High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)

Abstract: We discuss halo-independent constraints on the Inelastic Dark Matter scenario, in which a Weakly Interaction Massive Particle (WIMP) state $\chi$ with mass $m_\chi$ interacts with nuclear targets by upscattering to a heavier state $\chi^{\prime}$ with mass $m_\chi+\delta$. In order to do so we adopt the single-stream method, that exploits the complementarity of Direct Detection (DD) and Capture in the Sun to extend the experimental sensitivity to the full range of incoming WIMP speeds. We show that a non-vanishing mass splitting $\delta$ modifies such range, and that for particular combinations of $m_\chi$ and $\delta$ the complementarity between the two detection techniques required by the method is lost. Specifically, assuming for the escape velocity in our Galaxy $u_{esc}$ the reference value $u_{esc}^{ref}$ = 560 km/s a halo-independent bound is possible when $\delta\lesssim$ 510 keV for a Spin-Independent interaction and when $\delta\lesssim$ 245 keV for a Spin-Dependent interaction (with the Spin-Independent value slightly reduced to $\delta\lesssim$ 490 keV when $u_{esc}>u_{esc}^{ref}$). We find that in the low-mass regime the bound from capture in the Sun is always more constraining than that for DD and is sufficient alone to provide a halo-independent constraint, while for large WIMP masses the halo-independent bound is given by a combination of capture in the Sun and DD. In this latter case, while for increasing values of $\delta$ the sensitivity range of initial speeds of the WIMP is reduced for both DD and capture in the Sun, such effect is more pronounced for DD than for capture. We also find that, for $u_{esc}$ = $u_{esc}^{ref}$, unless the mass of the target used in DD is larger than about four times that of the target driving capture in the Sun, DD does not play any role in the determination of the maximal value of $\delta$ for which a halo-independent bound is possible.

Abstract: Our research delves into the QCD phase diagram in the temperature $T$ and quark chemical potential $\mu$ plane. We use a unique confining contact interaction effective model of quark dynamics that maintains the QCD symmetry intact. By embedding the model into a Schwinger-Dyson equations framework, within a Landau gauge rainbow-ladder-like truncation, we derive the gap equation. In order to accurately regulate the said equation, we utilize the Schwinger optimal time regularization scheme. We further derive the effective potential of the model by integrating the gap equation over the dynamical mass, which along with the confining length scale serve as parameters for the chiral and confinement deconfinement phase transitions, respectively. A cross-over transition is observed at low $\mu$ and above a critical value of the temperature $T_c$, whilst a first order phase transition is found for low $T$ at high density. The critical end point is estimated to be located at $(\mu_{E}/T_{c,0}=1.6, T_{E}/T_{c,0}=0.42)$, which falls within the range of other QCD effective models predictions. $T_{c,0} =208$ MeV is the critical temperature at vanishing $\mu$. Screening effects of the medium which dilute the strength of the effective coupling are considered by including the vacuum polarization contribution due to quarks at high temperatures into the framework. It locates the critical end point at $( \mu^{E}_{c}/T_c \approx2.6, T^{E}_{c}/T_c \approx 0.57)$, which hints for a deeper analysis of screening effects on models of this kind.

Abstract: Implication of neutrino mass model based on $\Delta$(27) discrete flavor symmetry, on parameters of neutrino oscillations, CP violation and effective neutrino masses is studied using type-I seesaw mechanism. The Standard Model particle content is extended by adding two additional Higgs doublets, three right-handed neutrinos and two scalar triplets under $\Delta$(27) symmetry predicting diagonal charged lepton mass matrix. This can generate the desired deviation from $\mu - \tau$ symmetry. The resulting neutrino oscillation parameters are well agreed with the latest global fit oscillation data. The sum of the three absolute neutrino mass eigenvalues, $\sum\limits_{i}|m_{i}|$ (i=1,2,3) is found to be consistent with that of the value given by latest Planck cosmological data, $\sum\limits_{i}|m_{i}|<$0.12 eV. The model further predicts effective neutrino masses for neutrinoless double beta decay, 3.9 meV $\leq m_{ee}\leq$ 30.7 meV, tritium beta decay, 8.7 meV $\leq m_{\beta}\leq$ 30.6 meV, Jarlskog invariant, $J_{CP}=\pm 0.02196$ for CP violation, baryon asymmetry $Y_{B}=8.95\times 10^{-10}$ for normal hierarchical case and also 49.5 meV $\leq m_{ee}\leq$ 51.7 meV, 49.48 meV $\leq m_{\beta}\leq$ 51.4 meV, $J_{CP}=\pm 0.02191$, $Y_{B}=1.28\times 10^{-7}$ for inverted hierarchical case respectively.

Abstract: A series of pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) recently observed gravitational waves at the nanohertz frequencies. Motivated by this remarkable result, we present a novel class of Pati-Salam models that give rise to a network of metastable cosmic strings, offering a plausible explanation for the observed PTA data. Besides, we introduce a hybrid inflationary scenario to eliminate magnetic monopoles that arise during the spontaneous symmetry breaking of the Pati-Salam gauge group to the Standard Model. The resulting scalar spectral index is compatible with Planck data, and the tensor-to-scalar ratio is anticipated to be extremely small. Moreover, we incorporate a non-thermal leptogenesis to generate the required baryon asymmetry in our framework. Finally, the gravitational wave spectra generated by the metastable cosmic strings not only correspond to signals observed in recent PTAs, including NANOGrav, but are also within the exploration capacity of both present and future ground-based and space-based experiments.

Abstract: We provide an example of an ultraviolet finite supersymmetric grand unified theory of safe rather than free nature endowed with a supersymmetric dynamical breaking mechanism. Our results simultaneously enlarge the number of ultraviolet consistent supersymmetric grand unified theories while providing a relevant example of how to achieve a consistent ultraviolet safe extension of the Standard Model enjoying the benefits of grand unified theories.

Abstract: We study a realistic SU(5) grand unified model, where a 45 representation of scalar fields is added to the Georgi-Glashow model in order to realize the gauge coupling unification and the masses and mixing of quarks and leptons. The gauge coupling unification together with constraints from proton decay implies mass splittings in scalar representations. We assume that an SU(2) triplet component of the 45 scalar, which is called $S_3$ leptoquark, has a TeV-scale mass, and color-sextet and color-octet ones have masses of the order of $10^6$ GeV. We calculate one-loop beta functions for Yukawa couplings in the model, and derive the low-energy values of the $S_3$ Yukawa couplings which are consistent with the grand unification. We provide predictions for lepton-flavor violation and lepton-flavor-universality violation induced by the $S_3$ leptoquark, and find that current and future experiments have a chance to find a footprint of our SU(5) model.

Abstract: This work introduces an explicit expression for the generation function for the reduction of an $n$-gon to an $(n-k)$-gon. A novel recursive relation of generation function is formulated based on Feynman Parametrization in projective space, involving a single ordinary differential equation. The explicit formulation of generation functions provides crucial insights into the complex analytic structure inherent in loop amplitudes.

Abstract: In view of both the latest LHCb measurement of $R_{K^{(*)}}$ and the newly $2.8\sigma$ deviation reported by Belle II on $B^{+}\to K^{+}\nu\bar{\nu}$ decays, we present a fit to the $B$ meson anomalies for various one and two dimensional hypothesis including complex Wilson coefficients. We show in a model-independent way that the generic non-universal $U(1)^{\prime}$ extensions of the SM, without flavour violation, fail to simultaneously fit those observables and corroborate that they can modify $\mathrm{BR}(B^{+}\to K^{+}\nu\bar{\nu})$ up to only a $10\%$. In view of this deficit, we propose a new way in which those models can accommodate the data at tree level by introducing lepton flavour violating couplings and non-diagonal elements of the charged lepton mixing matrix, with implications in future charged lepton flavour violation searches.

Abstract: This work reports on a method for uncertainty estimation in simulated collider-event predictions. The method is based on a Monte Carlo-veto algorithm, and extends previous work on uncertainty estimates in parton showers by including uncertainty estimates for the Lund string-fragmentation model. This method is advantageous from the perspective of simulation costs: a single ensemble of generated events can be reinterpreted as though it was obtained using a different set of input parameters, where each event now is accompanied with a corresponding weight. This allows for a robust exploration of the uncertainties arising from the choice of input model parameters, without the need to rerun full simulation pipelines for each input parameter choice. Such explorations are important when determining the sensitivities of precision physics measurements. Accompanying code is available at https://gitlab.com/uchep/mlhad-weights-validation.