We evaluate discovery prospects for photophobic axion-like particles (ALPs) in the $\textit{WWjj}$ final state at the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC; $\sqrt{s}=14\ {\rm{TeV}}$ , ${\cal{L}}=3\ {\rm{ab}}^{-1}$ ). In the photophobic limit ( $g_{a\gamma\gamma}=0$ ), ALPs couple to electroweak gauge bosons and are produced in association with two jets ( $ pp\to jj\ a $ ) via both $\textit{s}$-channel electroweak exchange and vector boson fusion (VBF)–like topologies, followed by $a\to W^+W^-$ decay. We target the different-flavour dilepton mode $W^+W^- \to e^\pm\mu^\mp\nu \bar{\nu}$ with two jets and moderate missing transverse momentum. The analysis employs a two-step strategy: initial preselection that defines the signal-like final state, followed by a multivariate analysis (MVA) trained on dijet and dileptonic-$\textit{WW}$ kinematics from both the $\textit{s}$-channel and VBF-like production mechanisms to separate signal from background; the MVA threshold is optimized independently at each $m_a$ . We present 2$\textit{σ}$ and 5$\textit{σ}$ discovery sensitivities for the ALP–$\textit{W}$ coupling $g_{aWW}$ across the 170–4000 GeV mass range. For $260\ {\rm{GeV}}\le m_a\le1500\ {\rm{GeV}}$ , the 2$\textit{σ}$ (5$\textit{σ}$) sensitivity is approximately flat around $ 0.61(0.76)\ {\rm{TeV}}^{-1}$ . At large masses/couplings, the mapping between an experimental rate and a single EFT parameter $g_{aWW}$ can become UV sensitive, and we treat the extreme high-mass/high-coupling corner as an extrapolation; therefore, we also report model-independent discovery thresholds for the fiducial quantity $ \sigma(pp\to jj\ a)\times\rm{Br}(a\to W^+W^-) $ over the same mass range to enable reinterpretation for other models. These results indicate that the $WWjj$ topology offers competitive and complementary sensitivity to heavy photophobic ALPs at the HL-LHC.

China

Jiaojiao Feng

Ying-nan Mao

Kechen Wang

Discovery prospects for photophobic axion-like particles in the $\textit{WWjj}$ final state at the High-Luminosity LHC * Jiaojiao Feng and Kechen Wang are supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (11905162), the Excellent Young Talents Program of the Wuhan University of Technology (40122102, 40122103) and the research program of the Wuhan University of Technology (2020IB024, 104972025KFYjc0101). Ying-nan Mao is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12205227). The simulation and analysis work of this article was completed with the computational cluster provided by the Theoretical Physics Group at the Department of Physics, School of Physics and Mechanics, Wuhan University of Technology

This study examines the $ h\to Z\gamma $ and $ h\to\gamma\gamma $ decays in the flavor-gauged two Higgs doublet model (FG2HDM), which augments the Standard Model (SM) with an additional scalar doublet, a singlet, and a $ U(1)' $ flavor gauge symmetry. Beyond the SM spectrum, FG2HDM predicts five additional physical scalars and a new neutral gauge boson, $ Z' $ . We demonstrate that while both decay channels are sensitive to charged Higgs loops, $ h \to Z\gamma $ is uniquely modified by fermion-antifermion-$\textit{Z}$ ( $ f\bar{f}Z $ ) vertex corrections. These vertex corrections further impact top-quark observables and the flavor-changing neutral current (FCNC) process $ b\to s\ell^+\ell^- $ . Our analysis identifies a viable parameter space ( $ m_{H^\pm} \gt 200 $ GeV and $ \lambda_{hH^+H^-} \lt 0 $ ) consistent with current $ 1\sigma $ experimental limits, where the signal strength $ \mu_{\gamma\gamma} $ remains the primary constraint on scalar sector parameters. Regarding the $ f\bar{f}Z $ couplings, we delineate the allowed regions in the $ \mathcal{Q}_{tL} $ - $ \mathcal{Q}_{tR} $ plane by evaluating the leading top-quark contributions, revealing that $ b\to s\ell^+\ell^- $ imposes the most stringent bounds. Finally, we highlight that the $ 14\% $ projected precision for $ \mu_{Z\gamma} $ at the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) will significantly enhance sensitivity to the FG2HDM.

Feng-Zhi Chen

Qiaoyi Wen

Fanrong Xu

Higgs decays to $\textit{Z}$ $\textit{γ}$ and $\textit{γ}$ $\textit{γ}$ in the flavor-gauged two Higgs doublet model * Supported by NSFC (12475095, U1932104), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (11623330) and the 2024 Guangzhou Basic and Applied Basic Research Scheme Project for Maiden Voyage (2024A04J4190)

A new measurement of the $^{65}$Cu($\textit{γ}$, $\textit{n}$)$^{64}$Cu photoneutron cross section is performed using quasi-monoenergetic, tunable $\textit{γ}$-ray beams produced at the Shanghai Laser Electron Gamma Source (SLEGS). The energy spectrum of the SLEGS $\textit{γ}$-ray beams incident on the isotopically enriched $^{65}$Cu target is monitored using a BGO detector, while the photoneutron yields are determined with a moderated $^{3}$He detection array with high and flat efficiency. Within the energy range of $10.1 \le E_\gamma \le 17.6$ MeV, the measured $\sigma(E_\gamma)$ data have an uncertainty of $\lesssim 4$ %, and a pronounced giant-dipole peak is observed at $E_\gamma \simeq 16.65$ MeV with a maximal cross section of $\sigma_{\text{max}} \simeq 137$ mb. These photoneutron data are compared with previous experimental results and are employed to extract the $\textit{γ}$-ray strength function of $^{65}$Cu above the neutron threshold. Furthermore, we calculate the radiative neutron capture cross sections and astrophysical reaction rates for $^{64}$Cu, which is a short-lived intermediate nucleus whose reaction rate controls the local abundance distribution in the weak $\textit{s}$-process. It is found that the calculated $^{64}$Cu($\textit{n,}$ $\textit{γ}$)$^{65}$Cu data have an overall agreement with ENDF/B-VIII.0, JEFF-3.3, and TENDL-2023 evaluations, and the corresponding astrophysical reaction rates are consistent with those reported in the JINA REACLIB database.

Yu-Long Shen

Zi-Rui Hao

Qian-kun Sun

Hong-Wei Wang

Long-Xiang Liu

Hang-Hua Xu

Yue Zhang

Sheng Jin

Kai-Jie Chen

Meng-Die Zhou

Zhen-Wei Wang

Meng-Ke Xu

Xiang-Fei Wang

Chang Yang

Pu Jiao

Chun-Wang Ma

Gong-Tao Fan

Zhi-Cai Li

Wen Luo

Photoneutron cross section measurements on $^{65}$Cu: toward understanding ($\textit{n,}$ $\textit{γ}$) cross sections relevant to weak $\textit{s}$-process nucleosynthesis * This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program (2023YFA1606901), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12575133, 12505144)

The Galactic Center GeV Excess (GCE) remains a compelling but enigmatic signal from the inner regions of our galaxy. Muonphilic dark matter (DM), which couples exclusively to muons via a new mediator, provides a viable explanation for the GCE and relic density while naturally evading constraints from direct detection, collider searches, and other multimessenger observations. Based on the viable nonresonant parameter space identified in previous global fits, we perform a comprehensive study on the prospects for discovering such muonphilic DM in the context of a future 3 TeV muon collider, focusing on simplified models with a $Z_2$ -even mediator. Four distinct search strategies are investigated: visible on-shell mediator decays ( $\mu^{+}\mu^{-}\gamma$ final state), invisible on-shell mediator decays (mono-photon plus missing energy), mono-photon production via off-shell mediators, and vector boson fusion production. Through a detailed signal-background analysis using cut-and-count methods, we project the exclusion limits at $ 95 $ % confidence level for seven representative models across a wide range of mediator masses. Our results demonstrate that the projected limits cover a significant portion of viable parameter space that explains the GCE, establishing a muon collider as a decisive machine for testing the muonphilic DM hypothesis.

Wanyun Chen

Haoqi Li

Chih-Ting Lu

Qiulei Wang

Exploring muonphilic dark matter with the $\textit{Z}$ $_{2}$-even mediator at muon colliders * Chih-Ting Lu, Wanyun Chen and Haoqi Li are supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC) (12335005, 12575118) and the Special funds for postdoctoral overseas recruitment, Ministry of Education of China

Using the pinch technique, we determine the one-loop vertices of weak interactions in the B-LSSM and incorporate their pinch contributions into the gauge boson self-energies. Compared to the definitions of the $\textit{S}$, $\textit{T}$, and $\textit{U}$ parameters in the Standard Model based on the $S U(2)_L \otimes U(1)_Y$ group, the corresponding parameters in the local B-L gauge symmetry (B-LSSM) are modified. We present these redefined $\textit{S}$, $\textit{T}$, and $\textit{U}$ parameters and demonstrate the convergence of the results. In the framework of the low-energy effective Lagrangian for weak interactions, the $\textit{S}$, $\textit{T}$, and $\textit{U}$ parameters can be expressed as functions of specific parameters in the B-LSSM. The updated experimental and fitting results strongly constrain the parameter space of the B-LSSM.

Sheng-Kai Cui

Ke-Sheng Sun

Yu-Li Yan

Jin-Lei Yang

Tai-Fu Feng

$\textit{S}$, $\textit{T}$, $\textit{U}$ parameters in the B-LSSM * Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Autonomous Region (2022GXNSFDA035068), the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (A2022104001), and the Foundation of Baoding University (2023Z01)

The processes of $ K^-p \to \pi^0 \pi^0 \Sigma^0 $ and $ K^- p \to \pi^0 \Lambda(1405) $ are studied within the effective Lagrangian approach. In addition to the “background” contribution from the $\textit{u}$-channel nucleon pole term, the contribution from the $ \Sigma(1660) $ resonance with spin-parity $ J^P=1/2^+ $ is also considered. For the $ K^-p \to \pi^0 \pi^0 \Sigma^0 $ reaction, we perform a calculation for the total and differential cross sections by considering the contribution from the $ \Sigma(1660) $ intermediate resonance decaying into $ \pi^0 \Lambda(1405) $ with $ \Lambda(1405) $ decaying into $ \pi^0 \Sigma^0 $ . With our model parameters, the available experimental data on both the $ K^-p \to \pi^0 \pi^0 \Sigma^0 $ and $ K^- p \to \pi^0 \Lambda(1405) $ reactions can be fairly well reproduced. It is shown that the contribution from the $ \Sigma(1660) $ resonance is necessary, and that these experimental measurements could be used to determine some properties of the $ \Sigma(1660) $ resonance.

Xing-Yi Ji

Si-Wei Liu

Wen-Tao Lyu

De-Min Li

En Wang

Ju-Jun Xie

Role of Σ(1660) in the $\textit{K}$ $^{−}$ $\textit{p}$ → $\textit{π}$ $^{0}$ $\textit{π}$ $^{0}$Σ$^{0}$ reaction * Supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2023YFA1606703, 2024YFE0105200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12435007, 12475086, 12192263, 12361141819, 1252200936), the Natural Science Foundation of Henan (232300421140, 252300423951) and the Zhengzhou University Young Student Basic Research Projects (PhD students) (ZDBJ202522)

This study investigates the ultraviolet realization of semileptonic four-fermion operator $ O_{ledq}^{\alpha \beta 11} $ that incorporates Majorana dark matter (DM) in both lepton-flavor-conserving (LFC) and lepton-flavor-violating (LFV) scenarios at the one-loop level via box diagram, thereby effectively alleviating the lower bounds on the new physics scale. In addition, we investigate the interplay between model-independent constraints on the Wilson coefficients and DM direct detection, relic density, and collider searches in the context of fermion portal DM model with two mediators. We found that both the projected future constraint on the LFC Wilson coefficient $ C_{ledq}^{2211}/\Lambda^2 \lt $ $ (12.3\; \text{TeV})^{-2} $ from the measurements of neutrino non-standard interaction in the next-generation neutrino oscillation experiments, and the LFV constraint $ C_{ledq}^{1211}/\Lambda^2 \lt \left(2.2\times 10^3\; \text{TeV} \right)^{-2} $ from ongoing charged-lepton-flavor-violation searches, provide a complementary exploration of the parameter space encompassing the DM and scalar masses. With a colored mediator mass of approximately $ 2\; \text{TeV} $ , the sensitivity of the indirect constraints on the four-fermion operator can surpass those of collider searches and DM direct detection, in scenarios where the masses of the DM and scalar are close. By ensuring the correct DM relic density, however, we find that the collider searches and DM direct detection are more sensitive to the electroweak-scale DM and scalar than indirect constraints.

Yuxuan He

Gang Li

Jia Liu

Xiao-Ping Wang

Xiang Zhao

Lepton flavor of four-fermion operator and fermion portal dark matter * Gang Li and Xiang Zhao are supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12347105, 12505127), the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2024A1515012668). The work of Jia Liu is supported by the National Science Foundation of China (12235001, 12475103) and State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology (NPT2025ZX11). The work of Xiao-Ping Wang is supported by National Science Foundation of China (12375095) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

We have performed an updated analysis of the angular distribution of the $ \psi(3686) \to p\bar{p} $ decay by considering transverse beam polarization to investigate potential sources of forward-backward asymmetry and azimuthal modulation beyond the simple $ 1+\alpha\cos^2\theta $ form. We focus on the interference between the $ \psi(3686) $ resonance and two-photon exchange continuum process, as well as on the background from initial-state–final-state radiation (ISR–FSR) interference. A maximum-likelihood fit to the $ \cos\theta $ distribution of $ \psi(3686)\to p\bar{p} $ yields $ \alpha = 1.00 \pm 0.03 $ , which is consistent with previous results. Our model predicts a significant $ \sin(2\phi) $ modulation in the azimuthal angle, indicating the influence of transverse beam polarization. Based on these findings, two-dimensional angular analyses can be conducted in the future to fully disentangle the polarization and interference dynamics in charmonium decays to baryon pairs.

Zhi Gao

Rong-Gang Ping

Minggang Zhao

Update analysis of $ {\psi(3686)\to p\bar{p}}$ * The work is partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC) (12575112)

We have performed a next-to-leading-order (NLO) QCD sum rules analysis of the $1^{-+}$ light tetraquark states. By investigating various compact and molecular tetraquark currents, we extracted the mass spectra of the corresponding states, all of which lie above $1.7\,\text{GeV}$ . We have identified multiple $1^{-+}$ states around $2.0\,\text{GeV}$ matching well with $\pi_{1}(2015)$ , confirming that $\pi_{1}(2015)$ is an excellent tetraquark candidate. By contrast, our calculations exclude the possibility that the $\pi_{1}(1400)$ is a tetraquark or hybrid–tetraquark mixture. This result suggests that it may not exist, which is consistent with recent experimental results.

Wei-Yang Lai

Hong-Ying Jin

NLO QCD sum rules analysis of 1$^{− +}$ tetraquark states

In a recently proposed approach to testing models of inflation by Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation, the reheating temperature is directly expressed in terms of the CMB observables. Its model-independent bounds translate in a given model into narrow ranges of those observables. In that approach, we analyse the polynomial class of the $\alpha $-attractor inflaton potential models (P-models), in a broad range of polynomials and with the inflaton decays and fragmentation in the reheating period taken into account. The predictions for the CMB observables, the scalar spectral index $n_{\mathrm {s}}$ and tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$, are compared with the Planck and Planck combined with ACT data. Both can be accommodated by that class of the $\alpha $-attractor models. The sensitivity of the results of that comparison to the reheating temperature and to the upper bound on the ratio $r$ is clearly demonstrated. Abstract Published by the Jagiellonian University 2026 authors

Poland

M. Marciniak

M. Olechowski

S. Pokorski

Testing $\alpha $-attractor P-model of Inflation by Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation