Search

Direct detection of light dark matter can be significantly enhanced by up-scattering of dark matter with energetic particles in the cosmic ambient. This boosted dark matter flux can reach kinetic energies up to tens of MeV, while the typical kinetic energies of GeV mass dark matter particles in the Milky Way halo are of the order of keV. Dark matter boosted by energetic diffuse supernova background neutrinos can be detected only through nuclear or electron scattering in ground-based detectors requiring a non-zero interaction of dark matter with nucleon or electron, in addition to its interaction with neutrino. However, in the presence of dark matter-nucleon (electron) interaction, the scattering of dark matter with cosmic rays is unavoidable. Thus, we consider boosted dark matter resulting from diffuse supernova neutrinos as well as cosmic protons (electrons) considering both energy-dependent and energy-independent scattering cross-sections between dark matter and standard model particles. We explore this scenario in dark matter detectors such as XENONnT and neutrino detectors like Super-Kamiokande., Comment: 27 pages, 7 figures

We study the Leptogenesis and Dark Matter in the presence of an extra singlet complex scalar field in an extended discrete $\mathcal{Z_{\rm 3}}$ symmetry. The vacuum expectation value of the new scalar spontaneously breaks the $\mathcal{Z_{\rm 3}}$ symmetry. A remnant CP-like $\mathcal{Z_{\rm 2}}$ symmetry stabilizes the imaginary part of the complex scalar field which can act as a pseudo-Goldstone DM. The real part of the complex scalar couples to RHN opens up new decay channels which can lead to a larger CP-violation in generating the lepton asymmetry. Thus the singlet complex scalar plays a crucial role in understanding the Leptogenesis and Dark Matter parameter space. This singlet complex scalar is also responsible for the First-Order Phase Transition (FOPT) which may provide observable stochastic Gravitational wave signatures. We discuss the possible correlations among these three phenomena., Comment: 5 tables and 18 figures

We investigate the dynamics of the electroweak phase transition within an extended Standard Model framework that includes one real scalar $(\Phi)$ and one complex scalar $(S)$, both of which are SM gauge singlets. The global $U(1)$ symmetry is softly broken to a $\mathcal{Z}_3$ symmetry by the $S^3$ term in the scalar potential. After this $U(1)$ symmetry breaking, the imaginary component of the complex scalar $(S)$ acts as a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson (pNGB) dark matter candidate, naturally stabilized by $\mathcal{Z}_2$ symmetry of the scenario. Specially, the spontaneous breaking of the global $U(1)$ symmetry to a discrete $\mathcal{Z}_3$ subgroup can introduce effective cubic terms in the scalar potential, which facilitates a strong first-order phase transition. We analyze both single-step and multi-step first-order phase transitions, identifying the parameter space that satisfies the dark matter relic density constraints, complies with all relevant experimental constraints, and exhibits a strong first-order electroweak phase transition. The interplay of these criteria significantly restricts the model parameter space, often leading to an under-abundant relic density. Moreover, we delve into the gravitational wave signatures associated with this framework, offering valuable insights that complement traditional dark matter direct and indirect detection methods., Comment: 51 pages, 10 figures, 7 tables

We establish the possibility of having a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson (pNGB) Dark Matter (DM) candidate in the inspired Froggatt-Nielsen Singlet Model (iFNSM) wherein a direct connection exists between the DM mass and new flavon symmetry-breaking scale. We find a considerable allowed region of parameter space for the ensuing pseudoscalar DM, which is dependent upon the flavon Vacuum Expectation Value (VEV) and Yukawa couplings, over which it may be possible to explain the fermion mass hierarchy. Finally, we choose a Benchmark Point (BP) and perform detailed collider analyses to probe this DM state in the context of Run 3 of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Specifically, in this model, one obtains large missing transverse energy ($\slashed{E}_T$) when the DM particle is resonantly produced from the decay of a heavy Higgs field, along with multiple jets from Initial State Radiation (ISR). Thus, the ensuing $\slashed{E}_T$ + $n\, {\rm jets}~(n \geq 1)$ signature is an excellent probe of DM in this construct., Comment: 37 pages, 11 figures, 12 tables

The relativistic degrees of freedom ($N_{\rm eff}$) is one of the crucial cosmological parameters. The precise measurement of $N_{\rm eff}$ at the time of cosmic microwave background formation, by Planck 2018 can be used to understand the new fundamental interactions, in particular involving light mediators. Presence of any new particle with sufficient energy density and sizeable interactions with Standard Model particles at the temperature around $\sim$ MeV can significantly alter the neutrino decoupling and hence $N_{\rm eff}$. Thus the bound on $N_{\rm eff}$ can place stringent constraints on various beyond Standard Model paradigms involving light particles. $U(1)_X$ models are among such scenarios and are widely studied in several aspects. In this work, we consider several popular $U(1)_X$ models with light $Z'$ boson like $U(1)_{B-L}$, $U(1)_{B - 3L_i}$, $U(1)_{B_i - 3 L_j}$, $U(1)_{L_i - L_j}$; $i,j =1,2,3$ being the flavour indices and study their impact on $N_{\rm eff}$. We also examine the constraints from ground based experiments like Xenon1T, Borexino, trident, etc. Our analysis shows that for light mass $M_{Z'} \lesssim \mathcal{O} (\rm{MeV})$ the $N_{\rm eff}$ provides the most stringent constraints on the $Z'$ mass and coupling, far exceeding the existing constraints from other experiments., Comment: Accepted in PRD

The current upper limit on $N_{\rm eff}$ at the time of CMB by Planck 2018 can place stringent constraints in the parameter space of BSM paradigms where their additional interactions may affect neutrino decoupling. Motivated by this fact in this paper we explore the consequences of light gauge boson ($Z'$) emerging from local $U(1)_X$ symmetry in $N_{\rm eff}$ at the time of CMB. First, we analyze the generic $U(1)_X$ models with arbitrary charge assignments for the SM fermions and show that, in the context of $N_{\rm eff}$ the generic $U(1)_X$ gauged models can be broadly classified into two categories, depending on the charge assignments of first generation leptons. We then perform a detailed analysis with two specific $U(1)_X$ models: $U(1)_{B_3-3L_e}$ and $U(1)_{B_3-3L_\mu}$ and explore the contribution in $N_{\rm eff}$ due to the presence of $Z'$ realized in those models. For comparison, we also showcase the constraints from low energy experiments like: Borexino, Xenon 1T, neutrino trident, etc. We show that in a specific parameter space, particularly in the low mass region of $Z'$, the bound from $N_{\rm eff}$ (Planck 2018) is more stringent than the experimental constraints. Additionally, a part of the regions of the same parameter space may also relax the $H_0$ tension., Comment: Accepted in EPJC

The relic density of Dark Matter (DM) in the freeze-in scenario is highly dependent on the evolution history of the universe and changes significantly in a non-standard (NS) cosmological framework prior to Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN). In this scenario, an additional species dominates the energy budget of the universe at early times (before BBN), resulting in a larger cosmological expansion rate at a given temperature compared to the standard radiation-dominated (RD) universe. To investigate the production of DM in the freeze-in scenario, we consider both standard RD and NS cosmological picture before BBN and perform a comparative analysis. We extend the Standard Model (SM) particle content with a SM singlet DM particle $\chi $ and an axion-like particle (ALP) $a$. The interactions between ALP, SM particles, and DM are generated by higher dimensional effective operators. This setup allows the production of DM $\chi$ from SM bath through the mediation of ALP, via ALP-portal processes. These interactions involve non-renormalizable operators, leading to ultraviolet (UV) freeze-in, which depends on the reheating temperature ($T_{RH}$) of the early universe. In the NS cosmological scenario, the faster expansion rate suppresses the DM production processes, allowing for enhanced effective couplings between the visible and dark sectors to satisfy the observed DM abundance compared to RD scenario. This improved coupling increases the detection prospects for freeze-in DM via the ALP-portal, which is otherwise challenging to detect in RD universe due to small couplings involved. Using an effective field theory set-up, we show that various ALP searches such as in FASER, DUNE, and SHiP, etc. will be able to probe significant parameter space depending on the different model parameters., Comment: Accepted in JHEP

We investigate the phenomenology of a non-thermal dark matter (DM) candidate in the context of flavor models that explain the hierarchy in the masses and mixings of quarks and leptons via the Froggatt-Nielsen (FN) mechanism. A flavor-dependent $U(1)_{\rm FN}$ symmetry explains the fermion mass and mixing hierarchy, and also provides a mechanism for suppressed interactions of the DM, assumed to be a Majorana fermion, with the Standard Model (SM) particles, resulting in its FIMP (feebly interacting massive particle) character. Such feeble interactions are mediated by a flavon field through higher dimensional operators governed by the $U(1)_{\rm FN}$ charges. We point out a natural stabilizing mechanism for the DM within this framework with the choice of half-integer $U(1)_{\rm FN}$ charge $n$ for the DM fermion, along with integer charges for the SM fermions and the flavon field. In this flavon portal scenario, the DM is non-thermally produced from the decay of the flavon in the early universe which becomes a relic through the freeze-in mechanism. We explore the allowed parameter space for this DM candidate from relic abundance by solving the relevant Boltzmann equations. We find that reproducing the correct relic density requires the DM mass to be in the range $(100-300)$ keV for $n=7.5$ and $(3-10)$ MeV for $n=8.5$ where $n$ is the $U(1)_{\rm FN}$ charge of the DM fermion., Comment: Accepted for publication in JHEP ; Added a discussion on free streaming length in Section-5

The basic idea of this work is to achieve the observed relic density of a non-thermal dark matter(DM) and its connection with Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) via additional relativistic degrees of freedom which are simultaneously generated during the period $T_{\rm BBN}~{\rm to}~T_{\rm CMB}$ from a long-lived dark sector particle. To realize this phenomena we minimally extend the type-I seesaw scenario with a Dirac fermion singlet($\chi$) and a complex scalar singlet ($\varphi$) which transform non-trivially under an unbroken symmetry $\mathcal{Z}_3$. $\chi$ being the lightest particle in the dark sector acts as a stable dark matter candidate while the next to lightest state $\varphi$ operates like a long lived dark scalar particle. The initial density of $\varphi$ can be thermally produced through either self-interacting number changing processes ($3 \varphi \to 2 \varphi$) within dark sector or the standard annihilation to SM particles ($2 \varphi \to 2~ {\rm SM}$). The late time (after neutrino decoupling) non-thermal decay of $\varphi$ can produce dark matter in association with active neutrinos. The presence of extra relativistic neutrino degrees of freedom at the time of CMB can have a significant impact on $\Delta \rm N_{eff}$. Thus the precise measurement of $\Delta \rm N_{ eff}$ by current PLANCK 2018 collaboration and future experiments like SPT-3G and CMB-S4 can indirectly probe this non-thermal dark matter scenario which is otherwise completely secluded due to its tiny coupling with the standard model., Comment: Accepted for publication in JCAP

A color octet isodoublet can have esoteric origins and it complies with minimal flavour violation. In this study, we take a scenario where the well known Type-X Two-Higgs doublet model is augmented with a color octet isodoublet. We shed light on how such a setup can predict the recently observed value for the $W$-boson mass. We also evaluate the two-loop Barr-Zee contributions to muon $g-2$ stemming from the colored scalars. The parameter space compatible with the observed muon $g-2$ gets relaxed w.r.t. what it is in the pure Type-X 2HDM by virtue of the contribution from the colored scalars. The extended parameter region therefore successfully accounts for both the $W$-mass and muon $g-2$ anomalies successfully. Finally, a collider signature leading to $\tau^+ \tau^- b \bar{b}$ final state is explored at the 14 TeV LHC using both cut-based and multivariate techniques. Such a signal can confirm the existence of both colorless as well colored scalars that are introduced by this framework., Comment: 27 pages + references, 7 captioned figures, 10 tables

Exotic spin-$0$ states with unusual couplings with the gauge and matter fields of the Standard Model are worth exploring at the CERN LHC. Though our approach is largely model independent, we take inspiration from flavor models based on some discrete symmetries which predict a set of a scalar and a pseudoscalar having purely off-diagonal Yukawa interactions with quarks and leptons. In a previous paper, some of us explored how to decipher such exotic scalar and pseudoscalar states whose off-diagonal Yukawa couplings involve light quarks. In this work we follow a complementary path and focus on the Yukawa couplings that necessarily involve a top quark. If one such spin-$0$ state is lighter than the top quark, then the rare decay of the latter, on account of the high yield of the $t\bar t$ events, could provide a potential hunting ground of those exotic states particularly during the high luminosity phase of the LHC run. We carry out an exhaustive collider analysis of some promising signatures of those exotic states using sophisticated Machine Learning techniques and obtain considerable signal significance., Comment: 1+18 pages, 6 captioned figures, 8 Tables, Further clarifications added in the text, Accepted for publication in The European Physical Journal C

The existence of prolonged radiation domination prior to the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN), starting just after the inflationary epoch, is not yet established unanimously. If instead, the universe undergoes a non-standard cosmological phase, it will alter the Hubble expansion rate significantly and may also generate substantial entropy through non-adiabatic evolution. This leads to a thumping impact on the properties of relic species decoupled from the thermal bath before the revival of the standard radiation domination in the vicinity of the BBN. In this work, considering the Dirac nature of neutrinos, we have studied decoupling of ultra-relativistic right-handed neutrinos ($\nu_R$s) in presence of two possible non-standard cosmological phases. While in both cases we have modified Hubble parameters causing faster expansions in the early universe, one of the situations predicts a non-adiabatic evolution and thereby a slower redshift of the photon temperature due to the expansion. Considering the most general form of the collision term with Fermi-Dirac distribution and Pauli blocking factors, we have solved the Boltzmann equation numerically to obtain $\Delta{\rm N}_{\rm eff}$ for the three right-handed neutrinos. We have found that for a large portion of parameter space, the combined effect of early decoupling of $\nu_R$ as well as the slower redshift of photon bath can easily hide the signature of right-handed neutrinos, in spite of precise measurement of $\Delta{\rm N}_{\rm eff}$, at the next generation CMB experiments like CMB-S4, SPT-3G etc. This however will not be applicable for the scenarios with only fast expansion., Comment: 31 pages, 9 figures, Version accepted for publication in JCAP

Presence of any extra radiation energy density at the time of cosmic microwave background formation can significantly impact the measurement of the effective relativistic neutrino degrees of freedom or ${\rm \Delta N_{eff}}$ which is very precisely measured by the Planck collaboration. Here, we propose a scenario where a long lived inert scalar, which is very weakly coupled to dark sector, decays to a fermion dark matter via freeze-in mechanism plus standard model neutrinos at very low temperature $(T< T_{\rm BBN})$. We explore this model in the fast expanding universe, where it is assumed that the early epoch $(T > T_{\rm BBN})$ of the universe is dominated by a non-standard species $\Phi$ instead of the standard radiation. In this non-standard cosmological picture, such late time decay of the inert scalar can inject some entropy to the neutrino sector after it decouples from the thermal bath and this will make substantial contribution to ${\rm \Delta{N_{eff}}}$. Besides, in this scenario, the new contribution to $\Delta N_{\rm eff}$ is highly correlated with the dark matter sector. Thus, one can explore such feebly interacting dark matter particles (FIMP) by the precise measurement of $\Delta N_{\rm eff}$ using the current (Planck2018) and forthcoming (CMB-S4 \& SPT3G) experiments., Comment: 31 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables, Version accepted for publication in PRD

The detection of a single Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has allowed one to probe some properties of it, including the Yukawa and gauge couplings. However, in order to probe the Higgs potential, one has to rely on new production mechanisms, such as Higgs pair production. In this paper, we show that such a channel is also sensitive to the production and decay of a so-called `Flavon' field ($H_F$), a new scalar state that arises in models that attempt to explain the hierarchy of the Standard Model (SM) fermion masses. Our analysis also focuses on the other decay channels involving the Flavon particle, specifically the decay of the Flavon to a pair of $Z$ bosons ($H_F \to Z Z$) and the concurrent production of a top quark and charm quark ($H_F\to tc$), having one or more leptons in the final states. In particular, we show that, with 3000 fb$^{-1}$ of accumulated data at 14 TeV (the Run 3 stage) of the LHC an heavy Flavon $H_F$ with mass $M_{H_F} \simeq 2m_t $ can be explored with $3\sigma -5\sigma $ significance through these channels., Comment: 39 pages, 21 figures

We analyse in a model independent way the possibilities of digging out neutral exotic Higgs states, should they exist endowed with unconventional couplings with ordinary matter and gauge fields, at the 14 TeV run of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), adding some comparative studies for 13.6 and 13 TeV runs. Flavor models, based on some discrete symmetry groups, with extended scalar sectors are known to yield exotic spin-0 states, both CP-even and CP-odd, with purely flavor off-diagonal Yukawa couplings. The gauge interaction of one such CP-even state is also unusual that, unlike the Standard Model Higgs boson, it does not couple to gauge boson pairs. Such unconventional properties immune these exotic states from receiving traditional collider and electroweak constraints, and hence those states could be light. Without committing to any specific model, exploiting their peculiar Yukawa and gauge properties, we explore the discovery potential of those exotic Higgs states through some interesting topologies by figuring out some specific kinematic variables that suppress the backgrounds., Comment: 1+23 pages, 8 captioned figures: v2: Discussions on scalar and pseudoscalar Yukawa couplings in the light of D-D(bar) mixing included; v3: 1+24 pages, 11 captioned figures, more benchmark points studied including systematic uncertainties in a new Section with additional figures and tables. Minor change in manuscript title. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D

In this work, we explore the signals of an $S_3$-symmetric two Higgs doublet model with two generations of vector-like leptons (VLLs) at the proposed International Linear Collider (ILC). The lightest neutral component of the VLL in this model provides a viable dark matter (DM) candidate satisfying the current relic density data as well as circumventing all direct and indirect DM search constraints. Some representative benchmark points have been selected with low, medium and high DM masses, satisfying all theoretical and experimental constraints of the model and constraints coming from the DM sector. The VLLs (both neutral and charged) will be produced in pair leading to multi-lepton and multi-jet final states. We show that the ILC will prove to be a much more efficient and useful machine to hunt for such signals compared to LHC. Using traditional cut-based analysis as well as sophisticated multivariate analysis, we perform a detailed analysis of some promising channels containing mono-lepton plus di-jet, di-lepton, four-lepton and four jets along with missing transverse energy in the final state at 1 TeV ILC., Comment: Minor changes with the previous version, version accepted in European Physics Journal C

The EW-$\nu_R$ model was constructed in order to provide a seesaw scenario operating at the Electroweak scale $\Lambda_{EW} \sim 246$ GeV, keeping the same SM gauge structure. In this model, right-handed neutrinos are non-sterile and have masses of the order of $\Lambda_{EW}$. They can be searched for at the LHC along with heavy mirror quarks and leptons, the lightest of which have large decay lengths. The seesaw mechanism requires the existence of a complex scalar which is singlet under the SM gauge group. The imaginary part of this complex scalar denoted by $A^{0}_s$ is proposed to be the sub-MeV dark matter candidate in this manuscript. We find that the sub-MeV scalar can serve as a viable non-thermal feebly interacting massive particle (FIMP)-DM candidate. This $A_s^0$ can be a naturally light sub-MeV DM candidate due to its nature as a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone (PNG) boson in the model. We show that the well-studied freeze out mechanism falls short in this particular framework producing DM overabundance. We identify that the freeze in mechanism produce the correct order of relic density for the sub-MeV DM candidate satisfying all applicable constraints. We then discuss the DM parameter space allowed by the current bounds from the direct and indirect searches for this sub-MeV DM. This model has a very rich scalar sector, consistent with various experimental constraints, predicts a $\sim 125$ GeV scalar with the SM Higgs characteristics satisfying the current LHC Higgs boson data., Comment: 48 pages and 12 figures

We study the $S_3$-symmetric two Higgs doublet model by adding two generations of vector like leptons (VLL) which are odd under a discrete $Z_2$ symmetry. The lightest neutral component of the VLL acts as a dark matter (DM) whereas the full VLL set belongs to a dark sector with no mixings allowed with the standard model fermions. We analyse the model in light of dark matter and collider searches. We show that the DM is compatible with the current relic density data as well as satisfying all direct and indirect dark matter search constraints. We choose some representative points in the model parameter space allowed by all aforementioned dark matter constraints and present a detailed collider analysis of multi-lepton signal viz. the mono-lepton, di-lepton, tri-lepton and four-lepton along with missing transverse energy in the final state using both the cut-based analysis and multivariate analysis respectively at the high luminosity 14 TeV LHC run., Comment: 51 Pages, 10 Captioned figures and 20 Tables, minor changes made in the manuscript, version accepted for publication in The European Physical Journal C journal

The very large (100-1000) mass-to-light ratio applicable to the ultra-faint dwarf galaxies (UFDs) implies a high concentration of dark matter, thus rendering them ideal theatres for indirect signatures of dark matter. In this paper, we consider 14 recently discovered UFDs and study the electromagnetic radiation emanating from them over a wide range, from gamma ray down to radio frequencies. We analyze the Fermi-LAT data on high energy gamma rays and radio fluxes at the GMRT and VLA to obtain upper limits on annihilation cross section $\langle\sigma v\rangle$ in a model independent way. We further discuss the sensitivity of the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope in probing the synchrotron radiation from the aforementioned UFDs. We also investigate the dependences of the said upper limits on the uncertainties in the determination of various astrophysical parameters., Comment: 47 pages, 14 figures, Same as published version

Color-octet scalars arise in various Grand Unification scenarios and also in other models of new physics. They are also postulated for minimal flavour violation. Purely phenomenological imprints of such scalars are therefore worth looking at. Motivated by this, we perform a complete one-loop calculation of the $H^+ \to W^+ Z (\g)$ decay in a two Higgs doublet model augmented by a color-octet $SU(2)_L$ scalar doublet. The computation is conveniently segregated into colorless and colored components. The color-octet part of the amplitude, being scaled by the color-factor, provides an overall enhancement to the form factors. Crucial constraints from perturbative unitarity, positivity of the scalar potential, oblique parameters, Higgs signal strengths and direct search of a charged Higgs and color-octet scalars are folded-in into the analysis. Sensitivity of the loop-induced $H^+ \to W^+ Z (\g)$ vertex to other model parameters is elucidated. Finally, the prospect of observing a loop-induced $H^+ \to W^+ Z (\g)$ interaction at the future hadronic collisions is also discussed., Comment: 27 pages (in 2 column format), 4 tables, 15 captioned figures. Version published in EPJC

We suggest searching for the charged Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) via $cg \to b H^+ \to b t \bar b$. In the general two Higgs Doublet Model, extra top Yukawa couplings $\rho_{tc}$ and $\rho_{tt}$ can drive the disappearance of antimatter from the Universe, while $\bar cbH^+$ and $\bar tbH^+$ couple with strength $\rho_{tc}V_{tb}$ and $\rho_{tt}V_{tb}$, respectively. For $\rho_{tc},\, \rho_{tt} \sim 0.5$ and $m_{H^+} \sim 300$--500 GeV, evidence could emerge from LHC Run 2 data at hand, and discovery by adding Run 3 data in the near future., Comment: matches the published version

The flavorful $Z^\prime$ model with its couplings restricted to the left-handed second generation leptons and third generation quarks can potentially resolve the observed anomalies in $R_K$ and $R_{K^*}$. After examining the current limits on this model from various low-energy processes, we probe this scenario at 14 TeV high-luminosity run of the LHC using two complementary channels: one governed by the coupling of $Z'$ to $b$-quarks and the other to muons. We also discuss the implications of the latest LHC high mass resonance searches in the dimuon channel on the model parameter space of our interest., Comment: 23 pages, 13 figures, 3 tables, Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 have been modified, references have been updated, footnote added on page 12, version accepted for publication in The European Physical Journal C

The fermionic Z-portal dark matter model suffers from severe constraints from direct detection experiments. However, a narrow parameter space around the Z-funnel region is beyond the reach due to the resonance annihilation. In this paper, we provide an intriguing collider prospect for probing the Z-funnel dark matter mass range at the future lepton colliders including the beam polarization feature. We have done a comprehensive analysis for mono-photon signal at the colliders for such a dark matter. A realistic estimation for the 90% C.L. constraints with the systematic beam uncertainties has also been provided., Comment: version 2, title modified, some comments added. Published version

One of the most popular models that is known to be able to solve the lepton flavour universality violating charged ($b\to c$) and neutral current ($b\to s$) anomalies is the Leptoquark Model. In this work we examine the {\it multijet} + $\mET$ collider signature of a vector leptoquark ($U_1$) which has the potential to mediate both the charged and neutral current processes at tree level. From our collider analysis we derive the exclusion limits on mass for the $U_1$ leptoquark at 95\% C.L. at the current and future experiment of the Large Hadron Collider. We also calculate the effect of such a leptoquark in $b\to c$ observables., Comment: Page no. 25, 6 captioned figures, 2 tables. Further clarification added and version accepted for publication in Journal of Physics G

The extension of the Standard Model (SM) with two complex $SU(2)_{L}$ scalar triplets enables one to have the Type II seesaw mechanism operative consistently with texture-zero neutrino mass matrices. This framework predicts additional doubly charged, singly charged and neutral spinless states. We show that, for certain values of the model parameters, there is sufficient mass splitting between the two doubly charged states ( $H_1^{\pm\pm}, H_2^{\pm\pm}$) that allows the decay $H_1^{\pm\pm} \to H_2^{\pm\pm} h $, and thus leads to a unique signature of this scenario. We show that the final state $2(\ell^{\pm} \ell^{\pm}) + 4b + \mET~$ arising from this mode can be observed at the high energy, high luminosity (HE-HL) run of the 14 TeV Large Hadron Collider (LHC), and also at a 100 TeV Future Circular Collider (FCC-hh)., Comment: Table 4 and 5 modified, Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 modified accordingly, version accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.D

We have explored a minimal supersymmetric standard model scenario extended by one pair of gauge singlets per generation. In the model light neutrino masses and their mixings are generated via inverse seesaw mechanism. In such a scenario, a right-handed sneutrino can be the lightest supersymmetric particle and a cold Dark Matter (DM) candidate. If Casas-Ibarra parametrisation is imposed on the Dirac neutrino Yukawa coupling matrix ($Y_{\nu}$) to fit the neutrino oscillation data, the resulting $Y_{\nu}$ is highly constrained from the lepton flavor violating (LFV) decay constraints. The smallness of $Y_{\nu}$ requires the sneutrino DM to co-annihilate with other sparticle(s) in order to satisfy DM relic density constraint. We have studied sneutrino co-annihilation with wino and observed that this sneutrino-wino compressed parameter space gives rise to a novel same-sign trilepton signal for the stop quark, which is more effective than the conventional stop search channels in the present framework. We have shown that the choice of neutrino mass hierarchy strongly affects the signal event rate, making it easier to probe the scenario with inverted mass hierarchy., Comment: Text and references added, accepted in Phys.Rev.D

Considering the recent experimental results on exclusive semileptonic $B$ meson decays showing sizable departure from their Standard Model prediction of lepton flavor universality and keeping ongoing and proposed non-standard Higgs searches in mind, we explore the charged current flavor observables ($\mathcal{R}_{D^{(*)}}$, $\mathcal{R}_{J/\psi}$), among other $b\to c\ell \nu$ transitions, in the presence of a relevant scalar current effective new physics operator. We use $B_c$ lifetime and predicted bounds on the branching fraction of $B_c \to \tau \nu$ decay as constraints. We show the allowed parameter space in terms of the real and imaginary parts of the corresponding Wilson coefficients for such interactions. Under the light of obtained results, we study the prospect of two benchmark models, rendering the Wilson coefficients real (Georgi-Machacek (GM)) and complex (Leptoquark (LQ)) respectively. We show that constraints from $b\to c\ell \nu$ on GM parameters are consistent with other flavor constraints on the model, if we drop the \Babar~results. Including those disfavors the model by more than $3\sigma$. On the other hand, one benchmark LQ scenario, which gives rise to a single scalar current effective interaction, is still allowed within $68\%$ confidence level, albeit with a shrunk parameter space., Comment: 19 pages, 3 captioned figures, 6 tables. Multiple corrections and additions are made in the analysis section. Version accepted in IJMPA

The Type-II seesaw model is a well-motivated new physics scenario to address the origin of the neutrino mass issue. We show that this model can easily accommodate an absolutely stable vacuum until the Planck scale, however with strong limit on the exotic scalar masses and the corresponding mixing angle. We examine the model prediction at the current and future high luminosity run of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) for the scalar masses and mixing angles fixed at such high-scale valid region. Specifically, we device the associated and pair production of the charged scalars as a new probe of the model at the LHC. We show that for a particular signal process the model can be tested with $5\sigma$ signal significance even at the present run of the LHC., Comment: Further clarification added, Table 2 updated, figure 5,8,9 and 10 modified, version accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.D

In the context of a left-right symmetric model, we introduce one full generation of vectorlike lepton doublets (both left and right-handed) together with their mirror doublets. We show that the lightest vectorlike neutrino in the model is right-handed, and can serve as the dark matter candidate. We find that the relic density, as well as the direct and indirect DM detection bounds, are satisfied for a large range of the parameter space of the model. In accordance with the parameter space, we then explore the possibility of detecting signals of the model at both the LHC and the ILC, in the pair production of the associated vectorlike charged leptons which decay into final states including dark matter. A comprehensive analysis of signal and backgrounds shows that the signals at the ILC, especially with polarized beams are likely to be visible for light vectorlike leptons, even with low luminosity, rendering our model highly predictable and experimentally testable., Comment: 43 pages, 13 captioned figures, 9 tables; comments added, references updated, typos are fixed, matches with journal version

We consider a scenario of Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) with $R$-parity violation, where the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) is the lighter sbottom $(\tilde b_1)$. We study the production of a sbottom pair at the LHC and their subsequent decays through the baryon number violating $(U D D)$ operators leading to a top pair with two light quarks. Looking for both semi-leptonic and fully hadronic (no leptons) final states, we perform cut-based as well as multivariate analyses (MVA) to estimate the signal significance at the 13 TeV run of the LHC. We find that a cut-based analysis can probe sbottom mass upto $\sim 650 $ GeV which may be extended upto $\sim 750 $ GeV using MVA with $300~{\rm fb}^{-1}$ integrated luminosity. The fully hadronic final state, however, is not as promising., Comment: 19 pages, 9 figures, 8 tables, revised leptonic analysis, new figures added, notable improvement in LHC sensitivity

The presence of $R$-parity violating (RPV) supersymmetric interactions involving high-energy neutrinos can lead to resonant production of TeV-scale squarks inside large-volume neutrino detectors. Using the ultra-high energy neutrino events observed recently at the IceCube, with the fact that for a given power-law flux of astrophysical neutrinos, there is no statistically significant deviation in the current data from the Standard Model expectations, we derive robust upper limits on the RPV couplings as a function of the resonantly-produced squark mass, independent of the other unknown model parameters, as long as the squarks decay dominantly to 2-body final states involving leptons and quarks through the RPV couplings. With more statistics, we expect these limits to be comparable/complementary to the existing limits from direct collider searches and other low-energy processes., Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures; minor changes, version to appear in Phys. Lett. B

We consider the observable effects of CP-violating anomalous $ZZh$ interaction arising from gauge invariant dimension-6 operators at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), with the purpose of distinguishing them from not only the standard model effects but also those of CP-even anomalous interactions of similar nature. The postulation of a gauge invariant origin makes various couplings of this kind interrelated. The updated constraints from the LHC as well as limits from neutron and electron dipole moments are used in selecting the benchmark interaction strengths. We use some asymmetry parameters that have no contribution from standard or CP-even anomalous interactions. Parton showering and detector level simulation is included to make our analysis as realistic as possible. On the whole, we conclude that gauge invariant interaction of strength $\geq 40/\rm TeV^{2} $ can be successfully isolated using integrated luminosities in the 1.5-3.0 $\rm ab^{-1}$ range.

At the LHC, the Littlest Higgs Model with $T$-parity is characterised by various production channels. If the $T$-odd quarks are heavier than the exotic partners of the $W$ and the $Z$, then associated production can be as important as the pair-production of the former. Studying both, we look for final states comprising at least one lepton, jets and missing transverse energy. We consider all the SM processes that could conspire to contribute as background to our signals, and perform a full detector level simulation of the signal and background to estimate the discovery potential at the current run as well as at the scheduled upgrade of the LHC. We also show that, for one of the channels, the reconstruction of two tagged $b$-jets at the Higgs mass $(M_h = 125~{\rm GeV})$ provides us with an unambiguous hint for this model., Comment: 22 pages, 3 captioned figures, 8 Tables; minor modifications, version published in JHEP

In the context of minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM), we discuss the possibility of the lightest Higgs boson with mass $M_h = 98 $ GeV to be consistent with the $2.3\sigma$ excess observed at the LEP in the decay mode $e^+e^- \to Zh$, with $h \to b {\bar b}$. In the same region of the MSSM parameter space, the heavier Higgs boson $(H)$ with mass $M_H \sim 125 $ GeV is required to be consistent with the latest data on Higgs coupling measurements at the end of 7 + 8 TeV LHC run with $25{\rm fb}^{-1}$ of data. While scanning the MSSM parameter space, we impose constraints coming from flavour physics, relic density of the cold dark matter as well as direct dark matter searches. We study the possibility of observing this light Higgs boson in vector boson fusion process and associated production with $W/Z$ boson at the high luminosity $(3000~{\rm fb}^{-1})$ run of the 14 TeV LHC. Our analysis shows that this scenario can hardly be ruled out even at the high luminosity run of the LHC. However, the precise measurement of the Higgs signal strength ratios can play a major role to distinguish this scenario from the canonical MSSM one., Comment: 31 pages, 7 figures, 8 tables; updated Higgs data used, new figures added, results unchanged. Accepted for publication in PRD

We explore the possibility of distinguishing neutrino mass hierarchies through the neutrino signal from dark matter annihilation at neutrino telescopes. We consider a simple extension of the standard model where the neutrino masses and mixing angles are obtained via the type-II seesaw mechanism as an explicit example. We show that future extensions of IceCube neutrino telescope may detect the neutrino signal from DM annihilation at the Galactic Center and inside the Sun, and differentiate between the normal and inverted mass hierarchies, in this model., Comment: 19 pages, 7 captioned figures, minor changes in text, typos are fixed, version accepted in JCAP

We consider the most general set of $SU(2) \times U(1)$ invariant CP-violating operators of dimension six, which contribute to $VVh$ interactions ($V = W, Z, \gamma$). Our aim is to constrain any CP-violating new physics above the electroweak scale via the effective couplings that arise when such physics is integrated out. For this purpose, we use, in turn, electroweak precision data, global fits of Higgs data at the Large Hadron Collider and the electric dipole moments of the neutron and the electron. We thus impose constraints mainly on two-parameter and three-parameter spaces. We find that the constraints from the electroweak precision data are the weakest. Among the existing Higgs search channels, considerable constraints come from the diphoton signal strength. We note that potential contribution to $h \rightarrow \gamma Z$ may in principle be a useful constraining factor, but it can be utilized only in the high energy run. The contributions to electric dipole moments mostly lead to the strongest constraints, though somewhat fine-tuned combinations of more than one parameter with large magnitudes are allowed. We also discuss constraints on gauge boson trilinear couplings which depend on the parameters of the CP-violating operators ., Comment: Published in Physical Review D

Higgs signatures from the cascade decays of light stops are an interesting possibility in the next to minimal supersymmetric standard model (NMSSM). We investigate the potential reach of the light stop mass at the 13 TeV run of the LHC by means of five NMSSM benchmark points where this signature is dominant. These benchmark points are compatible with current Higgs coupling measurements, LHC constraints, dark matter relic density and direct detection constraints. We consider single and di-lepton search strategies, as well as the jet-substructure technique to reconstruct the Higgs bosons. We find that one can probe stop masses up to 1.2 TeV with 300 $\rm fb^{-1}$ luminosity via the di-lepton channel, while with the jet-substructure method, stop masses up to 1 TeV can be probed with 300 $\rm fb^{-1}$ luminosity. We also investigate the possibility of the appearance of multiple Higgs peaks over the background in the fat-jet mass distribution, and conclude that such a possibility is viable only at the high luminosity run of 13 TeV LHC., Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures; Two figures updated, typos corrected. Matched with the published version

We consider a two-Higgs doublet scenario containing three $SU(2)_L$ singlet heavy neutrinos with Majorana masses. The second scalar doublet as well as the neutrinos are odd under a $Z_2$ symmetry. This scenario not only generates Majorana masses for the light neutrinos radiatively but also makes the lighter of the neutral $Z_2$-odd scalars an eligible dark matter candidate, in addition to triggering leptogenesis at the scale of the heavy neutrino masses. Taking two representative values of this mass scale, we identify the allowed regions of the parameter space of the model, which are consistent with all dark matter constraints. At the same time, the running of quartic couplings in the scalar potential to high scales is studied, thus subjecting the regions consistent with dark matter constraints to further requirements of vacuum stability, perturbativity and unitarity. It is found that part of the parameter space is consistent with all of these requirements all the way up to the Planck scale, and also yields the correct signal strength in the diphoton channel for the scalar observed at the Large Hadron Collider., Comment: v2; 24 pages, 8 figures, new figures and comments added, reference list updated, matches with published version