High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)

Abstract: In an axiverse with numerous axions, the cosmological moduli problem poses a significant challenge because the abundance of axions can easily exceed that of dark matter. The well-established stochastic axion scenario offers a simple solution, relying on relatively low-scale inflation. However, axions are typically subject to mixing due to mass and kinetic terms, which can influence the solution using stochastic dynamics. Focusing on the fact that the QCD axion has a temperature-dependent mass, unlike other axions, we investigate the dynamics of the QCD axion and another axion with mixing. We find that the QCD axion abundance is significantly enhanced and becomes larger than that of the other axion for a certain range of parameters. This enhancement widens the parameter regions accounting for dark matter. In addition, we also find a parameter region in which both axions have enhanced abundances of the same order, which result in multi-component dark matter.

Abstract: We explore the topological susceptibility at finite quark chemical potential and zero temperature in two-color QCD (QC$_2$D) with two flavors. Through the Ward-Takahashi identities of QC$_2$D, we find that the topological susceptibility in the vacuum solely depends on three observables: the pion decay constant, the pion mass, and the $\eta$ mass in the low-energy regime of QC$_2$D. Based on the identities, we numerically evaluate the topological susceptibility at finite quark chemical potential using the linear sigma model with the approximate Pauli-Gursey $SU(4)$ symmetry. Our findings indicate that, in the absence of $U(1)_A$ anomaly effects represented by the Kobayashi-Maskawa-'t Hooft-type determinant interaction, the topological susceptibility vanishes in both the hadronic and baryon superfluid phases. On the other hand, when the $U(1)_A$ anomaly effects are present, the constant and nonzero topological susceptibility is induced in the hadronic phase, reflecting the mass difference between the pion and $\eta$ meson. Meanwhile, in the superfluid phase it begins to decrease smoothly. The asymptotic behavior of the decrement is fitted by the continuous reduction of the chiral condensate in dense QC$_2$D, which is similar to the behavior observed in hot three-color QCD matter. In addition, effects from the finite diquark source on the topological susceptibility are discussed. We expect that the present study provides a clue to shed light on the role of the $U(1)_A$ anomaly in cold and dense QCD matter.

Abstract: We study constraints on the hidden sector model mediated by an additional SU(2) Higgs doublet from the phenomenology of Higgs bosons. The hidden sector is assumed to contain a hidden U(1) gauge symmetry and the hidden U(1) gauge boson gets the mass by the electroweak symmetry breaking to be a dark Z boson. The Higgs sector of the model is similar to that of the two Higgs doublet model of type I except for the absence of the CP-odd scalar boson. Using the programs of HiggsBounds and HiggsSignals, we incorporate current experimental limits from LEP, Tevatron and LHC to examine the Higgs sector in our model and derive constraints on model parameters. We also discuss the implications of the model on the dark matter phenomenology.

Abstract: $\Sigma$ is a new correlation measure, quite recently introduced to heavy-ion physics. This measure, defined in the independent source model as a strongly intensive quantity, is expected to be free of the effects of system volume and volume fluctuations. This paper discusses the forward-backward correlation quantified with the $\Sigma$ observable calculated in the framework of the wounded nucleon model (WNM) and wounded quark model (WQM). Findings show that the wounded constituent approach outperforms the commonly used heavy-ion Monte Carlo generators, such as HIJING, AMPT or EPOS, by accurately describing the experimental data on FB correlations with $\Sigma$ measured by ALICE in Xe--Xe reactions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$=5.44 TeV and in Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$= 2.76 and 5.02 TeV. This paper demonstrates that $\Sigma$ can be a unique tool for determining the fragmentation function of a wounded constituent in a symmetric nucleus-nucleus collision. However, in the wounded constituent framework, it is no longer a strongly intensive quantity.

Abstract: We derive covariant equations describing the three-quark bound state in terms of quark and diquark degrees of freedom. The equations are exact in the approximation where three-body forces are neglected. A feature of these equations is that they unify two often-used but seemingly unrelated approaches that model baryons as quark-diquark systems; namely, (i) the approach using Poincar\'{e} covariant quark+diquark Faddeev equations driven by a one-quark-exchange kernel [pioneered by Cahill {\it et al.}, Austral.\ J.\ Phys.\ {\bf 42}, 129 (1989) and Reinhardt, Phys.\ Lett.\ B {\bf 244}, 316 (1990)], and (ii) the approach using the quasipotential quark-diquark bound-state equation where the kernel consists of the lowest-order contribution from an underlying quark-quark potential [pioneered by Ebert {\it et al.}, Z.\ Phys.\ C {\bf 76} 111 (1997)]. In particular, we show that each of these approaches corresponds to the unified equations with its kernel taken in different, non-overlapping, approximations.

Abstract: The measurement of lepton universality parameters $R_{K^{(*)}}$ was updated by LHCb in December 2022, which indicated that the well-known anomalies in flavor-changing neutral current (FCNC) processes of B meson decays have faded away. However, does this mean that all new physics possibilities related to $b\to s\ell^+\ell^-$ have been excluded? We aim to answer this question in this work. The state-of-the-art effective Hamiltonian is adopted to describe $b \to s$ transition, while BSM (beyond the Standard Model) new physics effects are encoded in Wilson coefficients (WCs). Using around 200 observables in leptonic and semileptonic decays of B mesons and bottom baryons, measured by LHCb, CMS, ATLAS, Belle, and BaBar, we perform global fits of these Wilson coefficients in four different scenarios. In particular, lepton flavors in WCs are specified in some of the working scenarios. To see the change of new physics parameters, we use both the data before and after the 2022 release of $R_{K^{(*)}}$ in two separate sets of fits. We find that in all four scenarios, $\Delta C_9^\mu$ still has a deviation more than $4\sigma$ from the Standard Model. At the $1\sigma$ level, the lepton flavor in WCs is distinguishable for $\Delta C_{9, S, P}$ but indistinguishable for $\Delta C_{10}$. We demonstrate numerically that there is no chirality for muon type of scalar operator and it is kept at the $1\sigma$ level for their electron type dual ones, while chiral difference exists for $\mathcal{O}_{9,10}^\mu$ at least at the $2\sigma$ level.

Abstract: The spins of the pentaquark states $P_c(4440)$ and $P_c(4457)$ play a decisive role in unraveling their nature, but remain undetermined experimentally. Assuming that they are $\Sigma_c\bar{D}^{*}$ bound states, we demonstrate how one can determine their spins by measuring the $\Sigma_c^+\bar{D}^{(*)0}$ correlation functions. We show that one can use the $\Sigma_c^+\bar{D}^0$ correlation function to fix the size of the Gaussian source and then determine the strength of the $\Sigma_c^+\bar{D}^{*0}$ interaction of spin $1/2$ and $3/2$ and therefore the spins of the $P_c(4440)$ and $P_c(4457)$ states. The method proposed can be applied to decipher the nature of other hadronic molecules and thus deepen our understanding of the non-perturbative strong interaction.

Abstract: A partial width formula is proposed using the analytical extension of the wave function in momentum space. The distinction of the Riemann sheets is explained from the perspective of the Schrodinger equation. The analytical form in coordinate space and the partial width are derived subsequently. Then a coupled-channel analysis is performed to investigate the open-charm branching ratios of the $P_c$ states, involving the contact interactions and one-pion-exchange potential with the three-body effects. The low energy constants are fitted using the experimental masses and widths as input. The $P_c(4312)$ is found to decay mainly to $\Lambda_c\bar{D}^*$, while the branching ratios of the $P_c(4440)$ and $P_c(4457)$ in different channels are comparable. Under the reasonable assumption that the off-diagonal contact interactions are small, the $J^P$ quantum numbers of the $P_c(4440)$ and the $P_c(4457)$ prefer $\frac{1}{2}^-$ and $\frac{3}{2}^-$ respectively. Three additional $P_c$ states at 4380 MeV, 4504 MeV and 4516 MeV, together with their branching ratios, are predicted. A deduction of the revised one-pion-exchange potential involving the on-shell three-body intermediate states is performed.

Abstract: The structure of the proton remains a significant challenge within the field of Quantum Chromodynamics, with the origin of its spin and mass still lacking a satisfactory explanation. In this study, we utilize the gravitational form factor of the proton as the foundation for constructing the configurational entropy of the proton energy system. Employing this approach, we are able to determine key mechanical quantities such as the proton's mass radius and pressure distribution. Our analysis yields the root-mean-square mass radius of $\sqrt{\langle r_M^2\rangle}=0.720$ fm and scalar radius of $\sqrt{\langle r_S^2\rangle}=1.024$ fm for proton, which are found to be in excellent agreement with recent measurements from the Hall-C collaboration group at Jefferson Lab. Additionally, we examine the radial distribution of pressure and shear force within the proton.

Abstract: Using gauge/gravity duality, we study the string breaking and melting of doubly heavy baryon at a finite chemical potential and temperature. The decay mode $\rm{Q Q q \rightarrow Q q q+Q \bar{q}}$ is investigated in this paper. With the increase of temperature and chemical potential, string breaking takes place at a smaller potential energy. It is also found that the QQq melts at small separate distance with the increase of temperature and chemical potential. Then, we compare the screening distance of QQq with $\rm{Q \bar{Q}}$ under the same conditions. Finally, we draw the melting diagram of QQq and $\rm{Q \bar{Q}}$ in the $T-\mu$ plane.

Abstract: It is shown that the solution for $B-L$ gauge symmetry with $B-L=-4,-4,+5$ assigned for three right-handed neutrinos respectively, reveals a novel scotogenic mechanism with implied matter parity for neutrino mass generation and dark matter stability. Additionally, the world with two-component dark matter is hinted.

Abstract: We study the role of perturbative unitarity in the resonant annihilation of two dark matter particles into the standard model bath. Systematically including all kinematically allowed holomorphic cuts of the corresponding forward-scattering diagram, cancellation of the singularities occurs, resulting in a fixed-order correction to the narrow-width approximation for the annihilation cross section. Unlike the standard approach based on including the finite width of the mediator, no double-counting of intermediate states occurs.