arXiv subjects

Hooman Davoudiasl

Publications and source records attributed to Hooman Davoudiasl.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Photon Cascade Decay of the Warped Graviton at LHC14 and a 100 TeV Hadron Collider

In warped 5D models of hierarchy and flavor, the first Kaluza-Klein (KK) state of the graviton $G_1$ is heavy enough to decay into a photon and its first KK mode $γ_1$ on-shell: $G_1 \to γ_1 γ$. The volume-suppression of the rate for this process [relative to 2-body decay into heavy Standard Model (SM) final states ($W/Z/t/H$)] may be partially compensated by the simplicity of the photon final state. We consider $γ_1 \to W^+W^-$, with a typical O(1) branching fraction, and focus on the semi-leptonic final state $W(\to jj) W(\to \ell, ν)$ with $\ell=e,μ$. The SM background originates from $2\to 3$ parton processes and is relatively suppressed compared to those for 2-body decays of $G_1$. Moreover, to further reduce the background, we can impose an invariant mass window cut for $γ_1$ (in addition to that for $G_1$) in this new channel. We emphasize that this "photon cascade" decay probes a different combination of (bulk and brane) interactions of the KK states than the decays into two heavy SM states. Thus, in combination with other channels, the cascade decay could be used to extract the individual underlying geometric parameters. The $3σ$ reach for $G_1$ in our channel is up to 1.5 TeV at the high luminosity (14 TeV) LHC, and can be extended to about 4 TeV, at $5σ$, at a future 100 TeV hadron collider. Along the way, we point out the novel feature that the invariant mass distribution of KK graviton decay products becomes skewed from the Breit-Wigner form, due to the KK graviton coupling growing with energy.

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arXiv2015

Nucleon Decay into Dark Sector

A sub-GeV dark sector fermion X can have baryon number violating interactions induced by high scale physics, leading to nucleon decay into X + meson and neutron -> X + photon. Such processes can mimic standard search modes containing a neutrino, but have different kinematics and may have escaped detection. If a dark force mediated by a light vector Z_d acts on X, depending on parameters, neutron -> X + Z_d can be important. In typical scenarios, Z_d decays into l^+l^-, where l=e, mu, with order unity branching fraction. Nucleon decay searches can potentially uncover new dark states that are otherwise inaccessible, due to their negligible coupling to ordinary matter or cosmological abundance.

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arXiv2014

Right-Handed Neutrinos as the Origin of the Electroweak Scale

The insular nature of the Standard Model may be explained if the Higgs mass parameter is only sensitive to quantum corrections from physical states. Starting from a scale-free electroweak sector at tree-level, we postulate that quantum effects of heavy right-handed neutrinos induce a mass term for a scalar weak doublet that contains the dark matter particle. In turn, below the scale of heavy neutrinos, the dark matter sector sets the scale of the Higgs potential. We show that this framework can lead to a Higgs mass that respects physical naturalness, while also providing a viable scalar dark matter candidate, realistic light neutrino masses, and the baryon asymmetry of the Universe via leptogenesis. The proposed scenario can remain perturbative and stable up to the Planck scale, thereby accommodating simple extensions to include a high scale (2\times 10^{16} GeV) inflationary sector, implied by recent measurements. In that case, our model typically predicts that the dark matter scalar is close to 1 TeV in mass and could be accessible in near future direct detection experiments.

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arXiv2014

Warped Graviton "Z + Missing Energy" Signal at Hadron Colliders

We examine the reach at hadron colliders for the lightest warped Kaluza-Klein (KK) graviton G_1 in the Z(->l+l-) Z(->nu nu) channel, l=e,mu, within Randall-Sundrum models of hierarchy and flavor where the Standard Model gauge fields and fermions propagate in the 5D bulk. The reconstructed Z and the accompanying large missing energy allow for an efficient suppression of backgrounds. For reasonable parameters, a ~2(2.6) TeV G_1 can be discovered at 5 sigma with 300 /fb (3 /ab) of 14 TeV LHC data via our "Z + missing energy" signal. Using this signal, the discovery reach for G_1 at a future 100 TeV pp collider is estimated to be as high as ~10 TeV. We discuss mass determination of the singly produced G_1, using the energy distribution of its visible (Z -> l+l-) decay product, by adapting a recently proposed method. Based on our analysis, a mass measurement at the ~5% level with ~3 /ab of the 14 TeV LHC data can be feasible.

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arXiv2014

Muon g-2, Rare Kaon Decays, and Parity Violation from Dark Bosons

The muon g-2 discrepancy between theory and experiment may be explained by a light vector boson Z_d that couples to the electromagnetic current via kinetic mixing with the photon. We illustrate how the existing electron g-2, pion Dalitz decay, and other direct production data disfavor that explanation if the Z_d mainly decays into e+e-, mu+mu-. Implications of a dominant invisible Z_d decay channel, such as light dark matter, along with the resulting strong bounds from the rare K -> pi + 'missing energy' decay are examined. The K decay constraints may be relaxed if destructive interference effects due to Z-Z_d mass mixing are included. In that scenario, we show that accommodating the muon g-2 data through relaxation of K decay constraints leads to interesting signals for dark parity violation. As an illustration, we examine the alteration of the weak mixing angle running at low Q^2, which can be potentially observable in polarized electron scattering or atomic physics experiments.

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arXiv2014

Charged Higgs Discovery in the W plus "Dark" Vector Boson Decay Mode

In Two Higgs doublet extensions of the Standard Model, flavor-changing neutral current constraints can be addressed by introducing a U(1)' gauge symmetry, under which the Higgs doublets carry different charges. That scenario implies the presence of a H^\pm W^\mp Z' vertex at tree level. For the light "dark" Z model (Z'=Z_d) with m_{Z_d} < 10 GeV, such a coupling leads to the dominant decay mode H^\pm \to W^\pm + Z_d (for m_{H^\pm} \lsim 175 GeV), rather than the usual type I model decay H^\pm \to τ^\pm ν, for a broad range of parameters. We find that current analyses do not place significant bounds on this scenario. Over much of the parameter space considered, the decay of a pair-produced t ({\bar t}) into H^+ b (H^- {\bar b}) provides the dominant H^\pm production. Analysis of available LHC data can likely cover significant ranges of our parameters, if Z_d \to μ^+μ^- has a branching ratio of \sim 20%. If the Z_d decays mainly invisibly then probing the entire relevant parameter space would likely require additional data from future LHC runs. We briefly discuss the phenomenology for m_{H^\pm}\gsim 175 GeV.

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arXiv2013

Dark Matter from Hidden Forces

We examine the possibility that dark matter may be the manifestation of dark forces of a hidden sector, i.e. "Dark Force = Dark Matter." As an illustrative and minimal example we consider the hidden SU(2)_h x U(1)_h gauge group. The hidden dynamics is indirectly coupled to the Standard Model (SM) through kinetic mixing of U(1)_h with the U(1)_Y of hypercharge. We assume a hidden symmetry breaking pattern analogous to that of the SM electroweak symmetry, augmented with an extra scalar that allows both the "hidden Z boson" Z_h and the "hidden photon" γ_h to be massive. The "hidden W" bosons W_h are dark matter in this scenario. This setup can readily accommodate a potential direct detection signal for dark matter at ~10 GeV from CDMSII-Si data. For some choices of parameters, the model can lead to signals both in "dark matter beam" experiments, from Z_h\to W_h W_h, as well as in experiments that look for visible signals of dark photons, mediated by γ_h. Other possible phenomenological consequences are also briefly discussed.

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arXiv2013

Gravitationally Induced Dark Matter Asymmetry and Dark Nucleon Decay

The "gravitational baryogenesis" scenario is extended to generate both baryon and dark matter asymmetries, in the matter dominated era corresponding to post-inflationary reheating. A minimal extension requires a singlet fermion X for dark matter and a singlet scalar S. With two or more hidden sector fermions, the scenario can lead to nucleon decay into dark matter with a lifetime of order 10^{34-36} yr, which is relevant for current or future experiments. The correct multi-component relic density can be obtained if dark matter fermions couple to a sub-GeV vector boson that weakly interacts with the Standard Model through mixing. The typical inflationary scale in the scenario is of order 10^{16} GeV which suggests that tensor mode perturbations could potentially be within observational reach.

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arXiv2013

Higgs Decays as a Window into the Dark Sector

A light vector boson, Z_d, associated with a "dark sector" U(1)_d gauge group has been introduced to explain certain astrophysical observations as well as low energy laboratory anomalies. In such models, the Higgs boson may decay into X+Z_d, where X=Z, Z_d or γ. Here, we provide estimates of those decay rates as functions of the Z_d coupling through either mass-mixing (e.g. via an enlarged Higgs mechanism) or through heavy new fermion loops and examine the implied LHC phenomenology. Our studies focus on the higher m_{Z_d} case, > several GeV, where the rates are potentially measurable at the LHC, for interesting regions of parameter spaces, at a level complementary to low energy experimental searches for the Z_d. We also show how measurement of the Z_d polarization (longitudinal versus transverse) can be used to distinguish the physics underlying these rare decays.

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arXiv2013

Top Pair Forward-Backward Asymmetry from Loops of New Strongly Coupled Quarks

We examine loop-mediated effects of new heavy quarks Q=(t',b') on t tbar production at hadron colliders, using a phenomenological model with flavor off-diagonal couplings of charged and neutral scalars phi=(phi^+-,phi^0) to Q. We show that an invariant-mass-dependent asymmetry, in the t tbar center of mass, consistent with those recently reported by the CDF collaboration can be obtained for quark masses around 350-500 GeV, scalar masses of order 100-200 GeV, and modest to strong Yukawa couplings. The requisite strong interactions suggest a non-perturbative electroweak symmetry breaking mechanism and composite states at the weak scale. A typical prediction of this framework is that the new heavy quarks decay dominantly into t phi final states.

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arXiv2013

The Radion as a Harbinger of Deca-TeV Physics

Precision data generally require the threshold for physics beyond the Standard Model to be at the deca-TeV (10 TeV) scale or higher. This raises the question of whether there are interesting deca-TeV models for which the LHC may find direct clues. A possible scenario for such physics is a 5D warped model of fermion masses and mixing, with Kaluza-Klein masses m_KK ~ 10 TeV, allowing it to avoid tension with stringent constraints, especially from flavor data. Discovery of a Standard-Model-like Higgs boson, for which there are some hints at ~125 GeV at the LHC, would also require the KK masses to be at or above 10 TeV. These warped models generically predict the appearance of a much lighter radion scalar. We find that, in viable warped models of flavor, a radion with a mass of a few hundred GeV and an inverse coupling of order m_KK ~ 10 TeV could typically be accessible to the LHC experiments -- with sqrt(s) = 14 TeV and 100 fb^-1 of data. The above statements can be applied, mutatis mutandis, to 4D dual models, where conformal dynamics and a dilaton replace warping and the radion, respectively. Detection of such a light and narrow scalar could thus herald the proximity of a new physical threshold and motivate experiments that would directly probe the deca-TeV mass scale.

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arXiv2013

Electroweak Phase Transition, Higgs Diphoton Rate, and New Heavy Fermions

We show that weak scale vector-like fermions with order one couplings to the Higgs can lead to a novel mechanism for a strongly first-order electroweak phase transition (EWPhT), through their tendency to drive the Higgs quartic coupling negative. These same fermions could also enhance the loop-induced branching fraction of the Higgs into two photons, as suggested by the recent discovery of a ~125 GeV Higgs-like state at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Our results suggest that measurements of the diphoton decay rate of the Higgs and its self coupling, at the LHC or perhaps at a future lepton collider, could probe the EWPhT in the early Universe, with significant implications for the viability of electroweak baryogenesis scenarios.

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arXiv2012

Dark Side of Higgs Diphoton Decays and Muon g-2

We propose that the LHC hints for a Higgs diphoton excess and the muon g-2 (g_mu-2) discrepancy between theory and experiment may be related by vector-like "leptons" charged under both U(1)_Y hypercharge and a "dark" U(1)_d. Quantum loops of such leptons can enhance the Higgs diphoton rate and also generically lead to U(1)_Y - U(1)_d kinetic mixing. The induced coupling of a light U(1)_d gauge boson Z_d to electric charge can naturally explain the measured g_mu-2. We update Z_d mass and coupling constraints based on comparison of the electron g-2 experiment and theory, and find that explaining g_mu-2 while satisfying other constraints requires Z_d to have a mass ~ 20-100 MeV. We predict new Higgs decay channels gamma Z_d and Z_d Z_d, with rates below the diphoton mode but potentially observable. The boosted Z_d -> e+e- in these decays would mimic a promptly converted photon and could provide a fraction of the apparent diphoton excess. More statistics or a closer inspection of extant data may reveal such events.

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arXiv2012

Technicolor Assisted Leptogenesis with an Ultra-Heavy Higgs Doublet

If fermion condensation is a main source of electroweak symmetry breaking, an ultra-heavy Higgs doublet of mass ~10^8 GeV can yield naturally small Dirac neutrino masses. We show that such a scenario can lead to a new leptogenesis mechanism based on the decays of the ultra-heavy Higgs. Given its very large mass, the requisite Higgs doublet can be considered an elementary particle and would point to a cutoff scale ~10^10 GeV. We outline how our scenario can also naturally lead to composite asymmetric dark matter. Some potential signals of this scenario are discussed.

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arXiv2012

Muon Anomaly and Dark Parity Violation

The muon anomalous magnetic moment exhibits a 3.6 σdiscrepancy between experiment and theory. One explanation requires the existence of a light vector boson, Z_d (the dark Z), with mass 10 - 500 MeV that couples weakly to the electromagnetic current through kinetic mixing. Support for such a solution also comes from astrophysics conjectures regarding the utility of a U(1)_d gauge symmetry in the dark matter sector. In that scenario, we show that mass mixing between the Z_d and ordinary Z boson introduces a new source of "dark" parity violation which is potentially observable in atomic and polarized electron scattering experiments. Restrictive bounds on the mixing (m_{Z_d} / m_Z) δare found from existing atomic parity violation results, δ^2 < 2 x 10^{-5}. Combined with future planned and proposed polarized electron scattering experiments, a sensitivity of δ^2 ~ 10^{-6} is expected to be reached, thereby complementing direct searches for the Z_d boson.

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arXiv2012

On Relating the Genesis of Cosmic Baryons and Dark Matter

The similar cosmological energy budgets in visible baryons and dark matter motivate one to consider a common origin for the generation of both. We outline the key features of scenarios that can accommodate a unified framework for the genesis of cosmic matter. In doing so, we provide a brief overview of some of the past and recent developments and discuss the main predictions of a number of models.

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arXiv2012

"Dark" Z implications for Parity Violation, Rare Meson Decays, and Higgs Physics

General consequences of mass mixing between the ordinary Z boson and a relatively light Z_d boson, the "dark" Z, arising from a U(1)_d gauge symmetry, associated with a hidden sector such as dark matter, are examined. New effects beyond kinetic mixing are emphasized. Z-Z_d mixing introduces a new source of low energy parity violation well explored by possible future atomic parity violation and planned polarized electron scattering experiments. Rare K (B) meson decays into pi (K) l^+ l^- (l = e, mu) and pi (K) nu anti-nu are found to already place tight constraints on the size of Z-Z_d mixing. Those sensitivities can be further improved with future dedicated searches at K and B factories as well as binned studies of existing data. Z-Z_d mixing can also lead to the Higgs decay H -> Z Z_d, followed by Z -> l_1^+ l_1^- and Z_d -> l_2^+ l_2^- or "missing energy", providing a potential hidden sector discovery channel at the LHC. An illustrative realization of these effects in a 2 Higgs doublet model is presented.

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arXiv2012

Precocious Diphoton Signals of the Little Radion at Hadron Colliders

In Little Randall-Sundrum models, the bulk couplings of the radion to massless gauge fields can yield a greatly enhanced diphoton signal at hadron colliders. We examine the implications of the Tevatron data for the Little radion and also show that the 7 TeV run at the Large Hadron Collider will have an impressive reach in this channel. The diphoton signal is crucial in the search for a light radion, or the dual dilaton, and can potentially probe the ultraviolet scale of the theory.

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