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Elizabeth H. Simmons

Publications and source records attributed to Elizabeth H. Simmons.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
arXiv2006

A Three Site Higgsless Model

We analyze the spectrum and properties of a highly-deconstructed Higgsless model with only three sites. Such a model contains sufficient complexity to incorporate interesting physics issues related to fermion masses and electroweak observables, yet remains simple enough that it could be encoded in a Matrix Element Generator program for use with Monte Carlo simulations. The gauge sector of this model is equivalent to that of the BESS model; the new physics of interest here lies in the fermion sector. We analyze the form of the fermion Yukawa couplings required to produce the ideal fermion delocalization that causes tree-level precision electroweak corrections to vanish. We discuss the size of one-loop corrections to b \to s γ, the weak-isospin violating parameter αT and the decay Z \to b \bar{b}. We find that the new fermiophobic vector states (the analogs of the gauge-boson KK modes in a continuum model) can be reasonably light, with a mass as low as 380 GeV, while the extra (approximately vectorial) quark and lepton states (the analogs of the fermion KK modes) must be heavier than 1.8 TeV.

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arXiv2005

Ideal Fermion Delocalization in Five Dimensional Gauge Theories

We discuss ideal delocalization of fermions in a bulk SU(2) x SU(2) x U(1) Higgsless model with a flat or warped extra dimension. So as to make an extra dimensional interpretation possible, both the weak and hypercharge properties of the fermions are delocalized, with the U(1)_Y current of left-handed fermions being correlated with the SU(2)_W current. We find that (to subleading order) ideal fermion delocalization yields vanishing precision electroweak corrections in this continuum model, as found in corresponding theory space models based on deconstruction. In addition to explicit calculations, we present an intuitive argument for our results based on Georgi's spring analogy. We also discuss the conditions under which the essential features of an SU(2) x SU(2) x U(1) bulk gauge theory can be captured by a simpler SU(2) x SU(2) model.

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arXiv2005

Multi-Gauge-Boson Vertices and Chiral Lagrangian Parameters in Higgsless Models with Ideal Fermion Delocalization

Higgsless models with fermions whose SU(2) properties are "ideally delocalized," such that the fermion's probability distribution is appropriately related to the W boson wavefunction, have been shown to minimize deviations in precision electroweak parameters. As contributions to the S parameter vanish to leading order, current constraints on these models arise from limits on deviations in multi-gauge-boson vertices. We compute the form of the triple and quartic gauge boson vertices in these models and show that these constraints provide lower bounds only of order a few hundred GeV on the masses of the lightest KK resonances. Higgsless models with ideal fermion delocalization provide an example of extended electroweak gauge interactions with suppressed couplings of fermions to extra gauge-bosons, and these are the only models for which triple-gauge-vertex measurements provide meaningful constraints. We relate the multi-gauge couplings to parameters of the electroweak chiral Lagrangian, and the parameters obtained in these SU(2) x SU(2) models apply equally to the corresponding five dimensional gauge theory models of QCD. We also discuss the collider phenomenology of the KK resonances in models with ideal delocalization. These resonances are found to be fermiophobic, therefore traditional direct collider searches are not sensitive to them and measurements of gauge-boson scattering will be needed to find them.

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arXiv2005

The Meaning of Higgs: tau^+ tau^- and gamma gamma at the Tevatron and the LHC

In this paper we discuss how to extract information about physics beyond the Standard Model (SM) from searches for a light SM Higgs at Tevatron Run II and CERN LHC. We demonstrate that new (pseudo)scalar states predicted in both supersymmetric and dynamical models can have enhanced visibility in standard Higgs search channels, making them potentially discoverable at Tevatron Run II and CERN LHC. We discuss the likely sizes of the enhancements in the various search channels for each model and identify the model features having the largest influence on the degree of enhancement. We compare the key signals for the non-standard scalars across models and also with expectations in the SM, to show how one could start to identify which state has actually been found. In particular, we suggest the likely mass reach of the Higgs search in p pbar/pp to H to tau^+tau^- for each kind of non-standard scalar state and we demonstrate that p pbar/pp to H to gamma gamma may cleanly distinguish the scalars of supersymmetric models from those of dynamical models.

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arXiv2005

Deconstructed Higgsless Models with One-Site Delocalization

In this note we calculate the form of electroweak corrections in deconstructed Higgsless models for the case of a fermion whose weak properties arise from two adjacent SU(2) groups on the deconstructed lattice. We show that, as recently proposed in the continuum, it is possible for the value of the electroweak parameter alpha S to be small in such a model. In addition, by working in the deconstructed limit, we may directly evaluate the size of off-Z-pole electroweak corrections arising from the exchange of Kaluza-Klein modes; this has not been studied in the continuum. The size of these corrections is summarized by the electroweak parameter alpha delta. In one-site delocalized Higgsless models with small values of alpha S, we show that the amount of delocalization is bounded from above, and must be less than 25% at 95% CL. We discuss the relation of these calculations to our previous calculations in deconstructed Higgsless models, and to models of extended technicolor. We present numerical results for a four-site model, illustrating our analytic calculations.

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arXiv2005

Ideal Fermion Delocalization in Higgsless Models

In this note we examine the properties of deconstructed Higgsless models for the case of a fermion whose SU(2) properties arise from delocalization over many sites of the deconstructed lattice. We derive expressions for the correlation functions and use these to establish a generalized consistency relation among correlation functions. We discuss the form of the W boson wavefunction and show that if the probability distribution of the delocalized fermions is appropriately related to the W wavefunction, then deviations in precision electroweak parameters are minimized. In particular, we show that this "ideal fermion delocalization" results in the vanishing of three of the four leading zero-momentum electroweak parameters defined by Barbieri, et. al. We then discuss ideal fermion delocalization in the context of two continuum Higgsless models, one in Anti-deSitter space and one in flat space. Our results may be applied to any Higgsless linear moose model with multiple SU(2) groups, including those with only a few extra vector bosons.

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arXiv2004

Universal Non-Oblique Corrections in Higgsless Models and Beyond

Recently Barbieri, et al. have introduced a formalism to express the deviations of electroweak interactions from their standard model forms in "universal" theories, i.e. theories in which the corrections due to new physics can be expressed solely by modifications to the two-point correlation function of electroweak gauge currents of fermions. The parameters introduced by these authors are defined by the properties of the correlation functions at zero momentum, and differ from the quantities calculated by examining the on-shell properties of the electroweak gauge bosons. In this letter we discuss the relationship between the zero-momentum and on-shell parameters. In addition, we present the results of a calculation of these zero-momentum parameters in an arbitrary Higgsless model in which the low-energy rho parameter is one and which can be deconstructed to a linear chain of SU(2) groups adjacent to a chain of U(1) groups. Our results demonstrate the importance of the universal "non-oblique" corrections which are present and elucidate the relationships among various calculations of electroweak quantities in these models. Our expressions for these zero-momentum parameters depend only on the spectrum of heavy vector-boson masses; therefore, the minimum size of the deviations present in these models is related to the upper bound on the heavy vector-boson masses derived from unitarity. We find that these models are disfavored by precision electroweak data, independent of any assumptions about the background metric or the behavior of the bulk coupling.

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arXiv2004

Electroweak Corrections and Unitarity in Linear Moose Models

We calculate the form of the corrections to the electroweak interactions in the class of Higgsless models which can be "deconstructed'' to a chain of SU(2) gauge groups adjacent to a chain of U(1) gauge groups, and with the fermions coupled to any single SU(2) group and to any single U(1) group along the chain. The primary advantage of our technique is that the size of corrections to electroweak processes can be directly related to the spectrum of vector bosons ("KK modes"). In Higgsless models, this spectrum is constrained by unitarity. Our methods also allow for arbitrary background 5-D geometry, spatially dependent gauge-couplings, and brane kinetic energy terms. We find that, due to the size of corrections to electroweak processes in any unitary theory, Higgsless models with localized fermions are disfavored by precision electroweak data. Although we stress our results as they apply to continuum Higgsless 5-D models, they apply to any linear moose model including those with only a few extra vector bosons. Our calculations of electroweak corrections also apply directly to the electroweak gauge sector of 5-D theories with a bulk scalar Higgs boson; the constraints arising from unitarity do not apply in this case.

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arXiv2004

Oblique Corrections in Deconstructed Higgsless Models

In this talk, using deconstruction, we analyze the form of the corrections to the electroweak interactions in a large class of ``Higgsless'' models of electroweak symmetry breaking, allowing for arbitrary 5-D geometry, position-dependent gauge coupling, and brane kinetic energy terms. Many models considered in the literature, including those most likely to be phenomenologically viable, are in this class. By analyzing the asymptotic behavior of the correlation function of gauge currents at high momentum, we extract the exact form of the relevant correlation functions at tree-level and compute the corrections to precision electroweak observables in terms of the spectrum of heavy vector bosons. We determine when nonoblique corrections due to the interactions of fermions with the heavy vector bosons become important, and specify the form such interactions can take. In particular we find that in this class of models, so long as the theory remains unitary, S - 4 c^2_W T > O(1), where S and T are the usual oblique parameters.

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arXiv2004

The Structure of Corrections to Electroweak Interactions in Higgsless Models

Recently, ``Higgsless'' models of electroweak symmetry breaking have been proposed. Based on compactified five-dimensional gauge theories, these models achieve unitarity of electroweak boson self-interactions through the exchange of a tower of massive vector bosons rather than the exchange of a scalar Higgs boson. In this paper, using deconstruction, we analyze the form of the corrections to the electroweak interactions in a large class of these models, allowing for arbitrary 5-D geometry, position-dependent gauge coupling, and brane kinetic energy terms. We show that many models considered in the literature, including those most likely to be phenomenologically viable, are in this class. By analyzing the asymptotic behavior of the correlation function of gauge currents at high momentum, we extract the exact form of the relevant correlation functions at tree-level and compute the corrections to precision electroweak observables in terms of the spectrum of heavy vector bosons. We determine when nonoblique corrections due to the interactions of fermions with the heavy vector bosons become important, and specify the form such interactions can take. In particular we find that in this class of models, so long as the theory remains unitary, S-4 c^2__W T > O(1), where S and T are the usual oblique parameters. We concur with the result of Cacciapaglia et.al. that small or negative S is possible -- though only at the expense of substantial negative T at tree-level. Although we stress our results as they apply to continuum 5-D models, they apply also to models of extended electroweak gauge symmetries motivated by models of hidden local symmetry.

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arXiv2003

Strong Dynamics and Electroweak Symmetry Breaking

The breaking of the electroweak symmetry, and origin of the associated ``weak scale,'' may be due to a new strong interaction. Theoretical developments over the past decade have led to viable models and mechanisms that are consistent with current experimental data. Many of these schemes feature a privileged role for the top quark, and third generation, and are natural in the context of theories of extra space dimensions at the weak scale. We review various models and their phenomenological implications which will be subject to definitive tests in future collider runs at the Tevatron, the LHC, and future linear electron-positron colliders, as well as sensitive studies of rare processes.

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arXiv2002

Flavor Physics and Fine-Tuning in Theory Space

Recently a new class of composite Higgs models have been developed which give rise to naturally light Higgs bosons without supersymmetry. Based on the chiral symmetries of ``theory space,'' involving replicated gauge groups and appropriate gauge symmetry breaking patterns, these models allow the scale of the underlying strong dynamics giving rise to the composite particles to be as large as of order 10 TeV, without any fine tuning to prevent large corrections to Higgs boson mass(es) of order 100 GeV. In this note we show that the size of flavor violating interactions arising generically from underlying flavor dynamics constrain the scale of the Higgs boson compositeness to be greater than of order 75 TeV, implying that significant fine-tuning is required. Without fine-tuning, the low-energy structure of the composite Higgs model alone is not sufficient to eliminate potential problems with flavor-changing neutral currents or excessive CP violation; solving those problems requires additional information or assumptions about the symmetries of the underlying flavor or strong dynamics. We also consider the weaker, but more model-independent, bounds which arise from limits on weak isospin violation.

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arXiv2002

Resonant and Non-Resonant Effects in Photon-Technipion Production at Lepton Colliders

Lepton collider experiments can search for light technipions in final states made striking by the presence of an energetic photon: $e+e- \to \photon\technipion$. To date, searches have focused on either production through anomalous coupling of the technipions to electroweak gauge bosons or on production through a technivector meson (\technirho, \techniomega) resonance. This paper creates a combined framework in which both contributions are included. This will allow stronger and more accurate limits on technipion production to be set using existing data from LEP or future data from a higher-energy linear collider. We provide explicit formulas and sample calculations (analytic and Pythia) in the framework of the Technicolor Straw Man Model, a model that includes light technihadrons.

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arXiv2001

Limitations of B-meson mixing bounds on technicolor theories

Recent work by Burdman, Lane, and Rador has shown that B-meson mixing places stringent lower bounds on the masses of topgluons and Z' bosons in classic topcolor-assisted technicolor (TC2) models. This paper finds analogous limits on the Z' bosons of flavor-universal TC2 and non-commuting extended technicolor models, and compares the limits with those from precision electroweak measurements. A discussion of the flavor structure of these models (contrasted with that of classic TC2) shows that B-meson mixing is a less reliable probe of these models than of classic TC2.

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arXiv2001

Technicolor Evolution

This talk describes how modern theories of dynamical electroweak symmetry breaking have evolved from the original minimal QCD-like technicolor model in response to three key challenges: R_b, flavor-changing neutral currents, and weak isospin violation.

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arXiv2001

Two-gluon coupling and collider phenomenology of color-octet technirho mesons

It has recently been suggested that gauge invariance forbids the coupling of a massive color-octet vector meson to two gluons. While this is true for operators in an effective Lagrangian of dimension four or less, we demonstrate that dimension six interactions will lead to such couplings. In the case of technicolor, the result is a technirho-gluon-gluon coupling comparable to the naive vector meson dominance estimate, but with a substantial uncertainty. This has implications for several recent studies of technicolor phenomenology.

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