Gauge-mediated Supersymmetry Breaking Research Articles

Is gauge mediation in the swampland?

We note that the typical gauge mediation of supersymmetry breaking is in tension with the global limit of the festina lente swampland bound. The alternatives are mediation/breaking schemes that decouple together with gravity, as for example gravity mediation, for which we highlight some basic phenomenological properties. Gauge mediation remains instead a viable mechanism only in models where supersymmetry is restored in the global limit, as for example in no-scale supergravity.

PeV-scale leptogenesis, gravitational waves, and black holes from a SUSY-breaking phase transition

Supersymmetry is a highly motivated theoretical framework, whose scale of breaking may be at PeV energies, to explain null searches at the Large Hadron Collider. SUSY breaking through a first order phase transition may have occurred in the early universe, leading to potential gravitational wave signals. Constructing a realistic model for gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking, we show that such a transition can also induce masses for heavy right-handed neutrinos and sneutrinos, whose CP-violating decays give leptogenesis at the PeV scale, and a novel mechanism of neutrino mass generation at one loop. For the same models we predict the possible gravity wave signals, and we study the possibility of production of primordial black holes during the phase transition.

Baryon asymmetric Universe from spontaneous CP violation

Spontaneous CP violation, such as the Nelson-Barr (NB) mechanism, is an attractive scenario for addressing the strong CP problem while realizing the observed phase of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) quark-mixing matrix. However, not only the CKM phase but also the baryon asymmetric Universe requires sources of CP violation. In this study, we show that a supersymmetric NB mechanism can naturally accommodate the Affleck-Dine (AD) baryogenesis within a CP-invariant Lagrangian. The model provides flat directions associated with new heavy quarks. Focusing on one of the directions, we find that the correct baryon asymmetry is obtained with a sufficiently low reheating temperature which does not cause the gravitino problem. Some parameter space is consistent with the gravitino dark matter. We assess radiative corrections to the strong CP phase induced by gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking and CP-violating heavy fields and show that the strong CP problem is solved in a viable parameter space where the visible sector supersymmetric particles must be lighter than mathcal{O} (100) TeV. Even in the case that they are heavier than the TeV scale, our model predicts the neutron electric dipole moment within the reach of the near future experiments. Our model addresses the electroweak naturalness problem, strong CP problem, baryon asymmetric Universe, and dark matter. Then, the model may give a new compelling paradigm of physics beyond the Standard Model.

Flavored gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking models with discrete non-Abelian symmetries

We investigate flavored gauge mediation models in which the Higgs and messenger doublets are embedded in multiplets of the discrete non-Abelian symmetry ${\mathcal{S}}_{3}$. In these theories, the ${\mathcal{S}}_{3}$ symmetry correlates the flavor structure of the quark and lepton Yukawa couplings with the structure of the messenger Yukawa couplings that contribute to the soft supersymmetry breaking mass parameters. We provide a systematic exploration of possible scenarios within this framework that can accommodate hierarchical quark and charged lepton masses, and examine the resulting phenomenological implications in each case. We find a heavier spectrum for the superpartner masses compared to flavored gauge mediation models controlled by Abelian symmetries, which can be directly traced back to the need in our scenarios for two vectorlike pairs of messenger fields for viable electroweak symmetry breaking.

Electroweak signatures of gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking in multiple hidden sectors

This paper discusses electroweak collider signatures of the NMSSM with multiple-sector gauge mediation. We focus on the production of neutralinos and charginos which cascade decay into standard model particles and lighter supersymmetric particles, with special emphasis on final states with multiple photons. A search strategy for signatures with at least three photons is presented and compared with current exclusion limits based on two-photon searches. We show that in many regions of the parameter space our strategy gives stronger constraints than the existing two-photon analysis for these models.

Inflation and type III seesaw mechanism in ν -gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking

We discuss realization of cosmic inflation in the $\nu$-gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking scenario, in which a set of 24-dimensional chiral superfields responsible for the type III seesaw mechanism play the role of the messenger fields in gauge mediation. Using the data from neutrino oscillations, we show that the model satisfies constraints from the lepton flavor violation, perturbativity of the unified gauge couplings, the observed abundance of dark matter as well as the Higgs mass of 125.1 GeV. The predicted spectrum of the cosmic microwave background radiation fits well with the observation. We also comment on the falsifiability of this scenario by future experiments.

Messenger inflation in gauge mediation and super-WIMP dark matter

We discuss phenomenological viability of a novel inflationary model in the minimal gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking scenario. In this model, cosmic inflation is realized in the flat direction along the messenger supermultiplets and a natural dark matter candidate is the gravitino from the out-of-equilibrium decay of the binolike neutralino at late times, which is called the super-WIMP scenario. The produced gravitino is warmish and can have a large free-streaming length; thus the cusp anomaly in the small scale structure formation may be mitigated. We show that the requirement of the Standard Model Higgs boson mass to be ${m}_{{h}^{0}}=125.1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$ gives a relation between the spectrum of the cosmic microwave background and the messenger mass $M$. We find, for the $e$-folding number ${N}_{e}=60$, the Planck 2018 constraints (TT, TE, $\mathrm{EE}+\mathrm{lowE}+\mathrm{lensing}+\mathrm{BK}15+\mathrm{BAO}$, 68% confidence level) give $M>3.64\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{7}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$. The gravitino dark matter mass is ${m}_{3/2}<5.8\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$ and the supersymmetry breaking scale $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$ is found to be in the range $(1.28--1.33)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$. Future cosmic microwave background observation is expected to give tighter constraints on these parameters.

Muon g \u2212 2 in gauge mediation without SUSY CP problem

We discuss gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking models which explain the observed muon anomalous magnetic moment and the Higgs boson mass simultaneously. The successful explanation requires the messenger sector which violates the relation motivated by the grand unification theory (GUT). The naive violation of the GUT relation, however, ends up with the CP problem. We propose a model in which the phases of the gaugino masses are aligned despite the violation of the GUT relation. We also consider a model which generates the μ-term and the additional Higgs soft masses squared without causing CP violation. As a result, we find a successful model which explains the muon anomalous magnetic moment and the Higgs boson mass. The model is also free from the CP, flavor-changing neutral current and the lepton flavor violation problems caused by the subdominant gravity mediation effects. The lightest supersymmetric particles are gravitino/goldstini and the next-to-lightest ones are the Wino/Higgsinos in the typical parameter space. We also study the LHC constraints.

Combined search for supersymmetry with photons in proton-proton collisions at [formula omitted] TeV

A combination of four searches for new physics involving signatures with at least one photon and large missing transverse momentum, motivated by generalized models of gauge-mediated supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking, is presented. All searches make use of proton-proton collision data at s=13 TeV, which were recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2016, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1. Signatures with at least one photon and large missing transverse momentum are categorized into events with two isolated photons, events with a lepton and a photon, events with additional jets, and events with at least one high-energy photon. No excess of events is observed beyond expectations from standard model processes, and limits are set in the context of gauge-mediated SUSY. Compared to the individual searches, the combination extends the sensitivity to gauge-mediated SUSY in both electroweak and strong production scenarios by up to 100 GeV in neutralino and chargino masses, and yields the first CMS result combining various SUSY searches in events with photons at s=13 TeV.

Search for long-lived particles using delayed photons in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV

A search for long-lived particles decaying to photons and weakly interacting particles, using proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment in 2016-2017 is presented. The data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 77.4 fb$^{-1}$. Results are interpreted in the context of supersymmetry with gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking, where the neutralino is long-lived and decays to a photon and a gravitino. Limits are presented as a function of the neutralino proper decay length and mass. For neutralino proper decay lengths of 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 m, masses up to 320, 525, 360, and 215 GeV are excluded at 95% confidence level, respectively. We extend the previous best limits in the neutralino proper decay length by up to one order of magnitude, and in the neutralino mass by up to 100 GeV.

Sterile Higgs Boson

To address the “little hierarchy problem,” we introduce two extra scalar fields neutral under the standard model gauge symmetry on top of the standard model. One linear combination of them has an almost flat potential, and so it can dynamically compensate the large Higgs mass parameter, while its small negative mass parameter can play the role of the electroweak symmetry breaking source. Thus the smallness of its mass parameter is responsible for the relatively small Higgs vacuum expectation value compared to a cut-off energy scale of the standard model. This scenario should eventually be embedded e.g. in a supersymmetric model, where the small mass parameters of the neutral singlets can be explained by employing both the gravity- and gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking mechanisms. Their mixing angles with the Higgs boson can be suppressed enough (∼ 10−2), avoiding the phenomenological constraints. The mass of the lighter scalar field is of order sub-electroweak scale (∼ 10 GeV), when the heavier one is above TeV scale (∼ 5 TeV).

Search for long-lived particles using nonprompt jets and missing transverse momentum with proton-proton collisions at [formula omitted

A search for long-lived particles decaying to displaced, nonprompt jets and missing transverse momentum is presented. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 137fb−1 of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in 2016–2018. Candidate signal events containing nonprompt jets are identified using the timing capabilities of the CMS electromagnetic calorimeter. The results of the search are consistent with the background prediction and are interpreted using a gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking reference model with a gluino next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle. In this model, gluino masses up to 2100, 2500, and 1900GeV are excluded at 95% confidence level for proper decay lengths of 0.3, 1, and 100m, respectively. These are the best limits to date for such massive gluinos with proper decay lengths greater than ∼0.5m.

Search for supersymmetry in final states with photons and missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV

Results are reported of a search for supersymmetry in final states with photons and missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1 collected at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV using the CMS detector. The results are interpreted in the context of models of gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking. Production cross section limits are set on gluino and squark pair production in this framework. Gluino masses below 1.86 TeV and squark masses below 1.59 TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level.

Search for supersymmetry in events with a photon, jets, mathrm {b}-jets, and missing transverse momentum in proton\u2013proton collisions at 13,text {Te}text {V}

A search for supersymmetry is presented based on events with at least one photon, jets, and large missing transverse momentum produced in proton–proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13,text {Te}text {V}. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 35.9,text {fb}^{-1} and were recorded at the LHC with the CMS detector in 2016. The analysis characterizes signal-like events by categorizing the data into various signal regions based on the number of jets, the number of mathrm {b}-tagged jets, and the missing transverse momentum. No significant excess of events is observed with respect to the expectations from standard model processes. Limits are placed on the gluino and top squark pair production cross sections using several simplified models of supersymmetric particle production with gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking. Depending on the model and the mass of the next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle, the production of gluinos with masses as large as 2120,text {Ge}text {V} and the production of top squarks with masses as large as 1230,text {Ge}text {V} are excluded at 95% confidence level.

Enhancing Long-Lived Particles Searches at the LHC with Precision Timing Information.

We explore the physics potential of using precision timing information at the LHC in searches for long-lived particles (LLPs). In comparison with the light standard model particles, the decay products of massive LLPs arrive at detectors with time delays around the nanosecond scale. We propose new strategies to take advantage of this time delay feature by using initial state radiation to time stamp the collision event and require at least one LLP to decay within the detector. This search strategy is effective for a broad range of models. In addition to outlining this general approach, we demonstrate its effectiveness with the projected reach for two benchmark scenarios: a Higgs boson decaying into a pair of LLPs, and pair production of long-lived neutralinos in the gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking models. Our strategy increases the sensitivity to the lifetime of the LLP by two orders of magnitude or more and particularly exhibits a better behavior with a linear dependence on the lifetime in the large lifetime region compared to traditional LLP searches. The timing information significantly reduces the standard model background and provides a powerful new dimension for LLP searches.

Search for long-lived particles decaying into displaced jets in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV

A search for long-lived particles decaying into jets is presented. Data were collected with the CMS detector at the LHC from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV in 2016, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The search examines the distinctive topology of displaced tracks and secondary vertices. The selected events are found to be consistent with standard model predictions. For a simplified model in which long-lived neutral particles are pair produced and decay to two jets, pair production cross sections larger than 0.2 fb are excluded at 95% confidence level for a long-lived particle mass larger than 1000 GeV and proper decay lengths between 3 and 130 mm. Several supersymmetry models with gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking or $R$-parity violation, where pair-produced long-lived gluinos or top squarks decay to several final-state topologies containing displaced jets, are also tested. For these models, in the mass ranges above 200 GeV, gluino masses up to 2300-2400 GeV and top squark masses up to 1350-1600 GeV are excluded for proper decay lengths approximately between 10 and 100 mm. These are the most restrictive limits to date on these models.

Search for squarks and gluinos in final states with hadronically decaying τ -leptons, jets, and missing transverse momentum using pp collisions at s=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for supersymmetry in events with large missing transverse momentum, jets, and at least one hadronically decaying $\tau$-lepton is presented. Two exclusive final states with either exactly one or at least two $\tau$-leptons are considered. The analysis is based on proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ delivered by the Large Hadron Collider and recorded by the ATLAS detector in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess is observed over the Standard Model expectation. At 95% confidence level, model-independent upper limits on the cross section are set and exclusion limits are provided for two signal scenarios: a simplified model of gluino pair production with $\tau$-rich cascade decays, and a model with gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking (GMSB). In the simplified model, gluino masses up to 2000 GeV are excluded for low values of the mass of the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP), while LSP masses up to 1000 GeV are excluded for gluino masses around 1400 GeV. In the GMSB model, values of the supersymmetry-breaking scale are excluded below 110 TeV for all values of $\tan\beta$ in the range $2 \leq \tan\beta \leq 60$, and below 120 TeV for $\tan\beta>30$.

Search for supersymmetry in events with a photon, a lepton, and missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at sqrt{s} = 13 TeV

Results of a search for supersymmetry are presented using events with a photon, an electron or muon, and large missing transverse momentum. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1 of proton-proton collisions at sqrt{s} = 13 TeV, produced by the LHC and collected with the CMS detector in 2016. Theoretical models with gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking predict events with photons in the final state, as well as electroweak gauge bosons decaying to leptons. Searches for events with a photon, a lepton, and missing transverse momentum are sensitive probes of these models. No excess of events is observed beyond expectations from standard model processes. The results of the search are interpreted in the context of simplified models inspired by gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking. These models are used to derive upper limits on the production cross sections and set lower bounds on masses of supersymmetric particles. Gaugino masses below 930 GeV are excluded at the 95% confidence level in a simplified model with electroweak production of a neutralino and chargino. For simplified models of gluino and squark pair production, gluino masses up to 1.75 TeV and squark masses up to 1.43 TeV are excluded at the 95% confidence level.

Primordial black holes from Affleck-Dine mechanism

The recent observations of the gravitational waves (GWs) by LIGO-Virgo collaboration infer the increasing possibility of the primordial black holes (PBHs). Recently it was pointed out that sufficient PBHs are produced by the Affleck-Dine mechanism where inhomogeneous baryogenesis takes place due to change of the Hubble induced mass during and after inflation and forms high baryon bubbles (HBBs). The produced HBBs have large density contrasts through the QCD phase transition or stable Q-ball formation, which leads to formation of the LIGO PBHs. Furthermore, in this model stringent constraints from CMB μ-distortion and pulsar timing array (PTA) experiments are completely absent. In this paper, we study the model in full details based on gravity and gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking scenarios and show that the model can explain the current GWs events evading observational constraints.

Low-scale gauge mediation after LHC Run 2

We study low-scale gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking models with a very light gravitino of mass O(1) eV. The cosmological upper bound on the gravitino mass and the collider constraints on the sparticle masses give a significant impact on such models. We consider the weakly coupled gauge mediation models with (meta)stable SUSY breaking vacua and grand unification. We apply the latest results of the LHC to these models and obtain the current constraints. We find that perturbatively calculable classes of low-scale gauge mediation models can be largely excluded.