arXiv subjects

Andrea Tesi

Publications and source records attributed to Andrea Tesi.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Baryogenesis at a Lepton-Number-Breaking Phase Transition

We study a scenario in which the baryon asymmetry of the universe arises from a cosmological phase transition where lepton-number is spontaneously broken. If the phase transition is first order, a lepton-number asymmetry can arise at the bubble wall, through dynamics similar to electroweak baryogenesis, but involving right-handed neutrinos. In addition to the usual neutrinoless double beta decay in nuclear experiments, the model may be probed through a variety of "baryogenesis by-products," which include a stochastic background of gravitational waves created by the colliding bubbles. Depending on the model, other aspects may include a network of topological defects that produce their own gravitational waves, additional contribution to dark radiation, and a light pseudo-Goldstone boson (majoron) as dark matter candidate.

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arXiv2017

The photo-philic QCD axion

We propose a framework in which the QCD axion has an exponentially large coupling to photons, relying on the "clockwork" mechanism. We discuss the impact of present and future axion experiments on the parameter space of the model. In addition to the axion, the model predicts a large number of pseudo-scalars which can be light and observable at the LHC. In the most favorable scenario, axion Dark Matter will give a signal in multiple axion detection experiments and the pseudo-scalars will be discovered at the LHC, allowing to determine most of the parameters of the model.

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arXiv2016

Fundamental partial compositeness

We construct renormalizable Standard Model extensions, valid up to the Planck scale, that give a composite Higgs from a new fundamental strong force acting on fermions and scalars. Yukawa interactions of these particles with Standard Model fermions realize the partial compositeness scenario. Under certain assumptions on the dynamics of the scalars, successful models exist because gauge quantum numbers of Standard Model fermions admit a minimal enough 'square root'. Furthermore, right-handed SM fermions have an SU(2)$_R$-like structure, yielding a custodially-protected composite Higgs. Baryon and lepton numbers arise accidentally. Standard Model fermions acquire mass at tree level, while the Higgs potential and flavor violations are generated by quantum corrections. We further discuss accidental symmetries and other dynamical features stemming from the new strongly interacting scalars. If the same phenomenology can be obtained from models without our elementary scalars, they would reappear as composite states.

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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.

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arXiv2016

A pseudoscalar decaying to photon pairs in the early LHC Run 2 data

In this paper we explore the possibility of a pseudoscalar resonance to account for the 750 GeV diphoton excess observed both at ATLAS and at CMS. We analyze the ingredients needed from the low energy perspective to obtain a sufficiently large diphoton rate to explain the signal while avoiding constraints from other channels. Additionally, we point out composite Higgs models in which one can naturally obtain a pseudoscalar at the 750 GeV mass scale and we estimate the pseudoscalar couplings to standard model particles that one would have in such models. A generic feature of models that can explain the excess is the presence of new particles in addition to the 750 GeV state. Finally, we note that due to the origin of the coupling of the resonance to photons, one expects to see comparable signals in the $Zγ$, $ZZ$, and $WW$ channels.

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arXiv2015

Singlet-like Higgs bosons at present and future colliders

The presence of extra scalar singlets is a feature of several motivated extensions of the Standard Model, and the mixing of such a singlet with the Higgs boson is allowed to be quite large by current experiments. In this paper we perform a thorough phenomenological study of this possibility. We consider both direct and indirect searches, and we quantify the current constraints as well as the prospects for future hadron and lepton machines - from the forthcoming LHC run up to a futuristic 100 TeV proton-proton collider. The direct reaches are obtained extrapolating the current limits with a technique that we discuss and check with various tests. We find a strong complementarity between direct and indirect searches, with the former dominating for lower values of the singlet mass. We also find that the trilinear Higgs coupling can have sizeable deviations from its Standard Model value, a fact for which we provide an analytical understanding. The results are first presented in a general scalar singlet extension of the Standard Model, taking advantage of the very small number of parameters relevant for the phenomenology. Finally, we specify the same analysis to a few most natural models, i.e. the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, Twin Higgs and Composite Higgs.

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arXiv2015

Composite spin-1 resonances at the LHC

In this paper, we discuss the signal of composite spin-1 resonances at the LHC. Motivated by the possible observation of a diboson resonance in the 8 TeV LHC data, we demonstrate that vector resonances from composite Higgs models are able to describe the data. We pay particular attention to the role played by fermion partial compositeness, which is a common feature in composite Higgs models. The parameter space that is both able to account for the diboson excess and passes electroweak precision and flavor tests is explored. Finally, we make projections for signals of such resonances at the 13 TeV run of the LHC.

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arXiv2015

The Twin Higgs mechanism and Composite Higgs

We combine the Twin Higgs mechanism with the paradigm of Composite Higgs models. In this class of models the Higgs is a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson from a strongly coupled sector near the TeV scale, and it is additionally protected by a discrete symmetry due to the twin mechanism. We discuss the model building issues associated with this setup and quantify the tuning needed to achieve the correct electroweak vacuum and the Higgs mass. In contrast to standard Composite Higgs models, the lightest resonance associated with the top sector is the uncolored mirror top, while the colored top partners can be made parameterically heavier without extra tuning. In some cases, the vector resonances are predicted to lie in the multi-TeV range. We present models where the resonances - both fermions and vectors - being heavier alleviates the pressure on naturalness coming from direct searches demonstrating that theories with low tuning may survive constraints from the Large Hadron Collider.

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arXiv2014

Higgs couplings and electroweak observables: a comparison of precision tests

Is the weak scale natural? This ever pending question makes the search for new particle production a highly motivated primary goal of the next LHC phase. These searches may or may not be successful. While waiting for a needed higher energy collider to extend the direct exploration, the search for signs of new physics might be confined to indirect tests for quite some time. In a few fully calculable models, weakly or semi-strongly interacting, we compare the significance to measure the Higgs couplings versus the electroweak observables.

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arXiv2013

One or more Higgs bosons?

Now that one has been found, the search for signs of more scalars is a primary task of current and future experiments. In the motivated hypothesis that the extra Higgs bosons of the next-to-minimal supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) be the lightest new particles around, we outline a possible overall strategy to search for signs of the CP-even states. This work complements Ref. arXiv:1304.3670.

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arXiv2013

Exploring the Higgs sector of a most natural NMSSM

The Next to Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) with a Higgs-singlet coupling λ close to unity, moderate tan β and stop masses below 1 TeV minimizes the fine tuning of the electroweak scale, making possible that the lightest new particles, except perhaps for the LSP, be part of the extended Higgs system. We show how the measurements of the couplings of the 126 GeV Higgs boson constrain the region of the physical parameters of a generic NMSSM most relevant to this context. In the same region of parameter space we determine the cross section for the production of a heavier CP-even scalar together with its total width and its most relevant branching ratios. For comparison we show the same analysis for the MSSM. We also comment on how a coupling λ ~ 1 can be compatible with gauge coupling unification.

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arXiv2013

On the Tuning and the Mass of the Composite Higgs

We analyze quantitatively the tuning of composite Higgs models with partial compositeness and its interplay with the predicted Higgs mass. In this respect we identify three classes of models, characterized by different quantum numbers of the fermionic colored resonances associated with the top quark, the so-called top partners. The main result of this classification is that in all models with moderate tuning a light Higgs, of 125 GeV mass, requires the presence of light top partners, around 1 TeV. The minimal tuning is comparable to the one of the most attractive supersymmetric models in particular the ones realizing Natural SUSY. This gives further support to an extensive program of top partners searches at the LHC that can already probe the natural region of composite Higgs models.

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arXiv2012

A 125 GeV composite Higgs boson versus flavour and electroweak precision tests

A composite Higgs boson of 125 GeV mass, only mildly fine-tuned, requires top partners with a semi-perturbative coupling and a mass not greater than about a TeV. We analyze the strong constraints on such picture arising from flavour and electroweak precision tests in models of partial compositeness. We consider different representations for the composite fermions and compare the case of an anarchic flavour structure to models with a U(3)^3 and U(2)^3 flavour symmetry. Although non trivially, some models emerge that look capable of accommodating a 125 GeV Higgs boson with top partners in an interesting mass range for discovery at the LHC as well as associated flavour signals.

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arXiv2012

Implications of a Light Higgs in Composite Models

We study the Higgs mass in composite Higgs models with partial compositeness, extending the results of Ref. [1] to different representations of the composite sector for SO(5)/SO(4) and to the coset SO(6)/SO(5). For a given tuning we find in general a strong correlation between the mass of the top partners and the Higgs mass, akin to the one in supersymmetry. If the theory is natural a Higgs mass of 125 GeV typically requires fermionic partners below TeV which might be within the reach of the present run of LHC. A discussion of CP properties of both cosets is also presented.

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arXiv2012

The 4D Composite Higgs

We propose a four dimensional description of Composite Higgs Models which represents a complete framework for the physics of the Higgs as a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson. Our setup captures all the relevant features of 5D models and more in general of composite Higgs models with partial compositeness. We focus on the minimal scenario where we include a single multiplet of resonances of the composite sector, as these will be the only degrees of freedom which might be accessible at the LHC. This turns out to be sufficient to compute the effective potential and derive phenomenological consequences of the theory. Moreover our simplified approach is well adapted to simulate these models at the LHC. We also consider the impact of non-minimal terms in the effective lagrangian which do not descend from a 5D theory and could be of phenomenological relevance, for example contributing to the S-parameter.

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