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Alessandro Strumia

Publications and source records attributed to Alessandro Strumia.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
arXiv2016

Digamma, what next?

If the 750 GeV resonance in the diphoton channel is confirmed, what are the measurements necessary to infer the properties of the new particle and understand its nature? We address this question in the framework of a single new scalar particle, called digamma ($\digamma$). We describe it by an effective field theory, which allows us to obtain general and model-independent results, and to identify the most useful observables, whose relevance will remain also in model-by-model analyses. We derive full expressions for the leading-order processes and compute rates for higher-order decays, digamma production in association with jets, gauge or Higgs bosons, and digamma pair production. We illustrate how measurements of these higher-order processes can be used to extract couplings, quantum numbers, and properties of the new particle.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2016

Di-photon resonance and Dark Matter as heavy pions

We analyse confining gauge theories where the 750 GeV di-photon resonance is a composite techni-pion that undergoes anomalous decays into SM vectors. These scenarios naturally contain accidentally stable techni-pions Dark Matter candidates. The di-photon resonance can acquire a larger width by decaying into Dark Matter through the CP-violating $θ$-term of the new gauge theory reproducing the cosmological Dark Matter density as thermal relic.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2016

Thermal axion production

We reconsider thermal production of axions in the early universe, including axion couplings to all Standard Model (SM) particles. Concerning the axion coupling to gluons, we find that thermal effects enhance the axion production rate by a factor of few with respect to previous computations performed in the limit of small strong gauge coupling. Furthermore, we find that the top Yukawa coupling induces a much larger axion production rate, unless the axion couples to SM particles only via anomalies.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2016

Quantum mechanics of 4-derivative theories

A renormalizable theory of gravity is obtained if the dimension-less 4-derivative kinetic term of the graviton, which classically suffers from negative unbounded energy, admits a sensible quantisation. We find that a 4-derivative degree of freedom involves a canonical coordinate with unusual time-inversion parity, and that a correspondingly unusual representation must be employed for the relative quantum operator. The resulting theory has positive energy eigenvalues, normalisable wave functions, unitary evolution in a negative-norm configuration space. We present a formalism for quantum mechanics with a generic norm.

hep-th↗
arXiv2016

What is the gamma gamma resonance at 750 GeV?

Run 2 LHC data show hints of a new resonance in the diphoton distribution at an invariant mass of 750 GeV. We analyse the data in terms of a new boson, extracting information on its properties and exploring theoretical interpretations. Scenarios covered include a narrow resonance and, as preliminary indications suggest, a wider resonance. If the width indications persist, the new particle is likely to belong to a strongly-interacting sector. We also show how compatibility between Run 1 and Run 2 data is improved by postulating the existence of an additional heavy particle, whose decays are possibly related to dark matter.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2016

On the maximal diphoton width

Motivated by the 750 GeV diphoton excess found at LHC, we compute the maximal width into $γγ$ that a neutral scalar can acquire through a loop of charged fermions or scalars as function of the maximal scale at which the theory holds, taking into account vacuum (meta)stability bounds. We show how an extra gauge symmetry can qualitatively weaken such bounds, and explore collider probes and connections with Dark Matter.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2015

Trinification can explain the di-photon and di-boson LHC anomalies

LHC data show a diphoton excess at 750 GeV and a less significant diboson excess around 1.9 TeV. We propose trinification as a common source of both anomalies. The 1.9 TeV excess can be produced by the lightest extra vector: a $W_R^\pm$ with a gauge coupling $g_R\approx 0.44$ that does not decay into leptons. Furthermore, trinification predicts extra scalars. One of them can reproduce the $γγ$ excess while satisfying constraints from all other channels, given the specific set of extra fermions predicted by trinification.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2015

Indirect determinations of the top quark mass

We give a complete analysis of indirect determinations of the top quark mass in the Standard Model by introducing a systematic procedure to identify observables that receive quantum corrections enhanced by powers of $M_t$. We propose to use flavour physics as a tool to extract the top quark mass. Although present data give only a poor determination, we show how future theoretical and experimental progress in flavour physics can lead to an accuracy in $M_t$ well below 2 GeV. We revisit determinations of $M_t$ from electroweak data, showing how an improved measurement of the $W$ mass leads to an accuracy well below 1 GeV.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2015

Interpreting the CMS $\ell^+\ell^- jj E\!\!\!\!/_{\rm T}$ Excess with a Leptoquark Model

Motivated by excesses in $ee jj$ and $eνjj$ channels observed by the CMS collaboration, in 8 TeV LHC data, a model of lepto-quarks with mass around 500 GeV was proposed in the literature. In order to reproduce the claimed event rate, lepto-quarks were assumed to have a significant partial branching ratio into an extra sector, taken to be Dark Matter, other than the canonical $ej$. We here show that the decay channel of lepto-quark into Dark Matter can fit another excess claimed by CMS, in $\ell^+\ell^- jj E\!\!\!\!/_{\rm T}$: the event rate, the distribution in di-lepton invariant mass and the rapidity range are compatible with the data. We provide predictions for the forthcoming Run II of the 14 TeV LHC and discuss aspects of dark matter detection.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2015

The cosmological Higgstory of the vacuum instability

The Standard Model Higgs potential becomes unstable at large field values. After clarifying the issue of gauge dependence of the effective potential, we study the cosmological evolution of the Higgs field in presence of this instability throughout inflation, reheating and the present epoch. We conclude that anti-de Sitter patches in which the Higgs field lies at its true vacuum are lethal for our universe. From this result, we derive upper bounds on the Hubble constant during inflation, which depend on the reheating temperature and on the Higgs coupling to the scalar curvature or to the inflaton. Finally we study how a speculative link between Higgs meta-stability and consistence of quantum gravity leads to a sharp prediction for the Higgs and top masses, which is consistent with measured values.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2015

Totally asymptotically free trinification

Motivated by new ideas about the Higgs mass naturalness problem, we present realistic TeV-scale extensions of the Standard Model, into the gauge group SU(3)_L x SU(3)_R x SU(3)_c, such that all gauge, Yukawa and quartic couplings can be extrapolated up to infinite energy. Three generations of chiral fermions and Higgses are needed, as well as some extra fermion.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2015

Accidental Composite Dark Matter

We build models where Dark Matter candidates arise as composite states of a new confining gauge force, stable thanks to accidental symmetries. Restricting to renormalizable theories compatible with SU(5) unification, we find 13 models based on SU(N) gauge theories and 9 based on SO(N). We also describe other models that require non-renormalizable interactions. The two gauge groups lead to distinctive phenomenologies: SU(N) theories give complex DM, with potentially observable electric and magnetic dipole moments that lead to peculiar spin-independent cross sections; SO(N) theories give real DM, with challenging spin-dependent cross sections or inelastic scatterings. Models with Yukawa couplings also give rise to spin-independent direct detection mediated by the Higgs boson and to electric dipole moments for the electron. In some models DM has higher spin. Each model predicts a specific set of lighter composite scalars, possibly observable at colliders.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2015

Dynamically Induced Planck Scale and Inflation

Theories where the Planck scale is dynamically generated from dimensionless interactions provide predictive inflationary potentials and super-Planckian field variations. We first study the minimal single-field realisation in the low-energy effective field theory limit, finding the predictions $n_s \approx 0.96$ for the spectral index and $r \approx 0.13$ for the tensor-to-scalar ratio, which can be reduced down to $\approx 0.04$ in presence of large couplings. Next we consider agravity as a dimensionless quantum gravity theory finding a multi-field inflation that converges towards an attractor trajectory that predicts $n_s\approx 0.96$ and $0.003<r<0.13$, interpolating between the quadratic and Starobinsky inflation. These theories relate the smallness of the weak scale to the smallness of inflationary perturbations: both arise naturally because of small couplings, implying a reheating temperature of $10^{7-9}$ GeV. A measurement of $r$ by Keck/Bicep3 would give us information on quantum gravity in the dimensionless scenario.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2015

Softened Gravity and the Extension of the Standard Model up to Infinite Energy

Attempts to solve naturalness by having the weak scale as the only breaking of classical scale invariance have to deal with two severe difficulties: gravity and the absence of Landau poles. We show that solutions to the first problem require premature modifications of gravity at scales no larger than $10^{11}$ GeV, while the second problem calls for many new particles at the weak scale. To build models that fulfil these properties, we classify 4-dimensional Quantum Field Theories that satisfy Total Asymptotic Freedom (TAF): the theory holds up to infinite energy, where all coupling constants flow to zero. We develop a technique to identify such theories and determine their low-energy predictions. Since the Standard Model turns out to be asymptotically free only under the unphysical conditions $g_1 = 0$, $M_t = 186$ GeV, $M_τ= 0$, $M_h = 163$ GeV, we explore some of its weak-scale extensions that satisfy the requirements for TAF.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2015

Dynamical generation of the weak and Dark Matter scales from strong interactions

Assuming that mass scales arise in nature only via dimensional transmutation, we extend the dimension-less Standard Model by adding vector-like fermions charged under a new strong gauge interaction. Their non-perturbative dynamics generates a mass scale that is transmitted to the elementary Higgs boson by electro-weak gauge interactions. In its minimal version the model has the same number of parameters as the Standard Model, predicts that the electro-weak symmetry gets broken, predicts new-physics in the multi-TeV region and is compatible with all existing bounds, provides two Dark Matter candidates stable thanks to accidental symmetries: a composite scalar in the adjoint of SU(2)_L and a composite singlet fermion; their thermal relic abundance is predicted to be comparable to the measured cosmological DM abundance. Some models of this type allow for extra Yukawa couplings; DM candidates remain even if explicit masses are added.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2014

Leptoquarks, Dark Matter, and Anomalous LHC Events

Leptoquarks with mass in the region of $550-650$ GeV are a possible candidate for the recent excess seen by CMS in the $eejj$ and $e νjj$ channels. We discuss models where leptoquarks decay primarily to dark matter and jets, thereby giving a branching to charged lepton and jet final states that can match data. The confluence of proton decay constraints, dark matter indirect and direct detection data, and Higgs invisible decay bounds results in a handful of predictive models that will be conclusively verified or excluded in upcoming direct detection experiments. Along the way, we present robust limits on such leptoquark models stemming from the muon magnetic moment using current and projected experiment sensitivities, as well as from $K$ and $B$ meson mixing, and leptonic and semi-leptonic meson decays.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2014

Investigating the near-criticality of the Higgs boson

We extract from data the parameters of the Higgs potential, the top Yukawa coupling and the electroweak gauge couplings with full 2-loop NNLO precision, and we extrapolate the SM parameters up to large energies with full 3-loop NNLO RGE precision. Then we study the phase diagram of the Standard Model in terms of high-energy parameters, finding that the measured Higgs mass roughly corresponds to the minimum values of the Higgs quartic and top Yukawa and the maximum value of the gauge couplings allowed by vacuum metastability. We discuss various theoretical interpretations of the near-criticality of the Higgs mass.

hep-ph↗