Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

D. V. Nanopoulos

Publications and source records attributed to D. V. Nanopoulos.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2016

Information Retention by Stringy Black Holes

Building upon our previous work on two-dimensional stringy black holes and its extension to spherically-symmetric four-dimensional stringy black holes, we show how the latter retain information. A key rôle is played by an infinite-dimensional $W_\infty$ symmetry that preserves the area of an isolated black-hole horizon and hence its entropy. The exactly-marginal conformal world-sheet operator representing a massless stringy particle interacting with the black hole necessarily includes a contribution from $W_\infty$ generators in its vertex function. This admixture manifests the transfer of information between the string black hole and external particles. We discuss different manifestations of $W_\infty$ symmetry in black-hole physics and the connections between them.

hep-th↗
arXiv2015

Super-Natural MSSM

We point out that the electroweak fine-tuning problem in the supersymmetric Standard Models (SSMs) is mainly due to the high energy definition of the fine-tuning measure. We propose super-natural supersymmetry which has an order one high energy fine-tuning measure automatically. The key point is that all the mass parameters in the SSMs arise from a single supersymmetry breaking parameter. In this paper, we show that there is no supersymmetry electroweak fine-tuning problem explicitly in the Minimal SSM (MSSM) with no-scale supergravity and Giudice-Masiero (GM) mechanism. We demonstrate that the $Z$-boson mass, the supersymmteric Higgs mixing parameter $μ$ at the unification scale, and the sparticle spectrum can be given as functions of the universal gaugino mass $M_{1/2}$. Because the light stau is the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) in the no-scale MSSM, to preserve $R$ parity, we introduce a non-thermally generated axino as the LSP dark matter candidate. We estimate the lifetime of the light stau by calculating its 2-body and 3-body decays to the LSP axino for several values of axion decay constant $f_a$, and find that the light stau has a lifetime $τ_{\tilde τ_1}$ in $[10^{-4},100]$ s for an $f_a$ range $[10^{9},10^{12}]$ GeV. We show that our next to the LSP stau solutions are consistent with all the current experimental constraints, including the sparticle mass bounds, B-physics bounds, Higgs mass, cosmological bounds, and the bounds on long-lived charge particles at the LHC.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2014

A Realistic Intersecting D6-Brane Model after the First LHC Run

With the Higgs boson mass around 125 GeV and the LHC supersymmetry search constraints, we revisit a three-family Pati-Salam model from intersecting D6-branes in Type IIA string theory on the $\mathbf{T^6/(\Z_2 \times \Z_2)}$ orientifold which has a realistic phenomenology. We systematically scan the parameter space for $μ<0$ and $μ>0$, and find that the gravitino mass is generically heavier than about 2 TeV for both cases due to the Higgs mass low bound 123 GeV. In particular, we identify a region of parameter space with the electroweak fine-tuning as small as $Δ_{EW} \sim$ 24-32 (3-4$\%$). In the viable parameter space which is consistent with all the current constraints, the mass ranges for gluino, the first two-generation squarks and sleptons are respectively $[3, ~18]$ TeV, $[3, ~16]$ TeV, and $[2, ~7]$ TeV. For the third-generation sfermions, the light stop satisfying $5σ$ WMAP bounds via neutralino-stop coannihilation has mass from 0.5 to 1.2 TeV, and the light stau can be as light as 800 GeV. We also show various coannihilation and resonance scenarios through which the observed dark matter relic density is achieved. Interestingly, the certain portions of parameter space has excellent $t$-$b$-$τ$ and $b$-$τ$ Yukawa coupling unification. Three regions of parameter space are highlighted as well where the dominant component of the lightest neutralino is a bino, wino or higgsino. We discuss various scenarios in which such solutions may avoid recent astrophysical bounds in case if they satisfy or above observed relic density bounds. Prospects of finding higgsino-like neutralino in direct and indirect searches are also studied. And we display six tables of benchmark points depicting various interesting features of our model.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2011

Proton Stability and Dark Matter in a Realistic String MSSM

We demonstrate the existence of an extra nonanomalous U(1) gauge symmetry in a three-generation Pati-Salam model constructed with intersecting D6-branes in Type IIA string theory on a T^6/(Z_2 \times Z_2) orientifold. This extra U(1) forbids all dimension-4, 5, and 6 operators which mediate proton decay in the MSSM. Moreover, this results in the effective promotion of baryon and lepton number to local gauge symmetries, which can potentially result in leptophobic and leptophilic $Z'$ bosons observable at the LHC. Furthermore, it is not necessary to invoke R-parity to forbid the dimension-4 operators which allow rapid proton decay. However, R-parity may arise naturally from a spontaneously broken U(1)_{B-L}. Assuming the presence of R-parity, we then study the direct detection cross-sections for neutralino dark matter, including the latest constraints from the XENON100 experiment. We find that these limits are now within required range necessary to begin testing the model.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2009

Stringy Neutralino Dark Matter in Light of CDMSII

Recently, the CDMS experiment has reported the possible first direct-detection of dark matter. We update the direct-detection constraints for neutralino dark matter arising in a realistic string model constructed from intersecting D6-branes taking into account the recent data from the CDMS collaboration. We find that there are well-defined regions of the supersymmetry parameter space where neutralino dark matter satisfying the CDMS and all other experimental limits may be obtained. This results in a set of distinct superpartner and Higgs spectra which may be tested at LHC.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2009

The Search for a Realistic String Model at LHC

We survey the low-energy supersymmetry phenomenology of a three-family Pati-Salam model constructed from intersecting D6-branes in Type IIA string theory on the T^6/(Z_2 x Z_2) orientifold which possesses many of the phenomenological properties desired in string model-building. In the model, there is no exotic matter in the low-energy spectrum, the correct mass hierarchies for quarks and leptons may be obtained, and the gauge couplings are automatically unified at the string scale. We calculate the supersymmetry breaking soft terms and the corresponding low-energy supersymmetry particle spectra for the model. We find the WMAP constrained dark matter density can be generated in this model in the stau-neutralino and chargino-neutralino coannihilation regions, with expected final states at LHC consisting of low energy leptons and O(GeV) neutrinos. Moreover, we expect final states in the supercritical string cosmology (SSC) scenario to comprise high energy leptons and O(GeV) neutrinos.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2009

A Note on Modulus-dominated SUSY-breaking

In models where supersymmetry-breaking is dominated by the Kahler moduli and/or the universal dilaton, the B-parameter at the unification scale should be consistent with the value of tan(beta) at the electroweak scale determined by minimization of the Higgs potential triggering REWSB. We study such models employing a self-consistent determination of the B-parameter. In particular, we study the viability of a generic model, as well as M-theory and Type IIB flux compactifications with modulus-dominated supersymmetric soft-terms from the GUT scale, M_{GUT}=2x10^{16}GeV.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2009

Supersymmetry Signals of Supercritical String Cosmology at the Large Hadron Collider

We investigate the minimal supergravity (mSUGRA) signals at the LHC in the context of supercritical string cosmology (SSC). In this theory, the presence of a time dependent dilaton provides us with a smoothly evolving dark energy and modifies the dark matter allowed region of the mSUGRA model with standard cosmology. Such a dilaton dilutes the supersymmetric dark matter density (of neutralinos) by a factor O(10) and consequently the regions with too much dark matter in the standard scenario are allowed in the SSC. The final states expected at the LHC in this scenario, unlike the standard scenario, consist of Z bosons, Higgs bosons, and/or high energy taus. We show how to characterize these final states and determine the model parameters. Using these parameters, we determine the dark matter content and the neutralino-proton cross section. All these techniques can also be applied to determine model parameters in SSC models with different SUSY breaking scenarios.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2009

The MAGIC of SSC and how it affects LHC

We discuss the phenomenology of Supercritical String Cosmology (SSC) in the context of Dark Matter constraints on supersymmetric particle physics models at LHC. We also link our results with recent findings of the MAGIC, H.E.S.S. and Fermi Telescopes on delayed arrival of highly energetic photons from the distant Galaxies and GRBs. The link is provided by a concrete model of space-time foam in (supercritical) string theory, involving space-time defects and their interaction with matter in a brane world scenario.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2009

Probing a Possible Vacuum Refractive Index with Gamma-Ray Telescopes

We have used a stringy model of quantum space-time foam to suggest that the vacuum may exhibit a non-trivial refractive index depending linearly on gamma-ray energy: eta -1 ~ E_gamma/M_QG1, where M_QG1 is some mass scale typical of quantum gravity that may be ~ 10^18 GeV: see Phys. Lett. B 665, 412 (2008) and references therein. The MAGIC, HESS and Fermi gamma-ray telescopes have recently probed the possible existence of such an energy-dependent vacuum refractive index. All find indications of time-lags for higher-energy photons, but cannot exclude the possibility that they are due to intrinsic delays at the sources. However, the MAGIC and HESS observations of time-lags in emissions from AGNs Mkn 501 and PKS 2155-304 are compatible with each other and a refractive index depending linearly on the gamma-ray energy, with M_QG1 ~ 10^18 GeV. We combine their results to estimate the time-lag Delta t to be expected for the highest-energy photon from GRB 080916c measured by the Fermi telescope, which has an energy ~ 13.2 GeV, assuming the redshift z = 4.2 \pm 0.3 measured by GROND. In the case of a refractive index depending linearly on the gamma-ray energy we predict Delta t = 25 \pm 11 s. This is compatible with the time-lag Delta t <= 16.5 s reported by the Fermi Collaboration, whereas the time-lag would be negligible in the case of a refractive index depending quadratically on the gamma-ray energy. We suggest a strategy for future observations that could distinguish between a quantum-gravitational effect and other interpretations of the time-lags observed by the MAGIC, HESS and Fermi gamma-ray telescopes.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2008

Probing quantum gravity using photons from a flare of the active galactic nucleus Markarian 501 observed by the MAGIC telescope

We analyze the timing of photons observed by the MAGIC telescope during a flare of the active galactic nucleus Mkn 501 for a possible correlation with energy, as suggested by some models of quantum gravity (QG), which predict a vacuum refractive index \simeq 1 + (E/M_{QGn})^n, n = 1,2. Parametrizing the delay between gamma-rays of different energies as Δt =\pmτ_l E or Δt =\pmτ_q E^2, we find τ_l=(0.030\pm0.012) s/GeV at the 2.5-sigma level, and τ_q=(3.71\pm2.57)x10^{-6} s/GeV^2, respectively. We use these results to establish lower limits M_{QG1} > 0.21x10^{18} GeV and M_{QG2} > 0.26x10^{11} GeV at the 95% C.L. Monte Carlo studies confirm the MAGIC sensitivity to propagation effects at these levels. Thermal plasma effects in the source are negligible, but we cannot exclude the importance of some other source effect.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2008

Yukawa Corrections from Four-Point Functions in Intersecting D6-Brane Models

We discuss corrections to the Yukawa matrices of the Standard Model (SM) fermions in intersecting D-brane models due to four-point interactions. Recently, an intersecting D-brane model has been found where it is possible to obtain correct masses and mixings for all quarks as well as the tau lepton. However, the masses for the first two charged leptons come close to the right values but are not quite correct. Since the electron and muon are quite light, it is likely that there are additional corrections to their masses which cannot be neglected. With this in mind, we consider contributions to the SM fermion mass matrices from four-point interactions. In an explicit model, we show that it is indeed possible to obtain the SM fermion masses and mixings which are a better match to those resulting from experimental data extrapolated at the unification scale when these corrections are included. These corrections may have broader application to other models.

hep-th↗
arXiv2008

Realistic Yukawa Textures and SUSY Spectra from Intersecting Branes

We study the possible phenomenology of a three-family Pati-Salam model constructed from intersecting D6-branes in Type IIA string theory on the T^6/(Z2 x Z2) orientifold with some desirable semi-realistic features. In the model, tree-level gauge coupling unification is achieved automatically at the string scale, and the gauge symmetry may be broken to the Standard Model (SM) close to the string scale. The small number of extra chiral exotic states in the model may be decoupled via the Higgs mechanism and strong dynamics. We calculate the possible supersymmetry breaking soft terms and the corresponding low-energy supersymmetric particle spectra which may potentially be tested at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). We find that for the viable regions of the parameter space the lightest CP-even Higgs boson mass usually satisfies m_H < 120 GeV, and the observed dark matter density may be generated. Finally, we find that it is possible to obtain correct SM quark masses and mixings, and the tau lepton mass at the unification scale. Additionally, neutrino masses and mixings may be generated via the seesaw mechanism. Mechanisms to stabilize the open and closed-string moduli, which are necessary for the model to be truly viable and to make definite predictions are discussed.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2008

Derivation of a Vacuum Refractive Index in a Stringy Space-Time Foam Model

It has been suggested that energetic photons propagating in vacuo should experience a non-trivial refractive index due to the foamy structure of space-time induced by quantum-gravitational fluctuations. The sensitivity of recent astrophysical observations, particularly of AGN Mk501 by the MAGIC Collaboration, approaches the Planck scale for a refractive index depending linearly on the photon energy. We present here a new derivation of this quantum-gravitational vacuum refraction index, based on a stringy analogue of the interaction of a photon with internal degrees of freedom in a conventional medium. We model the space-time foam as a gas of D-particles in the bulk space-time of a higher-dimensional cosmology where the observable Universe is a D3-brane. The interaction of an open string representing a photon with a D-particle stretches and excites the string, which subsequently decays and re-emits the photon with a time delay that increases linearly with the photon energy and is related to stringy uncertainty principles. We relate this derivation to other descriptions of the quantum-gravitational refractive index in vacuo.

hep-th↗
arXiv2007

Smoothly evolving Supercritical-String Dark Energy relaxes Supersymmetric-Dark-Matter Constraints

We show that Supercritical-String-Cosmology (SSC) off-equilibrium and time-dependent-dilaton effects lead to a smoothly evolving dark energy for the last 10 billion years in concordance with all presently available astrophysical data. Such effects dilute by a factor O (10) the supersymmetric dark matter density (neutralinos), relaxing severe WMAP 1,3 constraints on the SUSY parameter space. Thus, LHC anticipated searches/discoveries may discriminate between conventional and Supercritical-String Cosmology.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2007

MSSM via Pati-Salam from Intersecting Branes on $T^6/(\mathbf{\Z_2} \times \mathbf{\Z_2'})$

We construct an MSSM-like model via Pati-Salam from intersecting D-branes in Type IIA theory on the $\Z_2 \times \Z_2'$ orientifold where the D-branes wrap rigid 3-cycles. Because the 3-cycles are rigid, there are no extra massless fields in the adjoint representation, arising as open-string moduli. The presence of these unobserved fields would create difficulties with asymptotic freedom as well as the prediction of gauge unification. The model constructed has four generations of MSSM matter plus right-handed neutrinos, as well as additional vector-like representations. In addition, we find that all of the required Yukawa couplings are allowed by global symmetries which arise from U(1)'s which become massive via a generalized Green-Schwarz mechanism. Furthermore, we find that the tree-level gauge couplings are unified at the string scale.

hep-th↗
arXiv2006

UHECR Particle Spectra from Crypton Decays

We calculate the spectra of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) in an explicit top-down model based on the decays of metastable neutral `crypton' states in a flipped SU(5) string model. For each of the eight specific 10th-order superpotential operators that might dominate crypton decays, we calculate the spectra of both protons and photons, using a code incorporating supersymmetric evolution of the injected spectra. For all the decay operators, the total UHECR spectra are compatible with the available data. Also, the fractions of photons are compatible with all the published upper limits, but may be detectable in future experiments.

astro-ph↗