arXiv subjects

Hsin-Chia Cheng

Publications and source records attributed to Hsin-Chia Cheng.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Top Seesaw with a Custodial Symmetry, and the 126 GeV Higgs

The composite Higgs models based on the top seesaw mechanism commonly possess an enhanced approximate chiral symmetry, which is spontaneously broken to produce the Higgs field as the pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone bosons. The minimal model with only one extra vector-like singlet quark that mixes with the top quark can naturally give rise to a 126 GeV Higgs boson. However, without having a custodial symmetry it suffers from the weak-isospin violation constraint, which pushes the chiral symmetry breaking scale above a few TeV, causing a substantial fine-tuning for the weak scale. We consider an extension to the minimal model to incorporate the custodial symmetry by adding a vector-like electroweak doublet of quarks with hypercharge +7/6. Such a setup also protects the $Zb\bar{b}$ coupling which is another challenge for many composite Higgs models. With this addition, the chiral symmetry breaking scale can be lowered to around 1 TeV, making the theory much less fine-tuned. The Higgs is a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson of the broken O(5) symmetry. For the Higgs mass to be 126 GeV, the hypercharge +7/6 quarks should be around or below the chiral symmetry breaking scale, and are likely to be the lightest new states. The 14 TeV LHC will significantly extend the search reach of these quarks. To probe the rest of the spectrum, on the other hand, would require a higher-energy future collider.

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arXiv2014

Higgs mass from compositeness at a multi-TeV scale

Within composite Higgs models based on the top seesaw mechanism, we show that the Higgs field can arise as the pseudo Nambu-Goldstone boson of the broken U(3)_L chiral symmetry associated with a vector-like quark and the t-b doublet. As a result, the lightest CP-even neutral state of the composite scalar sector is lighter than the top quark, and can be identified as the newly discovered Higgs boson. Constraints on weak isospin violation push the chiral symmetry breaking scale above a few TeV, implying that other composite scalars are probably too heavy to be probed at the LHC, but may be within reach at a future hadron collider with center-of-mass energy of about 100 TeV.

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arXiv2013

A Toolkit of the Stop Search via the Chargino Decay

The top squark (stop) may dominantly decay to a bottom quark and a chargino if the mass difference between the stop and the lightest neutralino is comparable or less than the top quark mass. Such a moderately compressed spectrum is a challenging scenario for the stop search at the Large Hadron Collider, because it is difficult to separate the signals from the top and anti-top background. In this paper we focus on the di-leptonic decay channel, and consider many kinematic variables as possible discriminators. These include several MT2 variables and new "compatible-masses" variables which fully utilize all kinematic information of the background. We use several sample spectra with different characteristics to study the efficiencies of these variables in distinguishing the signal from the background. The finding is that different combinations of variables or strategies should be used for different spectra to maximally enhance the signal significance and expand the reach of the stop search in this scenario. The new variables that we proposed in this paper are also useful for other new physics searches with di-leptonic top and anti-top events as the dominant background.

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arXiv2013

A Holographic Model of Heavy-light Mesons

We construct a holographic model of heavy-light mesons by extending the AdS/QCD to incorporate the behavior of the heavy quark limit. In that limit, the QCD dynamics is governed by the light quark and the heavy quark simply plays the role of a static color source. The heavy quark spin symmetry can be treated as a global symmetry in the AdS bulk. As a consequence, the heavy-light mesons are mapped to "fermions" in the AdS theory. The light flavor chiral symmetry is naturally built in by this construction, and its breaking produces the splitting of the parity-doubled heavy-light meson states. The scaling dependences of physical quantities on the heavy quark mass in the heavy quark effective theory are reproduced. The mass spectra and decay constants of the B and D mesons can be well fit by suitable choices of model parameters. The couplings between the heavy-light mesons and the pions are also calculated. The holographic model may capture the essence of the long distance effects of QCD and can serve as a useful tool for studying the non-perturbative hadronic matrix elements involving heavy-light mesons.

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arXiv2012

The case for three-body decaying dark matter

Fermi-LAT has confirmed the excess in cosmic positron fraction observed by PAMELA, which could be explained by dark matter annihilating or decaying in the center of the galaxy. Most existing models postulate that the dark matter annihilates or decays into final states with two or four leptons, which would produce diffuse gamma ray emissions that are in tension with data measured by Fermi-LAT. We point out that the tension could be alleviated if the dark matter decays into three-body final states with a pair of leptons and a missing particle. Using the goldstino decay in a certain class of supersymmetric theories as a prime example, we demonstrate that simultaneous fits to the total e+ + e- and the fractional e+/e- fluxes from Fermi-LAT and PAMELA could be achieved for a 2 TeV parent particle and a 1 TeV missing particle, without being constrained by gamma-ray measurements. By studying different effective operators giving rise to the dark matter decay, we show that this feature is generic for three-body decaying dark matter containing a missing particle. Constraints on the hadronic decay widths from the cosmic anti-proton spectra are also discussed.

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arXiv2012

Stop the Top Background of the Stop Search

The main background for the supersymmetric stop direct production search comes from Standard Model ttbar events. For the single-lepton search channel, we introduce a few kinematic variables to further suppress this background by focusing on its dileptonic and semileptonic topologies. All are defined to have end points in the background, but not signal distributions. They can substantially improve the stop signal significance and mass reach when combined with traditional kinematic variables such as the total missing transverse energy. Among them, our variable M^W_T2 has the best overall performance because it uses all available kinematic information, including the on-shell mass of both W's. We see 20%-30% improvement on the discovery significance and estimate that the 8 TeV LHC run with 20 fb-1 of data would be able to reach an exclusion limit of 650-700 GeV for direct stop production, as long as the stop decays dominantly to the top quark and a light stable neutralino. Most of the mass range required for the supersymmetric solution of the naturalness problem in the standard scenario can be covered.

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arXiv2011

Measuring Invisible Particle Masses Using a Single Short Decay Chain

We consider the mass measurement at hadron colliders for a decay chain of two steps, which ends with a missing particle. Such a topology appears as a subprocess of signal events of many new physics models which contain a dark matter candidate. From the two visible particles coming from the decay chain, only one invariant mass combination can be formed and hence it is naïvely expected that the masses of the three invisible particles in the decay chain cannot be determined from a single end point of the invariant mass distribution. We show that the event distribution in the $\log(E_{1T}/E_{2T})$ vs. invariant mass-squared plane, where $E_{1T}$, $E_{2T}$ are the transverse energies of the two visible particles, contains the information of all three invisible particle masses and allows them to be extracted individually. The experimental smearing and combinatorial issues pose challenges to the mass measurements. However, in many cases the three invisible particle masses in the decay chain can be determined with reasonable accuracies.

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arXiv2011

SUSY Hidden in the Continuum

We study models where the superpartners of the ordinary particles have continuous spectra rather than being discrete states, which can occur when the supersymmetric standard model is coupled to an approximately conformal sector. We show that when superpartners that are well into the continuum are produced at a collider they tend to have long decay chains that step their way down through the continuum, emitting many fairly soft standard model particles along the way, with a roughly spherical energy distribution in the center of mass frame.

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arXiv2011

Simplified Models for LHC New Physics Searches

This document proposes a collection of simplified models relevant to the design of new-physics searches at the LHC and the characterization of their results. Both ATLAS and CMS have already presented some results in terms of simplified models, and we encourage them to continue and expand this effort, which supplements both signature-based results and benchmark model interpretations. A simplified model is defined by an effective Lagrangian describing the interactions of a small number of new particles. Simplified models can equally well be described by a small number of masses and cross-sections. These parameters are directly related to collider physics observables, making simplified models a particularly effective framework for evaluating searches and a useful starting point for characterizing positive signals of new physics. This document serves as an official summary of the results from the "Topologies for Early LHC Searches" workshop, held at SLAC in September of 2010, the purpose of which was to develop a set of representative models that can be used to cover all relevant phase space in experimental searches. Particular emphasis is placed on searches relevant for the first ~50-500 pb-1 of data and those motivated by supersymmetric models. This note largely summarizes material posted at http://lhcnewphysics.org/, which includes simplified model definitions, Monte Carlo material, and supporting contacts within the theory community. We also comment on future developments that may be useful as more data is gathered and analyzed by the experiments.

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arXiv2011

Goldstini as the decaying dark matter

We consider a new scenario for supersymmetric decaying dark matter without R-parity violation in theories with goldstini, which arise if supersymmetry is broken independently by multiple sequestered sectors. The uneaten goldstino naturally has a long lifetime and decays into three-body final states including the gravitino, which escapes detection, and two visible particles. The goldstini low-energy effective interactions are derived, which can be non-universal and allow the dark matter to be leptophilic, in contrast to the case of a single sector supersymmetry breaking. In addition, the three-body decay with a missing particle gives a softer spectrum. Consequently, it is possible to fit both the positron excess observed by the PAMELA and the total e+ + e- measurements by the Fermi-LAT using universal couplings to all three lepton flavors or 100% branching fraction into electrons/positrons, both of which are disfavored in the conventional scenario of dark matter decays into two or four visible particles without missing energy.

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arXiv2010

Identifying Dark Matter Event Topologies at the LHC

Assuming dark matter particles can be pair-produced at the LHC from cascade decays of heavy particles, we investigate strategies to identify the event topologies based on the kinematic information of final state visible particles. This should be the first step towards measuring the masses and spins of the new particles in the decay chains including the dark matter particle. As a concrete example, we study in detail the final states with 4 jets plus missing energy. This is a particularly challenging scenario because of large experimental smearing effects and no fundamental distinction among the 4 jets. Based on the fact that the invariant mass of particles on the same decay chain has an end point in its distribution, we define several functions which can distinguish different topologies depending on whether they exhibit the end-point structure. We show that all possible topologies (e.g., two jets on each decay chain or three jets on one chain and the other jet on the other chain, and so on) in principle can be identified from the distributions of these functions of the visible particle momenta. We also consider cases with one jet from the initial state radiation as well as off-shell decays. Our studies show that the event topology may be identified with as few as several hundred signal events after basic cuts. The method can be readily generalized to other event topologies. In particular, event topologies including leptons will be easier because the end points are expected to be sharper and there are more distinct invariant mass distributions from different charges.

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arXiv2010

Missing Momentum Reconstruction and Spin Measurements at Hadron Colliders

We study methods for reconstructing the momenta of invisible particles in cascade decay chains at hadron colliders. We focus on scenarios, such as SUSY and UED, in which new physics particles are pair produced. Their subsequent decays lead to two decay chains ending with neutral stable particles escaping detection. Assuming that the masses of the decaying particles are already measured, we obtain the momenta by imposing the mass-shell constraints. Using this information, we develop techniques of determining spins of particles in theories beyond the standard model. Unlike the methods relying on Lorentz invariant variables, this method can be used to determine the spin of the particle which initiates the decay chain. We present two complementary ways of applying our method by using more inclusive variables relying on kinematic information from one decay chain, as well as constructing correlation variables based on the kinematics of both decay chains in the same event.

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arXiv2010

Accurate Mass Determinations in Decay Chains with Missing Energy: II

We discuss kinematic methods for determining the masses of the particles in events at a hadron collider in which a pair of identical particles is produced with each decaying via a series of on-shell intermediate beyond-the-SM (BSM) particles to visible SM particles and an invisible particle (schematically, pp -> ZZ + jets with Z -> Aa -> Bba -> Ccba -> ... -> cba... + N where a,b,c,... are visible SM particles or groups of SM particles, A,B,C,... are on-shell BSM particles and N is invisible). This topology arises in many models including SUSY processes such as squark and gluino pair production and decay. We present the detailed procedure for the case of Z -> 3 visible particles + N and demonstrate that the masses obtained from the kinematic procedure are independent of the model by comparing SUSY to UED.

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arXiv2010

2009 TASI Lecture -- Introduction to Extra Dimensions

We give a brief introduction to theories with extra dimensions. We first introduce the basic formalism for studying extra-dimensional theories, including the Kaluza-Klein decomposition and the effective theory for 3-branes. We then focus on two types of scenarios: large extra dimensions as a solution to the hierarchy problem and TeV$^{-1}$-size extra dimensions with Standard Model fields propagating in them. We discuss the experimental tests and constraints on these scenarios, and also the questions in particle physics which may be addressed with the help of extra dimensions. This is the write-up of the lectures given at the 2009 TASI summer school. Other interesting topics such as warped extra dimensions are covered by other lecturers.

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arXiv2010

Continuum Superpartners

In an exact conformal theory there is no particle. The excitations have continuum spectra and are called "unparticles" by Georgi. We consider supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model with approximate conformal sectors. The conformal symmetry is softly broken in the infrared which generates a gap. However, the spectrum can still have a continuum above the gap if there is no confinement. Using the AdS/CFT correspondence this can be achieved with a soft wall in the warped extra dimension. When supersymmetry is broken the superpartners of the Standard Model particles may simply be a continuum above gap. The collider signals can be quite different from the standard supersymmetric scenarios and the experimental searches for the continuum superpartners can be very challenging.

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arXiv2009

Continuum Superpartners from Supersymmetric Unparticles

We examine supersymmetric theories with approximately conformal sectors. Without an IR cutoff the theory has a continuum of modes, which are often referred to as "unparticles." Making use of the AdS/CFT correspondence we find that in the presence of a soft-wall, a gap in the spectrum can arise, separating the zero-modes from the continuum modes. In some cases there are also discrete massive levels in the gap. We also show that when supersymmetry is broken the superpartner of a quark or lepton may simply be a bosonic continuum above a gap. Such extensions of the standard model have novel signatures at the LHC.

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arXiv2009

A Quirky Little Higgs Model

We consider an extra dimensional model where the quadratically divergent top loop contribution to the Higgs mass is cancelled by an uncolored heavy "top quirk" charged under a different SU(3) gauge group. The cancellation is enforced by bulk gauge symmetries. Thus we have an unusual type of little Higgs model which has some quirky signatures. The top partner in this model could be identified at the Large Hadron Collider due to macroscopic strings that connect quirk and anti-quirks. The model can undergo radiative electroweak symmetry breaking and is consistent with precision electroweak measurements.

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arXiv2008

Minimal Kinematic Constraints and MT2

We clarify the relation between the variable MT2 and the method of kinematic constraints, both of which can be used for mass determination in events with two missing (dark matter) particles at hadron colliders. We identify a set of minimal kinematic constraints, including the mass shell conditions for the missing particles and their mother particles, as well as the constraint from the measured missing transverse momentum. We show that MT2 is the boundary of the mass region consistent with the minimal constraints. From this point of view, we also obtained a more efficient algorithm for calculating MT2. When more constraints are available in the events, we can develop more sophisticated mass determination methods starting from the MT2 constraint. In particular, we discuss cases when each decay chain contains two visible particles.

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