arXiv subjects

Andreas Trautner

Publications and source records attributed to Andreas Trautner.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Exploring extra dimensions through inflationary tensor modes

Predictions of inflationary schemes can be influenced by the presence of extra dimensions. This could be of particular relevance for the spectrum of gravitational waves in models where the extra dimensions provide a brane-world solution to the hierarchy problem. Apart from models of large as well as exponentially warped extra dimensions, we analyze the size of tensor modes in the Linear Dilaton scheme recently revived in the discussion of the "clockwork mechanism". The results are model dependent, significantly enhanced tensor modes on one side and a suppression on the other. In some cases we are led to a scheme of "remote inflation", where the expansion is driven by energies at a hidden brane. In all cases where tensor modes are enhanced, the requirement of perturbativity of gravity leads to a stringent upper limit on the allowed Hubble rate during inflation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

A "Vector-like chiral" fourth family to explain muon anomalies

The Standard Model (SM) is amended by one generation of quarks and leptons which are vector-like (VL) under the SM gauge group but chiral with respect to a new $\mathrm{U}(1)_{3-4}$ gauge symmetry. We show that this model can simultaneously explain the deviation of the muon $g-2$ as well as the observed anomalies in $b\rightarrow sμ^+μ^-$ transitions without conflicting with the data on Higgs decays, lepton flavor violation, or $B_s-\bar{B}_s$ mixing. The model is string theory motivated and GUT compatible, i.e. UV complete, and fits the data predicting VL quarks, leptons and a massive $Z'$ at the $\mathrm{TeV}$ scale, as well as $τ\to3μ$ and $τ\toμγ$ within reach of future experiments. The Higgs couplings to SM generations are automatically aligned in flavor space.

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arXiv2017

Massive Fermi Gas in the Expanding Universe

The behavior of a decoupled ideal Fermi gas in a homogeneously expanding three-dimensional volume is investigated, starting from an equilibrium spectrum. In case the gas is massless and/or completely degenerate, the spectrum of the gas can be described by an effective temperature and/or an effective chemical potential, both of which scale down with the volume expansion. In contrast, the spectrum of a decoupled massive and non-degenerate gas can only be described by an effective temperature if there are strong enough self-interactions such as to maintain an equilibrium distribution. Assuming perpetual equilibration, we study a decoupled gas which is relativistic at decoupling and then is red-shifted until it becomes non-relativistic. We find expressions for the effective temperature and effective chemical potential which allow us to calculate the final spectrum for arbitrary initial conditions. This calculation is enabled by a new expansion of the Fermi-Dirac integral, which is for our purpose superior to the well-known Sommerfeld expansion. We also compute the behavior of the phase space density under expansion and compare it to the case of real temperature and real chemical potential. Using our results for the degenerate case, we also obtain the mean relic velocity of the recently proposed non-thermal cosmic neutrino background.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2017

CP as a Symmetry of Symmetries

It is explained that the Standard Model combined charge conjugation and parity transformation (CP) is a simultaneous complex conjugation outer automorphism transformation of gauge and space-time symmetries. Simple examples are given for the general concept of outer automorphisms ("symmetries of symmetries"), as well as for their possible actions on physical theories. It is highlighted that complex conjugation outer automorphisms do not, in general, exist for all symmetries. Examples are given for cases in which the physical CP transformation is violated as a consequence of requiring another symmetry. A toy model is illustrated in which CP is spontaneously violated in the broken phase of a continuous gauge symmetry, while an unbroken outer automorphism protects the topological vacuum angle at $θ=0$.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

$\mathcal{CP}$ violation with an unbroken $\mathcal{CP}$ transformation

A $\mathcal{CP}$ conserving $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ gauge theory is spontaneously broken to $\mathrm{T}_7$ by the vacuum expectation value (VEV) of a $\boldsymbol{15}$-plet. Even though the $\mathrm{SU}(3)$-$\,\mathcal{CP}$ transformation is not broken by the VEV, the theory exhibits physical $\mathcal{CP}$ violation in the broken phase. This is because the $\mathrm{SU}(3)$-$\,\mathcal{CP}$ transformation corresponds to the unique order-two outer automorphism of $\mathrm{T}_7$, which is not a physical $\mathcal{CP}$ transformation for the $\mathrm{T}_7$ states, and there is no other possible $\mathcal{CP}$ transformation. We explicitly demonstrate that $\mathcal{CP}$ is violated by calculating a $\mathcal{CP}$ odd decay asymmetry in the broken phase. This scenario provides us with a natural protection for topological vacuum terms, ensuring that $θ\,G_{μν}\widetilde{G}^{μν}$ is absent even though $\mathcal{CP}$ is violated for the physical states of the model.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

CP and other Symmetries of Symmetries

Outer automorphisms of symmetries ("symmetries of symmetries") in relativistic quantum field theories are studied, including charge conjugation (C), space-reflection (P) , and time-reversal (T) transformations. The group theory of outer automorphisms is pedagogically introduced and it is shown that CP transformations are special outer automorphisms of the global, local, and space-time symmetries of a theory. It is shown that certain discrete groups allow for a group theoretical prediction of parameter independent CP violating complex phases with fixed geometrical values. The remainder of this thesis pioneers the study of outer automorphisms which are not related to C, P, or T. It is shown how outer automorphisms, in general, relate symmetry invariants and, in theories with spontaneous symmetry breaking, imply relations between different vacuum expectation values. Thereby, outer automorphisms can give rise to emergent symmetries. An example model with a discrete symmetry and three copies of the Standard Model Higgs field is discussed, in which the rich outer automorphism structure completely fixes the Higgs VEVs in their field space direction, including CP violating relative phases. This underlies the phenomenon of spontaneous geometrical CP violation. The possible relevance of outer automorphisms for a wide field of future studies is highlighted.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Non-thermal cosmic neutrino background

We point out that, for Dirac neutrinos, in addition to the standard thermal cosmic neutrino background (C$ν$B) there could also exist a non-thermal neutrino background with comparable number density. As the right-handed components are essentially decoupled from the thermal bath of standard model particles, relic neutrinos with a non-thermal distribution may exist until today. The relic density of the non-thermal (nt) background can be constrained by the usual observational bounds on the effective number of massless degrees of freedom $N_\mathrm{eff}$, and can be as large as $n_{ν_{\mathrm{nt}}}\lesssim 0.5\,n_γ$. In particular, $N_\mathrm{eff}$ can be larger than 3.046 in the absence of any exotic states. Non-thermal relic neutrinos constitute an irreducible contribution to the detection of the C$ν$B, and, hence, may be discovered by future experiments such as PTOLEMY. We also present a scenario of chaotic inflation in which a non-thermal background can naturally be generated by inflationary preheating. The non-thermal relic neutrinos, thus, may constitute a novel window into the very early universe.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Anomaly-safe discrete groups

We show that there is a class of finite groups, the so-called perfect groups, which cannot exhibit anomalies. This implies that all non-Abelian finite simple groups are anomaly-free. On the other hand, non-perfect groups generically suffer from anomalies. We present two different ways that allow one to understand these statements.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Symmetries of symmetries and geometrical CP violation

We investigate transformations which are not symmetries of a theory but nevertheless leave invariant the set of all symmetry elements and representations. Generalizing from the example of a three Higgs doublet model with $Δ(27)$ symmetry, we show that the possibility of such transformations signals physical degeneracies in the parameter space of a theory. We show that stationary points only appear in multiplets which are representations of the group of these so-called equivalence transformations. As a consequence, the stationary points are amongst the solutions of a set of homogeneous linear equations. This is relevant to the minimization of potentials in general and sheds new light on the origin of calculable phases and geometrical CP violation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

CP Violation from Finite Groups

We discuss the origin of CP violation in settings with a discrete (flavor) symmetry $G$. We show that physical CP transformations always have to be class-inverting automorphisms of $G$. This allows us to categorize finite groups into three types: (i) Groups that do not exhibit such an automorphism and, therefore, in generic settings, explicitly violate CP. In settings based on such groups, CP violation can have pure group-theoretic origin and can be related to the complexity of some Clebsch-Gordan coefficients. (ii) Groups for which one can find a CP basis in which all the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients are real. For such groups, imposing CP invariance restricts the phases of coupling coefficients. (iii) Groups that do not admit real Clebsch-Gordan coefficients but possess a class-inverting automorphism that can be used to define a proper (generalized) CP transformation. For such groups, imposing CP invariance can lead to an additional symmetry that forbids certain couplings. We make use of the so-called twisted Frobenius-Schur indicator to distinguish between the three types of discrete groups. With $Δ(27)$, $T^{\prime}$, and $Σ(72)$ we present one explicit example for each type of group, thereby illustrating the CP properties of models based on them. We also show that certain operations that have been dubbed generalized CP transformations in the recent literature do not lead to physical CP conservation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

Non-Abelian discrete R symmetries

We discuss non-Abelian discrete R symmetries which might have some conceivable relevance for model building. The focus is on settings with N=1 supersymmetry, where the superspace coordinate transforms in a one-dimensional representation of the non-Abelian discrete symmetry group. We derive anomaly constraints for such symmetries and find that novel patterns of Green-Schwarz anomaly cancellation emerge. In addition we show that perfect groups, also in the non-R case, are always anomaly-free. An important property of models with non-Abelian discrete R symmetries is that superpartners come in different representations of the group. We present an example model, based on a semidirect product of a Z_3 and a Z_8^R symmetry, to discuss generic features of models which unify discrete R symmetries, entailing solutions to the mu and proton decay problems of the MSSM, with non-Abelian discrete flavor symmetries.

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