arXiv subjects

F. Mahmoudi

Publications and source records attributed to F. Mahmoudi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

Searching for New Physics with $B^{0} \to K^{*0} μ^+ μ^-$

One of the main indications for New Physics in rare $B$-decays is deduced from the tension between experimental and Standard Model predictions of the angular analysis of the $B^0 \to K^{*0} μ^+μ^-$ decay. There are however possible non-local hadronic effects which in principle can also explain these tensions. In this work, we consider a statistical approach for differentiating the source of the tension in $B^0 \to K^{*0} μ^+μ^-$ observables and we also investigate the prospects of such a comparison with future data from the LHCb experiment.

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arXiv2020

MARTY -- Modern ARtificial Theoretical phYsicist: A C++ framework automating symbolic calculations Beyond the Standard Model

Studies Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) will become more and more important in the near future with a rapidly increasing amount of data from different experiments around the world. The full study of BSM models is in general an extremely time-consuming task involving long and difficult calculations. It is in practice not possible to do exhaustive predictions in these models by hand, in particular if one wants to perform a statistical comparison with data and the SM. Here we present MARTY (Modern ARtificial Theoretical phYsicist), a new C++ framework that fully automates calculations from the Lagrangian to physical quantities such as amplitudes or cross-sections. This framework can fully simplify, automatically and symbolically, physical quantities in a very large variety of models. MARTY can also compute Wilson coefficients in effective theories. This will considerably facilitate the study of BSM models in flavor physics. Contrary to the existing public codes in this field MARTY aims to give a unique, free, open-source, powerful and user-friendly tool for high-energy physicists studying predictive BSM models, in effective or full theories up to the 1-loop level, which does not rely on any external package. With a few lines of code one can gather final expressions that may be evaluated numerically for statistical analysis. Features like automatic generation and manual edition of Feynman diagrams, comprehensive manual and documentation, clear and easy to handle user interface are amongst notable features of MARTY.

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arXiv2020

MARTY, a new C++ framework for automated symbolic calculations in Beyond the Standard Model physics

Theoretical calculations Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) constitute a challenge for high energy physicists, but are necessary when searching for New Physics. The predictions of a BSM scenario need to be compared with experimental data and the Standard Model values in order to identify the model that fits better what we observe in particle colliders. BSM predictions require very involved and error prone calculations of amplitudes, cross-sections and Wilson coefficients. Calculations at the one-loop level are often necessary for these quantities since some phenomenologically important processes may not occur at tree-level, such as Flavor Changing Neutral Currents (FCNC) in flavor physics that vanish at the tree-level. One-loop calculations have to be done analytically which is very time consuming and in practice rarely done for general BSM models. Here we present MARTY, a public and open-source C++ code. MARTY is the very first independent program able to calculate automatically amplitudes, squared amplitudes and Wilson coefficients at the one-loop level for general BSM models. This type of calculations requires a computer algebra system and could only be done, up to now, using Mathematica, a commercial and closed software for symbolic manipulations. MARTY does not rely on Mathematica since it re-implements its own computer algebra system also in C++, called CSL. MARTY will considerably ease BSM studies as by automating the analytical calculations the main task of the user would be the model building part. Once interfaced with other phenomenological codes in particle physics, MARTY will be incredibly efficient to make detailed predictions for general BSM models automatically.

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arXiv2020

On the new LHCb angular analysis of $B \to K^* μ^+ μ^-$: Hadronic effects or New Physics?

The new angular analysis of the decay $B \to K^* \ell^+ \ell^-$ recently presented by the LHCb Collaboration still indicates some tensions with the Standard Model predictions. There are several ongoing analyses to solve the problem of separating hadronic and New Physics effects in this decay, but the significance of the observed tensions in the angular observables in $B \to K^* μ^+μ^-$ is still dependent on a theory guesstimate of the hadronic contributions to these decays. Using the new data from LHCb we offer two tests which make a statistical comparison to determine whether the most favoured explanation of the anomalies is New Physics or underestimated hadronic effects. We then analyse the usefulness of these tests in two future scenarios. Finally, we update our global fits to all available $b \to s $ data and discuss the impact of the new LHCb measurements.

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arXiv2020

Exploring Supersymmetric CP Violation after LHC Run 2 with Electric Dipole Moments and B Observables

We consider the prospects for measuring distinctive signatures of the CP-violating phases in the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM) in light of the limits on sparticle masses from searches at the LHC. We use the CPsuperH code to evaluate model predictions and scan the parameter space using a geometric approach that maximizes CP-violating observables subject to the current upper limits on electric dipole moments (EDMs). We focus on the possible CP-violating asymmetry $A_{\rm CP}$ in $b \to s γ$ decay and on a possible CP-violating contribution to the $B_s - \overline{B}_s$ mass difference $ΔM^{NP}_{B_s}$, as well as future measurements of the EDMs of the proton, neutron and electron. We find that the current LHC and EDM limits are consistent with values of $A_{\rm CP}$, $ΔM^{NP}_{B_s}$ and the proton EDM that are measurable with the Belle-II detector, LHCb and a proposed measurement of the proton EDM using a storage ring, respectively. Measurement of a non-zero proton EDM would constrain $A_{\rm CP}$ significantly, but it and a CP-violating contribution to $ΔM^{NP}_{B_s}$ could still be measurable, along with neutron and electron EDMs. A more accurate measurement of $A_{\rm CP}$ with the current central value would favour stop and chargino masses within reach of future LHC runs as well as a potentially measurable value of $ΔM^{NP}_{B_s}$.

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arXiv2019

The Belle II Physics Book

We present the physics program of the Belle II experiment, located on the intensity frontier SuperKEKB $e^+e^-$ collider. Belle II collected its first collisions in 2018, and is expected to operate for the next decade. It is anticipated to collect 50/ab of collision data over its lifetime. This book is the outcome of a joint effort of Belle II collaborators and theorists through the Belle II theory interface platform (B2TiP), an effort that commenced in 2014. The aim of B2TiP was to elucidate the potential impacts of the Belle II program, which includes a wide scope of physics topics: B physics, charm, tau, quarkonium, electroweak precision measurements and dark sector searches. It is composed of nine working groups (WGs), which are coordinated by teams of theorist and experimentalists conveners: Semileptonic and leptonic B decays, Radiative and Electroweak penguins, phi_1 and phi_2 (time-dependent CP violation) measurements, phi_3 measurements, Charmless hadronic B decay, Charm, Quarkonium(like), tau and low-multiplicity processes, new physics and global fit analyses. This book highlights "golden- and silver-channels", i.e. those that would have the highest potential impact in the field. Theorists scrutinised the role of those measurements and estimated the respective theoretical uncertainties, achievable now as well as prospects for the future. Experimentalists investigated the expected improvements with the large dataset expected from Belle II, taking into account improved performance from the upgraded detector.

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arXiv2019

Update on the b->s anomalies

We present a brief update of our model-independent analyses of the b->s data presented in the articles published in Phys. Rev. D96 (2017) 095034 and Phys. Rev. D98 (2018) 095027 based on new data on R_K by LHCb, on R_{K^*} by Belle, and on B_{s,d}-> mu^+ mu^- by ATLAS.

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arXiv2018

Supersymmetry, direct and indirect constraints

We present an overview of direct and indirect constraints in the MSSM, in CP-conserving and CP-violating MSSM scenarios, with some emphasis on the importance of combining the constraints from different sectors, namely SUSY and Higgs direct searches at the LHC, flavour physics, dark matter and electric dipole moments.

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arXiv2018

New global fits to $b \to s$ data with all relevant parameters

The LHCb experiment has made several measurements in $b \to s$ transitions which indicate tensions with the Standard Model predictions. Assuming the source of these tensions to be new physics, we present new global fits to all Wilson coefficients which can effectively receive beyond the Standard Model contributions. While the theoretically clean ratios $R_{K^{(*)}}$ which are sensitive to lepton flavour non-universality may unambiguously establish lepton non-universal new physics in the near future, most of the other tensions with the SM in the $b \to s$ data, in particular in the angular observables of the $B\to K^* μμ$ decay and in the branching ratio of the $B_s \to ϕμμ$ decay, depend on the estimates of non-factorisable power corrections. Therefore, we also analyse the dependence of the new global fit on these corrections.

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arXiv2018

SuperIso Relic new extensions for direct and indirect detection

SuperIso Relic is a public computing program for the calculation of flavour observables and relic density in supersymmetry (MSSM and NMSSM). We present new extensions of the code dedicated to the calculation of dark matter direct and indirect detection constraints from the latest experimental results. Contrary to most of the existing programs, this new version allows the user to consider straightforwardly the uncertainties related to nuclear form factors, dark matter density and velocity, as well as cosmic-ray propagation through the galactic medium. The user thus finds a direct way to calculate "conservative", "standard" or "stringent" constraints according to the chosen set of uncertainties. Some examplified results showing the impact of such uncertainties are also presented.

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arXiv2018

Dark matter and the early Universe

Big-Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) represents one of the earliest phenomena that can lead to observational constraints on the early Universe properties. It is well-known that many important mechanisms and phase transitions occurred before BBN. We discuss the possibility of gaining insight into the primordial Universe through studies of dark matter in cosmology, astroparticle physics and colliders. For this purpose, we assume that dark matter is a thermal relic, and show that combining collider searches with dark matter observables can lead to strong constraints on the period of freeze-out before BBN.

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arXiv2018

Status of the (p)MSSM Higgs sector

We present some highlights on the complementaries of the Higgs and SUSY searches at the LHC, using the 8 and 13 TeV results. In particular, we discuss the constraints that can be obtained on the MSSM parameters by the determination of the Higgs boson mass and couplings. In addition, we investigate the interplay with heavy Higgs searches, and evaluate how higher LHC luminosities and a future linear collider can help probing the pMSSM Higgs sector and reconstructing the underlying parameters.

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arXiv2018

Hadronic and New Physics Contributions to $b \to s$ Transitions

Assuming the source of the anomalies observed recently in $b \to s$ data to be new physics, there is a priori no reason to believe that - in the effective field theory language - only one type of operator is responsible for the tensions. We thus perform for the first time a global fit where all the Wilson coefficients which can effectively receive new physics contributions are considered, allowing for lepton flavour universality breaking effects as well as contributions from chirality flipped and scalar and pseudoscalar operators, and find the SM pull taking into account all effective parameters. As a result of the full fit to all available $b \to s$ data including all relevant Wilson coefficients, we obtain a total pull of 4.1$σ$ with the SM hypothesis assuming 10% error for the power corrections. Moreover, we make a statistical comparison to find whether the most favoured explanation of the anomalies is new physics or underestimated hadronic effects using the most general parameterisation which is fully consistent with the analyticity structure of the amplitudes. This Wilks' test will be a very useful tool to analyse the forthcoming $B\to K^* μ^+ μ^-$ data. Because the significance of the observed tensions in the angular observables in $B \to K^* μ^+μ^-$ is presently dependent on the theory estimation of the hadronic contributions to these decays, we briefly discuss the various available approaches for taking into account the long-distance hadronic effects and examine how the different estimations of these contributions result in distinct significance of the new physics interpretation of the observed anomalies.

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arXiv2018

Dark Matter Casts Light on the Early Universe

We show how knowledge of the cold dark matter (CDM) density can be used, in conjunction with measurements of the parameters of a scenario for beyond the Standard Model (BSM) physics, to provide information about the evolution of the Universe before Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN). As examples of non-standard evolution, we consider models with a scalar field that may decay into BSM particles, and quintessence models. We illustrate our calculations using various supersymmetric models as representatives of classes of BSM scenarios in which the CDM density is either larger or smaller than the observed density when the early Universe is assumed to be radiation-dominated. In the case of a decaying scalar field, we show how the CDM density can constrain the initial scalar density and the reheating temperature after it decays in BSM scenarios that would yield overdense dark matter in standard radiation-dominated cosmology, and how the decays of the scalar field into BSM particles can be constrained in scenarios that would otherwise yield underdense CDM. We also show how the early evolution of the quintessence field can be constrained in BSM scenarios.

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arXiv2018

The bulk Higgs in the Deformed RS Model

The Randall-Sundrum model with a deformed metric can generate light Kaluza-Klein (KK) Higgs modes consistent with the electroweak precision analysis for a certain range of parameters. The first KK mode of the Higgs ($h_{1}$) in such a model could lie in the mass range varying from 800 GeV to 1.3 TeV. We find that the $h_{1}$ is gaugephobic and decays dominantly into a $t\bar{t}$ pair. The search strategy for $h_{1}$ decaying to $t\bar{t}$ at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in this low mass range has been studies. We have used substructure tools to suppress the large QCD background associated with this channel. We find that $h_{1}$ can be probed at the LHC.

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arXiv2018

SuperIso Relic v4: A program for calculating dark matter and flavour physics observables in Supersymmetry

We describe SuperIso Relic, a public program for the calculation of dark matter relic density and direct and indirect detection rates, which includes in addition the SuperIso routines for the calculation of flavour physics observables. SuperIso Relic v4 incorporates many new features, namely the possibility of multiprocessor calculation of the relic density, new cosmological models, and the implementations of the calculation of the observables related to direct and indirect detection experiments. Furthermore, the new version includes an implementation of the nuclear and astrophysical uncertainties, from namely nuclear form factors, dark matter density and velocity, as well as cosmic ray propagation through the galactic medium.

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arXiv2018

Status of the Charged Higgs Boson in Two Higgs Doublet Models

The existence of charged Higgs boson(s) is inevitable in models with two (or more) Higgs doublets. Hence, their discovery would constitute unambiguous evidence for new physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). Taking into account all relevant results from direct charged and neutral Higgs boson searches at LEP and the LHC, as well as the most recent constraints from flavour physics, we present a detailed analysis of the current phenomenological status of the charged Higgs sector in a variety of well-motivated Two Higgs Doublet Models (2HDMs). We find that charged Higgs bosons as light as 75 GeV can still be compatible with the combined data, although this implies severely suppressed charged Higgs couplings to all fermions. In more popular models, e.g. the 2HDM of Type II, we find that flavour physics observables impose a combined lower limit on the charged Higgs mass of M_H+ > 600 GeV - independent of tan(beta) - which increases to M_H+ > 650 GeV for tan(beta) < 1. We furthermore find that in certain scenarios, the signature of a charged Higgs boson decaying into a lighter neutral Higgs boson and a W boson provides a promising experimental avenue that would greatly complement the existing LHC search programme for charged Higgs boson(s).

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arXiv2017

Robustness of dark matter constraints and interplay with collider searches for New Physics

We study the implications of dark matter searches, together with collider constraints, on the phenomenological MSSM with neutralino dark matter and focus on the consequences of the related uncertainties in some detail. We consider, inter alia, the latest results from AMS-02, Fermi-LAT and XENON1T. In particular, we examine the impact of the choice of the dark matter halo profile, as well as the propagation model for cosmic rays, for dark matter indirect detection and show that the constraints on the MSSM differ by one to two orders of magnitude depending on the astrophysical hypotheses. On the other hand, our limited knowledge of the local relic density in the vicinity of the Earth and the velocity of Earth in the dark matter halo leads to a factor 3 in the exclusion limits obtained by direct detection experiments. We identified the astrophysical models leading to the most conservative and the most stringent constraints and for each case studied the complementarities with the latest LHC measurements and limits from Higgs, SUSY and monojet searches. We show that combining all data from dark matter searches and colliders, a large fraction of our supersymmetric sample could be probed. Whereas the direct detection constraints are rather robust under the astrophysical assumptions, the uncertainties related to indirect detection can have an important impact on the number of the excluded points.

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