arXiv subjects

Giancarlo D'Ambrosio

Publications and source records attributed to Giancarlo D'Ambrosio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

CP violation in $K\toμ^+μ^-$ with and without time dependence through a tagged analysis

We point out that using current knowledge of ${\cal B}(K^0_L\toμ^+μ^-)$ and $ {\cal B}(K^0_L\to γγ)$, one can extract short-distance information from the combined measurement of the time-integrated CP asymmetry, $A_{\rm CP}(K^0\toμ^+μ^-)$, and of ${\cal B}(K^0_S\toμ^+μ^-)$. We discuss the interplay between this set of observables, and demonstrate that determining ${\rm sign}[A_{\rm CP}(K^0\toμ^+μ^-)]$ would eliminate the discrete ambiguity in the Standard Model prediction for ${\cal B}(K^0_L\toμ^+μ^-)$. We then move on to feasibility studies within an LHCb-like setup, using both time-integrated and time-dependent information, employing $K^0$ and $\overline K{}^0$ tagging methods. We find that, within an optimistic scenario, the short-distance amplitude, proportional to the CKM parameter combination $|A^2λ^5\barη|$, could be constrained by LHCb at the level of about $35\%$ of its Standard Model value, and the discrete ambiguity in ${\cal B}(K^0_L\toμ^+μ^-)_{\rm SM}$ could be resolved at more than $3σ$ by the end of the high luminosity LHC.

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arXiv2025

Kaon Physics: A Cornerstone for Future Discoveries

The kaon physics programme, long heralded as a cutting-edge frontier by the European Strategy for Particle Physics, continues to stand at the intersection of discovery and innovation in high-energy physics (HEP). With its unparalleled capacity to explore new physics at the multi-TeV scale, kaon research is poised to unveil phenomena that could reshape our understanding of the Universe. This document highlights the compelling physics case, with emphasis on exciting new opportunities for advancing kaon physics not only in Europe but also on a global stage. As an important player in the future of HEP, the kaon programme promises to drive transformative breakthroughs, inviting exploration at the forefront of scientific discovery.

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arXiv2025

Proposal of the KOTO II experiment

The KOTO II experiment is proposed to measure the branching ratio of the decay $K_L\toπ^0ν\barν$ at J-PARC. With a beamline to extract long-lived neutral kaons at 5 degrees from a production target, the single event sensitivity of the decay is $8.5\times 10^{-13}$, which is much smaller than the Standard Model prediction $3\times 10^{-11}$. This allows searches for new physics beyond the Standard Model and the first discovery of the decay with a significance exceeding $5σ$. As the only experiment proposed in the world dedicated to rare kaon decays, KOTO II will be indispensable in the quest for a complete understanding of flavor dynamics in the quark sector. Moreover, by combining efforts from the kaon community worldwide, we plan to develop the KOTO II detector further and expand the physics reach of the experiment to include measurements of the branching ratio of the $K_L\toπ^0\ell^+\ell^-$ decays, studies of other $K_L$ decays, and searches for dark photons, axions, and axion-like particles. KOTO II will therefore obtain a comprehensive understanding of $K_L$ decays, providing further constraints on new physics scenarios with existing $K^+$ results.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2024

Predictions for the rare kaon decays $K_{S,L} \to π^0 \ell^+ \ell^-$ from QCD in the limit of a large number of colours

The long-distance and non-local parts of the form factors describing the single-photon mediated $K_{S,L}\toπ^0γ^*\toπ^0\ell^+\ell^-$ ($\ell = e, μ$) transitions in the standard model are addressed in QCD in the limit where the number $N_c$ of colours becomes infinite. It is shown that this provides a suitable theoretical framework to study these decay modes and that it allows to predict the decay rates for $K_{S}\toπ^0\ell^+\ell^-$. It also unambiguously predicts that the interference between the direct and indirect CP-violating contributions to the decay rate for $K_L\toπ^0 \ell^+ \ell^-$ is constructive.

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arXiv2023

New Physics Searches at Kaon and Hyperon Factories

Rare meson decays are among the most sensitive probes of both heavy and light new physics. Among them, new physics searches using kaons benefit from their small total decay widths and the availability of very large datasets. On the other hand, useful complementary information is provided by hyperon decay measurements. We summarize the relevant phenomenological models and the status of the searches in a comprehensive list of kaon and hyperon decay channels. We identify new search strategies for under-explored signatures, and demonstrate that the improved sensitivities from current and next-generation experiments could lead to a qualitative leap in the exploration of light dark sectors.

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arXiv2022

Scalar resonances in the hadronic light-by-light contribution to the muon $(g-2)$

We evaluate the contribution of scalar mesons to the hadronic light-by-light piece of the muon anomalous magnetic moment, using a warped five-dimensional model and holographic methods. We assess the contribution of the lightest, sub-GeV scalars $σ(500)$, $a_0(980)$ and $f_0(980)$ together with their associated towers of excited states, which the model generates automatically. Our results point at a clearly negative contribution, overwhelmingly dominated by the $σ(500)$ meson, that we estimate at $a_μ^{\rm{HLbL,S}}=-9(2)\cdot 10^{-11}$. This number is in very good agreement with the most recent determinations from dispersive analyses.

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arXiv2021

Freezing In with Lepton Flavored Fermions

Dark, chiral fermions carrying lepton flavor quantum numbers are natural candidates for freeze-in. Small couplings with the Standard Model fermions of the order of lepton Yukawas are `automatic' in the limit of Minimal Flavor Violation. In the absence of total lepton number violating interactions, particles with certain representations under the flavor group remain absolutely stable. For masses in the GeV-TeV range, the simplest model with three flavors, leads to signals at future direct detection experiments like DARWIN. Interestingly, freeze-in with a smaller flavor group such as $SU(2)$ is already being probed by XENON1T.

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arXiv2021

Taming the $ε_K$ in Little Randall Sundrum Models

The Randall Sundrum (RS) models receive significant constraints from the neutral Kaon system. The CP violating observable $ε_K$, in Randall Sundrum scenario, requires the lightest KK gluon to be heavier than $\sim$ 24 TeV. The constraint is even stronger in the Little Randall Sundrum models (LRS), $\gtrsim$ 32 TeV. The LRS models are motivated for their possible visibility at the Large Hardon Collider (LHC). We show that the stringent constraints from K-physics can be relaxed in the LRS models, in the presence of the Brane Localised Kinetic Terms (BLKT). In particular, for a range of values, a UV BLKT could significantly modify the lightest KK gluon wave function such that the limit can reduces to 5 TeV. We also show that such a relaxation of the constraints can also be achieved by imposing flavour symmetries {à la } Minimal Flavour Protection.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

On axials and pseudoscalars in the hadronic light-by-light contribution to the muon $(g-2)$

Despite recent developments, there are a number of conceptual issues on the hadronic light-by-light (HLbL) contribution to the muon $(g-2)$ which remain unresolved. One of the most controversial ones is the precise way in which short-distance constraints get saturated by resonance exchange, particularly in the so-called Melnikov-Vainshtein (MV) limit. In this paper we address this and related issues from a novel perspective, employing a warped five-dimensional model as a tool to generate a consistent realization of QCD in the large-$N_c$ limit. This approach differs from previous ones in that we can work at the level of an effective action, which guarantees that unitarity is preserved and the chiral anomaly is consistently implemented at the hadronic level. We use the model to evaluate the inclusive contribution of Goldstone modes and axial-vector mesons to the HLbL. We find that both anomaly matching and the MV constraint cannot be fulfilled with a finite number of resonances (including the pion) and instead require an infinite number of axial-vector states. Our numbers for the HLbL point at a non-negligible role of axial-vector mesons, which is closely linked to a correct implementation of QCD short-distance constraints.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Matching long and short distances at order ${\mathcal O}(α_s)$ in the form factors for $K\toπ\ell^+\ell^-$

At order ${\mathcal O}(αG_{\mathrm F})$, the amplitudes for the decays $K\toπ\ell^+\ell^-$ involve a form factor given by the matrix element of the time-ordered product of the electromagnetic current with the four-quark operators describing weak non-leptonic neutral-current transitions between a kaon and a pion. The short-distance behaviour of this time-ordered product, when considered at order ${\mathcal O}(α_s)$ in the perturbative expansion of QCD, involves terms linear and quadratic in the logarithm of the Euclidean momentum transfer squared. It is shown how one can exactly match these short-distance features using a dispersive representation of the form factor, with an absorptive part given by an infinite sum of zero-width resonances following a Regge-type spectrum. Some phenomenology-related issues are briefly discussed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Theory perspectives on rare Kaon decays and CPV

The following proceedings contain a theory perspective on rare Kaon decays. I review rare kaon decays in the LHC era: we discuss interplay with B-anomalies and possible New Physics in direct CP violation in $K\to 2π$: very rare kaon decays like $K \to πν\barν$ are very important to this purpose. We discuss also the decays $K^0 \to μ^+ μ^-$ due to the LHCB measurement

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

On the amplitudes for the CP-conserving $K^\pm(K_S)\toπ^\pm(π^0)\ell^+\ell^-$ rare decay modes

The amplitudes for the rare decay modes $K^\pm\toπ^\pm\ell^+\ell^-$ and $K_S\toπ^0\ell^+\ell^-$ are studied with the aim of obtaining predictions for them, such as to enable the possibility to search for violations of lepton-flavour universality in the kaon sector. The issue is first addressed from the perspective of the low-energy expansion, and a two-loop representation of the corresponding form factors is constructed, leaving as unknown quantities their values and slopes at vanishing momentum transfer. In a second step a phenomenological determination of the latter is proposed. It consists of the contribution of the resonant two-pion state in the $P$ wave, and of the leading short-distance contribution determined by the operator-product expansion. The interpolation between the two energy regimes is described by an infinite tower of zero-width resonances matching the QCD short-distance behaviour. Finally, perspectives for future improvements in the theoretical understanding of these amplitudes are discussed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Flavour issues in warped custodial models: $B$ anomalies and rare $K$ decays

We explore the flavour structure of custodial Randall-Sundrum (RS) models in the context of the recently observed deviations in the decay of the $B$ mesons. The anomalies in the $b\rightarrow s ll$ processes can be easily fit with partially composite second generation leptons and third generation quarks. We establish correlation with the parameter space consistent with the flavour anomalies in the neutral current sector and obtain predictions for rare $K$- decay which are likely to be another candle for NP with increased precision. Two scenarios are considered: A) Right handed muon coupled more to NP that the corresponding muon doublets (unorthodox case). Non-universality exists in the right handed sector. B) Standard scenario with anomalies explained primarily by non-universal couplings to the lepton doublets. The prediction for rare $K$-decays are different according to the scenario, thereby serving as a useful discriminatory tool. We note that, in this setup $R(D^*)$ is at best consistent with the SM and increasing the compositeness of the $τ_L$ generates a net contribution becoming below the SM expectation. This makes this framework fairly predictive and easily verifiable. Finally, we also comment on the implications of flavour violation in the lepton sector and present an explicit example with the implementation of bulk leptonic MFV which helps in alleviating the constraints.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Probing SUSY effects in $K_S^0\rightarrowμ^+μ^-$

We explore supersymmetric contributions to the decay $K_S^0\rightarrowμ^+μ^-$, in light of current experimental data. The Standard Model (SM) predicts $\mathcal{B}(K_S^0\rightarrowμ^+μ^-)\approx5\times 10^{-12}$. We find that contributions arising from flavour violating Higgs penguins can enhance the branching fraction up to $\approx 35\times 10^{-12}$ within different scenarios of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), as well as suppress it down to $\approx 0.78\times 10^{-12}$. Regions with fine-tuned parameters can bring the branching fraction up to the current experimental upper bound, $8\times 10^{-10}$. The mass degeneracy of the heavy Higgs bosons in MSSM induces correlations between $\mathcal{B}(K_S^0\rightarrowμ^+μ^-)$ and $\mathcal{B}(K_L^0\rightarrowμ^+μ^-)$. Predictions for the $CP$ asymmetry in $K^0\rightarrowμ^+μ^-$ decays in the context of MSSM are also given, and can be up to eight times bigger than in the SM.

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arXiv2017

Closing in on the radiative weak chiral couplings

We point out that, given the current experimental status of radiative kaon decays, a subclass of the ${\cal O} (p^4)$ counterterms of the weak chiral lagrangian can be determined in closed form. This involves in a decisive way the decay $K^\pm \to π^\pm π^0 l^+ l^-$, currently being measured at CERN by the NA48/2 and NA62 collaborations. We show that consistency with other radiative kaon decay measurements leads to a rather clean prediction for the ${\cal{O}}(p^4)$ weak couplings entering this decay mode. This results in a characteristic pattern for the interference Dalitz plot, susceptible to be tested already with the limited statistics available at NA48/2. We also provide the first analysis of $K_S\to π^+π^-γ^*$, which will be measured by LHCb and will help reduce (together with the related $K_L$ decay) the experimental uncertainty on the radiative weak chiral couplings. A precise experimental determination of the ${\cal{O}}(p^4)$ weak couplings is important in order to assess the validity of the existing theoretical models in a conclusive way. We briefly comment on the current theoretical situation and discuss the merits of the different theoretical approaches.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Direct $CP$ Violation in $K \to μ^+ μ^-$

A rare decay $K_L \to μ^+ μ^- $ has been measured precisely, while a rare decay $K_S \to μ^+ μ^- $ will be observed by an upgrade of the LHCb experiment. Although both processes are almost CP-conserving decays, we point out that an interference contribution between $K_L$ and $K_S$ in the kaon beam emerges from a genuine direct CP violation. It is found that the interference contribution can change $K_S \to μ^+ μ^-$ standard-model predictions at $\mathcal{O}(60\%)$. We also stress that an unknown sign of $\mathcal{A}(K_L \to γγ)$ can be determined by a measurement of the interference, which can much reduce a theoretical uncertainty of $\mathcal{B}(K_L \to μ^+ μ^-)$. We also investigate the interference in a new physics model, where the $ε'_K / ε_K$ tension is explained by an additional $Z$-penguin contribution.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

$K\to πν\overlineν$ in the MSSM in Light of the $ε^{\prime}_K/ε_K$ Anomaly

The Standard-Model (SM) prediction for the CP-violating quantity $ε_K^{\prime}/ε_K$ deviates from its measured value by 2.8 $σ$. It has been shown that this tension can be resolved within the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) through gluino-squark box diagrams, even if squarks and gluinos are much heavier than 1 TeV. The rare decays $K_L \to π^0ν\barν$ and $K^+ \to π^+ν\barν$ are similarly sensitive to very high mass scales and the first one also measures CP violation. In this article, we analyze the correlations between $ε^{\prime}_K/ε_K$ and $B(K_L \to π^0ν\barν)$ and $B(K^+ \to π^+ν\barν)$ within the MSSM aiming at an explanation of $ε_K^{\prime}/ε_K$ via gluino-squark box diagrams. The dominant MSSM contribution to the $K \to πν\barν$ branching fractions stems from box diagrams with squarks, sleptons, charginos, and neutralinos, and the pattern of the correlations is different from the widely studied $Z$-penguin scenarios. This is interesting in light of future precision measurements by KOTO and NA62 at J-PARC and CERN, respectively. We find $B(K_L \to π^0ν\barν)/B^{SM} (K_L \to π^0ν\barν)\lesssim 2\,(1.2)$ and $B(K^+ \to π^+ν\barν)/B^{SM}(K^+ \to π^+ν\barν) \lesssim 1.4\,(1.1)$, if all squark masses are above 1.5 TeV, gaugino masses obey GUT relations, and if one allows for a fine-tuning at the $1\%\,(10\%)$ level for the gluino mass. Larger values are possible for a tuned CP violating phase. Furthermore, the sign of the MSSM contribution to $ε_K^{\prime}$ imposes a strict correlation between $B(K_L \to π^0ν\barν)$ and the hierarchy between the masses $m_{\bar{U}}$, $m_{\bar{D}}$ of the right-handed up-squark and down-squark: sgn$[B(K_L \to π^0ν\barν)-B^{SM} (K_L \to π^0ν\barν)] = $sgn$(m_{\bar{U}}-m_{\bar{D}}) $.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

$(g-2)_μ$, Lepton Flavour Violation and $Z$ Decays with Leptoquarks: Correlations and Future Prospects

The long-standing anomaly in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon indicates the presence of chirality violating new physics contributions. A possible solution involves scalar leptoquarks with left- and right-handed couplings to the top quark. Two such representations of scalar leptoquarks exist for which the contribution to $(g-2)_μ$ can possess an $m_t/m_μ$ enhancement compared to the Standard Model. The leptoquarks also induce loop corrections to $Z$ couplings to muons which probe as well new physics contributions which possess sources of $SU(2)$ symmetry breaking and we find that this effect should be observable at future experiments as GigaZ or TLEP. Furthermore, once interactions of the leptoquark with tau leptons and electrons are present, additional correlated effects in anomalous magnetic moments, $Z\to\ell\ell^\prime$ and $\ell\to\ell^\primeγ$ arise, which can be used to test the model and to determine the flavour structure of the couplings. We find that the two representations of leptoquarks can be distinguished also from low energy experiments: one representation predicts constructive interference with the Standard Model in $Z$ couplings to leptons and effects in $B\to K^{(\star)}ν\barν$, while the other representation interferes destructively with the Standard Model in $Z$ couplings to leptons and gives a $C_9=C_{10}$-like contribution to $b\to s\ell^+\ell^-$ processes.

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