Search

We present a search for magnetic monopoles and high-electric-charge objects using LHC Run 2 s = 13 TeV proton-proton collisions recorded by the ATLAS detector. A total integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1 was collected by a specialized trigger. No highly ionizing particle candidate was observed. Considering the Drell-Yan and photon-fusion pair production mechanisms as benchmark models, cross-section upper limits are presented for spin-0 and spin-1/2 magnetic monopoles of magnetic charge 1gD and 2gD and for high-electric-charge objects of electric charge 20 ≤ |z| ≤ 100, for masses between 200 GeV and 4000 GeV. The search improves by approximately a factor of three the previous cross-section limits on the Drell-Yan production of magnetic monopoles and high-electric charge objects. Also, the first ATLAS limits on the photon-fusion pair production mechanism of magnetic monopoles and high-electric-charge objects are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search is performed for a heavy particle decaying into different-flavour, dilepton final states, using 139 fb−1 of proton-proton collision data at s = 13 TeV collected in 2015–2018 by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Final states with electrons, muons and hadronically decaying tau leptons are considered (eμ, eτ or μτ). No significant excess over the Standard Model predictions is observed. Upper limits on the production cross-section are set as a function of the mass of a Z′ boson, a supersymmetric τ-sneutrino, and a quantum black-hole. The observed 95% CL lower mass limits obtained on a typical benchmark model Z′ boson are 5.0 TeV (eμ), 4.0 TeV (eτ), and 3.9 TeV (μτ), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for new physics in final states consisting of at least one photon, multiple jets, and large missing transverse momentum is presented, using proton-proton collision events at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb−1, recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC from 2016 to 2018. The events are divided into mutually exclusive bins characterized by the missing transverse momentum, the number of jets, the number of b-tagged jets, and jets consistent with the presence of hadronically decaying W, Z, or Higgs bosons. The observed data are found to be consistent with the prediction from standard model processes. The results are interpreted in the context of simplified models of pair production of supersymmetric particles via strong and electroweak interactions. Depending on the details of the signal models, gluinos and squarks of masses up to 2.35 and 1.43 TeV, respectively, and electroweakinos of masses up to 1.23 TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for leptoquarks decaying into the bτ final state is performed using Run 2 proton-proton collision data from the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb−1 at s = 13 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector. The benchmark models considered in this search are vector leptoquarks with electric charge of 2/3e and scalar leptoquarks with an electric charge of 4/3e. No significant excess above the Standard Model prediction is observed, and 95% confidence level upper limits are set on the cross-section times branching fraction of leptoquarks decaying into bτ. For the vector leptoquark production two models are considered: the Yang-Mills and Minimal coupling models. In the Yang-Mills (Minimal coupling) scenario, vector leptoquarks with a mass below 1.58 (1.35) TeV are excluded for a gauge coupling of 1.0 and below 2.05 (1.99) TeV for a gauge coupling of 2.5. In the case of scalar leptoquarks, masses below 1.28 (1.53) TeV are excluded for a Yukawa coupling of 1.0 (2.5). Finally, an interpretation of the results with minimal model dependence is performed for each of the signal region categories, and limits on the visible cross-section for beyond the Standard Model processes are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct LHC bounds on colored SUSY particles now corner naturalness more than the measured value of the Higgs mass does. Bounds on the gluino are of particular importance, since it radiatively 'sucks' up the stop and Higgs-up soft masses. As a result, even models that easily accommodate a 125 GeV Higgs are almost as tuned as the simplest version of SUSY, the MSSM: at best at the percent level. In this paper, we further examine how current LHC results constrain naturalness in three classes of models that may relax LHC bounds on sparticles: split families, baryonic RPV, and Dirac gauginos. In models of split families and bRPV, the bounds on the gluino are only slightly reduced, resulting in a few percent tuning. In particular, having a natural spectrum in bRPV models typically implies that tops, W s, and Zs are easily produced in the cascade decays of squarks and gluinos. The resulting leptons and missing energy push the gluino mass limit above 1 TeV. Even when the gluino has a Dirac mass and does not contribute to the stop mass at one loop, tuning reappears in calculable models because there is no symmetry imposing the supersoft limit. We conclude that, even if sparticles are found at LHC-14, naturalness will not emerge triumphant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explaining baryon asymmetry, dark matter and inflation are important elements of a successful theory that extends beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. In this paper we explore these issues within Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) by studying the conditions for a strongly first order electroweak phase transition, the abundance of the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP), and inflation driven by a gauge invariant flat direction of MSSM - made up of right handed squarks. We present the regions of parameter space which can yield successful predictions for cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation through inflation, the observed relic density for dark matter, and successful baryogenesis. Constrains by collider measurements (such as the recent Higgs mass bound), branching ratios of rare, flavour violating decays, and the invisible Z decay width are also imposed. We explore where dark matter interactions with xenon nuclei would fall within current bounds of XENON100 and the projected limits for the XENON1T and LUX experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that generic two-Higgs-doublet models (2HDMs) suffer from potentially large Higgs-mediated flavor-changing neutral current (FCNC) problem, unless additional symmetries are imposed on the Higgs fields thereby respecting the Natural Flavor Conservation Criterion (NFC) by Glashow and Weinberg. A common way to respect the NFC is to impose Z2 symmetry which is softly broken by a dim-2 operator. Another new way is to introduce local U(1)H Higgs flavor symmetry that distinguishes one Higgs doublet from the other. In this paper, we consider the Higgs phenomenology in Type-I 2HDMs with the U(1)H symmetry with the simplest U(1)H assignments that the SM fermions are all neutral under U(1)H, and we make detailed comparison with the ordinary Type-I 2HDM. After imposing various constraints such as vacuum stability and perturbativity as well as the electroweak precision observables and collider search bounds on charged Higgs boson, we find that the allowed Higgs signal strengths in our model are much broader than those in the ordinary Type-I 2HDM, because of newly introduced U(1)H-charged singlet scalar and U(1)H gauge boson. Still the ATLAS data on gg → h → γγ cannot be accommodated. Our model could be distinguished from the ordinary 2HDM with the Z2 symmetry in a certain parameter region and some channels. If the couplings of the new boson turn out to be close to those in the SM, it would be essential to search for extra U(1)H gauge boson and/or one more neutral scalar boson to distinguish two models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the second of a series of papers that explores the physical parameterization, sum rules and unitarity bounds arising from a non-minimal scalar sector of the Standard Model (SM) that consists of N Higgs doublets. In this paper, we focus on the structure and implication of the Yukawa interactions that couple the N scalar doublets to the SM fermions. We employ the charged Higgs basis, which is defined as the basis of scalar fields such that the neutral scalar field vacuum expectation value resides entirely in one of the N scalar doublet fields, and the charged components of the remaining N − 1 scalar doublet fields are the physical (mass-eigenstate) charged Higgs fields. Based on the structure of the Yukawa Lagrangian of the model (and as a consequence of tree-level unitarity), one may deduce numerous sum rules, several of which have not appeared previously in the literature. These sum rules can be used to uncover intimate relations between the structure of the Higgs-fermion couplings and the scalar/gauge couplings. In particular, we show that the approximate alignment limit, in which the W+W− and ZZ couplings to the observed Higgs boson are approximately SM-like, imposes significant constraints on the Higgs-fermion couplings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supersymmetric collider phenomenology depends crucially on whether the lightest observable-sector supersymmetric particle (LOSP) decays, and if so, what the LOSP decay products are. For instance, in SUSY models where the gravitino is lighter than the LOSP, the LOSP decays to its superpartner and a longitudinal gravitino via supercurrent couplings. In this paper, we show that LOSP decays can be substantially modified when there are multiple sectors that break supersymmetry, where in addition to the gravitino there are light uneaten goldstini. As a particularly striking example, a bino-like LOSP can have a near 100% branching fraction to a higgs boson and an uneaten goldstino, even if the LOSP has negligible higgsino fraction. This occurs because the uneaten goldstino is unconstrained by the supercurrent, allowing additional operators to mediate LOSP decay. These operators can be enhanced in the presence of a U(1)R symmetry, leading to copious boosted higgs production in SUSY cascade decays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resonance searches generally focus on narrow states that would produce a sharp peak rising over background. Early LHC running will, however, be sensitive primarily to broad resonances. In this paper we demonstrate that statistical methods should suffice to find broad resonances and distinguish them from both background and contact interactions over a large range of previously unexplored parameter space. We furthermore introduce an angular measure we call ellipticity, which measures how forward (or backward) the muon is in η, and allows for discrimination between models with different parity violation early in the LHC running. We contrast this with existing angular observables and demonstrate that ellipticity is superior for discrimination based on parity violation, while others are better at spin determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

R-hadrons are only one of many possible stable colored states that the LHC might produce. All such particles would provide a spectacular, if somewhat unusual, signal at ATLAS and CMS. Produced in large numbers and leaving a characteristic signature throughout all layers of the detector, including the muon chamber, they could be straightforward to discover even with low luminosity. Though such long lived colored particles (LLCPs) can be realized in many extensions of the Standard Model, most analyses of their phenomenology have focused only on R-hadrons. In order to distinguish among the possibilities, fundamental quantum numbers of the new states must be measured. In this paper, we demonstrate how to identify the SU(3) charge and spin of such new particles at the LHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little Higgs models are often endowed with a T-parity in order to satisfy electroweak precision tests and give at the same time a stable particle which is a candidate for cold dark matter. This type of models predicts a set of new T-odd fermions in addition to the heavy gauge bosons of the Little Higgs models, which may show interesting signatures at colliders. In this paper, we study the signatures of strong and electroweak pair production of the first two generations of T-odd quarks at the LHC. We focus on the dileptonic signatures (a) pp → ℓ ℓ jj[InlineMediaObject not available: see fulltext.] (opposite-sign dileptons) and (b) pp → ℓ ℓ jj[InlineMediaObject not available: see fulltext.] (same-sign dileptons). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the representations that new scalar degrees of freedom (beyond those in the minimal standard model) can have if they couple to quarks in a way that is consistent with minimal flavor violation. If the new scalars are singlets under the flavor group then they must be color singlets or color octets. In this paper we discuss the allowed representations and renormalizable couplings when the new scalars also transform under the flavor group. We find that color $$ \bar 3 $$ and 6 representations are also allowed. We focus on the cases where the new scalars can have renormalizable Yukawa couplings to the quarks without factors of the quark Yukawa matrices. The renormalizable couplings in the models we introduce automatically conserve baryon number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following steps analogous to classical Kaluza-Klein theory, we solve for the quantum Riemannian geometry on C∞(M) ⊗ M2(ℂ) in terms of classical Riemannian geometry on a smooth manifold M , a finite quantum geometry on the algebra M2(ℂ) of 2 × 2 matrices, and a quantum metric cross term. Fixing a standard form of quantum metric on M2(ℂ), we show that this cross term data amounts in the simplest case to a 1-form Aμ on M, which we regard as like a gauge-fixed background field. We show in this case that a real scalar field on the product algebra with its noncommutative Laplacian decomposes on M into two real neutral fields and one complex charged field minimally coupled to Aμ. We show further that the quantum Ricci scalar on the product decomposes into a classical Ricci scalar on M, the Ricci scalar on M2(ℂ), the Maxwell action ||F||2 of A and a higher order ||A.F||2 term. Another solution of the QRG on the product has A = 0 and a dynamical real scalar field ϕ on M which imparts mass-splitting to some of the components of a scalar field on the product as in previous work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for the electroweak production of a vector-like quark T′, decaying to a top quark and a Higgs boson is presented. The search is based on a sample of proton-proton collision events recorded at the LHC at s = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. This is the first T′ search that exploits the Higgs boson decay to a pair of photons. For narrow isospin singlet T′ states with masses up to 1.1 TeV, the excellent diphoton invariant mass resolution of 1–2% results in an increased sensitivity compared to previous searches based on the same production mechanism. The electroweak production of a T′ quark with mass up to 960 GeV is excluded at 95% confidence level, assuming a coupling strength κT = 0.25 and a relative decay width Γ/MT′< 5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for physics beyond the standard model (SM) in the final state with a hadronically decaying tau lepton and a neutrino is presented. This analysis is based on data recorded by the CMS experiment from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. The transverse mass spectrum is analyzed for the presence of new physics. No significant deviation from the SM prediction is observed. Limits are set on the production cross section of a W′ boson decaying into a tau lepton and a neutrino. Lower limits are set on the mass of the sequential SM-like heavy charged vector boson and the mass of a quantum black hole. Upper limits are placed on the couplings of a new boson to the SM fermions. Constraints are put on a nonuniversal gauge interaction model and an effective field theory model. For the first time, upper limits on the cross section of t-channel leptoquark (LQ) exchange are presented. These limits are translated into exclusion limits on the LQ mass and on its coupling in the t-channel. The sensitivity of this analysis extends into the parameter space of LQ models that attempt to explain the anomalies observed in B meson decays. The limits presented for the various interpretations are the most stringent to date. Additionally, a model-independent limit is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for a charged Higgs boson H± decaying into a heavy neutral Higgs boson H and a W boson is presented. The analysis targets the H decay into a pair of tau leptons with at least one of them decaying hadronically and with an additional electron or muon present in the event. The search is based on proton-proton collision data recorded by the CMS experiment during 2016–2018 at s = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. The data are consistent with standard model background expectations. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the product of the cross section and branching fraction for an H± in the mass range of 300–700 GeV, assuming an H with a mass of 200 GeV. The observed limits range from 0.085 pb for an H± mass of 300 Ge V to 0.019 pb for a mass of 700 GeV. These are the first limits on H± production in the H±→ HW± decay channel at the LHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for long-lived particles decaying in the outer regions of the CMS silicon tracker or in the calorimeters is presented. The search is based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2016–2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. A novel technique, using nearly trackless and out-of-time jet information combined in a deep neural network discriminator, is employed to identify decays of long-lived particles. The results are interpreted in a simplified model of chargino-neutralino production, where the neutralino is the next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle, is long-lived, and decays to a gravitino and either a Higgs or Z boson. This search is most sensitive to neutralino proper decay lengths of approximately 0.5 m, for which masses up to 1.18 TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level. The current search is the best result to date in the mass range from the kinematic limit imposed by the Higgs boson mass up to 1.8 TeV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for a new heavy scalar or pseudo-scalar Higgs boson (H/A) produced in association with a pair of top quarks, with the Higgs boson decaying into a pair of top quarks (H/A → t t ¯ ) is reported. The search targets a final state with exactly two leptons with same-sign electric charges or at least three leptons. The analysed dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb−1 of proton–proton collisions collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Two multivariate classifiers are used to separate the signal from the background. No significant excess of events over the Standard Model expectation is observed. The results are interpreted in the context of a type-II two-Higgs-doublet model. The observed (expected) upper limits at 95% confidence level on the t t ¯ H / A production cross-section times the branching ratio of H/A → t t ¯ range between 14 (10) fb and 6 (5) fb for a heavy Higgs boson with mass between 400 GeV and 1000 GeV, respectively. Assuming that only one particle, either the scalar H or the pseudo-scalar A, contributes to the t t ¯ t t ¯ final state, values of tan β below 1.2 or 0.5 are excluded for a mass of 400 GeV or 1000 GeV, respectively. These exclusion ranges increase to tan β below 1.6 or 0.6 when both particles are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three searches are presented for signatures of physics beyond the standard model (SM) in ττ final states in proton-proton collisions at the LHC, using a data sample collected with the CMS detector at s = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. Upper limits at 95% confidence level (CL) are set on the products of the branching fraction for the decay into τ leptons and the cross sections for the production of a new boson ϕ, in addition to the H(125) boson, via gluon fusion (ggϕ) or in association with b quarks, ranging from O (10 pb) for a mass of 60 GeV to 0.3 fb for a mass of 3.5 TeV each. The data reveal two excesses for ggϕ production with local p-values equivalent to about three standard deviations at mϕ = 0.1 and 1.2 TeV. In a search for t-channel exchange of a vector leptoquark U1, 95% CL upper limits are set on the dimensionless U1 leptoquark coupling to quarks and τ leptons ranging from 1 for a mass of 1 TeV to 6 for a mass of 5 TeV, depending on the scenario. In the interpretations of the M h 125 and M h , EFT 125 minimal supersymmetric SM benchmark scenarios, additional Higgs bosons with masses below 350 GeV are excluded at 95% CL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for diphoton resonances in the mass range between 10 and 70 GeV with the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is presented. The analysis is based on pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1 at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV recorded from 2015 to 2018. Previous searches for diphoton resonances at the LHC have explored masses down to 65 GeV, finding no evidence of new particles. This search exploits the particular kinematics of events with pairs of closely spaced photons reconstructed in the detector, allowing examination of invariant masses down to 10 GeV. The presented strategy covers a region previously unexplored at hadron colliders because of the experimental challenges of recording low-energy photons and estimating the backgrounds. No significant excess is observed and the reported limits provide the strongest bound on promptly decaying axion-like particles coupling to gluons and photons for masses between 10 and 70 GeV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for new phenomena has been performed in final states with at least one isolated high-momentum photon, jets and missing transverse momentum in proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of s = 13 TeV. The data, collected by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN LHC, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb−1. The experimental results are interpreted in a supersymmetric model in which pair-produced gluinos decay into neutralinos, which in turn decay into a gravitino, at least one photon, and jets. No significant deviations from the predictions of the Standard Model are observed. Upper limits are set on the visible cross section due to physics beyond the Standard Model, and lower limits are set on the masses of the gluinos and neutralinos, all at 95% confidence level. Visible cross sections greater than 0.022 fb are excluded and pair-produced gluinos with masses up to 2200 GeV are excluded for most of the NLSP masses investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search is presented for vector-like T and B quark-antiquark pairs produced in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. Data were collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in 2016–2018, with an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. Events are separated into single-lepton, same-sign charge dilepton, and multi-lepton channels. In the analysis of the single-lepton channel a multilayer neural network and jet identification techniques are employed to select signal events, while the same-sign dilepton and multilepton channels rely on the high-energy signature of the signal to distinguish it from standard model backgrounds. The data are consistent with standard model background predictions, and the production of vector-like quark pairs is excluded at 95% confidence level for T quark masses up to 1.54 TeV and B quark masses up to 1.56 TeV, depending on the branching fractions assumed, with maximal sensitivity to decay modes that include multiple top quarks. The limits obtained in this search are the strongest limits to date for T T ¯ production, excluding masses below 1.48 TeV for all decays to third generation quarks, and are the strongest limits to date for B B ¯ production with B quark decays to tW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent years experiments have established the existence of neutrino os- cillations and most of the oscillation parameters have been measured with a good accuracy. The search for New Physics in neutrino oscillation will be an experimental concrete possi- bility in the next future. In this paper we investigate the ability of the DUNE facility to search for Non Standard Interaction (NSI) in neutrino propagation in matter, emphasizing the role of different assumptions on the shape and absolute normalization errors of both ve and vμ signals. We also study in detail the effects of NSI and systematics in the extraction of standard oscillation parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relaxation mechanism, which solves the electroweak hierarchy problem without relying on TeV scale new physics, crucially depends on how a Higgs-dependent back-reaction potential is generated. In this paper, we suggest a new scenario in which the scalar potential induced by the QCD anomaly is responsible both for the relaxation mechanism and the Peccei-Quinn mechanism to solve the strong CP problem. The key idea is to introduce the relaxion and the QCD axion whose cosmic evolutions become quite different depending on an inflaton-dependent scalar potential. Our scheme raises the cutoff scale of the Higgs mass up to 10 GeV, and allows reheating temperature higher than the electroweak scale as would be required for viable cosmology. In addition, the QCD axion can account for the observed dark matter of the universe as produced by the conventional misalignment mechanism. We also consider the possibility that the couplings of the Standard Model depend on the inflaton and become stronger during inflation. In this case, the relaxation can be implemented with a sub-Planckian field excursion of the relaxion for a cutoff scale below 10 TeV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for long-lived particles decaying into hadrons is presented. The analysis uses 139 fb−1 of pp collision data collected at s = 13 TeV by the ATLAS detector at the LHC using events that contain multiple energetic jets and a displaced vertex. The search employs dedicated reconstruction techniques that significantly increase the sensitivity to long-lived particles decaying in the ATLAS inner detector. Background estimates for Standard Model processes and instrumental effects are extracted from data. The observed event yields are compatible with those expected from background processes. The results are used to set limits at 95% confidence level on model-independent cross sections for processes beyond the Standard Model, and on scenarios with pair-production of supersymmetric particles with long-lived electroweakinos that decay via a small R-parity-violating coupling. The pair-production of electroweakinos with masses below 1.5 TeV is excluded for mean proper lifetimes in the range from 0.03 ns to 1 ns. When produced in the decay of m g ~ = 2.4 TeV gluinos, electroweakinos with m χ ~ 1 0 = 1.5 TeV are excluded with lifetimes in the range of 0.02 ns to 4 ns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A first search for the lepton-flavour violating decays B0 → K*0τ±μ∓ is presented. The analysis is performed using a sample of proton-proton collision data, collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV between 2011 and 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1. No significant signal is observed, and upper limits on the branching fractions are determined to be B B 0 → K ∗ 0 τ + μ − < 1.0 1.2 × 10 − 5 and B B 0 → K ∗ 0 τ − μ + < 8.2 9.8 × 10 − 6 at the 90% (95%) confidence level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results are presented from a search for the Higgs boson decay H → Zγ, where Z → ℓ+ℓ− with ℓ = e or μ. The search is performed using a sample of proton-proton (pp) collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. Events are assigned to mutually exclusive categories, which exploit differences in both event topology and kinematics of distinct Higgs production mechanisms to enhance signal sensitivity. The signal strength μ, defined as the product of the cross section and the branching fraction σ pp → H B H → Zγ relative to the standard model prediction, is extracted from a simultaneous fit to the ℓ+ℓ−γ invariant mass distributions in all categories and is measured to be μ = 2.4 ± 0.9 for a Higgs boson mass of 125.38 GeV. The statistical significance of the observed excess of events is 2.7 standard deviations. This measurement corresponds to σ pp → H B H → Zγ = 0.21 ± 0.08 pb. The observed (expected) upper limit at 95% confidence level on μ is 4.1 (1.8), where the expected limit is calculated under the background-only hypothesis. The ratio of branching fractions B H → Zγ / B H → γγ is measured to be 1.5 − 0.6 + 0.7 , which agrees with the standard model prediction of 0.69 ± 0.04 at the 1.5 standard deviation level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search is reported for heavy resonances and quantum black holes decaying into eμ, eτ, and μτ final states in proton-proton collision data recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC during 2016–2018 at s = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. The eμ, eτ, and μτ invariant mass spectra are reconstructed, and no evidence is found for physics beyond the standard model. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level on the product of the cross section and branching fraction for lepton flavor violating signals. Three benchmark signals are studied: resonant τ sneutrino production in R parity violating supersymmetric models, heavy Z′ gauge bosons with lepton flavor violating decays, and nonresonant quantum black hole production in models with extra spatial dimensions. Resonant τ sneutrinos are excluded for masses up to 4.2TeV in the eμ channel, 3.7TeV in the eτ channel, and 3.6TeV in the μτ channel. A Z′ boson with lepton flavor violating couplings is excluded up to a mass of 5.0TeV in the eμ channel, up to 4.3Te V in the eτ channel, and up to 4.1TeV in the μτ channel. Quantum black holes in the benchmark model are excluded up to the threshold mass of 5.6TeV in the eμ channel, 5.2TeV in the eτ channel, and 5.0TeV in the μτ channel. In addition, model-independent limits are extracted to allow comparisons with other models for the same final states and similar event selection requirements. The results of these searches provide the most stringent limits available from collider experiments for heavy particles that undergo lepton flavor violating decays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of the sensitivity of the CLIC_ILD detector model for massive long-lived particles produced in the decay of the Higgs boson is presented, using a data sample of e+e− collisions at s = 350 GeV and s = 3 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1 ab−1 and 3 ab−1, respectively. The sensitivity range covers long-lived particle lifetimes from 1 to 300 ps, masses between 25 and 50 GeV/c2, and a parent Higgs mass of 126 GeV/c2. Sensitivities to the production cross-section as a function of the long-lived-particle mass and lifetime are determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Standard Model extension with two Majorana neutrinos can explain the measured neutrino masses and mixings, and also account for the matter-antimatter asymmetry in a region of parameter space that could be testable in future experiments. The testability of the model relies to some extent on its minimality. In this paper we address the possibility that the model might be extended by extra generic new physics which we parametrize in terms of a low-energy effective theory. We consider the effects of the operators of the lowest dimensionality, d = 5, and evaluate the upper bounds on the coefficients so that the predictions of the minimal model are robust. One of the operators gives a new production mechanism for the heavy neutrinos at LHC via higgs decays. The higgs can decay to a pair of such neutrinos that, being long-lived, leave a powerful signal of two displaced vertices. We estimate the LHC reach to this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lee-Wick models are higher-derivative theories that are claimed to be unitary thanks to a peculiar cancelation mechanism. In this paper, we provide a new formulation of the models, to clarify several aspects that have remained quite mysterious, so far. Specifically, we define them as nonanalytically Wick rotated Euclidean theories. The complex energy plane is divided into disconnected regions, which can be related to one another by a well-defined, albeit nonanalytic procedure. Working in a generic Lorentz frame, the models are intrinsically equipped with the right recipe to treat the pinchings of the Lee-Wick poles, with no need of external ad hoc prescriptions. We describe these features in detail by calculating the one-loop bubble diagram and explaining how the key properties generalize to more complicated diagrams. The physical results of our formulation are different from those of the previous ones. The unusual behaviors of the physical amplitudes lead to interesting phenomenological predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minimal SO(10) grand unified models provide phenomenological predictions for neutrino mass patterns and mixing. These are the outcome of the interplay of several features, namely: i) the seesaw mechanism; ii) the presence of an intermediate scale where B-L gauge symmetry is broken and the right-handed neutrinos acquire a Majorana mass; iii) a symmetric Dirac neutrino mass matrix whose pattern is close to the up-type quark one. In this framework two natural characteristics emerge. Normal neutrino mass hierarchy is the only allowed, and there is an approximate relation involving both light-neutrino masses and mixing parameters. This differs from what occurring when horizontal flavour symmetries are invoked. In this case, in fact, neutrino mixing or mass relations have been separately obtained in literature. In this paper we discuss an example of such comprehensive mixing-mass relation in a specific realization of SO(10) and, in particular, analyse its impact on the expected neutrinoless double beta decay effective mass parameter 〈 m 〉, and on the neutrino mass scale. Remarkably a lower limit for the lightest neutrino mass is obtained ( m ≳ 7 .5 × 10 eV, at 3 σ level). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new model that extends the Standard Model (SM) with the local B + L symmetry, and point out that the lightest new fermion ζ, introduced to cancel anomalies and stabilized automatically by the B + L symmetry, can serve as the cold dark matter candidate. We study constraints on the model from Higgs measurements, electroweak precision measurements as well as the relic density and direct detections of the dark matter. Numerical results reveal that the pseudo-vector coupling of ζ with Z and the Yukawa coupling with the SM Higgs are highly constrained by the latest results of LUX, while there are viable parameter space that could satisfy all the constraints and give testable predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many compelling beyond the Standard Model scenarios predict signals that result in unconventional charged particle trajectories. Signatures for which unusual tracks are the most conspicuous feature of the event pose significant challenges for experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), particularly for the trigger. This article presents a study of track-based triggers for a representative set of long-lived and unconventional signatures at the upcoming High Luminosity LHC, as well as resulting recommendations for the target parameters of a hardware-based tracking system. Scenarios studied include large multiplicities of low-pT tracks produced in a soft-unclustered-energy-pattern model, displaced leptons and anomalous prompt tracks predicted in a Supersymmetry model with long-lived staus, and displaced hadrons predicted in a Higgs portal scenario with long-lived scalars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a novel computational approach for extracting localized signals from smooth background distributions. We focus on datasets that can be naturally presented as binned integer counts, demonstrating our procedure on the CERN open dataset with the Higgs boson signature, from the ATLAS collaboration at the Large Hadron Collider. Our approach is based on Gaussian Process (GP) regression — a powerful and flexible machine learning technique which has allowed us to model the background without specifying its functional form explicitly and separately measure the background and signal contributions in a robust and reproducible manner. Unlike functional fits, our GP-regression-based approach does not need to be constantly updated as more data becomes available. We discuss how to select the GP kernel type, considering trade-offs between kernel complexity and its ability to capture the features of the background distribution. We show that our GP framework can be used to detect the Higgs boson resonance in the data with more statistical significance than a polynomial fit specifically tailored to the dataset. Finally, we use Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling to confirm the statistical significance of the extracted Higgs signature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two kaon factories, KOTO and NA62, are at the cutting edge of the intensity frontier, with an unprecedented numbers of long lived and charged Kaons, ∼ 1013, being measured and analyzed. These experiments have currently a unique opportunity to search for dark sectors. In this paper, we demonstrate that searches done at KOTO and NA62 are complementary, both probing uncharted territories. We consider two qualitatively different physics cases. In the first, we analyze models of axion-like-particles (ALP) which couple to gluons or electroweak gauge bosons. In the second, we introduce a model based on an approximate strange flavor symmetry that leads to a strong violation of the Grossman-Nir bound. For the first scenario, we design a new search strategy for the KOTO experiment, KL→ π0a → 4γ. Its expected sensitivity on the branching ratio is at the level of 10−9. This demonstrates the great potential of KOTO as a discovery machine. In addition, we revisit other bounds on ALPs from Kaon factories, highlighting the main sources of theoretical uncertainty, and collider experiments, and show new projections. For the second scenario, we show that the model may be compatible with the preliminary analysis of the KOTO-data that shows a hint for New Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model of vector dark matter that communicates with the Standard Model only through gravitational interactions has been investigated. It has been shown in detail how does the canonical quantization of the vector field in varying FLRW geometry implies a tachyonic enhancement of some of its momentum modes. Approximate solutions of the mode equation have been found and verified against exact numerical ones. De Sitter geometry has been assumed during inflation while after inflation a non-standard cosmological era of reheating with a generic equation of state has been adopted which is followed by the radiation-dominated universe. It has been shown that the spectrum of dark vectors produced gravitationally is centered around a characteristic comoving momentum k⋆ that is determined in terms of the mass of the vector mX, the Hubble parameter during in- flation HI, the equation of state parameter w and the efficiency of reheating γ. Regions in the parameter space consistent with the observed dark matter relic abundance have been determined, justifying the gravitational production as a viable mechanism for vector dark matter. The results obtained in this paper are applicable within various possible models of inflation/reheating with non-standard cosmology parametrized effectively by the corresponding equation of state and efficiency of reheating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the possibility to detect spin 0, 1 and 1 2 dark matter (DM) at future e+e− colliders. The models considered here are simple, consistent and renormalizable field theories that provide correct DM abundance and satisfy direct detection, indirect detection and collider constraints. The intention of this paper was to verify to what extent it might be possible to disentangle models of different DM spins by the measurement of the cross section for e+e−→ Z + ⋯ at future e+e− colliders. We specialize to the case of the ILC operating at s = 250 GeV, however our results apply as well for the FCC-ee and the CEPC colliders. For each model the cross section maximized with respect to parameters was calculated and compared to the expected 95% CL cross-section limits estimated for the ILC. It turned out that near the 2mDM ≃ m1,2 resonances, where m1 and m2 are the SM Higgs boson and a non-standard Higgs boson masses, respectively, there exist substantial regions where the models are testable. A special attention has been payed to calculation of the cross section in the region where m1 ≃ m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare kaon decays with missing energy, K → π+Emiss, have received considerable attention because their rates can be calculated quite precisely within the standard model (SM), where the missing energy is carried away by an undetected neutrino- antineutrino pair. Beyond the SM, clean theoretical predictions can also be made regarding these processes. One such prediction is the so-called Grossman-Nir (GN) bound, which states that the branching fractions of the KL and K+ modes must satisfy the relation ℬ K L → π 0 + E miss < ∼ 4.3 ℬ K + → π + + E miss and applies within and beyond the SM, as long as the hadronic transitions change isospin by ∆I = 1/2. In this paper we extend the study of these modes to include new-physics scenarios where the missing energy is due to unobserved lepton-number-violating neutrino pairs, invisible light new scalars, or pairs of such scalars. The new interactions are assumed to arise above the electroweak scale and described by an effective field theory. We explore the possibility of violating the GN bound through ∆I = 3/2 contributions to the K → π transitions within these scenarios and find that large violations are only possible in the case where the missing energy is due to an invisible light new scalar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we summarize phenomenology in lepton portal dark matter (DM) models, where DM couples to leptons and extra leptons/sleptons. There are several possible setups: a DM field is either a complex/real scalar or a Dirac/Majorana fermion, and chiralities of leptons that couple to the DM are different according to the spin of the DM. We discuss the prediction of each model and compare it with the latest experimental constraints from the DM detections, the LHC, and the flavor experiments. We also propose simple setups to resolve the discrepancy in the anomalous magnetic moment of muon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present the complete one-loop matching conditions, up to dimension-six operators of the Standard Model effective field theory, resulting by integrating out the two scalar leptoquarks S 1 ∼ 3 1 1 3 and S 3 ∼ 3 3 1 3 . This allows a phenomenological study of low-energy constraints on this model at one-loop accuracy, which will be the focus of a subsequent work. Furthermore, it provides a rich comparison for functional and computational methods for one-loop matching, that are being developed. As a corollary result, we derive a complete set of dimension-six operators independent under integration by parts, but not under equations of motions, called Green's basis, as well as the complete reduction formulae from this set to the Warsaw basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the measurements of R D ∗ and RJ/ψ hint at new physics (NP) in b → c τ − v ¯ decays. The angular distribution of B ¯ → D ∗ → Dπ τ − v ¯ τ would be useful for getting information about the NP, but it cannot be measured. The reason is that the three-momentum p → τ cannot be determined precisely since the decay products of the τ− include an undetected ντ. In this paper, we construct a measurable angular distribution by considering the additional decay τ−→ π−ντ. The full process is B ¯ → D ∗ → D π ′ τ − → π − v τ v ¯ τ , which includes three final-state particles whose three-momenta can be measured: D, π′, π−. The magnitudes and relative phases of all the NP parameters can be extracted from a fit to this angular distribution. One can measure CP-violating angular asymmetries. If one integrates over some of the five kinematic parameters parametrizing the angular distribution, one obtains (i) familiar observables such as the q2 distribution and the D∗ polarization, and (ii) new observables associated with the π− emitted in the τ decay: the forward-backward asymmetry of the π− and the CP-violating triple-product asymmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In hidden sector models, dark matter does not directly couple to the particle content of the Standard Model, strongly suppressing rates at direct detection experiments, while still allowing for large signals from annihilation. In this paper, we conduct an extensive study of hidden sector dark matter, covering a wide range of dark matter spins, mediator spins, interaction diagrams, and annihilation final states, in each case determining whether the annihilations are s-wave (thus enabling efficient annihilation in the universe today). We then go on to consider a variety of portal interactions that allow the hidden sector annihilation products to decay into the Standard Model. We broadly classify constraints from relic density requirements and dwarf spheroidal galaxy observations. In the scenario that the hidden sector was in equilibrium with the Standard Model in the early universe, we place a lower bound on the portal coupling, as well as on the dark matter's elastic scattering cross section with nuclei. We apply our hidden sector results to the observed Galactic Center gamma-ray excess and the cosmic-ray antiproton excess. We find that both of these excesses can be simultaneously explained by a variety of hidden sector models, without any tension with constraints from observations of dwarf spheroidal galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Majoron, the Nambu-Goldstone boson of lepton number symmetry, is an interesting candidate for dark matter as it deeply connects the dark matter and neutrino physics. In this paper, we consider the Majoron dark matter as pseudo Nambu-Goldstone boson with TeV-scale mass. The heavy Majoron generally has the large decay constant and tiny Yukawa couplings to light right-handed neutrinos which are required by cosmological and astrophysical observations. That makes it difficult to realize the desired amount of the relic abundance of Majoron dark matter. We consider three improved scenarios for the generation of Majoron, dubbed as Majorogenesis, in the early universe and find in all cases the parameter space compatible with the relic abundance and cosmic-ray constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we show that the Peccei-Quinn (PQ) symmetry with a good quality can be realized in a simple B −L extension of the minimal supersymmetric standard model. The PQ symmetry is a remnant of the B − L gauge symmetry at the renormalizable level. Besides, the sufficient quality of the PQ symmetry is preserved by a non anomalous discrete gauged R-symmetry and a small gravitino mass m3/2 ≪ 100 GeV. A viable mass range is m 3 / 2 = O 1 eV which allows a high reheating temperature and many baryogenesis scenarios typified by the thermal leptogenesis without any astrophysical and cosmological problems. Such a light gravitino may be tested in the future 21cm line observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the dynamics of the Nambu monopole in two Higgs doublet models, which is a magnetic monopole attached by two topological Z strings (Z flux tubes) from two opposite sides. The monopole is a topologically stable solution of the equation of motions when the Higgs potential has global U (1) and ℤ2 symmetries. In this paper, we consider more general cases without the ℤ2 symmetry, and find that it is no longer a static solution but moves along the Z string being pulled by the heavier string. After analytically constructing an asymptotic form of the monopole, we confirm such a motion using the numerical relaxation method. In addition, we analyze the real time dynamics of the monopole based on a point-like approximation. Consequently, if there were long string networks with the monopoles in the early universe, the monopole accelerates nearly to the speed of light emitting electromagnetic radiations as a synchrotron accelerator, and collides to an anti-monopole on the string. This collision event, which we call the cosmological monopole collider, can produce much heavier particles than those we can see today, e.g., at the Large Hadron Collider. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we discuss the Standard Model and new physics sensitivity of the Λ b → Λ ∗ 1520 → N K ¯ ℓ + ℓ − decay at low-recoil, where ℓ± are massive leptons and N K ¯ = pK − n K ¯ 0 . We provide a full angular distribution with a set of operators that includes the Standard Model operators and their chirality flipped counterparts, and new scalar and pseudo-scalar operators. The resulting angular distribution allows us to construct observables that we study in the Standard Model and in model-independent new physics scenarios. To reduce the hadronic effects emanating from the Λb→ Λ* (1520) transition form factors, we exploit the Heavy Quark Effective theory framework valid at low Λ∗(1520) recoil, i.e., large dilepton invariant mass squared q 2 ∼ O m b 2 . Working to the leading order in 1/mb and including O α s corrections, we compute the 'improved Isgur-Wise relations' between the form factors. The relations correlate the form factors and thereby allow the description of this decay at the low-recoil region with a smaller number of independent form factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many astrophysical and cosmological observations point towards the existence of Dark Matter (DM), the nature of the DM particle has not been clarified to date. In this paper, we investigate a minimal model with a vector DM (VDM) candidate. Within this model, we compute the cross section for the scattering of the VDM particle with a nucleon. We provide the next-to-leading order (NLO) cross section for the direct detection of the DM particle. Subsequently, we study the phenomenological implications of the NLO corrections, in particular with respect to the sensitivity of the direct detection DM experi- ments. We further investigate more theoretical questions such as the gauge dependence of the results and the remaining theoretical uncertainties due to the applied approximations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]