arXiv subjects

B. C. Allanach

Publications and source records attributed to B. C. Allanach.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Hadron Collider Sensitivity to Fat Flavourful $Z^\prime$s for $R_{K^{(\ast)}}$

We further investigate the case where new physics in the form of a massive $Z^\prime$ particle explains apparent measurements of lepton flavour non-universality in $B \rightarrow K^{(\ast)} l^+ l^-$ decays. Hadron collider sensitivities for direct production of such $Z^\prime$s have been previously studied in the narrow width limit for a $μ^+ μ^-$ final state. Here, we extend the analysis to sizeable decay widths and improve the sensitivity estimate for the narrow width case. We estimate the sensitivities of the high luminosity 14 TeV Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC), a high energy 27 TeV LHC (HE-LHC), as well as a potential 100 TeV future circular collider (FCC). The HL-LHC has sensitivity to narrow $Z^\prime$ resonances consistent with the anomalies. In one of our simplified models the FCC could probe 23 TeV $Z^\prime$ particles with widths of up to 0.35 of their mass at 95\% confidence level (CL). In another model, the HL-LHC and HE-LHC cover sizeable portions of parameter space, but the whole of perturbative parameter space can be covered by the FCC.

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arXiv2018

Uncertainties in the Lightest $CP$ Even Higgs Boson Mass Prediction in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model: Fixed Order Versus Effective Field Theory Prediction

We quantify and examine the uncertainties in predictions of the lightest $CP$ even Higgs boson pole mass $M_h$ in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), utilising current spectrum generators and including some three-loop corrections. There are two broadly different approximations being used: effective field theory (EFT) where an effective Standard Model (SM) is used below a supersymmetric mass scale, and a fixed order calculation, where the MSSM is matched to QCD$\times$QED at the electroweak scale. The uncertainties on the $M_h$ prediction in each approach are broken down into logarithmic and finite pieces. The inferred values of the stop mass parameters are sensitively dependent upon the precision of the prediction for $M_h$. The fixed order calculation appears to be more accurate below a supersymmetry (SUSY) mass scale of $M_S \approx 1.2$ TeV, whereas above this scale, the EFT calculation is more accurate. We also revisit the range of the lightest stop mass across fine-tuned parameter space that has an appropriate stable vacuum and is compatible with the lightest $CP$ even Higgs boson $h$ being identified with the one discovered at the ATLAS and CMS experiments in 2012; we achieve a maximum value of $\sim 10^{11}$ GeV.

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arXiv2018

Precise determination of the neutral Higgs boson masses in the MSSM

We present the implementation of the radiative corrections of the Higgs sector in three public computer codes for the evaluation of the particle spectrum in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, Softsusy, Spheno and SuSpect. We incorporate the full one-loop corrections to the Higgs boson masses and the electroweak symmetry breaking conditions, as well as the two-loop corrections controlled by the strong gauge coupling and the Yukawa couplings of the third generation fermions. We include also the corrections controlled by the tau Yukawa coupling that we derived for completeness. The computation is consistently performed in the DRbar renormalisation scheme. In a selected number of MSSM scenarios, we study the effect of these corrections and analyse the impact of some higher order effects. By considering the renormalisation scheme and scale dependence, and the effect of the approximation of zero external momentum in the two-loop corrections, we estimate the theoretical uncertainty on the lighter Higgs boson mass to be 3 to 5 GeV. The uncertainty on Mh due to the experimental error in the measurement of the SM input parameters is approximately of the same size. Finally, we discuss the phenomenological consequences, using the latest value of the top quark mass. We find, in particular, that the most conservative upper bound on the lighter Higgs boson mass in the general MSSM is Mh < 152 GeV and that there is no lower bound on the parameter tan(beta) from non-observation of the MSSM Higgs bosons at LEP2.

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arXiv2017

The Case for Future Hadron Colliders From $B \to K^{(*)} μ^+ μ^-$ Decays

Recent measurements in $B \to K^{(*)} μ^+ μ^-$ decays are somewhat discrepant with Standard Model predictions. They may be harbingers of new physics at an energy scale potentially accessible to direct discovery. We estimate the sensitivity of future hadron colliders to the possible new particles that may be responsible for the anomalies: leptoquarks or $Z^\prime$s. We consider luminosity upgrades for a 14 TeV LHC, a 33 TeV LHC, and a 100 TeV $pp$ collider such as the FCC-hh. Coverage of $Z^\prime$ models is excellent: for narrow particles, with perturbative couplings that may explain the $b$-decay results for $Z^\prime$ masses up to 20 TeV, a 33 TeV 1 ab$^{-1}$ LHC is expected to cover most of the parameter space up to 8 TeV in mass, whereas the 100 TeV FCC-hh with 10 ab$^{-1}$ will cover all of it. A smaller portion of the leptoquark parameter space is covered by future colliders: for example, in a $μ^+μ^-jj$ di-leptoquark search, a 100 TeV 10 ab$^{-1}$ collider has a projected sensitivity up to leptoquark masses of 12 TeV (extendable to 21 TeV with a strong coupling for single leptoquark production), whereas leptoquark masses up to 41 TeV may in principle explain the anomalies.

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arXiv2017

Dissecting Multi-Photon Resonances at the Large Hadron Collider

We examine the phenomenology of the production, at the 13 TeV Large Hadron Collider (LHC), of a heavy resonance $X$, which decays via other new on-shell particles $n$ into multi- (i.e.\ three or more) photon final states. In the limit that $n$ has a much smaller mass than $X$, the multi-photon final state may dominantly appear as a two photon final state because the $γ$s from the $n$ decay are highly collinear and remain unresolved. We discuss how to discriminate this scenario from $X \rightarrow γγ$: rather than discarding non-isolated photons, it is better instead to relax the isolation criterion and instead form photon jet substructure variables. The spins of $X$ and $n$ leave their imprint upon the distribution of pseudorapidity gap $Δη$ between the apparent two photon states. Depending on the total integrated luminosity, this can be used in many cases to claim discrimination between the possible spin choices of $X$ and $n$, although the case where $X$ and $n$ are both scalar particles cannot be discriminated from the direct $X \rightarrow γγ$ decay in this manner. Information on the mass of $n$ can be gained by considering the mass of each photon jet.

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arXiv2017

The Calculation of Sparticle and Higgs Decays in the Minimal and Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Models: SOFTSUSY4.0

We describe a major extension of the SOFTSUSY spectrum calculator to include the calculation of the decays, branching ratios and lifetimes of sparticles into lighter sparticles, covering the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model (NMSSM) as well as the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM). This document acts as a manual for the new version of SOFTSUSY, which includes the calculation of sparticle decays. We present a comprehensive collection of explicit expressions used by the program for the various partial widths of the different decay modes in the appendix.

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arXiv2016

Prompt Signals and Displaced Vertices in Sparticle Searches for Next-to-Minimal Gauge Mediated Supersymmetric Models

We study the LHC phenomenology of the next-to-minimal model of gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking (NMGMSB), both for Run I and Run II. The Higgs phenomenology of the model is consistent with observations: a 125 GeV Standard Model-like Higgs which mixes with singlet-like state of mass around 90 GeV that provides a 2$σ$ excess at LEP II. The model possesses regions of parameter space where a longer-lived lightest neutralino decays in the detector into a gravitino and a $b-$jet pair or a tau pair. We investigate current lower bounds on sparticle masses and the discovery potential of the model, both via conventional sparticle searches and via searches for displaced vertices. The strongest bound from searches for promptly decaying sparticles yields a lower limit on the gluino mass of 1080 GeV. An analysis of 100 fb$^{-1}$ from Run II, on the other hand, is expected to be sensitive up to 1900 GeV. The displaced vertex searches from Run I suffer from a very low signal efficiency, mainly due to the presence of $b-$quarks in the final state. We show how the displaced vertex cuts might be relaxed in order to improve signal efficiency, while simultaneous prompt objects can be used to cut down background. We find that a combined search strategy with both prompt and displaced cuts potentially has a far better sensitivity to this model than either set alone, motivating a fully fledged experimental study.

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arXiv2016

Di-photon Excess Explained by a Resonant Sneutrino in R-parity Violating Supersymmetry

We explain the recent excess seen by ATLAS and CMS experiments at around 750 GeV in the di-photon invariant mass as a narrow width sneutrino decaying to di-photons via a stau loop in R-parity violating Supersymmetry. The stau mass is predicted to be somewhere between half the resonant sneutrino mass and half the sneutrino mass plus 14 GeV. The scenario also predicts further signal channels at an invariant mass of 750 GeV, the most promising being into di-jets and $WW$. We also predict a left handed charged slepton decaying into $WZ$ and $W γ$ at a mass 750-754 GeV.

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arXiv2016

The Inclusion of Two-Loop SUSYQCD Corrections to Gluino and Squark Pole Masses in the Minimal and Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model: SOFTSUSY3.7

We describe an extension of the SOFTSUSY spectrum calculator to include two-loop supersymmetric QCD (SUSYQCD) corrections of order $\mathcal{O}(α_s^2)$ to gluino and squark pole masses, either in the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) or the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model (NMSSM). This document provides an overview of the program and acts as a manual for the new version of SOFTSUSY, which includes the increase in accuracy in squark and gluino pole mass predictions.

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arXiv2016

The ATLAS Di-boson Excess Could Be an R-parity Violating Di-smuon Excess

We propose a new possible explanation of the ATLAS di-boson excess: that it is due to heavy resonant slepton production, followed by decay into di-smuons. The smuon has a mass not too far from the W and Z masses, and so it is easily confused with W or Z bosons after its subsequent decay into di-jets, through a supersymmetry violating and R-parity violating interaction. Such a scenario is not currently excluded by other constraints and remains to be definitively tested in Run II of the LHC. Such light smuons can easily simultaneously explain the discrepancy between the measurement of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon and the Standard Model prediction.

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arXiv2016

Warped $R-$Parity Violation

We consider a modified Randall-Sundrum (RS) framework between the Planck scale and the GUT scale. In this scenario, RS works as a theory of flavour and not as a solution to the hierarchy problem. The latter is resolved by supersymmetrising the bulk, so that the minimal supersymmetric standard model being the effective 4-dimensional theory. Matter fields are localised in the bulk in order to fit fermion-mass and mixing-data. If $R$-parity violating terms are allowed in the superpotential, their orders of magnitude throughout flavour space are then predicted, resulting in rich flavour textures. If the $R$-parity violating contributions to neutrino masses are somewhat suppressed, then lepton-number violating models exist which explain the neutrino oscillation data while not being in contradiction with current experimental bounds. Another promising model is one where baryon number is violated and Dirac neutrino masses result solely from fermion localisation. We sketch the likely discovery signatures of the baryon-number and the lepton-number violating cases.

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arXiv2015

Anatomy of the ATLAS diboson anomaly

We perform a general analysis of new physics interpretations of the recent ATLAS diboson excesses over Standard Model expectations in LHC Run I collisions. Firstly, we estimate a likelihood function for the true signal in the $WW$, $WZ$, and $ZZ$ channels, finding that the maximum has zero events in the $WZ$ channel, though the likelihood is sufficiently flat to allow other scenarios. Secondly, we survey the possible effective field theories containing the Standard Model plus a new resonance that could explain the data, finding just two possibilities, viz., a vector that is either a left- or right-handed $SU(2)$ triplet. Finally, we compare these models with other experimental data and determine the parameter regions in which they provide a consistent explanation.

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arXiv2015

Light Sparticles from a Light Singlet in Gauge Mediation

We revisit a simple model that combines minimal gauge mediation and the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model. We show that one can obtain a 125 GeV Standard Model-like Higgs boson with stops as light as 1.1 TeV, thanks to the mixing of the Higgs with a singlet state at O(90-100) GeV. Sparticle searches at the LHC may come with additional b-jets or taus and may involve displaced vertices. The sparticle production cross-section at the 13 TeV LHC can be O(10-100) fb, leading to great prospects for discovery in the early phase of LHC Run II.

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arXiv2014

Resonant Slepton Production Yields CMS $eejj$ and $ejj$ Missing $p_T$ Excesses

Recent CMS searches for di-leptoquark production report local excesses of 2.4$σ$ in a $eejj$ channel and 2.6$σ$ in a $ejj$ missing $p_T$ channel. Here, we simultaneously explain both excesses with resonant slepton production in ${\mathcal R}-$parity violating supersymmetry (SUSY). We consider resonant slepton production, which decays to a lepton and a chargino/neutralino, followed by three-body decays of the neutralino/chargino via an $\mathcal{R}-$parity violating coupling. There are regions of parameter space which are also compatible at the 95% confidence level (CL) with a 2.8$σ$ $eejj$ excess in a recent CMS $W_R$ search, while being compatible with other direct search constraints. Phase-II of the GERDA neutrinoless double beta decay ($0νββ$) experiment will probe a sizeable portion of the good-fit region.

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arXiv2014

Higher Order Corrections and Unification in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model: SOFTSUSY3.5.0

We explore the effects of three-loop minimal supersymmetric standard model renormalisation group equation terms and some leading two-loopthreshold corrections on gauge and Yukawa unification: each being one loop higher order than current public spectrum calculators. We also explore the effect of the higher order terms (often 2-3 GeV) on the lightest CP even Higgs mass prediction. We illustrate our results in the constrained minimal supersymmetric standard model. Neglecting threshold corrections at the grand unified scale, the discrepancy between the unification scale $α_s$ and the other two unified gauge couplings changes by 0.1$\%$ due to the higher order corrections and the difference between unification scale bottom-tau Yukawa couplings neglecting unification scale threshold corrections changes by up to 1$\%$. The difference between unification scale bottom and top Yukawa couplings changes by a few percent. Differences due to the higher order corrections also give an estimate of the size of theoretical uncertainties in the minimal supersymmetric standard model spectrum. We use these to provide estimates of theoretical uncertainties in predictions of the dark matter relic density (which can be of order one due to its strong dependence on sparticle masses) and the LHC sparticle production cross-section (often around 30$\%$). The additional higher order corrections have been incorporated into SOFTSUSY, and we provide details on how to compile and use the program. We also provide a summary of the approximations used in the higher order corrections.

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arXiv2014

Investigating Multiple Solutions in the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

Recent work has shown that the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (CMSSM) can possess several distinct solutions for certain values of its parameters. The extra solutions were not previously found by public supersymmetric spectrum generators because fixed point iteration (the algorithm used by the generators) is unstable in the neighbourhood of these solutions. The existence of the additional solutions calls into question the robustness of exclusion limits derived from collider experiments and cosmological observations upon the CMSSM, because limits were only placed on one of the solutions. Here, we map the CMSSM by exploring its multi-dimensional parameter space using the shooting method, which is not subject to the stability issues which can plague fixed point iteration. We are able to find multiple solutions where in all previous literature only one was found. The multiple solutions are of two distinct classes. One class, close to the border of bad electroweak symmetry breaking, is disfavoured by LEP2 searches for neutralinos and charginos. The other class has sparticles that are heavy enough to evade the LEP2 bounds. Chargino masses may differ by up to around 10% between the different solutions, whereas other sparticle masses differ at the sub-percent level. The prediction for the dark matter relic density can vary by a hundred percent or more between the different solutions, so analyses employing the dark matter constraint are incomplete without their inclusion.

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arXiv2014

Multiple solutions in supersymmetry and the Higgs

Weak-scale supersymmetry is a well motivated, if speculative, theory beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. It solves the thorny issue of the Higgs mass, namely: how can it be stable to quantum corrections, when they are expected to be $10^{15}$ times bigger than its mass? The experimental signal of the theory is the production and measurement of supersymmetric particles in the Large Hadron Collider experiments. No such particles have been seen to date, but hopes are high for the impending run in 2015. Searches for supersymmetric particles can be difficult to interpret. Here, we shall discuss the fact that, even given a well defined model of supersymmetry breaking with few parameters, there can be multiple solutions. These multiple solutions are physically different, and could potentially mean that points in parameter space have been ruled out by interpretations of LHC data when they shouldn't have been. We shall review the multiple solutions and illustrate their existence in a universal model of supersymmetry breaking.

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arXiv2013

Large Hadron Collider constraints on a light baryon number violating sbottom coupling to a top and a light quark

We investigate a model of R-parity violating (RPV) supersymmetry in which the right-handed sbottom is the lightest supersymmetric particle, and a baryon number violating coupling involving a top is the only non-negligible RPV coupling. This model evades proton decay and flavour constraints. We consider in turn each of the couplings lambda"_{313} and lambda"_{323} as the only non-negligible RPV coupling, and we recast two recent Large Hadron Collider (LHC) measurements and searches (CMS top transverse momentum p_T(t) spectrum and ATLAS multiple jet resonance search) in the form of constraints on the mass-coupling parameter planes. We delineate a large region in the parameter space of the mass of the sbottom (m_{b_R}) and the lambda"_{313} coupling that is ruled out by the measurements, as well as a smaller region in the parameter space of m_{b_R} and lambda"_{323}. A certain region of the m_{b_R}-lambda"_{313} parameter space was previously found to successfully explain the anomalously large ttbar forward backward asymmetry measured by Tevatron experiments. The entire region is excluded at the 95% CL by CMS measurements of the top p_T spectrum. We also present p_T(ttbar) distributions of the forward-backward asymmetry for this model.

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