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F. Mahmoudi

Publications and source records attributed to F. Mahmoudi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
arXiv2017

Direct determination of Wilson coefficients using $B^0\to K^{*0}μ^+μ^-$ decays

A method to directly determine the Wilson coefficients for rare $b\to s$ transitions using $B^0\to K^{*0}μ^+μ^-$ decays in an unbinned maximum likelihood fit is presented. The method has several advantages compared to the conventional determination of the Wilson coefficients from angular observables that are determined in bins of $q^2$, the square of the mass of the dimuon system. The method uses all experimental information in an optimal way and automatically accounts for experimental correlations. Performing pseudoexperiments, we show the improved sensitivity of the proposed method for the Wilson coefficients. We also demonstrate that it will be possible to use the method with the combined Run 1 and 2 data sample taken by the LHCb experiment.

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arXiv2017

On lepton non-universality in exclusive $b\to s \ell\ell$ decays

The LHCb measurements of certain ratios of decay modes testing lepton flavour non-universality might open an exciting world of new physics beyond the standard model. The latest LHCb measurements of R_K* offer some new insight beyond the previous measurement of R_K. We work out the present significance for non-universality, and argue that claims of 5 sigma deviations from the SM based on all present b -> s l+l- data including the ratios are misleading and are at present still based on guesstimates of hadronic power corrections in the b -> s l+l- angular observables. We demonstrate that only a small part of the luminosity of 50 fb^-1 foreseen to be accumulated by the LHCb will be needed to offer soon a definite answer to the present question whether we see a very small glimpse of lepton flavour non-universal new physics or not. We also present new predictions for other ratios based on our analysis of the present measurements of the ratios R_K^(*) and analyse if they are able to differentiate between various new physics options within the effective field theory at present or in the near future.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2017

Dark matter and LHC: Complementarities and limitations

It is well known that dark matter density measurements, indirect and direct detection experiments, importantly complement the LHC in setting strong constraints on new physics scenarios. Yet, dark matter searches are subject to limitations which need to be considered for realistic analyses. For illustration, we explore the parameter space of the phenomenological MSSM and discuss the interplay of the constraints from dark matter searches and the LHC, and analyse the impact of the astrophysical uncertainties in some detail.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2017

Direct comparison of global fits to the B ->$ K^* $$μ^+μ^-$ data assuming hadronic corrections or new physics

The LHCb measurements on the B ->$ K^*$$μ^+ μ^-$ angular observables have shown slight deviations from their Standard Model predictions. The significance of the deviations in the B -> $K^*$$μ^+ μ^-$ decay depends on the assumptions on the size of the non-factorisable power corrections. At present, there are no theoretical predictions on the size of these power corrections in order to identify whether the reason behind these anomalies is due to unknown hadronic corrections or New Physics effects. We have performed a statistical comparison of fitting the data to each of the possible explanations.

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arXiv2017

Prospects for charged Higgs searches at the LHC

The goal of this report is to summarize the current situation and discuss possible search strategies for charged scalars, in non-supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model at the LHC. Such scalars appear in Multi-Higgs-Doublet models (MHDM), in particular in the popular Two-Higgs-Doublet model (2HDM), allowing for charged and additional neutral Higgs bosons. These models have the attractive property that electroweak precision observables are automatically in agreement with the Standard Model at the tree level. For the most popular version of this framework, Model~II, a discovery of a charged Higgs boson remains challenging, since the parameter space is becoming very constrained, and the QCD background is very high. We also briefly comment on models with dark matter which constrain the corresponding charged scalars that occur in these models. The stakes of a possible discovery of an extended scalar sector are very high, and these searches should be pursued in all conceivable channels, at the LHC and at future colliders.

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arXiv2017

Large hadronic power corrections or new physics in the rare decay B-->K* mu+ mu- ?

The well-known problem of the unknown power corrections within QCD improved factorisation leaves the interpretation of the so-called LHCb anomalies in the angular observables of B-->K* mu+ mu- as an open problem. In order to contribute to the question whether they represent a first sign for new physics beyond the Standard Model or a consequence of underestimated hadronic power corrections, we present a direct comparison of two global fits to the data based on the two different assumptions. In addition, we summarise the possible options to resolve this puzzle in the future.

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arXiv2016

Present Status of b -> s l+ l- Anomalies

We discuss the observed deviations in b -> s l+ l- processes from the Standard Model predictions and present global fits for the New Physics description of these anomalies. We further investigate the stability of the global fits under different theoretical assumptions and suggest strategies and a number of observables to clear up the source of the anomalies.

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arXiv2016

Constraints on the CP-Violating MSSM

We discuss the prospects for observing CP violation in the MSSM with six CP-violating phases, using a geometric approach to maximise CP-violating observables subject to the experimental upper bounds on electric dipole moments. We consider constraints from Higgs physics, flavour physics, the dark matter relic density and spin-independent scattering cross section with matter.

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arXiv2016

Monojet Searches for MSSM Simplified Models

We explore the implications of monojet searches at hadron colliders in the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM). To quantify the impact of monojet searches, we consider simplified MSSM scenarios with neutralino dark matter. The monojet results of the LHC Run 1 are reinterpreted in the context of several MSSM simplified scenarios, and the complementarity with direct supersymmetry search results is highlighted. We also investigate the reach of monojet searches for the Run 2, as well as for future higher energy hadron colliders.

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arXiv2016

A Higgs in the Warped Bulk and LHC signals

Warped models with the Higgs in the bulk can generate light Kaluza-Klein (KK) Higgs modes consistent with the electroweak precision analysis. The first KK mode of the Higgs (h_{1}) could lie in the 1-2 TeV range in the models with a bulk custodial symmetry. We find that the h_{1} is gaugephobic and decays dominantly into a t\bar{t} pair. We also discuss the search strategy for h_{1} decaying to t\bar{t} at the Large Hadron Collider. We used substructure tools to suppress the large QCD background associated with this channel. We find that h_{1} can be probed at the LHC run-2 with an integrated luminosity of 300 fb^{-1}.

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arXiv2016

Kaluza-Klein gluon + jets associated production at the Large Hadron Collider

The Kaluza-Klein excitations of gluons offer the exciting possibility of probing bulk Randall-Sundrum (RS) models. In these bulk models either a custodial symmetry or a deformation of the metric away from AdS is invoked in order to deal with electroweak precision tests. Addressing both these models, we suggest a new channel in which to study the production of KK-gluons ($g_{KK}$): one where it is produced in association with one or more hard jets. The cross-section for the $g_{KK}+$ jets channel is significant because of several contributing sub-processes. In particular, the 1-jet and the 2-jet associated processes are important because at these orders in QCD the $qg$ and the $gg$ initial states respectively come into play. We have performed a hadron-level simulation of the signal and present strategies to effectively extract the signal from what could potentially be a huge background. We present results for the kinematic reach of the LHC Run-II for different $g_{KK}$ masses in bulk-RS models.

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arXiv2016

On the anomalies in the latest LHCb data

Depending on the assumptions on the power corrections to the exclusive b -> s l+ l- decays, the latest data of the LHCb collaboration - based on the 3 fb^-1 data set and on two different experimental analysis methods - still shows some tensions with the SM predictions. We present a detailed analysis of the theoretical inputs and various global fits to all the available b -> s l+ l- data. This constitutes the first global analysis of the new data of the LHCb collaboration based on the hypothesis that these tensions can be at least partially explained by new physics contributions. In our model-independent analysis we present one-, two-, four-, and also five-dimensional global fits in the space of Wilson coefficients to all available b -> s l+ l- data. We also compare the two different experimental LHCb analyses of the angular observables in B -> K* mu+ mu-. We explicitly analyse the dependence of our results on the assumptions about power corrections, but also on the errors present in the form factor calculations. Moreover, based on our new global fits we present predictions for ratios of observables which may show a sign of lepton non-universality. Their measurements would crosscheck the LHCb result on the ratio R_K = BR(B+ -> K+ mu+ mu-) / BR(B+ -> K+ e+ e-) in the low-q^2 region which deviates from the SM prediction by 2.6 sigma.

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arXiv2015

Physics at the e+ e- Linear Collider

A comprehensive review of physics at an e+e- Linear Collider in the energy range of sqrt{s}=92 GeV--3 TeV is presented in view of recent and expected LHC results, experiments from low energy as well as astroparticle physics.The report focuses in particular on Higgs boson, Top quark and electroweak precision physics, but also discusses several models of beyond the Standard Model physics such as Supersymmetry, little Higgs models and extra gauge bosons. The connection to cosmology has been analyzed as well.

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arXiv2015

Exploring CP Violation in the MSSM

We explore the prospects for observing CP violation in the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM) with six CP-violating parameters, three gaugino mass phases and three phases in trilinear soft supersymmetry-breaking parameters, using the CPsuperH code combined with a geometric approach to maximize CP-violating observables subject to the experimental upper bounds on electric dipole moments. We also implement CP-conserving constraints from Higgs physics, flavour physics and the upper limits on the cosmological dark matter density and spin-independent scattering. We study possible values of observables within the constrained MSSM (CMSSM), the non-universal Higgs model (NUHM), the CPX scenario and a variant of the phenomenological MSSM (pMSSM). We find values of the CP-violating asymmetry A_CP in b -> s gamma decay that may be as large as 3%, so future measurements of A_CP may provide independent information about CP violation in the MSSM. We find that CP-violating MSSM contributions to the B_s meson mass mixing term Delta M_Bs are in general below the present upper limit, which is dominated by theoretical uncertainties. If these could be reduced, Delta M_Bs could also provide an interesting and complementary constraint on the six CP-violating MSSM phases, enabling them all to be determined experimentally, in principle. We also find that CP violation in the h_{2,3} tau+ tau- and h_{2,3} tbar t couplings can be quite large, and so may offer interesting prospects for future pp, e+ e-, mu+ mu- and gamma gamma colliders.

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arXiv2014

Complementarity of direct and indirect searches in the pMSSM

We explore the pMSSM parameter space in view of the constraints from SUSY and monojet searches at the LHC, from Higgs data and flavour physics observables, as well as from dark matter searches. We show that whilst the simplest SUSY scenarios are already ruled out, there are still many possibilities left over in the pMSSM. We discuss the complementarity between different searches and consistency checks which are essential in probing the pMSSM and will be even more important in the near future with the next round of data becoming available.

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