arXiv subjects

Arvind Rajaraman

Publications and source records attributed to Arvind Rajaraman.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

On the proper treatment of massless fields in Euclidean de Sitter space

We analyze infrared divergences arising in calculations involving light and massless fields in de Sitter space. We show that these arise from an incorrect treatment of the constant mode of the field, and show that a correct quantization leads to a well-defined and calculable perturbation expansion. We illustrate this by computing the first nontrivial loop correction in a theory of a massless scalar field with a quartic interaction.

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arXiv2010

Constraints on Light Majorana Dark Matter from Colliders

We explore model-independent collider constraints on light Majorana dark matter particles. We find that colliders provide a complementary probe of WIMPs to direct detection, and give the strongest current constraints on light DM particles. Collider experiments can access interactions not probed by direct detection searches, and outperform direct detection experiments by about an order of magnitude for certain operators in a large part of parameter space. For operators which are suppresssed at low momentum transfer, collider searches have already placed constraints on such operators limiting their use as an explanation for DAMA.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2010

Revisiting Constraints on Fourth Generation Neutrino Masses

We revisit the current experimental bounds on fourth-generation Majorana neutrino masses, including the effects of right handed neutrinos. Current bounds from LEPII are significantly altered by a global analysis. We show that the current bounds on fourth generation neutrinos decaying to eW and mu W can be reduced to about 80 GeV (from the current bound of 90 GeV), while a neutrino decaying to tau W can be as light as 62.1 GeV. The weakened bound opens up a neutrino decay channel for intermediate mass Higgs, and interesting multi-particle final states for Higgs and fourth generation lepton decays.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2010

Constructing Infrared Finite Propagators in Inflating Space-time

The usual (Bunch-Davies) Feynman propagator of a massless field is not well defined in an expanding universe due to the presence of infrared divergences. We propose a new propagator which yields infrared finite answers to any correlation function. The key point is that in a de Sitter spacetime there is an ambiguity in the zero-mode of the propagator. This ambiguity can be used to cancel the apparent divergences which arise in some loop calculations in eternally (or semi-eternally) inflating spacetime. We refer to this process as zero-mode modification. The residual ambiguity is fixed by observational measurement. We also discuss the application of this method to calculations involving the graviton propagator.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

Experimental Sensitivity for Majorana Neutrinos Produced via a Z Boson at Hadron Colliders

We present experimental sensitivity for the production of a fourth-generation Majorana neutrino ($N$) via an s-channel $Z$ boson $Z\to NN \to W\ell W\ell$ at hadron colliders. This channel has not been studied for the Tevatron dataset with $\int \mathcal{L}=5 $ fb$^{-1}$, where we find that a single experiment could significantly extend current 95% C.L. mass lower limits, to $m_N>175$ GeV$/c^2$, or report $3σ$ evidence for the $N$ if $m_N<150$ GeV$/c^2$. With 5 fb$^{-1}$, a single LHC experiment at $\sqrt{s}=10$ TeV could expect t o set a 95% C.L. mass lower limits of $m_N>300$ GeV$/c^2$, or report 3$σ$ evidence for the $N$ if $m_N<225$ GeV$/c^2$.

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arXiv2009

Scale Dependent Local Non-Gaussianity from Loops

We analyze multi-field inflationary systems which yield strongly scale dependent non-Gaussianity with a shape that is very close to the local shape. As in usual multi-field models, the non-Gaussianity arises from the non-linear transfer of scalar field fluctuations to curvature perturbations. Here we consider models in which higher order terms (loops) dominate over the lowest order source of non-linearity. The magnitude of non-Gaussianity depends on an infrared cutoff which is determined by our observational probes measuring non-Gaussianity. In our models, the running is positive and large (n_{NG} ~ 0.2) on CMB scales. The magnitude of the bispectrum is maximally of order O(100), and grows on small scales. This can lead to interesting signals for large scale structure.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

Parameter Space of General Gauge Mediation

We study a subspace of General Gauge Mediation (GGM) models which generalize models of gauge mediation. We find superpartner spectra that are markedly different from those of typical gauge and gaugino mediation scenarios. While typical gauge mediation predictions of either a neutralino or stau next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle (NLSP) are easily reproducible with the GGM parameters, chargino and sneutrino NLSPs are generic for many reasonable choices of GGM parameters.

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arXiv2008

Aspects of Unparticle Physics

We review some theoretical and experimental issues in unparticle physics, focusing mainly on collider signatures.

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arXiv2008

Fermion Mass Hierarchy and Proton Stability from Non-anomalous U(1)_F in SUSY SU(5)

We present a realistic supersymmetric SU(5) model combined with a non-anomalous U(1)_F symmetry. We find a set of U(1)_F charges which automatically lead to the realistic mass hierarchy and mixing patterns for quarks, leptons and neutrinos. All gauge anomalies, including the [U(1)_F]^3 anomaly, are cancelled in our model without invoking the Green-Schwarz mechanism or having exotic fields. Proton decay mediated by dimension 5 operators is automatically suppressed in our model, because the scale set by the largest right-handed neutrino mass is much less than the GUT scale.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

On the Decay of Unparticles

We show that when the unparticle sector is coupled to the Standard Model, unparticle excitations can decay to Standard Model particles. This radically modifies the signals of unparticle production. We present a method for the calculation of the decay lifetimes of unparticles. In a particular model, we show that depending on their lifetime, unparticles can manifest themselves through monojets, delayed events or prompt decays.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Models and Phenomenology of Maximal Flavor Violation

We consider models of maximal flavor violation (MxFV), in which a new scalar mediates large q_3 <-> q_1 or q_3 <-> q_2 flavor changing transitions (q_i is an i'th generation quark), while q_3 <-> q_3 transitions are suppressed, e.g., ξ_{31}, ξ_{13} ~ V_{tb} and ξ_{33} ~ V_{td}, where ξ_{ij} are the new scalar couplings to quarks and V is the CKM matrix. We show that, contrary to the conventional viewpoint, such models are not ruled out by the existing low energy data on K^0, B^0 and D^0 oscillations and rare K and B-decays. We also show that these models of MxFV can have surprising new signatures at the LHC and the Tevatron.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Collider Signals of Maximal Flavor Violation: Same-Sign Leptons from Same-Sign Tops at the Tevatron

In models of maximal flavor violation (MxFV) there is at least one new scalar $Φ_{FV}$ which couples to the quarks via $Φ_{FV} q_i q_j \propto ξ_{ij}$ where $ξ_{i3},ξ_{3i} \sim V_{tb}$ for $i = 1,2$ and $ξ_{33} \sim V_{td}$ and $V$ is the CKM matrix. In this article, we explore the potential phenomenological implications of MxFV for collider experiments. We study MxFV signals of same-sign leptons from same-sign top-quark pair production at the Tevatron and at the LHC. We show that the current Tevatron dataset has strong sensitivity to this signature, for which there are no current limits. For example, if $m_{Φ_{FV}} \sim 200$ GeV and the MxFV coupling $ξ$ has a natural value of $\sim 1$, we expect $\sim 12$ MxFV events to survive a selection requiring a pair of same-sign leptons, a tagged $b$-jet and missing transverse energy, over a background of approximately 4-5 events.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Unparticle Self-Interactions and Their Collider Implications

In unparticle physics, operators of the conformal sector have self-interactions, and these are unsuppressed for strong coupling. The 3-point interactions are completely determined by conformal symmetry, up to a constant. We do not know of any theoretical upper bounds on this constant. Imposing current experimental constraints, we find that these interactions mediate spectacular collider signals, such as $pp -> U -> UU -> γγγγ$, $γγZZ$, $ZZZZ$, $γγl^+ l^-$, $ZZ l^+ l^-$, and $4l$, with cross sections of picobarns or larger at the Large Hadron Collider. Self-interactions may therefore provide the leading discovery prospects for unparticle physics.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Probing CP-violation at colliders through interference effects in diboson production and decay

We define a CP-asymmetric observable that is sensitive to CP-violating interactions in the gauge-boson sector. We illustrate the utility of this observable by studying how well the LHC can measure the coefficient of a particular dimension-six WWZ operator. We find that sensitivity at the 10^{-3} level is possible at the LHC with 100 fb^{-1} of integrated luminosity, which would greatly exceed the sensitivity achieved at LEP, and would rival or may even better the indirect sensitivities inferred from related operators constrained by electric dipole moment experiments.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

Unparticles: Scales and High Energy Probes

Unparticles from hidden conformal sectors provide qualitatively new possibilities for physics beyond the standard model. In the theoretical framework of minimal models, we clarify the relation between energy scales entering various phenomenological analyses. We show that these relations always counteract the effective field theory intuition that higher dimension operators are more highly suppressed, and that the requirement of a significant conformal window places strong constraints on possible unparticle signals. With these considerations in mind, we examine some of the most robust and sensitive probes and explore novel effects of unparticles on gauge coupling evolution and fermion production at high energy colliders. These constraints are presented both as bounds on four-fermion interaction scales and as constraints on the fundamental parameter space of minimal models.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

Probing the Green-Schwarz Mechanism at the Large Hadron Collider

We investigate the phenomenology of new abelian gauge bosons, which we denote as $X$ bosons, that suffer a mixed anomaly with the Standard Model, but are made self-consistent by the Green-Schwarz mechanism. A distinguishing aspect of the resulting effective theory is the decay of $X$ bosons into Standard Model gauge bosons, $X\to ZZ, WW, γZ$. We compute the production cross-section of the $X$ boson from vector boson fusion at the Large Hadron Collider. We study the $pp\to X\to ZZ\to 4l$ signal, and analyze the prospects of discovery. We argue that such a discovery could indirectly probe high energies, even up to the string scale.

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arXiv2007

Determining Spins of Metastable Sleptons at the Large Hadron Collider

We investigate models in minimal supergravity parameter space which contain metastable sleptons. We find the luminosity required to determine the slepton spin in these scenarios, and apply our analysis to two benchmark models. We show that the spin of the slepton in one of the benchmark models can be determined with less than 30 fb$^{-1}$ of data, while the slepton spin in the other model can be determined with roughly 40 fb$^{-1}$ of data. We show how our analysis can be applied to other models, and give an estimate of the luminosity needed for a spin determination as a function of slepton mass. This analysis can be used to distinguish supersymmetry and extra dimensions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

Bounds on Unparticles from the Higgs Sector

We study supersymmetric QCD in the conformal window as a laboratory for unparticle physics, and analyze couplings between the unparticle sector and the Higgs sector. These couplings can lead to the unparticle sector being pushed away from its scale invariant fixed point. We show that this implies that low energy experiments will not be able to see unparticle physics, and the best hope of seeing unparticles is in high energy collider experiments such as the Tevatron and the LHC. We also demonstrate how the breaking of scale invariance could be observed at these experiments.

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