13 pages, 4 figures. Extends my results (C-parity) described in arXiv:1507.02589: P-parity is added since the positron spectrum on Fig.3 was obtained with left helicity laser light
An equality of particle and antiparticle gravitational interactions holds in general relativity and is supported by indirect observations. Gravity dependence on rotation or spin direction is experimentally constrained for non-relativistic matter. Here a method based on high energy Compton scattering is developed to measure the gravitational interaction of accelerated charged particles. Within that formalism the Compton spectra measured at HERA rule out the speculated anti-gravity possibility for antimatter at a confidence level close to 100%. The same data, however, imply a gravitational CP violation around 13 GeV energies, by a maximal amount of 9 +/- 2 ppt for the charge and 13 +/- 3 ppt for the space parity. The detected asymmetry hints for a stronger gravitational coupling to left helicity electrons relative to right helicity positrons.
We interpret the recent hints for lepton flavor universality violation in rare $B$ meson decays. Based on a model-independent effective Hamiltonian approach, we determine regions of new physics parameter space that give a good description of the experimental data on $R_K$ and $R_{K^*}$, which is in tension with Standard Model predictions. We suggest further measurements that can help narrowing down viable new physics explanations. We stress that the measured values of $R_K$ and $R_{K^*}$ are fully compatible with new physics explanations of other anomalies in rare $B$ meson decays based on the…
One of the major open questions in the neutrino sector is the issue of leptonic CP violation. Current global oscillation data shows a mild preference for a large, potentially maximal value for the Dirac CP phase in the neutrino mixing matrix. In this letter, we point out that New Physics in the form of neutral-current like non-standard interactions with real couplings would likely yield a similar conclusion even if CP in the neutrino sector were conserved. Therefore, the claim for a discovery of leptonic CP violation will require a robust ability to test New Physics scenarios.
Recently, several $B$-physics experiments have reported an appreciable deviation from the Standard Model (SM) in the tree-level observables $R_{D^{(*)}}$; the combined weighted average now stands at $\approx 4 σ$. We first show the anomaly necessarily implies model-independent collider signals of the form $pp \to b τν$ that should be expediously searched for at ATLAS/CMS as a complementary test of the anomaly. Next we suggest a possible interconnection of the anomaly with the radiative stability of the Standard Model Higgs boson and point to a minimal effective supersymmetric scenario with $R$…
Leptoquarks are prime candidates for explaining the intriguing hints for lepton flavour universality violation. In particular, the $SU(2)_L$ doublet of scalar leptoquarks $S_2$ is capable of providing an explanation for the tensions between the measurements and the Standard Model predictions in $(g-2)_μ$, $b\to s\ell^+ \ell^-$ and $b\to cτν$ processes, as well as in non-resonant di-electron production. However, in the minimal setup with a single leptoquark generation, a common explanation for all these issues is not possible as this would lead to unacceptably large charged lepton flavour viola…
Several experiments reported hints for the violation of lepton flavor or lepton flavor universality in processes involving muons. Most prominently, there is the hint for a non-zero rate of the flavor violating Higgs decay $h \to τμ$ at the LHC, as well as the hint for lepton flavor universality violation in rare $B$ meson decays at LHCb. In addition, also the long standing discrepancy in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon motivates new physics connected to muons. A symmetry which violates lepton flavor universality, is $L_μ-L_τ$: the difference of muon-number and tau-number. We show tha…
The recent results by the Fermilab Lattice and MILC collaborations on the hadronic matrix elements entering $B_{d,s}-\bar B_{d,s}$ mixing show a significant tension of the measured values of the mass differences $ΔM_{d,s}$ with their SM predictions. We review the implications of these results in the context of Constrained Minimal Flavour Violation models. In these models, the CKM elements $γ$ and $|V_{ub}|/|V_{cb}|$ can be determined from $B_{d,s}-\bar B_{d,s}$ mixing observables, yielding a prediction for $γ$ below its tree-level value. Determining subsequently $|V_{cb}|$ from the measured va…
The first hint of the leptonic CP phase $δ_{CP}=-90^\circ$ has already came from the long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment T2K. This hint is derived from the neutrino data of T2K and currently it is running in the antineutrino mode. In this work we ask the question what should be the proportion of neutrino and antineutrino running of the T2K experiment to discover CP violation in the leptonic sector.
Neutrino oscillations are solidly established, with a hint of CP violation just emerging. Similarly, there are hints of lepton universality violation in $b \to s$ transitions at the level of $2.6 σ$. By assuming that the unitary transformation between weak and mass charged leptons equals the leptonic mixing matrix measured in neutrino oscillation experiments, we predict several lepton flavor violating (LFV) B meson decays. We are led to the tantalizing possibility that some LFV branching ratios for B decays correlate with the leptonic CP phase $δ$ characterizing neutrino oscillations. Moreover…
We perform a global analysis of neutrino data in the framework of three massive neutrinos with non-standard neutrino interactions which affect their evolution in the matter background. We focus on the effect of NSI in the present observables sensitive to leptonic CP violation and to the mass ordering. We consider complex neutral current neutrino interactions with quarks whose lepton-flavor structure is independent of the quark type. We quantify the status of the "hints" for CP violation, the mass-ordering and non-maximality of $θ_{23}$ in these scenarios. We also present a parametrization-inva…
This PhD thesis deals with the current experimental hint for large CP violation in the leptonic sector. We first quantify its global statistical significance, by combining the results from relevant neutrino oscillation experiments. As the hint is indirect, other new physics apart from three massive neutrinos could be present, masking the results as direct leptonic CP violation has not yet been conclusively observed. Thus, we move on to checking the robustness of the hint against the framework in which the experimental data is interpreted; in other words, its physical origin. To that purpose, w…
The NANOGrav collaboration for the pulsar timing array (PTA) observation recently announced evidence of an isotropic stochastic process, which may be the first detection of the stochastic gravitational-wave (GW) background. We discuss the possibility that the signal is caused by the second-order GWs associated with the formation of solar-mass primordial black holes (PBHs). This possibility can be tested by future interferometer-type GW observations targeting the stochastic GWs from merger events of solar-mass PBHs as well as by updates of PTA observations.
Experimental data have provided intriguing hints for the violation of lepton flavour universality (LFU), including $B\to D^{(*)}τν/B\to D^{(*)}\ellν$, the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon and $b\!\to\! s\ell^+\ell^-$ with a significance of $\!>3\,σ$, $>\!4\,σ$ and $>\!5\,σ$, respectively. Furthermore, in a recent re-analysis of 2018 Belle data, it was found that the forward-backward asymmetry ($ΔA_{\rm FB}$) of $B \to D^{*}μ\bar ν$ vs $B\to D^{*}e\bar ν$ disagrees with the SM prediction by $\approx\!\!4\,σ$, providing an additional sign of LFU violation. We show that a tensor operator is …
Lorentz violations in gravitational waves are investigated. Plane-wave solutions for arbitrary gauge-invariant violations in linearized gravity are constructed. Signatures of Lorentz violation include dispersion, birefringence, and anisotropies. Modifications to waves from coalescing compact binaries and to strain signals in gravitational-wave detectors are derived.
This contribution to the CPT'16 proceedings summarizes recent tests of Lorentz violation in the pure-gravity sector with cosmic rays and reviews recent progress in matter-gravity couplings.
By assuming a dynamical source of CP violation, the tension between sufficient CP violation for successful electroweak baryogenesis and strong constraints from current electric dipole moment measurements could be alleviated. We study how to explore such scenarios through gravitational wave detection, collider experiments, and their possible synergies with a well-studied example.
General Relativity predicts two modes for plane gravitational waves. When a tiny violation of Lorentz invariance occurs, the two gravitational wave modes are modified. We use perturbation theory to study the detailed form of the modifications to the two gravitational wave modes from the minimal Lorentz-violation coupling. The perturbation solution for the metric fluctuation up to the first order in Lorentz violation is discussed. Then, we investigate the motions of test particles under the influence of the plane gravitational waves with Lorentz violation. First-order deviations from the usual …
The Standard Model (SM) of particle physics was finalized in its current form in the mid-1970s, and has been extensively tested and confirmed ever since, with the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012 being the last missing piece. While no new particles have been directly discovered at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN so far, precision observables sensitive to quantum effects of new particles have accumulated intriguing hints for physics beyond the SM. All these anomalies can be interpreted from the point of view of lepton flavor universality, i.e., as hints that electrons, muons, and ta…
The NANOGrav Collaboration has recently published a strong evidence for a stochastic common-spectrum process that may be interpreted as a stochastic gravitational wave background. We show that such a signal can be explained by second-order gravitational waves produced during the formation of primordial black holes from the collapse of sizeable scalar perturbations generated during inflation. This possibility has two predictions: $i$) the primordial black holes may comprise the totality of the dark matter with the dominant contribution to their mass function falling in the range $(10^{-15}÷10^{…
We analyze the prospects for using gravitational waves produced in early universe phase transitions as a complementary probe of the flavor anomalies in B meson decays. We focus on the Left-Right SU(4) Model, for which the strength of the observed lepton universality violation and consistency with other experiments impose a vast hierarchy between the symmetry breaking scales. This leads to a multipeaked gravitational wave signature within the reach of upcoming gravitational wave detectors.
We suggest a new experiment sensitive to a possible difference between the amount of CP violation as measured on the surface of the Earth and in a lower gravity environment. Our proposed experiment is model independent and could yield a $5σ$ measurement within tens of days, indicating a dependence of the level of CP violation in the neutral kaon system on the local gravitational potential.
Hints of flavor violation at both charged and neutral current decays of mesons have been observed in experiments such as LHCb, Belle, and BaBar. The anomalies in the result can be addressed in the effective field theory (EFT) framework. The effective operators predict different beyond standard model (BSM) signatures and the four point interaction vertices can be probed at Large Hadron Collider (LHC). In this context, the discovery projection of two opposite sign leptons and a $b$-jet signature is studied in this paper at 13 TeV LHC.
Using a deformed dispersion relation for gravitational waves, Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo have been able to place constraints on violations of local Lorentz invariance as well as the mass of the graviton. We summarise the method to obtain the current bounds from the 10 significant binary black hole detections made during the first and second observing runs of the above detectors.
We argue that quantum electrodynamics combined with quantum gravity results in a new source of CP violation, anomalous non-conservation of chiral charge and quantisation of electric charge. Further phenomenological and cosmological implications of this observation are briefly discussed within the standard model of particle physics and cosmology
We study the prospects for using interferometers in gravitational-wave detectors as tools to search for photon-sector violations of Lorentz symmetry. Existing interferometers are shown to be exquisitely sensitive to tiny changes in the effective refractive index of light occurring at frequencies around and below the microhertz range, including at the harmonics of the frequencies of the Earth's sidereal rotation and annual revolution relevant for tests of Lorentz symmetry. We use preliminary data obtained by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in 2006-2007 to place co…
A stochastic gravitational wave background is expected to emerge from the superposition of numerous gravitational wave sources of both astrophysical and cosmological origin. A number of cosmological models can have a parity violation, resulting in the generation of circularly polarised gravitational waves. We present a method to search for parity violation in the gravitational wave data. We first apply this method to the most recent, third, LIGO-Virgo observing run. We then investigate the constraining power of future A+ LIGO-Virgo detectors, including KAGRA to the network, for a gravitational…
Is gravity parity violating? Given the recent observations of gravitational waves from coalescing compact binaries, we develop a strategy to find an answer with current and future detectors. We identify the key signatures of parity violation in gravitational waves: amplitude birefringence in their propagation and a modified chirping rate in their generation. We then determine the optimal binaries to test the existence of parity violation in gravity, and prioritize the research in modeling that will be required to carry out such tests before detectors reach their design sensitivity.
We use an up to date compilation of Tully-Fisher data to search for transitions in the evolution of the Tully-Fisher relation. Using an up to date data compilation, we find hints at $\approx 3σ$ level for a transition at critical distances $D_c \simeq 9 Mpc$ and $D_c \simeq 17 Mpc$. We split the full sample in two subsamples according to the measured galaxy distance with respect to a splitting distance $D_c$ and identify the likelihood of the best fit slope and intercept of one sample with respect to the best fit corresponding values of the other sample. For $D_c \simeq 9 Mpc$ and $D_c \simeq …
The recent observation of gravitational waves by the LIGO/Virgo collaboration provides a unique opportunity to probe the extreme gravity of coalescing binary black holes. In this regime, the gravitational interaction is not only strong, but the spacetime curvature is large, characteristic velocities are a non-negligible fraction of the speed of light, and the time scale on which the curvature and gravity change is small. This contribution discusses some consequences of these observations on modifications to General Relativity, with a special emphasis on Lorentz-violating theories.
We study effects of Lorentz-invariance violation on the rotation of neutron stars (NSs) in the minimal gravitational Standard-Model Extension framework, and calculate the quadrupole radiation generated by them. Aiming at testing Lorentz invariance with observations of continuous gravitational waves (GWs) from rotating NSs in the future, we compare the GW spectra of a rotating ellipsoidal NS under Lorentz-violating gravity with those of a Lorentz-invariant one. The former are found to possess frequency components higher than the second harmonic, which does not happen for the latter, indicating …
Limits on gravitational Cherenkov radiation by cosmic rays are obtained and used to constrain coefficients for Lorentz violation in the gravity sector associated with operators of even mass dimensions, including orientation-dependent effects. We use existing data from cosmic-ray telescopes to obtain conservative two-sided constraints on 80 distinct Lorentz-violating operators of dimensions four, six, and eight, along with conservative one-sided constraints on three others. Existing limits on the nine minimal operators at dimension four are improved by factors of up to a billion, while 74 of ou…
Many new linearized coefficients for Lorentz violation are discovered in our recent work on the construction of a generic Lorentz-violating effective field theory in curved spacetime. The new coefficients can be constrained by experiments in weak gravity fields. In this work, we compare experiments in different gravitational potentials and study three types of gravity-related experiments: free-fall, gravitational interferometer, and gravitational bound-state experiments. First constraints on the new coefficients for Lorentz violation are extracted from those experiments.
By analyzing the analogies between the effective system of $N$ spins described by the Ising Hamiltonian and the phenomenon of the self--gravity in mixed particle systems, we show that cooled ions held in a segmented ion trap and exposed to a magnetic field gradient can simulate the proposed mechanism of mutual interaction in mixed neutrino system. We show that with trapped ions one can reproduce the expected corrections to the flavor transitions and the $CPT$ violation induced by gravity on flavor fields, which may have played an important role in the early stages of the universe. The results …
We describe a unique gravitational wave signature for a class of models with a vast hierarchy between the symmetry breaking scales. The unusual shape of the signal is a result of the overlapping contributions to the stochastic gravitational wave background from cosmic strings produced at a high scale and a cosmological phase transition at a low scale. We apply this idea to a simple model with gauged baryon and lepton number, in which the high-scale breaking of lepton number is motivated by the seesaw mechanism for the neutrinos, whereas the low scale of baryon number breaking is required by th…
Quantum gravity introduces a new source of the combined parity (CP) violation in gauge theories. We argue that this new CP violation gets bundled with the strong CP violation through the coloured gravitational instantons. Consequently, the standard axion solution to the strong CP problem is compromised. Further, we argue that the ultimate solution to the strong CP problem must involve at least one additional axion particle.
