arXiv subjects

Barry M. Dillon

Publications and source records attributed to Barry M. Dillon.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Uncovering latent jet substructure

We apply techniques from Bayesian generative statistical modeling to uncover hidden features in jet substructure observables that discriminate between different a priori unknown underlying short distance physical processes in multi-jet events. In particular, we use a mixed membership model known as Latent Dirichlet Allocation to build a data-driven unsupervised top-quark tagger and $t\bar t$ event classifier. We compare our proposal to existing traditional and machine learning approaches to top jet tagging. Finally, employing a toy vector-scalar boson model as a benchmark, we demonstrate the potential for discovering New Physics signatures in multi-jet events in a model independent and unsupervised way.

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arXiv2019

Composite Higgs at high transverse momentum

In this paper we explore composite Higgs scenarios through the effects of light top-partners in Higgs+Jet production at the LHC. The pseudo-Goldstone boson nature of the Higgs field means that single-Higgs production via gluon fusion is insensitive to the mass spectrum of the top-partners. However in associated production this is not the case, and new physics scales may be probed. In the course of the work we consider scenarios with both one and two light top-partner multiplets in the spectrum of composite states. We study corrections to the Higgs couplings and the effects that the light top-partner multiplets have on the transverse momentum spectrum of the Higgs. Interestingly, we find that the corrections to the Standard Model expectation depend strongly on the representation of the top-partners in the global symmetry.

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arXiv2019

Neutral-naturalness from a holographic SO(6)/SO(5) composite Higgs model

We study a holographic realisation of a composite Higgs model with an SO(6)/SO(5) symmetry breaking coset in which the top sector includes colour-neutral twin-partners that reduce the sensitivity of the Higgs mass to the cut-off. Key to this neutral-naturalness mechanism is a Z2 symmetry that leaves the Yukawa couplings to the Higgs boson invariant under an exchange of the top quark and twin top quark, but the symmetry structure of the model means that the Z2 symmetry is not present in the gauge boson couplings to the Higgs. Within the calculable framework of holography we construct and study the Higgs potential. We examine the relation between the Higgs mass, top-partner spectra, and the input parameters, finding that the presence of the twin-partners pushes the masses of the lightest coloured top-partners up to approximately 1500 GeV while the decay constant remains at approximately 700 GeV. Interestingly, no additional Z2 breaking terms are required to reproduce the observed masses of the electroweak gauge bosons, Higgs boson, and top quark.

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arXiv2018

A rapid holographic phase transition with brane-localized curvature

We study the finite-temperature properties of the Randall-Sundrum model in the presence of brane-localized curvature. At high temperature, as dictated by AdS/CFT, the theory is in a confined phase dual to the planar AdS black hole. When the radion is stabilized, à la Goldberger-Wise, a holographic first-order phase transition proceeds. The brane-localized curvature contributes to the radion kinetic energy, substantially decreasing the critical bubble energy. Contrary to previous results, the phase transition completes at much larger values of $N$, the number of degrees of freedom in the CFT. Moreover, the field value of the bulk scalar on the TeV-brane is allowed to become large, while remaining consistent with back-reaction constraints. Assisted by this fact, we find that for a wide region in the parameter space tunneling happens rather quickly, i.e. the nucleation temperature becomes of the order of the critical temperature. At zero temperature, the most important signature of brane-localized curvature is the reduction of spin-2 Kaluza-Klein graviton masses and a heavier radion.

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arXiv2018

Light scalars: coherent nonlinear Thomson scattering and detection

Several theories of beyond-the-standard-model physics predict light scalars that couple to fermions. By extending classical electrodynamics to include an electron-scalar coupling, we calculate the nonlinear Thomson scattering of light scalars in the collision of an electron with a monochro- matic electromagnetic background. In doing so, we identify the classical electron-scalar current, which allows for straightforward inclusion of the process in laser-plasma particle-in-cell simulations. Scattering of pseudoscalar particles is found to vanish in the classical (or, equivalently, the low-lightfront-momentum) limit. When electrons co-propagate with the laser pulse, we demonstrate that coherence effects in the production of light scalar particles can greatly enhance the signal for sub-eV scalars. When the electron beams counter-propagate with the laser pulse, we demon- strate that experiments can probe larger scalar masses due to the larger momentum transfer in the collisions. We then discuss a possible lab-based experimental set-up to detect this scalar signal which is similar to light-shining-through-the-wall experiments. Using existing experimental facilities as benchmarks, we calculate projected exclusion bounds on the couplings of light scalars in such experiments.

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arXiv2018

A clockwork solution to the flavor puzzle

We introduce a set of clockwork models of flavor that can naturally explain the large hierarchies of the Standard Model quark masses and mixing angles. Since the clockwork only contains chains of new vector-like fermions without any other dynamical fields, the flavor constraints allow for relatively light new physics scale. For two benchmarks with gear masses just above 1 TeV, allowed by flavor constraints, we discuss the collider searches and the possible ways of reconstructing gear spectra at the LHC. We also examine the similarities and differences with the other common solutions to the SM flavor puzzle, i.e., with the Froggatt-Nielsen models, where we identify a new {\it clockworked } version, and with the Randall-Sundrum models.

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arXiv2018

ALP production through non-linear Compton scattering in intense fields

We derive production yields for massive pseudo-scalar and scalar axion-like-particles (ALPs), through non-linear Compton scattering of an electron in the background of low- and high-intensity electromagnetic fields. In particular, we focus on electromagnetic fields from Gaussian plane wave laser pulses. A detailed study of the angular distributions and effects of the scalar and pseudo-scalar masses is presented. It is shown that ultra-relativistic seed electrons can be used to produce scalars and pseudo-scalars with masses up to the order of the electron mass. We briefly discuss future applications of this work towards lab-based searches for light beyond-the-Standard-Model particles.

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arXiv2017

KK graviton resonance and cascade decays in warped gravity

We consider the Kaluza-Klein (KK) graviton and its decays in the presence of the light radion, the modulus of extra dimension, appearing naturally light due to classical scale invariance in warped gravity. Due to the presence of a sizable wavefunction overlap in the extra dimension between the KK graviton and the radion, the KK graviton can decay largely into a pair of radions, each of which decays into a pair of collimated photons or photon-jets. Focusing on the setup where the KK graviton has suppressed couplings to the Higgs boson and fermions, we discuss the bounds on the light radion in the parameter space where the photon-jets are relevant. Moreover, we pursue the possibility of distinguishing the scenario from the case with direct photon contributions by the angular distributions of photons in the LHC Run 2. Roles of KK graviton and radion as mediators of dark matter interactions, extensions with brane kinetic terms and the model with a holographic composite Higgs are also addressed.

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arXiv2017

Clockwork Goldstone Bosons

The clockwork mechanism has recently been proposed as a natural way to generate hierarchies among parameters in quantum field theories. The mechanism is characterized by a very specific pattern of spontaneous and explicit symmetry breaking, and the presence of new light states referred to as `gears'. In this paper we begin by investigating the self-interactions of these gears in a scalar clockwork model and find a parity-like selection rule at all orders in the fields. We then proceed to investigate how the clockwork mechanism can be realized in 5D linear dilaton models from the spontaneous symmetry breaking of a complex bulk scalar field. We also discuss how the clockwork mechanism is manifest in the scalar components of 5D gauge theories in the linear dilaton model, and build their 4D deconstructed analogue. Finally we discuss attempts at building both 4D and 5D realizations of a non-abelian scalar clockwork mechanism, where in the latter we consider scenarios in which the Goldstone bosons arise from 5D scalar and 5D gauge fields.

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arXiv2017

KK Gravitons at LHC2

In this work we study constraints from new searches for heavy particles at the LHC on the allowed masses and couplings of a KK Graviton in a holographic composite Higgs model. Keeping new electroweak states heavy such that electroweak precision tests are satisfied, we control the mass of the lightest KK graviton using a brane kinetic term. With this we study KK graviton masses from 0.5-3 TeV. In our analysis we also employ Little Randall-Sundrum (RS) Models, characterised by a lower UV scale in the 5D model which in turn implies modified couplings to massless bulk fields. Viewing this scenario as a strongly coupled 4D theory with a composite Higgs boson, the KK graviton is interpreted as a composite spin-2 state and the varying UV scale corresponds to a varying intermediate scale between the cutoff of the low energy effective theory and the Planck scale. We find that KK gravitons with masses in the range 0.5-3 TeV are compatible with current collider constraints, where the most promising channels for detecting these states are the di-photon and ZZ channels. A detection is more likely in the little RS models, in which the dual gauge theory has a larger number of colours than in traditional RS models.

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arXiv2017

Implications of the absence of high-mass radion signals

Given the disappearance of the 750 GeV di-photon LHC signal and the absence of signals at high mass in this and other channels, significant constraints on the mixed Higgs-radion of the five-dimensional Randall-Sundrum model arise. By combining all channels, these constraints place a significant radion-mass-dependent lower bound on the radion vacuum expectation value that is fairly independent of the amount of Higgs radion mixing.

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arXiv2016

Regarding the Radion in Randall-Sundrum Models with Brane Curvature

In Randall-Sundrum models, one typically expects the radion to be the lightest new "gravity" state, as it is dual to a composite pseudo-Goldstone boson associated with conformal symmetry breaking in the IR. Here, we investigate the effects of localized brane curvature on the properties of the radion in Goldberger-Wise stabilized Randall-Sundrum models. We point out that both the radion mass and coupling to brane matter are sensitive to the brane curvature. Radion/Higgs kinetic mixing, via an IR-localized non-minimal coupling to the Higgs, is also investigated, in relation to the ghost-like radion that can occur for $\mathcal{O}(10)$ values of the IR curvature (as required to significantly suppress the first Kaluza-Klein graviton mass). We also discuss a class of speculative IR localized terms involving the radion. Basic comments regarding the dual 4D theory are offered.

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arXiv2016

Exploring holographic Composite Higgs models

Simple Composite Higgs models predict new vector-like fermions not too far from the electroweak scale, yet LHC limits are now sensitive to the TeV scale. Motivated by this tension, we explore the holographic dual of the minimal model, MCHM5, to understand how far naive 4D predictions are from their 5D duals. Interestingly, we find that the usual hierarchy among the vector-like quarks is not generic, hence ameliorating the tuning issue. We find that lowering the UV cutoff in the 5D picture allows for heavier top partners, while keeping the mass of the Higgs boson at its observed value. In the 4D dual this corresponds to increasing the number of colours. This is essentially a Little Randall-Sundrum Model, which are known to reduce some flavour and electroweak constraints. Furthermore, in anticipation of the ongoing efforts at the LHC to put bounds on the top Yukawa, we demonstrate that deviations from the SM can be suppressed or enhanced with respect to what is expected from mere symmetry arguments in 4D. We conclude that the 5D holographic realisation of the MCHM5 with a small UV cutoff is not in tension with the current experimental data.

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arXiv2015

Non-custodial warped extra dimensions at the LHC

With the prospect of improved Higgs measurements at the LHC and at proposed future colliders such as ILC, CLIC and TLEP we study the non-custodial Randall-Sundrum model with bulk SM fields and compare brane and bulk Higgs scenarios. We compute the electroweak precision observables and argue that incalculable contributions to these, in the form of higher dimensional operators, could have a non-negligable impact. This could potentially reduce the bound on the lowest Kaluza-Klein gauge boson masses to the 5 TeV range, making these states detectable at the LHC. In a second part, we compute the misalignment between fermion masses and Yukawa couplings caused by vector-like Kaluza-Klein fermions. The deviation of the top Yukawa can easily reach 10%, making it observable at the high-luminosity LHC. Corrections to the bottom and tau Yukawa couplings can be at the percent level and detectable at ILC, CLIC or TLEP.

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arXiv2014

Non-Custodial Warped Extra Dimensions at the LHC?

With the prospect of improved Higgs measurements at the LHC and at proposed future colliders such as ILC, CLIC and TLEP we study the non-custodial Randall-Sundrum model with bulk SM fields and compare brane and bulk Higgs scenarios. The latter bear resemblance to the well studied type III two-Higgs-doublet models. We compute the electroweak precision observables and argue that incalculable contributions to these, in the form of higher dimensional operators, could have an impact on the T-parameter. This could potentially reduce the bound on the lowest Kaluza-Klein gauge boson masses to the 5 TeV range, making them detectable at the LHC. In a second part, we compute the misalignment between fermion masses and Yukawa couplings caused by vector-like Kaluza-Klein fermions in this setup. The misalignment of the top Yukawa can easily reach 10%, making it observable at the high-luminosity LHC. Corrections to the bottom and tau Yukawa couplings can be at the percent level and detectable at ILC, CLIC or TLEP.

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