Hep-Ex explores the fascinating intersection where particle physics meets experimental reality. This field investigates how scientists build massive detectors and accelerate particles to test the fundamental laws of nature, turning abstract theories into measurable data. It is the rigorous process of searching for new particles or forces that could reshape our understanding of the universe, often requiring years of collaboration and engineering.

At Gist.Science, we ensure these discoveries become accessible to everyone. We process every new preprint in this category directly from arXiv, generating both plain-language explanations for curious readers and detailed technical summaries for specialists. Our goal is to bridge the gap between complex experimental results and public understanding without losing scientific nuance.

Below are the latest papers in Hep-Ex, freshly summarized and ready for you to explore.

Direct Measurement of the 212Pb^{212}\mathrm{Pb} and 214Pb^{214}\mathrm{Pb} β\beta Decay Branching Ratios with the XENONnT Experiment

Using calibration data from the XENONnT detector, this study presents the most precise direct measurements to date of the ground-state β\beta decay branching ratios for 212Pb^{212}\mathrm{Pb} and 214Pb^{214}\mathrm{Pb}, thereby significantly improving background modeling for rare-event searches like dark matter and neutrino experiments.

E. Aprile, J. Aalbers, K. Abe, M. Abu Rmeileh, M. Adrover, S. Ahmed Maouloud, L. Althueser, B. Andrieu, E. Angelino, D. Antón Martin, S. R. Armbruster, F. Arneodo, L. Baudis, M. Bazyk, V. Beligotti, L (…)2026-06-17⚛️ nucl-ex

Optimized filtering for pulse-shape based pile-up rejection applied to 0νββ0\nu\beta\beta search with 100^{100}Mo

This paper presents an optimized digital filtering algorithm for cryogenic detectors that significantly reduces pile-up induced background in neutrinoless double beta decay searches by 31% compared to previous methods, while maintaining high signal efficiency.

V. Berest, M. Buchynska, P. Carniti, A. Giuliani, C. Gotti, H. Khalife, P. Loaiza, P. de Marcillac, C. Nones, M. Pageot, E. Olivieri, G. Pessina, D. V. Poda, J. A. Scarpaci, B. Schmidt, A. S. Zolotaro (…)2026-06-17⚛️ hep-ex

Momentum and Matter Matter for Axion Dark Matter Matters on Earth

This paper investigates how Earth's matter effects and the finite momentum of axion dark matter influence experimental searches, finding that while canonical axion models remain largely unaffected, lighter axions with stronger couplings may experience reduced field values but enhanced spatial gradients, significantly altering detection sensitivity.

Abhishek Banerjee, Itay M. Bloch, Quentin Bonnefoy, Sebastian A. R. Ellis, Gilad Perez, Inbar Savoray, Konstantin Springmann, Yevgeny V. Stadnik2026-06-16🔬 physics.atom-ph

Dark, deep, deconfining: Phase transitions in neutron stars as powerful probes of hidden sectors

This paper proposes that interactions between hidden sector particles and neutron star nucleons can overcome energy barriers to trigger deconfinement phase transitions, potentially converting neutron stars into black holes or gamma-ray bursts, thereby allowing the observed existence of ancient neutron stars to set constraints on dark matter interactions and nucleon decay lifetimes that are orders of magnitude stricter than terrestrial limits.

Aryaman Bhutani, Nirmal Raj, Zenia Zuraiq2026-06-16⚛️ hep-ex

Measurement of the ratio of the Bc+_\mathrm{c}^+ \to J/ψ\psiτ+ντ\tau^+\nu_\tau and Bc+_\mathrm{c}^+ \to J/ψ\psi μ+νμ\mu^+\nu_\mu branching fractions using three-prong τ\tau lepton decays

Using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment at 13 TeV, this study measures the ratio of Bc+J/ψτ+ντB_c^+ \to J/\psi \tau^+\nu_\tau to Bc+J/ψμ+νμB_c^+ \to J/\psi \mu^+\nu_\mu branching fractions via three-prong τ\tau decays, finding a combined result consistent with the Standard Model prediction and providing no evidence for lepton flavor universality violation.

CMS Collaboration2026-06-16⚛️ hep-ex

Momentum Measurement of Charged Particles in FASER's Emulsion Detector at the LHC

This paper presents and validates a method for measuring the momenta of charged particles in the FASERν\nu emulsion detector using multiple Coulomb scattering, demonstrating its effectiveness from a few GeV to several TeV through Monte Carlo simulations, test beam data, and background muon analysis.

FASER Collaboration, Roshan Mammen Abraham, Xiaocong Ai, Saul Alonso Monsalve, John Anders, Emma Kate Anderson, Claire Antel, Akitaka Ariga, Tomoko Ariga, Jeremy Atkinson, Florian U. Bernlochner, Tobi (…)2026-06-16⚛️ hep-ex