41 pages, 6 figures. Replacement that matches the published version, except some minor details about English style, with added references and minor corrections, one figure replaced.
We study low energy constraints from flavour violating processes, production and decay at the LHC of a scalar field varphi (flavon) associated to the breaking of a non-supersymmetric Abelian family symmetry at the TeV scale. This symmetry is constrained to reproduce fermion masses and mixing, up to O(1) coefficients. The non-supersymmetric gauged U(1) models considered are severely restricted by cancellation of anomalies and LEP bounds on contact interactions, consequently its phenomenology is out of the LHC reach. We therefore introduce an effective U(1) which is not gauged and it is broken explicitly by a CP odd term at the TeV scale. This helps us to explore flavour violating processes, production and decay at the LHC for these kind of light scalars. In this context we first study the constraints on the flavon mass and its vacuum expectation value from low energy flavour changing processes such as μ-> eγ. We find that a flavon of about m_ϕ<~ 150 GeV could be experimentally allowed. These kind of flavons could be significantly generated at the LHC via the gluon fusion mechanism and the single top production channel g u -> t ϕ. The produced flavons can have characteristic decay modes such as t \bar{c} for m_ϕ>~ m_t, and τ\barμ for m_ϕ<~ m_t, which could be effectively useful to detect flavons.
The phenomenology of the little-flavon model is discussed. Flavor changing neutral current and lepto-quark compositeness set the most stringent bounds to the lowest possible value for the scale at which the flavons arise as pseudo-Goldstone bosons.
The LHC phenomenology of a low-scale gauged flavor symmetry model with inverted hierarchy is studied, through introduction of a simplified model of broken flavor symmetry. A new scalar (a flavon) and a new neutral top-philic massive gauge boson emerge with mass in the TeV range along with a new heavy fermion associated with the standard model top quark. After checking constraints from electroweak precision observables, we investigate the influence of the model on Higgs boson physics, notably on its production cross section and decay branching fractions. Limits on the flavon $φ$ from heavy Higg…
The LHC implications are presented of a simplified model of broken flavor symmetry in which a new scalar (a flavon) emerges with mass in the TeV range. We summarize the influence of the model on Higgs boson physics, notably on the production cross section and decay branching fractions. Limits are obtained on the flavon $φ$ from heavy Higgs boson searches at the LHC at 7 and 8 TeV. The branching fractions of the flavon are computed as a function of the flavon mass and the Higgs-flavon mixing angle. We explore possible discovery of the flavon at 14 TeV, particularly via the $φ\rightarrow Z^0Z^0$…
Higgs-flavon fields appear as a part of the Froggatt-Nielsen (FN) mechanism, which attempts to explain the hierarchy of Yukawa couplings. We explore the possibility that the 750 GeV diphoton resonance recently reported at the LHC13, could be identified with a low-scale Higgs-flavon field $H_F$ and find the region of the parameter space consistent with CMS and ATLAS data. It is found that the extra vector-like fermions of the ultraviolet completion of the FN mechanism are necessary in order to reproduce the observed signal. We consider a standard model (SM) extension that contains two Higgs dou…
We present a study of the flavor changing decays $ϕ\to tc$ ($ϕ=H_F,\,A_F$) of the $CP$-even and $CP$-odd scalar flavons at the large hadron collider and its next stage, the high-luminosity large hadron collider. The theoretical framework is an extension of the standard model that incorporates an extra complex singlet and invokes the Froggatt-Nielsen mechanism with an Abelian flavor symmetry. The projected exclusion and discovery regions in terms of the model parameters are reported. We find that $A_F$ could be detected at the LHC by considering a reasonable scenario of the model parameter spac…
We consider a composite Higgs model based on the $SU(6)/Sp(6)$ coset, where an $U(1)$ subgroup of $Sp(6)$ is identified as the flavor symmetry. A complex scalar field $s$, which is a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson of the broken symmetry, carries a flavor charge and plays the role of a flavon field. The $U(1)_F$ flavor symmetry is then broken by a VEV of the flavon field, which leads to a small parameter and generates the mass hierarchy between the top and bottom quarks. A light flavon below the TeV scale can be naturally introduced, which provides a fully testable model for the origin of flavor …
The search for Flavons with a mass of $\mathcal{O}$(1) TeV at current and future colliders might probe low-scale flavor models. We are interested in the simplest model that invokes the Froggatt-Nielsen (FN) mechanism with an Abelian flavor symmetry, which includes a Higgs doublet and a FN complex singlet. Assuming a CP conserving scalar potential, there are a $CP$-even $H_F$ and a $CP$-odd $A_F$ Flavons with lepton flavor violating (LFV) couplings. The former can mix with the standard-model-like Higgs boson, thereby inducing tree-level LFV Higgs interactions that may be at the reach of the LHC…
Testing the properties of the Higgs particle discovered at the LHC and searching for new physics signals, are some of the most important tasks of Particle Physics today. Current measurements of the Higgs couplings to fermions and gauge bosons, seem consistent with the Standard Model, and when taken as a function of the particle mass, should lay on a single line. However, in models with an extended Higgs sector the diagonal Higgs couplings to up-quarks, down-quarks and charged leptons, could lay on different lines, while non-diagonal flavor-violating Higgs couplings could appear too. We describ…
We establish the possibility of having a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson (pNGB) Dark Matter (DM) candidate in the inspired Froggatt-Nielsen Singlet Model (iFNSM) wherein a direct connection exists between the DM mass and new flavon symmetry-breaking scale. We find a considerable allowed region of parameter space for the ensuing pseudoscalar DM, which is dependent upon the flavon Vacuum Expectation Value (VEV) and Yukawa couplings, over which it may be possible to explain the fermion mass hierarchy. Finally, we choose a Benchmark Point (BP) and perform detailed collider analyses to probe this DM s…
In this note we discuss the vacuum alignment in supersymmetric models with spontaneously broken flavour symmetries in the presence of soft supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking terms. We show that the inclusion of soft SUSY breaking terms can give rise to non-vanishing vacuum expectation values (VEVs) for the auxiliary components of the flavon fields. These non-zero VEVs can have an important impact on the phenomenology of this class of models, since they can induce an additional flavour violating contribution to the sfermion soft mass matrix of right-left (RL) type. We carry out an explicit computati…
In this talk we describe our approach for the computation of multi-leg one-loop amplitudes and present some first results relevant for LHC phenomenology.
A precise understanding of LHC phenomenology requires the inclusion of one-loop corrections for multi-particle final states. In this talk we describe a semi-numerical method to compute one-loop amplitudes with many external particles and present first applications.
The analyses of the first 1-2/fb of Large Hadron Collider (LHC) data are already having significant impacts on a wide range of models. In this talk I give my perspective on why we expect to find new physics at the LHC, and how such a discovery might unfold.
We investigate the potential of the LHC for discovering the heavy vector and fermion resonances present in the Three-Site Higgsless Model. To this end, the model was implemented into the WHIZARD parton-level Monte Carlo eventgenerator. The results of parton-level simulations for different potential discovery channels are presented together with a discussion of the parameter space thus accessible at the LHC.
We discuss various phenomenological aspects of supersymmetric models beyond the MSSM. A particular focus is on models which can correctly explain neutrino data and the possiblities of LHC to identify the underlying scenario.
We comment on the calculation of the finite part of the heavy quark impact factor at next-to-leading logarithmic (NLx) accuracy. The result is presented in a form suitable for phenomenological studies such as the calculation of the cross-section for single heavy quark production at the LHC within the kT-factorization scheme.
We perform a BFKL-NLL analysis of forward jet production at HERA which leads to a good description of data over the full kinematical domain. We also predict the azimuthal angle dependence of Mueller-Navelet jet production at the Tevatron and the LHC using the BFKL NLL formalism.
We discuss the collider phenomenology of the model of Minimal Universal Extra Dimensions (MUED) at the Large hadron Collider (LHC). We derive analytical results for all relevant strong pair-production processes of two level 1 Kaluza-Klein partners and use them to validate and correct the existing MUED implementation in the fortran version of the PYTHIA event generator. We also develop a new implementation of the model in the C++ version of PYTHIA. We use our implementations in conjunction with the CHECKMATE package to derive the LHC bounds on MUED from a large number of published experimental …
Welcome to the 2008 TASI lectures on the exciting topic of `tools and technicalities' (original title). Technically, LHC physics is really all about perturbative QCD in signals or backgrounds. Whenever we look for interesting signatures at the LHC we get killed by QCD. Therefore, I will focus on QCD issues which arise for example in Higgs searches or exotics searches at the LHC, and ways to tackle them nowadays. In the last section you will find a few phenomenological discussions, for example on missing energy or helicity amplitudes.
In this talk I report on recent developments and results relevant for LHC phenomenology at next-to-leading order QCD. Feynman diagrammatic and unitarity based methods have both seen considerable improvements and new ideas recently. Current approaches point towards automated evaluation of one-loop multi-particle amplitudes. Many results for notoriously difficult processes are under construction by several groups and, given the enormous recent progress, it can be concluded that LHC phenomenology at full next-to-leading order level will become the standard approximation soon.
I present a brief review of the recent phenomenological analyses of RHIC data based on the the Color Glass Condensate, including the use of non-linear evolution equations with running coupling. In particular, I focus in the study of the total multiplicities in Au+Au collisions, and in the single inclusive and double inclusive forward spectra in d+Au collisions. Predictions for the LHC are also discussed.
We discuss possible signatures of the $CP$-odd scalar of two-doublet models at the LHC. We find that the inclusive two-photon decay mode and the decay sequence $A^0 \rightarrow Zh, h \rightarrow γγ$, where $h$ is a $CP$-even neutral scalar, can give viable signals in fairly large and complementary regions of parameter space.
I briefly review the physics of the Higgs sector in the Standard Model (SM) and its supersymmetric extension, in particular the MSSM, and discuss the prospects for discovering the Higgs particles at the Large Hadron Collider. Some emphasis will be put on the theoretical developments which occurred in the last few years.
A well-motivated framework to naturally introduce neutrino masses is the B-L model, a U(1) extension of the standard model related to the baryon minus lepton gauged number. Besides three right-handed neutrinos, that are included to cancel the anomalies (thereby naturally providing neutrino masses), this model also encompasses a complex scalar for the spontaneous symmetry breaking of the extended gauge sector and to give mass to the Z' boson. We present the phenomenology, the discovery potential at the LHC, and the most up-to-date experimental and theoretical limits of the new particles in this…
An elementary review of models and phenomenology for physics beyond the Standard Model (excluding supersymmetry). The emphasis is on LHC physics. Based upon a talk given at the Physics at LHC conference, Vienna, 13-17 July 2004.
The aim of this work is to explore the possibility to discover a fermionic field with mass dimension one, the Elko field, in the 14 TeV Large Hadron Collider (LHC), in processes with missing energy and one jet. We explore the possibility of a triple coupling with the Higgs field, generating also a contribution to the Elko mass term, and suggest some possibilities for future studies in this field.
After a brief discussion of the mass of the Higgs in supersymmetry, I introduce \lambdaSUSY, a model with an extra chiral singlet superfield in addition to the MSSM field content. The key features of the model are: the superpotential W=λS H_d H_u with a large coupling λand the resulting lightest Higgs with mass above 200GeV. The main part of my contribution will be about how \lambdaSUSY manifests itself at the LHC. Discoveries of gluino, squarks and in particular of the three lightest neutral Higgs bosons are discussed.
We describe the program KKMC-hh, which calculates Z boson processes in hadronic collisions using coherent exclusive exponentiation (CEEX) with exact second-order photonic corrections at next-to-leading log and first-order weak vertex corrections, including initial and final state photonic radiation and initial-final interference. We describe current applications to precision forward-backward asymmetry calculations for the measurement of the electroweak mixing angle at the LHC.
The phenomenology of the neutral scalar bosons in the compact 341 model is discussed. We show that the predictions of this model are fairly good and compatible with the experimental data by calculating the signal strength of $h_1$ for the channels $b\bar{b}$, W$W^{*}$, Z$Z^{*}$, $τ\barτ$ and $γγ$. Moreover, we use the branching ratios to search for the heavy neutral scalar bosons $h_2$ and $h_3$ where we take into account the theoretical constraints to precise the allowed ranges for the fundamental parameters of the scalar potential.
Composite Higgs models with a fermionic UV completion can contain additional colored states beside the usual top-partners. We focus here on a model which contains in addition SU(3) color octet top partners as well as color singlet ones. The latter can in principle serve as a dark matter candidate. We consider a particular composite Higgs model which contains SU(3) color octet top partners besides the usually considered triplet representations. Moreover, color singlet top partners are present as well which can in principle serve as dark matter candidates. We investigate the LHC phenomenology of…
The phenomenology of the low scale U(1)_{B-L} extension of the standard model and its implications at LHC is presented. In this model, an extra gauge boson corresponding to B-L gauge symmetry and an extra SM singlet scalar (heavy Higgs) are predicted. We show a detailed analysis of both heavy and light Higgses decay and production in addition to the possible decay channels of the new gauge boson. We find that the cross sections of the SM-like Higgs production are reduced by ~ 20%-30%, while its decay branching ratios remain intact. The extra Higgs has relatively small cross sections and the br…
Dark Matter direct detection experiments are able to exclude interesting parameter space regions of particle models which predict an important amount of thermal relics. We use recent data to constrain the branon model and to compute the region that is favored by CDMS measurements. Within this work, we also update present colliders constraints with new studies coming from the LHC. Despite the present low luminosity, it is remarkable that for heavy branons, CMS and ATLAS measurements are already more constraining than previous analyses performed with TEVATRON and LEP data.
We present an extensive analysis of gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking models with minimal and non-minimal flavour violation. We first demonstrate that low-energy, precision electroweak, and cosmological constraints exclude large "collider-friendly" regions of the minimal parameter space. We then discuss various possibilities how flavour violation, although naturally suppressed, may still occur in gauge-mediation models. The introduction of non-minimal flavour violation at the electroweak scale is shown to relax the stringent experimental constraints, so that benchmark points, that are also…
We review Lepton Flavour Violation (LFV) in the supersymmetric version of the seesaw mechanism (type I, II, III) and in Left-Right models. The LFV needed to explain neutrino masses and mixings is the only source of LFV and has experimental implications both in low-energy experiments where we search for the radiative decays of leptons, and at the LHC where we look at its imprint on the LFV decays of the sparticles and on slepton mass splittings. We discuss how this confrontation between high- and low-energy LFV observables may provide information about the underlying mechanism of LFV.
We investigate the signatures of the recently proposed Higgsless models at future colliders. We focus on tests of the mechanism of partial unitarity restoration in the longitudinal vector boson scattering, which do not depend on any Higgsless model-building details. We study the LHC discovery reach for charged massive vector boson resonances and show that all of the preferred parameter space will be probed with $100 {\rm fb}^{-1}$ of LHC data. We also discuss the prospects for experimental verification of the Higgsless nature of the model at the LHC. In addition, in this talk we present new re…
We study the LHC signatures of new gauge bosons in the minimal deconstruction Higgsless model (MHLM). We analyze the $W'$ signals of $pp\to W' \to WZ$ and $pp\to W'jj \to WZjj$ processes at the LHC, including the complete signal and background calculation in the gauge invariant model and have demonstrated the LHC potential to cover the whole parameter space of the MHLM model.
Gauge singlet extensions of the Standard Model (SM) scalar sector may help remedy its theoretical and phenomenological shortcomings while solving outstanding problems in cosmology. Depending on the symmetries of the scalar potential, such extensions may provide a viable candidate for the observed relic density of cold dark matter or a strong first order electroweak phase transition needed for electroweak baryogenesis. Using the simplest extension of the SM scalar sector with one real singlet field, we analyze the generic implications of a singlet-extended scalar sector for Higgs boson phenomen…
The processes proton + antiproton -> gamma + heavy-flavour jet(s) + X and proton + proton -> gamma + heavy-flavour jet(s) + X are studied in the framework of a special two-Higgs-doublet model, the MCPM. As distinguishing feature of this model we find that radiative Higgs-boson production and decay lead to heavy flavour c jets but no b jets in the above processes. Thus, the prediction is that b jets should be given by the normal QCD processes whereas for c jets an excess over the QCD expectation should occur. We present results both for Tevatron and LHC energies.
Composite Higgs models provide an elegant solution to the hierarchy problem present in the Standard Model (SM) and give an alternative pattern leading to the mechanism of Electro-Weak Symmetry Breaking (EWSB). We present an analysis of the Higgs boson production and decay within a recently proposed realistic realization of this general idea: the 4D Composite Higgs Model (4DCHM). Comparing our results with the latest Large Hadron Collider (LHC) data we show that the 4DCHM could provide an alternative explanation with respect to the SM of the LHC results pointing to the discovery of a Higgs-like…
We study the supersymmetric version of the type-II seesaw mechanism assuming minimal supergravity boundary conditions. We calculate branching ratios for lepton flavour violating (LFV) scalar tau decays, potentially observable at the LHC, as well as LFV decays at low energy, such as $l_i \to l_j + γ$ and compare their sensitivity to the unknown seesaw parameters. In the minimal case of only one triplet coupling to the standard model lepton doublets, ratios of LFV branching ratios can be related unambigously to neutrino oscillation parameters. We also discuss how measurements of soft SUSY breaki…
Selected aspects of the theory and phenomenology of production of forward jets at the LHC and RHIC are overviewed. In the theory part we discuss basics of frameworks originating from the BFKL dynamics while in the phenomenology part we present results for forward-central jet correlations at the LHC and forward di-jet production at RHIC.
We consider extensions of the standard model based on open strings ending on D-branes, with gauge bosons due to strings attached to stacks of D-branes and chiral matter due to strings stretching between intersecting D-branes. Assuming that the fundamental string mass scale is in the TeV range and the theory is weakly coupled, we review possible signals of string physics at the Large Hadron Collider.
Type-X two Higgs doublet model is known to explain the muon $g-2$ anomaly with a relatively light charged Higgs boson at large $\tanβ$. The light charged Higgs boson has been searched in the main $τν$ mode at the colliders. Invoking a scenario of inverse seesaw as the origin of neutrino masses and mixing, the charged Higgs boson can decay additionally to right-handed neutrinos which leads to interesting phenomenology. Considering generic lepton flavour violating signatures at the final states, a $5σ$ discovery can be achieved with the early data of LHC, at 14 TeV, for relatively large inverse …
We study the $Z^\prime$ phenomenology for two extensions of the Electroweak Standard Model (SM) which have an extra $U(1)_{B-L}$ gauge factor. We show the capabilities of the LHC in distinguishing the signals coming from these two extensions and both of them from the Standard Model background. In order to compare the behavior of these $B-L$ models we consider the reaction $p + p\longrightarrow μ^+ + μ^- + X$ and compute some observables as the total cross sections, number of events, forward-backward asymmetry, final particle distributions like rapidity, transverse momentum, and dimuon invarian…
ATLAS and CMS have discovered a Standard Model Higgs-like particle. One of the main discovery channels is the Higgs decay to two photons, which, at the moment, seems to be considerably enhanced over the Standard Model expectation. Models with additional charged matter coupling to the Higgs sector can enhance or decrease the Higgs to two photons branching ratio. We take this as motivation to confront the so-called Georgi-Machacek model of Higgs triplets with the results of recent searches for a SM Higgs boson performed at the LHC. We also investigate the model in regions of the allowed paramete…
In this thesis we examine three different models in the MSSM context, all of which have significant supergravity anomaly contributions to their soft masses. These models are the so-called Minimal, Hypercharged, and Gaugino Anomaly Mediated Supersymmetry Breaking models. We explore some of the string theoretical motivations for these models and proceed by understanding how they would appear at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Our major results include calculating the LHC reach for each model's parameter space and prescribing a method for distinguishing the models after the collection of 100 fb^…
We study neutrino masses in the framework of the supersymmetric inverse seesaw model. Different from the non-supersymmetric version a minimal realization with just one pair of singlets is sufficient to explain all neutrino data. We compute the neutrino mass matrix up to 1-loop order and show how neutrino data can be described in terms of the model parameters. We then calculate rates for lepton flavour violating (LFV) processes, such as $μ\to e γ$, and chargino decays to singlet scalar neutrinos. The latter decays are potentially observable at the LHC and show a characteristic decay pattern dic…
It is well known that for the pure standard model triplet fermionic WIMP-type dark matter (DM), the relic density is satisfied around 2 TeV. For such a heavy mass particle, the production cross-section at 13 TeV run of LHC will be very small. Extending the model further with a singlet fermion and a triplet scalar, DM relic density can be satisfied for even much lower masses. The lower mass DM can be copiously produced at LHC and hence the model can be tested at collider. For the present model we have studied the multi jet ($\geq 2\,j$) + missing energy ($\cancel{E}_{T}$) signal and show that t…
A study of differential cross sections and azimuthal observables for semi-hard processes at LHC energies, including BFKL resummation effects, is presented. Particular attention has been paid to the behaviour of the azimuthal correlation momenta, when a couple of forward/backward jets or identified hadrons is produced in the final state with a large rapidity separation. Three- and four- jet production has been also considered, the main focus lying on the definition of new, generalized azimuthal observables, whose dependence on the transverse momenta and the rapidities of the central jet(s) can …
We study supersymmetric models with a GUT-sized extra dimension, where both the Higgs fields and the SUSY breaking hidden sector are localized on a 4D brane. Exponential wave function profiles of the matter fields give rise to hierarchical structures in the Yukawa couplings and soft terms. Such structures can naturally explain hierarchical fermion masses and mixings, while at the same time alleviating the supersymmetric flavour problem. We discuss two sources of supersymmetry breaking, radion mediation and brane fields, and perform a detailed numerical analysis, thoroughly taking into account …
