High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)

Abstract: We shortly review some applications of the (inverse) Laplace (LSR) transform sum rules in Quantum ChromoDynamics (QCD) for extracting the fundamental QCD parameters (coupling constant $\alpha_s$, quark and gluon condensates) and the hadron properties (masses and decay constants). Links of LSR to some other forms of QCD spectral sum rules are also discussed. As prototype examples, we discuss in detail the $\rho$ and $\pi$ meson sum rules.

Abstract: In this work, we explore the potential of probing the inelastic dark matter (DM) model with an extra U(1)D gauge symmetry at the Large Hadron Collider, ForwArd Search ExpeRiment and Super Tau Charm Factory. To saturate the observed DM relic density, the mass splitting between two light dark states has to be small enough, and thus leads to some distinctive signatures at these colliders. By searching for the long-lived particle, the displaced muon-jets, the soft leptons, and the mono-photon events, we find that the inelastic DM mass in the range of 1 MeV to 210 GeV could be tested.

Abstract: A novel particle has been and still is an intriguing option to explain the strong evidence for dark matter in our universe. To quantitatively predict the dark matter energy density, two main ingredients are needed: particle rates and an expansion history of the universe. In this work, we explore the interplay between recent progress in the determination of particle production rates and modified cosmological histories. For the freeze-out mechanism, we focus on Sommerfeld and bound-state effects, which boost and make dark matter pair annihilation more efficient. As regards the freeze-in option, we include thermal masses, which enter the decay processes that produce dark matter, and we find that they can suppress or enhance the dark matter yield. We consider a class of modified cosmological histories that induce a faster universe expansion, and we assess their effect in combination with improved particle rates on the dark matter energy density.

Abstract: We present a detailed theoretical study of nonfactorizable contributions of the charm-quark loop to the amplitude of the $B_s\to \gamma\,\gamma$ decay. This contribution involves the $B$-meson three-particle Bethe-Salpeter amplitude, $\langle 0|\bar s(y)G_{\mu\nu}(x)b(0)|\bar B_s(p)\rangle$, for which we take into account constraints from analyticity and continuity. The charming-loop contribution of interest may be described as a correction to the Wilson coefficient $C_{7\gamma}$, $C_{7\gamma}\to C_{7\gamma}(1+\delta C_{7\gamma})$. We calculate an explicit dependence of $\delta C_{7\gamma}$ on the parameter $\lambda_{B_s}$. Taking into account all theoretical uncertainties, $\delta C_{7\gamma}$ may be predicted with better than 10\% accuracy for any given value of $\lambda_{B_s}$. For our benchmark point $\lambda_{B_s}=0.45$ GeV, we obtain $\delta C_{7\gamma}=0.045\pm 0.004$. Presently, $\lambda_{B_s}$ is not known with high accuracy, but its value is expected to lie in the range $0.3\le \lambda_{B_s}({\rm GeV})\le 0.6$. The corresponding range of $\delta C_{7\gamma}$ is found to be $0.02\le \delta C_{7\gamma}\le 0.1$. One therefore expects the correction given by charming loops at the level of at least a few percent.

Abstract: We define a minimal model of dark matter with a fermion singlet $\chi$ coupled to the visible sector through the Higgs portal and with a heavy Dirac neutrino $N$ that opens the annihilation channel $\chi \chi \to N \nu$. The model provides the observed relic abundance consistently with bounds from direct searches and implies a monochromatic neutrino signal at 10 GeV-1 TeV in indirect searches. In particular, we obtain the capture rate of $\chi$ by the Sun and show that the signal could be above the "neutrino floor" produced by cosmic rays showering in the solar surface. In most benchmark models this solar astrophysical background is above the expected dark matter signal, so the model that we propose is a canonical example of WIMP not excluded by direct searches that could be studied at neutrino telescopes and also at colliders.

Abstract: Dark matter direct detection experiments impose the strong bounds on thermal dark matter scenarios. The bound can naturally be evaded if the cross section is momentum transfer dependent or velocity dependent. One can test such thermal dark matter scenarios if dark matter particles are boosted by some mechanism. In this work, we consider a specific semi-annihilation $\chi\chi\to \nu\overline{\chi}$ where $\chi$ ($\overline{\chi}$) is dark matter (anti-dark matter), and search for simultaneous detection of the neutrino and the boosted dark matter in the final state at DUNE. We find that the energies of the neutrino and boosted dark matter are reconstructed well due to the precise angular resolution of the DUNE detector. In addition, we find that both signals can be testable at DUNE if the dark matter mass is below 30 GeV, and the scattering cross section is momentum transfer dependent.

Abstract: We perform a study of the $B^{*+}B^0,B^{*0}B^+$ correlation functions using an extension of the local hidden gauge approach which provides the interaction from the exchange of light vector mesons and gives rise to a bound state of these components in $I=0$ with a binding energy of about $21$~MeV. After that, we face the inverse problem of determining the low energy observables, scattering length and effective range for each channel, the possible existence of a bound state, and, if found, the couplings of such a state to each $B^{*+}B^0,B^{*0}B^+$ component as well as the molecular probabilities of each of the channels. We use the bootstrap method to determine these magnitudes and find that, with errors in the correlation function typical of present experiments, we can determine all these magnitudes with acceptable precision. In addition, the size of the source function of the experiment from where the correlation functions are measured can be also determined with a high precision.

Abstract: In this work we present a new approach for the combination of electroweak (EW) corrections at high energies, the so-called EW Sudakov logarithms (EWSL), and next-to-leading-order QCD predictions matched to parton-shower simulations (NLO+PS). Our approach is based on a reweighting procedure of NLO+PS events. In particular, both events with and without an extra hard emission from matrix elements are consistently reweighted via the inclusion of the corresponding EWSL contribution. We describe the technical details and the implementation in the MadGraph5_aMC@NLO framework. Via a completely automated procedure, events at this new level of accuracy can be obtained for a vast class of hadroproduction processes. As a byproduct we provide results for phenomenologically relevant physical distributions from top-quark pair and Higgs boson associated production ($t\overline{t}H$) and from the associated production of three $Z$ gauge bosons ($ZZZ$).

Abstract: We briefly review scenarios with feebly interacting particles (FIMPs) as dark matter candidates. The discussion covers issues with dark matter production in the early universe as well as signatures of FIMPs at the high energy and high intensity frontier as well as in astroparticle and cosmology.

Abstract: We generalize and update our former top quark mass calibration framework for Monte Carlo (MC) event generators based on the $e^+e^-$ hadron-level 2-jettiness $\tau_2$ distribution in the resonance region for boosted $t\bar t$ production, that was used to relate the PYTHIA 8.205 top mass parameter $m_t^{\rm MC}$ to the MSR mass $m_t^{\rm MSR}(R)$ and the pole mass $m_t^{\rm pole}$. The current most precise direct top mass measurements specifically determine $m_t^{\rm MC}$. The updated framework includes the addition of the shape variables sum of jet masses $\tau_s$ and modified jet mass $\tau_m$, and the treatment of two more gap subtraction schemes to remove the ${\cal O}(\Lambda_{\rm QCD})$ renormalon related to large-angle soft radiation. These generalizations entail implementing a more versatile shape-function fit procedure and accounting for a certain type of $(m_t/Q)^2$ power corrections to achieve gap-scheme and observable independent results. The theoretical description employs boosted heavy-quark effective theory (bHQET) at next-to-next-to-logarithmic order (N$^2$LL), matched to soft-collinear effective theory (SCET) at N$^2$LL and full QCD at next-to-leading order (NLO), and includes the dominant top width effects. Furthermore, the software framework has been modernized to use standard file and event record formats. We update the top mass calibration results by applying the new framework to PYTHIA 8.205, HERWIG 7.2 and SHERPA 2.2.11. Even though the hadron-level resonance positions produced by the three generators differ significantly for the same top mass parameter $m_t^{\rm MC}$ value, the calibration shows that these differences arise from the hadronization modeling. Indeed, we find that $m_t^{\rm MC}$ agrees with $m_t^{\rm MSR}(1\,\mbox{GeV})$ within $200$ MeV for the three generators and differs from the pole mass by $350$ to $600$ MeV.

Abstract: The current status of `fat-brane' minimal Universal Extra Dimensions (fat-mUED) is studied in the light of ATLAS experiment's recent reports. At the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) color charged first level Kaluza-Klein (KK) particles (first level excited quarks and gluons) can be abundantly pair-produced due to conserved quantity, viz., KK-parity, and strong interaction. The cascade decay of these particles to one or more Standard Model (SM) particle(s) and lighter first level KK particle(s) stops after producing the lightest excited massive state, named as the lightest KK particle (LKP). With the presence of gravity induced decays, stability of the LKP is lost and it may decay to photon or Z-boson by radiating KK-excited gravitons, hence leading to final state with photon(s) at the LHC. A variant signal topology is established when pair-produced first level colored KK particles undergo direct decay to an associated SM partner along with KK-excitations of graviton; thus leading to a signal with two hard jets and substantial missing energy. The ATLAS experiment lately reported two searches at 13 TeV LHC with 139 inverse-femtobarn of data; (i) multi-jet and (ii) photon and jets with missing energy. In both searches, the results showed no substantial deviation from the number of background events of the SM. Provided the absence of any number of excess events in both searches we constrained the parameters of the fat-mUED model, viz., the higher-dimensional Planck mass and the compactification scale.

Abstract: Axion-like particles (ALPs) can be naturally lighter than the electroweak scale. We consider an ALP that couples to the Standard Model Higgs to achieve the strong first-order electroweak phase transition. We discuss the two-field dynamics of the phase transition and the associated computation in detail and identify the viable parameter space. The ALP mass can be from the MeV to GeV scale. Baryon asymmetry can be explained by local baryogenesis without violating the electron electric dipole moment bound. The viable parameter space can be probed through Higgs exotic decay, rare kaon decay, the electron electric dipole moment, and the effective number of neutrinos in the cosmic microwave background. The gravitational-wave signal is too weak to be detected.