Search

We study the phenomenological implications of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) augmented by a non-abelian flavor symmetry labeled as sMSSM. Incorporating this flavor symmetry allows for a significant reduction in the original plethora of free parameters present in the MSSM, ultimately reducing them down to just seven in sMSSM. This reduction of free parameters is not achieved through ad hoc assumptions like in the constrained MSSM (CMSSM); rather, it is grounded in theoretical considerations. Our work focuses on exploring the interplay between the $W$ boson mass ($M_W$) predictions, the cold dark matter (CDM) relic abundance ($\Omega_{\rm CDM} h^2$), and the $(g-2)_{\mu}$ anomaly. We identified correlations among the theoretical parameters arising from this interplay, which can be complemented by experimental constraints such as the Higgs boson mass, B-physics observables, and charge and color breaking minima. Additionally, our investigations show that the $(g-2)_{\mu}$ discrepancy and the Planck bounds on $\Omega_{\rm CDM} h^2$ can be addressed within the sMSSM, but only in a very narrow region of the parameter space.

In this paper, we present the one-loop radiative corrections to the electroweak precision observable $\Delta \rho$ coming from the $I_W=1$ multiplet excited leptons. We have calculated the couplings of the exotic lepton triplet to the vector bosons and ordinary leptons using effective Lagrangian approach. These couplings are then used to estimate the excited lepton triplet contribution to the $\Delta \rho$ parameter. The mass degenerate excited lepton contribution to $\Delta \rho $ is small and can be neglected. However, if the excited leptons are non-degenerate, their contribution can be large which can result in more stringent constraints on the excited fermion parameter space compared to the constraints from present experimental searches and perturbative unitarity condition.

We explore possible signatures for charged lepton flavour violation (LFV), sparticle discovery at the LHC and dark matter (DM) searches in grand unified theories (GUTs) based on SU(5), flipped SU(5) (FSU(5)) and SU(4)$_c \times $SU(2)$_L \times $SU(2)$_R$ (4-2-2). We assume that soft supersymmetry-breaking terms preserve the group symmetry at some high input scale, and focus on the non-universal effects on different matter representations generated by gauge interactions at lower scales, as well as the charged LFV induced in Type-1 see-saw models of neutrino masses. We identify the different mechanisms that control the relic DM density in the various GUT models, and contrast their LFV and LHC signatures. The SU(5) and 4-2-2 models offer good detection prospects both at the LHC and in LFV searches, though with different LSP compositions, and the SU(5) and FSU(5) models offer LFV within the current reach. The 4-2-2 model allows chargino and gluino coannihilations with neutralinos, and the former offer good detection prospects for both the LHC and LFV, while gluino coannihilations lead to lower LFV rates. Our results indicate that LFV is a powerful tool that complements LHC and DM searches, providing significant insights into the sparticle spectra and neutrino mass parameters in different models., Comment: 27 pages, 8 figures

We explore the implications of LHC and cold dark matter searches for supersymmetric particle mass spectra in two different grand unified models with left-right symmetry, $SO(10)$ and $ SU(4)_c \times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R$ (4-2-2). We identify characteristic differences between the two scenarios, which imply distinct correlations between experimental measurements and the particular structure of the GUT group. The gauge structure of 4-2-2 enhances significantly the allowed parameter space as compared to $SO(10)$, giving rise to a variety of coannihilation scenarios compatible with the LHC data, LSP dark matter and the ongoing muon g-2 experiment., Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures

We explore the sparticle mass spectra including LSP dark matter within the framework of supersymmetric $SU(4)_c \times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R$ (422) models, taking into account the constraints from extensive LHC and cold dark matter searches. The soft supersymmetry-breaking parameters at $M_{GUT}$ can be non-universal, but consistent with the 422 symmetry. We identify a variety of coannihilation scenarios compatible with LSP dark matter, and study the implications for future supersymmetry searches and the ongoing muon g-2 experiment., Comment: 21 pages, 8 figs

Within the MSSM, we have evaluated the decay rates for the lepton flavour violating Higgs boson decays (LFVHD) $h \rightarrow l_i l_j$ where $l_{i,j}$ are charged leptons and $i\neq j$. This has been done in a model independent (MI) way as well as in supersymmetric high scale seesaw models, in particular Type I see-saw model. Lepton flavour violation (LFV) is generated by non-diagonal entries in the mass matrix of the sleptons. In a first step we use the model independent approach where LFV (off-diagonal entries in the mass matrix) is introduced by hand while respecting the direct search constraints from the charged lepton flavor violating (cLFV) processes. In the second step we use high scale see-saw models where LFV is generated via renormalization group equations (RGE) from the grand unification scale (GUT) down to electroweak scale. cLFV decays are the most restrictive ones and exclude a large part of the parameter space for the MI as well as the high scale see-saw scenarios. Due to very strict constraints from cLFV, it is difficult to find large corrections to LFVHD. This applies in particular to $h \rightarrow \tau \mu$ where hints of an excess have been observed. If this signal is confirmed, it could not be explained with the models under investigation., Comment: Accepted for publication in Journal of Particle Physics

We study SO(10), SU(5) and flipped SU(5) GUT models with non-universal soft supersymmetry-breaking scalar masses, exploring how they are constrained by LHC supersymmetry searches and cold dark matter experiments, and how they can be probed and distinguished in future experiments. We find characteristic differences between the various GUT scenarios, particularly in the coannihilation region, which is very sensitive to changes of parameters. For example, the flipped SU(5) GUT predict the possibility of $\tilde{t}_1-\chi$ coannihilation, which is absent in the regions of the SO(10) and SU(5) GUT parameter spaces that we study. We use the relic density predictions in different models to determine upper bounds for the neutralino masses, and we find large differences between different GUT models in the sparticle spectra for the same LSP mass, leading to direct connections of distinctive possible experimental measurements with the structure of the GUT group. We find that future LHC searches for generic missing $E_T$, charginos and stops will be able to constrain the different GUT models in complementary ways, as will the Xenon 1 ton and Darwin dark matter scattering experiments and future FERMI or CTA $\gamma$-ray searches., Comment: 21 pages, 10 Figures. V3: some comments and 1 reference added, published version. JCAP03(2016)041

We study the quark flavor violating Higgs-boson decay $h \rightarrow \bar b s + b \bar s$ in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). The decay is analyzed first in a model independent, and in a second step in the minimal flavor violationg (MFV) Constrained MSSM. The experimental constraints from $B$-Physics observables (BPO) and electroweak precision observables (EWPO) are also calculated and imposed on the parameter space. It is shown that in some cases the EWPO restrict the flavor violating parameter space stronger than the BPO. In the model independent analysis values of ${\cal O}(10^{-4})$ can be found for ${\rm BR}(h \rightarrow \bar b s + b \bar s)$. In the MFV CMSSM such results can only be obtained in very restricted parts of the parameter space. The results show that it is not excluded to observe the decay $h \rightarrow \bar b s + b \bar s$ in the MSSM at future $e^+e^-$ colliders., Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1501.02258; text overlap with arXiv:hep-ph/9909325 by other authors

Within the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (CMSSM) with Minimal Flavor Violation (MFV) for scalar quarks we study the effects of intergenerational squark mixing on $B$-physics observables, electroweak precision observables (EWPO) and the Higgs boson mass predictions. Squark mixing is generated through the Renormalization Group Equations (RGE) running from the GUT scale to the electroweak scale due to presence of non diagonal Yukawa matrices in the RGE's, e.g. due to the CKM matrix. We find that the $B$-Physics observables as well as the Higgs mass predictions do not receive sizable corrections. On the other hand, the EWPO such as the $W$ boson mass can receive corrections by far exceeding the current experimental precision. These contributions can place new upper bounds on the CMSSM parameter space. We extend our analysis to the CMSSM extended with a mechanism to explain neutrino masses (CMSSM-seesaw I), which induces flavor violation in the scalar lepton sector. Effects from slepton mixing on the analyzed observables are in general smaller than from squark mixing, but can reach the level of the current experimenal uncertainty for the EWPO.

We study the effects of Lepton Flavor Violation (LFV) in the scalar lepton sector of the MSSM on precision observables such as the W-boson mass and the effective weak leptonic mixing angle, and on the Higgs-boson mass predictions. The slepton mass matrices are parameterized in a model-independent way by a complete set of dimensionless parameters which we constrain through LFV decay processes and the precision observables. We find regions where both conditions are similarly constraining. The necessary prerequisites for the calculation have been added to FeynArts and FormCalc and are thus publicly available for further studies. The obtained results are available in FeynHiggs., Comment: LaTeX, 30 pages

We discuss on the possibility that colliding dark matter particles in the form of neutralinos may be gravitationally boosted near the super-massive black hole at the galactic center so that they can have enough collision energy to annihilate into a stau pair. Since in some phenomenologically favored supersymmetric models the mass splitting between the neutralino and the lightest stau, one of the two scalar superpartners of the tau lepton, is a few GeVs, this channel may be allowed. In addition, staus can only decay into a tau lepton and another neutralino. We calculate the gamma-ray spectrum and flux generated by the tau pair discussing the observability of the obtained features., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

We investigate the prospects for detection of lepton flavour violation in sparticle production and decays at a Linear Collider (LC), in models guided by neutrino oscillation data. We consider both slepton pair production and sleptons arising from the cascade decays of non-leptonic sparticles. We study the expected signals when lepton-flavour-violating (LFV) interactions are induced by renormalization effects in the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (CMSSM), focusing on the subset of the supersymmetric parameter space that also leads to cosmologically interesting values of the relic neutralino LSP density. Emphasis is given to the complementarity between the LC, which is sensitive to mixing in both the left and right slepton sectors, and the LHC, which is sensitive primarily to mixing in the right sector. We also emphasize the complementarity between searches for rare LFV processes at the LC and in low-energy experiments., Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures

Impedance spectroscopy measurements were performed in high quality Vanadium dioxide (VO2) thin films. This technique allows us investigate the resistive and capacitive contribution to the dielectric response near the metal-insulator transition (MIT). A non ideal RC behavior was found in our films from room temperature up to 334 K. A decrease of the total capacitance was found in this region, possibly due to interface effects. Above the MIT, the system behaves like a metal as expected, and a modified equivalent circuit is necessary to describe the impedance data adequately. Around the MIT, an increase of the total capacitance is observed., Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures

We propose a scheme that allows to analytically determine the three elementary cross sections and connect the solutions to the relative sign between the proton and the neutron spin scattering amplitudes once the measurements of total event rate from three appropriate targets become available. In this way it is thus possible to extract the maximum information on the supersymmetric parameter space obtainable from direct detection experiments, in the case that the dark matter particle is the lightest neutralino. Our scheme is based on suitably normalized form of the isospin momentum dependent structure functions entering in the spin-dependent elastic neutralino-nucleus cross section. We compare these functions with the commonly used ones and discuss their advantages: in particular, these allow in the spin-dependent cross section to factorize the particle physics degrees of freedom from the momentum transfer dependent nuclear structure functions as it happens in the spin-independent cross section with the nuclear form factor., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. Title, text and references revised and expanded. Added an Appendix explaining the advantages of the normalized spin structure functions. Accepted in PRD

We study the low-momentum ghost propagator Dyson-Schwinger equation (DSE) in Landau gauge, assuming for the truncation a constant ghost-gluon vertex, as it is extensively done, and a simple model for a massive gluon propagator. Then, regular DSE solutions (the zero-momentum ghost dressing function not diverging) appear to emerge and we show the ghost propagator to be described by an asymptotic expression reliable up to the order ${\cal O}(q^2)$. That expression, depending on the gluon mass and the zero-momentum Taylor-scheme effective charge, is proven to fit pretty well the low-momentum ghost propagator obtained through big-volume lattice simulations., Comment: 11 pages, 1 fig.

We study the conditions required for $\chi_2 \to \chi + \tau^\pm \mu^\mp$ decays to yield observable tau flavour violation at the LHC, for cosmologically interesting values of the neutralino relic density. These condition can be achieved in the framework of a SU(5) model with a see-saw mechanism that allows a possible coexistence of a LHC signal a low prediction for radiative LFV decays., Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, Prepared for the proceedings of the workshop: "LC09: $e^+ e^-$ Physics at the TeV Scale and the Dark Matter Connection", 21-24 September 2009, Perugia, Italy

We present a detailed study of the effect of internal bremsstrahlung photons in the context of the minimal supersymmetric standard models and their impact on gamma-ray dark matter annihilation searches. We find that although this effect has to be included for the correct evaluation of fluxes of high energy photons from neutralino annihilation, its contribution is relevant only in models and at energies where the lines contribution is dominant over the secondary photons. Therefore, we find that the most optimistic supersymmetric scenarios for dark matter detection do not change significantly when including the internal bremsstrahlung. As an example, we review the gamma-ray dark matter detection prospects of the Draco dwarf spheroidal galaxy for the MAGIC stereoscopic system and the CTA project. Though the flux of high energy photons is enhanced by an order of magnitude in some regions of the parameter space, the expected fluxes are still much below the sensitivity of the instruments., Comment: 5 pages, twocolumn format, 3 figures:3 references added, accepted as Brief Report in PRD

We study the predictions for sfermion masses and Lepton Flavour Violation (LFV) for the WMAP preferred parameter space in $b-\tau$ Yukawa-unified models with massive neutrinos. A soft term structure as predicted by an Abelian flavour symmetry combined with SU(5) RGEs for scales above $M_{GUT}$, results to an efficient suppression of the off-diagonal terms in the scalar soft matrices, particularly for $m_0< 100$ GeV. Using the WMAP bounds, this implies $35\le\tan\beta \le 45$, $350\,\mathrm{GeV}\le m_{1/2}\le 1\,\mathrm{TeV}$, with the higher $\tan\beta$ values being favored. Within this framework, SU(5) unification becomes compatible with the current experimental bounds, in contrast to the conventional case where the soft terms are postulated at the GUT scale., Comment: 15 pages, 5 figs.

We present the case for a dark matter detector with directional sensitivity. This document was developed at the 2009 CYGNUS workshop on directional dark matter detection, and contains contributions from theorists and experimental groups in the field. We describe the need for a dark matter detector with directional sensitivity; each directional dark matter experiment presents their project's status; and we close with a feasibility study for scaling up to a one ton directional detector, which would cost around $150M., Comment: 48 pages, 37 figures, whitepaper on direct dark matter detection with directional sensitivity

The WMAP dark matter constraints on b-$\tau$ Yukawa Unification in the presence of massive neutrinos is revisited. The predictions for the bottom quark mass are observed to be modified by the large neutrino mixing suggested by the data. This enables Yukawa unification also for large $\tan\beta$, and for positive $\mu$ that were previously disfavoured. Consequently, the allowed parameter space for neutralino dark matter differs from the MSSM one. We also find that the parameter space being compatible with dark matter also predicts detectable rates for Lepton Flavour Violation at the LHC., Comment: To appear in the proceedings of Identification of dark matter 2008 (idm2008), August 18-22, 2008, Stockholm, Sweden

We revisit the WMAP dark matter constraints on Yukawa Unification in the presence of massive neutrinos. The large neutrino mixing indicated by the data modifies the predictions for the bottom quark mass, and enables Yukawa also for large $\tan\beta$, and for positive $\mu$ that were previously disfavoured. As a result, the allowed parameter space for neutralino dark matter also increases, particularly for areas with resonant enhancement of the neutralino relic density., Comment: Proceedings of 4th International Workshop on the Dark Side of the Universe (DSU 2008), Cairo, June 2008. 7 pages, 4 figures

We revisit the WMAP dark matter constraints on Yukawa Unification in the presence of massive neutrinos. The large lepton mixing indicated by the data may modify the predictions for the bottom quark mass, enabling Yukawa unification also for large $\tan\beta$, and for positive $\mu$ that was previously disfavoured. As a result, the allowed parameter space for neutralino dark matter increases for positive $\mu$, particularly for areas with resonant enhancement of the neutralino relic density. On the contrary, a negative $\mu$ is not easily compatible with large lepton mixing and Dirac neutrino Yukawa couplings, and the WMAP allowed parameter space is in this case strongly constrained., Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures

We explore the prospects for searches at the LHC for sparticle decays that violate $\tau$ lepton number, in the light of neutrino oscillation data and the seesaw model for neutrino masses and mixing. We analyse the theoretical and phenomenological conditions required for tau flavour violation to be observable in \chi_2 \to \chi + \tau^\pm \mu^\mp decays, for cosmologically interesting values of the relic neutralino LSP density. We study the relevant supersymmetric parameter space in the context of the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Extension of the Standard Model (CMSSM) and in SU(5) extensions of the theory. We pay particular attention to the possible signals from hadronic tau decays, that we analyse using PYTHIA event simulation. We find that a signal for \tau flavour-violating \chi_2 decays may be observable if the branching ratio exceeds about 10%. This may be compatible with the existing upper limit on \tau \to \mu \gamma decays if there is mixing between right-handed sleptons, as could be induced in non-minimal SU(5) GUTs., Comment: 24 pages, 10 figs

We have performed first order reversal curve measurements of the temperature-driven metal-insulator transition in VO$_2$ thin films, which enable quantitative analysis of the hysteresis behavior. An unexpected tail-like feature in the contour plot of the reversal curve distribution indicates the existence of metallic domains, even at temperatures below the closing of the hysteresis. These domains interact with the surrounding medium and change the reversal path relative to a path from a \emph{fully} insulating state. With this in mind, and assuming that such interaction persist through the entire phase transition, we develop a model where the driving force (or energy barrier) in charge of opening a hysteresis in VO$_2$ are inter-domain interactions. This model is intrinsically different from the Preisach model usually used to describe hysteresis; given that it looks for the microscopic origin of the hysteresis, and provides physical parameters to characterize it., Comment: 8 pages and 6 figures

The impact of a kination-dominated phase generated by a quintessential exponential model on the thermal abundance of Supersymmetric (SUSY) extremely Weekly Interacting Massive Particles (e-WIMPs) is investigated. For values of the quintessential energy-density parameter on the eve of nucleosynthesis close to its upper bound, we find that: (i) the gravitino constraint is totally evaded for unstable gravitinos; (ii) the thermal abundance of stable gravitinos is not sufficient to account for the cold dark matter of the universe; (iii) the thermal abundance of axinos can satisfy the cold dark matter constraint for values of the initial (``reheating'') temperature well above those required in the standard cosmology., Comment: To appear in the proceedings of 4th International Workshop On The Dark Side Of The Universe (DSU 2008) 1-5 Jun 2008, Cairo, Egypt

The impact of a kination-dominated phase generated by a quintessential exponential model on the thermal abundance of gravitinos and axinos is investigated. We find that their abundances become proportional to the transition temperature from the kination to the radiation era; since this temperature is significantly lower than the initial ("reheating") temperature, the abundances decrease with respect to their values in the standard cosmology. For values of the quintessential energy-density parameter close to its upper bound, at the eve of nucleosynthesis, we find the following: (i) for unstable gravitinos, the gravitino constraint is totally evaded; (ii) If the gravitino is stable, its thermal abundance is not sufficient to account for the cold dark matter of the universe; (iii) the thermal abundance of axinos can satisfy the cold dark matter constraint for values of the initial temperature well above those required in the standard cosmology. A novel calculation of the axino production rate by scatterings at low temperature is also presented., Comment: Published Version

A new revision of the gamma flux that we expect to detect in Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) from neutralino annihilation in the Draco dSph is presented in the context of the minimal supersymmetric standard models (MSSM) compatible with the present phenomenological and cosmological constraints, and using the dark matter (DM) density profiles compatible with the latest observations. This revision takes also into account the important effect of the Point Spread Function (PSF) of the telescope, and is valid not only for Draco but also for any other DM target. We show that this effect is crucial in the way we will observe and interpret a possible signal detection. Finally, we discuss the prospects to detect a possible gamma signal from Draco for current or planned gamma-ray experiments, i.e. MAGIC, GLAST and GAW. Even with the large astrophysical and particle physics uncertainties we find that the chances to detect a neutralino annihilation signal in Draco seem to be very scarce for current experiments. However, the prospects for future IACTs with upgraded performances (especially lower threshold energies and higher sensitivities) such as those offered by the CTA project, might be substantially better., Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures and 3 tables. Accepted for publication in Physical Review D. Minor changes with respect to the previous version after referee's comments

The magnetic properties of a series of YBa2Cu3O7-x/La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 (YBCO/LC1/3MO) superlattices grown by dc sputtering at high oxygen pressures (3.5 mbar) show the expected ferromagnetic behaviour. However, field cooled hysteresis loops at low temperature show the unexpected existence of exchange bias, effect associated with the existence of ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic (F/AF) interfaces. The blocking temperature (TB) is found thickness dependent and the exchange bias field (HEB) is found inversely proportional to the FM layer thickness, as expected. The presence of an AF material is probably associated to interface disorder and Mn valence shift towards Mn4+., Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, submitted to Applied Physics Letters

We compute the neutralino-nucleon cross section in several supersymmetric scenarios, taking into account all kind of constraints. In particular, the constraints that the absence of dangerous charge and colour breaking minima imposes on the parameter space are studied in detail. In addition, the most recent experimental constraints, such as the lower bound on the Higgs mass, the $b\to s\gamma$ branching ratio, and the muon $g-2$ are considered. The astrophysical bounds on the dark matter density are also imposed on the theoretical computation of the relic neutralino density, assuming thermal production. This computation is relevant for the theoretical analysis of the direct detection of dark matter in current experiments. We consider first the supergravity scenario with universal soft terms and GUT scale. In this scenario the charge and colour breaking constraints turn out to be quite important, and $\tan\beta\lsim 20$ is forbidden. Larger values of $\tan\beta$ can also be forbidden, depending on the value of the trilinear parameter $A$. Finally, we study supergravity scenarios with an intermediate scale, and also with non-universal scalar and gaugino masses where the cross section can be very large., Comment: Final version to appear in JHEP

The construction of a Supersymmetric Grand Unified Model based on the Pati-Salam gauge group is briefly reviewed and the low energy consequences of the derived asymptotic Yukawa quasi-unification conditions are examined. In the framework of the resulting Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, the cosmological relic density of the bino-like LSP is calculated and the results are explicitly compared with {\tt micrOMEGAs}. In addition to the Cold Dark Matter constraint, restrictions on the parameter space, arising from the Higgs boson masses, the SUSY corrections to $b$-quark mass, the muon anomalous magnetic moment and the inclusive decay $b\to s\gamma$ are, also, investigated. For $\mu>0$, a wide and natural range of parameters is allowed. On the contrary, the $\mu<0$ case not only is disfavored from the present experimental data on the muon anomalous magnetic moment, but also, it can be excluded from the combination of the Cold Dark Matter and BR($b\to s \gamma$) requirements.

We consider the constrained minimal supersymmetric standard model which emerges from one theory with a small deviation from Yukawa unification which is adequate for $\mu>0$. We show that this model possesses a wide and natural range of parameters which is consistent with the data on $b\to s\gamma$, the muon anomalous magnetic moment, the cold dark matter abundance in the universe, and the Higgs boson masses., Comment: Talk given at 10th International Conference on Supersymmety and Unification of Fundamental Interactions (SUSY02), Hamburg, Germany, 17-23 Jun 2002. 7 pages, 4 figures

Although recent data on the muon anomalous magnetic moment strongly disfavor the constrained minimal supersymmetric standard model with mu<0, they cannot exclude it because of theoretical ambiguities. We consider this model supplemented by a Yukawa quasi-unification condition which allows an acceptable b-quark mass. We find that the cosmological upper bound on the lightest sparticle relic abundance is incompatible with the data on the branching ratio of b-->s gamma, which is evaluated by including all the next-to-leading order corrections. Thus, this scheme is not viable., Comment: 4 pages including 3 figures, Revtex

We analyse the CP problem in the context of a supersymmetric extension of the standard model with universal strength of Yukawa couplings. In these models we find a small amount of CP violation from the usual CKM mechanism and therefore a significant contribution from supersymmetry is required. The electric dipole moments impose severe constraints on the parameter space, forcing the trilinear couplings to be factorizable in matrix form. We find that the LL mass insertions give the dominant gluino contribution to saturate epsilon_K, while chargino contributions to epsilon'/epsilon are compatible with the experimental results. Due to significant supersymmetric contributions to B_d-\bar{B}_d mixing, the recent large value of a_{J/\psi K_S} can be accommodated., Comment: 7 pages, 3 eps figures, talk given at SUSY02, The 10th International Conference on Supersymmetry and Unification of Fundamental Interactions, DESY Hamburg, Germany, June 17-23, 2002

We consider sparticle decays that violate tau lepton number, motivated by neutrino oscillation data. We work in the context of the constrained minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (CMSSM), in which the different sleptons have identical masses at the GUT scale, and neutrino Dirac Yukawa couplings mix them. We find that the branching ratio for decay of the heavier neutralino chi_2 to chi + tau mu is enhanced when the LSP mass m_chi = m_stau_1, including the region of CMSSM parameter space where coannihilation keeps the relic chi density within the range preferred by cosmology. Thus chi_2 to chi + tau mu decay may provide a physics opportunity for observing the violation of tau lepton number at the LHC that is complementary to tau to mu + gamma decay. Likewise, chi_2 to chi + e mu decay is also enhanced in the coannihilation region, providing a complement to mu to e + gamma decay., Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures

We analyse the CP problem in the context of a supersymmetric extension of the standard model with universal strength of Yukawa couplings. A salient feature of these models is that the CP phases are constrained to be very small by the hierarchy of the quark masses, and the pattern of CKM mixing angles. This leads to a small amount of CP violation from the usual KM mechanism and a significant contribution from supersymmetry is required. Due to the large generation mixing in some of the supersymmetric interactions, the electric dipole moments impose severe constraints on the parameter space, forcing the trilinear couplings to be factorizable in matrix form. We find that the LL mass insertions give the dominant gluino contribution to saturate epsilon_K. The chargino contributions to epsilon'/epsilon are significant and can accommodate the experimental results. In this framework, the standard model gives a negligible contribution to the CP asymmetry in B-meson decay, a_{J/\psi K_s}. However, due to supersymmetric contributions to B_d-\bar{B}_d mixing, the recent large value of a_{J/\psi K_s} can be accommodated., Comment: 30 pages, 5 figures. Version to appear in Nucl. Phys. B

We study whether the individual violation of the lepton numbers L_{e,mu,tau} in the charged sector can lead to measurable rates for BR(mu->e gamma) and BR(tau->mu gamma). We consider three different scenarios, the fist one corresponds to the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model with non-universal soft terms. In the other two cases the violation of flavor in the leptonic charged sector is associated to the neutrino problem in models with a see-saw mechanism and with R-parity violation respectively., Comment: Talk given by M.E.G at the Corfu Summer Institute on Elementary Particle Physics, Corfu 2001. 11 pages, 5 figures

We construct concrete supersymmetric grand unified theories based on the Pati-Salam gauge group SU(4)_c x SU(2)_L x SU(2)_R which naturally lead to a moderate violation of "asymptotic" Yukawa unification and thus can allow an acceptable b-quark mass even with universal boundary conditions. We consider the constrained minimal supersymmetric standard model which emerges from one of these theories with a deviation from Yukawa unification which is adequate for mu>0. We show that this model possesses a wide and natural range of parameters which is consistent with the data on b --> s gamma, the muon anomalous magnetic moment, the cold dark matter abundance in the universe, and the Higgs boson masses. The lightest supersymmetric particle can be as light as about 107 GeV., Comment: 27 pages including 10 figures, Revtex, minor corrections, version to appear in Nucl. Phys. B

The simplest unified extension of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model with bi-linear R-parity violation naturally predicts a hierarchical neutrino mass spectrum, suitable to explain atmospheric and solar neutrino fluxes. We study whether the individual violation of the lepton numbers L_{e,mu,tau} in the charged sector can lead to measurable rates for BR(mu->e gamma)and $BR(tau-> mu gamma). We find that some of the R-parity violating terms that are compatible with the observed atmospheric neutrino oscillations could lead to rates for mu->e gamma measurable in projected experiments. However, the Delta m^2_{12} obtained for those parameters is too high to be compatible with the solar neutrino data, excluding therefore the possibility of having measurable rates for mu->e gamma in the model., Comment: 29 pages, 8 figures. Constraint from solar neutrino data included, conclusions changed respect v1

We study opportunities for future high-precision experiments in kaon physics using a high-intensity proton driver, which could be part of the front-end of a muon storage ring complex. We discuss in particular the rare decays $K_L\to\pi^0\nu\bar\nu$, $K^+\to\pi^+\nu\bar\nu$, $K_L\to\pi^0e^+e^-$, and lepton-flavour violating modes such as $K_L\to\mu e$ and $K\to\pi\mu e$. The outstanding physics potential and long-term interest of these modes is emphasized. We review status and prospects of current and planned experiments for the processes under consideration, and indicate possible improvements and strategies towards achieving the necessary higher sensitivity. Finally, we outline the machine requirements needed to perform these high-precision kaon experiments in the context of a muon storage ring facility., Comment: 26 pages, 12 figures; report of the kaon physics working group for the ECFA studies on neutrino factory and muon storage rings at CERN, G. Buchalla (convener); references updated

We study the direct detection rate for SUSY cold dark m atter (CDM) predicted by the minimal supersymmetric standard model with universal boundary conditions and large values for tan\beta. The relic abundance of the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP), assumed to be approximately a bino, is obtained by including its coannihilations with the next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle (NLSP), which is the lightest s-tau. We find detectable rates in the currently planned experiments for a sector of the parameter space consistent with the cosmological constraint on the LSP relic abundance and the ones imposed by b->s gamma and the Higgs searches., Comment: Talk given by M.E.G. at Cairo International Conference on High-Energy Physics (CICHEP 2001), Cairo, Egypt, 9-14 Jan 2001. 6 pages, 2 figures

The detection of the theoretically expected dark matter is central to particle physics and cosmology. Current fashionable supersymmetric models provide a natural dark matter candidate which is the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP). Such models combined with fairly well understood physics like the quark substructure of the nucleon and the nuclear structure (form factor and/or spin response function), permit the evaluation of the event rate for LSP-nucleus elastic scattering. The thus obtained event rates are, however, very low or even undetectable. So it is imperative to exploit the modulation effect, i.e. the dependence of the event rate on the earth's annual motion. Also it is useful to consider the directional rate, i.e its dependence on the direction of the recoiling nucleus. In this paper we study such a modulation effect both in non directional and directional experiments. We calculate both the differential and the total rates using both isothermal, symmetric as well as only axially asymmetric, and non isothermal, due to caustic rings, velocity distributions. We find that in the symmetric case the modulation amplitude is small. The same is true for the case of caustic rings. The inclusion of asymmetry, with a realistic enhanced velocity dispersion in the galactocentric direction, yields an enhanced modulation effect, especially in directional experiments., Comment: Talk given by J.D.V. at Cairo International Conference on High-Energy Physics (CICHEP 2001), Cairo, Egypt, 9-14 Jan 2001. 11 pages, 1 figure

We analyze the lepton-flavor violation in supersymmetric models with non-universal soft breaking terms derived from strings. We show that the non-universality of the scalar masses enhances the branching ratios more significantly than the non-universality of the A-terms, Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, talk given by D.F. Carvalho at Cairo International Conference on High Energy Physics, Cairo, Egypt, 9-14 January 2001

We use the BNL E821 measurement of g - 2, the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, to normalize, within a supersymmetric GUT framework, constrained MSSM (CMSSM) predictions for processes that violate charged-lepton flavour conservation, including mu to e gamma, mu to e conversion and K^0_L to mu e. We illustrate our analysis with two examples of lepton mass matrix textures motivated by data on neutrino oscillations. We find that mu to e gamma may well occur at a rate within one or two (two or three) orders of magnitude of the present experimental upper limit if g - 2 is within the one- (two-)standard deviation range indicated by E821. We also find that mu to e conversion is likely to occur at rate measurable by MECO, and there is a chance that K^0_L to mu e may be observable in an experiment using an intense proton source., Comment: 14 pages, 3 eps figures