arXiv subjects

David London

Publications and source records attributed to David London.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Searching for New Physics with Reinforcement Learning

Finding new physics (NP) is the most important problem in particle physics today. Studying ``anomalies'', i.e., measurements of low-energy observables whose values disagree with the predictions of the Standard Model (SM), is a powerful search strategy. The SM Effective Field Theory (SMEFT) provides a general model-independent framework for parameterizing NP; it is natural to try to find the SMEFT operator(s) that can explain such anomalies. This is a challenging task because (i) the number of SMEFT operators is enormous, and (ii) at loop level there are very complicated correlations among the operators. Analyses by humans typically rely on phenomenological intuition to decide which operators are relevant. This is often biased and does not explore the complete SMEFT operator space. Interestingly, reinforcement learning (RL) techniques excel at tasks that require decision making to achieve their goals. In this paper, we introduce an RL method that can be used to find the SMEFT operators that explain any anomalies. We test it on the CDF $W$-mass anomaly, and show that it reproduces (and improves upon) known results. We then consider a far more complicated situation with multiple anomalies and show that, even here, this method is able to find the SMEFT operators that explain the data. Our RL method can therefore be used to efficiently search for NP at the level of SMEFT.

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arXiv2026

Anomalies in Hadronic $B$ Decays

The decays $B\to PP$, where the pseudoscalar $P$ is a $\pi$ or $K$, have been studied under the assumption of flavour SU(3) symmetry [SU(3)$_F$]. The global fit shows a 3.6$\sigma$ discrepancy with the Standard Model (SM). Separate fits for $\Delta S = 0$ and $\Delta S = 1$ decays find parameter sets that differ by a factor of 10, suggesting 1000% SU(3)$_F$ breaking, significantly larger than the $\sim$ 30% breaking expected in the SM. This study has been extended to include final states with $\eta$ and $\eta'$ mesons. The resulting global fit, once again under the assumption of SU(3)$_F$ symmetry, is worse, with a 4.1$\sigma$ deviation from the SM. When theoretical constraints $|\widetilde C/\widetilde T| = 0.2$ or $\widetilde A = 0$ are imposed, the fits worsen, with the discrepancy approaching 5$\sigma$. These results hint at new-physics contributions to these decays.

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arXiv2026

Anomalies in Hadronic $B \to VV$ Decays

Recently, a fit of charmless $B\to PP$ decays ($B \in \{B^0, B^+, B_s^0\}$, $P \in \{ \pi, K, \eta, \eta' \}$) to the latest data was performed under the assumption of flavour SU(3) symmetry [SU(3)$_F$]. It was found that there is a $4.1\sigma$ disagreement with the SU(3)$_F$ limit of the Standard Model [$\rm SM_{SU(3)_F}$]. In this paper, we extend this analysis to charmless $B \to VV$ decays ($V \in \{\rho, K^*, \phi, \omega\}$). The fit examining $B \to \rho K^*$ decays, assuming only isospin symmetry, is found to be acceptable. When we fit to $B \to VV$ decays with $V \in \{ \rho, K^* \}$ within SU(3)$_F$, we find a $5.2\sigma$ discrepancy with SM$_{SU(3)_F}$. Finally, when $B \to VV$ decays with $V \in \{ \rho, K^*, \phi, \omega \}$ are considered, the discrepancy grows to $>7\sigma$. The theoretical input in this analysis is modest, so our results are quite rigorous, group theoretically, and hold almost exactly in the SU(3)$_F$ limit. Although it seems unlikely that the introduction of $\sim 30$% SU(3)$_F$-breaking effects can account for this discrepancy, this must be verified.

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arXiv2026

Comment on "QCD-factorization amplitudes from flavour symmetries: beyond the $SU(3)$ symmetric case''

Recently, a fit to $B \to PP$ decays ($P \in \{\pi, K, \eta, \eta'\}$) was performed (arXiv:2604.19612, "QCD-factorization amplitudes from flavour symmetries: beyond the $SU(3)$ symmetric case''}) using a formalism that combines topological diagrams with QCD factorization, and a good fit was found. We also recently performed such a fit, under the assumption that the $B \to PP$ amplitudes are related by flavour SU(3) symmetry, but we found a very poor fit. The two results therefore disagree with one another. The source of this disagreement is that we applied EWP-tree relations (ETRs). These were derived $\sim 30$ years ago, and relate different topological diagrams or reduced matrix elements, thus reducing the number of unknown parameters in the fit. In their paper, it is asserted that ETRs are invalid, so that analyses that use them are unreliable. We are writing this Comment to explain why this assertion is incorrect. The key point is that ETRs are mathematically rigorous, group theoretically. If SU(3) is unbroken, and the small Wilson coefficients $c_{7,8}$ in the weak effective Hamiltonian are neglected, ETRs follow automatically and are exact. That is, this is a group theory result -- no hadronic calculations are involved. In this Comment, we also point out several weaknesses of their formalism.

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arXiv2025

Isospin-based EWP-tree Relations

In 1998, it was shown that, if flavor SU(3) symmetry [SU(3)$_F$] is assumed in charmless $B \to PP$ decays ($P$ is a light pseudoscalar meson), some reduced matrix elements involving electroweak penguin (EWP) operators are related to those involving tree operators. Similarly, EWP diagrams are related to tree diagrams. These SU(3)$_F$ EWP-tree relations were recently used in global analyses of $B \to PP$ decays. They have also been used over the years in analyses of the $B \to \pi K$ puzzle, even though the $B \to \pi K$ amplitudes are related by isospin symmetry [SU(2)$_I$], and not the full SU(3)$_F$. In this paper, we show that, even if only SU(2)$_I$ is assumed, there are still EWP-tree relations. In $\Delta S=0$ decays, these relations are similar to those of SU(3)$_F$, and can be used to take into account the EWP contributions in the extraction of the CP phase $\alpha$ from $B \to \pi\pi$ decays. In $\Delta S=1$ decays, the SU(2)$_I$ EWP-tree relations are quite different from those of SU(3)$_F$; when these are used to analyze the $B \to \pi K$ puzzle, one now finds a 4-5$\sigma$ discrepancy with the Standard Model, much larger than what was previously found. We argue that, if one analyzes a set of hadronic $B$ decays whose amplitudes are related by isospin, one must use the SU(2)$_I$ EWP-tree relations for that set of decays in the analysis.

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arXiv2025

Anomalies in Hadronic $B$ Decays: an Update

Recently, $B\to PP$ decays ($B = \{B^0, B^+, B_s^0\}$, $P = \{ \pi, K \}$) were analyzed under the assumption of flavor SU(3) symmetry (SU(3)$_F$). Although the individual fits to $\Delta S=0$ or $\Delta S=1$ decays are good, it was found that the combined fit is very poor: there is a $3.6\sigma$ disagreement with the SU(3)$_F$ limit of the standard model (SM$_{\rm{SU(3)}_F}$). One can remove this discrepancy by adding SU(3)$_F$-breaking effects, but 1000\% SU(3)$_F$ breaking is required. In this paper, we extend this analysis to include decays in which there is an $\eta$ and/or $\eta'$ meson in the final state. We now find that the combined fit exhibits a $4.1\sigma$ discrepancy with the SM$_{\rm{SU(3)}_F}$, and 1000\% SU(3)$_F$-breaking effects are still required to explain the data. These results are rigorous, group-theoretically -- no theoretical assumptions have been made. But when one adds some theoretical input motivated by QCD factorization, the discrepancy with the SM$_{\rm{SU(3)}_F}$ grows to $4.9\sigma$.

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arXiv2025

The generic basis and flavour non-universal SMEFT

Whenever an anomaly in the flavour sector appears, analyses are performed examining whether it can be explained by adding a small number of carefully-chosen flavour non-universal four-fermion SMEFT operators. These analyses are typically carried out in the down or the up basis, i.e., it is assumed that the weak and mass eigenstates are the same for the left-handed down-type or up-type quarks. In these bases, there is no dependence on the matrices that transform from the weak to the mass basis, and which are unmeasurable in the Standard Model. In this paper, we argue that it is better to use a generic weak basis, in which no assumptions about the alignment of weak and mass eigenstates are made. The analysis now directly includes elements of the transformation matrices. By doing a fit to the data, it is possible to both determine if the flavour anomaly can be explained and extract the transformation matrices. In principle, this can be extended to a complete reconstruction of the Yukawa matrices.

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arXiv2024

Uniting Low-energy Semileptonic and Hadronic Anomalies within SMEFT

Two categories of four-fermion SMEFT operators are semileptonic (two quarks and two leptons) and hadronic (four quarks). At tree level, an operator of a given category contributes only to processes of the same category. However, when the SMEFT Hamiltonian is evolved down from the new-physics scale to low energies using the renormalization-group equations (RGEs), due to operator mixing this same SMEFT operator can generate operators of the other category at one loop. Thus, to search for a SMEFT explanation of a low-energy anomaly, or combination of anomalies, one must: (i) identify the candidate semileptonic and hadronic SMEFT operators, (ii) run them down to low energy with the RGEs, (iii) generate the required low-energy operators with the correct Wilson coefficients, and (iv) check that all other constraints are satisfied. In this paper, we illustrate this method by finding all SMEFT operators that, by themselves, provide a combined explanation of the (semileptonic) $\bar b \to \bar s \ell^+ \ell^-$ anomalies and the (hadronic) $B \to K \pi$ puzzle.

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arXiv2024

Anomalies in Hadronic $B$ Decays

In this talk, I describe a global fit to $B \to PP$ decays, where $B = \{B^0, B^+, B_s^0\}$ and the pseudoscalar $P = \{\pi, K\}$, under the assumption of flavour SU(3) symmetry [SU(3)$_F$]. It is found that the individual fits to $\Delta S=0$ or $\Delta S=1$ decays are good, but the combined fit is very poor: there is a $3.6\sigma$ disagreement with the standard model. (This is quite a bit larger than the anomaly in $b \to s \ell^+ \ell^-$ transitions.) This discrepancy can be removed by adding SU(3)$_F$-breaking effects, but 1000\% SU(3)$_F$ breaking is required, considerably more than the $\sim 20\%$ breaking of $f_K/f_\pi - 1$. These results are rigorous, group-theoretically -- no theoretical assumptions have been made. But when one adds a single assumption motivated by QCD factorization, the discrepancy grows to $4.4\sigma$. These are the anomalies in hadronic $B$ decays. Although one cannot yet claim that new physics is present, it is clear that something very unexpected is going on.

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arXiv2023

Anomalies in Hadronic $B$ Decays

In this paper, we perform fits to $B \to PP$ decays, where $B = \{B^0, B^+, B_s^0\}$ and the pseudoscalar $P = \{\pi, K\}$, under the assumption of flavor SU(3) symmetry [SU(3)$_F$]. Although the fits to $\Delta S=0$ or $\Delta S=1$ decays individually are good, the combined fit is very poor: there is a $3.6\sigma$ disagreement with the SU(3)$_F$ limit of the standard model (SM$_{\rm{SU(3)}_F}$). One can remove this discrepancy by adding SU(3)$_F$-breaking effects, but 1000% SU(3)$_F$ breaking is required. The above results are rigorous, group-theoretically - no dynamical assumptions have been made. When one adds an assumption motivated by QCD factorization, the discrepancy with the SM$_{\rm{SU(3)}_F}$ grows to $4.4\sigma$.

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arXiv2023

Charmless $B\to PPP$ Decays: the Fully-Antisymmetric Final State

Under flavor $SU(3)$ symmetry (SU(3)$_F$), the final-state particles in $B\to PPP$ decays ($P$ is a pseudoscalar meson) are treated as identical, and the $PPP$ must be in a fully-symmetric (FS) state, a fully-antisymmetric (FA) state, or in one of four mixed states. In this paper, we present the formalism for the FA states. We write the amplitudes for the 22 $B\to PPP$ decays that can be in an FA state in terms of both SU(3)$_F$ reduced matrix elements and diagrams. This shows the equivalence of diagrams and SU(3)$_F$. We also give 15 relations among the amplitudes in the SU(3)$_F$ limit, as well as the additional four that appear when the diagrams $E$/$A$/$PA$ are neglected. We present sets of $B \to PPP$ decays that can be used to extract $\gamma$ using the FA amplitudes. The value(s) of $\gamma$ found in this way can be compared with the value(s) found using the FS states.

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arXiv2022

A U-spin Puzzle in $B$ Decays

We impose U spin symmetry ($SU(2)_{\rm Uspin}$) on the Hamiltonian for $B$ decays. As expected, we find the equality of amplitudes related by the exchange $d \leftrightarrow s$. We also find that the amplitudes for the $\Delta S=0$ processes $B^0 \to \pi^+\pi^-$, $B_s^0\to\pi^+ K^-$ and $B^0\to K^+ K^-$ form a U-spin triangle relation. The amplitudes for $B_s^0\to K^+ K^-$, $B^0\to\pi^- K^+$ and $B_s^0\to\pi^+\pi^-$ form a similar $\Delta S=1$ triangle relation. And these two triangles are related to one another by $d \leftrightarrow s$. We perform fits to the observables for these six decays. If perfect U spin is assumed, the fit is very poor. If U-spin-breaking contributions are added, we find many scenarios that can explain the data. However, in all cases, 100\% U-spin breaking is required, considerably larger than the naive expectation of $\sim 20\%$. This is the U-spin puzzle; it may be strongly hinting at the presence of new physics.

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arXiv2022

The $B$ Anomalies and non-SMEFT New Physics

The modern viewpoint is that the Standard Model is the leading part of an effective field theory that obeys the symmetry $SU(3)_C \times SU(2)_L \times U(1)_Y$. Since the discovery of the Higgs boson, it is generally assumed that this symmetry is realized linearly (SMEFT), but a nonlinear realization (e.g., HEFT) is still possible. The two differ in their predictions for the size of certain low-energy dimension-6 four-fermion operators: for these, HEFT allows $O(1)$ couplings, while in SMEFT they are suppressed by a factor $v^2/\Lambda_{\rm NP}^2$, where $v$ is the Higgs vev. In this talk, I argue that (i) such non-SMEFT operators contribute to both $b \to s \ell^+ \ell^-$ and $b \to c \,\tau^- {\bar\nu}_\tau$, transitions involved in the present-day $B$ anomalies, (ii) the contributions to $b \to s \ell^+ \ell^-$ are constrained to be small, at the SMEFT level, and (iii) the contribution to $b \to c \,\tau^- {\bar\nu}_\tau$ can be sizeable. I show that the angular distribution in ${\bar B} \to D^* (\to D \pi') \, \tau^{-} (\to \pi^- \nu_\tau) {\bar\nu}_\tau$ contains enough information to extract the coefficients of all new-physics operators. The measurement of this angular distribution can tell us if non-SMEFT new physics is present.

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arXiv2022

Dimension-8 SMEFT Matching Conditions for the Low-Energy Effective Field Theory

In particle physics, the modern view is to categorize things in terms of effective field theories (EFTs). Above the weak scale, we have the SMEFT, formed when the heavy new physics (NP) is integrated out, and for which the Standard Model (SM) is the leading part. Below $M_W$, we have the LEFT (low-energy EFT), formed when the heavy SM particles ($W^\pm$, $Z^0$, $H$, $t$) are also integrated out. In order to determine how low-energy measurements depend on the underlying NP, it is necessary to compute the matching conditions of LEFT operators to SMEFT operators. These matching conditions have been worked out for all LEFT operators up to dimension 6 in terms of SMEFT operators up to dimension 6 at the one-loop level. However, this is not sufficient for all low-energy observables. In this paper we present the momentum-independent matching conditions of all such LEFT operators to SMEFT operators up to dimension 8 at tree level.

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arXiv2022

The $B$ Anomalies, the $U_1$ Leptoquark and Dark Matter

The present-day $B$-anomalies involving $b \to s \mu^+ \mu^-$ or $b \to c \tau^- {\bar\nu}$ transitions can all be explained with the addition of a vector $U_1$ leptoquark with a mass of $M_{U_1} \ge 1.8$ TeV. In the scalar singlet dark matter model (SSDMM), the DM is a scalar $S$ that couples to the Higgs via $\lambda_{hS} \, S^2|H|^2$. We update the fit to the data and find that the SSDMM is now viable only for $M_S \ge 1.6$ TeV. In this paper, we assume that the DM also couples to the $U_1$ via $\lambda_{U_1 S} \, S^2 \, U_{1\mu}^{\dagger} U^{\mu}_1$. In addition to leading to DM annihilation via $S S \to U_1 {\bar U}_1$, this coupling generates $SSgg$ and $SS\gamma\gamma$ couplings at one loop. Although naively divergent, these loop diagrams can be calculated under the assumption that the $U_1$ is a gauge boson of a group broken at the TeV scale. With this DM-$U_1$ coupling term, there are additional contributions to the various DM observables (relic density, direct and indirect detection). We find that the constraints on the SSDMM are relaxed for both heavy DM ($M_S \ge M_{U_1}$) and light DM ($M_S < M_{U_1}$).

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arXiv2022

${\bar B} \to D^* \ell^- {\bar\nu}_\ell$ Decays: Angular Distributions and New Physics

At the present time, there are hints of new physics (NP) in several observables involving $b \to c \ell^- {\bar\nu}_\ell$ decays. In this talk, I describe measurable angular distributions for ${\bar B} \to D^* \mu^- {\bar\nu}_\mu$ and ${\bar B} \to D^* \tau^- (\to \pi^- \nu_\tau) {\bar\nu}_\tau$ decays, including the most general NP contributions. These angular distributions contain enough information to pin down the Lorentz structure of the NP, which will help to identify it. They also have the ability to reveal the presence of non-SMEFT (non-decoupling) NP.

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arXiv2021

Searching for light new physics at the LHC via lepton-number violation

We study the collider phenomenology of a simplified model containing a right-handed $W$ in which the $W_R$ couples predominantly to the third generation in the quark sector. The model also includes a light Majorana neutrino, with $M_1\sim {\cal O}(100)$ GeV, giving rise to lepton-number-violating signatures that are visible at the LHC. Taking into account all the searches from the LHC and Tevatron, we find that this $W_R$ can still be as light as $M_R \sim 300$ GeV. We show that this type of new physics, and others like it, can be detected at the LHC using final states with three same-sign same-flavour leptons.

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arXiv2021

Beyond SMEFT with $b \to c \,\tau^- {\bar\nu}$

Electroweak interactions assign a central role to the gauge group $SU(2)_L \times U(1)_Y$, which is either realized linearly (SMEFT) or nonlinearly (e.g., HEFT) in the effective theory obtained when new physics above the electroweak scale is integrated out. Although the discovery of the Higgs boson has made SMEFT the default assumption, nonlinear realization remains possible. The two can be distinguished through their predictions for the size of certain low-energy dimension-6 four-fermion operators: for these, HEFT predicts $O(1)$ couplings, while in SMEFT they are suppressed by a factor $v^2/\Lambda_{\rm NP}^2$, where $v$ is the Higgs vev. One such operator, $O_V^{LR} \equiv ({\bar \tau} \gamma^\mu P_L \nu )\, ( {\bar c} \gamma_\mu P_R b )$, contributes to $b \to c \,\tau^- {\bar\nu}$. We show that present constraints permit its non-SMEFT coefficient to have a HEFTy size. We also note that the angular distribution in ${\bar B} \to D^* (\to D \pi') \, \tau^{-} (\to \pi^- \nu_\tau) {\bar\nu}_\tau$ contains enough information to extract the coefficients of all new-physics operators. Future measurements of this angular distribution can therefore tell us if non-SMEFT new physics is really necessary.

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