arXiv subjects

Anirban Karan

Publications and source records attributed to Anirban Karan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Light Leptoquarks in a Dark Sector: Scalar Dark Matter, Neutrino Mass, and Collider Signatures

We investigate the dark matter (DM) phenomenology and subsequent collider signatures of a dark leptoquark (LQ) model containing dark vector-like quarks (VLQs) and a scalar singlet. The dark LQs and VLQs participate in the radiative generation of Majorana neutrino masses at one loop. Since the coloured LQs and VLQs cannot serve as viable DM candidates, a $\mathbb{Z}_2$-odd singlet scalar is introduced as the DM candidate. The $\mathbb{Z}_2$-odd nature of the LQs forbids their conventional decays into a quark and a lepton, allowing them to evade the standard LHC constraints that apply to visible LQ signatures. This framework therefore offers the distinctive possibility of sub-TeV dark LQs coexisting with TeV-scale dark VLQs. These sub-TeV dark LQs help in achieving the observed relic abundance of the singlet through co-annihilation. We analyse the resulting DM phenomenology and assess the prospects for probing this scenario at a future muon collider.

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arXiv2026

Electro-Weak Phase Transitions and Collider Signals in the Aligned 2-Higgs Doublet Model

We show that the Aligned 2-Higgs Doublet Model (A2HDM) is a framework able to simultaneously accommodate strong first order electro-weak phase transitions, in turn generating detectable gravitational waves as well as a variety of Higgs boson signals (involving both the Standard Model state and its companions, both neutral and charged) accessible at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). We map the corresponding expanse of parameter space where such a phenomenology is realised in terms of the relative values of the masses of the discovered Higgs boson and the extended Higgs sector states of this model: two neutral ones (a CP-even and a CP-odd) plus a pair of charged ones. We find that both the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna experiment and High-Luminosity LHC can test such a scenario within their lifetime. This study thus sets the stage for a two-prong complementary approach able to scrutinise the extended Higgs sector of the A2HDM in both its high and low temperature manifestations.

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arXiv2026

Dark matter as the source of neutrino mass: theory overview and experimental prospects

We review theoretical frameworks in which small neutrino masses arise radiatively through interactions with a dark sector that also accounts for cosmological dark matter (DM). A prototype is provided by scotogenic schemes, that extend the inert Higgs doublet model to include dark fermions. We outline their key features and limitations, discussing the advantages of the revamped scotogenic extension. The phenomenological signatures of fermionic and bosonic scotogenic dark matter are discussed, along with scoto-seesaw models that merge scotogenic and seesaw mechanisms. We also consider scenarios where the dark sector seeds a low-scale seesaw. These frameworks can accommodate dark matter as Weakly or Feebly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs or FIMPs). While hidden dark sector models are inherently difficult to exclude, visible dark sector schemes should be confirmed--or ruled out--by forthcoming dark matter, collider, and lepton flavor violation studies.

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arXiv2025

The Electric Dipole Moment of the electron in the decoupling limit of the aligned Two-Higgs Doublet Model

We present a discussion of model-independent contributions to the EDM of the electron. We focus on those contributions that emerge from a heavy scalar sector that is linearly realized. In particular, we explore the decoupling limit of the aligned 2HDM. In this model, Barr-Zee diagrams with a fermion loop produce logarithmically-enhanced contributions that are proportional to potentially large new sources of CP violation. In the decoupling limit these contributions are generated by effective dimension-6 operators via the mixing of four-fermion operators into electroweak dipole operators. These logarithmic contributions are not present in more constrained versions of the 2HDM where a $\mathcal Z_2$ symmetry is imposed, which then controls the basis of effective operators needed to describe the new physics contributions to the electron EDM. Thus, the $\mathcal Z_2$ symmetry provides a suppression mechanism. In the course of the comparison of the results from the aligned 2HDM with the leading logarithms from SMEFT, we needed to specify or correct signs of expressions found in the literature. We then study how the experimental bounds on the electron EDM constrain the set of parameters of the aligned 2HDM.

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arXiv2025

Flavor-changing axions and Dirac neutrino masses

Implementing the axion concept in the context of 3-3-1 extensions of the Standard Model (SM) leads to richer properties than in the simpler axion setups, and related to the Dirac neutrino seesaw mechanism. In this way the smallness of neutrino masses, the strong CP problem, the nature of dark matter and the number of families all have a common origin. Besides having an enhanced coupling to photons, our revamped axion can also be distinguished from DFSZ and KSVZ axions through its couplings to fermions. The latter lead to interesting phenomenological consequences, including flavor-changing axion-emitting two-body K, B and D meson decays.

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arXiv2025

The electron EDM in the decoupling limit of the aligned 2HDM

We discuss model-independent contributions to the electron EDM, focusing on those contributions emerging from a heavy scalar sector linearly realized. To provide a concrete new physics realization, we investigate the aligned 2HDM in the decoupling limit. We point out that logarithmically enhanced contributions generated from Barr-Zee diagrams with a fermion loop are present in the aligned 2HDM, an effect encoded in the decoupling limit by effective dimension-6 operators, through the mixing of four-fermion into dipole operators. The same large logarithms are absent in specific 2HDMs where a $\mathcal Z_2$ symmetry is enforced, which thus controls the basis of effective operators relevant for calculating new physics contributions to EDMs. In other words, the $\mathcal Z_2$ symmetry acts as a suppression mechanism. In the aligned 2HDM these contributions are proportional to sources of CP violation that are potentially large, and absent in presence of the $\mathcal Z_2$ symmetry. We then investigate the impact on the electron EDM of this extended set of free parameters.

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arXiv2025

Light scalars within the $\mathcal{CP}$-conserving Aligned-two-Higgs-doublet model

In this article we study the possibility that neutral and charged scalars lighter than the 125 GeV Higgs boson might exist within the framework of the $\mathcal{CP}$-conserving Aligned-two-Higgs-doublet model. Depending on which new scalar (scalars) is (are) light, seven different scenarios may be considered. Using the open-source code HEPfit, which relies on Bayesian statistics, we perform global fits for all seven light-mass scenarios. The constraints arising from vacuum stability, perturbativity, electroweak precision observables, flavour observables, Higgs signal strengths, and direct-detection results at the LEP and the LHC are taken into account. Reinterpreted data from slepton searches are considered too. It turns out that the seven scenarios contain sizeable regions of their parameter space compatible with all current data. Although not included in the global fits, the possible implications of $(g-2)_μ$ are also addressed.

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arXiv2024

Bayesian analyses of the A2HDM with low-mass scalars

Two-Higgs-doublet models come with an augmented parameter space which allows them to possibly solve some of the shortcomings of the Standard Model, and opens the window to a plethora of new phenomena to be discovered. The introduction of scalar-mediated tree-level flavour-changing neutral currents may be tackled with the imposition of extra symmetries on the model or, alternatively, by demanding a strict proportionality between the flavour-changing couplings and fermion mass matrices. The latter is the very idea behind the Aligned-Two-Higgs-Doublet Model (A2HDM). The coefficients that govern such proportionality are, in general, complex and, therefore, possible new sources of CP violation, a calling card of this class of models. We present here the results of new state-of-the-art analyses of the A2HDM where, in particular, we ascertain whether current data allows the A2HDM to accommodate extra scalars lighter than the 125 GeV Higgs boson. To this effect, we make use of theoretical constraints, bounds from Higgs searches at the LHC and LEP, electroweak precision observables, and a set of flavour observables, all globally combined within HEPfit, a software with a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach to statistical inference. Focusing on the light-pseudoscalar scenario, we find a region of parameter space compatible with all the constraints we impose.

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arXiv2024

Status of the Aligned Two Higgs Doublet Model in the low mass region

The Two Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM) is a simple extension of the Standard Model (SM), which provides a rich and very interesting phenomenology. To remove the undesirable flavour-changing neutral currents (FCNCs), an additional $\mathcal Z_2$ symmetry is usually imposed into the 2HDM. However, FCNCs can be avoided in a much more general way by assuming a similar Yukawa structure for the two scalar doublets. But one can circumvent the issue of FCNCs by assuming similar Yukawa structure for the two scalar doublets too. The model with this intriguing feature is termed the Aligned Two Higgs Doublet Model (A2HDM). The phenomenological constraints on the A2HDM are much weaker than the ones on the usual $\mathcal Z_2$ models, opening a broader range of possible scenarios. Moreover, the A2HDM also provides a generic framework to study, as particular cases, the different varieties of $\mathcal Z_2$-symmetric 2HDMs. Here, we illustrate a global fit of the A2HDM using the package HEPfit. We study the possibility of having new scalar particles lighter than the SM Higgs. For this global fit we perform a Bayesian analysis, including stability and perturbativity bounds, flavour and electroweak precision observables, and scalar (and pseudoscalar) searches at LEP and LHC.

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arXiv2024

Updated global fit of the aligned two-Higgs-doublet model with heavy scalars

An updated global fit on the parameter-space of the Aligned Two-Higgs-Doublet model has been performed with the help of the open-source package HEPfit, assuming the Standard-Model Higgs to be the lightest scalar. No new sources of CP violation, other than the phase in the CKM matrix of the Standard Model, have been considered. A similar global fit was previously performed in Ref. [JHEP 05 (2021) 005] with a slightly different set of parameters. Our updated fit incorporates improved analyses of the theoretical constraints required for perturbative unitarity and boundedness of the scalar potential from below, additional flavour observables and updated data on direct searches of heavy scalars at the LHC, Higgs signal strengths and electroweak precision observables. Although not included in the main fit, the implications of the CDF measurement of the $W^\pm$ mass are also discussed.

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arXiv2024

Phenomenological profile of scotogenic fermionic dark matter

We consider the possibility that neutrino masses arise from the exchange of dark matter states. We examine in detail the phenomenology of fermionic dark matter in the singlet-triplet scotogenic reference model. We explore the case of singlet-like fermionic dark matter, taking into account all co-annihilation effects relevant for determining its relic abundance, such as fermion-fermion and scalar-fermion co-annihilation. Although this in principle allows for dark matter below 60 GeV, the latter is in conflict with charged lepton flavour violation (cLFV) and/or collider physics constraints. We examine the prospects for direct dark matter detection in upcoming experiments up to 10 TeV. Fermion-scalar coannihilation is needed to obtain viable fermionic dark matter in the 60-100 GeV mass range. Fermion-fermion and fermion-scalar coannihilation play complementary roles in different parameter regions above 100 GeV.

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arXiv2023

Global fit of the Aligned Two-Higgs-Doublet Model

Though the Standard Model (SM) provides a very elegant description of the interactions among fundamental particles, there are ample evidences suggesting that new physics is needed. In particular, extending the scalar sector has enough motivation from vacuum stability, electroweak phase transition and various other sectors. Among different such extensions, the two-Higgs-doublet model (THDM) is the simplest one that preserves the electroweak $ρ$ parameter. Flavour-changing neutral currents (FCNC) are usually avoided by implementing additional discrete symmetries, but this type of models are subject to severe phenomenological constraints. In the more general framework of the aligned THDM (ATHDM) tree-level FCNCs are avoided by choosing the same flavour structure for the Yukawa couplings of the two scalar doublets, which results in weaker phenomenological constraints. Here, we present a global fit of the ATHDM, using the package HEPfit that performs a bayesian analysis on the parameter-space of this model with the help of stability and perturbativity bounds, experimental data for various flavour and electroweak precision observables, and constraints from Higgs searches at the LHC. This global fit has been performed assuming that all additional scalars are heavier than the SM Higgs and that there are no extra sources of CP violation beyond the CKM phase.

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arXiv2023

Phenomenology of Scalar Leptoquarks at the LHC in Explaining the Radiative Neutrino Mass, Muon $g-2$ and Lepton Flavour Violating Observables

We study the phenomenology of a particular leptoquark extension of the Standard Model (SM), namely the doublet-singlet scalar leptoquark extension of the SM (DSL-SM). Besides generating Majorana mass for neutrinos, these leptoquarks contribute to muon and electron $(g-2)$ and various lepton flavour violating processes. Collider signatures of the benchmark points (BPs), consistent with the neutrino oscillation data, anomalous muon/electron magnetic moments, experimental bounds on the charged lepton flavour violation observables, etc., are studied at the LHC/FCC with centre-of-mass energies of 14, 27 and 100 TeV. While the two $-1/3$ charged colored scalars from singlet and doublet leptoquark mix with each other, the charge $2/3$ colored scalar from the doublet leptoquark remains pure. With a near-degenerate mass spectrum, the pure and mixed leptoquark states are shown to be distinguishable from multiple finalstates, while discerning between the two mixed states remain very challenging.

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arXiv2022

Distinguishing signatures of scalar leptoquarks at hadron and muon colliders

While the hunt for new states beyond the standard model (SM) goes on for various well motivated theories, the leptoquarks are among the most appealing scenarios at recent times due to a series of tensions observed in $B$-meson decays. We consider $SU(2)$ singlet and triplet scalar leptoquarks separately, which contribute to charged and neutral current $B$-meson decays. Focusing on the single production of these two scalar leptoquarks, we perform a PYTHIA-based simulation considering all the dominant SM backgrounds at the current and future setups of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The mono-$b$-jet + $\ptmiss$ finalstate gives the strongest signal for the singlet leptoquark at the 30 TeV LHC or Future Circular Collider (FCC), with a possibility of $5σ$ signal significance with $\gtrsim 1000$ \fbi of integrated luminosity, for the chosen benchmark scenarios. The finalstate consisting of a $c$-jet and two $τ$-jets provides highest reach for the singlet leptoquark, probing an $\mathcal{O}(10^{-1})$ value of the Yukawa-type couplings for up to $3.0$ TeV leptoquark mass. For the triplet leptoquark, $1-{\rm jet}+2μ+ \ptmiss$ topology is the most optimistic signature at the LHC, probing leptoquark couplings to fermions at $\mathcal{O}(10^{-1})$ value for the leptoquark mass range up to $ 4.0$ TeV. The invariant mass edge distribution is found to be instrumental in determination of the leptoquark mass scale at the LHC. We also perform the analysis at the proposed multi-TeV muon collider, where an $\mathcal{O}(10^{-1})$ leptoquark Yukawa coupling can be probed for a $5.0$ TeV leptoquark mass.

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arXiv2022

Constraining Scalar Doublet and Triplet Leptoquarks with Vacuum Stability and Perturbativity

We investigate the constraints on the leptoquark Yukawa couplings and Higgs-leptoquark quartic couplings for scalar doublet leptoquark $\tilde{R}_2$, scalar triplet leptoquark $\vec S_3$ and their combination with both three generations and one generation from perturbative unitarity and vacuum stability. Perturbative unitarity of all the dimensionless couplings have been studied via one- and two-loop beta-functions. Introduction of new $SU(2)$ multiplets in terms of these leptoquarks fabricate Landau poles at two-loop level in the gauge coupling $g_2$ at $10^{19.7}$ GeV and $10^{14.4}$ GeV, respectively for $\vec S_3$ and $\tilde{R}_2+\vec S_3$ models with three generations. However, such Landau pole ceases to exist for $\tilde{R}_2$ and any of these extensions with both one and two generations till Planck scale. The Higgs-leptoquark quartic couplings acquire severe constraints to protect Planck scale perturbativity, whereas leptoquark Yukawa couplings get some upper bound in order to respect Planck scale stability of Higgs Vacuum. The Higgs quartic coupling at two-loop constraints the leptoquark Yukawa couplings for $\tilde{R}_2,\vec S_3, \,\tilde{R}_2+\vec S_3$ with values $\lesssim 1.30, 3.90, 1.00$ with three generations. In the effective potential approach, the presence of any of these leptoquarks with any number of generations pushes the metastable vacuum of the Standard Model to the stable region.

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arXiv2021

Distinguishing Leptoquarks at the LHC/FCC

In this article, we deal with how to distinguish the signatures of different \LQs at the LHC/FCC if all of them lie within similar mass and coupling range and can be produced at present and future colliders. It has been found that hard scattering cross-sections and angular distributions can be used to differentiate scalar and vector Leptoquarks. On the other hand, final state topology and determination of jet charge can separate \LQs with same spin even from same $SU(2)_L$ multiplet. We performed a PYTHIA8 based analysis considering all the dominant Standard Model (SM) backgrounds at the LHC/FCC with centre of mass energies of 14, 27 and 100 TeV for scalar ($S_1$) and vector ($\widetilde{U}_{1μ}$) Leptoquarks. We see that confirming evidence of scalar Leptoquark at 14 TeV requires 1000 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity, whereas the vector Leptoquark can be probed with very early data. But, at 100 TeV with 1000 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity, scalar Leptoquark of mass 3.5 TeV and vector Leptoquark of mass more than 5 TeV can be probed easily.

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arXiv2021

Distinguishing Different BSM Signatures at Present and Future Colliders

We show how angular distributions can distinguish different scenarios beyond the standard model by characterising particles of different spins at the LHC. We illustrate the idea with scalar and vector leptoquarks along with the heavy fermions in Type-III seesaw as spin zero, spin one and spin half examples respectively. On the other hand, zeros of single photon tree level amplitude can separate different particles according their electromagnetic charges. This phenomenon can be used to distinguish leptoquarks of different gauge representations, even different excitations of same $SU(2)_L$ gauge group, within the same spin frame work. We explore electron-photon and electron-hadron colliders to discern such scenarios in the context of the leptoquark models by means of zeros in scattering amplitudes. We found that the discerning effect in these two colliders are complementary to each other and both of them are required for an exhaustive analysis of leptoquark models. The analyses are carried out for different leptoquark masses and centre of mass energies of the collisions which involve a PYTHIA based simulation.

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arXiv2021

Zeros of Amplitude in the Associated Production of Photon and Leptoquark at $e$-$p$ Collider

Though various extensions of the Standard Model with higher gauge group predict the existence of leptoquarks, none of them has been observed yet at any of the colliders. In this paper, we study the prospect of several past and future $e$-$p$ colliders like HERA, LHeC and FCC-he to detect them through radiation amplitude zero. We find that the leptoquarks showing zeros in the tree-level single-photon amplitudes at $e$-$p$ collider lie within the complementary set of those exhibiting zeros at $e$-$γ$ collider. We present a PYTHIA-based analysis for HERA, LHeC and FCC-he (run II) to detect the leptoquarks with masses 70 GeV, 900 GeV and 1.5 TeV (2.0 TeV) respectively through radiation amplitude zero.

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