Polynomial inflation and dark matter

We present a minimal UV complete framework to embed inflation and dark matter by extending the standard model with a singlet real scalar field (the inflaton) and a singlet fermionic field acting as dark matter. The inflaton features the most general renormalizable polynomial up to quartic order, which is flat due to the existence of a perturbed inflection-point, comfortably fitting CMB measurements. We also analyze (p)reheating by considering the Higgs production via inflaton decay. In the early universe, dark matter can be generated by the mediation of gravitons or inflatons. However, the production via the direct decay of the inflatons dominates, making viable a large range of dark matter masses, from $${\mathcal {O}}(10^{-5})$$ O ( 10 - 5 ) GeV to $${\mathcal {O}}(10^{11})$$ O ( 10 11 ) GeV.

Monte Carlo modeling of production of three alpha-particles in low energy n +12C interactions

To describe [Formula: see text] interactions with production of three [Formula: see text]-particles at incident neutron kinetic energy of 14 MeV in a nuclear (photo) emulsion, a Monte Carlo model is proposed for four channels of decay of an excited carbon-12 nucleus into three [Formula: see text]-particles. The Monte Carlo calculation results describe well the experimental data on the distribution of the angle between the three-dimensional momenta of all pairs of [Formula: see text]-particles in a collision event, on the distribution of the angle between the projections of the momentum vectors of all pairs of [Formula: see text]-particles in collision event on each of the coordinate planes, on the distribution of the sum of the kinetic energies of all pairs of [Formula: see text]-particles in a collision event, and the distribution of projections of the momenta of [Formula: see text]-particles on the coordinate planes. The best agreement of the Monte Carlo model results with the experimental data is achieved if the direct decay [Formula: see text] and decay through the formation of an intermediate beryllium nucleus [Formula: see text] are generated with equal probabilities, while the excitation energies of 3.04 MeV, 1.04 MeV, and 0.1 MeV for the beryllium nucleus are generated with relative weights of 75%, 15%, and 10%, respectively.

The α-decay of the Hoyle state in 12C: a new high-precision investigation

The αdecay path of the Hoyle state in 12C (Ex = 7:654MeV) represents one ofthe most challenging questions of modern nuclear physics. Its knowledge can help in theunderstanding of cluster configurations in light nuclei and the possible existence of Bose-Einstein condensates in nuclei. In stars, it is involved in the so-called 3αprocess, wherethe 12C nucleosynthesis occurs. We studied the 14N(d; α2)12C(7:654) reaction at 10:5MeVincident energy to probe its direct decay component. We found, with a precision higherof a factor 5 than any other previous experiment, an almost total absence of direct decaysby-passing the ground state of 8Be. From our analysis, a new upper limit of such decayis found at 0:043% (95% C.L.). Astrophysical 3α process reaction rate calculations haveto be accordingly revised.