Sources Of Flavour Violation Research Articles

On the IR/UV flavour connection in non-universal axion models

Non-universal axion models, with the Peccei-Quinn (PQ) symmetry acting on Standard Model (SM) fermions in a generation-dependent way, are typically accompanied by two different sources of flavour violation, dubbed here as infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV). The former is due to the flavour violating axion couplings to SM fermions, while the latter arises from the heavy degrees of freedom that UV complete the axion effective field theory. We point out that these two sources of flavour violation are directly related and exemplify this connection in a general class of non-universal axion model, based on a renormalizable DFSZ-like setup with two Higgs doublets (PQ-2HDM). We next discuss the interplay of axion flavour phenomenology with the signatures stemming from the heavy radial modes of the PQ-2HDM, including meson oscillation observables and charged lepton flavour violating decays. We emphasize the strong complementarity between flavour observables, LHC direct searches and standard axion physics.

Single-top final states as a probe of top-flavoured dark matter models at the LHC

Models incorporating flavoured dark matter provide an elegant solution to the dark matter problem, evading the tight LHC and direct direction constraints on simple WIMP models. In Dark Minimal Flavour Violation, a simple framework of flavoured dark matter with new sources of flavour violation, the constraints from thermal freeze-out, direct detection experiments, and flavour physics create well-defined benchmark scenarios for these models. We study the LHC phenomenology of four such scenarios, focusing on final states where a single top quark is produced accompanied by no jets, one jet from the fragmentation of light quarks or a b-tagged jet. For each of these signatures we develop a realistic LHC analysis, and we show that the proposed analyses would increase the parameter space coverage for the four benchmarks, compared to existing flavour-conserving LHC analyses. Finally we show the projected discovery potential of the considered signatures for the full LHC statistics at 14 TeV, and for the High Luminosity LHC.

B anomalies under the lens of electroweak precision

The measurements carried out at LEP and SLC projected us into the precision era of electroweak physics. This has also been relevant in the theoretical interpretation of LHCb and Belle measurements of rare B semileptonic decays, paving the road for new physics with the inference of lepton universality violation in {R}_{K^{left(ast right)}} ratios. The simplest explanation of these flavour anomalies — sizeable one-loop contributions respecting Minimal Flavour Violation — is currently disfavoured by electroweak precision data. In this work, we discuss how to completely relieve the present tension between electroweak constraints and one-loop minimal flavour violating solutions to {R}_{K^{left(ast right)}} . We determine the correlations in the Standard Model Effective Field Theory that highlight the existence of such a possibility. Then, we consider minimal extensions of the Standard Model where our effective-field-theory picture can be realized. We discuss how these solutions to b → sℓℓ anomalies, respecting electroweak precision and without any new source of flavour violation, may point to the existence of a Z′ boson at around the TeV scale, within the discovery potential of LHC, or to leptoquark scenarios.

In-flight cLFV conversion: {e-mu }, {e-tau } and {mu -tau } in minimal extensions of the standard model with sterile fermions

We revisit charged lepton flavour in-flight conversions, in which a beam of electrons or muons is directed onto a fixed target, e + N rightarrow mu +N, e + N rightarrow tau +N and mu + N rightarrow tau +N, focusing on elastic interactions with a nucleus N. After a general discussion of this observable, we carry a full phenomenological analysis in the framework of minimal Standard Model extensions via sterile neutrinos, with a strong emphasis on the rôle of the increasingly more stringent constraints arising from other (low-energy) charged lepton flavour-violation observables. Despite the potential interest of this observable, in particular in the light of certain upcoming facilities with the capability of very intense lepton beams, our study suggests that due to current bounds on three-body decays (ell _i rightarrow 3 ell _j) and mu -e conversion in nuclei, the expected number of conversions in such a minimal framework is dramatically reduced. An experimental observation of such a conversion would thus signal the presence of another source of flavour violation, possibly at tree level.

Beyond minimal lepton-flavored Dark Matter

We consider a class of flavored dark matter (DM) theories where dark matter interacts with the Standard Model lepton fields at the renormalizable level. We allow for a general coupling matrix between the dark matter and leptons whose structure is beyond the one permitted by the minimal flavor violation (MFV) assumption. It is assumed that this is the only new source of flavor violation in addition to the Standard Model (SM) Yukawa interactions. The setup can be described by augmenting the SM flavor symmetry by an additional $\mathrm{SU}(3)_{\chi}$, under which the dark matter $\chi$ transforms. This framework is especially phenomenologically rich, due to possible novel flavor-changing interactions which are not present within the more restrictive MFV framework. As a representative case study of this setting, which we call "beyond MFV" (BMFV), we consider Dirac fermion dark matter which transforms as a singlet under the SM gauge group and a triplet under $\mathrm{SU}(3)_{\chi}$. The DM fermion couples to the SM lepton sector through a scalar mediator $\phi$. Unlike the case of quark-flavored DM, we show that there is no $\mathbb{Z}_3$ symmetry within either the MFV or BMFV settings which automatically stabilizes the lepton-flavored DM. We discuss constraints on this setup from flavor-changing processes, DM relic abundance as well as direct and indirect detections. We find that relatively large flavor-changing couplings are possible, while the dark matter mass is still within the phenomenologically interesting region below the TeV scale. Collider signatures which can be potentially searched for at the lepton and hadron colliders are discussed. Finally, we discuss the implications for decaying dark matter, which can appear if an additional stabilizing symmetry is not imposed.

Instanton induced Yukawa couplings from distant E3 and E(-1) instantons

We calculate non-perturbative contributions to Yukawa couplings on D3-branes at orbifold singularities due to E3 and fractional E(-1) instantons which do not intersect the visible sector branes. While distant E3 instantons on bulk cycles typically contribute to Yukawa couplings, we find that distant fractional E(-1) can also give rise to new Yukawa couplings. However, fractional E(-1) instantons only induce Yukawa couplings if they are located at a singularity which shares a collapsed homologous two-cycle with the singularity supporting the visible sector. The non-perturbative contributions to Yukawa couplings exhibit a different flavour structure than the tree-level Yukawa couplings and, as a result, they can be sources of flavour violation. This is particularly relevant for schemes of moduli stabilisation which rely on superpotential contributions from E3 instantons, such as KKLT or the Large Volume Scenario. As a byproduct of our analysis, we shed some new light on the properties of annulus diagrams with matter field insertions in stringy instanton calculus.

Combining Pati-Salam and flavour symmetries

We construct an extension of the Standard Model (SM) which is based on grand unification with Pati-Salam symmetry. The setup is supplemented with the idea of spontaneous flavour symmetry breaking which is mediated through flavon fields with renormalizable couplings to new heavy fermions. While we argue that the new gauge bosons in this approach can be sufficiently heavy to be irrelevant at low energies, the fermionic partners of the SM quarks, in particular those for the third generation, can be relatively light and provide new sources of flavour violation. The size of the effects is constrained by the observed values of the SM Yukawa matrices, but in a way that is different from the standard minimal-flavour violation approach. We determine characteristic deviations from the SM that could eventually be observed in future precision measurements.

Lepton universality violation with lepton flavor conservation in B-meson decays

Anomalies in semileptonic B-meson decays present interesting patterns that might be revealing the shape of the new physics to come. Under the assumption that neutrino and charged lepton mass terms are the only sources of flavor violation and given the hierarchy between the two, we find that charged lepton universality violation without charged lepton flavor violation naturally arises. This can account for a deficit of B + → K + μμ over B + → K + ee decays with new physics coupled predominantly to muons and a new physics scale of a few TeV. A generic prediction of this scenario is a large enhacement of tauonic B decay rates that, in particular, could accommodate an excess in B → D (∗) τ ν. For the most part, the study is carried out in an effective field theory framework with an underlying SU(2) L × U(1) Y symmetry that emphasizes the model-independent correlations between low- and high-energy observables. As an example, a connection between B-decays and top physics is pointed out. To complement the discussion, all possible (spin 0 and 1) leptoquark models are matched to the low-energy field theory so that the effective analysis can be used to survey these candidates for new physics.

Enhancement ofBr(Bd→μ+μ−)/Br(Bs→μ+μ−)in supersymmetric unified models

We explain the 2.3 sigma deviation in the recent measurements of the neutral B mesons decay into muon pairs from the standard model prediction in the framework of supersymmetric grand unified models using anti-symmetric coupling as a new source of flavor violation. We show a correlation between the B_d -> mu^+mu^- decay and the CP phase in the B_d -> J/psi K decay and that their deviations from the standard model predictions can be explained after satisfying constraints arising from various hadronic and leptonic rare decay processes, B-bar{B}, K-bar{K} oscillations data and electric dipole moments of electron and neutron. The allowed parameter space is typically represented by pseudoscalar Higgs mass m_A < 1 TeV and tan beta_H (= {v_u}/{v_d}) < 20 for squark and gluino masses around 2 TeV.

On the flavor structure of natural composite Higgs models &amp; top flavor violation

We explore the up flavor structure of composite pseudo Nambu-Goldstone-boson Higgs models, where we focus on the flavor anarchic minimal $SO(5)$ case. We identify the different sources of flavor violation in this framework and emphasise the differences from the anarchic Randall-Sundrum scenario. In particular, the fact that the flavor symmetry does not commute with the symmetries that stabilize the Higgs potential may constrain the flavor structure of the theory. In addition, we consider the interplay between the fine tuning of the model and flavor violation. We find that generically the tuning of this class of models is worsen in the anarchic case due to the contributions from the additional fermion resonances. We show that, even in the presence of custodial symmetry, large top flavor violating rate are naturally expected. In particular, $t\to cZ$ branching ratio of order of $10^{-5}$ is generic for this class of models. Thus, this framework can be tested in the next run of the LHC as well as in other future colliders. We also find that the top flavor violation is weakly correlated with the increase amount of fine tuning. Finally, other related flavor violation effects, such as $t \to ch$ and in the $D$ system, are found to be too small to be observed by the current and near future colliders.

Stringent tests of constrained Minimal Flavor Violation through ΔF=2 transitions

New Physics contributions to ΔF=2 transitions in the simplest extensions of the Standard Model (SM), the models with constrained Minimal Flavor Violation (CMFV), are parametrized by a single variable S(v), the value of the real box diagram function that in CMFV is bounded from below by its SM value S 0(x t ). With already very precise experimental values of ε K , ΔM d , ΔM s and precise values of the CP-asymmetry $S_{\psi K_{S}}$ and of $\hat{B}_{K}$ entering the evaluation of ε K , the future of CMFV in the ΔF=2 sector depends crucially on the values of |V cb |, |V ub |, γ, $F_{B_{s}} \sqrt{\hat{B}_{B_{s}}}$ and $F_{B_{d}} \sqrt{\hat{B}_{B_{d}}}$ . The ratio ξ of the latter two non-perturbative parameters, already rather precisely determined from lattice calculations, allows then together with ΔM s /ΔM d and $S_{\psi K_{S}}$ to determine the range of the angle γ in the unitarity triangle independently of the value of S(v). Imposing in addition the constraints from |ε K | and ΔM d allows to determine the favorite CMFV values of |V cb |, |V ub |, $F_{B_{s}}\sqrt{\hat{B}_{B_{s}}}$ and $F_{B_{d}} \sqrt{\hat{B}_{B_{d}}}$ as functions of S(v) and γ. The |V cb |4 dependence of ε K allows to determine |V cb | for a given S(v) and γ with a higher precision than it is presently possible using tree-level decays. The same applies to |V ub |, |V td | and |V ts | that are automatically determined as functions of S(v) and γ. We derive correlations between $F_{B_{s}}\sqrt{\hat{B}_{B_{s}}}$ and $F_{B_{d}} \sqrt{\hat{B}_{B_{d}}}$ , |V cb |, |V ub | and γ that should be tested in the coming years. Typically $F_{B_{s}}\sqrt{\hat{B}_{B_{s}}}$ and $F_{B_{d}} \sqrt{\hat{B}_{B_{d}}}$ have to be lower than their present lattice values, while |V cb | has to be higher than its tree-level determination, with a significance depending on the evolution of their errors. Within the SM this would imply values for $\mathcal{B}(K^{+}\rightarrow\pi^{+}\nu\bar{\nu})$ and $\mathcal{B}(K_{L}\rightarrow\pi^{0}\nu\bar{\nu})$ that are typically larger by (15–20) % than those presently quoted in the literature. The region in the space of these three parameters allowed by CMFV indicates tensions in this class of models and hints for the presence of new sources of flavor violation and/or new local operators in ΔF=2 data that are strongly suppressed in these models. As a byproduct we propose to reduce the present uncertainty in the charm contribution to ε K by using the experimental value of ΔM K .

Direct CP violation in charm and flavor mixing beyond the SM

We discuss the impact of physics beyond the Standard Model on direct CP violation in charm. On general grounds, models in which the primary source of flavor violation is linked to the breaking of chiral symmetry (left-right flavor mixing) are natural candidates to explain this effect, via enhanced chromomagnetic operators. In the case of super-symmetric models, we identify two motivated scenarios: disoriented A-terms and split families. Non-supersymmetric models with Z-mediated and scalar-mediated FCNC are also discussed.

The anatomy of neutral scalars with FCNCs in the flavour precision era

In many extensions of the Standard Model flavour changing neutral current processes can be mediated by tree-level heavy neutral scalars and/or pseudo-scalars H^0(A^0). This generally introduces new sources of flavour violation and CP violation as well as left-handed and right-handed scalar currents. These new physics contributions imply a pattern of deviations from SM expectations for FCNC processes that depends only on the couplings of H^0(A^0) to fermions and on their masses. In situations in which a single H^0 or A^0 dominates NP contributions stringent correlations between Delta F=2 and Delta F=1 observables exist. Anticipating the Flavour Precision Era ahead of us we illustrate this by searching for allowed oases in the landscape of a given model assuming significantly smaller uncertainties in CKM and hadronic parameters than presently available. To this end we analyze Delta F=2 observables in B^0_{s,d}-bar B^0_{s,d} and K^0-bar K^0 systems and rare B and K decays with charged leptons in the final state including both left-handed and right-handed scalar couplings of H^0 and A^0 to quarks in various combinations. We identify a number of correlations between various flavour observables that could test and distinguish these different scenarios. The prominent role of the decays B_{s,d}-> mu^+ mu^- in these studies is emphasized. Imposing the existing flavour constraints, a rich pattern of deviations from the SM expectations in rare B_{s,d} decays emerges provided M_H< 1 TeV. NP effects in rare K decays are very small. Neutral SM Higgs contributions to rare B and K decays turn out to be negligible once the constraints from Delta F=2 processes are taken into account. Finally, we point out striking differences between the correlations found here and in scenarios in which tree-level FCNC are mediated by a new neutral gauge boson Z'.

Revisiting the Γ(K→eν)/Γ(K→μν) ratio in supersymmetric unified models

It has been pointed out that supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model can induce significant changes to the theoretical prediction of the ratio Γ(K→eν)/Γ(K→μν)≡R K , through lepton flavour violating couplings. In this work we carry out a full computation of all one-loop corrections to the relevant νlH + vertex, and discuss the new contributions to R K arising in the context of different constrained (minimal supergravity-inspired) models which succeed in accounting for neutrino data, further considering the possibility of accommodating a near-future observation of a μ→eγ transition. We also re-evaluate the prospects for R K in the framework of unconstrained supersymmetric models. In all cases, we address the question of whether it is possible to saturate the current experimental sensitivity on R K while in agreement with the recent limits on B-meson decay observables (in particular BR(B s →μ + μ −) and BR(B u →τν)), as well as BR(τ→eγ) and available collider constraints. Our findings reveal that in view of the recent bounds, and even when enhanced by effective sources of flavour violation in the right-handed $\tilde{e}-\tilde{\tau}$ sector, constrained supersymmetric (seesaw) models typically provide excessively small contributions to R K . Larger contributions can be found in more general settings, where the charged Higgs mass can be effectively lowered, and even further enhanced in the unconstrained MSSM. However, our analysis clearly shows that even in this last case SUSY contributions to R K are still unable to saturate the current experimental bounds on this observable, especially due to a strong tension with the B u →τν bound.

B→Xdγand constraints on new physics

We combine recent progress in measuring the branching ratio of the decay B->X_d gamma$ with the discovery that hadronic uncertainties in the CP-averaged branching ratio drop out to a large extent. Implications of these improvements on the size of possible new physics effects are investigated. We find the updated SM prediction for the CP-averaged branching ratio to be Br[B->X_d gamma]^SM_E_gamma>1.6 GeV = 1.54^+0.26-0.31*10^-5, which should be compared with the experimental value of Br[B->X_d gamma]^exp_E_gamma>1.6GeV = (1.41+-0.57) 10^-5. After performing a model independent analysis, we consider different new physics models: the MSSM with generic sources of flavor violation, the two Higgs doublet model of type III and a model with right-handed charged currents. It is found that the constraints on the SUSY parameters delta^d_13 have improved and that the absolute value of the right-handed quark mixing matrix element |V^R_td| must be smaller than 1.5*10^-4.

Impact of squark flavor violation on neutralino dark matter

We discuss the possibility of new sources of flavour violation in the squark sector of supersymmetric models in the context of the dark matter relic density. We show that the corresponding non-minimal flavour violation terms in the squark mass matrices can have an important impact on the thermally averaged (co)annihilation cross section of the neutralino, and in consequence can modify its predicted relic density. We discuss in detail the relevant effects and present a numerical study of neutralino annihilation and coannihilation in this context. We also comment on the LHC phenomenology of the corresponding scenarios.

Constraining flavour symmetries at the EW scale I: the A 4 Higgs potential

We consider an extension of the Standard Model in which the symmetry is enlarged by a global flavour factor A4 and the scalar sector accounts for three copies of the Standard Model Higgs, transforming as a triplet of A4. In this context, we study the most general scalar potential and its minima, performing for each of them a model independent analysis on the related phenomenology. We study the scalar spectrum, the new contributions to the oblique corrections, the decays of the Z and W, the new sources of flavour violation, which all are affected by the introduction of multiple Higgses transforming under A4. We find that this model independent approach discriminates the different minima allowed by the scalar potential.

Radiatively induced flavour violation in the general two-Higgs doublet model with Yukawa alignment

The most general two-Higgs doublet model contains new sources of flavour violation that are usually in conflict with the experimental constraints. One possibility to suppress the exotic contribution to the flavour changing neutral currents consists on imposing the alignment of the Yukawa couplings. This condition presumably holds at a high-energy scale and is spoiled by the radiative corrections. We compute in this Letter the size of the radiatively induced flavour violating Higgs couplings at the electroweak scale. These also yield the absolute lower bound on the size of the exotic contributions to the flavour changing neutral currents in any two-Higgs doublet model, barring cancellations and the existence of discrete symmetries. We show that these contributions are well below the experimental bounds in large regions of the parameter space.

Higgs mediated flavor changing neutral currents in warped extra dimensions

In the context of a warped extra dimension with standard model fields in the bulk, we obtain the general flavor structure of the Higgs couplings to fermions. These couplings will be generically misaligned with respect to the fermion mass matrix, producing large and potentially dangerous flavor changing neutral currents. As recently pointed out [K. Agashe and R. Contino, arXiv:0906.1542.], a similar effect is expected from the point of view of a composite Higgs sector, which corresponds to a four-dimensional theory dual to the five-dimensional setup by the AdS/CFT correspondence. We also point out that the effect is independent of the geographical nature of the Higgs (bulk or brane localized), and specifically that it does not go away as the Higgs is pushed towards the IR boundary. The flavor changing neutral currents mediated by a light enough Higgs (especially their contribution to ${ϵ}_{K}$) could become of comparable size as the ones coming from the exchange of Kaluza-Klein gluons. Moreover, both sources of flavor violation are complementary since they have inverse dependence on the five-dimensional Yukawa couplings, such that we cannot decouple the flavor violation effects by increasing or decreasing these couplings. We also find that for Kaluza-Klein scales of a few TeV, the Higgs couplings to third generation fermions could experience suppressions of up to 40% while the rest of diagonal couplings would suffer much milder corrections. Potential LHC signatures like the Higgs flavor violating decays $h\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\tau}$ or $h\ensuremath{\rightarrow}tc$, or the exotic top decay channel $t\ensuremath{\rightarrow}ch$, are finally addressed.

First evidence of new physics in [formula omitted] mixing and its implications

We present an update of the analysis of B s mixing by the UTfit Collaboration, including the very recent tagged analyses of B s → J / Ψ ϕ by the CDF and DO collaborations. We find that the phase of the B s mixing amplitude deviates more than 2.9σ from the Standard Model prediction. This results points to extensions of the Standard Model with new sources of CP violation. We compare this result with the analysis of B d mixing and show that present data favour the presence of a new source of flavour violation. Finally, we consider the impact of this analysis for SUSY models and the possible implications for new physics effects in b → s hadronic penguin decays.