Hadron-hadron interactions, being nonperturbative in nature, play a significant role in addressing phenomenological questions in particle physics. Femtoscopy is a powerful tool in heavy-ion collision experiments, enabling the extraction of hadron-hadron interactions via momentum-correlation functions (CFs). These CFs are typically expressed as a convolution of source functions and hadron-hadron wave functions, with the latter encoding information about the interactions. However, source functions remain poorly constrained and are commonly approximated by a Gaussian form. Reconstructing source functions from experimental correlation data constitutes an 'inverse problem.' To address this, we propose a toy model based on Tikhonov regularization. Using a square-well potential with four distinct strengths, we calculate the CFs for inputs of single Gaussian source functions and mixed Gaussian source functions. The resulting CFs are then used to reconstruct the source functions via Tikhonov regularization. Our results show that the Gaussian source function can be successfully reconstructed, highlighting the potential of this approach for extracting realistic source functions from hadron pairs of interest.

China

Ao-Sheng Xiong

Qi-Wei Yuan

Ming-Zhu Liu

Fu-Sheng Yu

Zhi-Wei Liu

Li-Sheng Geng

Solving the inverse source problem in femtoscopy with a toy model * Supported in part by the Fundamental and Interdisciplinary Disciplines Breakthrough Plan of the Ministry of Education of China (JYB2025XDXM204) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (W2543006, 12435007). Ming-Zhu Liu acknowledges support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12575086). Zhi-Wei Liu acknowledges support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12405133) and from the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (ZDSYS20230626091501002). Fu-Sheng Yu and Ao-Sheng Xiong acknowledge support from the Scientific Research Innovation Capability Support Project for Young Faculty (ZYGXQNJSKYCXNLZCXM-P2) and from the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (lzujbky-2023-stlt01, lzujbky-2024-oy02, lzujbky-2025-eyt01)

We study the equation of state (EoS) of QCD matter in a bottom-up holographic setup that combines an Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton (EMD) sector with an improved Karch-Katz-Son-Stephanov (KKSS) flavor action. In the probe approximation, we perform an inverse reconstruction of the model functions by parameterizing them with neural networks and solving the EMD equations via a differentiable ODE solver (a neural ODE framework), calibrating the model to a reference thermodynamic table for $(2+1)$ -flavor QCD at finite temperature and finite baryon chemical potential. The reconstructed model functions are then parameterized and kept fixed across thermodynamic states. Next, viewing the EMD sector as an effective description of pure Yang-Mills theory, we fix its parameters by fitting the $\mu_B=0$ lattice pure-glue EoS using a hybrid optimization strategy. Finally, we go beyond the probe limit and solve the coupled EMD+KKSS equations with back-reaction, using the pure-glue-calibrated EMD sector as a fixed input and varying the KKSS couplings to compare with the $\mu_B=0$ two-flavor lattice EoS. We find a visible mismatch and a high-temperature behavior in which the back-reacted dimensionless ratios approach a nearly $\beta_1$ -insensitive plateau close to the pure-glue baseline, providing a simple structural diagnostic for the present flavor-sector truncation.

Yutian Deng

Mei Huang

Lin Zhang

Holographic QCD equation of state constrained by lattice QCD: neural-ODE for probe-limit and a back-reaction test * Start-up funding from Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) (Y. Deng and L. Zhang); National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (12235016) (L. Zhang and M. Huang) and 12221005 (M. Huang)

In this work, we focus on the possible linear relationship between short-range correlations (SRCs) and the EMC effect for partons in nuclei. First, we test a linear relationship pertaining to gluons in bound nuclei; it is manifested as a correlation between the slope of the reduced cross-section ratio in deep inelastic scattering (DIS) and the cross-section of sub-threshold $ J/\psi $ photoproduction. For comparison, results from four different global analysis groups of nuclear parton distribution functions (nPDFs) are utilized. These results show a good linear correlation between the gluons in bound nuclei and the slope of the reduced cross-section ratio, consistent with the possible presence of nuclear effects in the gluon distributions. Second, we investigate the linear relationship of quarks in the proton-induced Drell-Yan process. The corresponding results for quarks show strong sensitivity to the parameterizations forms adopted by the different groups. These findings enhance our understanding of the substructure in bound nuclei and provide a valuable reference for future global fitting of nPDFs.

Shu-Man Hu

Wei Wang

Ji Xu

Xing-Hua Yang

Shuai Zhao

Testing a linear relation: short-range correlations and the EMC effect for gluons and quarks in nuclei * Supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12125503, 12335003, 12105247, 12305106, 12475098)

We present a systematic analysis of the Higgs signal strengths at 125 GeV and 95 GeV in a non-supersymmetric $ U(1)_X $ model with vector-like fermions ( $ U(1)_X $ VLFM). This framework extends the Standard Model (SM) by introducing an additional $ U(1)_X $ gauge symmetry, three right-handed neutrinos, two singlet Higgs fields ($\textit{ϕ}$ and $\textit{S}$), and one generation of vector-like quarks and leptons. The scalar fields mix in the neutral CP-even sector, yielding two Higgs-like states around 95 GeV and 125 GeV. We perform a $ \chi^2 $ analysis that combines the Higgs signal strength measurements at 125 GeV from ATLAS and CMS, including the $ \gamma\gamma $ , $ WW^* $ , $ ZZ^* $ , $ b\bar{b} $ , and $ \tau\bar{\tau} $ channels, together with the 95 GeV excesses observed in the diphoton and $ b\bar{b} $ final states reported by CMS and LEP. Our results indicate that the $ U(1)_X $ VLFM successfully reproduces the observed signal strengths of the 125 GeV Higgs while simultaneously explaining the 95 GeV excess. The parameters $ g_X $ , $ g_{YX} $ , $ v_S $ , $ v_P $ , and the new Yukawa couplings play a crucial role in achieving this consistency.

Rong-Zhi Sun

Shu-Min Zhao

Meng-Zi Cao

Song Gao

Portugal

Xing-Xing Dong

Higgs Bosons at 95 and 125 GeV in the $\textit{U}$(1) $\textit{X}$ VLFM * Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC) (2075074), Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (A2023201040, A2022201022, A2022201017, A2023201041), Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Education Department (QN2022173), the Project of the China Scholarship Council (CSC) (202408130113). This work is also supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) through the project UID/00777/2025 (https://doi.org/ 10.54499/UID/00777/2025)

The internal structure of the light scalar state $ a_0(1450) $ has not been definitively determined; it may comprise multiple possible configurations. Among these, it may be regarded as a $ q\bar{q} $ state. Based on this possibility, we use QCD light-cone sum rules to study the semileptonic decay process $ D \to a_0(1450)\ell \nu_\ell $ with $ \ell=(e, \mu) $ and to test this hypothesis. First, we construct two twist-2 light-cone distribution-amplitude schemes based on the light-cone harmonic-oscillator model, and present their moments $ \langle\xi^{n}\rangle |_{\mu} $ and Gegenbauer moments $ a_{n}(\mu) $ at $ \mu_0=1\; {\rm{GeV}} $ and $ \mu_k= 1.4\; {\rm{GeV}} $ for $ n=(1,3,5) $ . In the large-recoil region, we obtain the transition form factors (TFFs): $ f_+^{({\rm{S}}1)}(0) = $ $ 0.836_{-0.119}^{+0.116} $ , $ f_+^{({\rm{S}}2)}(0)=0.767_{-0.105}^{+0.106} $ , and $ f_-(0)=0.630_{-0.077}^{+0.078} $ . A simplified series expansion $ z(q^2, t) $ is used to extrapolate the TFFs to the entire physical $ q^2 $ region. For $ q^2=10^{-5} \; {\rm{GeV}}^2 $ , we compute the angular distribution of the differential decay width ${{\rm d}\Gamma}/{{\rm d}\cos\theta_\ell }$ over the range $ \cos\theta_\ell \in [-1,1] $ . Subsequently, we obtain the differential decay widths and branching fractions for $ D^0 \to a_0(1450)^- \ell^+ \nu_\ell $ and $ D^- \to a_0(1450)^0 \ell^- \bar{\nu}_\ell $ , with branching fractions of order $ 10^{-6} $ . Finally, we analyze three angular observables for the semileptonic decay process $ D^- \to a_0(1450)^0 \ell^- \bar{\nu}_\ell $ : the forward–backward asymmetry $ {\cal{A}}_{\rm{FB}} $ , the lepton polarization asymmetry $ {\cal{A}}_{\lambda_\ell} $ , and the $ q^2 $ -differential flat term $ {\cal{F}}_{\rm{H}} $ .

Ya-Lin Song

Yin-Long Yang

Ye Cao

Xue Zheng

Hai-Bing Fu

Searching the possibility of $\textit{a}$ $_{0}$(1450) scalar state being a q q state structure via charmed meson semileptonic decays * Supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12265010), and the Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology (MS[2025]219, CXTD[2025]030)

We report stronger evidence for the $X(7200)$ state and markedly improved measurements of the $X(6900)$ resonance parameters based on a combined analysis of the di- $J/\psi$ mass spectrum using published data from LHCb, ATLAS, and CMS. Through simultaneous fits to the datasets from all three experiments, we observe the $X(6900)$ with overwhelming significance ( $ \gt 12\sigma$ ) and determine its mass and width with improved precision. For the $X(7200)$ , we find consistent signals across multiple interference models, with significances ranging from $3.7\sigma$ to $6.6\sigma$ ; in the best-fit model (the CMS three-resonance scheme), the significance reaches $6.6\sigma$ , providing substantially stronger evidence for this state. Our results underscore the essential role of interference effects in fully charmed tetraquark spectroscopy and offer new constraints on their production mechanisms at the LHC.

Yuan Wang

Ran Li

Bin Zhong

Ya-Qian Wang

Enhanced evidence of $\textit{X}$(7200) and improved measurements of $\textit{X}$(6900) parameters from a combined LHCb-ATLAS-CMS analysis * Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (12475077)

Constrained by the complexity of theoretical calculations, current research on genuine tripartite nonlocality (GTN) within the relativistic framework concentrates mainly on Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger-like states, with few studies addressing W states or even general tripartite states. In this paper, we apply numerical methods to investigate how environmental decoherence and spacetime dilaton influence GTN and genuine tripartite entanglement (GTE) of W states. Our results show that GTN in the physically accessible region displays a “sudden death” phenomenon and that sufficiently strong decoherence completely destroys GTN. By contrast, GTE in the physically accessible region initially remains unchanged and then decays only when the dilaton parameter becomes large. Notably, the GTN and GTE in the physically accessible region can be enhanced by adjusting the decoherence parameter. Furthermore, we also find that the GTN in the physically inaccessible region cannot be generated, whereas the GTE will be produced there. This implies that GTE can cross the event horizon of a black hole and realize the redistribution of quantum entanglement. Finally, we further discuss whether the GTN can be transferred to the bipartite subsystem of the system.

Chun-yao Liu

Zheng-wen Long

Qi-liang He

Nonlocality and entanglement transfer of an open three-qubit W state in the background of a dilaton black hole

We present the TQ4Q2.0 fragmentation functions for the production of all-heavy (fully heavy) <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>S</mi></math>-wave tetraquarks (<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>T</mi><mrow><mn>4</mn><mi>Q</mi></mrow></msub></math>) with scalar (<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msup><mn>0</mn><mrow><mo>+</mo><mo>+</mo></mrow></msup></math>), axial-vector (<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msup><mn>1</mn><mrow><mo>+</mo><mo>−</mo></mrow></msup></math>), and tensor (<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msup><mn>2</mn><mrow><mo>+</mo><mo>+</mo></mrow></msup></math>) quantum numbers in high-energy hadronic collisions. This work extends the previous TQ4Q1.1 framework by incorporating nonconstituent heavy-quark contributions and introducing a replica-based uncertainty-quantification strategy derived from multiscale variations (MHOUs). The construction follows a nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics (QCD) factorization approach, combining gluon- and heavy-quark-initiated fragmentation channels at leading power. Initial-scale inputs are modeled through updated potential-inspired wave functions, while the subsequent Dokshitzer-Gribov-Lipatov-Altarelli-Parisi (DGLAP) evolution is performed via the threshold-aware HF-NRevo scheme. A comprehensive systematic analysis of uncertainties is carried out, with contributions from color-composite long-distance matrix elements (LDMEs) and perturbative multiscale inputs. The resulting TQ4Q2.0 grids, publicly released in LHAPDF6 format, provide the first complete phenomenological set for all-heavy exotics, enabling precise studies of all-charm tetraquark production and jet-associated observables within the jethad environment. This article completes the high-energy resummation-driven generation of the TQ4Q program and establishes a definitive baseline for future collider-oriented analyses of all-heavy multiquark dynamics.

Spain

Francesco Giovanni Celiberto

All-charm tetraquarks at hadron colliders: A high-precision fragmentation perspective

The production of very-high-energy (VHE, <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>E</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>γ</mi></mrow></msub><mo>≳</mo><mn>100</mn><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mi>GeV</mi></mrow></math>) gamma rays resulting from the scattering of high-energy cosmic-ray protons off axionlike particles (ALPs) populating the dark matter halo of the Milky Way is investigated. By employing the latest instrument response functions for current and future facilities, we demonstrate that ground-based VHE gamma-ray observatories, such as H.E.S.S., CTAO, and SWGO, provide a promising and complementary avenue to probe the yet uncharted ALP-proton coupling <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>g</mi><mrow><mi>a</mi><mi>p</mi></mrow></msub></math>. Assuming a pointlike proton, our results show that these experiments can reach sensitivity to couplings above <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msup><mn>10</mn><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></math> in the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mn>1</mn><mo>−</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>8</mn></msup><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mi>eV</mi></math> ALP mass range, a region that remains largely unexplored by supernova and neutron star cooling observations. Interestingly, we demonstrate that this search channel is capable of probing effective ALP-proton couplings comparable to those predicted in benchmark quantum chromodynamics (QCD) axion scenarios, such as the Kim-Shifman-Vainshtein-Zakharov (KSVZ) and Dine-Fischler-Srednicki-Zhitnitsky (DFSZ) models. These findings highlight the potential of VHE gamma-ray astronomy to provide unique constraints on the interaction between ALPs and the baryonic sector and motivate the investigation of the impact of the proton structure on the predictions.

Brazil

Victor P. Goncalves

France

Emmanuel Moulin

Igor Reis

Aion Viana

Gamma-ray production in cosmic ray-dark matter scattering as a probe of the axionlike particle-proton interaction

We have made a thorough study of the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msup><mi>D</mi><mo>+</mo></msup><mo stretchy="false">→</mo><msup><mi>π</mi><mo>+</mo></msup><mi>η</mi><mi>η</mi></math> reaction, recently measured by the Beijing Spectrometer III Collaboration, which shows an abnormal strength at high invariant masses in the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>π</mi><mi>η</mi></math> mass distribution. We studied in detail the triangle mechanism and the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>f</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>1370</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></math> excitation modes that have been suggested to explain this abnormal feature, and concluded that they are too small to have any important role in the solution to that problem. We have also studied other possible solutions, evaluating the contribution of excitations of other <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>f</mi><mn>0</mn></msub></math>, <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>a</mi><mn>0</mn></msub></math> and <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>f</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></math> resonances, and reached the same conclusion. Unexpectedly, the solution to the problem is found considering the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>f</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>980</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></math> excitation, with the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>f</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>980</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></math> decaying to two <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>η</mi></math>, which is tied to the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>a</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>980</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></math> production, and well under control. At the same time, the consideration of the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>f</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>980</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></math> excitation solves another nonreported problem, which is the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>η</mi><mi>η</mi></math> mass distribution that comes when only the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>a</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>980</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></math> resonance is allowed to be excited, which produces a large deficiency at low invariant masses compared with experiments.

Jing Song

Yi-Yao Li

Türkiye

Melahat Bayar

Eulogio Oset

<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>a</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>980</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></math> and <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>f</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>980</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></math> excitation in the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msup><mi>D</mi><mo>+</mo></msup><mo stretchy="false">→</mo><msup><mi>π</mi><mo>+</mo></msup><mi>η</mi><mi>η</mi></math> decay