arXiv subjects

A. Romanino

Publications and source records attributed to A. Romanino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2018

Can an unbroken flavour symmetry provide an approximate description of lepton masses and mixing?

We provide a complete answer to the following question: what are the flavour groups and representations providing, in the symmetric limit, an approximate description of lepton masses and mixings? We assume that neutrinos masses are described by the Weinberg operator. We show that the pattern of lepton masses and mixings only depends on the dimension, type (real, pseudoreal, complex), and equivalence of the irreducible components of the flavour representation, and we find only six viable cases. In all cases the neutrinos are either anarchical or have an inverted hierarchical spectrum. In the context of SU(5) unification, only the anarchical option is allowed. Therefore, if the hint of a normal hierarchical spectrum were confirmed, we would conclude (under the above assumption) that symmetry breaking effects must play a primary role in the understanding of neutrino flavour observables. In order to obtain the above results, we develop a simple algorithm to determine the form of the lepton masses and mixings directly from the structure of the decomposition of the flavour representation in irreducible components, without the need to specify the form of the lepton mass matrices.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

A closer look to the sgoldstino interpretation of the diphoton excess

We revisit the sgoldstino interpretation of the diphoton excess in the context of gauge mediation. While the bound on the gluino mass might seem to make the sgoldstino contribution to the diphoton excess unobservable, we show that the interpretation is viable in a thin, near critical region of the parameter space. This regime gives rise to drastic departures from the standard gauge mediation picture. While the fermion messengers lie in the (10-100) TeV range, some scalar messengers are significantly lighter and are responsible for the sgoldstino production and decay. Their effective coupling to the sgoldstino is correspondingly enhanced, and a non-perturbative regime is triggered when light and heavy messenger masses differ by a factor $\sim4π$. We also comment on the possible role of an R-axion and on the possibility to decouple the sfermions in this context.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2009

Consequences of a unified, anarchical model of fermion masses and mixings

We show that most features of the mass and mixing pattern of the second and third SM fermion families can be accounted for without making use of flavour symmetries or other types of flavour dynamics. We discuss the implications for flavour phenomenology, in particular for the $τ\toμγ$ decay rate, and comment on LFV effects at colliders. We show that the model can be embedded in a full SO(10) supersymmetric GUT in 5 dimensions that preserves the successful MSSM gauge coupling unification prediction for $α_s$. Interesting features of this embedding are i) the connection of one of the hierarchy parameters with the strong coupling assumption, ii) the absence of KK threshold effects on the $α_s$ prediction at one loop, and iii) the shift of the GUT scale up to about $10^{17}\GeV$. Proton decay is under control, also due to the larger GUT scale. A large atmospheric angle for normal hierarchical neutrinos is obtained in an unusual way.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2009

Gauge coupling unification, the GUT scale, and magic fields

We consider field sets that do not form complete SU(5) multiplets, but exactly preserve the one-loop MSSM prediction for $α_3(M_Z)$ independently of the value of their mass. Such fields can raise the unification scale in different ways, through a delayed convergence of the gauge couplings, a fake unified running below the GUT scale, or a postponed unification after a hoax crossing at a lower scale. The $α_3(M_Z)$ prediction is independent of the mass of the new fields, while the GUT scale often is not, which allows to vary the GUT scale. Such "magic" fields represent a useful tool in GUT model building. For example, they can be used to fix gauge coupling unification in certain two step breakings of the unified group, to suppress large KK thresholds in models with extra dimensions, or they can be interpreted as messengers of supersymmetry breaking in GMSB models.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Flavour physics of leptons and dipole moments

This chapter of the report of the ``Flavour in the era of the LHC'' Workshop discusses the theoretical, phenomenological and experimental issues related to flavour phenomena in the charged lepton sector and in flavour-conserving CP-violating processes. We review the current experimental limits and the main theoretical models for the flavour structure of fundamental particles. We analyze the phenomenological consequences of the available data, setting constraints on explicit models beyond the Standard Model, presenting benchmarks for the discovery potential of forthcoming measurements both at the LHC and at low energy, and exploring options for possible future experiments.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Electric Dipole Moments in Split Supersymmetry

We perform a quantitative study of the neutron and electron electric dipole moments (EDM) in Supersymmetry, in the limit of heavy scalars. The leading contributions arise at two loops. We give the complete analytic result, including a new contribution associated with Z-Higgs exchange, which plays an important and often leading role in the neutron EDM. The predictions for the EDM are typically within the sensitivities of the next generation experiments. We also analyse the correlation between the electron and neutron EDM, which provides a robust test of Split Supersymmetry.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2004

Aspects of Split Supersymmetry

We explore some fundamental differences in the phenomenology, cosmology and model building of Split Supersymmetry compared with traditional low-scale supersymmetry. We show how the mass spectrum of Split Supersymmetry naturally emerges from theories where the dominant source of supersymmetry breaking preserves an $R$ symmetry, characterize the class of theories where the unavoidable $R$-breaking by gravity can be neglected, and point out a new possibility, where supersymmetry breaking is directly communicated at tree level to the visible sector via renormalizable interactions. Next, we discuss possible low-energy signals for Split Supersymmetry. The absence of new light scalars removes all the phenomenological difficulties of low-energy supersymmetry, associated with one-loop flavor and CP violating effects. However, the electric dipole moments of leptons and quarks do arise at two loops, and are automatically at the level of present limits with no need for small phases, making them accessible to several ongoing new-generation experiments. We also study proton decay in the context of Split Supersymmetry, and point out scenarios where the dimension-six induced decays may be observable. Finally, we show that the novel spectrum of Split Supersymmetry opens up new possibilities for the generation of dark matter, as the decays of ultraheavy gravitinos in the early universe typically increase the abundance of the lightest neutralino above its usual freeze-out value. This allows for lighter gauginos and Higgsinos, more accessible both to the LHC and to dark-matter detection experiments.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2004

Split Supersymmetry

The naturalness criterion applied to the cosmological constant implies a new-physics threshold at 10^-3 eV. Either the naturalness criterion fails, or this threshold does not influence particle dynamics at higher energies. It has been suggested that the Higgs naturalness problem may follow the same fate. We investigate this possibility and, abandoning the hierarchy problem, we use unification and dark matter as the only guiding principles. The model recently proposed by Arkani-Hamed and Dimopoulos emerges as a very interesting option. We study it in detail, analysing its structure, and the conditions for obtaining unification and dark matter.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2003

Bulk neutrinos and core collapse supernovae

We discuss the phenomenology of neutrino mixing with bulk fermions in the context of supernova physics. The constraints on the parameter space following from the usual energy loss argument can be relaxed by four orders of magnitude due to a feedback mechanism that takes place in a broad region of the parameter space. Such a mechanism also affects the protoneutron star evolution through a non trivial interplay with neutrino diffusion. The consistency with the SN 1987A signal is discussed, as well as the implications for deleptonization, cooling, composition of the neutrino flux and the delayed explosion scenario.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Precision test of a Fermion mass texture

Texture zeros in the quark Yukawa matrices generally lead to precise and simple expressions for CKM matrix elements in terms of ratios of quark masses. Using the new data on $b-$decays we test a particularly promising texture zero solution and show that it is at best approximate. We analyse the approximate texture zero structure and show it is consistent with experiment. We investigate the implications for the CKM unitarity triangle, measurements at $BaBar$ and $BELLE$ as well as for the theories which invoke family symmetries.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Signals of Supersymmetric Flavour Models in B Physics

If the mechanism of Supersymmetry breaking is not flavour blind, some flavour symmetry is likely to be needed to prevent excessive flavour changing neutral current effects. We discuss two flavour models (based respectively on a U(2) and on a SU(3) horizontal symmetry) providing a good fit to fermion masses and mixings and particularly constraining the supersymmetry soft breaking terms. We show that, while reproducing successfully the Standard Model fit of the unitarity triangle, it is possible to obtain sizable deviations from the Standard Model predictions for three very clean B-physics observables: the time dependent CP asymmetries in $B_d \to J/ψK^0$ and in $B_s \to J/ψϕ$ and the $B_s-\bar{B}_s$ mass difference. Our analysis exhibits with two explicit realizations that in supersymmetric theories with a new flavour structure in addition to the Yukawa matrices there exist concrete potentialities for revealing supersymmetry indirectly in theoretically clean $B$-physics observables.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2000

Testing Matter Effects in Very Long Baseline Neutrino Oscillation Experiments

Assuming three-neutrino mixing, we study the capabilities of very long baseline neutrino oscillation experiments to verify and test the MSW effect and to measure the lepton mixing angle theta_13. We suppose that intense neutrino and antineutrino beams will become available in so-called neutrino factories. We find that the most promising and statistically significant results can be obtained by studying nu_e ->nu_mu and \bar{nu}_e-> \bar{nu}_mu oscillations which lead to matter enhancements and suppressions of wrong sign muon rates. We show the theta_13 ranges where matter effects could be observed as a function of the baseline. We discuss the scaling laws of rates, significances and sensitivities with the relevant mixing angles and experimental parameters. Our analysis includes fluxes, event rates and statistical aspects so that the conclusions should be useful for the planning of experimental setups. We discuss the subleading Delta m^2_{21} effects in the case of the LMA MSW solution of the solar problem, showing that they are small for L >= 7000 km. For shorter baselines, Delta m^2_{21} effects can be relevant and their dependence on L offers a further handle for the determination of the CP-violation phase δ. Finally we comment on the possibility to measure the specific distortion of the energy spectrum due to the MSW effect.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1999

CP-violation in neutrino oscillations

We study in a quantitative way CP-violating effects in neutrino oscillation experiments in the light of current and future data. Different scenarios with three and four neutrinos are worked out in detail including matter effects in long baseline experiments and it is shown that in some cases CP-violating effects could affect the analysis of a possible measurement. In particular in the three neutrino case we find that the effects can be larger than expected, at least in long-baseline $ν_μ\toν_e$. Moreover, measuring these effects could give useful information on the solar oscillation frequency. In four neutrino scenarios large effects are possible both in the $ν_μ\toν_τ$ and $ν_μ\toν_e$ channels of long-baseline experiments, whereas short-baseline experiments are affected only marginally.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1999

Connections between epsilon'/epsilon and Rare Kaon Decays in Supersymmetry

We analyze the rare kaon decays $K_L \to π^0 ν\bar ν$, $K^+ \to π^+ ν\bar ν$, $K_L \to π^0 e^+ e^-$ and $K_L \to μ^+ μ^-$ in conjunction with the CP violating ratio $ε'/ε$ in a general class of supersymmetric models in which $Z$- and magnetic-penguin contributions can be substantially larger than in the Standard Model. We point out that radiative effects relate the double left-right mass insertion to the single left-left one, and that the phenomenological constraints on the latter reflect into a stringent bound on the supersymmetric contribution to the $Z$ penguin. Using this bound, and those coming from recent data on $ε'/ε$ we find ${\rm BR}(K_L \to π^0 ν\bar ν)\lsim 1.2\cdot 10^{-10}$, ${\rm BR}(K^+ \to π^+ ν\bar ν)\lsim 1.7\cdot 10^{-10}$, ${\rm BR}(K_L \to π^0 e^+ e^-)_{\rm dir}\lsim 2.0\cdot 10^{-11}$, assuming the usual determination of the CKM parameters and neglecting the possibility of cancellations among different supersymmetric effects in $ε'/ε$. Larger values are possible, in principle, but rather unlikely. We stress the importance of a measurement of these three branching ratios, together with improved data and improved theory of $ε'/ε$, in order to shed light on the realization of various supersymmetric scenarios. We reemphasize that the most natural enhancement of $ε'/ε$, within supersymmetric models, comes from chromomagnetic penguins and show that in this case sizable enhancements of $BR(K_L \to π^0 e^+ e^-)_{\rm dir}$ can also be expected.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1999

Natural ranges of supersymmetric signals

The LEP2 experiments pose a serious naturalness problem for supersymmetric models. The problem is stronger in gauge mediation than in supergravity models. Particular scenarios, like electroweak baryogenesis or gauge mediation with light messengers, are strongly disfavoured. Searching a theoretical reason that naturally explains why supersymmetry has not been found poses strong requests on model building. If instead an unlikely (p\approx 5%) numerical accident has hidden supersymmetry to LEP2, we compute the naturalness distribution of values of allowed sparticle masses and supersymmetric loop effects. We find that b to s gamma remains a very promising signal of minimal supersymmetry even if there is now a 20% (4%) probability that coloured particles are heavier than 1 TeV (3 TeV). We study how much other effects are expected to be detectable.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1998

$K \to πν\bar ν$: A Model Independent Analysis and Supersymmetry

We present a model independent analysis of new-physics contributions to the decays K^+ \to π^+ ν\bar νand K_L \to π^0 ν\bar ν. We parameterize the effects of new physics in these decays by two parameters: r_K and θ_K, with r_K=1 and θ_K=0 in the Standard Model (SM). We show how these parameters can be extracted from future data. This analysis offers some insight in a possible violation of a "golden relation" between K \to πν\bar νdecays and the CP asymmetry in B \to ψK_S in the SM pointed out some time ago. We illustrate these ideas by considering a general class of supersymmetric models. We find that in the "constrained" MSSM, in which θ_K=0, the measurements of Br(K^+ \to π^+ ν\bar ν) and Br(K_L \to π^0 ν\bar ν) directly determine the angle β. Moreover, the "golden relation" remains unaffected. On the other hand, in general SUSY models with unbroken R-parity the present experimental constraints still allow for substantial deviations from r_K=1 and θ_K=0. Typically 0.5 < r_K < 1.3 and -25^0 < θ_K < 25^0. Consequently, in these models the violation of the "golden relation" is possible and values for Br(K^+ \to π^+ ν\bar ν) and Br(K_L \to π^0 ν\bar ν) departing from the SM expectations by factors 2-3 cannot be excluded. Our conclusions differ in certain aspects from the ones reached in previous analyses. In particular, we stress the possible importance of left-right flavour-violating mass insertions that were not considered before.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1997

Two-loop QCD corrections to charged-Higgs-mediated $b\to sγ$ decay

The charged-Higgs-mediated contribution to the Wilson coefficient of the $b\to sγ$ magnetic penguin is expected to be one of the more promising candidates for a supersymmetric effect in B physics, probably the only one in gauge-mediated models. We compute the two-loop QCD correction to it. With naive dimensional regularization and MSbar subtraction, for reasonable values of the charged Higgs mass and for mu-bar = m_top, we find a (10--20)% reduction of the corresponding one-loop effect.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1996

Unified Theories with U(2) Flavor Symmetry

A general operator expansion is presented for quark and lepton mass matrices in unified theories based on a U(2) flavor symmetry, with breaking parameter of order $V_{cb} \approx m_s/m_b \approx \sqrt{m_c/m_t}$. While solving the supersymmetric flavor-changing problem, a general form for the Yukawa couplings follows, leading to 9 relations among the fermion masses and mixings, 5 of which are precise. The combination of grand unified and U(2) symmetries provides a symmetry understanding for the anomalously small values of $m_u/m_c$ and $m_c/m_t$. A fit to the fermion mass data leads to a prediction for the angles of the CKM unitarity triangle, which will allow a significant test of these unified U(2) theories. A particular SO(10) model provides a simple realization of the general operator expansion. The lighter generation masses and the non-trivial structure of the CKM matrix are generated from the exchange of a single U(2) doublet of heavy vector generations. This model suggests that CP is spontaneously broken at the unification scale --- in which case there is a further reduction in the number of free parameters.

hep-ph↗