Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Dario Buttazzo

Publications and source records attributed to Dario Buttazzo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The Muon Smasher's Guide

We lay out a comprehensive physics case for a future high-energy muon collider, exploring a range of collision energies (from 1 to 100 TeV) and luminosities. We highlight the advantages of such a collider over proposed alternatives. We show how one can leverage both the point-like nature of the muons themselves as well as the cloud of electroweak radiation that surrounds the beam to blur the dichotomy between energy and precision in the search for new physics. The physics case is buttressed by a range of studies with applications to electroweak symmetry breaking, dark matter, and the naturalness of the weak scale. Furthermore, we make sharp connections with complementary experiments that are probing new physics effects using electric dipole moments, flavor violation, and gravitational waves. An extensive appendix provides cross section predictions as a function of the center-of-mass energy for many canonical simplified models.

hep-ph↗

Dark Matter from self-dual gauge/Higgs dynamics

We show that a new gauge group with one new scalar leads to automatically stable Dark Matter candidates. We consider theories where the Higgs phase is dual to the confined phase: it is known that SU(2) gauge theories with a scalar doublet (like the Standard Model) obey this non-trivial feature. We provide a general criterion, showing that this self-duality holds for SU(N), SO(N), Sp(N) and G_2 gauge dynamics with a scalar field in the fundamental representation. The resulting Dark Matter phenomenology has non-trivial features that are characteristic of the group, and that we discuss case by case. Just to mention a few, SU(N) has an accidental conserved dark baryon number, SO(2N+1) leads to stable glue-balls thanks to a special parity, G_2 leads to a Dark Matter system analogous to neutral kaons. The cosmological Dark Matter abundance is often reproduced for masses around 100 TeV: all constraints are satisfied and lighter dark glue-balls can affect Higgs physics. These theories acquire additional interest and predictivity assuming that both the dark and weak scales are dynamically generated.

hep-ph↗

Two Paths Towards Precision at a Very High Energy Lepton Collider

We illustrate the potential of a very high energy lepton collider (from 10 to 30 TeV center of mass energy) to explore new physics indirectly in the vector boson fusion double Higgs production process and in direct diboson production at high energy. Double Higgs production is found to be sensitive to the anomalous Higgs trilinear coupling at the percent level, and to the Higgs compositeness $ξ$ parameter at the per mille or sub-per mille level thanks to the measurement of the cross-section in the di-Higgs high invariant mass tail. High energy diboson (and tri-boson) production is sensitive to Higgs-lepton contact interaction operators at a scale of several tens or hundred TeV, corresponding to a reach on the Higgs compositeness scale well above the one of any other future collider project currently under discussion. This result follows from the unique capability of the very high energy lepton collider to measure Electroweak cross-sections at 10 TeV energy or more, where the effect of new physics at even higher energy is amplified. The general lesson is that the standard path towards precision physics, based on measurements of high-statistics processes such as single and double Higgs production, is accompanied at the very high energy lepton collider by a second strategy based on measurements at the highest available energy.

hep-ph↗

Annual modulations from secular variations: relaxing DAMA?

The DAMA collaboration reported an annually modulated rate with a phase compatible with a Dark Matter induced signal. We point out that a slowly varying rate can bias or even simulate an annual modulation if data are analyzed in terms of residuals computed by subtracting approximately yearly averages starting from a fixed date, rather than a background continuous in time. In the most extreme case, the amplitude and phase of the annual modulation reported by DAMA could be alternatively interpreted as a decennial growth of the rate. This possibility appears mildly disfavoured by a detailed study of the available data, but cannot be safely excluded. In general, a decreasing or increasing rate could partially reduce or enhance a true annual modulation, respectively. The issue could be clarified by looking at the full time-dependence of the DAMA total rate, not explicitly published so far.

hep-ex↗

Fusing Vectors into Scalars at High Energy Lepton Colliders

We study vector boson fusion production of new scalar singlets at high energy lepton colliders. We find that CLIC has the potential to test single production cross-sections of a few tens of attobarns in di-Higgs and di-boson final states. In models with a sizeable singlet-Higgs mixing, these values correspond to a precision in Higgs couplings of order 0.1% or better. We compare our sensitivities with those of the LHC and interpret our results in well-motivated models like the Twin Higgs, the NMSSM and axion-like particles. Looking forward to even higher energy machines, we show that the reach of muon colliders like LEMMA or MAP overcomes the one of future hadron machines like FCC-hh. We finally study the pair production of the new scalar singlets via an off-shell Higgs. This process does not vanish for small mixings and will constitute a crucial probe of models generating a first order electro-weak phase transition.

hep-ph↗

B-physics anomalies: a guide to combined explanations

Motivated by additional experimental hints of Lepton Flavour Universality violation in B decays, both in charged- and in neutral-current processes, we analyse the ingredients necessary to provide a combined description of these phenomena. By means of an Effective Field Theory (EFT) approach, based on the hypothesis of New Physics coupled predominantly to the third generation of left-handed quarks and leptons, we show how this is possible. We demonstrate, in particular, how to solve the problems posed by electroweak precision tests and direct searches with a rather natural choice of model parameters, within the context of a $U(2)_q \times U(2)_\ell$ flavour symmetry. We further exemplify the general EFT findings by means of simplified models with explicit mediators in the TeV range: coloured scalar or vector leptoquarks and colour-less vectors. Among these, the case of an $SU(2)_L$-singlet vector leptoquark emerges as a particularly simple and successful framework.

hep-ph↗

Probing Lepton Flavour Universality with $K \to πν\barν$ decays

We analyse the rare processes $K \to πν\barν$ in view of the recent hints of violations of Lepton Flavour Universality (LFU) observed in B meson decays. If, as suggested by present data, the new interactions responsible for LFU violations couple mainly to the third generation of left-handed fermions, $K \to πν\barν$ decays turn out to be particularly interesting: these are the only kaon decays with third-generation leptons (the $τ$ neutrinos) in the final state. In order to relate B-physics anomalies and K decays we adopt an Effective Field Theory approach, assuming that the new interactions satisfy an approximate $U(2)_q\times U(2)_\ell$ flavour symmetry. In this framework we show that O(1) deviations from the Standard Model predictions in $K \to πν\barν$ branching ratios, closely correlated to similar effects in $B \to K^{(*)}ν\barν$, are naturally expected. The correlation of $\mathcal{B}(K \to πν\barν)$, $\mathcal{B}(B \to K^{(*)}ν\barν)$, and the LFU violations in B decays would provide a very valuable tool to shed more light on this interesting phenomenon.

hep-ph↗

Toward a coherent solution of diphoton and flavor anomalies

We propose a coherent explanation for the 750 GeV diphoton anomaly and the hints of deviations from Lepton Flavor Universality in B decays in terms a new strongly interacting sector with vectorlike confinement. The diphoton excess arises from the decay of one of the pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone bosons of the new sector, while the flavor anomalies are a manifestation of the exchange of the corresponding vector resonances (with masses in the 1.5-2.5 TeV range). We provide explicit examples (with detailed particle content and group structure) of the new sector, discussing both the low-energy flavor-physics phenomenology and the signatures at high $p_T$. We show that specific models can provide an excellent fit to all available data. A key feature of all realizations is a sizable broad excess in the tails of $τ^+ τ^-$ invariant mass distribution in $p p \to τ^+ τ^-$, that should be accessible at the LHC in the near future.

hep-ph↗

Higgs mass and unified gauge coupling in the NMSSM with Vector Matter

We consider the NMSSM extended to include one vector-like family of quarks and leptons. If (some of) these vector-like matter particles, as the Higgs doublets, have Yukawa couplings to the singlet S that exceed unity at about the same scale $Λ\lesssim 10^3$ TeV, this gives the order 40 % enhancement of the tree level Higgs boson mass required in the MSSM to reach 125 GeV. It is conceivable that the Yukawa couplings to the singlet S, although naively blowing up close to $Λ$, will not spoil gauge coupling unification. In such a case the unified coupling $α_X$ could be interestingly led to a value not far from unity, thus providing a possible explanation for the number of generations. The characteristic signal is an enhanced resonant production of neutral spin zero particles at LHC, that could even explain the putative diphoton resonance hinted by the recent LHC data at 750 GeV.

hep-ph↗

Knocking on New Physics' door with a Scalar Resonance

We speculate about the origin of the recent excess at ~750 GeV in diphoton resonance searches observed by the ATLAS and CMS experiments using the first 13 TeV data. Its interpretation as a new scalar resonance produced in gluon fusion and decaying to photons is consistent with all relevant exclusion bounds from the 8 TeV LHC run. We provide a simple phenomenological framework to parametrize the properties of the new resonance and show in a model-independent way that, if the scalar is produced in gluon fusion, additional new colored and charged particles are required. Finally, we discuss some interpretations in various concrete setups, such as a singlet (pseudo-) scalar, composite Higgs, and the MSSM.

hep-ph↗

Scalar singlets at present and future colliders

A scalar singlet, coupled to the other particles only through its mixing with the Higgs boson, appears in several motivated extensions of the Standard Model. The prospects for the discovery of a generic singlet at the various stages of the LHC, as well as at future high-energy colliders, are studied, and the reach of direct searches is compared with the precision attainable with Higgs couplings measurements. The results are then applied to the NMSSM and Twin Higgs.

hep-ph↗

$K\toπν\barν$ and $ε'/ε$ in Simplified New Physics Models

The decays $K^+\toπ^+ν\barν$ and $K_L\toπ^0ν\barν$, being the theoretically cleanest rare decays of mesons, are very sensitive probes of New Physics. In view of the excellent prospects of reaching the Standard Model sensitivity for $K^+\toπ^+ν\barν$ by the NA62 experiment at CERN and for $K_L\toπ^0ν\barν$ by the KOTO experiment at J-PARC, we study them in the simplest extensions of the SM in which stringent correlations between these two decays and other flavour observables are present. We first consider simple models with tree-level Z and Z' contributions in which either MFV or a $U(2)^3$ symmetry is imposed on the quark flavour-violating couplings. We then compare the resulting correlations with those present in generic models in which the latter couplings are arbitrary, subject to constraints from $ΔF=2$ processes, electroweak and collider data. Of particular interest are the correlations with $ε'/ε$ and $K_L\toμ^+μ^-$ which limit the size of NP contributions to $K^+\toπ^+ν\barν$ and $K_L\toπ^0ν\barν$, depending on the Dirac structure of couplings and the relevant operators. But in MFV also the constraint from $B_s\toμ^+μ^-$ turns out to be important. We take into account the recent results from lattice QCD and large N approach that indicate $ε'/ε$ in the SM to be significantly below the data. While in many models the enhancement of $ε'/ε$ implies a suppression of $K_L\toπ^0ν\barν$, we present two models in which these observables can be simultaneously enhanced relative to SM predictions. A correlation between $K^+\toπ^+ν\barν$ and $B\to K(K^*)μ^+μ^-$, found by us in the simple models considered here, should be of interest for NA62 and LHCb experimentalists at CERN in the coming years. The one with $B\to K(K^*)ν\barν$ will be tested at Belle II.

hep-ph↗

Singlet-like Higgs bosons at present and future colliders

The presence of extra scalar singlets is a feature of several motivated extensions of the Standard Model, and the mixing of such a singlet with the Higgs boson is allowed to be quite large by current experiments. In this paper we perform a thorough phenomenological study of this possibility. We consider both direct and indirect searches, and we quantify the current constraints as well as the prospects for future hadron and lepton machines - from the forthcoming LHC run up to a futuristic 100 TeV proton-proton collider. The direct reaches are obtained extrapolating the current limits with a technique that we discuss and check with various tests. We find a strong complementarity between direct and indirect searches, with the former dominating for lower values of the singlet mass. We also find that the trilinear Higgs coupling can have sizeable deviations from its Standard Model value, a fact for which we provide an analytical understanding. The results are first presented in a general scalar singlet extension of the Standard Model, taking advantage of the very small number of parameters relevant for the phenomenology. Finally, we specify the same analysis to a few most natural models, i.e. the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, Twin Higgs and Composite Higgs.

hep-ph↗

$K^+\toπ^+ν\barν$ and $K_L\toπ^0ν\barν$ in the Standard Model: Status and Perspectives

In view of the recent start of the NA62 experiment at CERN that is expected to measure the $K^+\toπ^+ν\barν$ branching ratio with a precision of 10%, we summarise the present status of this promising decay within the Standard Model (SM). We do likewise for the closely related $K_L\toπ^0ν\barν$, which will be measured by the KOTO experiment around 2020. As the perturbative QCD and electroweak corrections in both decays are under full control, the dominant uncertainties within the SM presently originate from the CKM parameters $V_{cb}$, $V_{ub}$ and $γ$. We show this dependence with the help of analytic expressions as well as accurate interpolating formulae. Unfortunately a clarification of the discrepancies between inclusive and exclusive determinations of $V_{cb}$ and $V_{ub}$ from tree-level decays will likely require results from the Belle II experiment available at the end of this decade. Thus we investigate whether higher precision on both branching ratios is achievable by determining $V_{cb}$, $V_{ub}$ and $γ$ by means of other observables that are already precisely measured. In this context $\varepsilon_K$ and $ΔM_{s,d}$, together with the expected progress in QCD lattice calculations will play a prominent role. We find $\mathcal{B}(K^+\toπ^+ν\barν) = (9.11\pm 0.72) \times 10^{-11}$ and $\mathcal{B}(K_L\toπ^0ν\barν) = (3.00\pm 0.30) \times 10^{-11}$, which is more precise than using averages of the present tree-level values of $V_{cb}$, $V_{ub}$ and $γ$. Furthermore, we point out the correlation between $\mathcal{B}(K^+\toπ^+ν\barν)$, $\overline{\mathcal{B}}(B_s\toμ^+μ^-)$ and $γ$ within the SM, that is only very weakly dependent on other CKM parameters. Finally, we also update the ratio $\varepsilon'/\varepsilon$ in the SM and present its correlation with $K_L\toπ^0ν\barν$.

hep-ph↗

Can we reach the Zeptouniverse with rare K and B_{s,d} decays?

The Large Hadron Collider will directly probe distance scales as short as 10^{-19}m, corresponding to energy scales at the level of a few TeV. In order to reach even higher resolutions before the advent of future high-energy colliders, it is necessary to consider indirect probes of New Physics (NP), a prime example being Delta F=2 neutral meson mixing processes, which are sensitive to much shorter distance scales. However Delta F=2 processes alone cannot tell us much about the structure of NP beyond the LHC scales. To identify for instance the presence of new quark flavour-changing dynamics of a left-handed (LH) or right-handed (RH) nature, complementary results from Delta F=1 rare decay processes are vital. We therefore address the important question of whether NP could be seen up to energy scales as high as 200 TeV, corresponding to distances as small as 10^{-21}m -- the Zeptouniverse -- in rare K and B_{s,d} decays, subject to present Delta F=2 constraints and perturbativity. We focus in particular on a heavy Z' gauge boson. If restricted to purely LH or RH Z' couplings to quarks, we find that rare K decays, in particular KL-> pi^0 nu nubar and K^+->pi^+ nu nubar, allow us to probe the Zeptouniverse. On the other hand rare B_s and B_d decays, which receive stronger Delta F=2 constraints, allow us to reach about 15 TeV. Allowing for both LH and RH couplings a loosening of the Delta F=2 constraints is possible, and we find that the maximal values of M_Z' at which NP effects that are consistent with perturbative couplings could be found are approximately 2000 TeV for K decays and 160 TeV for rare B_{s,d} decays. Finally we present a simple idea for an indirect determination of M_Z' that could be realised at the next linear e^+e^- or mu^+ mu^- collider and with future precise flavour data.

hep-ph↗

Investigating the near-criticality of the Higgs boson

We extract from data the parameters of the Higgs potential, the top Yukawa coupling and the electroweak gauge couplings with full 2-loop NNLO precision, and we extrapolate the SM parameters up to large energies with full 3-loop NNLO RGE precision. Then we study the phase diagram of the Standard Model in terms of high-energy parameters, finding that the measured Higgs mass roughly corresponds to the minimum values of the Higgs quartic and top Yukawa and the maximum value of the gauge couplings allowed by vacuum metastability. We discuss various theoretical interpretations of the near-criticality of the Higgs mass.

hep-ph↗

Natural scalars in the NMSSM

In the motivated hypothesis that the scalar bosons of the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) be the lightest new particles around, a possible strategy to search for signs of the extra CP-even states is outlined. It is shown how the measurements of the couplings of the 126 GeV Higgs boson constrain the region of the physical parameters in a generic NMSSM which minimises the fine-tuning of the electroweak scale. We also determine the cross section for the production of a heavier CP-even scalar, together with its most relevant branching ratios.

hep-ph↗

Implications of the discovery of a Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV

The rather precise knowledge of the mass of the Higgs boson and of its couplings has important consequences for the physical phenomena taking place at the Fermi scale. We analyze some of these implications in the most motivated frameworks for physics at that energies - supersymmetry, models of a composite Higgs boson, and the Standard Model itself. At the same time, precision experiments in flavour physics require a highly non-generic structure of flavour and CP transitions. In any model of electroweak symmetry breaking with a relatively low scale of new phenomena, as motivated by naturalness, some mechanism has to be found in order to keep unwanted flavour effects under control. We devote particular attention to the consequences of the approximate U(2)^3 symmetry exhibited by the quarks of the Standard Model. The combined analysis of the indirect constraints from flavour, Higgs and electroweak physics will allow us to outline a picture of some most natural models of physics near the Fermi scale. Although non trivially, a few models emerge that look capable of accommodating a 125 GeV Higgs boson, consistently with all the other constraints, with new particles in an interesting range for discovery at the LHC, as well as associated flavour signals. This is particularly interesting in view of the forthcoming improvements in the direct experimental investigation of that energies. Finally, the measurement of the last parameter of the Standard Model - the Higgs quartic coupling - has important consequences even if no new physics is present close to the Fermi scale: its near-critical value, which puts the electroweak vacuum in a metastable state close to a phase transition, may have an interesting connection with Planck-scale physics. We derive the bound for electroweak vacuum stability with full two-loop precision, and explore some possible implication of near-criticality.

hep-ph↗