Exotic Higgs decays in U(1) extensions of the MSSM
We study the decays of the lightest CP-even Higgs boson into a pair of pseudoscalar Higgs states within U(1)_N extensions of the MSSM.
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arXiv subjects
A. G. Williams
Publications and source records attributed to A. G. Williams.
Z' mass limits and the naturalness of supersymmetry
The discovery of a 125 GeV Higgs boson and rising lower bounds on the masses of superpartners have lead to concerns that supersymmetric models are now fine tuned. Large stop masses, required for a 125 GeV Higgs, feed into the electroweak symmetry breaking conditions through renormalisation group equations forcing one to fine tune these parameters to obtain the correct electroweak vacuum expectation value. Nonetheless this fine tuning depends crucially on our assumptions about the supersymmetry breaking scale. At the same time $U(1)$ extensions provide the most compelling solution to the $μ$-problem, which is also a naturalness issue, and allow the tree level Higgs mass to be raised substantially above $M_Z$. These very well motivated supersymmetric models predict a new $Z'$ boson which could be discovered at the LHC and the naturalness of the model requires that the $Z'$ boson mass should not be too far above the TeV scale. Moreover this fine tuning appears at the tree level, making it less dependent on assumptions about the supersymmetry breaking mechanism. Here we study this fine tuning for several $U(1)$ supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model and compare it to the situation in the MSSM where the most direct tree level fine tuning can be probed through chargino mass limits. We show that future LHC $Z'$ searches are extremely important for challenging the most natural scenarios in these models.
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Non-Standard Higgs Decays in U(1) Extensions of the MSSM
In U(1) extensions of the Minimal Supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model there is a simple mechanism that leads to a heavy Z' boson with a mass which is substantially larger than the supersymmetry breaking scale. This mechanism may also result in a pseudoscalar state that is light enough for decays of the 125 GeV Standard Model-like Higgs boson into a pair of such pseudoscalars to be kinematically allowed. We study these decays within E6 inspired supersymmetric models with an exact custodial symmetry that forbids tree-level flavor-changing transitions and the most dangerous baryon and lepton number violating operators. We argue that the branching ratio of the lightest Higgs boson decays into a pair of the light pseudoscalar states may not be negligibly small.
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Excited States of the Nucleon in 2+1 Flavor QCD
Recent developments on the determination of the spin-1/2 spectrum of the nucleon in full QCD are presented. Our focus is on the PACS-CS 2+1 flavor configurations made available through the ILDG. Using correlation matrix techniques, in which a wide variety of gauge-invariant Gaussian-smeared fermion-propagator sources and sinks are considered, excited states are determined. We consider several correlation matrices of various sizes, each constructed with a different set of basis interpolators, in order to demonstrate the invariance of the eigenstates on the basis choice. Of particular interest is the approach to the elusive Roper resonance and we report preliminary results in full QCD.
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String effects and the distribution of the glue in mesons at finite temperature
The distribution of the gluon action density in mesonic systems is investigated at finite temperature. The simulations are performed in quenched QCD for two temperatures below the deconfinment phase. Unlike the gluonic profiles displayed at T=0, the action density iso-surfaces display a prolate-spheroid like shape. The curved width profile of the flux-tube is found to be consistent with the prediction of the free Bosonic string model at large distances.
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QCD Lambda parameter from Landau-gauge gluon and ghost correlations
We utilise a recently developed minimal MOM scheme to determine the QCD Lambda parameter from the gluon and ghost propagators in lattice Landau gauge. We discuss uncertainties in the analysis and report our preliminary zero and two flavour results, which are r_0*LambdaMS^{(0)}=0.62(1) and r_0*LambdaMS^{(2)}=0.60(3)(2), with the second error due to an extrapolation uncertainty.
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Phase transition from quark-meson coupling hyperonic matter to deconfined quark matter
We investigate the possibility and consequences of phase transitions from an equation of state (EOS) describing nucleons and hyperons interacting via mean fields of sigma, omega, and rho mesons in the recently improved quark-meson coupling (QMC) model to an EOS describing a Fermi gas of quarks in an MIT bag. The transition to a mixed phase of baryons and deconfined quarks, and subsequently to a pure deconfined quark phase, is described using the method of Glendenning. The overall EOS for the three phases is calculated for various scenarios and used to calculate stellar solutions using the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equations. The results are compared with recent experimental data, and the validity of each case is discussed with consequences for determining the species content of the interior of neutron stars.
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Precision electromagnetic structure of decuplet baryons in the chiral regime
The electromagnetic properties of the baryon decuplet are calculated in quenched QCD on a 20^3 x 40 lattice with a lattice spacing of 0.128 fm using the fat-link irrelevant clover (FLIC) fermion action with quark masses providing a pion mass as low as 300 MeV. Magnetic moments and charge radii are extracted from the electric and magnetic form factors for each individual quark sector. From these, the corresponding baryon properties are constructed. We present results for the higher order moments of the spin-3/2 baryons, including the electric quadrupole moment E2 and the magnetic octupole moment M3. The world's first determination of a non-zero M3 form factor for the Delta baryon is presented. With these results we provide a conclusive analysis which shows that decuplet baryons are deformed. We compare the decuplet baryon results from a similar lattice calculation of the octet baryons. We establish that the environment sensitivity is far less pronounced in the case of the decuplet baryons compared to that in the octet baryons. A surprising result is that the charge radii of the decuplet baryons are generally smaller than that of the octet baryons. The magnetic moment of the Delta^+ reveals a turn over in the low quark mass region, making it smaller than the proton magnetic moment. These results are consistent with the expectations of quenched chiral perturbation theory. A similar turn over is also noticed in the magnetic moment of the Sigma^*0, but not for Xi^* where only kaon loops can appear in quenched QCD. The electric quadrupole moment of the Omega^- baryon is positive when the negative charge factor is included, and is equal to 0.86 +- 0.12 x 10^-2 fm^2, indicating an oblate shape.
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Gluon flux-tube distribution and linear confinement in baryons
We have observed the formation of gluon flux-tubes within baryons using lattice QCD techniques. A high-statistics approach, based on translational and rotational symmetries of the four-dimensional lattice, enables us to observe correlations between vacuum action density and quark positions in a completely gauge independent manner. This contrasts with earlier studies which used gauge-dependent smoothing techniques. We used 200 O(a^2) improved quenched QCD gauge-field configurations on a 16^3x32 lattice with a lattice spacing of 0.123 fm. In the presence of static quarks flux tubes representing the suppression of gluon-field fluctuations are observed. We have analyzed 11 L-shapes and 8 T and Y shapes of varying sizes in order to explore a variety of flux-tube topologies, including the ground state. At large separations, Y-shape flux-tube formation is observed. T-shaped paths are observed to relax towards a Y-shaped topology, whereas L-shaped paths give rise to a large potential energy. We do not find any evidence for the formation of a Delta-shaped flux-tube (empty triangle) distribution. However, at small quark separations, we observe an expulsion of gluon-field fluctuations in the shape of a filled triangle with maximal expulsion at the centre of the triangle. Having identified the precise geometry of the flux distribution, we are able to perform quantitative comparison between the length of the flux-tube and the associated static quark potential. For every source configuration considered we find a universal string tension, and conclude that, for large quark separations, the ground state potential is that which minimizes the length of the flux-tube. The flux tube radius of the baryonic ground state potential is found to be 0.38 \pm 0.03 fm, with vacuum fluctuations suppressed by 7.2 \pm 0.6 %.
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Running alpha(s) from Landau-gauge gluon and ghost correlations
We estimate the running coupling constant of the strong interactions within the nonperturbative framework of lattice QCD in Landau gauge. Our calculation is based on the ghost-gluon vertex which in the particular case of Landau gauge allows for a definition of alpha(s) in a MOM scheme solely in terms of the gluon and ghost dressing functions. As a first step we investigate the zero and two-flavour case and report here on preliminary results.
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Comparing SU(2) to SU(3) gluodynamics on large lattices
We study the SU(2) gluon and ghost propagators in Landau gauge on lattices up to a size of 112^4. A comparison with the SU(3) case is made and finite-volume effects are then investigated. We find that for a large range of momenta the SU(2) and SU(3) propagators are remarkably alike. In the low-momentum region we compare with recent results obtained in DSE studies on a 4-torus.
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Even parity excitations of the nucleon in lattice QCD
We study the spectrum of the even parity excitations of the nucleon in quenched lattice QCD. We extend our earlier analysis by including an expanded basis of nucleon interpolating fields, increasing the physical size of the lattice, including more configurations to enhance statistics and probing closer to the chiral limit. With a review of world lattice data, we conclude that there is little evidence of the Roper resonance in quenched lattice QCD.
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Phase transition from hadronic matter to quark matter
We study the phase transition from nuclear matter to quark matter within the SU(3) quark mean field model and NJL model. The SU(3) quark mean field model is used to give the equation of state for nuclear matter, while the equation of state for color superconducting quark matter is calculated within the NJL model. It is found that at low temperature, the phase transition from nuclear to color superconducting quark matter will take place when the density is of order 2.5$ρ_0$ - 5$ρ_0$. At zero density, the quark phase will appear when the temperature is larger than about 148 MeV. The phase transition from nuclear matter to quark matter is always first order, whereas the transition between color superconducting quark matter and normal quark matter is second order.
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Pseudoscalar and vector meson form factors from lattice QCD
We present a study of the pseudoscalar and vector meson form factors, calculated using the Fat-Link Irrelevant Clover (FLIC) action in the framework of Quenched Lattice QCD. Of particular interest is the determination of a negative quadrupole moment, indicating that the $ρ$ meson is not spherically symmetric.
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Vector meson electromagnetic form factors
The charge, magnetic and quadrupole form factors of vector mesons and the charge form factor of pseudo-scalar mesons are calculated in quenched lattice QCD. The charge radii and magnetic moments are derived. The quark sector contributions to the form factors are calculated separately and we highlight the environmental sensitivity of the light-quark contribution to charge radii.
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Light quark electromagnetic structure of baryons
Fascinating aspects of the light quark-mass behavior of baryon electromagnetic form factors are highlighted. Using FLIC fermions on $20^3 \times 40$ quenched ${\cal O}(a^2)$-improved gauge fields, we explore charge radii and magnetic moments at pion masses as light as 300 MeV. Of particular interest is chiral curvature of proton charge radii and magnetic moments, the environmental dependence of strange quark properties in hyperons, and the remarkable signature of quenched chiral-nonanalytic behavior in the magnetic moment of $Δ$ baryon resonances.
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Extended Double Lattice BRST, Curci-Ferrari Mass and the Neuberger Problem
We present Extended Double BRST on the lattice and extend the Neuberger problem to include the ghost/anti-ghost symmetric formulation of the non-linear covariant Curci-Ferrari (CF) gauges. We then show how a CF mass regulates the 0/0 indeterminate form of physical observables, as observed by Neuberger, and discuss the gauge-parameter and mass dependence of the model.
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Strange Electric Form Factor of the Proton
By combining the constraints of charge symmetry with new chiral extrapolation techniques and recent low-mass quenched lattice QCD simulations of the individual quark contributions to the electric charge radii of the baryon octet, we obtain an accurate determination of the strange electric charge radius of the proton. While this analysis provides a value for G_E^s(Q^2=0.1 GeV^2) in agreement with the best current data, the theoretical error is comparable with that expected from future HAPPEx results from JLab. Together with the earlier determination of G_M^s, this result considerably constrains the role of hidden flavor in the structure of the nucleon.
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