Standard Model States Research Articles

Astrophysical constraints from synchrotron emission on very massive decaying dark matter

If the cosmological dark matter (DM) couples to Standard Model (SM) fields, it can decay promptly to SM states in a highly energetic hard process, which subsequently showers and hadronizes to give stable particles including e±, γ, p±, and νν¯ at lower energy. If the DM particle is very heavy, the high-energy e±, due to the Klein-Nishina cross section suppression, preferentially lose energy via synchrotron emission which, in turn, can be of unusually high energies. Here, we present previously unexplored bounds on heavy decaying DM up to the Planck scale, by studying the synchrotron emission from the e± produced in the ambient Galactic magnetic field. In particular, we explore the sensitivity of the resulting constraints on the DM decay width to (i) different SM decay channels, to (ii) the Galactic magnetic field configurations, and to (iii) various different DM density profiles proposed in the literature. We find that constraints from the synchrotron component complement and improve on constraints from very high-energy cosmic-ray and gamma-ray observatories targeting the prompt emission when the DM is sufficiently massive, most significantly for masses in excess of 1012 GeV. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Sculpting the Standard Model from low-scale gauge-Higgs-matter E8 grand unification in ten dimensions

The construction and general implications of a model with complete supersymmetric unification of the Standard Model matter content, interactions and families' replication into a single E8 gauge superfield in ten dimensions is presented. The gauge and extended Poincaré symmetries are broken through compactification of the T6/(Z3×Z3) orbifold with Wilson lines, which reduces the original symmetry and matter content into those of the Standard Model plus additional heavier states. Proton decay can be suppressed automatically while the compactification scale may be as low as 109GeV, so that the corresponding GUT-scale physics may be potentially accessible and testable by future collider measurements.

The Standard Model and quantum state reduction from Heim’s field theory

Abstract Core parts of the Standard Model are derived from B. Heim’s quantum field theory, whose poly-metric describes spacetime and matter in a unified formalism. Its non-linear eigenvalue equation transforms into the Einstein field equation in the macroscopic limit. The 6-dimensional Heim space can be determined as locally isomorphic to a SU(2) ⊗ SU(2) ⊗ U(1) ⊗ U(1) symmetry and thus to the SU(3), which allows to connect to the local gauge symmetries and boson fields of the Standard Model. The Fermion and Higgs field and their coupling are deduced from Heim’s basic equations, providing new insight into possible correlations of these fields. Furthermore, the derivation yields an additional imaginary coupling term which seems to account for quantum mechanical state reduction in the non-relativistic limit. The recently performed calculation of the mass spectrum of elementary particles in a new approach based on Heim’s theory (with average error to the data < 1 % ${< } 1\%$ ) appears as even more relevant, having now shown that the theory can connect to the achievements of the Standard Model.

Neutron star observations of pseudoscalar-mediated dark matter

Scattering interactions between dark matter and Standard Model states mediated by pseudoscalars are generically challenging to uncover at direct detection experiments due to rates suppressed by powers of the local dark matter velocity ${v}_{\mathrm{DM}}\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}c$. However, they may be observed in the dark matter-induced heating of neutron stars, whose steep gravitational potentials prevent such suppression by accelerating infalling particles to semirelativistic speeds. We investigate this phenomenon in the context of two specific, self-consistent scenarios for pseudoscalars coupled to dark matter, and compare the sensitivity of neutron star heating to bounds from direct searches for the mediators and dark matter. The first ``lighter'' scenario consists of sub-10 GeV mass dark matter mediated by an axionlike particle, while the second ``heavier'' scenario has dark matter above 10 GeV mediated by a dark pseudoscalar that mixes with a pseudoscalar from a two-Higgs doublet (the so-called $2\mathrm{HDM}+a$ model). In both frameworks, we show that imminent measurements of neutron stars will be able to test pseudoscalar-mediated dark matter beyond the reach of direct dark matter searches as well as bounds on the mediators from flavor observables, beam dump experiments, and high-energy colliders.

Multiplexing new physics search at high-energy lepton colliders

In this talk I give a snapshot of the ongoing discussion on new physics searches at future colliders. I discuss the unique opportunities of a high energy lepton collider operating at multi-TeV center-of-mass energy and in particular its peculiar capability to carry out at the same time "intensity'' searches with the copious production of Standard Model states as well as directly producing heavy new physics states or probing still heavier new physics via indirect effects.

Impact of bound states on non-thermal dark matter production

We explore the impact of non-perturbative effects, namely Sommerfeld enhancement and bound state formation, on the cosmological production of non-thermal dark matter. For this purpose, we focus on a class of simplified models with t-channel mediators. These naturally combine the requirements for large corrections in the early Universe, i.e. beyond the Standard Model states with long range interactions, with a sizable new physics production cross section at the LHC. We find that the dark matter yield of the superWIMP mechanism is suppressed considerably due to the non-perturbative effects under consideration in models with color-charged mediators. In models with only electrically charged mediators the impact of non-perturbative effects is less pronounced and gets eclipsed by the impact of a possible Higgs portal interaction. In both cases we find significant shifts in the cosmologically preferred parameter space of non-thermal dark matter in these models. We also revisit the implications of LHC bounds on long-lived particles associated with non-thermal dark matter and find that testing this scenario at the LHC is a bigger challenge than previously anticipated.

Non-decoupling new particles

We initiate the study of a new class of beyond the Standard Model states that we call “Loryons.” They have the defining characteristic of being non-decoupling, in the sense that their physical mass is dominated by a contribution from the vacuum expectation value of the Higgs boson. The stakes are high: the discovery of a Loryon would tell us that electroweak symmetry must be non-linearly realized in the effective field theory of the Standard Model. Loryons have their masses bounded from above by perturbative unitarity considerations and thus define a finite parameter space for exploration. After providing a complete catalog of Loryon representations under mild assumptions, we turn to examining the constraints on the parameter space from Higgs couplings measurements, precision electroweak tests, and direct collider searches. We show that most fermionic candidates are already ruled out (with some notable exceptions), while much of the scalar Loryon parameter space is still wide open for discovery.

Vectorlike top quark production via a chromomagnetic moment at the LHC

Theories which provide a dynamical explanation for the large top-quark mass often include TeV-scale vector-like top-quark and bottom-quark partner states which can be potentially discovered at the LHC. These states are currently probed through model-independent searches for pair-production via gluon fusion, as well as through model-dependent complementary electroweak single production. In this paper we study the potential to extend those searches for the partners of the third-generation Standard Model quarks on the basis of their expected chromomagnetic interactions. We discuss how current searches for "excited" bottom-quarks produced via $b$-gluon fusion through chromomagnetic interactions are relevant, and provide significant constraints. We then explore the region of the parameter space in which the bottom-quark partner is heavier than the top-quark partner, in which case the top-partner can be primarily produced via the decay of the bottom-partner. Next, we probe the potential of the production of a single top-quark partner in association with an ordinary top-quark by gluon-fusion. Kinematically these two new processes are similar, and they yield the production of a heavy top partner and a lighter Standard Model state, a pattern which allows for the rejection of the associated dominant Standard Model backgrounds. We examine the sensitivity of these modes in the case where the top-partner subsequently decays to a Higgs boson and an ordinary top-quark, and we demonstrate that these new channels have the potential of extending and complementing the conventional strategies at LHC run III and at the high-luminosity phase of the LHC. In this last case, we find that partner masses that range up to about 3 TeV can be reached. This substantially expands the expected mass reach for these new states, including regions of parameter space that are inaccessible by traditional searches.

Dark matter assisted lepton anomalous magnetic moments and neutrino masses

We propose a framework that addresses the origin of neutrino mass, explains the observed discrepancies in the electron and the muon anomalous magnetic moments (AMMs) data and incorporates the dark matter (DM) relic abundance. Both the neutrino mass and the lepton AMMs are generated at one-loop level mediated by a common set of beyond the Standard Model (SM) states. In this class of models, the SM is extended with vector-like charged fermion and scalar multiplets, all odd under an imposed $\mathcal{Z}_2$ symmetry, which stabilizes the fermionic or scalar DM candidate residing in one of them. Two scalar multiplets appear in the AMM loops, thus allowing for different signs of their contributions, in agreement with the observed discrepancies which are of opposite sign for electron and muon. The vector-like fermions give rise to large new physics contributions to the lepton AMMs via chirally enhanced terms that are proportional to their mass. To demonstrate the viability of this framework, we perform a detailed study of a particular model for which a fit to the neutrino masses and mixing together with lepton AMMs are provided. Furthermore, DM phenomenology and collider signatures are explored.

Asymmetric dark matter from semi-annihilation

We show that a general semi-annihilation scenario, in which a pair of dark matter (DM) particles annihilate to an anti-DM, and an unstable state that can mix with or decay to standard model states, can lead to particle anti-particle asymmetry in the DM sector. The present DM abundance, including the CP-violation in the DM sector and the resulting present asymmetry are determined entirely by a single semi-annihilation process at next-to-leading order. For large CP-violation in this process, we find that a nearly complete asymmetry can be obtained in the DM sector, with the observed DM density being dominated by the (anti-)DM particle. The presence of additional pair-annihilation processes can modify the ratio of DM and anti-DM number densities further, if the pair-annihilation is active subsequent to the decoupling of the semi-annihilation. For such a scenario, the required CP-violation for generating the same present asymmetry is generically much smaller, as compared to the scenario with only semi-annihilation present. We show that a minimal model with a complex scalar DM with cubic self-interactions can give rise to both semi- and pair-annihilations, with the required CP-violation generated at one-loop level. We also find that the upper bound on the DM mass from S-matrix unitarity in the purely asymmetric semi-annihilation scenario, with maximal CP-violation, is around 15 GeV, which is much stronger than in the WIMP and previously considered asymmetric DM cases, due to the required large non-zero chemical potential for such asymmetric DM.

Signatures of vector-like top partners decaying into new neutral scalar or pseudoscalar bosons

We explore the phenomenology of models containing one Vector-Like Quark (VLQ), t′, which can decay into the Standard Model (SM) top quark, t, and a new spin-0 neutral boson, S, the latter being either a scalar or pseudoscalar state. We parametrise the underlying interactions in terms of a simplified model which enables us to capture possible Beyond the SM (BSM) scenarios. We discuss in particular three such scenarios: one where the SM state is supplemented by an additional scalar, one which builds upon a 2-Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM) framework and another which realises a Composite Higgs Model (CHM) through partial compositeness. Such exotic decays of the t′ can be competitive with decays into SM particles, leading to new possible discovery channels at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Assuming t′ pair production via strong interactions, we design signal regions optimised for one t′ → S t transition (while being inclusive on the other overline{t} ′ decay, and vice versa), followed by the decay of S into the two very clean experimental signatures S → γ γ and S → Z (→ ℓ+ℓ−)γ. We perform a dedicated signal- to-background analysis in both channels, by using Monte Carlo (MC) event simulations modelling the dynamics from the proton-proton to the detector level. Under the assumption of BR(t′ → S t) = 100%, we are therefore able to realistically quantify the sensitivity of the LHC to both the t′ and S masses, assuming both current and foreseen luminosities. This approach paves the way for the LHC experiments to surpass current VLQ search strategies based solely on t′ decays into SM bosons (W±, Z , h).

Resonant assisted annihilation

Assisted annihilation is a novel mechanism to generate viable sub-GeV thermal dark matter, where a pair of stable dark matter annihilates with an assister to Standard Model states. Typically such 3 → 2 annihilation topologies are flux suppressed compared to 2 → 2 processes. In this paper, we explore the possibility of a resonant 3 → 2 assisted annihilation dominantly driving the freeze-out of dark matter. We demonstrate that in a simple multipartite scalar extension of the Standard Model this can be realized in certain regions of parameter space to provide viable dark matter relic density, in agreement with observation. We demonstrate that for photophilic assisters parts of the parameter space are already constrained by indirect detection experiments and the measurements of CMB anisotropies while substantial regions remain beyond the present limit.

Resonant heavy Higgs searches at the HL-LHC

In this work, we show the importance of searches for heavy resonant scalars (H) and pseudoscalars (A). Taking cue from the present searches, we make projections for searches in an extended scalar sector at the high luminosity run of the Large Hadron Collider. We study the three most relevant search channels, i.e., H → hh, H/A → t overline{t} and bbH/A. Upon studying multifarious final states for the resonant double Higgs production, we find that the b overline{b} γγ (σ(pp → H → hh) ∈ [81.27, 14.45] fb for mH ∈ [300, 600] GeV at 95% C.L.) and b overline{b} b overline{b} ([5.4, 2.5] fb for mH ∈ [800, 1000] GeV at 95% C.L.) channels are the most constraining. For the b overline{b} H channel, we can exclude σ(pp → b overline{b} H) ∈ [22.2, 3.7] fb for mH ∈ [300, 500] GeV. Finally, we consider the phenomenological Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model as an example and impose various present constraints and our future direct search-limits and obtain strong constraints on the mA − tan β parameter space, where mA and tan β are respectively the mass of the pseudoscalar and the ratio of the vacuum expectation values of the two Higgs doublets. Assuming that the heavy Higgs boson decays only to Standard Model (SM) states, we find that the H → hh → b overline{b} γγ (H → t overline{t} ) channel excludes tan β as low as 4 (mA ∈ [400,800]GeV) at 95% CL. This weakens up to ∼ 5.5 when the b overline{b} H channel dominates. Upon allowing for non-SM decay modes, the limits weaken.

Equations of motion, symmetry currents and EFT below the electroweak scale

The low-energy effective field theory is constructed by integrating out Standard Model states with masses proximate to the electroweak scale. We report the equations of motion for this theory, including corrections due to higher dimensional operators up to mass dimension six. We construct the corresponding symmetry currents, and discuss how the SU(2)L×U(1)y symmetry, and global symmetries, are manifested when Standard Model states are integrated out. Including contributions from higher dimensional operators to the equations of motion modifies the interpretation of conserved currents. We discuss the corrections to the electromagnetic current as an example, showing how modifications to the equation of motion, and corresponding surface terms, have a direct interpretation in terms of multipole charge distributions that act to source gauge fields.

Constraining the Standard Model in Motivic Quantum Gravity

A physical approach to a category of motives must account for the emergent nature of spacetime, where real and complex numbers play a secondary role to discrete operations in quantum computation. In quantum logic, the cardinality of a set is initially replaced by a dimension of a linear space, making contact with the increasing dimensions in an operad. The operad of associahedra governs tree level scattering, and is closely related to the permutohedra and cube tiles, where cube vertices can encode components of a spinor in higher dimensional octonionic approaches. A study of rest mass generation begins with the cosmological infrared scale, set by the neutrino masses, and its related see-saw mechanism. We employ the anyonic ribbon spectrum for Standard Model states, and consider its relation to magic star algebras, giving a context for the Koide rest mass phenomenology of charged leptons and quarks.

Variation of α from a dark matter force

We consider a long range scalar force that mainly couples to dark matter and unstable Standard Model states, like the muon, with tiny strength. Probing this type of force would present a challenge to observations. We point out that the dependence of the induced background scalar field on dark matter number density can cause the mass of the unstable particles to have spatial and temporal variations. These variations, in turn, leave an imprint on the value of the fine structure constant α, through threshold corrections, that could be detected in astronomical and cosmological measurements. Our mechanism can accommodate the mild preference of the Planck data for such a deviation, (αCMB−αpresent)/αpresent=(−3.6±3.7)×10−3. In this case, the requisite parameters typically imply that violations of Equivalence Principle may be within reach of future experiments.

Status of a flavor-maximal nonminimal universal extra dimension model

In this paper we consider an $S^{1}/\mathbb{Z}_2$ compactified flat extra dimensional scenario where all the standard model states can access the bulk and have generalised brane localised kinetic terms. The flavour structure of brane kinetic terms for the standard model fermions are dictated by stringent flavour bounds on the first two generations implying an $U(2)_{Q_L} \otimes U(2)_{u_R} \otimes U(2)_{d_R}$ flavour symmetry. We consider the constraints on such a scenario arising from dark matter relic density and direct detection measurements, precision electroweak data, Higgs physics and LHC dilepton searches. We discuss the possibility of such a scenario providing an explanation of the recently measured anomaly in $R_{K^{(\ast)}}$ within the allowed region of the parameter space.

Self-interacting dark matter with a stable vector mediator

Light vector mediators can naturally induce velocity-dependent dark matter self-interactions while at the same time allowing for the correct dark matter relic abundance via thermal freeze-out. If these mediators subsequently decay into Standard Model states such as electrons or photons however, this is robustly excluded by constraints from the Cosmic Microwave Background. We study to what extent this conclusion can be circumvented if the vector mediator is stable and hence contributes to the dark matter density while annihilating into lighter degrees of freedom. We find viable parts of parameter space which lead to the desired self-interaction cross section of dark matter to address the small-scale problems of the collisionless cold dark matter paradigm while being compatible with bounds from the Cosmic Microwave Background and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis observations.

Axion and hidden photon dark matter detection with multilayer optical haloscopes

A well-motivated class of dark matter candidates, including axions and dark photons, takes the form of coherent oscillations of a light bosonic field. If the dark matter couples to Standard Model states, it may be possible to detect it via absorptions in a laboratory target. Current experiments of this kind include cavity-based resonators that convert bosonic dark matter to electromagnetic fields, operating at microwave frequencies. We propose a new class of detectors at higher frequencies, from the infrared through the ultraviolet, based on the dielectric haloscope concept. In periodic photonic materials, bosonic dark matter can efficiently convert to detectable single photons. With feasible experimental techniques, these detectors can probe significant new parameter space for axion and dark photon dark matter in the 0.1-10 eV mass range.

Fine-particle pH for Beijing winter haze as inferred from different thermodynamic equilibrium models

Abstract. pH is an important property of aerosol particles but is difficult to measure directly. Several studies have estimated the pH values for fine particles in northern China winter haze using thermodynamic models (i.e., E-AIM and ISORROPIA) and ambient measurements. The reported pH values differ widely, ranging from close to 0 (highly acidic) to as high as 7 (neutral). In order to understand the reason for this discrepancy, we calculated pH values using these models with different assumptions with regard to model inputs and particle phase states. We find that the large discrepancy is due primarily to differences in the model assumptions adopted in previous studies. Calculations using only aerosol-phase composition as inputs (i.e., reverse mode) are sensitive to the measurement errors of ionic species, and inferred pH values exhibit a bimodal distribution, with peaks between −2 and 2 and between 7 and 10, depending on whether anions or cations are in excess. Calculations using total (gas plus aerosol phase) measurements as inputs (i.e., forward mode) are affected much less by these measurement errors. In future studies, the reverse mode should be avoided whereas the forward mode should be used. Forward-mode calculations in this and previous studies collectively indicate a moderately acidic condition (pH from about 4 to about 5) for fine particles in northern China winter haze, indicating further that ammonia plays an important role in determining this property. The assumed particle phase state, either stable (solid plus liquid) or metastable (only liquid), does not significantly impact pH predictions. The unrealistic pH values of about 7 in a few previous studies (using the standard ISORROPIA model and stable state assumption) resulted from coding errors in the model, which have been identified and fixed in this study.