arXiv subjects

Antonio Delgado

Publications and source records attributed to Antonio Delgado.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Higgsino Dark Matter in an economical Scherk-Schwarz setup

We consider a minimal natural supersymmetric model based on an extra dimension with supersymmetry breaking provided by the Scherk-Schwarz mechanism. The lightest supersymmetric particle is a neutral, quasi-Dirac Higgsino and, unlike in previous studies, we assume that all Standard Model fields are propagating in the bulk. The resulting setup is minimal, as neither extra matter, effective operators, nor extra $U(1)$ groups are needed in order to be viable. The model has three free parameters which are fixed by the Higgsino mass -- set to the range 1.1-1.2 TeV so it can play the role of Dark Matter, and by the requirements of correct electroweak breaking and the mass of the Higgs. After imposing the previous conditions we find a benchmark scenario that passes all experimental constrains with an allowed range for the supersymmetric parameters. In particular we have found gluinos in the range 2.0-2.1 TeV mass, electroweakinos and sleptons almost degenerate in the range 1.7-1.9 TeV and squarks degenerate in the range 1.9-2.0 TeV. The best discovery prospects are: i.) gluino detection at the high luminosity LHC ($\gtrsim 3\, \text{ab}^{-1}$), and ii.) Higgsino detection at next-generation dark matter direct detection experiments. The model is natural, as the fine-tuning for the fixed values of the parameters is moderate mainly because supersymmetry breaking parameters contribute linearly to the Higgs mass parameter, rather than quadratically as in most models.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Limits on R-parity-violating couplings from Drell-Yan processes at the LHC

We find constraints on R-Parity Violating (RPV) couplings of the minimal supersymmetric standard model, using Drell-Yan differential cross sections at the LHC. Specifically, we look at the constraints on $λ'LQD^c$ couplings from monolepton and dilepton data published by ATLAS, with either electrons or muons in the final state. Out of the 18 RPV couplings to which the LHC is at least potentially sensitive by this technique, we find new limits on 12 (or 13) of them, for squarks masses above 1 (or 2) TeV. We also show that one can employ our techniques to achieve significantly stronger bounds at a high-luminosity upgrade of the LHC.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Hunting leptoquarks in monolepton searches

We show that stringent limits on leptoquarks that couple to first-generation quarks and left-handed electrons or muons can be derived from the spectral shape of the charged-current Drell-Yan process ($p p \to \ell^\pm ν$) at Run 2 of the LHC. We identify and examine all six leptoquark species that can generate such a monolepton signal, including both scalar and vector leptoquarks, and find cases where the leptoquark exchange interferes constructively, destructively or not at all with the Standard Model signal. When combined with the corresponding leptoquark-mediated neutral-current ($p p \to \ell^+ \ell^-$) process, we find the most stringent limits obtained to date, outperforming bounds from pair production and atomic parity violation. We show that, with 3000 fb$^{-1}$ of data, combined measurements of the transverse mass in $p p \to \ell^\pm ν$ events and invariant mass in $p p \to \ell^+ \ell^-$ events can probe masses between 8 TeV and 18 TeV, depending on the species of leptoquark, for electroweak-sized couplings. In light of such robust sensitivities, we strongly encourage the LHC experiments to interpret Drell-Yan (dilepton and monolepton) events in terms of leptoquarks, alongside usual scenarios like $Z'$ bosons and contact interactions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Constraining the $R$-symmetric chargino NLSP at the LHC

We present a phenomenological study of Dirac electroweakinos in a $U(1)_R$ extension of the MSSM with a strictly $R$-symmetric Higgs sector (MRSSM) and gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking. One of the distinguishing features of the MRSSM is that the lightest chargino can be lighter than the lightest neutralino. Decays from the NLSP chargino to the gravitino LSP will produce exotic signals. We apply LHC-13 mass limits from both prompt and long-lived searches to the chargino NLSP regime of the MRSSM. Imposing the additional constraints coming from the 125 GeV Higgs and from the electroweak sector, regions of the parameter space are found where the gravitino LSP, chargino NLSP scenario survives all current bounds. We also show that the fine-tuning of the model can reach a level slightly better than sub-percent with our choice of parameters.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

The effective supergravity of Little String Theory

In this work we present the minimal supersymmetric extension of the five-dimensional dilaton-gravity theory that captures the main properties of the holographic dual of little string theory. It is described by a particular gauging of $\mathcal{N}=2$ supergravity coupled with one vector multiplet associated to the string dilaton, along the $U(1)$ subgroup of $SU(2)$ R-symmetry. The linear dilaton in the fifth coordinate solution of the equations of motion (with flat string frame metric) breaks half of the supersymmetries to $\mathcal{N}=1$ in four dimensions. The non-supersymmetric version of this model was found recently as a continuum limit of a discretised version of the so-called clockwork setup.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

Characterizing dark matter at the LHC in Drell-Yan events

Spectral features in LHC dileptonic events may signal radiative corrections coming from new degrees of freedom, notably dark matter and mediators. Using simplified models, we show how these features can reveal the fundamental properties of the dark sector, such as self-conjugation, spin and mass of dark matter, and the quantum numbers of the mediator. Distributions of both the invariant mass $m_{\ell \ell}$ and the Collins-Soper scattering angle $cosθ_{CS}$ are studied to pinpoint these properties. We derive constraints on the models from LHC measurements of $m_{\ell \ell}$ and $cosθ_{CS}$, which are competitive with direct detection and jets + Missing Energy searches. We find that in certain scenarios the $cosθ_{CS}$ spectrum provides the strongest bounds, underlying the importance of scattering angle measurements for non-resonant new physics.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

A light sneutrino rescues the light stop

Stop searches in supersymmetric frameworks with $R$-parity conservation usually assume the lightest neutralino to be the lightest supersymmetric particle. In this paper we consider an alternative scenario in which the left-handed tau sneutrino is lighter than neutralinos and stable at collider scales, but possibly unstable at cosmological scales. Moreover the (mostly right-handed) stop $\widetilde t$ is lighter than all electroweakinos, and heavier than the scalars of the third generation doublet, whose charged component, $\widetildeτ$, is heavier than the neutral one, $\widetildeν$. The remaining supersymmetric particles are decoupled from the stop phenomenology. In most of the parameter space, the relevant stop decays are only into $t \widetildeττ$, $t\widetildeνν$ and $b \widetildeντ$ via off-shell electroweakinos. We constrain the branching ratios of these decays by recasting the most sensitive stop searches. Due to the "double invisible" kinematics of the $\widetilde t\to t\widetildeνν$ process, and the low efficiency in tagging the $t\widetildeττ$ decay products, light stops are generically allowed. In the minimal supersymmetric standard model with $\sim$ 100 GeV sneutrinos, stops with masses as small as $\sim$ 350 GeV turn out to be allowed at 95% CL.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Extending the Reach of Compressed Gluinos at the LHC

Conventional supersymmetry searches rely on large missing momentum and, on that account, are unsuitable for discovering superpartners nearly degenerate with the LSP. Such "compressed regions" are best probed by dedicated strategies that exploit their unique kinematic features. We consider a case study of a compressed gluino-bino simplified spectrum, motivated by its ability to set the dark matter relic abundance via co-annihilation. A kinematic variable suited to this spectrum is introduced, by which, for a gluino-bino mass splitting of 100 GeV, the discovery reach is extendable to m(gluino) = 850 GeV (1370 GeV) at LHC center-of-mass energy 8 TeV (13 TeV) with luminosity 20 inverse fb (3000 inverse fb). The non-trivial role played by soft triggers is also discussed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Natural Supersymmetry from Extra Dimensions

We show that natural supersymmetry can be embedded in a five-dimensional theory with supersymmetry breaking à la Scherk-Schwarz (SS). There is no 'gluino-sucks' problem for stops localized in the four-dimensional brane and gluinos propagating in the full five-dimensional bulk, and sub-TeV stops are easily accommodated. The $μ/ B_μ$ problem is absent as well; the SS breaking generates a Higgsino Dirac mass and no bilinear Higgs mass parameter in the superpotential is required. Moreover, for non-maximal SS twists leading to $\tan β\simeq 1$, the Higgs spectrum is naturally split, in agreement with LHC data. The 125-GeV Higgs mass and radiative electroweak symmetry breaking can be accommodated by minimally extending the Higgs sector with $Y=0$ $SU(2)_L$ triplets.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Low Scale Inflation at High Energy Colliders and Meson Factories

Inflation occurring at energy densities less than (10$^{14}$ GeV)$^4$ produces tensor perturbations too small to be measured by cosmological surveys. However, we show that it is possible to probe low scale inflation by measuring the mass of the inflaton at low energy experiments. Detection prospects and cosmological constraints are determined for low scale quartic hilltop models of inflation paired with a curvaton field, which imprints the spectrum of scalar perturbations observed in large scale structure and on the cosmic microwave background. With cosmological constraints applied, low scale quartic inflation at energies GeV--PeV, can be mapped to an MeV--TeV mass inflaton resonance, discoverable through a Higgs portal coupling at upcoming collider and meson decay experiments. It is demonstrated that low scale inflatons can have detectably large couplings to Standard Model particles through a Higgs portal, permitting prompt reheating after inflation, without spoiling, through radiative corrections to the inflaton's self-coupling, the necessary flatness of a low scale inflationary potential. A characteristic particle spectrum for a quartic inflaton-curvaton pair is identified: to within an order of magnitude, the mass of the curvaton can be predicted from the mass of the inflaton, and vice-versa. Low scale inflation Higgs portal sensitivity targets are found for experiments like the LHC, SHiP, BEPC, and KEKB.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Naturalness of MSSM dark matter

There exists a vast literature examining the electroweak (EW) fine-tuning problem in supersymmetric scenarios, but little concerned with the dark matter (DM) one, which should be combined with the former. In this paper, we study this problem in an, as much as possible, exhaustive and rigorous way. We have considered the MSSM framework, assuming that the LSP is the lightest neutralino, $χ_1^0$, and exploring the various possibilities for the mass and composition of $χ_1^0$, as well as different mechanisms for annihilation of the DM particles in the early Universe (well-tempered neutralinos, funnels and co-annihilation scenarios). We also present a discussion about the statistical meaning of the fine-tuning and how it should be computed for the DM abundance, and combined with the EW fine-tuning. The results are very robust and model-independent and favour some scenarios (like the h-funnel when $M_{χ_1^0}$ is not too close to $m_h/2$) with respect to others (such as the pure wino case). These features should be taken into account when one explores "natural SUSY" scenarios and their possible signatures at the LHC and in DM detection experiments.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Forbidden Dark Matter at the Weak Scale via the Top Portal

At the tail of its velocity distribution, cold dark matter (DM) can annihilate at finite temperature to states heavier than itself. We explore the possibility that DM freezeout is dictated by these "forbidden annihilations" at the electroweak scale. Demanding that annihilation products be Standard Model particles, we find that for the forbidden mechanism to primarily set the DM relic abundance, DM must couple predominantly, if not solely, to top quarks. This can be arranged by invoking a non-trivial flavor structure such as Minimal Flavor Violation. We avail two avenues to achieve the correct thermal cross-section, requiring a mediator exchanged in the $s$- or $t$-channel. These simplified models submit easily to direct detection and collider searches, and necessarily hide from indirect detection signals. Viable supersymmetric spectra involving the forbidden mechanism may be found if combined with co-annihilation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Diphoton and Diboson Probes of Fermiophobic Higgs Bosons at the LHC

Extensions of the Standard Model Higgs sector with electroweak charged scalars can possess exotic `Higgs' bosons with vanishing or suppressed couplings to Standard Model fermions. These `fermiophobic' scalars, which cannot be produced via gluon fusion, are constrained by LHC measurements of the 125 GeV Higgs boson to have a small vacuum expectation value. This implies that vector boson fusion and associated vector boson production are in general suppressed rendering conventional Higgs searches insensitive. However, Drell-Yan Higgs pair production, which is not present in the SM, can be sizeable even in the limit of vanishing exotic Higgs vacuum expectation value. We utilize this to show that diphoton searches at 8 TeV LHC already rule out a large class of neutral fermiophobic Higgs bosons below around 110 GeV. This includes fermiophobic scalars found in two Higgs doublet as well as Higgs triplet and Georgi-Machacek type models. Our results extend the only relevant limit on fermiophobic Higgs bosons obtained by a recent CDF analysis of $4γ+ X$ Tevatron data. Furthermore, diphoton limits are independent of the decay of the second Higgs boson and thus apply even for degenerate masses in contrast to the CDF search. We also find that if the fermiophobic Higgs has very enhanced couplings to photons, masses as large as $\sim 150$ GeV can be ruled out while if these couplings are somehow highly suppressed, masses below $\sim 90$ GeV can still be ruled out. Finally, we show that $WW$ and $ZZ$ diboson searches may serve as complementary probes for masses above the diphoton limit up to $\sim 250$ GeV and discuss prospects at 13 TeV LHC.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Free Surface Lattice Boltzmann with Enhanced Bubble Model

This paper presents an enhancement to the free surface lattice Boltzmann method (FSLBM) for the simulation of bubbly flows including rupture and breakup of bubbles. The FSLBM uses a volume of fluid approach to reduce the problem of a liquid-gas two-phase flow to a single-phase free surface simulation. In bubbly flows compression effects leading to an increase or decrease of pressure in the suspended bubbles cannot be neglected. Therefore, the free surface simulation is augmented by a bubble model that supplies the missing information by tracking the topological changes of the free surface in the flow. The new model presented here is capable of handling the effects of bubble breakup and coalesce without causing a significant computational overhead. Thus, the enhanced bubble model extends the applicability of the FSLBM to a new range of practically relevant problems, like bubble formation and development in chemical reactors or foaming processes.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2016

Minimal Models of Loop-Induced Higgs Lepton Flavor Violation

The LHC has recently reported a slight excess in the $h\rightarrow τμ$ channel. If this lepton flavor violating (LFV) decay is confirmed, an extension of the Standard Model (SM) will be required to explain it. In this paper we investigate two different possibilities to accommodate such a LFV process: the first scenario is based on flavor off-diagonal $A$-terms in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), and the second is a model where the Higgs couples to new vectorlike fermions that couple to the SM leptons through a LFV four fermion interaction. In the supersymmetric model, we find that the sizes of the $A$-terms needed to accommodate the $h\rightarrow τμ$ excess are in conflict with charge- and color-breaking vacuum constraints. In the second model, the excess can be successfully explained while satisfying all other flavor constrains, with order one couplings, vectorlike fermion masses as low as 15 TeV, and a UV scale higher than 35 TeV.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

The Diboson Excess: Experimental Situation and Classification of Explanations; A Les Houches Pre-Proceeding

We examine the `diboson' excess at $\sim 2$ TeV seen by the LHC experiments in various channels. We provide a comparison of the excess significances as a function of the mass of the tentative resonance and give the signal cross sections needed to explain the excesses. We also present a survey of available theoretical explanations of the resonance, classified in three main approaches. Beyond that, we discuss methods to verify the anomaly, determining the major properties of the various surpluses and exploring how different models can be discriminated. Finally, we give a tabular summary of the numerous explanations, presenting their main phenomenological features.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Gauge mediation with light stops

The mechanism of gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking (GMSB) solves the supersymmetric flavor problem although it requires superheavy stops to reproduce the experimental value (125 GeV) of the Higgs mass. A possible way out is to extend the MSSM Higgs sector with triplets which provide extra tree-level corrections to the Higgs mass. Triplets with neutral components getting vacuum expectation values (VEV) have the problem of generating a tree-level correction to the ρparameter. We introduce supersymmetric triplets with hypercharges Y=(0,\pm 1), with a tree-level custodial SU(2)_L\otimes SU(2)_R global symmetry in the Higgs sector protecting the ρparameter: a supersymmetric generalization of the Georgi-Machacek model. The renormalization group running from the messenger to the electroweak scale mildly breaks the custodial symmetry. We will present realistic low-scale scenarios, their main features being a Bino-like neutralino or right-handed stau as the NLSP, light (1 TeV) stops, exotic couplings (H^\pm W^\mp Z and H^{\pm\pm} W^\mp W^\mp) absent in the MSSM and proportional to the triplet VEV, and a possible (measurable) universality breaking of the Higgs couplings λ_{WZ}= \left(g_{hWW}/g_{hWW}^{SM}\right)/ \left(g_{hZZ}/g_{hZZ}^{SM}\right)\neq 1.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Detecting underabundant neutralinos

The electroweak sector may play a crucial role in discovering supersymmetry. We systematically investigate the patterns of the MSSM-like electroweakinos, when the neutralino relic abundance $Ω_χh^2\leq 0.12$, that is, also admitting for multi-component Dark Matter, in a broad range of the parameter space. We find that for a very large range of parameters the Direct Detection experiments are/will be sensitive to underabundant neutralinos, in spite of the strong rescaling of the flux factor. The second general conclusion is that the bound $Ω_χh^2\leq 0.12$ together with the LUX (XENON1T) limits for the neutralino spin independent scattering cross sections constrain the electroweakino spectrum so that the mass differences between the NLSP and the LSP are smaller than 40 (10) GeV, respectively, with important implications for the collider searches. The future Direct Detection experiments and the high luminosity LHC run will probe almost the entire range of the LSP and NLSP mass spectrum that is consistent with the bound $Ω_χh^2\leq 0.12$.

hep-ph↗