A Portalino to the Twin Sector

Abstract

Extensions of the Standard Model are often highly constrained by cosmology. New states in the theory can dramatically alter observed properties of the universe by the presence of additional matter or entropy. In particular, attempts to solve the hierarchy problem through naturalness invariably predict new particles near the weak scale which come into thermal equilibrium. Without a means to deposit this energy into the SM, these models are often excluded. Scenarios of “neutral naturalness” in particular, such as the Twin Higgs, frequently suffer from this. However, the Portalino, a singlet fermion that marries gauge neutral fermion operators, can naturally help provide a portal for entropy to return to the SM and to lift fermionic degrees of freedom in the Twin Sector. Together with spontaneous breaking of the Z2 SM ↔ Twin symmetry, there are new opportunities to confront the cosmological challenges of these models. Here, we attempt to develop such ideas. We shall show how one can lift many of the light fields by breaking Z2 with a U(1)Y scalar and its Twin partner. The introduction of Portalinos can lift the remaining degrees of freedom. We shall find that such models are highly constrained by precision SM measurements, motivating moderate extensions beyond this. We will discuss two, both of which include Z2 breaking, one with additional electroweak matter and another with additional colored matter. The electroweak model will involve simple dim-6 operators, which are easily UV completed. The strong model will involve the presence of new leptoquarks and diquarks. We will discuss the implications for the observed value of the muon anomalous magnetic moment, contributions to μ → eγ decay and possible colored signals even within these models of neutral naturalness, some of which might appear at the LHC or future colliders.