High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)

Abstract: We propose the Optomechanical Dark-matter INstrument (ODIN), based on a new method for the direct detection of low-mass dark matter. We consider dark matter interacting with superfluid helium in an optomechanical cavity. Using an effective field theory, we calculate the rate at which dark matter scatters off phonons in a highly populated, driven acoustic mode of the cavity. This scattering process deposits a phonon into a second acoustic mode in its ground state. The deposited phonon ($\mu$eV range) is then converted to a photon (eV range) via an optomechanical interaction with a pump laser. This photon can be efficiently detected, providing a means to sensitively probe keV scale dark matter. We provide realistic estimates of the backgrounds and discuss the technical challenges associated with such an experiment. We calculate projected limits on dark matter-nucleon interactions for dark matter masses ranging from 0.5 to 300 keV and estimate that a future device could probe cross-sections as low as $\mathcal{O}(10^{-32})$ cm$^2$.

Abstract: The possible occurrence of crystalline or inhomogeneous phases in the QCD phase diagram at large chemical potential has been under investigation for over thirty years. Such phases are present in models of QCD such as the Gross-Neveu model in 1+1 dimensions, Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) and quark meson models. Yet, no unambiguous confirmation exists from actual QCD. In this work, we propose a new approach for a stability analysis that is based on the two-particle irreducible effective action and compatible with full QCD calculations within the framework of functional methods. As a first test, we reproduce a known NJL model result within this framework. We then discuss the additional difficulties which arise in QCD due to the non-locality of the quark self-energy and suggest a method to overcome them. As a proof of principle and as an illustration of the analysis, we consider the Wigner-Weyl solution of the quark Dyson-Schwinger equation (DSE) within a simple truncation of QCD in the chiral limit and analyse its stability against homogeneous chiral-symmetry breaking fluctuations. For temperatures above and below the tricritical point we find that the boundary of the instability region coincides well with the second-order phase boundary or the left spinodal, respectively, obtained from the direct solutions of the DSEs. Finally, we outline how this method can be generalized to study inhomogeneous fluctuations.

Abstract: Leading $\Lambda$ (LL) production in $ep$ collisions at high energies is investigated using the color dipole formalism and taking into account the nonlinear QCD effects. In particular, the impact of the absorptive effects on the LL spectra are estimated considering the kinematical range that will be probed by the Electron Ion Collider (EIC) and by the Large Hadron electron Collider (LHeC). Our results indicate that the LL spectrum is strongly suppressed at small photon virtualities. These results suggest that absorptive effects are not negligible and should be taken into account in order to extract the kaon structure function from data on leading $\Lambda$ production.

Abstract: Joint analysis of the results of the Neutrino-4 experiment and the data of the GALLEX, SAGE and BEST experiments confirms the parameters of neutrino oscillations declared by the Neutrino-4 experiment $(\Delta m_{14}^2= 7.3 \text{eV}^2$ and $\sin^2 2\theta_{14} \approx 0.36)$ and increases the confidence level to $5.8\sigma$. Such a sterile neutrino thermalizes in cosmic plasma, contributes 5% to the energy density of the Universe, and can explain 15-20% of dark matter. It is discussed that the extension of the neutrino model by introducing two more heavy sterile neutrinos in accordance with the number of types of active neutrinos but with very small mixing angles to avoid thermalization will make it possible to explain the large-scale structure of the Universe and bring the contribution of sterile neutrinos to the dark matter of the Universe to the level of 27%. This approach to the problem of dark matter means that dark matter can be explained in terms of an extended Standard Model with right-handed neutrinos. An analysis of astrophysical data shows that right-handed neutrinos with a mass less than 7 keV have not yet been disfavored by direct experiments. The dynamic process of the origin of dark matter, consisting of three right-handed neutrinos, is presented. It is shown that, based on modern astrophysical data, it is impossible to draw a definite conclusion in favor of the model of three or four thermalized neutrinos. The influence of lepton asymmetry on the comparison of models of three or four neutrinos is considered. An estimate was made for the upper limit of the lepton asymmetry, in particular for $N_{\nu}=3\text{ }-0.04 <\xi_e < 0.04$, and for $N_{\nu} = 4 \text{ } 0.02<\xi_e<0.10$. The possibility of the appearance of lepton asymmetry due to CP violation during oscillations into sterile neutrinos is discussed.

Abstract: Precision measurements of diboson production at the LHC is an important probe of the limits of the Standard Model. The gluon-fusion channel of this process offers a connection between the Higgs and top sectors. We study in a systematic way gluon-induced diboson production in the Standard Model Effective Field Theory. We compute the amplitudes of double Higgs, double $Z/W$ and associated $ZH$ production at one loop and with up to one insertion of a dimension-6 operator. We study their high-energy limit and identify to which operators each channel could be most sensitive. To illustrate the relevance of these processes, we perform a phenomenological study of associated $ZH$ production. We show that for some top operators the gluon-induced channel can offer competitive sensitivity to constraints obtained from top quark production processes.

Abstract: Scale evolution of interactions between a Weyl fermion and a heavy magnetic impurity is calculated non-perturbatively using the functional renormalization group technique. Using an expansion around the vanishing pairing gap, we derive the flow equations for all possible quartic couplings in the system. We find that contrary to conventional perturbation theory, the usual spin-spin isotropic interaction necessarily splits into two invariant parts during the scale evolution, which are fully allowed by the $SU(2)$ spin-rotation symmetry. We also find the existence of an infrared stable interacting fixed point, which can be responsible for intermediate-coupling screening effects. The calculation scheme presented here is rather general and expected to be easily applicable to various spin-spin-like interactions in fermionic systems.