arXiv subjects

Anil Thapa

Publications and source records attributed to Anil Thapa.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Testing Dirac leptogenesis with the cosmic microwave background and proton decay

The nature of neutrino masses and the matter-antimatter asymmetry of our universe are two of the most important open problems in particle physics today and are notoriously difficult to test with current technology. Dirac neutrinos offer a solution through a leptogenesis mechanism that hinges on the smallness of neutrino masses and resultant non-thermalization of the right-handed neutrino partners in the early universe. We thoroughly explore possible realizations of this Dirac leptogenesis idea, revealing new windows for highly efficient asymmetry generation. In many of them, the number of relativistic degrees of freedom, $N_\text{eff}$, is severely enhanced compared to standard cosmology and offers a novel handle to constrain Dirac leptogenesis with upcoming measurements of the cosmic microwave background. Realizations involving leptoquarks even allow for low-scale post-sphaleron baryogenesis and predict proton decay. These novel aspects render Dirac leptogenesis surprisingly testable.

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arXiv2023

Zee-model predictions for lepton flavor violation

The Zee model provides a simple model for one-loop Majorana neutrino masses. The new scalars can furthermore explain the long-standing deviation in the muon's magnetic moment and the recent CDF measurement of the $W$-boson mass. Together, these observations yield predictions for lepton flavor violating processes that are almost entirely testable in the near future. The remaining parameter space makes testable predictions for neutrino masses.

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arXiv2023

Constraining Lepton Flavor Violating Higgs Couplings at the HL-LHC in the Vector Boson Fusion Channel

We explore the parameter space of lepton flavor violating (LFV) neutral Higgs Yukawa couplings with the muon and tau leptons that can be probed at the high-luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) via the vector boson fusion~(VBF) Higgs production process. Our projected sensitivities for the Standard Model Higgs ($h$) LFV branching ratio ${\rm Br}(h \to μτ)$ in the $pp \to h j j \to (h \to μτ) jj$ channel at the HL-LHC are contrasted with the current and future low-energy constraints from the anomalous magnetic moment and electric dipole moment of the muon, as well as with other LFV observables, such as $τ\to 3μ$ and $τ\to μγ$. We also study the LFV prospects of a generic beyond the Standard Model neutral Higgs boson ($H$) with a mass in the range of $m_{H}\in [20,800]~$GeV and give the projected model-independent upper limits on the VBF production cross-section of $Hjj$ times the branching ratio of $H\to μτ$ at the HL-LHC. We interpret these results in the context of a two-Higgs doublet model as a case study.

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arXiv2023

$W$ boson mass shift, dark matter and $(g-2)_\ell$ in a scotogenic-Zee model

We present a singly charged scalar extension of the Scotogenic model, ScotoZee, which resolves the recently reported deviations in $W$ boson mass as well as lepton $g-2$. The model admits a scalar or a fermionic dark matter while realizing naturally small radiative neutrino masses. The mass splitting of $\sim 100$ GeV, required by the shift in $W$ boson mass, among the inert doublets fields can be evaded by its mixing with the singlet scalar, which is also key to resolving $(g-2)_\ell$ anomaly within $1σ$. We establish the consistency of this framework with dark matter relic abundance while satisfying constraints from charged lepton flavor violation, direct detection as well as collider bounds. The model gives predictions for the lepton flavor violating $τ\to\ellγ$ processes testable in upcoming experiments.

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arXiv2023

Type III seesaw with R-parity violation in light of $m_W$ (CDF)

Motivated by the recently reported measurement of the $W$ boson mass $M_W = 80.4335 \pm 0.0094$ GeV by the CDF collaboration, we propose a type III seesaw extension of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) which also includes an R-parity violating term. Without taking potential SUSY radiative corrections into account, we show that the CDF measurement of $M_W$ and the LEP measurement of the $ρ$ parameter can be simultaneously accommodated at the $2 σ$ level. A long-lived gravitino in a few GeV mass range is a unique viable dark matter candidate in this framework.

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arXiv2023

Dark matter and radiative neutrino masses in conversion-driven scotogenesis

The scotogenic model generates Majorana neutrino masses radiatively, with dark matter particles running in the loop. We explore the parameter space in which the relic density of fermionic dark matter is generated via a conversion-driven freeze-out mechanism. The necessity for small Yukawa couplings to initiate chemical decoupling for conversion processes naturally reproduces small neutrino masses as long as the active neutrinos are hierarchical. The model can also resolve the recently reported deviation in the $W$-boson mass while satisfying constraints from direct detection, charged lepton flavor violation as well as collider bounds. Parts of the parameter space lead to long-lived particle signatures to be probed at the LHC.

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arXiv2022

A flavor-inspired radiative neutrino mass model

One of the most important discoveries in particle physics is the observation of nonzero neutrino masses, which dictates that the Standard Model (SM) is incomplete. Moreover, several pieces of evidence of lepton flavor universality violation (LFUV), gathered in the last few years, hint toward physics beyond the SM. TeV-scale scalar leptoquarks are the leading candidates for explaining these flavor anomalies in semileptonic charged and neutral current B-decays, the muon, and the electron magnetic dipole moments that can also participate in neutrino mass generation. In this work, we hypothesize that neutrino masses and LFUV have a common new physics origin and propose a new two--loop neutrino mass model that has the potential to resolve some of these flavor anomalies via leptoquarks and offers rich phenomenology. After deriving the neutrino mass formula for this newly-proposed model, we perform a detailed numerical analysis focusing on neutrino and charged lepton flavor violation phenomenology, where the latter provides stringent constraints on the Yukawa couplings and leptoquark masses. Finally, present and future bounds on the model's parameter space are scrutinized with exemplified benchmark scenarios.

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arXiv2022

Marriage between neutrino mass and flavor anomalies

Experimental hints for lepton flavor universality violation in beauty-quark decay both in neutral- and charged-current transitions require an extension of the Standard Model for which scalar leptoquarks (LQs) are the prime candidates. Besides, these same LQs can resolve the long-standing tension in the muon and the recently reported deviation in the electron $g-2$ anomalies. These tantalizing flavor anomalies have discrepancies in the range of $2.5σ-4.2σ$, indicating that the Standard Model of particle physics may finally be cracking. In this Letter, we propose a resolution to all these anomalies within a unified framework that sheds light on the origin of neutrino mass. In this model, the LQs that address flavor anomalies run through the loops and generate neutrino mass at the two-loop order while satisfying all constraints from collider searches, including those from flavor physics.

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arXiv2022

$W$ boson mass shift and muon magnetic moment in the Zee model

The CDF collaboration at Fermilab has recently reported a new precision measurement of the $W$~boson mass showing a substantial $7σ$ deviation from the Standard Model prediction. Moreover, Fermilab has recently confirmed the longstanding tension in the $(g-2)_μ$ measurement. We propose a unified solution to these deviations within the simplest radiative neutrino mass model: the Zee model. Our analysis establishes non-trivial links between the origin of neutrino mass, the $(g-2)_μ$ anomaly, and the $W$~boson mass shift while being consistent with lepton flavor violation and all other experimental constraints. We find that the mass spectrum of the physical scalars must be hierarchical to be consistent with the $W$~boson mass shift; remarkably, this is also the key to resolving the $(g-2)_μ$ tension. Furthermore, this mass splitting offers a unique same-sign dimuon signal through which our model can be tested at the LHC.

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arXiv2022

Explaining lepton-flavor non-universality and self-interacting dark matter with $L_μ-L_τ$

Experimental hints for lepton-flavor universality violation in the muon's magnetic moment as well as neutral- and charged-current $B$-meson decays require Standard-Model extensions by particles such as leptoquarks that generically lead to unacceptably fast rates of charged lepton flavor violation and proton decay. We propose a model based on a gauged $U(1)_{L_μ-L_τ}$ that eliminates all these unwanted decays by symmetry rather than finetuning and efficiently explains $(g-2)_μ$, $R_{K^{(*)}}$, $R_{D^{(*)}}$, and neutrino masses. The $U(1)_{L_μ-L_τ}$ furthermore acts as a stabilizing symmetry for dark matter and the light $Z'$ gauge boson mediates velocity-dependent dark-matter self-interactions that resolve the small-scale structure problems. Lastly, even the Hubble tension can be ameliorated via the light $Z'$ contribution to the relativistic degrees of freedom.

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arXiv2022

Naturally Light Dirac and Pseudo-Dirac Neutrinos from Left-Right Symmetry

We develop a class of left-right symmetric theories based on the gauge group $SU(3)_c \times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R \times U(1)$ with a generalized seesaw mechanism for generating the charged fermion masses. Neutrinos are naturally Dirac particles in this setup with their small masses arising from two-loop quantum corrections. We evaluate these two-loop diagrams exactly and analyze the flavor structure of the lepton sector. We find excellent fits to neutrino oscillation data, independent of the right-handed gauge symmetry breaking scale. We also explore the possibility that neutrinos are pseudo-Dirac particles in this framework, with the tiny mass splittings between active and sterile neutrinos arising from Planck-induced corrections and find possible realizations. These models can be tested in the near future with precision cosmological measurements of $ΔN_{\rm eff}$ in CMB which is predicted to be $\simeq 0.14$. This class of models allows for a solution to the strong CP problem via parity symmetry without the need for an axion.

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arXiv2022

Neutrino masses and magnetic moments of electron and muon in the Zee Model

We explore parameter space in the Zee Model to resolve the long-standing tension of the electron and muon anomalous magnetic moment (AMM). The model comprises a second Higgs doublet and a charged singlet at electroweak scale and generates Majorana neutrino masses at one-loop level; the neutral partner of the $SU(2)_L$ doublet contributes to the AMM of electron and muon via one loop and two-loop corrections. We propose two minimal flavor structures that can explain these anomalies while fitting the neutrino oscillation data. We find that the neutral Higgs resides in the mass range of roughly 10-300 GeV or 1-30 GeV, depending on the flavor structures. The model is consistent with constraints from colliders, electroweak precision data, and lepton flavor violation. To be comprehensive, we examine the constraints from the electric dipole moment (EDM) and find a region of parameter space that gives a sizable contribution to muon EDM while simultaneously giving corrections to muon AMM. In addition to the light scalar, the two charged scalars with masses as low as 100 GeV can induce nonstandard interactions $\varepsilon_{ee}$ as large as $8\%$, potentially hinting at new physics. We also investigate the projected capability of future lepton colliders to probe the currently allowed parameter space consistent with both electron and muon AMMs via direct searches in the $\ell^{+}\ell^{-}\to \ell^{+}\ell^{-}(H \to \ell^{+}\ell^{-})$ channel.

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arXiv2022

Monopoles, Exotic states and Muon $g-2$ in TeV scale Trinification

We study the low energy implications of a trinification model based on the gauge symmetry $G= SU(3)_c \times SU(3)_L \times SU(3)_R$, without imposing gauge coupling unification. A minimal model requires two Higgs multiplets that reside in the bi-fundamental representation of $G$, and this is shown to be adequate for accommodating the Standard Model (SM) fermion masses and generate, via loop corrections and seesaw mechanism, suitable masses for the heavy neutral leptons as well as the observed SM neutrinos. We estimate a lower bound of around 15 TeV for the masses of the new down-type quarks that are required by the $SU(3)_L \times SU(3)_R$ symmetry. We examine the resonant production at the LHC of the new gauge bosons, which leads to a lower bound of 16 TeV for the symmetry breaking scale of $G$. We also show how the muon $g-2$ anomaly can be resolved in the presence of these new gauge bosons and the heavy charged leptons present in the model. Finally, the model predicts the presence of a topologically stable monopole carrying three quanta $(6 π/e)$ of Dirac magnetic charge and mass $\gtrsim 160$ TeV. If new matter fields lying in the fundamental representations of G are included, the model predicts the presence of exotic leptons, mesons and baryons carrying fractional electric charges such as $\pm e/3$ and $\pm 2e/3$, fully compatible with the Dirac quantization condition.

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arXiv2022

Vector Boson Dark Matter From Trinification

We show how trinification models based on the gauge group $SU(3)_C \times SU(3)_L \times SU(3)_R$ realized near the TeV scale can provide naturally a variety of dark matter (DM) candidates. These models contain a discrete $T$ parity which may remain unbroken even after spontaneous symmetry breaking. The lightest $T$-odd particle, which could be a fermion, a scalar, or a gauge boson, can constitute the dark matter of the universe. This framework naturally admits a doublet-singlet fermionic DM, a singlet scalar DM, or a vector boson DM. Here we develop the vector boson DM scenario wherein the DM couples off-diagonally with the usual fermions and vector-like fermions present in the theory. We show consistency of this framework with dark matter relic abundance and direct detection limits as well as LHC constraints. We derive upper limits of 900 GeV on the vector gauge boson DM mass and 4.5 TeV on the vector-like quarks and lepton masses. We also show the consistency of spontaneous gauge symmetry breaking down to Standard Model times an extra $U(1)$ while preserving the $T$-parity.

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arXiv2021

Pseudo-Goldstone Dark Matter in $SO(10)$

We propose a pseudo-Goldstone boson dark matter (pGDM) particle in $SO(10)$ grand unified theory (GUT). Due to its Goldstone nature, this pGDM evades the direct DM detection experiments which, otherwise, severely constrain the parameter space of DM models. In $SO(10)$, the pGDM is embedded as a linear combination of the Standard Model (SM) singlet scalars in ${\bf 16_H}$ and ${\bf 126_H}$ representations. We consider two scenarios for the intermediate route of $SO(10)$ symmetry breaking (SB) to the SM: $SU(5) \times U(1)_X$ and Pati-Salam the $SU(4)_c \times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R$ (4-2-2) gauge groups. The vacuum expectation value of ${\bf 126_H}$, which triggers the breaking of $U(1)_X$ and 4-2-2 symmetry in the two scenarios, respectively, determines the pGDM lifetime whose astrophysical lower bound provides one of the most stringent constraints. For the 4-2-2 route to $SO(10)$, the successful SM gauge coupling unification requires the 4-2-2 breaking scale to be ${\cal O} (10^{11})$ GeV, and most of the parameter space is excluded. For the $SU(5) \times U(1)_X$ route, on the other hand, the $U(1)_X$ breaking scale can be significantly higher, and a wide range of the parameter space is allowed. Furthermore, the proton lifetime in the $SU(5)$ case is predicted to be $4.53 \times 10^{34}$ years, which lies well within the sensitivity reach of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment. We also examine the constraints on the model parameter space from the Large Hadron Collider and the indirect DM search by Fermi-LAT and MAGIC experiments.

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arXiv2021

Unified Framework for $B$-Anomalies, Muon $g-2$, and Neutrino Masses

We present a model of radiative neutrino masses which also resolves anomalies reported in $B$-meson decays, $R_{D^{(\star)}}$ and $R_{K^{(\star)}}$, as well as in muon $g-2$ measurement, $Δa_μ$. Neutrino masses arise in the model through loop diagrams involving TeV-scale leptoquark (LQ) scalars $R_2$ and $S_3$. Fits to neutrino oscillation parameters are obtained satisfying all flavor constraints which also explain the anomalies in $R_{D^{(\star)}}$, $R_{K^{(\star)}}$ and $Δa_μ$ within $1\, σ$. An isospin-3/2 Higgs quadruplet plays a crucial role in generating neutrino masses; we point out that the doubly-charged scalar contained therein can be produced in the decays of the $S_3$ LQ, which enhances its reach to 1.1 (6.2) TeV at $\sqrt s=14$ TeV high-luminosity LHC ($\sqrt s=100$ TeV FCC-hh). We also present flavor-dependent upper limits on the Yukawa couplings of the LQs to the first two family fermions, arising from non-resonant dilepton ($pp \rightarrow \ell^+ \ell^-$) processes mediated by $t$-channel LQ exchange, which for 1 TeV LQ mass, are found to be in the range $(0.15 - 0.36)$. These limits preclude any explanation of $R_{D^{(\star)}}$ through LQ-mediated $B$-meson decays involving $ν_e$ or $ν_μ$ in the final state. We also find that the same Yukawa couplings responsible for the chirally-enhanced contribution to $Δa_μ$ give rise to new contributions to the SM Higgs decays to muon and tau pairs, with the modifications to the corresponding branching ratios being at (2-6)% level, which could be tested at future hadron colliders, such as HL-LHC and FCC-hh.

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arXiv2020

Left-Right Symmetric Model without Higgs Triplets

We develop a minimal left-right symmetric model based on the gauge group $SU(3)_C \otimes SU(2)_L \otimes SU(2)_R \otimes U(1)_{B-L}$ wherein the Higgs triplets conventionally employed for symmetry breaking are replaced by Higgs doublets. Majorana masses for the right-handed neutrinos $(ν_R$) are induced via two-loop diagrams involving a charged scalar field $η^+$. This setup is shown to provide excellent fits to neutrino oscillation data via the seesaw mechanism for the entire range of the $W_R^\pm$ mass, from TeV to the GUT scale. When the $W_R^\pm$ mass is at the TeV scale, the $ν_R$ masses turn out to be in the MeV range. We analyze constraints from low energy experiments, early universe cosmology and from supernova 1987a on such a scenario and show its consistency. We also study collider implications of a relatively light $η^+$ scalar through its decay into multi-lepton final states and derive a lower limit of 390 GeV on its mass from the LHC, which can be improved to 555 GeV in its high luminosity run.

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arXiv2020

A Common Origin of Neutrino Masses and $R_{D^{(\ast)}}$, $R_{K^{(\ast)}}$ Anomalies

In this work, we present a solution to the persistent tensions in the decay observables $R_{D^{(\ast)}}$ and $R_{K^{(\ast)}}$ by introducing a $SU(2)_L$ doublet and a $SU(2)_L$ triplet scalar leptoquarks (LQs) that reside at the TeV energy scale. Neutrinos that remain massless in the Standard Model receive naturally small masses at one-loop level via the propagation of the same LQs inside the loop. Such a common origin of apparently disjoint phenomenological observations is appealing, and we perform a comprehensive analysis of this set-up. We identify the minimal Yukawa textures required to accommodate these flavor anomalies and to successfully incorporate neutrino oscillation data while being consistent with all experimental constraints. This scenario has the potential to be tested at the experiments by the future improved measurements in the lepton flavor violating processes. Furthermore, proper explanations of these flavor anomalies predict TeV scale LQs that are directly accessible at the LHC.

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