Theory Of Flavor Research Articles

Froggatt-Nielsen meets the SMEFT

We study the matching of Froggatt-Nielsen theories of flavour onto the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT), upon integrating out a heavy Beyond-the-Standard-Model (BSM) scalar ‘flavon’ whose vacuum expectation value breaks an Abelian flavour symmetry at energies ΛFN well above the electroweak scale, ΛFN> ΛSM. We include matching contributions to the infrared dSM = 6 (Warsaw basis) SMEFT sourced from ultraviolet contact terms suppressed up to order 1/ΛUV2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ {\\Lambda}_{\ extrm{UV}}^2 $$\\end{document} in the Froggatt-Nielsen Lagrangian, where ΛUV> ΛFN is an arbitrary ultraviolet scale where further unspecified BSM particles are dynamical. This includes tree-level (one-loop) ultraviolet diagrams with dFN = 6 (5) effective vertices. We first do so with a toy model, but then generalize our findings to arbitrary Frogatt-Nielsen charges. Our results indicate a rich and non-trivial signature of Froggatt-Nielsen theories on the (otherwise) model-independent operators of the SMEFT, and we briefly speculate on extending our analysis to broader classes of BSM flavour models, e.g. non-Abelian and/or gauged theories. We thus take an important step towards determining how to use rapidly developing theoretical and experimental SMEFT technologies to gain unambiguous insight into the SM’s longstanding fermion flavour puzzle.

Minimal complete tri-hypercharge theories of flavour

The tri-hypercharge proposal introduces a separate gauged weak hypercharge assigned to each fermion family as the origin of flavour. This is arguably one of the simplest setups for building “gauge non-universal theories of flavour” or “flavour deconstructed theories”. In this paper we propose and study two minimal but ultraviolet complete and renormalisable tri-hypercharge models. We show that both models, which differ only by the heavy messengers that complete the effective theory, are able to explain the observed patterns of fermion masses and mixings (including neutrinos) with all fundamental coefficients being of O\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mathcal{O} $$\\end{document}(1). In fact, both models translate the complicated flavour structure of the Standard Model into three simple physical scales above electroweak symmetry breaking, completely correlated with each other, that carry meaningful phenomenology. In particular, the heavy messenger sector determines the origin and size of fermion mixing, which controls the size and nature of the flavour-violating currents mediated by the two heavy Z′ gauge bosons of the theory. The phenomenological implications of the two minimal models are compared. In both models the lightest Z′ remains discoverable in dilepton searches at the LHC Run 3.

Phenomenology of a Deconstructed Electroweak Force

We study an effective theory of flavour in which the SU(2)L interaction is ‘flavour-deconstructed’ near the TeV scale. This arises, for example, in UV models that unify all three generations of left-handed fermions via an Sp(6)L symmetry. Flavour-universality of the electroweak force emerges accidentally (but naturally) from breaking the ∏i=13SU2L,i\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ {\\prod}_{i=1}^3\ extrm{SU}{(2)}_{L,i} $$\\end{document} gauge group to its diagonal subgroup, delivering hierarchical fermion masses and left-handed mixing angles in the process. The heavy gauge bosons transform as two SU(2)L triplets that mediate new flavour non-universal forces. The lighter of these couples universally to the light generations, allowing consistency with flavour bounds even for a TeV scale mass. Constraints from flavour, high mass LHC searches, and electroweak precision are then highly complementary, excluding masses below 9 TeV. The heavier triplet must instead be hundreds of TeV to be consistent with meson mixing constraints. Because only the lighter triplet couples to the Higgs, we find radiative Higgs mass corrections of a few hundred GeV, meaning this model of flavour is arguably natural. The natural region will, however, be almost completely covered by the planned electroweak programme at FCC-ee. On shorter timescales, significant parameter space will be explored by the High-Luminosity LHC measurements at high-pT, and upcoming lepton flavour violation experiments, principally Mu3e.

On the normalisation of the modular forms in modular invariant theories of flavour

The problem of normalisation of the modular forms in modular invariant lepton and quark flavour models is discussed. Modular invariant normalisations of the modular forms are proposed.

Bitter-Pungent Flavor Identification Based on Ingredient Information Similarity of Chinese Herbal Medicines.

The flavor theory of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) is one of the core theories of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Accurate flavor identification of CHMs is essential to guide the clinical application of CHMs. To develop a new method for flavor identification of CHMs according to the ingredient information for CHMs. It was found that the chemical basis of medicinal flavors was CHM ingredients. We developed a bitter-pungent flavor identification scheme to build a relationship between medicinal flavors and CHM ingredients. We firstly proposed a scientific hypothesis that "CHMs with similar flavors should have a similar chemical basis". To test this scientific hypothesis, we then explored an intelligent algorithm for bitter-pungent flavor identification of CHMs based on the information similarity of CHM ingredients. GC was used to separate the chemical ingredients of CHMs and analyze the ingredient information of CHMs. A distance metric learning algorithm was built to measure the similarity of GC chemical fingerprints. A bitter-pungent flavor identification scheme (BPFI) was proposed to predict the bitter-pungent flavor of CHMs. Finally, a number of experiments were performed to evaluate the identification performance of our scheme. Compared to classical algorithms, our proposed BPFI scheme has better flavor prediction performance. The total identification accuracy of our BPFI scheme reached 0.843. The area under ROC (receiver operating characteristic curve) curve (AUC) was 0.899. The experimental results confirmed our inference that the chemical basis of CHM flavors was CHM ingredients, and implied that CHMs with similar flavors had similar composition. The BPFI model proved to be effective and feasible. Verification hypothesis: CHMs with similar flavors should have similar chemical basis.

Revamping Kaluza-Klein dark matter in an orbifold theory of flavor

Revamping Kaluza-Klein dark matter in an orbifold theory of flavor

Tri-hypercharge: a separate gauged weak hypercharge for each fermion family as the origin of flavour

We propose a tri-hypercharge (TH) extension of the Standard Model (SM) in which a separate gauged weak hypercharge is associated with each fermion family. In this way, every quark and lepton multiplet carries unique gauge quantum numbers under the extended gauge group, providing the starting point for a theory of flavour. If the Higgs doublets only carry third family hypercharge, then only third family renormalisable Yukawa couplings are allowed. However, non-renormalisable Yukawa couplings may be induced by the high scale Higgs fields (hyperons) which break the three hypercharges down to the SM hypercharge, providing an explanation for fermion mass hierarchies and the smallness of CKM quark mixing. Following a similar methodology, we study the origin of neutrino masses and mixing in this model. Due to the TH gauge symmetry, the implementation of a seesaw mechanism naturally leads to a low scale seesaw, where the right-handed neutrinos in the model may be as light as the TeV scale. We present simple examples of hyperon fields which can reproduce all quark and lepton (including neutrino) masses and mixing. After a preliminary phenomenological study, we conclude that one of the massive Z′ bosons can be as light as a few TeV, with implications for flavour-violating observables, LHC physics and electroweak precision observables.

Modular invariance and the QCD angle

String compactifications on an orbi-folded torus with complex structure give rise to chiral fermions, spontaneously broken CP, modular invariance. We show that this allows simple effective theories of flavour and CP where: i) the QCD angle vanishes; ii) the CKM phase is large; iii) quark and lepton masses and mixings can be reproduced up to order one coefficients. We implement such general paradigm in supersymmetry or supergravity, with modular forms or functions, with or without heavy colored states.

Revisiting the universal texture zero of flavour: a Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis

We revisit the phenomenological predictions of the Universal Texture Zero (UTZ) model of flavour originally presented in [1], and update them in light of both improved experimental constraints and numerical analysis techniques. In particular, we have developed an in-house Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm to exhaustively explore the UTZ’s viable parameter space, considering both leading- and next-to-leading contributions in the model’s effective operator product expansion. We also extract – for the first time – reliable UTZ predictions for the (poorly constrained) leptonic CP-violating phases, and ratio observables that characterize neutrino masses probed by (e.g.) oscillation, beta -decay, and cosmological processes. We therefore dramatically improve on the proof-in-principle phenomenological analysis originally presented in [1], and ultimately show that the UTZ remains a minimal, viable, and appealing theory of flavour. Our results also further demonstrate the potential of robustly examining multi-parameter flavour models with MCMC routines.

Herbs for lochia discharge used among postpartum women in Taiwan

Ethnopharmacological relevanceIn the traditional Taiwanese culture of “postpartum confinement”, the term “lochia discharge” is a synonym for assisting postpartum uterine involution. Postpartum women in Taiwan consult traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pharmacies to obtain various TCM formulations that facilitate lochia discharge. Aim of the studyAs an ethnopharmacy study, we aimed to conduct field investigations to explore the herbal composition of TCM formulations for lochia discharge provided by TCM pharmacies in Taiwan and to identify the pharmaceutical implications of these TCM formulations. Materials and methodsThrough stratified sampling, we collected 98 formulations for postpartum lochia discharge from TCM pharmacies, which used a total of 60 medicinal materials. ResultsThe most common plant families of the medicinal materials found in Taiwanese lochia discharge formulations were Fabaceae and Lauraceae. Abiding by the TCM theory of nature and flavor, most drugs were warm in nature and sweet in flavor, and predominantly focused on the traditional functions of qi tonifying and blood activating. Correlation and network analyses of the medicinal components of lochia discharge formulations identified 11 core herbs, which, in the order of most to least frequently used, include Angelica sinensis, Ligusticum striatum, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Zingiber officinale, Prunus persica, Eucommia ulmoides, Leonurus japonicus, Lycium chinense, Hedysarum polybotrys, Rehmannia glutinosa, and Paeonia lactiflora. These 11 herbs formed a total of 136 drug combinations in the 98 formulations, with 2–7 herbs in each combination. In addition, in the center of the network were A. sinensis and L. striatum, which jointly appeared in 92.8% of the formulations analyzed. ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first study to systematically review lochia discharge formulations in Taiwan. The results of this study could provide an important basis for subsequent research in the clinical efficacy of Taiwanese lochia discharge formulations and the pharmacological mechanisms of their herbal components.

B-anomalies in a twin Pati-Salam theory of flavour including the 2022 LHCb {R}_{K^{left(ast right)}} analysis

We perform a comprehensive phenomenological analysis of the twin Pati-Salam theory of flavour, focussing on the parameter space relevant for interpreting the B-anomalies via vector leptoquark U1 exchange. This model provides a very predictive framework in which the U1 couplings and the Yukawa couplings find a common origin via mixing of chiral quarks and leptons with vector-like fermions, providing a direct link between the B-anomalies and the fermion masses and mixing. We propose and study a simplified model with three vector-like fermion families, in the massless first family approximation, and show that the second and third family charged fermion masses and mixings and the B-anomalies can be simultaneously explained and related. The model has the proper flavour structure to be compatible with all low-energy observables, and leads to predictions in promising observables such as τ → 3μ, τ → μγ and Bto {K}^{left(ast right)}nu overline{nu} at Belle II and LHCb. The model also predicts a rich spectrum of TeV scale gauge bosons and vector-like fermions, all accessible to the LHC. In this updated version we have included an extended analysis considering the new 2022 LHCb data on {R}_{K^{left(ast right)}} , which has slightly shifted the preferred parameter space with respect to the 2021 case. The model can still explain the {R}_{D^{left(ast right)}} anomalies at 1σ in a narrow window, however we expect small deviations from the SM on the {R}_{K^{left(ast right)}} ratios, to be tested in the future via more precise measurements by the LHCb collaboration. We also predict RD = {R}_{D^{ast }} , with future measurements shifting the world averages to slightly smaller central values.

Quantum simulation of the N -flavor Gross-Neveu model

We discuss the use of quantum simulation to study an $N$-flavor theory of interacting relativistic fermions in ($1+1$) dimensions on noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ)-era machines. The case of two flavors is particularly interesting as it can be mapped to the Hubbard model. We derive the appropriate qubit Hamiltonians and associated quantum circuits. We compare classical simulation and density matrix renormalization group/time-evolving blocked decimation calculations with the results of quantum simulation on various platforms for $N=2$ and 4-flavors. We demonstrate that the four steps needed for calculations of real-time scattering can be implemented using current NISQ devices.

Flavor hierarchies, flavor anomalies, and Higgs mass from a warped extra dimension

The recent B-meson anomalies are coherently explained at the TeV scale by 4321 gauge models with hierarchical couplings reminiscent of the Standard Model Yukawas. We show that such models arise as the low-energy limit of a complete theory of flavor, based on a warped fifth dimension where each Standard Model family is quasi-localized on a different brane. The Higgs is identified as a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson emerging from the same dynamics responsible for 4321 symmetry breaking. This novel construction unifies quarks and leptons in a flavor non-universal manner, provides a natural description of flavor hierarchies, and addresses the electroweak hierarchy problem.

Radiative effects in the scalar sector of vector leptoquark models

Gauge models with massive vector leptoquarks at the TeV scale provide a successful framework for addressing the B-physics anomalies. Among them, the 4321 model has been considered as the low-energy limit of some complete theories of flavor. In this work, we study the renormalization group evolution of this model, laying particular emphasis on the scalar sector. We find that, despite the asymptotic freedom of the gauge couplings, Landau poles can arise at relatively low scales due to the fast running of quartic couplings. Moreover, we discuss the possibility of radiative electroweak symmetry breaking and characterize the fine-tuning associated with the hierarchy between the electroweak scale and the additional TeV-scale scalars. Finally, the idea of scalar fields unification is explored, motivated by ultraviolet embeddings of the 4321 model.

Data-driven analysis of a SUSY GUT of flavour

We present a data-driven analysis of a concrete Supersymmetric (SUSY) Grand Unified Theory (GUT) of flavour, based on SU(5) × S4, which predicts charged fermion and neutrino mass and mixing, and where the mass matrices of both the Standard Model and the Supersymmetric particles are controlled by a common symmetry at the GUT scale. This framework also predicts non-vanishing non-minimal flavour violating effects, motivating a sophisticated data-driven parameter analysis to uncover the signatures and viability of the model. This computer-intensive Markov-Chain-Monte-Carlo (MCMC) based analysis includes a large range of flavour as well as dark matter and SUSY observables, predicts distributions for a range of physical quantities which may be used to test the model. The predictions include maximally mixed sfermions, μ → eγ close to its experimental limit and successful bino-like dark matter with nearby winos (making direct detection unlikely), implying good prospects for discovering winos and gluinos at forthcoming collider runs. The results also demonstrate that the Georgi-Jarlskog mechanism does not provide a good description of the splitting of down type quark masses and charged leptons, while neutrinoless double beta decay is predicted at observable rates.

Study of the volatilization rules of volatile oil and the sustained-release effect of volatile oil solidified by porous starch

Volatile oil from traditional Chinese medicine has various biological activities and has pharmacological activities in the central nervous system, digestive system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, etc. These oils are widely used in clinical practice. However, the development of their clinical applications is restricted due to the disadvantages of volatile oils, such as high stimulation, high volatility and poor stability. To improve the stability of a volatile oil in the preparation process, its volatilization and stable release must be controlled. In this paper, porous starch was used as a solid carrier material, and liquid volatile oil was solidified by physical adsorption. GC–MS was used to determine the chemical constituents of the volatile oil, solidified powder and tablets, and the volatilization rules of 34 chemical constituents were analysed statistically. The solidified volatile oil/porous starch powder was characterized by XRD, TGA and DSC, and the VOCs of the volatile oil before and after solidification were analysed by portable GC–MS. Finally, the stable release of the volatile oil could be optimized by changing the porous starch ratio in the formulation. Volatilization was shown to be closely related to the peak retention time and chemical composition, which was consistent with the theory of flavour. The physical properties and chemical composition of the volatile oil did not change after curing, indicating that the adsorption of the volatile oil by porous starch was physical adsorption. In this paper, the porous starch-solidified volatile oil had a slow-release effect, and the production process is simple, easy to operate, and has high application value.

Non-zero θ13 and δCP phase with A4 flavor symmetry and deviations to tri-bi-maximal mixing via Z2 × Z2 invariant perturbations in the neutrino sector

In this work, a flavour theory of a neutrino mass model based on A4 symmetry is considered to explain the phenomenology of neutrino mixing. The spontaneous symmetry breaking of A4 symmetry in this model leads to tribimaximal mixing in the neutrino sector at a leading order. We consider the effect of Z2×Z2 invariant perturbations in neutrino sector and find the allowed region of correction terms in the perturbation matrix that is consistent with 3σ ranges of the experimental values of the mixing angles. We study the entanglement of this formalism on the other phenomenological observables, such as δCP phase, the neutrino oscillation probability P(νμ→νe), the effective Majorana mass |mee| and |mνeeff|. A Z2×Z2 invariant perturbations in this model is introduced in the neutrino sector which leads to testable predictions of θ13 and CP violation. By changing the magnitudes of perturbations in neutrino sector, one can generate viable values of δCP and neutrino oscillation parameters. Next we investigate the feasibility of charged lepton flavour violation in type-I seesaw models with leptonic flavour symmetries at high energy that leads to tribimaximal neutrino mixing. We consider an effective theory with an A4×Z2×Z2 symmetry, which after spontaneous symmetry breaking at high scale which is much higher than the electroweak scale leads to charged lepton flavour violation processes once the heavy Majorana neutrino mass degeneracy is lifted either by renormalisation group effects or by a soft breaking of the A4 symmetry. In this context the implications for charged lepton flavour violation processes like μ→eγ, τ→eγ, τ→μγ are discussed.

Scotogenic Majorana neutrino masses in a predictive orbifold theory of flavor

The use of extra space-time dimensions provides a promising approach to the flavour problem. The chosen compactification of a 6-dimensional orbifold implies a remnant family symmetry $A_4$. This makes interesting predictions for quark and lepton masses, for neutrino oscillations and neutrinoless double beta decay, providing also a very good global description of all flavour observables. Due to an auxiliary $\mathbb{Z}_4$ symmetry, we implement a scotogenic Majorana neutrino mass generation mechanism with a viable WIMP dark matter candidate.

Ethnopharmacological nexus between the traditional Thai medicine theory and biologically based cancer treatment

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe two major theories utilized for diagnosis and treatment in Traditional Thai Medicine (TTM) are the Four Element Theory and the Herbal Flavor Theory. A TTM “Poh-Pu” Remedy has been effectively utilized in Thailand for cancer therapy for centuries. Aims of studyTo investigate anti-inflammatory activity and liver cancer cytotoxicity of Poh-Pu remedy. To determine relationships between the TTM Herbal Flavor theory and the Four Element theory and total flavonoid content and biological activities of Poh-Pu Remedy plant extracts. Materials and methodsEach plant ingredient was macerated with 95% ethanol. The extracts were investigated for cytotoxic activity against liver cancer using a sulforhodamine B assay, and anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by inhibition of nitric oxide production. The total flavonoid content was determined by an aluminum chloride colorimetric assay. The relationships between the TTM theories, total flavonoid content, and biological activities were evaluated by correlation and cluster analysis. ResultsMammea siamensis exerted potent cytotoxicity against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines with an IC50 of 3.15 ± 0.16 μg/mL and low cytotoxicity to the non-cancerous cells (HaCat) with an IC50 33.39 ± 0.40 μg/mL (Selective index (SI) = 10.6). Tiliacora triandra was selectively cytotoxic to cholangiocarcinama (KKU-M156) cells with an IC50 of 12.65 ± 0.92 μg/mL (SI = 6.4). Curcuma comosa was the most potent anti-inflammatory inhibitor of nitric oxide production with an IC50 of 2.75 ± 0.34 μg/mL. Campomanesia aromatica exhibited the highest total flavonoid content of 259.7 ± 3.21 mg quercetin equivalent/g. Pungent plants were most prevalent in the TTM remedy. ConclusionPungent, fragrant, bitter and nauseating plants utilized in TTM cancer remedy were successfully investigated and identified several lead plants and components with cytotoxic and antiinflammatory activity that require further study. The TTM wind element theory appeared to be aligned with cancer-related activity. Biological activity results of taste from herbs related with The TTM Herbal Flavor theory. The extra-oral locations of flavor receptors are a promising target for biological activity of TTM which require further scrutiny and identified several lead plants and components with cytotoxic and antiinflammatory activities that also require further study.

Twin Pati-Salam theory of flavour with a TeV scale vector leptoquark

We propose a twin Pati-Salam (PS) theory of flavour broken to the G4321 gauge group at high energies, then to the Standard Model at low energies, yielding a TeV scale vector leptoquark {U}_1^{mu } (3, 1, 2/3) which has been suggested to address the lepton universality anomalies {R}_{K^{left(ast right)}} and {R}_{D^{left(ast right)}} in B decays. Quark and lepton masses are mediated by vector-like fermions, with personal Higgs doublets for the second and third families, which may be replaced by a two Higgs doublet model (2HDM). The twin PS theory of flavour successfully accounts for all quark and lepton (including neutrino) masses and mixings, and predicts a dominant coupling of {U}_1^{mu } (3, 1, 2/3) to the third family left-handed doublets. However the predicted mass matrices, assuming natural values of the parameters, are not consistent with the single vector leptoquark solution to the {R}_{D^{left(ast right)}} anomaly, given its current value.