Indirect Constraints Research Articles

Gigantic diphoton rate of heavy Higgs bosons in the aligned two Higgs doublet models with smalltanβ

We study the implications of the LHC heavy neutral Higgs search data on the aligned two Higgs doublet model with softly broken $Z_2$ symmetry. When $\tan\beta$ is small, the gluon fusion production of the heavy CP-even scalar $H^0$ or the CP-odd scalar $A^0$ becomes large enough to constrain the model by the current $\gamma\gamma$, $\tau^+\tau^-$, and $t\bar{t}$ data. By reinvestigating this small $\tan\beta$ region, we find that the indirect constraints like $\Delta\rho$, $b\to s \gamma$, $\Delta M_{B_d}$, $R_b$, $\epsilon_K$, and the perturbativity of running top Yukawa coupling are rather weak to be $\tan\beta > 0.5$. The current heavy Higgs search results are shown to put more significant bounds. If $m_H \simeq m_A$, the $t\bar{t}$ mode excludes $\tan\beta< 1.5$ for $m_{H,A}=500-600\,$GeV in all four types, and the $\gamma\gamma$ and $\tau^+\tau^-$ modes exclude $\tan\beta < 1-3$ ($\tan\beta < 3-10$) for $m_{H,A}=120-340\,$GeV in Type I, II, and Y (Type X).

Direct detection constraints on dark photon dark matter

Dark matter detectors built primarily to probe elastic scattering of WIMPs on nuclei are also precise probes of light, weakly coupled, particles that may be absorbed by the detector material. In this paper, we derive constraints on the minimal model of dark matter comprised of long-lived vector states V (dark photons) in the 0.01–100 keV mass range. The absence of an ionization signal in direct detection experiments such as XENON10 and XENON100 places a very strong constraint on the dark photon mixing angle, down to O(10−15), assuming that dark photons comprise the dominant fraction of dark matter. This sensitivity to dark photon dark matter exceeds the indirect bounds derived from stellar energy loss considerations over a significant fraction of the available mass range. We also revisit indirect constraints from V→3γ decay and show that limits from modifications to the cosmological ionization history are comparable to the updated limits from the diffuse γ-ray flux.

TeV-scale left-right symmetry and large mixing effects in neutrinoless double beta decay

We analyze various contributions to neutrinoless double beta decay ($0\nu\beta\beta$) in a TeV-scale Left-Right Symmetric Model (LRSM) for type-I seesaw dominance. We find that the momentum-dependent effects due to $W_L-W_R$ exchange ($\lambda$-diagram) and $W_L-W_R$ mixing ($\eta$-diagram) could give dominant contributions to the $0\nu\beta\beta$ amplitude in a wide range of the LRSM parameter space. In particular, for a relatively large $W_L-W_R$ mixing, the $\eta$-contribution by itself could saturate the current experimental limit on the $0\nu\beta\beta$ half-life, thereby providing stringent constraints on the relevant LRSM parameters, complementary to the indirect constraints derived from lepton flavor violating observables. In a simplified scenario parametrized by a single light-heavy neutrino mixing, the inclusion of the $\lambda$ and $\eta$ contributions leads to significantly improved $0\nu\beta\beta$ constraints on the light-heavy neutrino mixing as well as on the $W_L-W_R$ mixing parameters. We also present a concrete TeV-scale LRSM setup, where the mixing effects are manifestly enhanced, and discuss the interplay between $0\nu\beta\beta$, lepton flavor violation and electric dipole moment constraints.

Comparing EFT and exact one-loop analyses of non-degenerate stops

We develop a universal approach to the one-loop effective field theory (EFT) using the Covariant Derivative Expansion (CDE) method. We generalise previous results to include broader classes of UV models, showing how expressions previously obtained assuming degenerate heavy-particle masses can be extended to non-degenerate cases. We apply our method to the general MSSM with non-degenerate stop squarks, illustrating our approach with calculations of the coefficients of dimension-6 operators contributing to the hgg and hγγ couplings, and comparing with exact calculations of one-loop Feynman diagrams. We then use present and projected future sensitivities to these operator coefficients to obtain present and possible future indirect constraints on stop masses. The current sensitivity is already comparable to that of direct LHC searches, and future FCC-ee measurements could be sensitive to stop masses above a TeV. The universality of our one-loop EFT approach facilitates extending these constraints to a broader class of UV models.

New physics models facing lepton flavor violating Higgs decays at the percent level

We speculate about the possible interpretations of the recently observed excess in the $h \to \tau \mu$ decay. We derive a robust lower bound on the Higgs boson coupling strength to a tau and a muon, even in presence of the most general new physics affecting other Higgs properties. Then we reevaluate complementary indirect constraints coming from low energy observables as well as from theoretical considerations. In particular, the tentative signal should lead to $\tau \to \mu \gamma$ at rates which could be observed at Belle II. In turn we show that, barring fine-tuned cancellations, the effect can only be accommodated within models with an extended scalar sector. These general conclusions are demonstrated using a number of explicit new physics models. Finally we show how, given the $h \to \tau \mu$ signal, the current and future searches for $\mu \to e \gamma$ and $\mu \to e$ nuclear conversions unambiguously constrain the allowed rates for $h \to \tau e$.

A second Higgs from the Higgs portal

In the Higgs portal framework, the Higgs field generally mixes with the Standard Model singlet leading to the existence of two states, one of which is identified with the 125 GeV scalar observed at the LHC. In this work, we analyse direct and indirect constraints on the second mass eigenstate and the corresponding mixing angle. The existence of the additional scalar can be beneficial as it can stabilise the otherwise-metastable electroweak vacuum. We find parameter regions where all of the bounds, including the stability constraints, are satisfied. We also study prospects for observing the decay of the heavier state into a pair of the 125 GeV Higgs-like scalars.

Cosmogenic Be and OSL Dating of Marine Terraces Along the Central- East Coast of Korea: Spatio-Temporal Variations in Uplift Rates

We report the abandonment age of the Jeongdongjin (JDJ) coastal terrace that lies at 65 m a.s.l. The age of the JDJ terrace surface has yet to be equivocally constrained because of its antiquity (>MIS 5), challenging the application of conventional radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating techniques. The reliability of applied indirect age constraints on the sediments by amino-acid racemization and tephra chronology is debated. We present the first application of cosmogenic surface exposure dating to constrain the age of the old terrace in Korea. We dated four samples from the paleo shore platform surface using cosmogenic 10 Be surface exposure dating techniques. The analyses yielded exposure ages ranging from 240 to 170 kyr and likely correspond to the penultimate interglacial period (MIS 7). Sandy beach sediments overlying marine terraces at nearby Anin (~23 m a.s.l.) and Ayajin (~17 m a.s.l.) were dated by OSL. OSL dating of terrace beach sand in two separate areas yielded ages between 129-117 and 70-66 kyr, interpreted MIS 5e and MIS 5a, respectively. Combining the exposure ages and the heights of terraces corrected for paleo sea level, we obtain uplift rates of 353 for JDJ, 159 for Anin, and 238 mm/kyr for Ayajin. The results indicate spatio-temporal variations in the rate of surface uplift along the east coast of Korea during the late Quaternary. Furthermore, the west and east coasts of central Korea experienced different uplift histories during the late Quaternary, possibly resulting from the effects of different tectonic regimes.

Phenomenology of induced electroweak symmetry breaking

We study the phenomenology of models of electroweak symmetry breaking where the Higgs potential is dominated by a positive quadratic term destabilized by a tadpole arising from the coupling to an "auxiliary" Higgs sector. The auxiliary Higgs sector can be either perturbative or strongly coupled, similar to technicolor models. Since electroweak symmetry breaking is driven by a tadpole, the cubic and quartic Higgs couplings can naturally be significantly smaller than their values in the standard model. The theoretical motivation for these models is that they can explain the 125 GeV Higgs mass in supersymmetry without fine-tuning. The auxiliary Higgs sector contains additional Higgs states that cannot decouple from standard model particles, so these models predict a rich phenomenology of Higgs physics beyond the standard model. In this paper we analyze a large number of direct and indirect constraints on these models. We present the current constraints after the 8 TeV run of the LHC, and give projections for the sensitivity of the upcoming 14 TeV run. We find that the strongest constraints come from the direct searches $A^0 \to Zh$, $A^0 \to t\bar{t}$, with weaker constraints from Higgs coupling fits. For strongly-coupled models, additional constraints come from $\rho^+ \to WZ$ where $\rho^+$ is a vector resonance. Our overall conclusion is that a significant parameter space for such models is currently open, allowing values of the Higgs cubic coupling down to 0.4 times the standard model value for weakly coupled models and vanishing cubic coupling for strongly coupled models. The upcoming 14 TeV run of the LHC will stringently test this scenario and we identify several new searches with discovery potential for this class of models.

Indirect constraints on the Georgi-Machacek model and implications for Higgs boson couplings

We update the indirect constraints on the Georgi-Machacek model from $B$-physics and electroweak precision observables, including new constraints from $b \to s \gamma$ and $B^0_s \to \mu^+ \mu^-$. We illustrate the effect of these constraints on the couplings of the Standard Model-like Higgs boson by performing scans using the most general scalar potential, subject to vacuum stability and perturbativity constraints. We find that simultaneous enhancements of all the Higgs production cross sections by up to 39\% are still allowed after imposing these constraints. LHC rate measurements on the Higgs pole could be blind to these enhancements if unobserved non-standard Higgs decays are present.

The elusive gluon

We study the phenomenology of vector resonances in the context of natural composite Higgs models. A mild hierarchy between the fermionic partners and the vector resonances can be expected in these models based on the following arguments. Both direct and indirect (electroweak and flavor precision) constraints on fermionic partners are milder than the ones on spin one resonances. Also the naturalness pressure coming from the top partners is stronger than that induced by the gauge partners. This observation implies that the search strategy for vector resonances at the LHC needs to be modified. In particular, we point out the importance of heavy gluon decays (or other vector resonances) to top partner pairs that were overlooked in previous experimental searches at the LHC. These searches focused on simplified benchmark models in which the only new particle beyond the Standard Model was the heavy gluon. It turns out that, when kinematically allowed, such heavy-heavy decays make the heavy gluon elusive, and the bounds on its mass can be up to 2TeV milder than in the simpler models considered so far for the LHC14. We discuss the origin of this difference and prospects for dedicated searches.

Model building for flavor changing Higgs couplings

If $t\rightarrow hq$ ($q=c,u$) or $h\rightarrow\tau\ell$ ($\ell=\mu,e$) decays are observed, it will be a clear signal of new physics. We investigate whether natural and viable flavor models can saturate the present direct upper bounds without violating the indirect constraints from low energy loop processes. We carry out our analysis in two theoretical frameworks: minimal flavor violation (MFV) and Froggatt-Nielsen symmetry (FN). The simplest models in either framework predict flavor changing couplings that are too small to be directly observed. Yet, in the MFV framework, it is possible to have lepton flavor changing Higgs couplings close to the bound if spurions related to heavy singlet neutrinos play a role. In the FN framework, it is possible to have large flavor changing couplings in both the up and the charged lepton sectors if supersymmetry plays a role.

Constraining top partner and naturalness at the LHC and TLEP

We investigate indirect constraints on the top partner within the minimal fermionic top partner model. By performing a global fit of the latest Higgs data, Bs→μ+μ− measurements and the electroweak precision observables we find that the top partner with the mass up to 830 GeV is excluded at 2σ level. Our bound on the top partner mass is much stronger than the bounds obtained from the direct searches at the LHC. Under the current constraints the fine-tuning measure is less than 9% and the branching ratio of T→tZ is bounded between 14% and 25%. We also find that precise measurements of Higgs couplings at 240 GeV TLEP will constrain the top partner mass in multi-TeV region.

Direct constraints on diffusion models from cosmic-ray positron data: Excluding the minimal model for dark matter searches

Galactic Cosmic-ray (CR) transport parameters are usually constrained by the boron-to-carbon ratio. This procedure is generically plagued with degeneracies between the diffusion coefficient and the vertical extent of the Galactic magnetic halo. The latter is of paramount importance for indirect dark matter (DM) searches, because it fixes the amount of DM annihilation or decay that contributes to the local antimatter CR flux. These degeneracies could be broken by using secondary radioactive species, but the current data still have large error bars, and this method is extremely sensitive to the very local interstellar medium (ISM) properties. Here, we propose to use the low-energy CR positrons in the GeV range as another direct constraint on diffusion models. We show that the PAMELA data disfavor small diffusion halo ($L\lesssim 3$ kpc) and large diffusion slope models, and exclude the minimal ({\em min}) configuration (Maurin et al. 2001, Donato et al. 2004) widely used in the literature to bracket the uncertainties in the DM signal predictions. This is complementary to indirect constraints (diffuse radio and gamma-ray emissions) and has strong impact on DM searches. Indeed this makes the antiproton constraints more robust while enhancing the discovery/exclusion potential of current and future experiments, like AMS-02 and GAPS, especially in the antiproton and antideuteron channels.

Constraining the primordial power spectrum from SNIa lensing dispersion

The (absence of detecting) lensing dispersion of Supernovae type Ia (SNIa) can be used as a novel and extremely efficient probe of cosmology. In this preliminary example we analyze its consequences for the primordial power spectrum. The main setback is the knowledge of the power spectrum in the non-linear regime, 1 Mpc^{-1} < k < 10^2-10^3 Mpc^{-1} up to redshift of about unity. By using the lensing dispersion and conservative estimates in this regime of wavenumbers, we show how the current upper bound sigma_mu(z=1) < 0.12on existing data gives strong indirect constraints on the primordial power spectrum. The probe extends our handle on the spectrum to a total of 12-15 inflation e-folds. These constraints are so strong that they are already ruling out a large portion of the parameter space allowed by PLANCK for running alpha = d n_s / d ln k and running of running beta = d^2 n_s / d ln k^2. The bounds follow a linear relation to a very good accuracy. A conservative bound disfavors any enhancement above the line beta(k_0)=0.036-0.42 alpha(k_0) and a realistic estimate disfavors any enhancement above the line beta(k_0)=0.022-0.44 alpha(k_0).

Earth's Uranium and Thorium content and geoneutrinos fluxes based on enstatite chondrites

The Earth's thermal evolution is controlled by the amount of heat released by the radioactive decay of 40K, 238U, 235U and 232Th. Their crust and upper mantle content is inferred from direct sampling, whereas estimating the lower mantle concentrations requires indirect constraints, such as those brought by primitive chondrites, or by geoneutrinos. Here we follow the framework of “E-Earth” models, based on the isotopic and chemical composition of E-chondrites (EC), to calculate U and Th concentrations in the Earth's present day mantle, and the corresponding geoneutrinos flux. The model uses a compilation of data of U and Th contents of EC and account for the Earth differentiation and crust extraction. We obtain that the Bulk Silicate Earth (BSE) contains 15.4±1.8 ppb of Uranium and 51.3±4.4 ppb of Thorium, and has an average Th/U mass ratio of 3.4±0.4, with a peak value around 3.15. The prediction of geoneutrinos events originating from the mantle (i.e., without taking into account the local contribution of the crust) is 5.1±1.0 TNU, with 4.3±0.9 TNU coming from Uranium, and 0.8±0.2 TNU from Thorium. These numbers are in good agreement with the most recent KamLAND detector estimate, and compatible with the (higher) Borexino flux. On the other hand, the KamLAND constraints are not consistent with the high content of heat producing elements in the mantle predicted by the simple application of parameterized convection model to the thermal evolution of the Earth's mantle. Since the measurement error in the mantle neutrino flux is currently dominated by the crustal contribution, geoneutrinos cannot for now discriminate between CI-based and EH-base models of the Earth's composition. Further progress is expected if an ocean based geoneutrino detector is deployed.

Flavor and CP violation in Higgs decays

Flavor violating interactions of the Higgs boson are a generic feature of models with extended electroweak symmetry breaking sectors. Here, we investigate CP violation in these interactions, which can arise from interference of tree-level and 1-loop diagrams. We compute the CP asymmetry in flavor violating Higgs decays in an effective field theory with only one Higgs boson and in a general Type-III Two Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM). We find that large $$ \left(\sim \mathcal{O}\left(10\%\right)\right) $$ asymmetries are possible in the 2HDM if one of the extra Higgs bosons has a mass similar to the Standard Model Higgs. For the poorly constrained decay modes h → τμ and h → τe, this implies that large lepton charge asymmetries could be detectable at the LHC. We quantify this by comparing the sensitivity of the LHC to existing direct and indirect constraints. Interestingly, detection prospects are best if Higgs mixing is relatively small — a situation that is preferred by the current data. Nevertheless, CP violation in h → τμ or h → τe will only be observable if nonzero rates for these decay modes are measured very soon.

Limitations and opportunities of off-shell coupling measurements

Indirect constraints on the total Higgs width $\Gamma_h$ from correlating Higgs signal strengths with cross section measurements in the off-shell region for $p(g)p(g)\to 4\ell$ production have received considerable attention recently, and the CMS collaboration have published a first measurement. We revisit this analysis from a new physics and unitarity constraints perspective and conclude that limits on $\Gamma_h$ obtained in this fashion are not reliable unless we make model-specific assumptions, which cannot be justified at the current stage of the LHC programme. Relaxing the $\Gamma_h$ interpretation, we discuss the merits of high invariant mass cross section measurements in the context of Higgs CP analyses, higher dimensional operator testing, and resolved new physics in the light of electroweak precision constraints beyond effective theory limitations. Furthermore, we show that a rather model-independent LHC constraint can be obtained from adapting the $gg\to 4\ell$ analysis to the weak boson fusion channels at lower statistical yield.

Interplay of flavor and collider physics

We present an overview on the interplay between direct searches for new physics at the LHC and indirect constraints from flavor physics, with an emphasis on the implications of the recent LHCb results. The complementarity with the Higgs search results will also be addressed. We show the correlations and complementarity between the different sectors in the context of a few specific scenarios in supersymmetry.

Indirect model-dependent probe of the Higgs self-coupling

The Higgs associated production cross section at an ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ collider is indirectly sensitive to the Higgs self-coupling, ${h}^{3}$, at next-to-leading order (NLO). Utilizing this, a new indirect method is proposed for constraining deviations in the self-coupling below the di-Higgs production threshold in certain models. Although this indirect constraint is model dependent, making it valid only under specific assumptions, meaningful indirect constraints on the self-coupling may be realized. Specific realistic scenarios where the indirect constraint applies are discussed and in particular it is shown that in the well-motivated class of two Higgs-doublet models there exist regions of parameter space in which the NLO effects from a modified self-coupling dominate over the leading order modifications, demonstrating a concrete scenario in which large modifications of the Higgs self-coupling may be indirectly constrained using the proposed method. Other models, such as strongly coupled scenarios, are also discussed. The indirect method would give valuable constraints on deviations in the Higgs self-coupling, and would be complementary to the direct measurements possible with di-Higgs production at other colliders, providing precious additional information in the effort to unravel the properties of the Higgs boson.

Heavy gravitino and split SUSY in the light of BICEP2

High-scale supersymmetry (SUSY) with a split spectrum has become increasingly interesting given the current experimental results. A SUSY scale above the weak scale could be naturally associated with a heavy unstable gravitino, whose decays populate the dark matter (DM) particles. In the mini-split scenario with gravitino at about the PeV scale and the lightest TeV scale neutralino being (a component of) DM, the requirement that the DM relic abundance resulting from gravitino decays does not overclose the Universe and satisfies the indirect detection constraints demand the reheating temperature to be below 10^9 - 10^{10} GeV. On the other hand, the BICEP2 result prefers a heavy inflaton with mass at around 10^{13} GeV and a reheating temperature at or above 10^9 GeV with some general assumptions. The mild tension could be alleviated if SUSY scale is even higher with the gravitino mass above the PeV scale. Intriguingly, in no-scale supergravity, gravitinos could be very heavy at about 10^{13} GeV, the inflaton mass scale, while gauginos could still be light at the TeV scale.