Search

We discuss the exclusive lepton flavor violating (LFV) decays modes based on $b\to d\ell_i\ell_j$ and $b\to s\ell_i\ell_j$ by considering the ground state mesons and baryons. After spelling out the expressions for such decay rates in a low energy effective theory which includes generic contributions arising from physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM), we show that the experimental bounds on meson decays can be used to bound the corresponding modes involving baryons. We find, for example, $\mathcal{B}(\Lambda_b\to \Lambda\mu\tau)\lesssim 4\times 10^{-5}$. We also consider two specific models and constrain the relevant LFV couplings by using the low energy observables. In the first model we assume the Higgs mediated LFV and find the resulting decay rates to be too small to be experimentally detectable. We also emphasize that the regions favored by the bounds $\mathcal{B}(h\to\mu\tau)^\mathrm{Atlas}$ and $\mathcal{B}(h\to e\tau)^\mathrm{Atlas}$ are not compatible with $\mathcal{B}(\mu\to e\gamma)^\mathrm{MEG}$ to $1\sigma$. In the second model we assume LFV mediated by a heavy $Z'$ boson and find that the corresponding $b$-hadron branching fractions can be $\mathcal{O}(10^{-6})$, thus possibly within experimental reach at LHCb and Belle~II.

The Belle-II experiment has recently measured $\mathcal{B}(B^+\to K^+\nu\bar{\nu})$, which appears to be almost $3\sigma$ larger than its Standard Model (SM) prediction. In this talk, I will critically revisit the status of the SM predictions for the $B\to K^{(\ast)}\nu\bar{\nu}$ decays, and discuss the interpretation of the recent Belle-II measurement in terms of a general Effective Field Theory, as well as concrete models of physics beyond the SM., Comment: Contribution to the 2024 Electroweak session of the 58th Rencontres de Moriond. Based on arXiv:2301.06990 and arXiv:2309.02246

We show that positivity of the imaginary part of forward elastic amplitudes for perturbative scattering is equivalent to consistency of the entanglement generated by the S-matrix, for states with arbitrary internal quantum numbers such as flavor. We also analyze "disentanglers," certain highly entangled initial states for which the action of the S-matrix is to decrease subsystem entanglement., Comment: 7 pages (+ 5 supplemental), 1 figure

Recently, Belle II reported on the first measurement of $\mathcal{B}(B^\pm\to K^\pm \nu\bar{\nu})$ which appears to be almost $3\sigma$ larger than predicted in the Standard Model. We point out the important correlation with $\mathcal{B}(B\to K^{\ast} \nu\bar{\nu})$ so that the measurement of that decay mode could help restraining the possible options for building the model of New Physics. We then try to interpret this new experimental result in terms of physics beyond the Standard Model by using SMEFT and find that a scenario with coupling only to $\tau$ can accommodate the current experimental constraints but fails in getting a desired $R_{D^{(\ast )}}^\mathrm{exp}/R_{D^{(\ast )}}^\mathrm{SM}$, unless one turns the other SMEFT operators that are not related to $b\to s\ell\ell$ or/and $b\to s\nu\nu$., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures. Corrected some typos and improved the discussion

A muon collider would enable the big jump ahead in energy reach that is needed for a fruitful exploration of fundamental interactions. The challenges of producing muon collisions at high luminosity and 10~TeV centre of mass energy are being investigated by the recently-formed International Muon Collider Collaboration. This Review summarises the status and the recent advances on muon colliders design, physics and detector studies. The aim is to provide a global perspective of the field and to outline directions for future work., Comment: 118 pages, 103 figures

In this letter, we use LHC data from the Drell-Yan processes $pp\to\ell_i\ell_j$ (with $i\neq j$) to derive model-independent upper limits on lepton-flavor-violating meson decays. Our analysis is based on an Effective Field Theory (EFT) approach and it does not require a specific assumption regarding the basis of effective operators. We find that current LHC data (140~$\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$) already provides competitive limits on $B(B\to \pi e \tau)$ and $B(B\to \pi \mu \tau)$ with respect to the ones obtained through experimental searches at the $B$-factories. Moreover, we derive upper limits on several decays that have not been searched for experimentally yet, such as $D^0\to e\tau$ in the charm sector, and various semileptonic decays such as $B\to \rho \mu\tau$, $B_s\to K \mu\tau$ and $B_s\to\phi\mu\tau$. Lastly, we discuss the validity of the EFT description of LHC data and the impact of loop corrections in our analysis., Comment: 11 pages, 2 tables, 4 figs; typos corrected, published in EPJC

In this letter we revisit the Standard Model predictions for $\mathcal{B}(B\to K^{(\ast)}\nu\bar{\nu})$ and discuss the opportunities that open up when combining its partial decay rate with that of $B\to K^{(\ast)}\ell\ell$. In the Standard Model a suitable ratio of these two modes can be used to extract $C_9^\mathrm{eff}$, which is essential for a reliable phenomenological analysis of the $B\to K^{(\ast)}\ell\ell$ angular observables. The same ratio also proves to be more sensitive to the presence of New Physics in many plausible extensions of the Standard Model. We also suggest that the separate measurement of $\mathcal{B}(B\to K\nu\bar{\nu})$ for high and for low $q^2$'s can be helpful for testing the assumed shape of the vector form factor, because the lattice QCD data are obtained at high $q^2$'s, whereas the low $q^2$ region is obtained through an extrapolation., Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures. Published version

Decays based on the $b\to s\gamma$ transition are expected to yield left-handed photons in the Standard Model, but could be particularly sensitive to New Physics contributions modifying the short-distance Wilson coefficients $\mathcal{C}_7$ and $\mathcal{C}_{7'}$ defined in the low-energy Effective Field Theory. These coefficients can be determined by combining observables of several modes, among which $B_s\to\phi ee$ at low $q^2$, in a kinematic range where the photon-pole is dominant. We investigate the impact of $B_s-\bar{B}_s$ mixing on the angular observables available for this mode, which induces a time-dependent modulation governed by interference terms between mixing and decay that are sensitive to the moduli and phases of $\mathcal{C}_7$ and $\mathcal{C}_{7'}$. These interference terms can be extracted through a time-dependent analysis but they also affect time-integrated observables. In particular, we show that the asymmetries $A_T^{(2)}$ and $A_T^{(\text{Im});CP}$ receive terms of potentially similar size from mixing-independent and mixing-induced terms, and we discuss how the constraints coming from the angular analysis of $B_s\to\phi ee$ at low $q^2$ should be interpreted in the presence of mixing., Comment: 32 pages, 9 figures, version published in JHEP

HighPT is a Mathematica package for the analysis of high-energy data of semileptonic transitions at hadron colliders. It allows to compute high-$p_T$ tail observables for semileptonic processes, i.e. Drell-Yan cross sections, for dilepton and monolepton final states at the LHC. These observables can be calculated at tree level within the Standard Model Effective Field Theory, including the relevant operators up to dimension eight to ensure a consistent description of the cross section including terms of $\mathcal{O}(\Lambda^{-4})$ in the cutoff scale $\Lambda$. For New Physics models with new mediators that can be resolved at LHC energies, HighPT can also account for the full propagation effects of these new bosonic states at tree level. Using the available data from the high-$p_T$ tails in the relevant LHC run-II searches by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations, HighPT can also construct the corresponding likelihoods for all possible flavors of the leptonic final states. As an illustration, we derive and compare constraints on Wilson coefficients at different orders in the Effective Field Theory expansion, and we investigate lepton flavor violation for the $S_3$ leptoquark model. The HighPT code is publicly available at https://github.com/HighPT/HighPT., Comment: 34 pages

We investigate the high-$p_T$ tails of the $pp\to \ell \nu$ and $pp \to \ell \ell$ Drell-Yan processes as probes of New Physics in semileptonic interactions with an arbitrary flavor structure. For this purpose, we provide a general decomposition of the $2\to2$ scattering amplitudes in terms of form-factors that we match to specific scenarios, such as the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT), including all relevant operators up to dimension-$8$, as well as ultraviolet scenarios giving rise to tree-level exchange of new bosonic mediators with masses at the TeV scale. By using the latest LHC run-II data in the monolepton ($e\nu$, $\mu\nu$, $\tau\nu$) and dilepton ($ee$, $\mu\mu$, $\tau\tau$, $e\mu$, $e\tau$, $\mu\tau$) production channels, we derive constraints on the SMEFT Wilson coefficients for semileptonic four-fermion and dipole operators with the most general flavor structure, as well as on all possible leptoquark models. For the SMEFT, we discuss the range of validity of the EFT description, the relevance of $\mathcal{O}(1/\Lambda^2)$ and $\mathcal{O}(1/\Lambda^4)$ truncations, the impact of $d=8$ operators and the effects of different quark-flavor alignments. Finally, as a highlight, we extract for several New Physics scenarios the combined limits from high-$p_T$ processes, electroweak pole measurements and low-energy flavor data for the $b\to c\tau\nu$ transition, showing the complementarity between these different observables. Our results are compiled in {\tt HighPT}, a package in {\tt Mathematica} which provides a simple way for users to extract the Drell-Yan tails likelihoods for semileptonic effective operators and for leptoquark models., Comment: Corrected an issue in the Monte Carlo simulation for charged current processes

We discuss a model that can accommodate the $B$-physics anomalies, based on combining two scalar leptoquarks, $R_2$ and $S_3$, of mass $\mathcal{O}(1\,\mathrm{TeV})$, and that we proposed in our previous paper. We update the analysis of its parameter space and show that a model remains viable and consistent with a number of low energy and high energy flavor physics constraints. Since the model predicts a non-zero New Physics phase, we discuss the possibility to test its contribution to the neutron electric dipole moment and to the angular distributions of the exclusive $b\to c\tau \bar \nu$ decays. We find that the model can provide a significant enhancement to $\mathcal{B}(B\to K^{(\ast)}\nu\nu)$ and provides both the upper and lower bounds to $\mathcal{B}(B\to K^{(\ast)}\mu\tau)$., Comment: 11pages, 5 figures

In the path towards a muon collider with center of mass energy of 10 TeV or more, a stage at 3 TeV emerges as an appealing option. Reviewing the physics potential of such muon collider is the main purpose of this document. In order to outline the progression of the physics performances across the stages, a few sensitivity projections for higher energy are also presented. There are many opportunities for probing new physics at a 3 TeV muon collider. Some of them are in common with the extensively documented physics case of the CLIC 3 TeV energy stage, and include measuring the Higgs trilinear coupling and testing the possible composite nature of the Higgs boson and of the top quark at the 20 TeV scale. Other opportunities are unique of a 3 TeV muon collider, and stem from the fact that muons are collided rather than electrons. This is exemplified by studying the potential to explore the microscopic origin of the current $g$-2 and $B$-physics anomalies, which are both related with muons., Comment: 73 pages, 28 figures; Contribution to Snowmass 2021

The perspective of designing muon colliders with high energy and luminosity, which is being investigated by the International Muon Collider Collaboration, has triggered a growing interest in their physics reach. We present a concise summary of the muon colliders potential to explore new physics, leveraging on the unique possibility of combining high available energy with very precise measurements., Comment: 21 pages, 7 figures; Contribution to Snowmass 2021

The long-standing muon g-2 anomaly can be explained by heavy new physics particles through chirally enhanced contributions. It has been recently proposed that a muon collider running at center-of-mass energies of several TeV could test these new physics scenarios in a model-independent way, through the study of high-energy processes such as mu+ mu- --> h gamma. In this work, we validate these findings, based on effective field theories, by considering selected renormalizable simplified models and by computing this one-loop process in full generality. Furthermore, we explore the interplay of direct and indirect high-energy searches to pin down the details of the underlying new physics model accommodating the muon g-2 anomaly., Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures. v2: minor modifications, accepted for publication in Physical Review D. Mathematica notebook with general expressions for the mu+ mu- --> h gamma amplitude added as an ancillary file

We study the impact of triple-leptoquark interactions on matter stability for two specific proton decay topologies that arise at the tree- and one-loop level if and when they coexist. We demonstrate that the one-loop level topology is much more relevant than the tree-level one when it comes to the proton decay signatures despite the usual loop-suppression factor. We subsequently present detailed analysis of the triple-leptoquark interaction effects on the proton stability within one representative scenario to support our claim, where the scenario in question simultaneously features a tree-level topology that yields three-body proton decay $p\to e^+ e^+ e^-$ and a one-loop level topology that induces two-body proton decays $p\to \pi^0 e^+$ and $p\to \pi^+ \bar{\nu}$. We also provide a comprehensive list of the leading-order proton decay channels for all non-trivial cubic and quartic contractions involving three scalar leptoquark multiplets that generate triple-leptoquark interactions of our interest, where in the latter case one of the scalar multiplets is the Standard Model Higgs doublet., Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures; Minor corrections and references added

Rare meson decays are among the most sensitive probes of both heavy and light new physics. Among them, new physics searches using kaons benefit from their small total decay widths and the availability of very large datasets. On the other hand, useful complementary information is provided by hyperon decay measurements. We summarize the relevant phenomenological models and the status of the searches in a comprehensive list of kaon and hyperon decay channels. We identify new search strategies for under-explored signatures, and demonstrate that the improved sensitivities from current and next-generation experiments could lead to a qualitative leap in the exploration of light dark sectors., Comment: 108 pages, 25 figures, 9 tables, matches the published version

This paper presents the prospects for a precise measurement of the branching fraction of the leptonic $B_{c}^+\to \tau^+ \nu_\tau$ decay at the Future Circular Collider (FCC-ee) running at the $Z$-pole. A detailed description of the simulation and analysis framework is provided. To select signal candidates, two Boosted Decision Tree algorithms are employed and optimised. The first stage suppresses inclusive $b\bar{b}$, $c\bar{c}$, and $q\bar{q}$ backgrounds using event-based topological information. A second stage utilises the properties of the hadronic $\tau^{+} \to \pi^+ \pi^+ \pi^- \bar{\nu}_\tau$ decay to further suppress these backgrounds, and is also found to achieve high rejection for the $B^+\to \tau^+ \nu_\tau$ background. The number of $B_{c}^+\to \tau^+ \nu_\tau$ candidates is estimated for various Tera-$Z$ scenarios, and the potential precision of signal yield and branching fraction measurements evaluated. The phenomenological impact of such measurements on various New Physics scenarios is also explored., Comment: 31 pages, 11 figures

We revisit the possibilities of accommodating the experimental indications of the lepton flavor universality violation in $b$-hadron decays in the minimal scenarios in which the Standard Model is extended by the presence of a single $\mathcal{O}(1\,\mathrm{TeV})$ leptoquark state. To do so we combine the most recent low energy flavor physics constraints, including $R_{K^{(\ast)}}^\mathrm{exp}$ and $R_{D^{(\ast)}}^\mathrm{exp}$, and combine them with the bounds on the leptoquark masses and their couplings to quarks and leptons as inferred from the direct searches at the LHC and the studies of the large $p_T$ tails of the $pp\to \ell\ell$ differential cross section. We find that none of the scalar leptoquarks of $m_\mathrm{LQ} \simeq 1\div 2$ TeV can accommodate the $B$-anomalies alone. Only the vector leptoquark, known as $U_1$, can provide a viable solution which, in the minimal setup, provides an interesting prediction, i.e. a lower bound to the lepton flavor violating $b\to s\mu^\pm\tau^\mp$ decay modes, such as $\mathcal{B}(B\to K\mu\tau) \gtrsim 0.7\times 10^{-7}$., Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures (10 plots) [v2: references added, Fig. 3 improved]

We discuss the possibilities of extracting the constraints on New Physics by using the current data on the leptonic and semileptonic decays of pseudoscalar mesons. In doing so we use a general low energy Lagrangian that besides the vector and axial operators also includes the (pseudo-)scalar and tensor ones. In obtaining constraints on New Physics couplings we combine the experimental information concerning several decay modes with the accurate lattice QCD results for the hadronic matrix elements. We propose to study new observables that can be extracted from the angular analysis of the semileptonic decays and discuss their values both in the Standard Model and in some specific scenarios of physics beyond the Standard Model., Comment: 39 pages, 8 figures. Version published at JHEP

We investigate scenarios with $\mathcal{O}(1\mathrm{\,TeV})$ scalar leptoquarks that act as portals between the Standard Model and Dark Matter. We assume that Dark Matter is a scalar singlet $S$ which couples to a scalar leptoquark $\Delta$ and the Higgs boson via the terms in the scalar potential. In addition, the leptoquark is endowed with Yukawa couplings to quarks and leptons that may address the anomalies in $B$ meson decays. We consider the $SS$ annihilation cross sections to estimate the Dark Matter relic abundance and explore the interplay between astrophysical, collider and flavour physics bounds on such models. In the heavy Dark Matter window, $m_S > m_\Delta$, the leptoquark portal becomes the dominant mechanism to explain the Dark Matter abundance. We find that the leptoquark Yukawa couplings, relevant for quark and lepton flavour physics, are decoupled from the dark matter phenomenology. By focussing on a scenario with a single leptoquark state, we find that relic density can only be explained when both $\Delta$ and $S$ masses are lighter than $\mathcal{O}(10\mathrm{\,TeV})$., Comment: Version as published

We propose improved Lepton Flavor Universality (LFU) ratios in semileptonic $P\to V \ell \bar{\nu}$ decays, when comparing $\mu$ and $\tau$ modes, that minimize the theoretical form-factor uncertainties. These optimized ratios are obtained with simple cuts or reweighting of the dilepton mass distributions, which imply a minimum loss of signal on the rare tauonic modes while maximizing the cancellation of theoretical uncertainties among the two modes. We illustrate the usefulness of these observables in $B_c\to J/\psi$, $B_c\to \psi(2S)$, $B\to D^\ast$ and $B_s\to D_s^\ast$ transitions, showing that in all cases we can reach $\mathcal{O}(1\%)$ uncertainties on the SM predictions of the improved LFU ratios employing conservatives form-factor uncertainties., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures. Version to appear in EPJC

Starting from a general effective Lagrangian for lepton flavor violation (LFV) in quark-lepton transitions, we derive constraints on the effective coefficients from the high-mass tails of the dilepton processes $pp \to \ell_k \ell_l$ (with $k\neq l$). The current (projected) limits derived in this paper from LHC data with $36~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ ($3~\mathrm{ab}^{-1}$) can be applied to generic new physics scenarios, including the ones with scalar, vector and tensor effective operators. For purely left-handed operators, we explicitly compare these LHC constraints with the ones derived from flavor-physics observables, illustrating the complementarity of these different probes. While flavor physics is typically more constraining for quark-flavor violating operators, we find that LHC provides the most stringent limits on several flavor-conserving ones. Furthermore, we show that dilepton tails offer the best probes for charm-quark transitions at current luminosities and that they provide competitive limits for tauonic $b\to d$ transitions at the high-luminosity LHC phase. As a by-product, we also provide general numerical expressions for several low-energy LFV processes, such as the semi-leptonic decays $K\to \pi \ell^{\pm}_k \ell^{\mp}_l$, $B\to \pi \ell^{\pm}_k \ell^{\mp}_l$ and $B\to K^{(\ast)} \ell^{\pm}_k \ell^{\mp}_l$., Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures, 5 tables, published version

We examine the low-energy signatures of axion-like particles (ALPs) in lepton flavor violating (LFV) processes. By using a dimension-5 effective Lagrangian, we compute the most general ALP contributions to LFV decays of leptons and mesons. The provided expressions are valid for any choice of ALP mass and couplings. We explore the complementarity of different processes, identifying specific patterns to be experimentally tested. Constraints on LFV couplings are derived from existing data and prospects for forthcoming experiments are also discussed. As a by-product, we revisit the possibility of a simultaneous explanation of the observed discrepancies in the muon and electron $g-2$ through ALP interactions., Comment: 40 pages, 13 figures, published version. Numerical mistake corrected in Figs. 4 and 8, conclusions unchanged

The observed muon anomalous magnetic moment deviates from the Standard Model predictions. There are two scalar leptoquarks with simultaneous couplings to the quark-muon pairs of both chiralities that can singly explain this discrepancy. We discuss an alternative mechanism that calls for the mixing of two scalar leptoquarks of the same electric charge through the interaction with the Higgs field, where the two leptoquarks separately couple to the quark-muon pairs of opposite chirality structures. Three scenarios that satisfy this requirement are $S_1\,\&\, {S}_3$, $\widetilde{S}_1\,\&\, S_3$, and $\widetilde{R}_2\,\&\, R_2$, where the first scenario is realised with the up-type quarks running in the loops while the other two scenarios proceed through the down-type quark loops. We introduce only two non-zero Yukawa couplings to the relevant quarks and a muon, at the time, to study ability of these three scenarios to explain $(g-2)_\mu$ and be in accord with available experimental constraints. We find that the $S_1\,\&\, {S}_3$ scenario with the top-quark loops is consistent with all existing measurements. The $\widetilde{S}_1\,\&\, S_3$ and $\widetilde{R}_2\,\&\, R_2$ scenarios can accommodate the observed discrepancy through the bottom-quark loops but exhibit significant tension with the existing data on the high-$p_T$ dilepton-tails at LHC for the required values of Yukawa couplings and leptoquark masses., Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures. Version to appear in JHEP

We investigate new-physics contributions to $b\to s \ell\ell$ transitions in the context of an effective field theory extension of the Standard Model, including operator mixing at one loop. We identify the few scenarios where a single Wilson coefficient, $C/\Lambda^2 \sim 1/{\rm TeV}^2$, induces a substantial shift in the lepton flavour universality ratios $R_K$ and $R_{K^*}$ at one loop, while evading $Z$-pole precision tests, collider bounds, and other flavour constraints. Good fits to the present data are achieved by a left-handed current operator with quark-flavour indices $(2,2)$ or $(3,3)$, hitherto overlooked. Interestingly, the running of the Standard Model Yukawa matrices gives the dominant effect for these scenarios. We match the favoured effective-theory scenarios to minimal, single-mediator models, which are subject to additional stringent constraints. Notably, we recognise three viable instances of a leptoquark with one coupling to fermions only. If the anomalies were confirmed, it appears that one-loop explanations have good prospects of being directly tested at the LHC., Comment: v2: 15 pages, 6 figures; Section III.2 extended, Table II and Fig. 6 correspondingly updated, references added

We compute the generic one-loop contribution involving scalar leptoquarks (LQ) to the $W$ and $Z$ leptonic decay widths. In our computation we include for the first time the finite terms and the corrections due to the external momenta of the electroweak bosons, which is a step beyond the leading-logarithmic approximation considered in the literature so far. We show that the terms we include can be numerically quite significant. They amount to about $20\%$ for scalar LQ masses below $1.5$~TeV, as currently allowed by the direct searches at the LHC. To further illustrate the relevance of our results we revisit a model with two light scalar LQs, proposed to accommodate the $B$-physics anomalies. We show that the finite terms we computed can reduce the tension with the $Z$-pole data., Comment: Minor typos amended

We examine various scenarios in which the Standard Model is extended by a light leptoquark state to solve for one or both $B$-physics anomalies, viz. $R_{D^{(\ast)}}^\mathrm{exp}> R_{D^{(\ast)}}^\mathrm{SM}$ or/and $R_{K^{(\ast)}}^\mathrm{exp}< R_{K^{(\ast)}}^\mathrm{SM}$. To do so we combine the constraints arising both from the low-energy observables and from direct searches at the LHC. We find that none of the scalar leptoquarks of mass $m_\mathrm{LQ} \simeq 1$ TeV can alone accommodate the above mentioned anomalies. The only single leptoquark scenario which can provide a viable solution for $m_\mathrm{LQ} \simeq 1\div 2$ TeV is a vector leptoquark, known as $U_1$, which we re-examine in its minimal form (letting only left-handed couplings to have non-zero values). We find that the limits deduced from direct searches are complementary to the low-energy physics constraints. In particular, we find a rather stable lower bound on the lepton flavor violating $b\to s\ell_1^\pm\ell_2^\mp$ modes, such as $\mathcal{B}(B\to K\mu\tau)$. Improving the experimental upper bound on $\mathcal{B}(B\to K\mu\tau)$ by two orders of magnitude could compromise the viability of the minimal $U_1$ model as well., Comment: 33 pages, 10 figures; v3: Version to appear in JHEP

I review the recent theoretical progress on the study of tree-level semileptonic $b\to c$ decays. After briefly reviewing the latest developments on the exclusive determinations of $|V_{cb}|$, I discuss the hints on lepton flavor universality violation in $B\to D^{(\ast)}\ell \bar{\nu}$ decays. Particular emphasis is given to the implications of these anomalies and to the possibilities to experimentally test the proposed New Physics explanations., Comment: To be published in the proceedings of The International Conference on B-Physics at Frontier Machines - BEAUTY2018, La Biodola, Elba Island, Italy, 6-11 May, 2018

We provide general effective-theory arguments relating present-day discrepancies in semi-leptonic $B$-meson decays to signals in kaon physics, in particular lepton-flavour violating ones of the kind $K \to (\pi) e^\pm \mu^\mp$. We show that $K$-decay branching ratios of around $10^{-12} - 10^{-13}$ are possible, for effective-theory cutoffs around $5-15$ TeV compatible with discrepancies in $B\to K^{(\ast)} \mu\mu$ decays. We perform a feasibility study of the reach for such decays at LHCb, taking $K^+ \to \pi^+ \mu^\pm e^\mp$ as a benchmark. In spite of the long lifetime of the $K^+$ compared to the detector size, the huge statistics anticipated as well as the overall detector performance translate into encouraging results. These include the possibility to reach the $10^{-12}$ ballpark, and thereby significantly improve current limits. Our results advocate LHC's high-luminosity Upgrade phase, and support analogous sensitivity studies at other facilities. Given the performance uncertainties inherent in the Upgrade phase, our conclusions are based on a range of assumptions we deem realistic on the particle identification performance as well as on the kinematic reconstruction thresholds for the signal candidates., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables. v2: text made shorter and crispier. No change in conclusions. Matches published (for some time already) version

Axion and axion-like particle models are typically affected by a strong fine-tuning problem in conceiving the electroweak and the Peccei-Quinn breaking scales. Within the context of the Minimal Linear {\sigma} Model, axion-like particle constructions are identified where this hierarchy problem is solved, accounting for a TeV Peccei-Quinn breaking scale and a pseudoscalar particle with a mass larger than 10 MeV. Potential signatures at colliders and B-factories are discussed., Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures. V2 matches with the published version

One of the greatest challenges for models of $b \to s$ anomalies is the necessity to produce a large contribution to a quark times a lepton current, $J_q \times J_\ell$, and to avoid accordingly large contributions to flavour-changing $J_q \times J_q$ and $J_\ell \times J_\ell$ amplitudes, which are severely constrained by data. We consider a gauged horizontal symmetry involving the two heaviest generations of all left-handed fermions. In the limit of degenerate masses for the horizontal bosons, and in the absence of mixing between the two heavier generations and the lighter one, such symmetry would make $J_q \times J_q$ and $J_\ell \times J_\ell$ amplitudes exactly flavour-diagonal. Mixing with the first generation is however inescapable due to the CKM matrix, and the above mechanism turns out to be challenged by constraints such as $D^0 -\bar D^0$ mixing. Nonetheless, we show that a simultaneous description of all data can be accomplished by simply allowing for non-degenerate masses for the horizontal bosons. Such scenario predicts modifications in several processes that can be tested at present and upcoming facilities. In particular, it implies a lower and upper bound for $\mathcal B (B \to K \mu^\pm \tau^\mp)$, an asymmetry between its two charge conjugated modes, and well-defined correlations with LFV in $\tau$ decays., Comment: 23 pages, 5 figures. v2: textual modifications to improve clarity in Introduction; added detailed discussion of Yukawa sector (main modification); extended discussion of scenario 1; references added. Matches journal version

We investigate the implications of scalar and tensor operators proposed to accommodate the hints of lepton flavor universality violation in charged-current $B$-meson decays. We show that these scenarios unavoidably induce chirality enhanced contributions to charged lepton magnetic moments and Yukawa couplings. By using an effective field theory approach we quantify in a model independent way the connection of the $R_{D^{(\ast)}}$ anomaly with the tau $g-2$ and the Higgs decay $h\to \tau\tau$, which can offer an alternative to test these scenarios. Concrete New Physics models giving rise to our setup will be illustrated., Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures, published version

We address the $B$-physics anomalies within a two scalar leptoquark model. The low-energy flavor structure of our set-up originates from two $SU(5)$ operators that relate Yukawa couplings of the two leptoquarks. The proposed scenario has a UV completion, can accommodate all measured lepton flavor universality ratios in $B$-meson decays, is consistent with related flavor observables, and is compatible with direct searches at the LHC. We provide prospects for future discoveries of the two light leptoquarks at the LHC and predict several yet-to-be-measured flavor observables., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, published version

We investigate the sensitivity of IceCube(-Gen2) to a scalar leptoquark scenario with couplings only to heavy quark flavors which may be connected to solving discrepancies in $B$-meson semileptonic decays. We take into account, for the first time, the non-negligible neutrino-gluon cross section induced by leptoquarks, and we systematically account for indirect and direct constraints which have been overlooked in previous studies. We conclude that IceCube(-Gen2) can only probe the light LQ regime, already disfavored by the combination of flavor physics constraints, electroweak precision data and the direct searches at the LHC., Comment: 30 pages, 14 figures; references added, accepted for publication in JHEP

Even though the LHC searches did not unveil the new physics particles so far, LHCb hints towards deviations from lepton flavor universality in exclusive decays based on the transition $b\to s\ell\ell$. In this proceeding, we present a new leptoquark model that can explain both $R_{K}^{\mathrm{exp}}

The $B$-physics experiments at LHCb, BaBar and Belle hint towards deviations from Lepton Flavor Universality in both the tree-level and loop-induced $B$ meson semileptonic decays. We propose a leptoquark model with light right-handed neutrinos which can accommodate both $R_K^\mathrm{exp}R_{D^{(\ast)}}^\mathrm{SM}$. We discuss several of its predictions which can be tested in modern day experiments. We also comment on the recent finding at LHCb, namely $R_{K^\ast}^{\mathrm{exp}}

We show that the decay rates of the Higgs boson to a pseudoscalar quarkonium and a pair of leptons, $h\to P\ell^+\ell^-$ ($P\in\{\eta_c,\eta_b\}$), can be substantially enhanced in a scenario with two Higgs doublets with a softly broken $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry (2HDM) when the CP-odd Higgs A is light, i.e. $m_A\lesssim m_h$. Depending on the type of 2HDM the enhancement of $\mathcal{B}(h\to \eta_{c,b}\tau^+\tau^-)$ with respect to its Standard Model value can be an order of magnitude larger, i.e. $\mathcal{O}(10^{-6}\div10^{-5})$. The decays $h\to P\ell^+\ell^-$ could therefore provide an efficient channel to investigate the presence of a light CP-odd Higgs $A$ and help to disentangle among various 2HDM scenarios., Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures

We show that a modification of the model with a low energy scalar leptoquark state carrying hypercharge $Y=7/6$ allows to accommodate both $R_K<1$ and $R_{K^\ast}<1$, through loop effects, consistent with recent observations made at LHCb. We describe details of the model, compute the relevant Wilson coefficient and, after discussing a number of constraints, we examine the phenomenological consequences of the model. The bounds on the lepton flavor violating decay rates, induced by this model, include $\mathcal{B}(Z\to\mu\tau) \lesssim \mathcal{O}(10^{-7})$, and $\mathcal{B}(B\to K\mu\tau) \lesssim \mathcal{O}(10^{-9})$. We also comment on the interpretation of the bounds on the leptoquark mass obtained from the direct searches at LHC., Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures (published version)

We computed the leading order Wilson coefficients relevant to all the exclusive $b\to s\ell^+\ell^-$ decays in the framework of Two Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM) with a softly broken $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry by including the $\mathcal{O}(m_b)$ corrections. We elucidate the issue of appropriate matching between the full and the effective theory when dealing with the (pseudo-)scalar operators for which keeping the external momenta different from zero is necessary. We then make a phenomenological analysis by using the measured $\mathcal{B}(B_s\to \mu^+\mu^-)$ and $\mathcal{B}(B\to K \mu^+\mu^-)_{\mathrm{high}-q^2}$, for which the hadronic uncertainties are well controlled, and discussed their impact on various types of 2HDM. A brief discussion of the decays with $\tau$-leptons in the final state is also made., Comment: 37 pages, 9 figures, version published in EPJC

We discuss weak kaon decays in a scenario in which the Standard Model is extended by massive sterile fermions. After revisiting the analytical expressions for leptonic and semileptonic decays we derive the expressions for decay rates with two neutrinos in the final state. By using a simple effective model with only one sterile neutrino, compatible with all current experimental bounds and general theoretical constraints, we conduct a thorough numerical analysis which reveals that the impact of the presence of massive sterile neutrinos on kaon weak decays is very small, less than $1\%$ on decay rates. The only exception is $\mathcal{B} (K_L\to \nu\nu)$, which can go up to $\mathcal{O}( 10^{-10})$, thus possibly within the reach of the KOTO experiment. In other words, if all the future measurements of weak kaon decays turn out to be compatible with the Standard Model predictions, this would not rule out the existence of massive light sterile neutrinos with non-negligible active-sterile mixing. Instead, for a sterile neutrino of mass below $m_K$, one might obtain a huge enhancement of $\mathcal{B} (K_L\to \nu\nu)$, otherwise negligibly small in the Standard Model., Comment: 32 pages, 11 plots in 6 figures, version published in PRD

It was previously noted that SU(5) unification can be achieved via the simple addition of light scalar leptoquarks from two split $\bf10$ multiplets. We explore the parameter space of this model in detail and find that unification requires at least one leptoquark to have mass below $\approx16\,$TeV. We point out that introducing splitting of the $\bf24$ allows the unification scale to be raised beyond $10^{16}$ GeV, while a U(1)$_{PQ}$ symmetry can be imposed to forbid dangerous proton decay mediated by the light leptoquarks. The latest bounds from LHC searches are combined and we find that a leptoquark as light as 400 GeV is still permitted. Finally, we discuss the interesting possibility that the leptoquarks required for unification could also be responsible for the $2.6\sigma$ deviation observed in the ratio $R_K$ at LHCb., Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures

We show that a model with a scalar leptoquark of hypercharge $Y=1/6$ which includes the light right-handed neutrinos, can successfully describe both of the $B$-physics anomalies, $R_K^{\rm exp} < R_K^{\rm SM}$ and $R_D^{\rm exp} > R_D^{\rm SM}$. We discuss the corresponding low energy effective theory and, after using the known experimental data as constraints, we show that the model is viable and that it offers several predictions which can be tested experimentally., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures

We examine various scenarios that involve a light ${\cal O}(1 TeV)$ leptoquark state and select those which are compatible with the current experimental values for $\mathcal{B}(B_s\to \mu\mu)$, $\mathcal{B}(B\to K\mu\mu)_{\mathrm{large}-q^2}$, $R_K=\mathcal{B^\prime}(B\to K\mu\mu)/\mathcal{B^\prime}(B\to Kee)$, and which lead to predictions consistent with other experimental data. We show that two such scenarios are phenomenologically plausible, namely the one with a doublet of scalar leptoquarks of hypercharge $1/6$, and the one with a triplet of vector leptoquarks of hypercharge $2/3$. We also argue that a model with a singlet scalar leptoquark of hypercharge $1/3$ is not viable. Using the present experimental data as constraints, it is shown that the exclusive lepton flavor violating decays, $\mathcal{B}(B_s\to \mu\tau)$, $\mathcal{B}(B\to K \mu\tau)$ and $\mathcal{B}(B\to K^\ast \mu\tau)$, can be as large as $\mathcal{O}(10^{-5})$., Comment: 30p (published version), Interference term in Eq.(31) fixed

Starting from the general effective hamiltonian relevant to the $b\to s$ transitions, we derive the expressions for the full angular distributions of the $B \to K^{(\ast )} \ell_1 \ell_2$ decay modes, as well as for ${\cal B}(B_s \to \ell_1\ell_2 )$ ($\ell_1\neq \ell_2$). We point out the differences in the treatment of the lepton flavor violating modes with respect to the lepton flavor conserving ones. Concerning the relevant Wilson coefficients we evaluate them in two different scenarios: (i) The (pseudo-)scalar coefficients are obtained using the (pseudo-)scalar coupling extracted from the experimental non-zero value of ${\cal B}(h\to \mu\tau)$, (ii) Revisiting a $Z^\prime$-model in which the flavor changing neutral couplings are allowed. We provide the numerical estimates of the branching fractions of the above-mentioned modes in both scenarios., Comment: 20p [published version], typo in Eq.(9) corrected

A plausible explanation of the recent experimental indication of a resonance in the two-photon spectrum at LHC is that it corresponds to the CP-odd Higgs boson. We explore such a possibility in a generic framework of the two Higgs doublet models (2HDM), and combine $m_A \approx 750$GeV with the known $m_h =125.7(4)$~GeV to show that the charged Higgs boson and the other CP-even scalar masses become bounded from bellow and from above. We show that this possibility is also consistent with the electroweak precision data and the low energy observables, which we test in a few leptonic and semileptonic decay modes., Comment: 16 pages, published version