Searcharxiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 1911.10203

Light Scalars and the KOTO Anomaly

Daniel Egana-Ugrinovic·Samuel Homiller·Patrick Meade
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

The KOTO experiment recently presented a significant excess of events in their search for the rare SM process $K_L \to \pi^0\nu\bar{\nu}$, well above both Standard Model signal and background predictions. We show that this excess may be due to weakly-coupled scalars that are produced from Kaon decays and escape KOTO undetected. We study two concrete realizations, the minimal Higgs portal and a hadrophilic scalar model, and demonstrate that they can explain the observed events while satisfying bounds from other flavor and beam-dump experiments. Hadronic beam-dump experiments provide particularly interesting constraints on these types of models, and we discuss in detail the normally underestimated uncertainties associated with them. The simplicity of the models which can explain the excess, and their possible relations with interesting UV constructions, provides strong theoretical motivation for a new physics interpretation of the KOTO data.

Explore related subjects

hep-ph

Keep this discovery

BibTeXRIS

Daniel Egana-Ugrinovic, Samuel Homiller, Patrick Meade. 2019-11-22. Light Scalars and the KOTO Anomaly. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.124.191801

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Axionic Wormholes in Metric-Affine Gravity

The axion is a promising candidate for solving the strong CP problem. To solve this problem, the global U(1) symmetry must be preserved to a high degree of accuracy. However, it is well known that global symmetries are explicitly violated by quantum gravity effects, giving rise to what is referred to as the axion quality problem. In this paper, we investigate axionic wormholes as a source of explicit U(1) violation in Metric-Affine Gravity. This framework allows for spacetime torsion and non-metricity, which accommodate additional curvature-like and topological terms, such as the Holst and Nieh--Yan terms, that are absent from the metric and Palatini formalisms. We show that non-minimal couplings to these terms modify the wormhole dynamics and enhance the Euclidean wormhole action, thereby alleviating the axion quality problem. We also find that the viable parameter space is enlarged when two of these couplings are simultaneously present. We further identify representative parameter regions where the alleviation of the axion quality problem is compatible with inflationary constraints.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2026

Qubit-Qutrit Quantum Tomography of hadronic $\Lambda\phi$ and $\Lambda K^{\ast 0}$ systems

Quantum-information observables have emerged in recent years as new tools in nuclear and particle physics, from entanglement in top-quark pairs to spin correlations in $\Lambda\bar{\Lambda}$ production. Extending these studies to unequal-spin hadronic final states poses a fundamental challenge: the $6\times6$ density matrix of a qubit-qutrit system contains 35 independent spin parameters, but the decays of $\Lambda V$ pairs, with $V=\phi$ or $K^{*0}$, provide access to only 23 due to the hidden vector polarization from the strong decay. In this Letter, we formulate a qubit-qutrit quantum tomography (QQQT) technique for these spin-$\tfrac{1}{2}\otimes1$ systems and establish exact criteria for entanglement certification from the \textit{incomplete} density matrix. Compared with the $\Lambda\bar{\Lambda}$ system, QQQT of $\Lambda\phi$ and $\Lambda K^{*0}$ provides a new probe of nonperturbative QCD hadronization, enabling a direct comparison of the spin evolution of entangled quark pairs produced from the vacuum as they hadronize into a baryon or a vector meson.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2026

Twist decomposition of exclusive heavy meson production cross sections

We study the twist decomposition of the total cross sections for exclusive heavy vector meson electroproduction and photoproduction in the $\gamma^\ast p$ processes, within the leading logarithmic $1/x$ BFKL formalism. The Mellin transforms of the impact factors of the vector meson are calculated. We show that the higher twist contributions are strongly suppressed in the low-$x$ kinematical regime. Possible enhancement of the higher twists effects for nuclei targets is discussed.

hep-ph↗