Non-supersymmetric Models Research Articles

Supersymmetric higher-derivative models in quantum cosmology

We study the quantum cosmology of supersymmetric, homogeneous and isotropic, higher derivative models. We recall superfield actions obtained in previous works and give classically equivalent actions leading to second order equations for the bosons, and first order for the fermions. Upon quantization, the algebra of fermions leads to a multi-component state, which is annihilated by the Hamiltonian and supersymmetric constraint operators. We obtain asymptotic wave functions of the oscillatory type, whose classical limit corresponds to inflationary evolution, and exact exponential wave functions. We use the latter to derive probability distributions of the initial curvature that are compatible with those obtained using the non-supersymmetric model.

Higgs-like particle decays into γZ and γγ: Fingerprints of some non-supersymmetric models

Recently, ATLAS and CMS experiments at the LHC put on light the relevant results in the measurement precision of the Higgs and BSM. In such a report, where the resonance direct search was made in the γZ channel, a mass adjustment distribution for the reconstructed Z boson and photon was established. Thus, simultaneously with the signal-from-background separation, the number of events has been perfectly described, and an excess signal approximately twice that expected by the Standard Model (SM) has been noticed, which is equivalent to a significance of 2.2 standard deviations. In this study, we examine how any possible new physics models can explain this excess, such as the CP-conserving Two-Higgs doublet model (2HDMs), the Inert doublet model (IDM), and the Higgs triplet model (HTM). While considering the available theoretical and most recent experimental constraints, the phenomenological implications of existing extensions beyond the SM are discussed, and prospects for precision studies of these processes are described. We have found that the excess could be explained in the BSM frameworks studied, depending on the charged and double-charged Higgs boson masses.

E- and T-model hybrid inflation

We consider the impact of a kinetic pole of order one or two on the non-supersymmetric model of hybrid inflation. These poles arise due to logarithmic Kähler potentials which control the kinetic mixing of the inflaton field and parameterize hyperbolic manifolds with scalar curvature related to the coefficient (-N)<0 of the logarithm. Inflation is associated with the breaking of a local SU(2)times U(1) symmetry, which does not produce any cosmological defects after it, and remains largely immune from the minimal possible radiative corrections to the inflationary potential. For N=1 and equal values of the relevant coupling constants, lambda and kappa , the achievement of the observationally central value for the scalar spectral index, n_{textrm{s}}, requires the mass parameter, m, and the symmetry breaking scale, M, to be of the order of 10^{12}~{textrm{GeV}} and 10^{17}~{textrm{GeV}} respectively. Increasing N above unity the tensor-to-scalar ratio r increases above 0.002 and reaches its maximal allowed value for Nsimeq 10{-}20.

A natural model of spontaneous CP violation

We examine the possibility of building a natural non-supersymmetric model of spontaneous CP violation equipped with the Nelson-Barr (NB) mechanism to address the strong CP problem. Our approach is to utilize a doubly composite dynamics where the first confinement of the CFT occurs at the scale of spontaneous CP violation (SCPV) and the second confinement at the TeV scale. A holographic dual description of this 4D set-up via a warped extra dimension with three 3-branes provides an explicit realization of this idea. In this model, radiative corrections to the strong CP phase are well under control, and the coincidence of mass scales, which we generally encounter in NB models, is addressed. Our model also provides an explanation to the quark Yukawa hierarchies, and a solution to the gauge hierarchy problem just as in the usual Randall-Sundrum model with the Higgs being localized on the TeV brane.

Lepton flavor violation in minimal grand unified type II seesaw models

We revisit minimal non-supersymmetric models of SU(5) Grand Unification with the type II seesaw mechanism as the origin of neutrino masses. Imposing the requirement of gauge coupling unification and the proton lifetime bounds, we perform a Bayesian fit and obtain robust quantitative information on the mass scales of the beyond the Standard Model particles. We then study lepton-flavour-violating (LFV) processes induced by the type II scalar triplet and its SU(5) partners, showing that the interplay of upcoming searches for different LFV observables can provide additional information on the masses of the new particles, as well as non-trivial constraints on neutrino parameters.

On codimension-one vacua and string theory

We investigate codimension-one vacua arising from low energy effective actions inspired by string theory, with an eye to their consistency when localized sources are allowed in the equations of motion. We draw some inspiration from Sugimoto's USp(32) model, the simplest setting for brane supersymmetry breaking, and from the 0'B model, with their Dudas-Mourad solutions. Although the sources that one can thus identify do not have a clear role in string theory, this type of investigation is naturally suggested by the singularities that appear at the endpoints of internal intervals. We also discuss the introduction of sources in deformed D8-like solutions in type IIA, pointing out an analogy with one of the non-supersymmetric models. Finally, we show that an appropriate choice of frame can simplify computations in models with tadpole potentials.

Primordial black holes and gravitational waves in hybrid inflation with chaotic potentials

We study the formation of primordial black hole (PBH) dark matter and the generation of scalar induced secondary gravitational waves (SIGWs) in a non-supersymmetric model of hybrid inflation with chaotic (polynomial-like) potential, including one-loop radiative corrections. A radiatively corrected version of these models is entirely consistent with Planck's data. By adding non-canonical kinetic energy term in the lagrangian, the inflation experiences a period of ultra-slow-roll, and the amplitude of primordial power spectrum is enhanced to O(10−2). The enhanced power spectra of primordial curvature perturbations can have both sharp and broad peaks. A wide mass range of PBHs is realized in our model with the frequencies of scalar induced gravitational waves ranged from nHz to kHz. We present several benchmark points where the PBH mass generated during inflation is around (1−100)M⊙, (10−9−10−7)M⊙ and (10−16−10−11)M⊙. The PBHs can make up most of the dark matter with masses around (10−16−10−11)M⊙ and (1−100)M⊙, and their associated SIGWs can be probed by the upcoming ground and space-based gravitational wave (GW) observatories. The evidence of stochastic process recently reported by NANOGrav may be interpreted as SIGWs associated with the formation of PBHs. These SIGWs may also be tested by future interferometer-type GW observations of SKA, DECIGO, LISA, BBO, TaiJi, TianQin, CE and ET.

Disordered Vector Models: From Higher Spins to Incipient Strings.

We present a one-parameter family of large N disordered models, with and without supersymmetry, in three spacetime dimensions. They interpolate from the critical large N vector model dual to a classical higher spin theory toward a theory with a classical string dual. We analyze the spectrum and operator product expansion data of the theories. While the supersymmetric model is always well-behaved the nonsupersymmetric model is unitary only over a small parameter range. We offer some speculations on the origin of strings from the higher spins.

Target space duality of non-supersymmetric string theory

T-dualities of the non-supersymmetric string models, which are constructed by twisted compactifications, are investigated. We show that the T-duality groups of such models are obtained by imposing congruence conditions on O(dL,dR,Z), that is, the non-supersymmetric string models are invariant under congruence subgroups of O(dL,dR,Z). We also point out that the transitions among the non-supersymmetric models can be induced by acting O(dL,dR,Z) transformations.

Supersymmetry breaking, brane dynamics and Swampland conjectures

We investigate interactions between branes of various dimensions, both charged and uncharged, in three non-supersymmetric string models. These include the USp(32) and U(32) orientifold projections of the type IIB and type 0B strings, as well as the SO(16)×SO(16) projection of the exceptional heterotic string. The resulting ten-dimensional spectra are free of tachyons, and the combinations of branes that they contain give rise to rich and varied dynamics. We compute static potentials for parallel stacks of branes in three complementary regimes: the probe regime, in which one of the two stacks is parametrically heavier than the other, the string-amplitude regime, in which both stacks are light, and the holographic regime. Whenever comparisons are possible, we find qualitative agreement despite the absence of supersymmetry. For charged branes, our analysis reveals that the Weak Gravity Conjecture is satisfied in a novel way via a renormalization of the effective charge-to-tension ratio.

Metaplectic flavor symmetries from magnetized tori

We revisit the flavor symmetries arising from compactifications on tori with magnetic background fluxes. Using Euler’s Theorem, we derive closed form analytic expressions for the Yukawa couplings that are valid for arbitrary flux parameters. We discuss the modular transformations for even and odd units of magnetic flux, M, and show that they give rise to finite metaplectic groups the order of which is determined by the least common multiple of the number of zero-mode flavors involved. Unlike in models in which modular flavor symmetries are postulated, in this approach they derive from an underlying torus. This allows us to retain control over parameters, such as those governing the kinetic terms, that are free in the bottom-up approach, thus leading to an increased predictivity. In addition, the geometric picture allows us to understand the relative suppression of Yukawa couplings from their localization properties in the compact space. We also comment on the role supersymmetry plays in these constructions, and outline a path towards non-supersymmetric models with modular flavor symmetries.

Dynamical tadpoles and Weak Gravity Constraints

Non-supersymmetric string models are plagued with tadpoles for dynamical fields, which signal uncanceled forces sourced by the vacuum. We argue that in certain cases, uncanceled dynamical tadpoles can lead to inconsistencies with quantum gravity, via violation of swampland constraints. We describe an explicit realization in a supersymmetric toroidal Z2 × Z2 orientifold with D7-branes, where the dynamical tadpole generated by displacement of the D7-branes off its minimum leads to violation of the axion Weak Gravity Conjecture. In these examples, cancellation of dynamical tadpoles provides consistency conditions for the configuration, of dynamical nature (as opposed to the topological conditions of topological tadpoles, such as RR tadpole cancellation in compact spaces). We show that this approach provides a re-derivation of the Z-minimization criterion for AdS vacua giving the gravitational dual of a-maximization in 4d mathcal{N} = 1 toric quiver SCFTs.

Conformal group theory of tensor structures

The decomposition of correlation functions into conformal blocks is an indispensable tool in conformal field theory. For spinning correlators, non-trivial tensor structures are needed to mediate between the conformal blocks, which are functions of cross ratios only, and the correlation functions that depend on insertion points in the d-dimensional Euclidean space. Here we develop an entirely group theoretic approach to tensor structures, based on the Cartan decomposition of the conformal group. It provides us with a new universal formula for tensor structures and thereby a systematic derivation of crossing equations. Our approach applies to a ‘gauge’ in which the conformal blocks are wave functions of Calogero-Sutherland models rather than solutions of the more standard Casimir equations. Through this ab initio construction of tensor structures we complete the Calogero-Sutherland approach to conformal correlators, at least for four-point functions of local operators in non-supersymmetric models. An extension to defects and superconformal symmetry is possible.

Natural Higgs inflation, gauge coupling unification, and neutrino masses

We present a class of nonsupersymmetric models in which the so-called critical Higgs inflation [Formula: see text] can be naturally realized without using specific values for Higgs and top quark masses. In these scenarios, the Standard Model (SM) vacuum stability problem, gauge coupling unification, neutrino mass generation and Higgs inflation mechanism are linked to each other. We adopt in our models Type I seesaw mechanism for neutrino masses. An appropriate choice of the Type I seesaw scale allows us to have an arbitrarily small but positive value of SM Higgs quartic coupling around the inflation scale. We present a few benchmark points where we show that the scalar spectral indices are around 0.9626 and 0.9685 for the number of [Formula: see text]-folding [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively. The tensor-to-scalar ratios are of the order of [Formula: see text]. The running of the scalar spectral index is negative and is of the order of [Formula: see text].

Mono-b events from single stop production at the HL-LHC and HE-LHC

Top-squarks (stop) play an important role in SUSY naturalness. The stop pair production is considered as the most effective way to search for stop at the LHC. However, the collider signature of stop pair production is usually characterized by tt¯ plus missing transverse energy, which is also predicted in many other non-supersymmetric models. On the other hand, the single stop production via the electroweak interaction can provide some distinctive signatures, and thus will help to confirm the existence of the stop. In this paper, we investigate the observability of the mono-b events from the single stop production process pp→t˜1χ˜1−→b+E̸T in a simplified MSSM framework where the higgsinos and stops are the only sparticles at the HL-LHC and HE-LHC. We find that the stop mass and the higgsino mass may be probed up to about 1.6 TeV and 550 GeV at 5σ level at the HE-LHC with the integrated luminosity L=15ab−1. We also present the 2σ exclusion limits of the stop mass at the HL-LHC and HE-LHC.

Reinterpreting pp→W+W− searches for charginos

The hallmark way to search for electroweakinos in natural supersymmetry at the LHC involves the trilepton plus missing energy final state. This approach assumes an electroweakino mass hierarchy that allows for cascade decays leading to a final state of $W^{\pm}Z^0$ plus missing energy. There are, however, situations when that decay pattern may not exist, such as when a chargino is the lightest electroweakino and the lightest supersymmetric particle is the gravitino. In regions of the parameter space where this ordering occurs, the production of any combination of neutralino/chargino leads to a $W^+W^- + X$ plus missing energy final state, where $X$ could be additional jets or leptons. If $X$ is soft, then all neutralino/chargino production modes fall into the same experimental final state, dileptons plus missing energy. ATLAS and CMS have leptonic $W^+W^-$ plus missing energy searches, but their interpretation assumes a spectrum consisting of an isolated charged state. In this paper, we identify the circumstances under which natural supersymmetry models can avoid $W^{\pm}Z^0$ plus missing energy bounds. For scenarios that escape $W^{\pm}Z^0$ plus missing energy, we then recast the latest ATLAS $W^+W^-$ plus missing energy search, taking into account all the states that contribute to the same signal. Assuming the lightest supersymmetric particle is massless, we find a bound of 460 GeV for a higgsino-like degenerate doublet. Finally, we extend our arguments to a non-supersymmetric simplified model containing new electroweak-scale $SU(2)_w$ doublets and singlets.

Flavor from the double tetrahedral group without supersymmetry: Flavorful axions and neutrinos

We extend the work of Carone, Chaurasia and Vasquez on non-supersymmetric models of flavor based on the double tetrahedral group. Three issues are addressed: (1) the sector of flavor-symmetry-breaking fields is simplified and their potential studied explicitly, (2) a flavorful axion is introduced to solve the strong CP problem and (3) the model is extended to include the neutrino sector. We show how the model can accommodate the strong hierarchies manifest in the charged fermion Yukawa matrices, while predicting a qualitatively different form for the light neutrino mass matrix that is consistent with observed neutrino mass squared differences and mixing angles.

Affleck–Dine baryogenesis via mass splitting

We introduce a class of non-supersymmetric models explaining baryogenesis a la Affleck–Dine, which use a decay of two superheavy scalar fields with close masses. These scalars acquire non-zero expectation values during inflation through linear couplings to a function of an inflaton. After the inflaton decay, the model possesses approximate U(1)-invariance, explicitly broken by a small mass splitting. This splitting leads to the baryogenesis in the early Universe. Resulting baryon asymmetry is automatically small for the scalars with the masses about the Grand Unification scale and larger. It is fully determined by the inflaton dynamics and the Lagrangian parameters, i.e., is independent of initial pre-inflationary conditions for the scalars. As a consequence, baryon perturbations are purely adiabatic. We point out a possible origin of the mass splitting: masses of scalars degenerate at some large energy scale may acquire different loop corrections due to the interaction with the inflaton. Compared to electroweak baryogenesis and conventional Affleck–Dine scenarios, our mechanism generically leads to the proton decay suppressed by the powers of the superheavy scalar masses, which makes this scenario potentially testable.

Aspects of nonsupersymmetric string phenomenology

We consider a big class of chiral four-dimensional string models which bear [Formula: see text] gauge symmetry. Supersymmetry (SUSY) is spontaneously broken via the Scherk–Schwarz mechanism associated with two large internal dimensions. We study two central issues in nonsupersymmetric string phenomenology: the suppression of the cosmological constant and the decompactification problem. We identify a subclass of chiral nonsupersymmetric models with fermion–boson degeneracy leading to exponentially suppressed cosmological constant. In addition, we propose a novel solution to the decompactification problem related to the cancellation of the linear growth of the gauge part of the thresholds with a similar growth of the universal part. We show that the proposed mechanism resolves the decompactification problem related to the non-Abelian gauge couplings in approximately 40% of the models under consideration.

Running of fermion observables in non-supersymmetric SO(10) models

We investigate the complete renormalization group running of fermion observables in two different realistic non-supersymmetric models based on the gauge group SO(10) with intermediate symmetry breaking for both normal and inverted neutrino mass orderings. Contrary to results of previous works, we find that the model with the more minimal Yukawa sector of the Lagrangian fails to reproduce the measured values of observables at the electroweak scale, whereas the model with the more extended Yukawa sector can do so if the neutrino masses have normal ordering. The difficulty in finding acceptable fits to measured data is a result of the added complexity from the effect of an intermediate symmetry breaking as well as tension in the value of the leptonic mixing angle {theta}_{{}^{23}}^{ell } .