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Alejandra Melfo

Publications and source records attributed to Alejandra Melfo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2021

Neutrino: chronicles of an aloof protagonist

We give a brief account of the history of neutrino, and how that most aloof of all particles has shaped our search for a theory of fundamental interactions ever since it was theoretically proposed. We introduce the necessary concepts and phenomena in a non-technical language aimed at a physicist with some basic knowledge of quantum mechanics. In showing that neutrino mass could be the door to new physics beyond the Standard Model, we emphasize the need to frame the issue in the context of a complete theory, with testable predictions accessible to present and near future experiments. We argue in favor of the Minimal Left-Right Symmetric theory as the strongest candidate for such theory, connecting neutrino mass with parity breakdown in nature. This is the theory that led originally to neutrino mass and the seesaw mechanism behind its smallness, but even more important, the theory that sheds light on a fundamental question that touches us all: the symmetry between left and right.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2017

A note on Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in flocks of birds

It is suggested that the observed scale-free correlations of speed fluctuations in flocks of birds are a consequence of the spontaneous breakdown of translational symmetry to a discrete group, and not an indication that the system is near a critical point in phase space. The observed long-range correlation length could then be attributed to the presence of a phonon mode in the flock.

physics.bio-ph↗
arXiv2012

Type II Seesaw at LHC: the Roadmap

In this Letter we revisit the type-II seesaw mechanism based on the addition of a weak triplet scalar to the standard model. We perform a comprehensive study of its phenomenology at the LHC energies, complete with the electroweak precision constraints. We pay special attention to the doubly-charged component, object of collider searches for a long time, and show how the experimental bound on its mass depends crucially on the particle spectrum of the theory. Our study can be used as a roadmap for future complete LHC studies.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2011

Inert Doublet Dark Matter and Mirror/Extra Families after Xenon100

It was shown recently that mirror fermions, naturally present in a number of directions for new physics, seem to require an inert scalar doublet in order to pass the electroweak precision tests. This provides a further motivation for considering the inert doublet as a dark matter candidate. Moreover, the presence of extra families enhances the Standard Model Higgs-nucleon coupling, which has crucial impact on the Higgs and dark matter searches. We study the limits on the inert dark matter mass in view of recent Xenon100 data. We find that the mass of the inert dark matter must lie in a very narrow window 74-76 GeV while the Higgs must weigh more than 400 GeV. For the sake of completeness we discuss the cases with fewer extra families, where the possibility of a light Higgs boson opens up, enlarging the dark matter mass window to m_h/2-76 GeV. We find that Xenon100 constrains the DM-Higgs interaction, which in turn implies a lower bound on the monochromatic gamma-ray flux from DM annihilation in the galactic halo. For the mirror case, the predicted annihilation cross section lies a factor of 4-5 below the current limit set by Fermi LAT, thus providing a promising indirect detection signal.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2011

Self-gravitating non-abelian kinks as brane worlds

We address the properties of self-gravitating domain walls arising from the breaking of an SU(N) x Z_2- symmetric theory. In the particular case of N=5, we find that the two classes of stable non-abelian kinks possible in flat space have an analogue in the gravitational case, and construct the analytical solutions. Localization of fermion fields in different representations of the gauge group in these branes is investigated. It is also shown that non-abelian gauge fields localization cannot be achieved through interactions with the brane, but that in one of the two classes of kinks this localization can be implemented via the Dvali-Shifman mechanism.

hep-th↗
arXiv2011

Three Extra Mirror or Sequential Families: a Case for Heavy Higgs and Inert Doublet

We study the possibility of the existence of extra fermion families and an extra Higgs doublet. We find that requiring the extra Higgs doublet to be inert leaves space for three extra families, allowing for mirror fermion families and a dark matter candidate at the same time. The emerging scenario is very predictive: it consists of a Standard Model Higgs boson, with mass above 400\,\GeV, heavy new quarks between 340 and 500\,\GeV, light extra neutral leptons, and an inert scalar with a mass below $M_Z$.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2010

Breaking the $Z_2$ symmetry of the Randall-Sundrum scenario and the fate of the massive modes

We address in detail the issue of possible resonances in the massive modes on a brane without reflection symmetry. After identifying a set of solvability conditions, we show explicitly how the modes of the asymmetric case can be traced back to the modes of the symmetric RS-2 scenario. The possible occurrence of resonances is revisited and discussed by finding analytical solutions. We find that the resonant behavior is very mild even for strong asymmetries, and moreover it occurs only for very large masses, so that its effects on the Newtonian potential are exponentially suppressed.

hep-th↗
arXiv2010

Type II see-saw dominance in SO(10)

Grand unified theories where the neutrino mass is given by Type II seesaw have the potential to provide interesting connections between the neutrino and charged fermion sectors. We explore the possibility of having a dominant Type II seesaw contribution in supersymmetric SO(10). We show that this can be achieved in the model where symmetry breaking is triggered by 54 and 45-dimensional representations, without the need for additional fields other than those already required to have a realistic charged fermion mass spectrum. Physical consequences, such as the implementation of the BSV mechanism, the possibility of the fields responsible for Type II see-saw dominance being messengers of supersymmetry breaking, and the realization of baryo and leptogenesis in this theories are discussed.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2009

Gauge field localization on brane worlds

We consider the effects of spacetime curvature and brane thickness on the localization of gauge fields on a brane via kinetic terms induced by localized fermions. We find that in a warped geometry with and infinitely thin brane, both the infrared and the ultraviolet behavior of the electromagnetic propagator are affected, providing a more stringent bound on the brane's tension than that coming from the requirement of four-dimensional gravity on the brane. On the other hand, for a thick wall in a flat spacetime, where the fermions are localized by means of a Yukawa coupling, we find that 4-dimensional electromagnetism is recovered in a region bounded from above by the same critical distance appearing in the thin case, but also from below by a new scale related to the brane's thickness and the electromagnetic couplings.

hep-th↗
arXiv2008

Metastable gauged O'Raifeartaigh

We study the possibility of obtaining metastable supersymmetry breaking vacua in a perturbative gauge theory without singlet fields, thus allowing for scenarios where a grand unified symmetry and supersymmetry are broken by the same sector. We show some explicit SU(5) examples. The minimal renormalizable example requires the use of two adjoints, but it is shown to inevitably lead to unwanted light states. We suggest various alternatives, and show that the viable possibilities consist of allowing for non-renormalizable operators, of employing four adjoints or of adding at least one field in a different representation.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2007

Grand Unification with and without Supersymmetry

Grand Unified Theories based on the group SO(10) generically provide interesting and testable relations between the charged fermions and neutrino sector masses and mixings. In the light of the recent neutrino data, we reexamine these relations both in supersymmetric and non-supersymmetric models, and give a brief review of their present status.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2006

Close to the edge: hierarchy in a double braneworld

We show that the hierarchy between the Planck and the weak scales can follow from the tendency of gravitons and fermions to localize at different edges of a thick double wall embedded in an $AdS_5$ spacetime without reflection symmetry. This double wall is a stable BPS thick-wall solution with two sub-walls located at its edges; fermions are coupled to the scalar field through Yukawa interactions, but the the lack of reflection symmetry forces them to be localized in one of the sub-walls. We show that the graviton zero-mode wavefunction is suppressed in the fermion edge by an exponential function of the distance between the sub-walls, and that the massive modes decouple so that Newtonian gravity is recuperated.

hep-th↗
arXiv2006

Fermion localization on thick branes

We consider chiral fermion confinement in scalar thick branes, which are known to localize gravity, coupled through a Yukawa term. The conditions for the confinement and their behavior in the thin-wall limit are found for various different BPS branes, including double walls and branes interpolating between different AdS_5 spacetimes. We show that only one massless chiral mode is localized in all these walls, whenever the wall thickness is keep finite. We also show that, independently of wall's thickness, chiral fermionic modes cannot be localized in dS_4 walls embedded in a M_5 spacetime. Finally, massive fermions in double wall spacetimes are also investigated. We find that, besides the massless chiral mode localization, these double walls support quasi-localized massive modes of both chiralities.

hep-th↗
arXiv2005

Fermion mass relations in a supersymmetric SO(10) theory

Neutrino and charged fermion masses provide important constraints on grand unified theories. We illustrate this by focusing on a renormalizable, supersymmetric SO(10) theory proposed long ago, that recently attracted great interest in view of its minimality. We show how the nature of the light Higgs, which depends on the GUT scale fields, gets reflected on the precise predictions for fermion masses and mixings. We exemplify this on the case of dominant Type II see-saw, which gets severely constrained and is likely to fail.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2005

Yukawa sector in non-supersymmetric renormalizable SO(10)

We discuss the ordinary, non-supersymmetric SO(10) as a theory of fermion masses and mixings. We construct two minimal versions of the Yukawa sector based on $\bar{126}_H $ and either $10_H$ or $120_H$. The latter case is of particular interest since it connects the absolute neutrino mass scale with the size of the atmospheric mixing angle $θ_A$. It also relates the smallness of $V_{cb}$ with the largeness of $θ_A$. These results are based on the analytic study of the second and third generations. Furthermore, we discuss the structure of the light Higgs and the role of the Peccei-Quinn symmetry for dark matter and the predictivity of the theory.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2005

Supersymmetric Grand Unification: the quest for the theory

With the advent of neutrino masses, it has become more and more acknowledged that SO(10) is a more suitable theory than SU(5): it leads naturally to small neutrino masses via the see-saw mechanism, it has a simpler and more predictive Yukawa sector. There is however a rather strong disagreement on what the minimal consistent SO(10) theory is, i.e. what the Higgs sector is. The issue is particularly sensitive in the context of low-energy supersymmetry.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2004

Localizing gravity on exotic thick 3-branes

We consider localization of gravity on thick branes with a non trivial structure. Double walls that generalize the thick Randall-Sundrum solution, and asymmetric walls that arise from a Z_2-symmetric scalar potential, are considered. We present a new asymmetric solution: a thick brane interpolating between two AdS_5 spacetimes with different cosmological constants, which can be derived from a ``fake supergravity'' superpotential, and show that it is possible to confine gravity on such branes.

hep-th↗