalar molecules ${\mathcal{M}}_b$ and ${\mathcal{M}}_c$ with asymmetric quark contents $bb\overline{b}\overline{c}$ and $cc\overline{c}\overline{b}$ are explored by means of the QCD sum rule method. Their masses and current couplings are calculated using the two-point sum rule approach. The obtained results show that they are strong-interaction unstable particles and transform to ordinary mesons' pairs. The molecule ${\mathcal{M}}_b$ dissociates through the process ${\mathcal{M}}_{\mathrm{b}}\to {\eta }_b{B}_c^{-}$. The decays ${\mathcal{M}}_{\mathrm{c}}\to {\eta }_c{B}_c^{+}$ and $J/\psi B_c^{\ast +}$ are dominant modes for the molecule ${\mathcal{M}}_c$. The full decay widths of the molecules ${\mathcal{M}}_b$ and ${\mathcal{M}}_c$ are estimated using these decay channels, as well as ones generated by the annihilation of $b\overline{b}$ and $c\overline{c}$ quarks in ${\mathcal{M}}_b$ and ${\mathcal{M}}_c$, respectively. The QCD three-point sum rule method is employed to find partial widths all of these channels. This approach is required to evaluate the strong couplings at the molecule-meson-meson vertices under consideration. The mass $m=(15728\pm 90)\mathrm{MeV}$ and width $\Gamma [{\mathcal{M}}_b]=(93\pm 17)\mathrm{MeV}$ of the molecule ${\mathcal{M}}_b$ , and $\tilde{m}=(9712\pm 72)\mathrm{MeV}$ and $\Gamma [{\mathcal{M}}_c]=(70\pm 10)\mathrm{MeV}$ in the case of ${\mathcal{M}}_c$ offer valuable guidance for experimental searches at existing facilities.

    hep-phhep-exhep-latEPJA(2026)·4 citations
16. 16*

    Two-loop form factors for Dark Matter annihilation to colored Standard Model particles

    Warsimakram Katapur🇮🇳 · Ambresh Shivaji🇮🇳

    We investigate a UV-complete model in which the dark matter (DM) particle interacts with gluons through a colored scalar mediator. This framework provides a phenomenologically viable scenario testable at hadron colliders. While mono-jet signatures are relevant for collider searches, zero-jet processes correspond to complete annihilation of Standard Model (SM) particles into DM, contributing to the relic density. In this work, we study dark matter annihilation into SM colored particles, which in our model arises at leading order from loop-induced processes. We compute the relevant two-loop QCD amplitudes for both gluon and quark channels in dark matter production or annihilation. The amplitudes are decomposed into scalar form factors using the projector technique. Using integration-by-parts (IBP) identities, we obtain analytical expressions for the form factors in terms of master integrals. Ultraviolet divergences are removed via counterterm renormalization, yielding UV-finite results. These results would enable predictions for dark matter production or annihilation into SM colored particles at next-to-leading order (NLO) in QCD.

    hep-phhep-thJHEP(2026)·0 citations
17. 17*

    Stellar Bounds on Light Spin-2 Particles in Bimetric Theories

    Camilo García-Cely🇪🇸 · Andreas Ringwald🇩🇪

    Using the bimetric formalism, we compute the production and emission rates of light spin-2 particles in non-degenerate stellar interiors through photoproduction and bremsstrahlung processes, including the effects of plasma screening. By comparing the resulting energy-loss rates with observational limits on stellar cooling, we derive bounds on the coupling strength and mass of the spin-2 particle. Assuming these particles are the dark matter of the Universe, the obtained constraints are competitive with existing astrophysical and cosmological limits, excluding a wide region of parameter space in the mass range 5-30 eV.

    hep-phgr-qcJCAP(2026)·7 citations
18. 18*

    Asymptotic Freedom for Holographic Energy Correlators

    Csaba Csáki🇺🇸 · Ameen Ismail🇺🇸 · Larissa Kiriliuk🇺🇸

    We calculate energy correlators in a holographic model incorporating elements of asymptotic freedom and confinement. We model a running coupling by considering a geometry with a warp factor that deviates logarithmically from anti-de Sitter (AdS). A novel aspect of our bulk metric is that it smoothly interpolates between a Randall-Sundrum solution with a hard wall and a geometry corresponding to a logarithmic running typical of gauge theories. By studying shockwave deformations of this metric, we compute a two-point energy correlator assuming a high-energy scalar source. This extends techniques recently developed for correlators in asymptotically AdS geometries. We use numerical methods to find the profile of shockwaves along the extra dimension, as it does not admit an analytical form. The running coupling leads to a decay of the two-point correlator at small angular separation, unlike the flat correlator one finds in AdS. In the back-to-back limit we observe an exponential falloff similar to other hard-wall models.

    hep-phhep-th3 citations
19. 19*

    Direct Detection of Mechanism-Agnostic Fast-Moving Dark Matter

    Haider Alhazmi🇸🇦 · Doojin Kim🇺🇸 · Kyoungchul Kong🇺🇸 · Aishah Sumayli🇸🇦

    We present a comprehensive framework for interpreting electron recoil signals induced by fast-moving dark matter (DM), applicable across a wide range of theoretically motivated models. Amid both null results in conventional weakly interacting massive particle searches and growing interest in alternative DM scenarios, we focus on (semi-)relativistic DM components that can arise from mechanisms such as DM annihilation, decay, or cosmic-ray acceleration. These boosted DM candidates produce distinct experimental signatures that differ qualitatively from non-relativistic DM, necessitating a dedicated treatment. Our framework incorporates relativistic kinematics and atomic effects through ionization form factors, enabling accurate predictions of differential cross sections in both low- and high-energy regimes. We demonstrate how atomic effects become negligible at high recoil energies, validating the free-electron approximation in specific parameter regions. Furthermore, we highlight the complementarity between low-threshold direct detection experiments and high-threshold neutrino observatories in probing fast-moving DM across broad kinematic domains. This formalism provides a robust and model-independent foundation for interpreting current and future searches for relativistic DM.

    hep-phPRD(2026)·0 citations
20. 20*

    Light new physics and the $\tau$ lepton dipole moments

    Martin Hoferichter🇨🇭 · Gabriele Levati🇨🇭

    Testing New-Physics (NP) scenarios that couple predominantly to the third generation is notoriously difficult experimentally, as exemplified by comparing limits for the $\tau$ lepton dipole moments to those of electrons and muons. In this case, extracting limits from processes such as $e^{+}{e}^{-}\to {\tau }^{+}{\tau }^{-}$ often relies on effective-field-theory (EFT) arguments, which allow for model-independent statements, but only apply if the NP scale is sufficiently large compared to the center-of-mass energy. In this work we offer a comprehensive analysis of light NP contributions to the $\tau$ dipole moments, providing a detailed account of the interpretation of asymmetry measurements in $e^{+}{e}^{-}\to {\tau }^{+}{\tau }^{-}$ that are tailored towards the extraction of dipole moments, for the test cases of new light spin-$0$ and spin-$1$ bosons. Moreover, we study the decoupling to the EFT limit in these scenarios and discuss the complementarity to constraints from other related processes, such as production in $e^{+}{e}^{-}$ reactions. While covering a wide range of light NP scenarios, as specific case study we present a detailed discussion of a tauphilic gauge vector boson at Belle II.

    hep-phhep-exnucl-thPRD(2026)·11 citations
21. 21*

    Primordial Dirac Leptogenesis

    Aqeel Ahmed🇩🇪 · Juan P. Garcés🇩🇪 · Manfred Lindner🇩🇪

    We present a novel realization of Dirac leptogenesis based on the post-inflationary reheating phase of the early universe. An asymmetry generated within the scalar sector via CP-violating and out-of-equilibrium inflaton decays is transferred to chiral neutrinos through Yukawa interactions and then to baryons via electroweak sphalerons. We describe in detail a minimal realization of this mechanism that naturally accommodates small neutrino Yukawa couplings and results in contributions to the effective number of relativistic species, $N_{\text{eff}}$, testable in upcoming cosmological observations.

    hep-phPRD(2026)·3 citations
22. 22*

    The heterotic perturbative vacua in string geometry theory

    Koichi Nagasaki🇯🇵 · Matsuo Sato🇯🇵

    String geometry theory is one of the candidates of the non-perturbative formulation of superstring theory. In this paper, in string geometry theory, we identify perturbative heterotic vacua, which include general heterotic backgrounds. From fluctuations around these vacua, we derive the path-integrals of heterotic perturbative superstrings on the backgrounds up to any order.

    ↳ hep-thhep-ph3 citations
23. 23*

    Impact of QCD Energy Evolution on Observables in Heavy-Ion Collisions

    Heikki Mäntysaari🇫🇮 · Björn Schenke🇺🇸 · Chun Shen🇺🇸 · Wenbin Zhao🇨🇳

    We study how the inclusion of energy dependence as dictated by quantum chromodynamic (QCD) small-$x$ evolution equations affects key observables in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Specifically, we incorporate JIMWLK evolution into the IP-Glasma framework, which serves as the initial condition for a simulation pipeline that includes viscous relativistic hydrodynamics and a hadronic afterburner. This approach enables a consistent modeling of highly energetic nuclei across varying Bjorken-$x$ values, which are relevant for different collision energies and rapidity regions. In comparison to the standard IP-Glasma setup without small-$x$ evolution, we observe pronounced changes in particle multiplicities and spectral distributions, especially in smaller systems and at the highest available energies. We further explore effects on anisotropic flow observables and correlations between mean transverse momentum and elliptic flow. Our findings underscore the critical role of nonlinear QCD evolution in accurately modeling the early stages of heavy-ion collisions, as well as its implications for extracting transport properties of the quark-gluon plasma.

    ↳ nucl-thhep-phnucl-exPRC(2026)·2 citations
24. 24*

    Annual-modulation fingerprint of the axion wind induced sideband triplet in quantum dot spin qubit sensors

    Xiangjun Tan🇬🇧 · Zhanning Wang🇦🇺

    We propose a phase-coherent, narrowband magnetometer for searching couplings between axions or axion-like particles (ALPs) and electron spins, using gate-defined silicon quantum-dot spin qubits. With repeated Ramsey echo sequences and dispersive readout, the qubit precession response can be tracked with sub-Hz spectral resolution. The accessible axion mass window is determined using a series of filtering protocols that take into account sensing noise, including readout errors and $1/f$ noise. We demonstrate clear evidence of sidereal modulation of the signal due to Earth's rotation, while Earth's orbital motion produces an annual amplitude envelope that generates sidebands at fixed frequency spacing $\pm {\Omega }_{\oplus }$ around the sidereal component. For axion masses between $1$-$10\mu \mathrm{eV}$, the proposed method covers axion-electron coupling strengths $g_{ae}$ ranging from $10^{-14}$ to $10^{-10}$. Including both daily and annual modulation patterns in the likelihood analysis enhances the rejection of stationary or instrumental noise. Our results indicate that spin-qubit magnetometry can achieve sensitivities approaching those suggested by astrophysical considerations, providing a complementary, laboratory-based probe of axion-electron interactions. Although we focus on silicon spin-qubit architectures, the approach is broadly applicable to spin-based quantum sensors.

    ↳ quant-phhep-phPRD(2026)·4 citations
25. 25*

    Is The Trace Anomaly at its Minimum Value at Neutron Star Centers?

    Bao-Jun Cai🇨🇳 · Bao-An Li🇺🇸 · Yu-Gang Ma🇨🇳

    While the equation of state (EOS) $P(\epsilon )$ of neutron star (NS) matter has been extensively studied, the EOS-parameter $\varphi =P/\epsilon$ or equivalently the dimensionless trace anomaly $\Delta =1/3-\varphi$, which quantifies the balance between pressure $P$ and energy density $\epsilon$, remains far less explored, especially in NS cores. Its bounds and density profile carry crucial information about the nature of superdense matter. Physically, the EOS-parameter $\varphi$ represents the mean stiffness of matter accumulated from the stellar surface up to a given density. Based on the intrinsic structure of the Tolman--Oppenheimer--Volkoff equations, we show that $\varphi$ decreases monotonically outward from the NS center, independent of any specific input NS EOS model. Furthermore, observational evidence of a peak in the speed-of-sound squared (SSS) density-profile near the center effectively rules out a valley and a subsequent peak in the radial profile of $\varphi$ at similar densities, reinforcing its monotonic decrease. These model-independent relations impose strong constraints on the near-center behavior of the EOS-parameter $\varphi$, particularly demonstrating that the mean stiffness (or equivalently $\Delta$) reaches a local maximum (minimum) at the center.

    ↳ astro-ph.HEhep-phhep-thnucl-ex+1PRD(2026)·5 citations
26. 26*

    Boson Stars Hosting Black Holes

    Amitayus Banik🇰🇷 · Jeong Han Kim🇰🇷 · Xing-Yu Yang🇰🇷

    We study a self-gravitating ultralight dark matter condensate (a boson star) hosting a central black hole, in the nonrelativistic limit, which we refer to as a boson star black hole (BS-BH) system. We numerically solve the equations of hydrostatic equilibrium, consistently incorporating the gravitational potential of the black hole, to obtain all possible configurations of this BS-BH system for different boson star masses, interaction types, and black hole masses. We also propose an analytic expression for the density profile and compare it with the numerical results, finding good agreement for attractive interactions and for a finite range of mass ratios between the black hole and boson star. Finally, considering the inspiral of this BS-BH system with a second, smaller black hole, we study the dephasing of gravitational waves due to the presence of the dark matter environment. A Fisher matrix analysis reveals the regions of parameter space of the dark matter mass and self-coupling that future gravitational wave observatories such as LISA can probe.

    ↳ gr-qcastro-ph.COhep-phPRD(2026)·4 citations

* Reconstructed cohort: no mailing for this day survives in the archive. Papers are grouped by their submission times and arXiv's announcement cut-off, assuming announcement without delay; positions follow identifier order. Validated at ~91% exact-day agreement against the archived era.