Effective Field Theory Approach Research Articles

Effective field theory approach to thermal bubble nucleation

The standard vacuum bounce formalism suffers from inconsistencies when applied to thermal bubble nucleation, for which ad hoc workarounds are commonly adopted. Identifying the length scales on which nucleation takes place, we demonstrate how the construction of an effective description for these scales naturally resolves the problems of the standard vacuum bounce formalism. Further, by utilising high-temperature dimensional reduction, we make a connection to classical nucleation theory. This offers a clear physical picture of thermal bubble nucleation, as well as a computational framework which can then be pushed to higher accuracy. We demonstrate the method for three qualitatively different quantum field theories.

Probing baryogenesis with neutron-antineutron oscillations

In the near future, the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment and the European Spallation Source aim to reach unprecedented sensitivity in the search for neutron-antineutron (n- overline{n} ) oscillations, whose observation would directly imply |∆B| = 2 violation and hence might hint towards a close link to the mechanism behind the observed baryon asymmetry of the Universe. In this work, we explore the consequences of such a discovery for baryogenesis first within a model-independent effective field theory approach. We then refine our analysis by including a source of CP violation and different hierarchies between the scales of new physics using a simplified model. We analyse the implication for baryogenesis in different scenarios and confront our results with complementary experimental constraints from dinucleon decay, LHC, and meson oscillations. We find that for a small mass hierarchy between the new degrees of freedom, an observable rate for n- overline{n} oscillation would imply that the washout processes are too strong to generate any sizeable baryon asymmetry, even if the CP violation is maximal. On the other hand, for a large hierarchy between the new degrees of freedom, our analysis shows that successful baryogenesis can occur over a large part of the parameter space, opening the window to be probed by current and future colliders and upcoming n- overline{n} oscillation searches.

Dark matter from a complex scalar singlet: the role of dark CP and other discrete symmetries

We study the case of a pseudo-scalar dark matter candidate which emerges from a complex scalar singlet, charged under a global U(1) symmetry, which is broken both explicitly and spontaneously. The pseudo-scalar is naturally stabilized by the presence of a remnant discrete symmetry: dark CP. We study and compare the phenomenology of several simplified models with only one explicit symmetry breaking term. We find that several regions of the parameter space are able to reproduce the observed dark matter abundance while respecting direct detection and invisible Higgs decay limits: in the resonances of the two scalars, featuring the known as forbidden or secluded dark matter, and through non-resonant Higgs-mediated annihilations. In some cases, combining different measurements would allow one to distinguish the breaking pattern of the symmetry. Moreover, this setup admits a light DM candidate at the sub-GeV scale. We also discuss the situation where more than one symmetry breaking term is present. In that case, the dark CP symmetry may be spontaneously broken, thus spoiling the stability of the dark matter candidate. Requiring that this does not happen imposes a constraint on the allowed parameter space. Finally, we consider an effective field theory approach valid in the pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson limit and when the U(1) breaking scale is much larger than the electroweak scale.

Probing FCNC couplings in single top-quark production associated with a neutral gauge boson in future lepton colliders

In this paper, we consider a single top-quark production in association with a neutral gauge boson (Z boson or photon) in the future electron–positron colliders. We utilize these channels to probe the top-quark flavor changing neutral current (FCNC) interactions in tqZ and tqγ vertices. We perform two separate analyses for top-Z-jet and top-γ-jet channels. The standard model effective field theory approach is employed to search for these anomalous couplings. We consider parton showering, hadronization and fast detector simulation in our study and use a cut-and-count technique to separate the signal from the standard model background processes. The upper limits on the FCNC couplings at 95% confidence level for different integrated luminosities are obtained. It is shown that the future lepton collider would be able to probe the FCNC branching fractions to Br(t → qγ) < 10−4 and Br(t → qZ) < 10−4 with 3 ab−1 of integrated luminosity of data at a center of mass energy of 350 GeV.

Effective theories with dark matter applications

Standard Model (SM) of particle physics has achieved enormous success in describing the interactions among the known fundamental constituents of nature, yet it fails to describe phenomena for which there is very strong experimental evidence, such as the existence of dark matter, and which point to the existence of new physics not included in that model; beyond its existence, experimental data, however, have not provided clear indications as to the nature of that new physics. The effective field theory (EFT) approach, the subject of this review, is designed for this type of situations; it provides a consistent and unbiased framework within which to study new physics effects whose existence is expected but whose detailed nature is known very imperfectly. We will provide a description of this approach together with a discussion of some of its basic theoretical aspects. We then consider applications to high-energy phenomenology and conclude with a discussion of the application of EFT techniques to the study of dark matter physics and its possible interactions with the SM. In several of the applications we also briefly discuss specific models that are ultraviolet complete and may realize the effects described by the EFT.

Classical gravitational scattering from a gauge-invariant double copy

We propose a method to compute the scattering angle for classical black hole scattering directly from two massive particle irreducible diagrams in a heavy-mass effective field theory approach to general relativity, without the need of subtracting iteration terms. The amplitudes in this effective theory are constructed using a recently proposed novel colour-kinematic/double copy for tree-level two-scalar, multi-graviton amplitudes, where the BCJ numerators are gauge invariant and local with respect to the massless gravitons. These tree amplitudes, together with graviton tree amplitudes, enter the construction of the required D-dimensional loop integrands and allow for a direct extraction of contributions relevant for classical physics. In particular the soft/heavy-mass expansions of full integrands is circumvented, and all iterating contributions can be dropped from the get go. We use this method to compute the scattering angle up to third post-Minkowskian order in four dimensions, including radiation reaction contributions, also providing the expression of the corresponding integrand in D dimensions.

What is the scale of new physics behind the muon g−2 ?

We study the constraints imposed by perturbative unitarity on the new physics interpretation of the muon $g-2$ anomaly. Within a Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT) approach, we find that scattering amplitudes sourced by effective operators saturate perturbative unitarity at about 1 PeV. This corresponds to the highest energy scale that needs to be probed in order to resolve the new physics origin of the muon $g-2$ anomaly. On the other hand, simplified models (e.g.~scalar-fermion Yukawa theories) in which renormalizable couplings are pushed to the boundary of perturbativity still imply new on-shell states below 200 TeV. We finally suggest that the highest new physics scale responsible for the anomalous effect can be reached in non-renormalizable models at the PeV scale.

Impact of B→Kνν¯ measurements on beyond the Standard Model theories

Semileptonic flavor changing neutral current transitions with a pair of neutrinos in the final state are very accurately determined in the standard model (SM) and thus provide an accurate and sensitive probe for physics beyond the SM. Until recently, the poor tagging efficiency for the $B\to K^{(*)}\nu \bar{\nu}$ modes made them less advantageous as a probe of new physics (NP) compared to the charged lepton counterparts. The most recent Belle II result on $B\to K \nu \bar{\nu}$ uses an innovative inclusive tagging technique resulting in a higher tagging efficiency; this together with previous BaBar and Belle results indicates a possible enhancement in the branching fraction of $B^+\to K^+ \nu \bar{\nu}$. A reanalysis of the full Belle dataset together with upcoming Belle II dataset is expected to result in a much more precise measurement of this mode. If the branching ratio is indeed found to be enhanced with improved measurements, this would provide an unambiguous signal of NP without uncertainties due to long-distance non-factorizable effects or power corrections (in contrast to $B\to K^{(*)} \ell \ell$). We have explored the possibilities of such an enhancement as a signal of NP within several scenarios, which can also explain some of the other tensions observed in neutral as well as charged current $B$-decays. In an effective field theory approach, with the most general dimension-six Hamiltonian including light right-handed neutrinos, we explore the viability of all scalar and vector leptoquarks as well as the parameter space possible with a generic vector gauge boson $Z^\prime$ model assuming minimal new particle content. While being consistent with all data, correlations between the observed intriguing discrepancies in $B$-decays are also obtained, which will discriminate between the various NP scenarios.

Hefty enhancement of cosmological constraints from the DES Y1 data using a hybrid effective field theory approach to galaxy bias

We present a re-analysis of cosmic shear and galaxy clustering from first-year Dark Energy Survey data (DES Y1), making use of a Hybrid Effective Field Theory (HEFT) approach to model the galaxy-matter relation on weakly non-linear scales, initially proposed in [1]. This allows us to explore the enhancement in cosmological constraining power enabled by extending the galaxy clustering scale range typically used in projected large-scale structure analyses. Our analysis is based on a recomputed harmonic-space data vector and covariance matrix, carefully accounting for all sources of mode-coupling, non-Gaussianity and shot noise, which allows us to provide robust goodness-of-fit measures. We use the AbacusSummit suite of simulations to build an emulator for the HEFT model predictions. We find that this model can explain the galaxy clustering and shear data up to wavenumbers kmax∼ 0.6 Mpc-1. We constrain (S8,Ωm) = (0.786± 0.020,0.273+0.030 -0.036) at the fiducial kmax∼ 0.3 Mpc-1, improving to (S8,Ωm) = (0.786+0.015 -0.018,0.266+0.024 -0.027) at kmax∼ 0.5 Mpc-1. This represents a ∼10% and ∼35% improvement on the constraints derived respectively on both parameters using a linear bias relation on a reduced scale range (kmax≲0.15 Mpc-1), in spite of the 15 additional parameters involved in the HEFT model. We investigate whether HEFT can be used to constrain the Hubble parameter and find H0= 70.7-3.5 +3.0 km s-1 Mpc-1. Our constraints are investigative and subject to certain caveats discussed in the text.

Inclusive production of heavy quarkonia in pNRQCD

We develop a formalism for computing inclusive production cross sections of heavy quarkonia based on the nonrelativistic QCD and the potential nonrelativistic QCD effective field theories. Our formalism applies to strongly coupled quarkonia, which include excited charmonium and bottomonium states. Analogously to heavy quarkonium decay processes, we express nonrelativistic QCD long-distance matrix elements in terms of quarkonium wavefunctions at the origin and universal gluonic correlators. Our expressions for the long-distance matrix elements are valid up to corrections of order 1/{N}_c^2 . These expressions enhance the predictive power of the nonrelativistic effective field theory approach to inclusive production processes by reducing the number of nonperturbative unknowns, and make possible first-principle determinations of long-distance matrix elements once the gluonic correlators are known. Based on this formalism, we compute the production cross sections of P-wave charmonia and bottomonia at the LHC, and find good agreement with measurements.

Testing the dark SU(N) Yang-Mills theory confined landscape: From the lattice to gravitational waves

We pave the way for future gravitational-wave detection experiments, such as the big bang observer and DECIGO, to constraint dark sectors made of $SU(N)$ Yang-Mills confined theories. We go beyond the state-of-the-art by combining first principle lattice results and effective field theory approaches to infer essential information about the nonperturbative dark deconfinement phase transition driving the generation of gravitational-waves in the early Universe, such as the order, duration and energy budget of the phase transition which are essential in establishing the strength of the resulting gravitational-wave signal.

Van der Waals interaction as the starting point for an effective field theory

We consider the system of three ${}^4$He atoms to assess whether a pure van der Waals potential can be used as a starting point for an effective field theory to describe three-body processes in ultracold atomic systems. Using a long-range van der Waals interaction in combination with short-distance two-body counterterms, we analyze the dependence of two- and three-body observables on the short-distance regulator that is required due to the singular nature of the van der Waals interaction. We benchmark our approach with results obtained with the realistic ${}^4$He-${}^4$He LM2M2 interaction and find good agreement. We furthermore show that in this effective field theory approach no three-body force is required at leading order and that universal van der Waals physics leads to a universal correlation between three-body observables in the absence of an Efimov three-body parameter.

Reading the footprints of the B-meson flavor anomalies

Motivated by the recent LHCb announcement of a 3.1σ violation of lepton- flavor universality in the ratio RK = Γ(B → Kμ+μ−)/Γ(B → Ke+e−), we present an updated, comprehensive analysis of the flavor anomalies seen in both neutral-current (b → sℓ+ℓ−) and charged-current (b → ctau overline{nu} ) decays of B mesons. Our study starts from a model-independent effective field-theory approach and then considers both a simplified model and a UV-complete extension of the Standard Model featuring a vector leptoquark U1 as the main mediator of the anomalies. We show that the new LHCb data corroborate the emerging pattern of a new, predominantly left-handed, semileptonic current-current interaction with a flavor structure respecting a (minimally) broken U(2)5 flavor symmetry. New aspects of our analysis include a combined analysis of the semileptonic operators involving tau leptons, including in particular the important constraint from Bs- {overline{B}}_s mixing, a systematic study of the effects of right-handed leptoquark couplings and of deviations from minimal flavor-symmetry breaking, a detailed analysis of various rare B-decay modes which would provide smoking-gun signatures of this non-standard framework (LFV decays, di-tau modes, and B → K(*) nu overline{nu} ), and finally an updated analysis of collider bounds on the leptoquark mass and couplings.

Searching for lepton flavor violating interactions at future electron-positron colliders

Lepton flavor violating interactions are absent in the standard model but are expected in various beyond standard models. In this work, the potential of the future circular electron-positron collider to probe the four fermion lepton flavor couplings via the $e^{+}e^{-}\rightarrow e^{\pm}\tau^{\mp}$ process is revisited by means of an effective field theory approach. We provide constraints at $95\%$ CL on the dimension-six Wilson coefficients including major sources of background processes and considering realistic detector effects at four expected operation energies $\sqrt{s}=157.5$, $162.5$, $240$ and $365$ GeV according to their corresponding integrated luminosities. We demonstrate that statistical combination of the results from four center-of-mass energies improves the sensitivity to the LFV couplings significantly. We compare the results with the prospects from Belle II with $50~ ab^{-1}$ and other studies at electron-positron colliders.

Gravitational Bremsstrahlung in the post-Minkowskian effective field theory

We study the gravitational radiation emitted during the scattering of two spinless bodies in the post-Minkowskian Effective Field Theory approach. We derive the conserved stress-energy tensor linearly coupled to gravity and the classical probability amplitude of graviton emission at leading and next-to-leading order in the Newton's constant $G$. The amplitude can be expressed in compact form as one-dimensional integrals over a Feynman parameter involving Bessel functions. We use it to recover the leading-order radiated angular momentum expression. Upon expanding it in the relative velocity between the two bodies $v$, we compute the total four-momentum radiated into gravitational waves at leading-order in $G$ and up to an order $v^8$, finding agreement with what was recently computed using scattering amplitude methods. Our results also allow us to investigate the zero frequency limit of the emitted energy spectrum.

EFT and the SUSY index on the 2nd sheet

The counting of BPS states in four-dimensional \mathcal{N}=1𝒩=1 theories has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. For superconformal theories, these states are in one-to-one correspondence with local operators in various short representations. The generating function for this counting problem has branch cuts and hence several Cardy-like limits, which are analogous to high-temperature limits. Particularly interesting is the second sheet, which has been shown to capture the microstates and phases of supersymmetric black holes in AdS_55. Here we present a 3d Effective Field Theory (EFT) approach to the high-temperature limit on the second sheet. We use the EFT to derive the behavior of the index at orders \beta^{-2},\beta^{-1},\beta^0β−2,β−1,β0. We also make a conjecture for O(\beta)O(β), where we argue that the expansion truncates up to exponentially small corrections. An important point is the existence of vector multiplet zero modes, unaccompanied by massless matter fields. The runaway of Affleck-Harvey-Witten is however avoided by a non-perturbative confinement mechanism. This confinement mechanism guarantees that our results are robust.

Confronting spin-3/2 and other new fermions with the muon g-2 measurement

The new measurement of the muon's anomalous magnetic moment released by the Muon g-2 experiment at Fermilab sets strong constraints on the properties of many new particles. Using an effective field theory approach to the interactions of higher-spin fields, we evaluate the contribution of an electrically neutral and colour singlet spin-3/2 fermion to (g−2)μ and derive the corresponding constraints on its mass and couplings. These constraints are then compared with the ones on spin-1/2 fermions, such as the vector-like leptons that are predicted by various extensions of the Standard Model, the excited leptons which appear in composite models, as well as the charginos and neutralinos of supersymmetric theories. Unlike these new spin-1/2 fermions, the spin-3/2 particles generate only small contributions to the muon anomalous magnetic moment unless the effective new physics scale is very close to the electroweak scale.

Leading logs in QCD axion effective field theory

The axion is much lighter than all other degrees of freedom introduced by the Peccei-Quinn mechanism to solve the strong CP problem. It is therefore natural to use an effective field theory (EFT) to describe its interactions. Loop processes calculated in the EFT may however explicitly depend on the ultraviolet cutoff. In general, the UV cutoff is not uniquely defined, but the dimensionful couplings suggest to identify it with the Peccei-Quinn symmetry-breaking scale. An example are K+ → π+ + a decays that will soon be tested to improved precision in NA62 and KOTO and whose amplitude is dominated by the term logarithmically dependent on the cutoff. In this paper, we critically examine the adequacy of using such a naive EFT approach to study loop processes by comparing EFT calculations with ones performed in complete QCD axion models. In DFSZ models, for example, the cutoff is found to be set by additional Higgs degrees of freedom and to therefore be much closer to the electroweak scale than to the Peccei-Quinn scale. In fact, there are non-trivial requirements on axion models where the cutoff scale of loop processes is close to the Peccei-Quinn scale, such that the naive EFT result is reproduced. This suggests that the existence of a suitable UV embedding may impose restrictions on axion EFTs. We provide an explicit construction of a model with suitable fermion couplings and find promising prospects for NA62 and IAXO.

Effective field theory approach to lepton number violating τ decays * *Supported in part by the Grants No. NSFC-12035008, No. NSFC-11975130, by The National Key Research and Development Program of China under Grant No. 2017YFA0402200, by the CAS Center for Excellence in Particle Physics (CCEPP). XDM is supported by the MOST (109-2112-M-002-017-MY3, 109-2811-M-002-535)

We continue our endeavor to investigate lepton number violating (LNV) processes at low energies in the framework of effective field theory (EFT). In this work we study the LNV tau decays , where and denote the lowest-lying charged pseudoscalars . We analyze the dominant contributions in a series of EFTs from high to low energy scales, namely the standard model EFT (SMEFT), the low-energy EFT (LEFT), and the chiral perturbation theory ( ). The decay branching ratios are expressed in terms of the Wilson coefficients of dimension-five and -seven operators in SMEFT and the hadronic low-energy constants. These Wilson coefficients involve the first and second generations of quarks and all generations of leptons; thus, they cannot be explored in low-energy processes such as nuclear neutrinoless double beta decay or LNV kaon decays. Unfortunately, the current experimental upper bounds on the branching ratios are too weak to set useful constraints on these coefficients. Alternatively, if we assume the new physics scale is larger than 1 TeV, the branching ratios are well below the current experimental bounds. We also estimate the hadronic uncertainties incurred in applying to decays by computing one-loop chiral logarithms and attempt to improve the convergence of chiral perturbation by employing dispersion relations in the short-distance part of the decay amplitudes.

Probing effective field theory approach in the CP violating minimal linear sigma model

The Minimal Linear sigma Model is a useful theoretical laboratory. One can investigate in a perturbative renormalisable model the properties of the Higgs boson as a pseudo-Goldstone boson, the phenomenological effects of the radial mode of the field texttt {s} which spontaneously breaks the global SO(5) symmetry and the validity of conclusions based on the Effective Field Theory approach with the field texttt {s} in the spectrum, after the decoupling of heavy degrees of freedom. In this paper all those issues are discussed in the framework of the Minimal Linear sigma Model with CP violating phases leading to pseudoscalar components in the effective Standard Model Yukawa couplings. Also the character of the electroweak phase transition in the presence of the field texttt {s} is investigated.