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Dilip Kumar Ghosh

Publications and source records attributed to Dilip Kumar Ghosh.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Diffuse Supernova Neutrinos with Secret Neutrino Interactions

The Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background (DSNB), an isotropic flux arising from the cumulative neutrino emission of all stellar core-collapse events throughout cosmic history, is expected to be detected by next-generation neutrino observatories. As DSNB neutrinos propagate over cosmological distances through the cosmic neutrino background (C$\nu$B), they may undergo non-standard neutrino self-interactions ($\nu$SI), leaving distinct spectral imprints on the observed flux. In this work, we investigate the impact of scalar ($\phi$)-mediated $\nu$SI on the DSNB within a full three-flavor framework that retains the complete PMNS structure. We consider four representative flavor-diagonal coupling structures--universal, $e$-, $\mu$-, and $\tau$-specific. The resonant scattering $\nu_i\nu_k\to\phi\to\nu_j\nu_l$ off the lightest, relativistic C$\nu$B state produces broad spectral depletion whose pattern depends on the coupling structure and the neutrino mass ordering, generating distinctive signatures across the six flavor fluxes. We compute the resulting event spectra at JUNO, Hyper-Kamiokande with gadolinium loading, and DUNE, and derive projected $3\sigma$ sensitivities in the $(m_{\phi},~g)$ parameter plane. We find that these experiments can probe couplings as low as $g\sim10^{-8}$ for $m_\phi\sim100$--$300$ eV, surpassing existing bounds by up to a few orders of magnitude in the sub-100 eV mass range. Moreover, unlike the flavor-blind cosmological and supernova bounds, the DSNB sensitivity is flavor-discriminating, offering a unique opportunity to identify the underlying flavor structure of $\nu$SI in the event of a detection.

hep-ph

Freeze-in $SU(2)$ vector dark matter at low reheating temperature

The freeze-in mechanism for dark matter (DM) requires extremely feeble interactions with the Standard Model (SM), preventing thermal equilibrium in the early Universe and typically evading experimental detection. However, for sufficiently low reheating temperatures ($T_{\rm RH}$), the observed relic abundance can be realized with larger couplings, opening prospects for experimental searches. In this work, we investigate freeze-in production of $SU(2)_{\rm HS}$ vector dark matter (VDM) in a low-$T_{\rm RH}$ cosmology. The framework naturally contains three mass-degenerate stable VDM candidates without the need for any additional discrete symmetry. We perform a systematic study of the dark matter phenomenology and identify the parameter space consistent with the observed relic abundance. In contrast to conventional freeze-in scenarios, the required DM couplings can be sizable, rendering part of the parameter space already constrained by existing direct searches like PandaX-4T and LZ, while a significant region remains within the reach of future experiments such as DARWIN. Though one can realize the freeze-in mechanism for an abelian $U(1)_X$ vector DM models as well, we find that the non-abelian structure of the $SU(2)_{\rm HS}$ scenario leads to a distinct feature due to a larger number of dark matter particles, resulting in an enlarged viable parameter space due to the multiplicity of dark matter states.

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LHC signatures of a light pseudoscalar in a flipped two-Higgs scenario: the usefulness of boosted $b{\bar b}$ pairs

Similar to some other two-Higgs doublet models (2HDM), the flipped 2HDM admits of a light pseudoscalar physical state whose mass can be well below 50 GeV. The fact that the pseudoscalar decays dominantly into a $b{\bar b}$ pair makes its identification at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) difficult. Moreover, the regions of the parameter space corresponding to a light pseudoscalar tend to jeopardize perturbativity at a rather low scale. One possibility that ameliorates this problem is to postulate that the light physical state has the admixture of an SU(2) singlet field. In such a situation, however, the production mode of the pseudoscalar along with a $Z$ (which provides a useful tag) gets suppressed. We have here chosen to fall back on the QCD-driven final state, namely, one or two jets, together with an energetic squeezed $b{\bar b}$-pair. We utilize boosted di-b-jet tagging techniques and a strategy based on boosted decision trees (BDT) to analyze the signals, considering all backgrounds and likely fakes (mostly from charmed quarks). We find that, including 10\% systematics, one can expect signal significance of 5-10$\sigma$ with an integrated luminosity of 3 $ab^{-1}$.

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Chasing Long-Lived Doubly Charged Scalars at Future Lepton Colliders

We come up with a novel search strategy for long-lived doubly charged scalars at future proposed lepton colliders. The doubly charged scalar studied in this work belongs to an $SU(2)_L$ complex scalar triplet that accounts for tiny neutrino masses via the Type-II Seesaw mechanism. For scalar masses $\lesssim 200 $ GeV and appropriate values of the triplet vacuum expectation value, this state can be long-lived and decay predominantly into like-sign muon pairs (e.g. $\mu^+\mu^+ $ or $\mu^-\mu^-$), producing distinctive displaced-vertex signals. We investigate the pair production of these scalars at the International Linear Collider (ILC) and a prospective muon collider, considering their planned center-of-mass energies. Incorporating theoretical and experimental constraints, we study the resulting signature of four leptons accompanied by missing transverse energy. Displaced vertices offer direct evidence of the scalar's long lifetime, while we further show that the invariant mass distribution of same-sign dilepton pairs serves as a powerful complementary probe for discovering doubly charged Higgs bosons at both the ILC and muon collider.

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ALP and $Z^\prime$ boson at the Electron-Ion collider

We study the sensitivity of the upcoming electron-ion (EIC) collider to purely electrophilic new physics in the GeV mass range. Within an effective field theory framework, we consider two different scenarios: an axion-like particle (ALP) and a new heavy neutral vector gauge boson $Z^\prime $, each couples to electrons only. We analyze electron-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}= 141$ GeV with an integrated luminosity of $100~{\rm fb}^{-1}$, focusing primarily on the tri-electron final state. Additionally, loop-induced ALP-photon couplings driven photon final states are also explored. Incorporating realistic detector effects and systematic uncertainties, we obtain projected exclusion limits on the relevant cross-sections and couplings. We find that the results from EIC can significantly extend the sensitivity to electrophilic axion-like particles and $Z^\prime $ bosons in regions of parameter space that remain weakly constrained by existing experiments.

hep-ph

Complex Scalar Singlet Model: Electroweak Phase Transition and Gravitational Waves

The Standard Model (SM) cannot explain the observed baryon asymmetry of the Universe (BAU), thus driving the need for physics beyond the SM, which can generate electroweak baryogenesis through a strong first-order electroweak phase transition (SFOPT). We extend the SM with a complex singlet scalar (cxSM) and examine the phase transition behavior using a fully general renormalizable scalar potential that permits a complex vacuum expectation value for the singlet and coupled dynamics among multiple scalar fields. Employing the one-loop thermal effective potential with daisy resummation and appropriate counter terms, we conduct an extensive scan of the parameter space, enforcing both theoretical and experimental limits on the scalar sector. This analysis reveals viable domains yielding SFOPT. From these regions, we select representative benchmark scenarios demonstrating multi-stage transitions, producing stochastic gravitational wave signals via bubble nucleation dynamics. The resulting spectra lie within the projected sensitivity of next-generation observatories, including LISA, BBO, DECIGO, and U-DECIGO. Thus, the cxSM offers a compelling setting for electroweak baryogenesis, enriched by correlated gravitational-wave and collider phenomenology.

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Impact of Non-Thermal Leptogenesis with Early Matter Domination on Gravitational Waves from First-order Phase Transition

We study the impact of non-thermal leptogenesis on the spectrum of gravitational waves (GWs) produced by a strong first-order phase transition in the early Universe. We consider a scenario in which a heavy scalar field, $\phi$, dominates the energy density of the early Universe and decays into heavy right-handed neutrinos (RHNs). The subsequent decay of RHNs generates a lepton asymmetry, which is partially converted into the observed baryon asymmetry via the sphaleron process. The $\phi$-dominated era and the entropy injection from the decays of $\phi$ and RHNs leave characteristic imprints on the GW spectrum, such as damping and modified frequency dependence, that distinguish it from the standard cosmological evolution. We identify the parameter space in which non-thermal leptogenesis is successful, leading to distinctive GW spectral features. We show that these GW signals can fall within the sensitivity ranges of future detectors such as ET, DECIGO and BBO. If observed, they would provide valuable insights into the thermal history and dynamics of the early Universe.

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Vector Dark Matter in a $U(1)_X$ extended 2HDM

We investigate the possibility of having a vector boson dark matter in a $U(1)_X$ extended two-Higgs-doublet model (2HDM) setup. The gauge boson gains mass when a SM singlet complex scalar, which is charged under the dark $U(1)_X$ symmetry, acquires vacuum expectation value (\textit{vev}). This scalar acts as the connection between the SM sector and DM via the Higgs portal. An additional exact charge conjugation symmetry inhibits the mixing of this gauge boson with the photon, thereby confirming the stability of DM. On the other hand, 2HDM with Type I $Z_2$ restriction can offer a non-standard Higgs in the lighter mass range. This freedom allows us to accommodate dark matter mass in the (40-60) GeV regime where the direct detection constraints are strongest. We study the dark matter phenomenology of such a model while taking care of all possible theoretical and experimental constraints.

hep-ph

Probing the low mass pseudoscalar in flipped Two Higgs Doublet Model

The phenomenology of the flipped two-Higgs-doublet model (2HDM) is relatively less explored so far, as compared to the other, commonly discussed, types. It is found that this scenario, like several others, admits of a light neutral pseudoscalar $A$ in the mass range 20 - 60 GeV, consistently with all current experimental data and theoretical constraints. However, the fact that such a pseudoscalar decays overwhelmingly into a $b\bar{b}$ pair makes its identification at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) a challenging task. After identifying the region of the flipped 2HDM parameter space yielding a light pseudoscalar, we identify a useful search channel in the process $pp \rightarrow A Z(Z^{*}) \rightarrow b\bar{b} \ell^+ \ell^-$. A cut-based analysis, followed by one based on Boosted Decision Trees, shows that the light-$A$ scenario in flipped 2HDM should be detectable with rather high statistical significance at the high-luminosity LHC run, even after including systematic uncertainties. Furthermore, part of the parameter space, especially around $m_A = 30 - 40$ GeV is amenable to detection at the discovery level within Run-2 itself.

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Constraints on lepton flavor universal and non-universal New Physics in $b\, \to\, s\, \ell^+ \ell^-$ decays: a global SMEFT survey

The flavor-changing neutral current semileptonic decays of $B$ mesons provide an excellent platform for indirectly probing New Physics (NP) beyond the Standard Model (SM). Recent measurements of lepton flavor universality (LFU) ratios such as $R_K$, $R_{K^*}$, and $R_\phi$ are consistent with SM predictions, thereby reducing earlier hints of LFU violation. Nevertheless, notable tensions persist in individual branching fractions -- for instance $\mathcal{B}(B^+ \to K^+ \mu^+ \mu^-)$ and $\mathcal{B}(B^+ \to K^+ e^+ e^-)$, which deviate at the $4\sigma$--$5\sigma$ level in the low-$q^2$ region ($[1.1,6]$ GeV$^2$). Similarly, the angular observable $P'_5$ in $B \to K^{*} \mu^+ \mu^-$ shows a $3.3\sigma$ deviation, while $\mathcal{B}(B_s \to \phi \mu^+ \mu^-)$ departs from the SM by $3.6\sigma$. Although such discrepancies could in principle originate from underestimated hadronic effects, they may also indicate possible NP contributions. In this work, we perform a global fit to the latest $b \to s \ell^+ \ell^-$ data within the framework of dimension-6 SMEFT operators. Our analysis systematically incorporates hadronic uncertainties from form factors, non-factorizable corrections, and input parameters, thereby providing a balanced assessment of the NP interpretation. We allow for NP contributions not only in $b \to s \mu^+ \mu^-$ transitions but also in $b \to s e^+ e^-$ channels, thus testing both lepton flavor universal (LFU) and lepton flavor universality violating (LFUV) NP scenarios. The interplay between these possibilities yields distinctive signatures in branching fractions, angular observables, and $\Delta$-observables, offering a comprehensive view of the current flavor anomalies.

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Probing Light Particles With Optically Trapped Sensors Through Nucleon Scattering

Optically levitated nanospheres are highly sensitive to the motion of their center of mass even under small momentum transfer. We propose detecting exotic particles via nucleon scattering in such spheres in the context of an ongoing experiment. The 200 nm-diameter spheres within the present experimental realization, featuring a configuration of the array $4\times 4$ and its upgrade, can achieve sensitivity to nuclear couplings of ALPs exclusively and pseudoscalar dark matter in the $\sim 10$ keV mass range, targeting previously unconstrained regions of parameter space. In contrast, a smaller sphere with a diameter of 15 nm benefits from overall coherence enhancement, enabling the detection of pseudoscalar and vector dark matter down to $\mathcal{O}(100)$ eV even with a single sphere. This smaller setup also offers the potential for the direct detection of Earth-bound dark matter strongly coupled with visible matter, even with its minimal velocity and tiny fractional abundance.

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Boosted Dark Matter Driven by Cosmic Rays and Diffuse Supernova Neutrinos

Direct detection of light dark matter can be significantly enhanced by up-scattering of dark matter with energetic particles in the cosmic ambient. This boosted dark matter flux can reach kinetic energies up to tens of MeV, while the typical kinetic energies of GeV mass dark matter particles in the Milky Way halo are of the order of keV. Dark matter boosted by energetic diffuse supernova background neutrinos can be detected only through nuclear or electron scattering in ground-based detectors requiring a non-zero interaction of dark matter with nucleon or electron, in addition to its interaction with neutrino. However, in the presence of dark matter-nucleon (electron) interaction, the scattering of dark matter with cosmic rays is unavoidable. Thus, we consider boosted dark matter resulting from diffuse supernova neutrinos as well as cosmic protons (electrons) considering both energy-dependent and energy-independent scattering cross-sections between dark matter and standard model particles. We explore this scenario in dark matter detectors such as XENONnT and neutrino detectors like Super-Kamiokande.

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A singlet scalar assisted $N_{2}$ Leptogenesis and Pseudo-Scalar Dark Matter

We study the Leptogenesis and Dark Matter in the presence of an extra singlet complex scalar field in an extended discrete $\mathcal{Z_{\rm 3}}$ symmetry. The vacuum expectation value of the new scalar spontaneously breaks the $\mathcal{Z_{\rm 3}}$ symmetry. A remnant CP-like $\mathcal{Z_{\rm 2}}$ symmetry stabilizes the imaginary part of the complex scalar field which can act as a pseudo-Goldstone DM. The real part of the complex scalar couples to RHN opens up new decay channels which can lead to a larger CP-violation in generating the lepton asymmetry. Thus the singlet complex scalar plays a crucial role in understanding the Leptogenesis and Dark Matter parameter space. This singlet complex scalar is also responsible for the First-Order Phase Transition (FOPT) which may provide observable stochastic Gravitational wave signatures. We discuss the possible correlations among these three phenomena.

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Hubble Tension and Cosmological Imprints of $U(1)_X$ Gauge Symmetry: $U(1)_{B_3-3 L_i}$ as a case study

The current upper limit on $N_{\rm eff}$ at the time of CMB by Planck 2018 can place stringent constraints in the parameter space of BSM paradigms where their additional interactions may affect neutrino decoupling. Motivated by this fact in this paper we explore the consequences of light gauge boson ($Z'$) emerging from local $U(1)_X$ symmetry in $N_{\rm eff}$ at the time of CMB. First, we analyze the generic $U(1)_X$ models with arbitrary charge assignments for the SM fermions and show that, in the context of $N_{\rm eff}$ the generic $U(1)_X$ gauged models can be broadly classified into two categories, depending on the charge assignments of first generation leptons. We then perform a detailed analysis with two specific $U(1)_X$ models: $U(1)_{B_3-3L_e}$ and $U(1)_{B_3-3L_μ}$ and explore the contribution in $N_{\rm eff}$ due to the presence of $Z'$ realized in those models. For comparison, we also showcase the constraints from low energy experiments like: Borexino, Xenon 1T, neutrino trident, etc. We show that in a specific parameter space, particularly in the low mass region of $Z'$, the bound from $N_{\rm eff}$ (Planck 2018) is more stringent than the experimental constraints. Additionally, a part of the regions of the same parameter space may also relax the $H_0$ tension.

hep-ph

The $N_{\rm eff}$ at CMB challenges $U(1)_X$ light gauge boson scenarios

The relativistic degrees of freedom ($N_{\rm eff}$) is one of the crucial cosmological parameters. The precise measurement of $N_{\rm eff}$ at the time of cosmic microwave background formation, by Planck 2018 can be used to understand the new fundamental interactions, in particular involving light mediators. Presence of any new particle with sufficient energy density and sizeable interactions with Standard Model particles at the temperature around $\sim$ MeV can significantly alter the neutrino decoupling and hence $N_{\rm eff}$. Thus the bound on $N_{\rm eff}$ can place stringent constraints on various beyond Standard Model paradigms involving light particles. $U(1)_X$ models are among such scenarios and are widely studied in several aspects. In this work, we consider several popular $U(1)_X$ models with light $Z'$ boson like $U(1)_{B-L}$, $U(1)_{B - 3L_i}$, $U(1)_{B_i - 3 L_j}$, $U(1)_{L_i - L_j}$; $i,j =1,2,3$ being the flavour indices and study their impact on $N_{\rm eff}$. We also examine the constraints from ground based experiments like Xenon1T, Borexino, trident, etc. Our analysis shows that for light mass $M_{Z'} \lesssim \mathcal{O} (\rm{MeV})$ the $N_{\rm eff}$ provides the most stringent constraints on the $Z'$ mass and coupling, far exceeding the existing constraints from other experiments.

hep-ph

Electroweak Phase Transition in Two Scalar Singlet Model with pNGB Dark Matter

We investigate the dynamics of the electroweak phase transition within an extended Standard Model framework that includes one real scalar $(\Phi)$ and one complex scalar $(S)$, both of which are SM gauge singlets. The global $U(1)$ symmetry is softly broken to a $\mathcal{Z}_3$ symmetry by the $S^3$ term in the scalar potential. After this $U(1)$ symmetry breaking, the imaginary component of the complex scalar $(S)$ acts as a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson (pNGB) dark matter candidate, naturally stabilized by $\mathcal{Z}_2$ symmetry of the scenario. Specially, the spontaneous breaking of the global $U(1)$ symmetry to a discrete $\mathcal{Z}_3$ subgroup can introduce effective cubic terms in the scalar potential, which facilitates a strong first-order phase transition. We analyze both single-step and multi-step first-order phase transitions, identifying the parameter space that satisfies the dark matter relic density constraints, complies with all relevant experimental constraints, and exhibits a strong first-order electroweak phase transition. The interplay of these criteria significantly restricts the model parameter space, often leading to an under-abundant relic density. Moreover, we delve into the gravitational wave signatures associated with this framework, offering valuable insights that complement traditional dark matter direct and indirect detection methods.

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Searching for exotic Higgs bosons from top quark decays at the HL-LHC

Exotic spin-$0$ states with unusual couplings with the gauge and matter fields of the Standard Model are worth exploring at the CERN LHC. Though our approach is largely model independent, we take inspiration from flavor models based on some discrete symmetries which predict a set of a scalar and a pseudoscalar having purely off-diagonal Yukawa interactions with quarks and leptons. In a previous paper, some of us explored how to decipher such exotic scalar and pseudoscalar states whose off-diagonal Yukawa couplings involve light quarks. In this work we follow a complementary path and focus on the Yukawa couplings that necessarily involve a top quark. If one such spin-$0$ state is lighter than the top quark, then the rare decay of the latter, on account of the high yield of the $t\bar t$ events, could provide a potential hunting ground of those exotic states particularly during the high luminosity phase of the LHC run. We carry out an exhaustive collider analysis of some promising signatures of those exotic states using sophisticated Machine Learning techniques and obtain considerable signal significance.

hep-ph

Exploring the Dark Sector of the inspired FNSM at the LHC

We establish the possibility of having a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson (pNGB) Dark Matter (DM) candidate in the inspired Froggatt-Nielsen Singlet Model (iFNSM) wherein a direct connection exists between the DM mass and new flavon symmetry-breaking scale. We find a considerable allowed region of parameter space for the ensuing pseudoscalar DM, which is dependent upon the flavon Vacuum Expectation Value (VEV) and Yukawa couplings, over which it may be possible to explain the fermion mass hierarchy. Finally, we choose a Benchmark Point (BP) and perform detailed collider analyses to probe this DM state in the context of Run 3 of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Specifically, in this model, one obtains large missing transverse energy ($\slashed{E}_T$) when the DM particle is resonantly produced from the decay of a heavy Higgs field, along with multiple jets from Initial State Radiation (ISR). Thus, the ensuing $\slashed{E}_T$ + $n\, {\rm jets}~(n \geq 1)$ signature is an excellent probe of DM in this construct.

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