Gauge Sector Research Articles

CPT-Odd effects on the electromagnetic properties of charged leptons in the Standard Model Extension

Abstract The impact of the CPT-Odd electroweak gauge sector of the Standard Model Extension on the magnetic dipole moment of charged leptons is studied. This gauge sector is characterized by the (k1)µ and (k2)µ Lorentz coefficients, which have positive mass dimension because they are associated with a UY (1)-invariant and with an SUL(2)-invariant dimension-three operators, respectively. They belong to the category of relevant interactions, which have strong effects on low-energy observables. We present a comprehensive study on the impact of this sector on the magnetic dipole moment of charged leptons, up to second order in these Lorentz coefficients, both at the tree and one-loop levels. We find that the first-order contributions in the Lorentz coefficients at the tree and one-loop levels depend on energy, while second-order ones at the tree-level do not. As for second-order one-loop effects, there are both energy-dependent and energy-independent contributions, but we have focused only on those of the latter type. We find that the tree-level contributions are suppressed with respect to the one-loop ones by at least a factor of (m2l /m2Z). We find that the contribution to the dipole associated with the electron is by far the dominant one, as it can be up to fourteen orders of magnitude greater than that of the muon and up to sixteen orders greater than that of the tau. The Lorentz coefficient (kAF )µ of the Carroll-Field-Jackiw’s QED is given by a linear combination of the (k1)µ and (k2)µ vectors. Assuming thatcollinear, we obtain an upper bound of|k12|,|k22| ≫ |k2AF| and taking (kAF)µ = 0, which implies that (|||−(3.49 × 10-4)(k2)0me + k2 | k1)µ and (k2)µ are.

Composite dark matter with forbidden annihilation

A dark matter model based on QCD-like SU(Nc) gauge theory with electroweakly interacting dark quarks is discussed. Assuming the dark quark mass m is smaller than the dynamical scale Λd ~ 4πfd, the main component of the dark matter is the lightest G-parity odd dark pion associated with chiral symmetry breaking in the dark sector. We show that nonzero dark quark mass induces the universal mass contribution to both G-parity odd and even pions, and their masses tend to be degenerate. As a result, dark pion annihilation into heavier G-parity even dark pion also affects the dark matter relic abundance. Thus, our setup naturally accommodates forbidden dark matter scenario and realizes heavy dark matter whose mass is O\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mathcal{O} $$\\end{document}(1–100) TeV, which is different from conventional electroweakly interacting dark matter such as minimal dark matter. We also discuss CP-violation from the θ-term in the dark gauge sector and find that the predicted size of the electron electric dipole moment can be as large as ∼ 10−32e cm.

Gravitational axiverse spectroscopy: seeing the forest for the axions

We consider inflationary models with multiple spectator axions coupled to dark gauge sectors via Chern-Simons (CS) terms. The energy injection into Abelian gauge fields from the axions engenders a multi-peak profile for scalar and tensor spectra. We highlight the constraining power of CMB spectral distortions on the scalar signal and discuss the conditions under which spectator sectors can account for the recently observed stochastic gravitational wave (GW) background in the nHz range. Given the tantalizing prospect of a multi-peak “GW forest” spanning several decades in frequency, we elaborate on possible ultraviolet origins of the spectator models from Type IIB orientifolds. String compactifications generically produce a multitude of axions, the “Axiverse”, from dimensional reduction of p-form gauge fields. The CS coupling of such axions to dark gauge fields in the worldvolume theory of D7-branes can be tuned via multiple brane wrappings and/or quantized gauge field strengths. If string axions coupled to Abelian gauge fields undergo slow-roll during inflation, they produce GW signals with peaked frequency distribution whose magnitude depends on the details of the compactification. We discuss the restrictions on spectator models from consistency and control requirements of the string compactification and thereby motivate models that may live in the string landscape as opposed to the swampland.

Exclusion bounds for neutral gauge bosons

We study how the recent experimental results constrain the gauge sectors of U(1) extensions of the standard model using a novel representation of the parameter space. We determine the bounds on the mixing angle between the massive gauge bosons or, equivalently, the new gauge coupling as a function of the mass MZ′ of the new neutral gauge boson Z′ in the approximate range (10−2,104) GeV/c2. We consider the most stringent bounds obtained from direct searches for the Z′. We also exhibit the allowed parameter space by comparing the predicted and measured values of the ρ parameter and those of the mass of the W boson. Finally, we discuss the prospects of Z′ searches at future colliders. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Four-gluon vertex in collinear kinematics

To date, the four-gluon vertex is the least explored component of the QCD Lagrangian, mainly due to the vast proliferation of Lorentz and color structures required for its description. In this work we present a nonperturbative study of this vertex, based on the one-loop dressed Schwinger–Dyson equation obtained from the 4PI effective action. A vast simplification is brought about by resorting to “collinear” kinematics, where all momenta are parallel to each other, and by appealing to the charge conjugation symmetry in order to eliminate certain color structures. Out of the fifteen form factors that comprise the transversely-projected version of this vertex, two are singled out and studied in detail; the one associated with the classical tensorial structure is moderately suppressed in the infrared regime, while the other diverges logarithmically at the origin. Quite interestingly, both form factors display the property known as “planar degeneracy” at a rather high level of accuracy. With these results we construct an effective charge that quantifies the strength of the four-gluon interaction, and compare it with other vertex-derived charges from the gauge sector of QCD.

The Standard Model from String Theory: What Have We Learned?

Amid all candidates of physics beyond the Standard Model, string theory provides a unique proposal for incorporating gauge and gravitational interactions. In string theory, a four-dimensional theory that unifies quantum mechanics and gravity is obtained automatically if one posits that the additional dimensions predicted by the theory are small and curled up—a concept known as compactification. The gauge sector of the theory is specified by the topology and geometry of the extra dimensions, and the challenge is to reproduce all of the features of the Standard Model of particle physics from them. We review the state of the art in reproducing the Standard Model from string compactifications and summarize the lessons drawn from this fascinating quest. We describe novel scenarios and mechanisms that string theory provides to address some of the Standard Model puzzles as well as the most frequent signatures of new physics that could be detected in future experiments. We then comment on recent developments that connect, in a rather unexpected way, the Standard Model with quantum gravity and that may change our field theory notion of naturalness.

A fermionic portal to a non-abelian dark sector

We introduce a new class of renormalizable models for dark matter with a minimal particle content, consisting of a dark SU(2)D gauge sector connected to the standard model through a vector-like fermion mediator, not requiring a Higgs portal, in which a massive vector boson is the dark matter candidate. These models are labeled fermion portal vector dark matter (FPVDM). Multiple realizations are possible, depending on the properties of the vector-like partner and scalar potential. One example is discussed in detail. Fermion portal vector dark matter models have a large number of applications in collider and non-collider experiments, with their phenomenology depending on the mediator sector.

ZN lattice gauge theories with matter fields

Motivated by the exotic phenomenology of certain quantum materials and recent advances in programmable quantum emulators, we here study fermions and bosons in ZN lattice gauge theories. We introduce a family of exactly soluble models, and characterize their orthogonal (semi)metallic ground states, the excitation spectrum, and the correlation functions. We further study integrability-breaking perturbations using an appropriately derived set of Feynman diagrammatic rules and borrowing physics associated to Anderson's orthogonality catastrophe. In the context of the ground states, we revisit Luttinger's theorem following Oshikawa's flux insertion argument and furthermore demonstrate the existence of a Luttinger surface of zeros in the fermionic Green's function. Upon inclusion of perturbations, we address the transition from the orthogonal metal to the normal state by condensation of certain excitations in the gauge sectors, so-called “e particles.” We furthermore discuss the effect of dynamics in the dual “m-particle” excitations, which ultimately leads to the formation of charge-neutral hadronic N-particle bound states. We present analytical arguments for the most important phases and estimates for phase boundaries of the model. Specifically, and in sharp distinction to quasi-one-dimensional ZN lattice gauge theories, renormalization group arguments imply that the phase diagram does not include an emergent deconfining U(1) phase in the limit of large number of fermion flavors. Therefore, in regards to lattice QED problems, ZN quantum emulators with N<∞ can at best be used for approximate solutions at intermediate length scales. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Anisotropic dark energy from string compactifications

We explore the cosmological dynamics of a minimalistic yet generic string-inspired model for multifield dark energy. Adopting a supergravity four-dimensional viewpoint, we motivate the model’s structure arising from superstring compactifications involving a chiral superfield and a pure U(1) gauge sector. The chiral sector gives rise to a pair of scalar fields, such as the axio-dilaton, which are kinetically coupled. However, the scalar potential depends on only one of them, further entwined with the vector field through the gauge kinetic function. The model has two anisotropic attractor solutions that, despite a steep potential and thanks to multifield dynamics, could explain the current accelerated expansion of the Universe while satisfying observational constraints on the late-times cosmological anisotropy. Nevertheless, justifying the parameter space allowing for slow roll dynamics together with the correct cosmological parameters, would be challenging within the landscape of string theory. Intriguingly, we find that the vector field, particularly at one of the studied fixed points, plays a crucial role in enabling geodesic trajectories in the scalar field space while realizing slow-roll dynamics with a steep potential. This observation opens a new avenue for exploring multifield dark energy models within the superstring landscape.

Probing grand unification with quantum sensors

We discuss how grand unification can be probed with experiments at low energies using quantum sensors. Specifically, we show that scalar multiplets coupled to the gauge sector of a grand unified theory provide a mechanism for a time-varying unified coupling which has low-energy consequences which can be probed with quantum sensors. We then assume that the multiplets represent ultra light dark matter. Constraints on ultra light dark matter couplings to regular matter are extracted using atomic clock comparisons, pulsar timing arrays (NANOGrav) and MICROSCOPE.

Covariant action for self-dual p-form gauge fields in general spacetimes

Sen’s action for a p-form gauge field with self-dual field strength coupled to a spacetime metric g involves an explicit Minkowski metric and the presence of this raises questions as to whether the action is coordinate independent and whether it can be used on a general spacetime manifold. A natural generalisation of Sen’s action is presented in which the Minkowski metric is replaced by a second metric \\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\overline{g }$$\\end{document} on spacetime. The theory is covariant and can be formulated on any spacetime. The theory describes a physical sector, consisting of the chiral p-form gauge field coupled to the dynamical metric g, plus a shadow sector consisting of a second chiral p-form and the second metric \\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\overline{g }$$\\end{document}. The fields in this shadow sector only couple to each other and have no interactions with the physical sector, so that they decouple from the physical sector. The resulting theory is covariant and can be formulated on any spacetime. Explicit expressions are found for the interactions and extensions to include interactions with other physical fields or higher-derivative field equations are given. A spacetime with two metrics has some interesting geometry and some of this is explored here and used in the construction of the interactions. The action has two diffeomorphism-like symmetries, one acting only on the physical sector and one acting only on the shadow sector, with the spacetime diffeomorphism symmetry arising as the diagonal subgroup. This allows a further generalisation in which \\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\overline{g }$$\\end{document} is not a tensor field but is instead a gauge field whose transition functions involve the usual coordinate transformation together with a shadow sector gauge transformation.

Induced cosmological anisotropy by a gauge-gravity interaction

We present a simple model which generates cosmological anisotropies on top of standard FLRW geometry. This is in some sense reminiscent of the mean field approximation, where the mean field cosmological model under consideration would be the standard FLRW, and the anisotropy is a small perturbative correction on top of it. Using a supergravity-inspired model, we confirm that the stable fixed point of our model corresponds to standard FLRW cosmology. We use a Bianchi VII0-type model supplemented with a scalar and U(1) gauge fields, and we show that the anisotropies of the geometry are generated by the non-trivial interaction between the gravity sector and the U(1) gauge sector. Studying the attractor flow, we show that the anisotropies are present at early times (high redshift) and decay asymptotically to an FLRW attractor fixed point. With such a mechanism, observations of non-isotropy are not contradictory to FLRW geometry or indeed the ΛCDM model. Such models could in principle shed some insights on the present cosmological tensions.

Weakly constrained double field theory as the double copy of Yang-Mills theory

The weakly constrained double field theory, in the sense of Hull and Zwiebach, captures the subsector of string theory on toroidal backgrounds that includes gravity, B-field, and dilaton together with all of their massive Kaluza-Klein and winding modes, which are encoded in doubled coordinates subject to the “weak constraint.” Due to the complications of the weak constraint, this theory was only known to cubic order. Here we construct the quartic interactions for the case that all dimensions are toroidal and doubled. Starting from the kinematic C∞ algebra K of pure Yang-Mills theory and its hidden Lie-type algebra, we construct the L∞ algebra of weakly constrained double field theory on a subspace of the “double copied” tensor product space K⊗K¯, by doing homotopy transfer to the weakly constrained subspace and performing a nonlocal shift that is well-defined on the torus. We test the resulting three-brackets and establish their uniqueness up to cohomologically trivial terms, by verifying the Jacobi identities up to homotopy for the gauge sector. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

New symmetries of the two-Higgs-doublet model

The Two Higgs Doublet Model invariant under the gauge group SU(2)×U(1)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$SU(2)\ imes U(1)$$\\end{document} is known to have six additional global discrete or continuous symmetries of its scalar sector. We have discovered regions of parameter space of the model which are basis and renormalization group invariant to all orders of perturbation theory in the scalar and gauge sectors, but correspond to none of the hitherto considered symmetries. We therefore identify seven new symmetries of the model and discuss their phenomenology. Soft symmetry breaking is required for some of these models so that electroweak symmetry breaking can occur. We show that, at least at the two-loop level, it is possible to extend some of these symmetries to include fermions.

Dynamical inflation stimulated cogenesis

We propose a minimal setup that realises dynamical inflection point inflation, and, using the same field content, generates neutrino masses, a baryon asymmetry of the universe, and dark matter. A dark SU(2)D gauge sector with a dark scalar doublet playing the role of inflaton is considered along with several doublet and singlet fermions sufficient to realise multiple inflection points in the inflaton potential. The singlet fermions couple to SM leptons and generate neutrino masses via the inverse seesaw mechanism. Those fermions also decay asymmetrically and out of equilibrium, generating a baryon asymmetry via leptogenesis. Some of the fermion doublets are dark matter, and they are produced via inflaton decay and freeze-in annihilation of the same fermions that generate the lepton asymmetry. Reheating, leptogenesis, and dark matter are all at the TeV scale.

Multicomponent scalar dark matter with an extended Gauge sector

We consider an extension of the Standard Model of particle physics with an additional SU(2) gauge sector along with an additional scalar bidoublet and a non-linear sigma field. The neutral components of the bidoublet serve as dark matter candidates by virtue of the bidoublet being odd under a Z2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$Z_2$$\\end{document} symmetry. Generic beyond Standard Model constraints like vacuum stability, invisible decay of Higgs, Higgs alignment limit and collider constraints on heavy gauge bosons restrict the parameter space of this model. In this multicomponent dark matter scenario, we investigate the interplay between the annihilation and co-annihilation channels originating from the new gauge sector as those contribute to the relic abundance. We also inspect the direct detection constraints on scattering cross-sections of the dark matter particles with the detector nucleons and present our observations.

Direct bounds on Left-Right gauge boson masses at LHC Run 2

While the third run of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is ongoing, the underlying theory that extends the Standard Model remains so far unknown. Left-Right Models (LRMs) introduce a new gauge sector, and can restore parity symmetry at high enough energies. If LRMs are indeed realized in nature, the mediators of the new weak force can be searched for in colliders via their direct production. We recast existing experimental limits from the LHC Run 2 and derive generic bounds on the masses of the heavy LRM gauge bosons. As a novelty, we discuss the dependence of the WR and ZR total width on the LRM scalar content, obtaining model-independent bounds within the specific realizations of the LRM scalar sectors analysed here. These bounds avoid the need to detail the spectrum of the scalar sector, and apply in the general case where no discrete symmetry is enforced. Moreover, we emphasize the impact on the WR production at LHC of general textures of the right-handed quark mixing matrix without manifest left-right symmetry. We find that the WR and ZR masses are constrained to lie above 2 TeV and 4 TeV, respectively.

Primordial gravitational waves in non-minimally coupled chromo-natural inflation

We consider inflation driven by an axion-like particle coupled to an SU(2) gauge sector via a Chern-Simons term. Known as chromo-natural inflation, this scenario is in tension with CMB observations. In order to remedy this fact and preserve both the symmetries and the intriguing gravitational wave phenomenology exhibited by the model, we explore the non-minimal coupling of the axion-inflaton to the Einstein tensor. We identify regions of parameter space corresponding to a viable cosmology at CMB scales. We also highlight the possibility of a non-trivial chiral gravitational wave signal at small scales.

Renormalization of a Standard Model extension with a Dark Abelian Sector and predictions for the W-boson mass

The described Dark Abelian Sector Model (DASM) extends the Standard Model (SM) by a “dark” sector containing a spontaneously broken U(1)d gauge group. Keeping this dark sector quite generic we only add one additional Higgs boson, one Dirac fermion, and right-handed SM-like neutrinos to the SM. Using the only two singlet operators of the SM with dimension less than 4 (the U(1)Y field-strength tensor and the SM Higgs mass operator |Φ|2) as well as the right-handed neutrino fields we open up three portals to the dark sector. Dark sectors, such as the one of the DASM, that introduce an additional Higgs boson H as well as an additional Z′ gauge boson can have a large influence on the predictions for electroweak precision observables and even accommodate possible dark matter candidates. We consider one of the two Higgs bosons to be the known 125 GeV Higgs boson and parameterize the extension of the scalar sector by the mass of the second Higgs boson, the Higgs mixing angle, and a Higgs self-coupling. We do not assume any mass hierarchy in the gauge sector and use the mass of the additional Z′ boson and a corresponding gauge-boson mixing angle to parameterize the extension of the gauge sector. The fermion sector is parameterized by the mass of the additional fermion and a fermion mixing angle. We describe an on-shell as well as an MS¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\overline{\ extrm{MS}} $$\\end{document} renormalization scheme for the DASM sectors and give explicit results for the renormalization constants at the 1-loop level, and, thus, prepare the ground for full NLO predictions for collider observables in the DASM. As a first example, we provide the DASM prediction for the W-boson mass derived from muon decay.

Fermionic portal to vector dark matter from a new gauge sector

Fermionic portal to vector dark matter from a new gauge sector