Higgs couplings and BSM physics: Run I Legacy constraints

We consider the Higgs boson decay processes and its production including all Run I results, through a parametrisation tailored for testing models of new physics beyond the Standard Model, and complementary to the one used by the LHC working groups. Different formalisms allow to best address different aspects of the Higgs boson physics. The choice of a particular parametrisation depends on a non-obvious balance of quantity and quality of the available experimental data, envisaged purpose for the parametrisation and degree of model independence, importance of the radiative corrections, and scale at which new particles appear explicitly in the physical spectrum. The most refined constraints can only be obtained by the experimental collaborations at present, as information about correlation between the various uncertainties on the different decay modes is not completely available in the public domain. It is therefore important that different approaches are considered and that the most detailed information is made available to allow testing the different aspects of the Higgs boson physics and the possible hints of physics beyond the Standard Model.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Higgs couplings: disentangling New Physics with off-shell measurements

After the discovery of a scalar resonance, resembling the Higgs boson, its couplings have been extensively studied via the measurement of various production and decay channels on the invariant mass peak. Recently, it has been suggested the possibility to use off-shell measurements: in particular, CMS has published results based on the high- invariant mass cross section of the process $gg \to ZZ$, which contains the contribution of the Higgs. While this measurement has been interpreted as a constraint on the Higgs width after very specific assumptions are taken on the Higgs couplings, in this letter we show that a much more model-independent interpretation is possible.Comment: 6pp, 1 figur

Higgs couplings beyond the Standard Model

We consider the Higgs boson decay processes and its production, and provide a parameterisation tailored for testing models of new physics beyond the Standard Model. We also compare our formalism to other existing parameterisations based on scaling factors in front of the couplings and to effective Lagrangian approaches. Different formalisms allow to best address different aspects of the Higgs boson physics. The choice of a particular parameterisation depends on a non-obvious balance of quantity and quality of the available experimental data, envisaged purpose for the parameterisation and degree of model independence, importance of the radiative corrections, scale at which new particles appear explicitly in the physical spectrum. At present only simple parameterisations with a limited number of fit parameters can be performed, but this situation will improve with the forthcoming experimental LHC data. Detailed fits can only be performed by the experimental collaborations at present, as the full information on the different decay modes is not completely available in the public domain. It is therefore important that different approaches are considered and that the most detailed information is made available to allow testing the different aspects of the Higgs boson physics and the possible hints beyond the Standard Model.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures, 5 tables. This version is an update including the most recent Higgs data and new fits to two extra model

Ultrasonic characterisation of wheel hub/axle interference fit pressures

Railway wheels are secured onto the axle by means of an interference fit. The wheel is press fitted onto a pre-lubricated axle, and the resulting interference fit induces a contact pressure at the interface. Occasionally railway wheels fail by fatigue, with the initiation point for the failure frequently traced to the interference fit. The aim of this work is to use ultrasonic reflection to non-destructively determine contact conditions in the interference fit. The rough surface contact at the interference fit interface behaves like a spring. If the contact pressure is high the interface is conformal with few air gaps, the stiffness is then high and the transmission of an ultrasonic wave is permitted. However, when pressure is low more air gaps exist, interfacial stiffness is then reduced and more of the ultrasound is reflected. Normalised contact pressure was determined from this stiffness. Maps of the interface have been produced which show the contact pressure to peak at the edges of the fit, and to experience a continuous variation about a mean value elsewhere

Méthode de couplage Euler-Lagrange pour la dynamique rapide

National audienceSee http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/59/27/11/ANNEX/r_9RT400Y4.pd

Hong-Ou-Mandel interference of polarization qubits stored in independent room-temperature quantum memories

First generation quantum repeater networks require independent quantum memories capable of storing and retrieving indistinguishable photons to perform quantum-interference-mediated high-repetition entanglement swapping operations. The ability to perform these coherent operations at room temperature is of prime importance in order to realize large scalable quantum networks. Here we address these significant challenges by observing Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference between indistinguishable photons carrying polarization qubits retrieved from two independent room-temperature quantum memories. Our elementary quantum network configuration includes: (i) two independent sources generating polarization-encoded qubits; (ii) two atomic-vapor dual-rail quantum memories; and (iii) a HOM interference node. We obtained interference visibilities after quantum memory retrieval of $\rm \boldsymbol{V=(41.9\pm2.0)\%}$ for few-photon level inputs and $\rm \boldsymbol{V=(25.9\pm2.5)\%}$ for single-photon level inputs. Our prototype network lays the groundwork for future large-scale memory-assisted quantum cryptography and distributed quantum networks.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

Insights on the kinematics of the India-Eurasia collision from global geodynamic models

The Eocene India-Eurasia collision is a first order tectonic event whose nature and chronology remains controversial. We test two end-member collision scenarios using coupled global plate motion-subduction models. The first, conventional model, invokes a continental collision soon after ∼60 Ma between a maximum extent Greater India and an Andean-style Eurasian margin. The alternative scenario involves a collision between a minimum extent Greater India and a NeoTethyan back-arc at ∼60 Ma that is subsequently subducted along southern Lhasa at an Andean-style margin, culminating with continent-continent contact at ∼40 Ma. Our numerical models suggest the conventional scenario does not adequately reproduce mantle structure related to Tethyan convergence. The alternative scenario better reproduces the discrete slab volumes and their lateral and vertical distribution in the mantle, and is also supported by the distribution of ophiolites indicative of Tethyan intraoceanic subduction, magmatic gaps along southern Lhasa and a two-stage slowdown of India. Our models show a strong component of southward mantle return flow for the Tethyan region, suggesting that the common assumption of near-vertical slab sinking is an oversimplification with significant consequences for interpretations of seismic tomography in the context of subduction reference frames

Un modèle pour la séparation et la traçabilité des préoccupations

National audienceL'évolutivité des systèmes d'information en entreprise constitue à la fois un enjeu crucial et une propriété logicielle difficile à mettre en oeuvre. Des solutions existent pour intégrer cette faculté logicielle mais elles restent propres à une étape du cycle de vie d'un logiciel et ne fournissent finalement que des réponses partielles. Nous proposons de faire le lien entre ces solutions par la définition d'un modèle qui regroupe, structure et trace les éléments de définition d'une application. A l'heure actuelle, notre modèle EUCLIDE relève les éléments logiciels issus de la définition itérative et incrémentale d'une fonctionnalité et établit l'évolution d'une telle définition avec la notion de traçabilité fonctionnelle