Future Lepton Colliders Research Articles

Indirect probe of electroweak-interacting particles at future lepton colliders

Various types of electroweak-interacting particles, which have non-trivial charges under the $\mathrm{SU}(2)_L \times \mathrm{U}(1)_Y$ gauge symmetry, appear in various extensions of the Standard Model. These particles are good targets of future lepton colliders, such as the International Linear Collider (ILC), the Compact LInear Collider (CLIC) and the Future Circular Collider of electrons and positrons (FCC-ee). An advantage of the experiments is that, even if their beam energies are below the threshold of the production of the new particles, quantum effects of the particles can be detected through high precision measurements. We estimate the capability of future lepton colliders to probe electroweak-interacting particles through the quantum effects, with particular focus on the wino, the Higgsino and the so-called minimal dark matters, and found that a particle whose mass is greater than the beam energy by 100-1000 GeV is detectable by measuring di-fermion production cross sections with $O(0.1)$\% accuracy. In addition, with the use of the same analysis, we also discuss the sensitivity of the future colliders to model independent higher dimensional operators, and found that the cutoff scales corresponding to the operators can be probed up to a few ten TeV.

A robust jet reconstruction algorithm for high-energy lepton colliders

We propose a new sequential jet reconstruction algorithm for future lepton colliders at the energy frontier. The Valencia algorithm combines the natural distance criterion for lepton colliders with the greater robustness against backgrounds of algorithms adapted to hadron colliders. Results on a detailed Monte Carlo simulation of tt¯ and ZZ production at future linear e+e− colliders (ILC and CLIC) with a realistic level of background overlaid, show that it achieves better performance in the presence of background than the classical algorithms used at previous e+e− colliders.

Development of Silicon Sensor Characterization System for Future High Energy Physics Experiments

The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) is one of the general purpose experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), CeRN and has its tracker built of all silicon strip and pixel sensors. Si sensors are expected to play extremely important role in the upgrades of the existing tracker for future high luminosity environment and will also be used in future lepton colliders. however, properties of the silicon sensors have to be carefully understood before they can be put in the extremely high luminosity condition. At Delhi university (DU), we have been working on the development of Si sensor characterization system, as part of the collaboration with the CMS experiment and RD50 collaboration. this works reports the installation of current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) systems at DU.

Precision natural SUSY at CEPC, FCC-ee, and ILC

Testing the idea of naturalness is and will continue to be one of the most important goals of high energy physics experiments. It will play a central role in the physics program of future colliders. In this paper, we present projections of the reach of natural SUSY at future lepton colliders: CEPC, FCC-ee and ILC. We focus on the observables which give the strongest reach, the electroweak precision observables (for left-handed stops), and Higgs to gluon and photon decay rates (for both left- and right-handed stops). There is a “blind spot” when the stop mixing parameter X t is approximately equal to the average stop mass. We argue that in natural scenarios, bounds on the heavy Higgs bosons from tree-level mixing effects that modify the $$ hb\overline{b} $$ coupling together with bounds from b → sγ play a complementary role in probing the blind spot region. For specific natural SUSY scenarios such as folded SUSY in which the top partners do not carry Standard Model color charges, electroweak precision observables could be the most sensitive probe. In all the scenarios discussed in this paper, the combined set of precision measurements will probe down to a few percent in fine-tuning.

Future tests of Higgs compositeness: direct vs indirect

We estimate the reach of the 14 TeV LHC and future hadronic and leptonic colliders in the parameter space of the minimal composite Higgs model, outlining the complementarity of direct resonance searches and indirect information from the measurements of the Higgs boson couplings. The reach on electroweak charged spin-one resonances, taken here as representative direct signatures, is obtained from the current 8 TeV LHC limits by an extrapolation procedure which we outline and validate. The impact of electroweak precision tests, and their possible improvement at future colliders, is also quantified.

Holographic twin Higgs model.

We present the first realization of a "twin Higgs" model as a holographic composite Higgs model. Uniquely among composite Higgs models, the Higgs potential is protected by a new standard model (SM) singlet elementary "mirror" sector at the sigma model scale f and not by the composite states at m_{KK}, naturally allowing for m_{KK} beyond the LHC reach. As a result, naturalness in our model cannot be constrained by the LHC, but may be probed by precision Higgs measurements at future lepton colliders, and by direct searches for Kaluza-Klein excitations at a 100 TeV collider.

Testing sterile neutrino extensions of the Standard Model at future lepton colliders

Extending the Standard Model (SM) with sterile ('right-handed') neutrinos is one of the best motivated ways to account for the observed neutrino masses. We discuss the expected sensitivity of future lepton collider experiments for probing such extensions. An interesting testable scenario is given by 'symmetry protected seesaw models', which theoretically allow for sterile neutrino masses around the electroweak scale with up to order one mixings with the light (SM) neutrinos. In addition to indirect tests, e.g. via electroweak precision observables, sterile neutrinos with masses around the electroweak scale can also be probed by direct searches, e.g. via sterile neutrino decays at the Z pole, deviations from the SM cross section for four lepton final states at and beyond the WW threshold and via Higgs boson decays. We study the present bounds on sterile neutrino properties from LEP and LHC as well as the expected sensitivities of possible future lepton colliders such as ILC, CEPC and FCC-ee (TLEP).

Exclusive radiative decays of W and Z bosons in QCD factorization

We present a detailed theoretical analysis of very rare, exclusive hadronic decays of the electroweak gauge bosons V=W, Z from first principles of QCD. Our main focus is on the radiative decays V->M+gamma, in which M is a pseudoscalar or vector meson. At leading order in an expansion in powers of Lambda_{QCD}/m_V the decay amplitudes can be factorized into convolutions of calculable hard-scattering coefficients with the leading-twist light-cone distribution amplitude of the meson M. Power corrections to the decay rates arise first at order (Lambda_{QCD}/m_V)^2. They can be estimated in terms of higher-twist distribution amplitudes and are predicted to be tiny. We include one-loop O(alpha_s) radiative corrections to the hard-scattering coefficients and perform the resummation of large logarithms [alpha_s log(m_V^2/mu_0^2)]^n (with mu_0=1 GeV a typical hadronic scale) to all orders in perturbation theory. Evolution effects have an important impact both numerically and conceptually, since they reduce the sensitivity to poorly determined hadronic parameters. We present detailed numerical predictions and error estimates, which can serve as benchmarks for future precision measurements. We also present an exploratory study of the weak radiative decays Z->M+W. Some of the decay modes studied here have branching ratios large enough to be accessible in the high-luminosity run of the LHC. Many of them can be measured with high accuracy at a future lepton collider. This will provide stringent tests of the QCD factorization formalism and enable novel searches for new physics.

Modern Particle Physics Event Generation with WHIZARD

We describe the multi-purpose Monte-Carlo event generator WHIZARD for the simulation of high-energy particle physics experiments. Besides the presentation of the general features of the program like SM physics, BSM physics, and QCD effects, special emphasis will be given to the support of the most accurate simulation of the collider environments at hadron colliders and especially at future linear lepton colliders. On the more technical side, the very recent code refactoring towards a completely object-oriented software package to improve maintainability, flexibility and code development will be discussed. Finally, we present ongoing work and future plans regarding higher-order corrections, more general model support including the setup to search for new physics in vector boson scattering at the LHC, as well as several lines of performance improvements.

TeV/m nano-accelerator: Investigation on feasibility of CNT-channeling acceleration at Fermilab

The development of high gradient acceleration and tight phase-space control of high power beams is a key element for future lepton and hadron colliders since the increasing demands for higher energy and luminosity significantly raise costs of modern HEP facilities. Atomic channels in crystals are known to consist of 10–100V/Å potential barriers capable of guiding and collimating a high energy beam providing continuously focused acceleration with exceptionally high gradients (TeV/m). However, channels in natural crystals are only angstrom-size and physically vulnerable to high energy interactions, which has prevented crystals from being applied to high power accelerators. Carbon-based nano-crystals such as carbon-nanotubes (CNTs) and graphenes have a large degree of dimensional flexibility and thermo-mechanical strength, which could be suitable for channeling acceleration of MW beams. Nano-channels of the synthetic crystals can accept a few orders of magnitude larger phase-space volume of channeled particles with much higher thermal tolerance than natural crystals. This paper presents the current status of CNT-channeling acceleration research at the Advanced Superconducting Test Accelerator (ASTA) in Fermilab.

Upper bounds on sparticle masses from muon g − 2 and the Higgs mass and the complementarity of future colliders

Supersymmetric (SUSY) explanation of the discrepancy between the measurement of $(g-2)_\mu$ and its SM prediction puts strong upper bounds on the chargino and smuon masses. At the same time, lower experimental limits on the chargino and smuon masses, combined with the Higgs mass measurement, lead to an upper bound on the stop masses. The current LHC limits on the chargino and smuon masses (for not too compressed spectrum) set the upper bound on the stop masses of about 10 TeV. The discovery potential of the future lepton and hadron colliders should lead to the discovery of SUSY if it is responsible for the explanation of the $(g-2)_\mu$ anomaly. This conclusion follows from the fact that the upper bound on the stop masses decreases with the increase of the lower experimental limit on the chargino and smuon masses.

Furry picture transition rates in the intense fields at a lepton collider interaction point

The effect on particle physics processes by intense electromagnetic fields in the charge bunch collisions at future lepton colliders is considered. Since the charge bunch fields are tied to massive sources (the e+e− charges), a reference frame is chosen in which the fields appear to be co-propagating. Solutions of the Dirac equation minimally coupled to the electromagnetic fields reasonably associated with two intense overlapping charge bunches are obtained and found to be a Volkov solution with respect to a null 4-vector whose 3-vector part lies in the common propagation direction. These solutions are used within the Furry interaction picture to calculate the beamstrahlung transition rate for electron radiation due to interaction with the electromagnetic fields of two colliding charge bunches. New analytic expressions are obtained and compared numerically with the beamstrahlung in the electromagnetic field of one charge bunch. The techniques developed will be applied to other collider physics processes in due course.

The CALICE digital hadron calorimeter: calibration and response to pions and positrons

In order to measure the jet products of the hadronic decays of electroweak bosons in a future lepton collider with 3-4% resolution, a novel approach named Particle Flow Algorithms is proposed. The Particle Flow Algorithms attempt to measure each particle in a hadronic jet individually, using the detector providing the best energy/momentum resolution. The role of the hadronic calorimeters is to measure the neutral component of the hadronic jets. In this context, the CALICE Collaboration developed the Digital Hadron Calorimeter, which uses Resistive Plate Chambers as active media. The 1-bit resolution (digital) readout of 1 × 1 cm2 pads achieves a world record in the number of readout channels already at the prototyping stage. Here we report on the results from the analysis of pion events of momenta between 2 to 60 GeV/c collected in the Fermilab test beam with an emphasis on the intricate calibration procedures.

R&D for a highly granular silicon tungsten electromagnetic calorimeter

This article reports on first experience with the technological prototype of a highly- granular silicon-tungsten electromagnetic calorimeter as envisaged for the detectors at a future lepton collider. In the focus of the analysis is the performance of a highly integrated Application Specific Integrated Circuit designed to meet the requirements in terms of dynamic range, compactness and power consumption. The beam test results show that the circuit will allow a future detector with a signal over noise ratio of at least 10:1. To minimise the power dissipation the ASIC will be operated in a power pulsed mode. So far no conceptual problem was revealed but the studies show the way for further work. The prototype is read out by a DAQ system conceived to meet the needs of a trigger less system with a huge number of readout cells.

Implementation of a configurable FE-I4 trigger plane for the AIDA telescope

Tracking detectors in particle physics experiments allow a precise reconstruction of particle tracks close to the interaction point and the identification of primary and secondary decay vertices. In order to evaluate the performance of detector prototypes for future particle physics experiments — at hadron colliders (e.g. HL-LHC), flavour factories (e.g. SuperKEKB) or a future lepton collider (e.g. ILC) — under realistic conditions, a fast readout reference device, a telescope, with excellent resolution and modular configuration, is required. The successful development of a telescope with these characteristics was part of the EU-project EUDET, which is continued within the framework of the AIDA activity.One key addition to the telescope within AIDA is the implementation of at least one new reference plane dedicated to provide an adjustable geometry. This plane is realized with a hybrid pixel detector consisting of a sensor bump bonded to the ATLAS pixel readout chip FE-I4. Its masking capability allows the definition of a user-defined region-of-interest (ROI) trigger area, that can be tuned to match the area defined by the device under test (DUT). Such a flexible setup is presented and the operation is demonstrated using a DEPFET pixel sensor as DUT in between the two telescope arms. The data acquisition (DAQ) for this small area DUT is improved in terms of trigger efficiency by more than a factor of three with respect to the standard telescope configuration. The integration of the DUT into the telescope and the online results obtained with it using the ROI trigger will be shown.

Fractal Dimension of Particle Showers Measured in a Highly Granular Calorimeter

We explore the fractal nature of particle showers using MonteCarlo simulation. We define the fractal dimension of showers measured in a high granularity calorimeter designed for a future lepton collider. The shower fractal dimension reveals detailed information of the spatial configuration of the shower. It is found to be characteristic of the type of interaction and highly sensitive to the nature of the incident particle. Using the shower fractal dimension, we demonstrate a particle identification algorithm that can efficiently separate electromagnetic showers, hadronic showers, and nonshowering tracks. We also find a logarithmic dependence of the shower fractal dimension on the particle energy.

Advanced positron sources

Positron sources are a critical system for the future lepton colliders projects. Due to the large beam emittance at the production and the limitation given by the target heating and mechanical stress, the main collider parameters fixing the luminosity are constrained by the e+ sources. In this context also the damping ring design boundary conditions and the final performance are given by the injected positron beam. At present different schemes are being taken into account in order to increase the production and the capture yield of the positron sources, to reduce the impact of the deposited energy in the converter target and to increase the injection efficiency in the damping ring. The final results have a strong impact not only on the collider performance but also on its cost optimization. After a short introduction illustrating their fundamental role, the basic positron source scheme and the performance of the existing sources will be illustrated. The main innovative designs for the future colliders advanced sources will be reviewed and the different developed technologies presented. Finally the positrons-plasma R&D experiments and the futuristic proposals for positron sources will reviewed.

More energy, more searches, but the phenomenological MSSM lives on

We further examine the capability of the 7 and 8 TeV LHC to explore the parameter space of the p(henomenological)MSSM with neutralino LSPs. Here we present an updated study employing all of the relevant ATLAS SUSY analyses, as well as all relevant LHC non-MET searches, whose data were publically available as of mid-September 2012. We find that roughly 1/3 of our pMSSM model points are excluded at present with an important role being played by both the heavy flavor and multi-lepton searches, as well as those for heavy stable charged particles. Nonetheless, we find that light gluinos, 1st/2nd generation squarks, and stop/sbottoms (\lsim 400-700 GeV), as well as models with 1% fine-tuning or better, are still viable in the pMSSM. In addition, we see that increased luminosity at 8 TeV is unlikely to significantly improve the reach of the "vanilla" searches. The impact of these null searches on the SUSY sparticle spectrum is discussed in detail and the implications of these results for models with low fine-tuning, a future lepton collider and dark matter searches are examined.

Physics of the Top Quark at Future Lepton Colliders

The physics scenario of the top quark at future lepton colliders is discussed, concentrating on the theory and simulation of tt̄ and tt̄H production close to threshold. The study of these processes would allow to determine the mass and couplings of the top quark with very high precision, including the direct measurement of the top Yukawa coupling.

Modified Higgs sectors and NLO associated production

Many beyond the Standard Model (BSM) scenarios involve Higgs couplings to additional electroweak fields. It is well established that these new fields may modify Higgs gamma-gamma and gamma-Z decays at one-loop. However, one unexplored aspect of such scenarios is that by electroweak symmetry one should also expect modifications to the Higgs Z-Z coupling at one-loop and, more generally, modifications to Higgs production and decay channels beyond tree-level. In this paper we investigate the full BSM modified electroweak corrections to associated Higgs production at both the LHC and a future lepton collider in two simple SM extensions. From both inclusive and differential NLO associated production cross sections we find BSM-NLO corrections can be as large as O(>10%) when compared to the SM expectation, consistent with other precision electroweak measurements, even in scenarios where modifications to the Higgs diphoton rate are not significant. At the LHC such corrections are comparable to the involved QCD uncertainties. At a lepton collider the Higgs associated production cross section can be measured to high accuracy (O(1%) independent of uncertainties in total width and other couplings), and such a deviation could be easily observed even if the new states remain beyond kinematic reach. This should be compared to the expected accuracy for a model-independent determination of the Higgs diphoton coupling at a lepton collider, which is O(15%). This work demonstrates that precision measurements of the Higgs associated production cross section constitute a powerful probe of modified Higgs sectors and will be valuable for indirectly exploring BSM scenarios.