arXiv subjects

Francesco Sannino

Publications and source records attributed to Francesco Sannino.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Stable Extensions with(out) Gravity

We investigate the vacuum stability as well as the gravitational corrections in extensions of the Standard Model featuring a new complex scalar, and two Dirac fermions for different choices of the hypercharge of the scalar and one of the two fermions. The neutral fermion acquires loop-induced magnetic interactions with the Standard Model and could be identified with a dark matter candidate. To the lowest order in perturbation theory we show that these extensions can save the electroweak vacuum from being metastable. We then add the gravitational corrections to the different beta functions and discover that the models can be compatible with the asymptotically safe gravity scenario at the price of a heavier Higgs and lighter top mass.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

X-ray Lines from Dark Matter: The Good, The Bad, and The Unlikely

We consider three classes of dark matter (DM) models to account for the recently observed 3.5 keV line: metastable excited state DM, annihilating DM, and decaying DM. We study two examples of metastable excited state DM. The first, millicharged composite DM, has both inelasticity and photon emission built in, but with a very constrained parameter space. In the second example, up-scattering and decay come from separate sectors and is thus less constrained. The decay of the excited state can potentially be detectable at direct detection experiments. However we find that CMB constraints are at the border of excluding this as an interpretation of the DAMA signal. The annihilating DM interpretation of the X-ray line is found to be in tension with CMB constraints. Lastly, a generalized version of decaying DM can account for the data with a lifetime exceeding the age of the Universe for masses $\lesssim 10^{6}$ GeV.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

Conformal Extensions of the Standard Model with Veltman Conditions

Using the renormalisation group framework we classify different extensions of the standard model according to their degree of naturality. A new relevant class of perturbative models involving elementary scalars is the one in which the theory simultaneously satisfies the Veltman conditions and is conformal at the classical level. We term these extensions perturbative natural conformal (PNC) theories. We show that PNC models are very constrained and thus highly predictive. Among the several PNC examples that we exhibit, we discover a remarkably simple PNC extension of the standard model in which the Higgs is predicted to have the experimental value of the mass equal to 126 GeV. This model also predicts the existence of one more standard model singlet scalar boson with a mass of 541 GeV and the Higgs self-coupling to emerge radiatively. We study several other PNC examples that generally predict a somewhat smaller mass of the Higgs to the perturbative order we have investigated them. Our results can be a useful guide when building extensions of the standard model featuring fundamental scalars.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

Fundamental Composite Higgs Dynamics on the Lattice: SU(2) with Two Flavors

In reference [1] a unified description, both at the effective and fundamental Lagrangian level, of models of composite Higgs dynamics was proposed. In the unified framework the Higgs itself can emerge, depending on the way the electroweak symmetry is embedded, either as a pseudo-Goldstone boson or as a massive excitation of the condensate. The most minimal fundamental description consists of an SU(2) gauge theory with two Dirac fermions transforming according to the defining representation of the gauge group. We therefore provide first principle lattice results for the massive spectrum of this theory. We confirm the chiral symmetry breaking phenomenon and determine the lightest spin-one axial and vector masses. The knowledge of the energy scale at which new states will appear at the Large Hadron Collider is of the utmost relevance to guide experimental searches of new physics.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2014

LUX Constraints on Magnetic Dark Matter in the $S\bar{E} χ$y Model with(out) Naturality

We study phenomenological constraints in a simple $S\bar{E} χ$y extension of the Standard Model (SM) with a 125 GeV Higgs, a vector-like heavy electron $(E)$, a complex scalar electron $(S)$ and a standard model singlet Dirac fermion $(χ)$. The interactions among the dark matter candidate $χ$ and the standard model particles occur via loop-induced processes involving the Yukawa interaction $S\bar{E} χ$y. The model is an explicit perturbative realization of so-called magnetic dark matter. The field content allows for a cancelation of quadratic divergences in the scalar masses at one-loop, a phenomenon which we refer to as perturbative naturality. The basic model is constrained dominantly by direct detection experiments and its parameter space can be nearly entirely covered by up-coming ton-scale direct detection experiments. We conclude this work by discussing different variations of the model.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

Predictions for LHC from SO(4) MWT

We investigate the vector, axial and pseudo scalar mass spectrum of an SO(4) - MWT gauge theory with fermions in the vector representation of SO(4). Here we present the preliminary lattice results for the masses of vector and axial vector meson using Wilson fermions. These spectra are crucial for the discovery and to guide the searches of composite dynamics at the LHC.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2013

The Physics of the $θ$-angle for Composite Extensions of the Standard Model

We analyse the $θ$-angle physics associated to extensions of the standard model of particle interactions featuring new strongly coupled sectors. We start by providing a pedagogical review of the $θ$-angle physics for Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) including also the axion properties. We then move to analyse composite extensions of the standard model elucidating the interplay between the new $θ$-angle with the QCD one. We consider first QCD-like dynamics and then generalise it to consider several kinds of new strongly coupled gauge theories with fermions transforming according to different matter representations. Our analysis is of immediate use for different models of composite Higgs dynamics, composite dark matter and inflation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

Hints of a Charge Asymmetry in the Electron and Positron Cosmic-Ray Excesses

By combining the recent data from AMS-02 with those from Fermi-LAT, we show the emergence of a charge asymmetry in the electron and positron cosmic-ray excesses, slightly favoring the electron component. Astrophysical and dark matter inspired models introduced to explain the observed excesses can be classified according to their prediction for the charge asymmetry and its energy dependence. Future data confirming the presence of a charge asymmetry, would imply that an asymmetric production mechanism is at play.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

The Mirage of the Fermi Scale

The discovery of a light Higgs boson at LHC may be suggesting that we need to revise our model building paradigms to understand the origin of the weak scale. We explore the possibility that the Fermi scale is not fundamental but rather a derived one, i.e. a low energy mirage. We show that this scenario emerges in a very natural way in models previously used to break the electroweak symmetry dynamically and suggest a simple dynamical framework for this idea. In our model the electroweak scale results from the interplay between two very high energy scales, one typically of the order of $\Luv\sim 10^{10}$ GeV and the other around $M_{\rm U} \sim 10^{16}$ GeV, although other values are also possible.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

Higgs Discovery: Impact on Composite Dynamics [Thinking Fast and Slow]

I discuss the impact of the discovery of a Higgs-like state on composite dynamics starting by critically examining the reasons in favour of either an elementary or composite nature of this state. Accepting the standard model interpretation I re-address the standard model vacuum stability within a Weyl-consistent computation. I will carefully examine the fundamental reasons why what has been discovered might not be the standard model Higgs. Dynamical electroweak breaking naturally addresses a number of the fundamental issues unsolved by the standard model interpretation. However this paradigm has been challenged by the discovery of a not-so-heavy Higgs-like state. I will therefore review the recent discovery \cite{Foadi:2012bb} that the standard model top-induced radiative corrections naturally reduce the intrinsic non-perturbative mass of the composite Higgs state towards the desired experimental value. Not only we have a natural and testable working framework but we have also suggested specific gauge theories that can realise, at the fundamental level, these minimal models of dynamical electroweak symmetry breaking. These strongly coupled gauge theories are now being heavily investigated via first principle lattice simulations with encouraging results. The new findings show that the recent naive claims made about new strong dynamics at the electroweak scale being disfavoured by the discovery of a not-so-heavy composite Higgs are unwarranted. I will then introduce the more speculative idea of extreme compositeness according to which not only the Higgs sector of the standard model is composite but also quarks and leptons, and provide a toy example in the form of gauge-gauge duality.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

Jumping Out of the Light-Higgs Conformal Window

We investigate generic properties of the conformal phase transition in gauge theories featuring Higgs-like fundamental particles. These theories provide an excellent arena to properly investigate conformal dynamics and discover novel features. We show that the phase transition at the boundary of the Higgs conformal window is not smooth but a jumping one for the known perturbative examples. In addition the general conditions under which the transition is either jumping or smooth are provided. Jumping implies that the massive spectrum of the theory will jump at the phase transition. It, however, still allows for one of the states, the would be dilaton of the theory, to be lighter than the heaviest states in the broken phase. Finally we exhibit a calculable Higgs model in which we can, in perturbation theory, determine the Higgs conformal window, the spectrum in the conformally broken phase and demonstrate it to possess a jumping type conformal phase transition.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

Standard Model Vacuum Stability and Weyl Consistency Conditions

At high energy the standard model possesses conformal symmetry at the classical level. This is reflected at the quantum level by relations between the different beta functions of the model. These relations are known as the Weyl consistency conditions. We show that it is possible to satisfy them order by order in perturbation theory, provided that a suitable coupling constant counting scheme is used. As a direct phenomenological application, we study the stability of the standard model vacuum at high energies and compare with previous computations violating the Weyl consistency conditions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

125 GeV Higgs from a not so light Technicolor Scalar

Assuming that the observed Higgs-like resonance at the Large Hadron Collider is a technicolor isosinglet scalar (the technicolor Higgs), we argue that the standard model top-induced radiative corrections reduce its dynamical mass towards the desired experimental value. We then discuss conditions for the spectrum of technicolor theories to feature a technicolor Higgs with the phenomenologically required dynamical mass. We use scaling laws coming from modifying the technicolor matter representation, number of technicolors, techniflavors as well as the number of doublets gauged under the electroweak theory. Finally we briefly summarize the potential effects of walking dynamics on the technicolor Higgs.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

Standard Model-like corrections to Dilatonic Dynamics

We examine the effects of standard model-like interactions on the near-conformal dynamics of a theory featuring a dilatonic state identified with the standard model-like Higgs. As template for near-conformal dynamics we use a gauge theory with fermionic matter and elementary mesons possessing the same non-abelian global symmetries as a technicolor-like theory with matter in a complex representation of the gauge group. We then embed the electroweak gauge group within the global flavor structure and add also ordinary quark-like states to mimic the effects of the top. We find that the standard model-like induced corrections modify the original phase diagram and the details of the dilatonic spectrum. In particular, we show that the corrected theory exhibits near-conformal behavior for a smaller range of flavors and colors. For this range of values, however, our results suggest that near conformal dynamics could accommodate the observed Higgs-like properties.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

a New Conformal Window Bound from the a theorem

We propose a novel constraint on the gauge dynamics of strongly interacting gauge theories stemming from the a theorem. The inequality we suggest is used to provide a lower bound on the conformal window of four dimensional gauge theories.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

The a theorem for Gauge-Yukawa theories beyond Banks-Zaks

We investigate the a theorem for nonsupersymmetric gauge-Yukawa theories beyond the leading order in perturbation theory. The exploration is first performed in a model-independent manner and then applied to a specific relevant example. Here, a rich fixed point structure appears including the presence of a merging phenomenon between non-trivial fixed points for which the a theorem has not been tested so far.

hep-th↗

arXiv2013

Perturbative extension of the standard model with a 125 GeV Higgs and Magnetic Dark Matter

We introduce a perturbative extension of the standard model featuring a new dark matter sector together with a 125 GeV Higgs. The new sector consists of a vector-like heavy electron E, a complex scalar electron S and a standard model singlet Dirac fermion χ. The interactions among the dark matter candidate χand the standard model particles occur via loop-induced processes involving the operator SEχy, with y being the Yukawa-like coupling. The model is an explicit underlying realization of the light magnetic dark matter effective model introduced earlier to alleviate the tension among several direct dark matter search experiments. We further constrain the parameters of the underlying theory using results from the Large Hadron Collider. The extension can accommodate the recently observed properties of the Higgs-like state and leads to interesting predictions. Finally we show that the model's collider phenomenology and constraints nicely complement the ones coming from dark matter searches.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2012

Supersymmetric Extension of Technicolor & Fermion Mass Generation

We provide a complete extension of Minimal Walking Technicolor able to account for the standard model fermion masses. The model is supersymmetric at energies greater or equal to the technicolor compositeness scale. We integrate out, at the supersymmetry breaking scale, the elementary Higgses. We use the resulting four-fermion operators to derive the low energy effective theory. We then determine the associated tree-level vacuum and low energy spectrum properties. Furthermore we investigate the phenomenological viability of the model by comparing its predictions with electroweak precision tests and experimental bounds on the mass spectrum. We then turn to the composite Higgs phenomenology at the LHC and show that current data are already constraining the parameter space of the model.

hep-ph↗