Flavor Alignment Research Articles

Implications of B→Kνν¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$B \\rightarrow K \ u {\\bar{\ u }}$$\\end{document} under rank-one flavor violation hypothesis

We study the implications of the observed excess in B+→K+νν¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$B^+ \\rightarrow K^+ \ u \\bar{\ u }$$\\end{document} under the assumption of Rank-One Flavour Violation, i.e. that New Physics couples to a single specific direction in flavour space. By varying this direction we perform analyses at the level of the low-energy EFT, the SMEFT, and with explicit mediators such as leptoquarks and colorless vectors (Z′\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$Z^\\prime $$\\end{document} and V′\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$V^\\prime $$\\end{document}). We study correlations with other flavour, electroweak and collider observables, finding that the most interesting ones are with K→πνν¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$K \\rightarrow \\pi \ u \\bar{\ u }$$\\end{document}, Bs→μ+μ-\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$B_s \\rightarrow \\mu ^+ \\mu ^-$$\\end{document}, meson mixing and the LHC searches in τ+τ-\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ au ^+ \ au ^-$$\\end{document} high-energy tails. Among the various mediators, the scalar leptoquarks R~2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ ilde{R}_2$$\\end{document} and S1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$S_1$$\\end{document} offer the best fits of the Belle-II excess, while being consistent with the other bounds. On the other hand, colorless vectors are strongly constrained by meson mixing and resonance searches in pp→τ+τ-\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$p p \\rightarrow \ au ^+ \ au ^-$$\\end{document}. In all cases we find that a flavour alignment close to the third generation is generically preferred.

Electroweak baryogenesis in the three-loop neutrino mass model with dark matter

Baryon asymmetry of the Universe is evaluated in the model originally proposed in Phys. Rev. Lett. 102 (2009) 051805, where Majorana masses of neutrinos are generated via three-loop diagrams composed of additional scalar bosons including the dark matter candidate which is odd under an unbroken $Z_2$ symmetry. In order for the model to include multiple CP-violating phases, we do not impose the softly broken $Z_2$ symmetry imposed in the original model to avoid the flavor-changing neutral current at tree level. Instead, for simplicity, we assume the flavor alignment structure in the Yukawa interactions. We also simply assume the alignment structure in the Higgs potential so that the Higgs couplings coincide with those in the SM at tree level. Under these phenomenological simplifications, the model still contains multiple CP-violating phases. By using destructive interferences among them, it is compatible with the stringent constraint from the electric dipole moment measurements to generate the observed baryon asymmetry along with the scenario of electroweak baryogenesis. We show a benchmark scenario which can explain neutrino mass, dark matter and baryon asymmetry of the universe simultaneously and can satisfy all the other available experimental data. Some phenomenological predictions of the model are also discussed.

B → cτ overline{nu} e,μ contributions to R(D(*))

The R(D(*)) puzzle stands for a ~ 3σ violation of lepton flavor universality between the decay rates of B → D(*)τν and B → D(*)ℓν, where ℓ = e, μ. If it is accounted for by new physics, there is no reason in general that the relevant neutrinos are, respectively, ντ and νℓ. We study whether the τ related rate could be enhanced by significant contributions to B → D(*)τνℓ from a class of operators in the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT). We find the upper bounds from forbidden or rare meson decays imply that the contributions from the lepton flavor violating processes account for no more than about 4% of the required shift. Yet, no fine-tuned flavor alignment is required for the new physics. Searching for the related high-pT process pp → τ±μ∓ can at present put a lower bound on the scale of the lepton flavor violating new physics that is a factor of 2.2 weaker than the bound from meson decays. An exception to our conclusion arises from a specific combination of scalar and tensor SMEFT operators.

Flavour alignment of New Physics in light of the (g − 2)μ anomaly

We investigate the flavour alignment conditions that New Physics (NP) models need to satisfy in order to address the (g − 2)μ anomaly and, at the same time, be consistent with the tight bounds from μ → eγ and τ → μγ. We analyse the problem in general terms within the SMEFT, considering the renormalisation group evolution of all the operators involved. We show that semileptonic four-fermion operators, which are likely to generate a sizeable contribution to the (g − 2)μ anomaly, need to be tightly aligned to the lepton Yukawa couplings and the dipole operators in flavour space. While this tuning can be achieved in specific NP constructions, employing particular dynamical assumptions and/or flavour symmetry hypotheses, it is problematic in a wide class of models with broken flavour symmetries, such as those proposed to address both charged- and neutral-current B anomalies. We quantify this tension both in general terms, and in the context of explicit NP constructions.

Higgs bosons with large couplings to light quarks

A common lore has arisen that beyond the Standard Model (BSM) particles, which can be searched for at current and proposed experiments, should have flavorless or mostly third-generation interactions with Standard Model quarks. This theoretical bias severely limits the exploration of BSM phenomenology, and is especially constraining for extended Higgs sectors. Such limitations can be avoided in the context of Spontaneous Flavor Violation (SFV), a robust and UV complete framework that allows for significant couplings to any up or down-type quark, while suppressing flavor-changing neutral currents via flavor alignment. In this work we study the theory and phenomenology of extended SFV Higgs sectors with large couplings to any quark generation. We perform a comprehensive analysis of flavor and collider constraints of extended SFV Higgs sectors, and demonstrate that new Higgs bosons with large couplings to the light quarks may be found at the electroweak scale. In particular, we find that new Higgses as light as 100 GeV with order $\sim$ 0.1 couplings to first or second generation quarks, which are copiously produced at LHC via quark fusion, are allowed by current constraints. Furthermore, the additional SFV Higgses can mix with the SM Higgs, providing strong theory motivation for an experimental program looking for deviations in the light quark-Higgs couplings. Our work demonstrates the importance of exploring BSM physics coupled preferentially to light quarks, and the need to further develop dedicated experimental techniques for the LHC and future colliders.

Low-scale leptogenesis with minimal lepton flavor violation

We analyse the feasibility of low-scale leptogenesis where the inverse seesaw (ISS) and linear seesaw (LSS) terms are not simultaneously present. In order to generate the necessary mass splittings, we adopt a Minimal Lepton Flavour Violation (MLFV) hypothesis where a sterile neutrino mass degeneracy is broken by flavour effects. We find that resonant leptogenesis is feasible in both scenarios. However, because of a flavour alignment issue, MLFV-ISS leptogenesis succeeds only with a highly tuned choice of Majorana masses. For MLFV-LSS, on the other hand, a large portion of parameter space is able to generate sufficient asymmetry. In both scenarios we find that the lightest neutrino mass must be of order $10^{-2}\text{ eV}$ or below for successful leptogenesis. We briefly explore implications for low-energy flavour violation experiments, in particular $\mu \rightarrow e\,\gamma$. We find that the future MEG-II experiment, while sensitive to MLFV in our setup, will not be sensitive to the specific regions required for resonant leptogenesis.

\u21242 breaking effects in 2-loop RG evolution of 2HDM

We investigate the effects of a ℤ2 symmetry in the mathcal{C}mathcal{P} -conserving Two-Higgs-Doublet-Model (2HDM); which is often imposed to prevent Flavor-Changing-Neutral-Currents (FCNCs) at tree-level. Specifically, we analyze how a breaking of the ℤ2 symmetry spreads during renormalization group evolution; employing general 2-loop renormalization group equations that we have derived. Evolving the model from the electroweak to the Planck scale, we find that while the case of an exact ℤ2 symmetric 2HDM is very constrained, a soft breaking of the ℤ2 symmetry extends the valid parameter space regions. The effects of a hard ℤ2 breaking in the scalar sector as well as the stability of the flavor alignment ansatz are also investigated. We find that while a hard breaking of the ℤ2 symmetry in the potential is problematic, since it speeds up the growth of quartic couplings, the generated FCNCs are heavily suppressed. Conversely, we also find that hard ℤ2 breaking in the Yukawa sector at most gives moderate ℤ2 breaking in the potential; whereas the FCNCs can become quite sizable far away from the ℤ2 symmetric regions.

B Meson Anomalies in a Pati-Salam Model within the Randall-Sundrum Background

Lepton number as a fourth color is the intriguing theoretical idea of the famous Pati-Salam (PS) model. While in conventional PS models, the symmetry breaking scale and the mass of the resulting vector leptoquark are stringently constrained by K_{L}→μe and K→πμe, the scale can be lowered to a few TeV by adding vectorlike fermions. Furthermore, in this case, the intriguing hints for lepton flavor universality violation in b→sμ^{+}μ^{-} and b→cτν processes can be addressed. Such a setup is naturally achieved by implementing the PS gauge group in the five-dimensional Randall-Sundrum background. The PS symmetry is broken by boundary conditions on the fifth dimension, and the resulting massive vector leptoquark automatically has the same mass scale as the vectorlike fermions and all other resonances. We consider the phenomenology of this model in the context of the hints for lepton flavor universality violation in semileptonic B decays. Assuming flavor alignment in the down sector, we find that in b→sℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} transitions, the observed deviations from the standard model predictions [including R(K) and R(K^{*})] can be explained with natural values for the free parameters of the model. Even though we find sizable effects in R(D), R(D^{*}), and R(J/Ψ), one cannot account for the current central values in the constrained setup of our minimal model due to the stringent constraints from D-D[over ¯] mixing and τ→3μ.

Texture zeros and hierarchical masses from flavour (mis)alignment

We introduce an unconventional interpretation of the fermion mass matrix elements. As the full rotational freedom of the gauge-kinetic terms renders a set of infinite bases called weak bases, basis-dependent structures as mass matrices are unphysical. Matrix invariants, on the other hand, provide a set of basis-independent objects which are of more relevance. We employ one of these invariants to give a new parametrisation of the mass matrices. By virtue of it, one gains control over its implicit implications on several mass matrix structures. The key element is the trace invariant which resembles the equation of a hypersphere with a radius equal to the Frobenius norm of the mass matrix. With the concepts of alignment or misalignment we can identify texture zeros with certain alignments whereas Froggatt–Nielsen structures in the matrix elements are governed by misalignment. This method allows further insights of traditional approaches to the underlying flavour geometry.

Flavour alignment in multi-Higgs-doublet models

Extended electroweak scalar sectors containing several doublet multiplets require flavour-aligned Yukawa matrices to prevent the appearance at tree level of unwanted flavour-changing neutral-current transitions. We analyse the misalignment induced by one-loop quantum corrections and explore possible generalizations of the alignment condition and their compatibility with current experimental constraints. The hypothesis of flavour alignment at a high scale turns out to be consistent with all known phenomenological tests.

High scale flavor alignment in two-Higgs doublet models and its phenomenology

The most general two-Higgs doublet model (2HDM) includes potentially large sources of flavor changing neutral currents (FCNCs) that must be suppressed in order to achieve a phenomenologically viable model. The flavor alignment ansatz postulates that all Yukawa coupling matrices are diagonal when expressed in the basis of mass-eigenstate fermion fields, in which case tree-level Higgs-mediated FCNCs are eliminated. In this work, we explore models with the flavor alignment condition imposed at a very high energy scale, which results in the generation of Higgs-mediated FCNCs via renormalization group running from the high energy scale to the electroweak scale. Using the current experimental bounds on flavor changing observables, constraints are derived on the aligned 2HDM parameter space. In the favored parameter region, we analyze the implications for Higgs boson phenomenology.

Dark matter physics, flavor physics and LHC constraints in the dark matter model with a bottom partner

In the scenario that dark matter (DM) is a weakly interacting massive particle, there are many possibilities of the interactions with the Standard Model (SM) particles to achieve the relic density of DM. In this paper, we consider a simple DM model where the DM candidate is a complex scalar boson. The model contains a new complex gauge singlet scalar boson and a new fermion whose gauge charge is the same as the right-handed down-type quark. We dub the new fermion the bottom partner. These new particles have Yukawa interactions with the SM down-type quarks. The DM candidate interacts with the SM particles through the Yukawa interactions. The Yukawa interactions are not only relevant to the annihilation process of the DM but also contribute to the flavor physics, such as the ΔF = 2 processes. In addition, the flavor alignment of the Yukawa couplings is related to the decay modes of the bottom partner, and thus we can find the explicit correlations among the physical observables in DM physics, flavor physics, and the signals at the LHC. We survey the ΔF = 2 processes based on the numerical analyses of the thermal relic density, the direct detection of the DM, and the current LHC bounds. We investigate the perturbative bound on the Yukawa coupling as well. A Study of a fermionic DM model with extra scalar quarks is also given for comparison.

Collider signatures of flavorful Higgs bosons

Motivated by our limited knowledge of the Higgs couplings to the first two generation fermions, we analyze the collider phenomenology of a class of two Higgs doublet models (2HDMs) with a nonstandard Yukawa sector. One Higgs doublet is mainly responsible for the masses of the weak gauge bosons and the third-generation fermions, while the second Higgs doublet provides mass for the lighter fermion generations. The characteristic collider signatures of this setup differ significantly from well-studied 2HDMs with natural flavor conservation, flavor alignment, or minimal flavor violation. New production mechanisms for the heavy scalar, pseudoscalar, and charged Higgs involving second-generation quarks can become dominant. The most interesting decay modes include $H/A\ensuremath{\rightarrow}cc,tc,\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\mu},\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\mu}$ and ${H}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}cb,cs,\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu}$. Searches for low-mass dimuon resonances are currently among the best probes of the heavy Higgs bosons in this setup.

A bound on the charm chromo-EDM and its implications

We derive bounds on the electric and chromo-electric dipole moments of the charm quark. The second one turns out to be particularly strong, and we quantify its impact on models that allow for a sizeable flavour violation in the up quark sector, like flavour alignment and Generic U(2)^3. In particular we show how the bounds coming from the charm and up CEDMs constrain the size of new physics contributions to direct flavour violation in D decays. We also specialize our analysis to the cases of Supersymmetry with split families and composite Higgs models. The results exposed in this paper motivate both an increase in experimental sensitivity to fundamental hadronic dipoles, and a further exploration of the SM contribution to flavour violating D decays.

Lepton flavor violation in the Simplest Little Higgs model

The flavor sector of Little Higgs models based on product groups, notably the Littlest Higgs with T parity (LHT), has been extensively studied and some amount of fine tuning was found to be required to meet the experimental constraints. However, no such attention has been paid to other classes of models. Here we analyze the phenomenology of flavor mixing in the lepton sector of a simple group model, the Simplest Little Higgs (SLH). We obtain the Feynman rules of the SLH in the ’t Hooft-Feynman gauge up to the necessary order and calculate the leading contributions to the rare processes μ → eγ, \( \mu \to {\text{ee}\bar{\rm e}} \) and μ − e conversion in nuclei. We find results comparable to those of the LHT model, because in both cases they arise at the one-loop level. These require the flavor alignment of the Yukawa couplings of light and heavy leptons at the per cent level or an effective scale of around 10 TeV.

Is the tribimaximal mixing accidental?

The tribimaximal (TBM) mixing is not accidental if structures of the corresponding leptonic mass matrices follow immediately from certain (residual or broken) flavor symmetry. We develop a simple formalism which allows one to analyze effects of deviations of the lepton mixing from TBM on the structure of the neutrino mass matrix and on the underlying flavor symmetry. We show that possible deviations from the TBM mixing can lead to strong modifications of the mass matrix and strong violation of the TBM-mass relations. As a result, the mass matrix may have an ``anarchical'' structure with random values of elements or it may have some symmetry that differs from the TBM symmetry. Interesting examples include matrices with texture zeros, matrices with certain ``flavor alignment'' as well as hierarchical matrices with a two-component structure, where the dominant and subdominant contributions have different symmetries. This opens up new approaches to understanding the lepton mixing.

Flavor alignment via shining in Randall-Sundrum models

We present a class of warped extra dimensional models whose flavor violating interactions are much suppressed compared to the usual anarchic case due to flavor alignment. Such suppression can be achieved in models where part of the global flavor symmetry is gauged in the bulk and broken in a controlled manner. We show that the bulk masses can be aligned with the down type Yukawa couplings by an appropriate choice of bulk flavon field representations and TeV brane dynamics. This alignment could reduce the flavor violating effects to levels which allow for a Kaluza-Klein scale as low as 2-3 TeV, making the model observable at the LHC. However, the up-type Yukawa couplings on the IR brane, which are bounded from below by recent bounds on CP violation in the D system, induce flavor misalignment radiatively. Off-diagonal down-type Yukawa couplings and kinetic mixings for the down quarks are both consequences of this effect. These radiative Yukawa corrections can be reduced by raising the flavon VEV on the IR brane (at the price of some moderate tuning), or by extending the Higgs sector. The flavor changing effects from the radiatively induced Yukawa mixing terms are at around the current upper experimental bounds. We also show the generic bounds on UV-brane induced flavor violating effects, and comment on possible additional flavor violations from bulk flavor gauge bosons and the bulk Yukawa scalars.

Combining direct & indirect kaon CP violation to constrain the warped KK scale

The Randall–Sundrum (RS) framework has a built in protection against flavour violation, but still generically suffers from little CP problems. The most stringent bound on flavour violation is due to ϵK, which is inversely proportional to the fundamental Yukawa scale. Hence the RS ϵK problem can be ameliorated by effectively increasing the Yukawa scale with a bulk Higgs, as was recently observed in arXiv:0810.1016. We point out that incorporating the constraint from ϵ′/ϵK, which is proportional to the Yukawa scale, raises the lower bound on the KK scale compared to previous analyses. The bound is conservatively estimated to be 5.5 TeV, choosing the most favorable Higgs profile, and 7.5 TeV for the profile which roughly reproduces the two site case. Relaxing this bound might require some form of RS flavour alignment. As a by-product of our analysis, we also provide the leading order flavour structure of the theory with a bulk Higgs.

Precise limits from lepton flavour violating processes on the littlest Higgs model with T-parity

We recalculate the leading one-loop contributions to μ → eγ and μ → eeē in the Littlest Higgs model with T-parity, recovering previous results for the former. When all the Goldstone interactions are taken into account, the latter is also ultraviolet finite. The present experimental limits on these processes require a somewhat heavy effective scale ~ 2.5 TeV, or the flavour alignment of the Yukawa couplings of light and heavy leptons at the ~ 10% level, or the splitting of heavy lepton masses to a similar precision. Present limits on τ decays set no bounds on the corresponding parameters involving the τ lepton.

Neutrino mass matrix: Inverted hierarchy andCPviolation

We reconstruct the neutrino mass matrix in flavor basis, in the case of inverted mass hierarchy (ordering), using all available experimental data on neutrino masses and oscillations. We analyze the dependence of the matrix elements m_{alpha beta} on the CP violating Dirac, delta, and Majorana, rho and sigma, phases, for different values of the absolute mass scale. We find that the present data admit various structures of the mass matrix: (i) hierarchical structures with a set of small (zero) elements; (ii) structures with equalities among various groups of elements: e-row and/or mu tau-block elements, diagonal and/or off-diagonal elements; (iii) ``democratic'' structure. We find values of phases for which these structures are realized. The mass matrix elements can anti-correlate with flavor: inverted partial or complete flavor alignment is possible. For various structures of the mass matrix we identify possible underlying symmetry. We find that the mass matrix can be reconstructed completely only in particular cases, provided that the absolute scale of the mass is measured. Generally, the freedom related to the Majorana phase sigma will not be removed, thus admitting various types of mass matrix.