Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Hans Peter Nilles

Publications and source records attributed to Hans Peter Nilles.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2019

A String Theory of Flavor and CP

Modular transformations of string theory (including the well-known stringy dualities) play a crucial role in the discussion of discrete flavor symmetries in the Standard Model. They are at the origin of CP transformations and provide a unification of CP with traditional flavor symmetries. Here, we present a novel, fully systematic method to reliably compute the unified flavor symmetry of the low-energy effective theory, including enhancements from the modular transformations of string theory. The unified flavor group is non-universal in moduli space and exhibits the phenomenon of "Local Flavor Unification" where different sectors of the theory can be subject to different flavor structures.

hep-th↗
arXiv2019

Unification of Flavor, CP, and Modular Symmetries

Flavor symmetry plays a crucial role in the standard model of particle physics but its origin is still unknown. We develop a new method (based on outer automorphisms of the Narain space group) to determine flavor symmetries within compactified string theory. A picture emerges where traditional (discrete) flavor symmetries, CP-like symmetries and modular symmetries (like T-duality) of string theory combine to unified flavor symmetries. The groups depend on the geometry of compact space and the geographical location of fields in the extra dimensions. We observe a phenomenon of "local flavor groups" with potentially different flavor symmetries for the various sectors of quarks and leptons. This should allow interesting connections to existing bottom-up attempts in flavor model building.

hep-th↗
arXiv2019

Heterotic M-Theory from the Clockwork Perspective

Compactifications of heterotic M-theory are shown to provide solutions to the weak- and axion-scale hierarchy problems as a consequence of warped large extra dimensions. They allow a description that is reminiscent of the so-called continuous clockwork mechanism. The models constructed here cover a new region of clockwork parameter space and exhibit unexplored spectra and couplings of Kaluza-Klein modes. Previously discussed models are outside this region of parameter space and do seem to require an ultraviolet completion other than that of perturbative higher dimensional $D=10,11$ string- or M-theory. A 5D-supergravity description can be given for all explicitly known continuous clockwork models. The various classes of models can be distinguished through the different roles played by vector multiplets and the universal hypermultiplet in 5D-supergravity.

hep-th↗
arXiv2018

$\mathcal{CP}$ Violation from String Theory

We identify a natural way to embed $\mathcal{CP}$ symmetry and its violation in string theory. The $\mathcal{CP}$ symmetry of the low energy effective theory is broken by the presence of heavy string modes. $\mathcal{CP}$ violation is the result of an interplay of $\mathcal{CP}$ and flavor symmetry. $\mathcal{CP}$ violating decays of the heavy modes could originate a cosmological matter-antimatter asymmetry.

hep-th↗
arXiv2018

Exploring extra dimensions through inflationary tensor modes

Predictions of inflationary schemes can be influenced by the presence of extra dimensions. This could be of particular relevance for the spectrum of gravitational waves in models where the extra dimensions provide a brane-world solution to the hierarchy problem. Apart from models of large as well as exponentially warped extra dimensions, we analyze the size of tensor modes in the Linear Dilaton scheme recently revived in the discussion of the "clockwork mechanism". The results are model dependent, significantly enhanced tensor modes on one side and a suppression on the other. In some cases we are led to a scheme of "remote inflation", where the expansion is driven by energies at a hidden brane. In all cases where tensor modes are enhanced, the requirement of perturbativity of gravity leads to a stringent upper limit on the allowed Hubble rate during inflation.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2017

Stringy Origin of Discrete R-symmetries

Discrete symmetries play a crucial role in particle physics. They appear abundantly in string model constructions. We focus here on the case of discrete $R$-symmetries which are intrinsically connected to the Lorentz group in extra dimensions and the appearance of $N$-extended supersymmetry. In that sense, discrete $R$-symmetries can be understood as "fractionally" extended supersymmetry. These symmetries reveal insight about the location of fields in extra dimensions (in particular the Higgs boson). Applications can be found in the solution of the $μ$-problem, suppression of proton decay and the structure of the soft terms of broken supersymmetry.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2016

750 GeV Diphotons and Supersymmetric Grand Unification

We investigate the 750 GeV diphoton excess in terms of supersymmetric models which preserve grand unification in the ultraviolet. We show that minimal extensions of the MSSM by a singlet and a vector-like 5-plet or 10-plet of SU(5) can explain the observed signal while remaining perturbative up to the GUT scale. Different from previous analyses we rely on light sfermions in the loops which - compared to the analog non-supersymmetric models - enhance the diphoton cross section by up to a factor of seven. While the resonance decay width is narrow, mass splitting of the scalar and pseudoscalar components may result in a double resonance. We perform a likelihood analysis on the ATLAS and CMS data to show that the significance of the diphoton excess increases from 3.3 sigma (single narrow resonance) to 3.9 sigma for the double resonance. We also provide signal predictions in other diboson channels to be tested at LHC-13.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2015

Modulated Natural Inflation

We discuss some model-independent implications of embedding (aligned) axionic inflation in string theory. As a consequence of string theoretic duality symmetries the pure cosine potentials of natural inflation are replaced by modular functions. This leads to "wiggles" in the inflationary potential that modify the predictions with respect to CMB-observations. In particular, the scalar power spectrum deviates from the standard power law form. As a by-product one can show that trans-Planckian excursions of the aligned effective axion are compatible with the weak gravity conjecture.

hep-th↗
arXiv2015

Natural Inflation and Low Energy Supersymmetry

Natural (axionic) inflation provides a well-motivated and predictive scheme for the description of the early universe. It leads to sizeable primordial tensor modes and thus a high mass scale of the inflationary potential. Naively this seems to be at odds with low (TeV) scale supersymmetry, especially when embedded in superstring theory. We show that low scale supersymmetry is compatible with natural (high scale) inflation. The mechanism requires the presence of two axions that are provided through the moduli of string theory.

hep-th↗
arXiv2014

R symmetries and a heterotic MSSM

We employ powerful techniques based on Hilbert- and Groebner bases to analyze particle physics models derived from string theory. Individual models are shown to have a huge landscape of vacua that differ in their phenomenological properties. We explore the (discrete) symmetries of these vacua, the new R symmetry selection rules and their consequences for moduli stabilization.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2014

Aligned Natural Inflation: Monodromies of two Axions

Natural (axionic) inflation can accommodate sizeable primordial tensor modes but suffers from the necessity of trans-Planckian variations of the inflaton field. This problem can be solved via the mechanism of aligned axions arXiv:hep-ph/0409138, where the aligned axion spirals down in the potential of other axions. We elaborate on the mechanism in view of the recently reported observations of the BICEP2 collaboration arXiv:1403.3985.

hep-th↗
arXiv2014

Geography of Fields in Extra Dimensions: String Theory Lessons for Particle Physics

String theoretical ideas might be relevant for particle physics model building. Ideally one would hope to find a unified theory of all fundamental interactions. There are only few consistent string theories in D=10 or 11 space-time dimensions, but a huge landscape in D=4. We have to explore this landscape to identify models that describe the known phenomena of particle physics. Properties of compactified six spatial dimensions are crucial in that respect. We postulate some useful rules to investigate this landscape and construct realistic models. We identify common properties of the successful models and formulate lessons for further model building.

hep-th↗
arXiv2014

Dark energy from approximate U(1)_{de} symmetry

The PLANCK observation strengthens the argument that the observed acceleration of the Universe is dominated by the invisible component of dark energy. We address how this extremely small DE density can be obtained in an ultraviolet completed theory. From two mass scales, the grand unification scale M_G and the Higgs boson mass, we parametrize this dark energy(DE). To naturally generate an extremely small DE term, we introduce an almost flat DE potential of a pseudo-Goldstone boson of an approximate global symmetry U(1)_{de} from some discrete symmetries allowed in an ultraviolet completed theory. For the DE potential to be extremely shallow, the pseudo-Goldstone boson is required not to couple to the QCD anomaly. This fixes uniquely the nonrenormalizable term generating the potential suppressed by M_G^7 in supergravity models.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2013

Hidden SUSY from precision gauge unification

We revisit the implications of naturalness and gauge unification in the MSSM. We find that precision unification of the couplings in connection with a small mu parameter requires a highly compressed gaugino pattern as it is realized in mirage mediation. Due to the small mass difference between gluino and LSP, collider limits on the gluino mass are drastically relaxed. Without further assumptions, the relic density of the LSP is very close to the observed dark matter density due to coannihilation effects.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2013

A Zip-code for Quarks, Leptons and Higgs Bosons

The location of matter fields and the pattern of gauge symmetry in extra dimensions are crucial ingredients for string model building. We analyze realistic MSSM models from the heterotic Z6 Mini-Landscape and extract those properties that are vital for their success. We find that Higgs bosons and the top quark are not localized in extra dimensions and live in the full D=10 dimensional space-time. The first two families of quarks and leptons, however, live at specific fixed points in extra dimensional space and exhibit a (discrete) family symmetry. Within a newly constructed Z2XZ4 orbifold framework we further elaborate on these location properties and the appearance of discrete symmetries. A similar geometrical picture emerges. This particular Zip-code for quarks, leptons and Higgs bosons seems to be of more general validity and thus a useful guideline for realistic model building in string theory.

hep-th↗
arXiv2013

Heterotic Mini-landscape in blow-up

Localization properties of fields in compact extra dimensions are crucial ingredients for string model building, particularly in the framework of orbifold compactifications. Realistic models often require a slight deviation from the orbifold point, that can be analyzed using field theoretic methods considering (singlet) fields with nontrivial vacuum expectation values. Some of these fields correspond to blow-up modes that represent the resolution of orbifold singularities. Improving on previous analyses we give here an explicit example of the blow-up of a model from the heterotic Mini-landscape. An exact identification of the blow-up modes at various fixed points and fixed tori with orbifold twisted fields is given. We match the massless spectra and identify the blow-up modes as non-universal axions of compactified string theory. We stress the important role of the Green-Schwarz anomaly polynomial for the description of the resolution of orbifold singularities.

hep-th↗
arXiv2012

The heterotic MiniLandscape and the 126 GeV Higgs boson

The MSSM candidates arising from the heterotic MiniLandscape feature a very constrained supersymmetry breaking pattern. This includes a fully predictable gaugino mass pattern, which is compressed compared to the CMSSM, and an inverted sfermion hierarchy due to distinct geometric localisation, featuring stops as light as 1 TeV. The observed Higgs mass sets a lower bound m_{gluino} > 1.2 TeV on the gluino mass. The electroweak fine-tuning is reduced by a UV relation between the scalar mass of the two heavy families and the gluino mass. While large parts of the favoured parameter space escape detection at the LHC, the prospects to test the MiniLandscape models with future dark matter searches are very promising.

hep-ph↗