arXiv subjects

Fabrizio Nesti

Publications and source records attributed to Fabrizio Nesti.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Massive gravity: a General Analysis

Massive gravity can be described by adding to the Einstein-Hilbert action a function V of metric components. By using the Hamiltonian canonical analysis, we find the most general form of V such that five degrees of freedom propagate non perturbatively. The construction is based on a set of differential equations for $V$, that remarkably can be solved in terms of two arbitrary functions. Besides recovering the known "Lorentz invariant" massive gravity theory, we find an entirely new class of solutions, with healthy features on the phenomenological side, in particular they are weakly coupled in the solar system and have a high ultraviolet cutoff Lambda_2=(m M_pl)^(1/2), where m is the graviton mass scale.

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arXiv2014

Nonderivative Modified Gravity: a Classification

We analyze the theories of gravity modified by a generic nonderivative potential built from the metric, under the minimal requirement of unbroken spatial rotations. Using the canonical analysis, we classify the potentials $V$ according to the number of degrees of freedom (DoF) that propagate at the nonperturbative level. We then compare the nonperturbative results with the perturbative DoF propagating around Minkowski and FRW backgrounds. A generic $V$ implies 6 propagating DoF at the non-perturbative level, with a ghost on Minkowski background. There exist potentials which propagate 5 DoF, as already studied in previous works. Here, no $V$ with unbroken rotational invariance admitting 4 DoF is found. Theories with 3 DoF turn out to be strongly coupled on Minkowski background. Finally, potentials with only the 2 DoF of a massive graviton exist. Their effect on cosmology is simply equivalent to a cosmological constant. Potentials with 2 or 5 DoF and explicit time dependence appear to be a further viable possibility.

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arXiv2014

Cosmology in General Massive Gravity Theories

We study the cosmology of general massive gravity theories with five propagating degrees of freedom. This large class of theories includes both the case with a residual Lorentz invariance as the cases with simpler rotational invariance. We find that the existence of a nontrivial homogeneous FRW background, in addition to selecting the lorentz-breaking case, implies in general that perturbations around strict Minkowski or dS space are strongly coupled. The result is that dark energy can be naturally accounted for in massive gravity but its equation of state w_eff has to deviate from -1. We find indeed a relation between the strong coupling scale of perturbations and the deviation of w_eff from -1. Taking into account current limits on w_eff and submillimiter tests of the Newton's law as a limit on the possible strong coupling regime, we find that it is still possible to have a weakly coupled theory in a quasi dS background. Future experimental improvements may be used to predict w_eff in a weakly coupled massive gravity theory

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arXiv2014

Present and Future K and B Meson Mixing Constraints on TeV Scale Left-Right Symmetry

We revisit the $ΔF=2$ transitions in the $K$ and $B_{d,s}$ neutral meson systems in the context of the minimal Left-Right symmetric model. We take into account, in addition to up-to-date phenomenological data, the contributions related to the renormalization of the flavor-changing neutral Higgs tree-level amplitude. These contributions were neglected in recent discussions, albeit formally needed in order to obtain a gauge independent result. Their impact on the minimal LR model is crucial and twofold. First, the effects are relevant in $B$ meson oscillations, for both CP conserving and CP violating observables, so that for the first time these imply constraints on the LR scenario which compete with those of the $K$ sector (plagued by long-distance uncertainties). Second, they sizably contribute to the indirect kaon CP violation parameter $\varepsilon$. We discuss the bounds from $B$ and $K$ mesons in both cases of LR symmetry: generalized parity ($\mathcal P$) and charge conjugation ($\mathcal C$). In the case of $\mathcal P$, the interplay between the CP-violation parameters $\varepsilon$ and $\varepsilon'$ leads us to rule out the regime of very hierarchical bidoublet vacuum expectation values $v_2/v_1<m_b/m_t\simeq 0.02$. In general, by minimizing the scalar field contribution up to the limit of the perturbative regime and by definite values of the relevant CP phases in the charged right-handed currents, we find that a right-handed gauge boson $W_R$ as light as 3 TeV is allowed at the 95% CL. This is well within the reach of direct detection at the next LHC run. If not discovered, within a decade the upgraded LHCb and Super B factories may reach an indirect sensitivity to a Left-Right scale of 8 TeV.

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arXiv2013

K to ππ hadronic matrix elements of left-right current-current operators

Effective ΔS=1 four fermion operators involving left- and right-handed currents are relevant in left-right gauge extensions of the standard model and scalar extension of the Yukawa sector. They induce K to ππ decays which are strictly constrained by experimental data, typically resulting in strong bounds on the new physics scales or parameters. We evaluate the K to ππ hadronic matrix elements of such operators within the phenomenological framework of the Chiral Quark Model. The results are consistent with the estimates used in a previous work on TeV scale left-right symmetry, thus confirming the conclusions obtained there.

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arXiv2013

The Dark Matter Halo of the Milky Way, AD 2013

We derive the mass model of the Milky Way (MW) using a cored dark matter (DM) halo profile and recent data. The method used consists in fitting a spherically symmetric model of the Galaxy with a Burkert DM halo profile to available data: MW terminal velocities in the region inside the solar circle, circular velocity as recently estimated from maser star forming regions at intermediate radii, and velocity dispersions of stellar halo tracers for the outermost Galactic region. The latter are reproduced by integrating the Jeans equation for every modeled mass distribution, and by allowing for different velocity anisotropies for different tracer populations. For comparison we also consider a Navarro-Frenk-White profile. We find that the cored profile is the preferred one, with a shallow central density of rho_H~4x10^7M_s/kpc^3 and a large core radius R_H~10 kpc, as observed in external spirals and in agreement with the mass model underlying the Universal Rotation Curve of spirals. We describe also the derived model uncertainties, which are crucially driven by the poorly constrained velocity dispersion anisotropies of halo tracers. The emerging cored DM distribution has implications for the DM annihilation angular profile, which is much less boosted in the Galactic center direction with respect to the case of the standard ΛCDM, NFW profile. Using the derived uncertainties we discuss finally the limitations and prospects to discriminate between cored and cusped DM profile with a possible observed diffuse DM annihilation signal. The present mass model aims to characterize the present-day description of the distribution of matter in our Galaxy, which is needed to frame current crucial issues of Cosmology, Astrophysics and Elementary Particles.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

Weak Massive Gravity

We find a new class of theories of massive gravity with five propagating degrees of freedom where only rotations are preserved. Our results are based on a non-perturbative and background-independent Hamiltonian analysis. In these theories the weak field approximation is well behaved and the static gravitational potential is typically screened à la Yukawa at large distances, while at short distances no vDVZ discontinuity is found and there is no need to rely on nonlinear effects to pass the solar system tests. The effective field theory analysis shows that the ultraviolet cutoff is (m M_PL)^1/2 ~ 1/μm, the highest possible. Thus, these theories can be studied in weak-field regime at all the phenomenologically interesting scales, and are candidates for a calculable large-distance modified gravity.

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arXiv2012

Type II Seesaw at LHC: the Roadmap

In this Letter we revisit the type-II seesaw mechanism based on the addition of a weak triplet scalar to the standard model. We perform a comprehensive study of its phenomenology at the LHC energies, complete with the electroweak precision constraints. We pay special attention to the doubly-charged component, object of collider searches for a long time, and show how the experimental bound on its mass depends crucially on the particle spectrum of the theory. Our study can be used as a roadmap for future complete LHC studies.

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arXiv2012

The Local Dark Matter Density

We present the recent robust determination of the value of the Dark Matter density at the Sun's location ($ρ_\odot$) with a technique that does not rely on a global mass-modeling of the Galaxy. The method is based on the local equation of centrifugal equilibrium and depends on local and quite well known quantities such as the angular Sun's velocity, the disk to dark contribution to the circular velocity at the Sun, and the thin stellar disk scale length. This determination is independent of the shape of the dark matter density profile, the knowledge of the rotation curve at any radius, and the very uncertain bulge/disk/dark-halo mass decomposition. The result is: $ρ_\odot=0.43 (0.11)(0.10)\,$GeV/cm$^{3}$, where the quoted uncertainties are due to the uncertainty a) in the slope of the circular-velocity at the Sun location and b) in the ratio between this radius and the exponential length scale of the stellar disk. The devised technique is also able to take into account any future improvement in the data relevant for the estimate.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay: Low Left-Right Symmetry Scale?

Experiments in progress may confirm a nonzero neutrinoless double beta decay rate in conflict with the cosmological upper limit on neutrino masses and thus require new physics beyond the Standard Model. A natural candidate is the Left-Right symmetric theory, which led originally to neutrino mass and the seesaw mechanism. In the absence of cancelations of large Dirac Yukawa couplings, we show how such a scenario would require a low scale of Left-Right symmetry breaking roughly below 10 TeV, tantalizingly close to the LHC reach.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2011

Inert Doublet Dark Matter and Mirror/Extra Families after Xenon100

It was shown recently that mirror fermions, naturally present in a number of directions for new physics, seem to require an inert scalar doublet in order to pass the electroweak precision tests. This provides a further motivation for considering the inert doublet as a dark matter candidate. Moreover, the presence of extra families enhances the Standard Model Higgs-nucleon coupling, which has crucial impact on the Higgs and dark matter searches. We study the limits on the inert dark matter mass in view of recent Xenon100 data. We find that the mass of the inert dark matter must lie in a very narrow window 74-76 GeV while the Higgs must weigh more than 400 GeV. For the sake of completeness we discuss the cases with fewer extra families, where the possibility of a light Higgs boson opens up, enlarging the dark matter mass window to m_h/2-76 GeV. We find that Xenon100 constrains the DM-Higgs interaction, which in turn implies a lower bound on the monochromatic gamma-ray flux from DM annihilation in the galactic halo. For the mirror case, the predicted annihilation cross section lies a factor of 4-5 below the current limit set by Fermi LAT, thus providing a promising indirect detection signal.

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arXiv2011

Finite Energy of Black Holes in Massive Gravity

In GR the static gravitational potential of a self-gravitating body goes as 1/r at large distances and any slower decrease leads to infinity energy. We show that in a class of four-dimensional massive gravity theories there exists spherically symmetric solutions with finite total energy, featuring an asymptotic behavior slower than 1/r and generically of the form $r^γ$. This suggests that configurations with nonstandard asymptotics may well turn out to be physical. The effect is due to an extra field coupled only gravitationally, which allows for modifications of the static potential generated by matter, while counterbalancing the apparently infinite energy budget.

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arXiv2011

Stars and (Furry) Black Holes in Lorentz Breaking Massive Gravity

We study the exact spherically symmetric solutions in a class of Lorentz-breaking massive gravity theories, using the effective-theory approach where the graviton mass is generated by the interaction with a suitable set of Stuckelberg fields. We find explicitly the exact black hole solutions which generalizes the familiar Schwarzschild one, which shows a non-analytic hair in the form of a power-like term r^γ. For realistic self-gravitating bodies, we find interesting features, linked to the effective violation of the Gauss law: i) the total gravitational mass appearing in the standard 1/r term gets a multiplicative renormalization proportional to the area of the body itself; ii) the magnitude of the power-like hairy correction is also linked to size of the body. The novel features can be ascribed to presence of the goldstones fluid turned on by matter inside the body; its equation of state approaching that of dark energy near the center. The goldstones fluid also changes the matter equilibrium pressure, leading to an upper limit for the graviton mass, m <~ 10^-28 - 10^29 eV, derived from the largest stable gravitational bound states in the Universe.

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arXiv2011

Three Extra Mirror or Sequential Families: a Case for Heavy Higgs and Inert Doublet

We study the possibility of the existence of extra fermion families and an extra Higgs doublet. We find that requiring the extra Higgs doublet to be inert leaves space for three extra families, allowing for mirror fermion families and a dark matter candidate at the same time. The emerging scenario is very predictive: it consists of a Standard Model Higgs boson, with mass above 400\,\GeV, heavy new quarks between 340 and 500\,\GeV, light extra neutral leptons, and an inert scalar with a mass below $M_Z$.

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arXiv2011

Left-Right Symmetry: from LHC to Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay

The Large Hadron Collider has a potential to probe the scale of left-right symmetry restoration and the associated lepton number violation. Moreover, it offers hope of measuring the right-handed leptonic mixing matrix. We show how this, together with constraints from lepton flavor violating processes, can be used to make predictions for neutrinoless double beta decay. We illustrate this deep connection in the case of the type-II seesaw.

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arXiv2011

First Limits on Left-Right Symmetry Scale from LHC Data

We use the early Large Hadron Collider data to set the lower limit on the scale of Left-Right symmetry, by searching for the right-handed charged gauge boson $W_R$ via the final state with two leptons and two jets, for 33/pb integrated luminosity and 7 TeV center-of-mass energy. In the absence of a signal beyond the Standard Model background, we set the bound M_WR > 1.4 TeV at 95% C.L.. This result is obtained for a range of right-handed neutrino masses of the order of few 100 GeV, assuming no accidental cancelation in right-handed lepton mixings.

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arXiv2010

Gravity Modification with Yukawa-type Potential: Dark Matter and Mirror Gravity

The nature of the gravitational interaction between ordinary and dark matter is still open. Any deviation from universality or the Newtonian law also modifies the standard assumption of collisionless dark matter. On the other hand, obtaining a Yukawa-like large-distance modification of the gravitational potential is a nontrivial problem, that has so far eluded a consistent realization even at linearized level. We propose here a theory providing a Yukawa-like potential, by coupling non-derivatively the two metric fields related respectively to the visible and dark matter sectors, in the context of massive gravity theories where the local Lorentz invariance is broken by the different coexisting backgrounds. This gives rise to the appropriate mass pattern in the gravitational sector, producing a healthy theory with the Yukawa potential. Our results are of a special relevance in the scenario of dark matter originated from the mirror world, an exact duplicate of the ordinary particle sector.

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arXiv2010

Left-Right Symmetry at LHC

We revisit the issue of the limit on the scale of Left-Right symmetry breaking. We focus on the minimal SU(2)_L x SU(2)_R x U(1)_B-L gauge theory with the seesaw mechanism and discuss the two possibilities of defining Left-Right symmetry as parity or charge conjugation. In the commonly adopted case of parity, we perform a complete numerical study of the quark mass matrices and the associated left and right mixing matrices without any assumptions usually made in the literature about the ratio of vacuum expectation values. We find that the usual lower limit on the mass of the right-handed gauge boson from the K mass difference, M_WR>2.5TeV, is subject to a possible small reduction due to the difference between right and left Cabibbo angles. In the case of charge conjugation the limit on M_WR is somewhat more robust. However, the more severe bounds from CP-violating observables are absent in this case. In fact, the free phases can also resolve the present mild discrepancy between the Standard Model and CP-violation in the $B$-sector. Thus, even in the minimal case, both charged and neutral gauge bosons may be accessible at the Large Hadron Collider with spectacular signatures of lepton number violation.

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