arXiv subjects

J. W. F. Valle

Publications and source records attributed to J. W. F. Valle.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

Relating quarks and leptons without grand-unification

In combination with supersymmetry, flavor symmetry may relate quarks with leptons, even in the absence of a grand-unification group. We propose an SU(3)xSU(2)xU(1) model where both supersymmetry and the assumed A4 flavor symmetries are softly broken, reproducing well the observed fermion mass hierarchies and predicting: (i) a relation between down-type quarks and charged lepton masses, and (ii) a correlation between the Cabibbo angle in the quark sector, and the reactor angle characterizing CP violation in neutrino oscillations.

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arXiv2011

Where we are on $θ_{13}$: addendum to "Global neutrino data and recent reactor fluxes: status of three-flavour oscillation parameters"

In this addendum to arXiv:1103.0734 we consider the recent results from long-baseline $ν_μ\toν_e$ searches at the T2K and MINOS experiments and investigate their implications for the mixing angle $θ_{13}$ and the leptonic Dirac CP phase $δ$. By combining the $2.5σ$ indication for a non-zero value of $θ_{13}$ coming from T2K data with global neutrino oscillation data we obtain a significance for $θ_{13} > 0$ of about $3σ$ with best fit points $\sin^2θ_{13} = 0.013(0.016)$ for normal (inverted) neutrino mass ordering. These results depend somewhat on assumptions concerning the analysis of reactor neutrino data.

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arXiv2011

Phenomenology of Dark Matter from A4 Flavor Symmetry

We investigate a model in which Dark Matter is stabilized by means of a Z2 parity that results from the same non-abelian discrete flavor symmetry which accounts for the observed pattern of neutrino mixing. In our A4 example the standard model is extended by three extra Higgs doublets and the Z2 parity emerges as a remnant of the spontaneous breaking of A4 after electroweak symmetry breaking. We perform an analysis of the parameter space of the model consistent with electroweak precision tests, collider searches and perturbativity. We determine the regions compatible with the observed relic dark matter density and we present prospects for detection in direct as well as indirect Dark Matter search experiments.

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arXiv2011

Global neutrino data and recent reactor fluxes: status of three-flavour oscillation parameters

We present the results of a global neutrino oscillation data analysis within the three-flavour framework. We include latest results from the MINOS long-baseline experiment (including electron neutrino appearance as well as anti-neutrino data), updating all relevant solar (SK II+III), atmospheric (SK I+II+III) and reactor (KamLAND) data. Furthermore, we include a recent re-calculation of the anti-neutrino fluxes emitted from nuclear reactors. These results have important consequences for the analysis of reactor experiments and in particular for the status of the mixing angle $θ_{13}$. In our recommended default analysis we find from the global fit that the hint for non-zero $θ_{13}$ remains weak, at 1.8$σ$ for both neutrino mass hierarchy schemes. However, we discuss in detail the dependence of these results on assumptions concerning the reactor neutrino analysis.

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arXiv2011

Global constraints on muon-neutrino non-standard interactions

The search for new interactions of neutrinos beyond those of the Standard Model may help to elucidate the mechanism responsible for neutrino masses. Here we combine existing accelerator neutrino data with restrictions coming from a recent atmospheric neutrino data analysis in order to lift parameter degeneracies and improve limits on new interactions of muon neutrinos with quarks. In particular we re-consider the results of the NuTeV experiment in view of a new evaluation of its systematic uncertainties. We find that, although constraints for muon neutrinos are better than those applicable to tau or electron neutrinos, they lie at the few $\times 10^{-2}$ level, not as strong as previously believed. We briefly discuss prospects for further improvement.

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arXiv2010

Discrete dark matter

We propose a new motivation for the stability of dark matter (DM). We suggest that the same non-abelian discrete flavor symmetry which accounts for the observed pattern of neutrino oscillations, spontaneously breaks to a Z2 subgroup which renders DM stable. The simplest scheme leads to a scalar doublet DM potentially detectable in nuclear recoil experiments, inverse neutrino mass hierarchy, hence a neutrinoless double beta decay rate accessible to upcoming searches, while reactor angle equal to zero gives no CP violation in neutrino oscillations.

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arXiv2010

Probing Neutrino Oscillations in Supersymmetric Models at the Large Hadron Collider

The lightest supersymmetric particle may decay with branching ratios that correlate with neutrino oscillation parameters. In this case the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has the potential to probe the atmospheric neutrino mixing angle with sensitivity competitive to its low-energy determination by underground experiments. Under realistic detection assumptions, we identify the necessary conditions for the experiments at CERN's LHC to probe the simplest scenario for neutrino masses induced by minimal supergravity with bilinear R parity violation.

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arXiv2010

A_4-based neutrino masses with Majoron decaying dark matter

We propose an A_4 flavor-symmetric SU(3)xSU(2)xU(1) seesaw model where lepton number is broken spontaneously. A consistent two-zero texture pattern of neutrino masses and mixing emerges from the interplay of type-I and type-II seesaw contributions, with important phenomenological predictions. We show that, if the Majoron becomes massive, such seesaw scenario provides a viable candidate for decaying dark matter, consistent with cosmic microwave background lifetime constraints that follow from current WMAP observations. We also calculate the sub-leading one-loop-induced decay into photons which leads to a mono-energetic emission line that may be observed in future X-ray missions such as Xenia.

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arXiv2010

Calculable inverse-seesaw neutrino masses in supersymmetry

We provide a scenario where naturally small and calculable neutrino masses arise from a supersymmetry breaking renormalization-group-induced vacuum expectation value. We adopt a minimal supergravity scenario without ad hoc supersymmetric mass parameters. The lightest supersymmetric particle can be an isosinglet scalar neutrino state, potentially viable as WIMP dark matter through its Higgs new boson coupling. The scenario leads to a plethora of new phenomenological implications at accelerators including the Large Hadron Collider.

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arXiv2010

Interplay between collective effects and non-standard interactions of supernova neutrinos

We consider the effect of non-standard neutrino interactions (NSI, for short) on the propagation of neutrinos through the supernova (SN) envelope within a three-neutrino framework and taking into account the presence of a neutrino background. We find that for given NSI parameters, with strength generically denoted by $\varepsilon_{ij}$, neutrino evolution exhibits a significant time dependence. For $|\varepsilon_{ττ}|\gtrsim$ $10^{-3}$ the neutrino survival probability may become sensitive to the $θ_{23}$ octant and the sign of $\varepsilon_{ττ}$. In particular, if $\varepsilon_{ττ}\gtrsim 10^{-2}$ an internal $I$-resonance may arise independently of the matter density. For typical values found in SN simulations this takes place in the same dense-neutrino region above the neutrinosphere where collective effects occur, in particular during the synchronization regime. This resonance may lead to an exchange of the neutrino fluxes entering the bipolar regime. The main consequences are (i) bipolar conversion taking place for normal neutrino mass hierarchy and (ii) a transformation of the flux of low-energy $ν_e$, instead of the usual spectral swap.

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arXiv2010

Status of Neutrino Theory

A summary of neutrino oscillation results is given along with a discussion of neutrino mass generation mechanisms, including high and low-scale seesaw, with and without supersymmetry, as well as recent attempts to understand flavor. I argue that if the origin of neutrino masses is intrinsically supersymmetric, it may lead to clear tests at the LHC. Finally, I briefly discuss thermal leptogenesis and dark matter.

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arXiv2009

Constraining nonstandard neutrino-quark interactions with solar, reactor and accelerator data

We present a reanalysis of nonstandard neutrino-down-quark interactions of electron and tau neutrinos using solar, reactor and accelerator data. In addition updating the analysis by including new solar data from SNO phase III and Borexino, as well as new KamLAND data and solar fluxes, a key role is played in our analysis by the combination of these results with the CHARM data. The latter allows us to better constrain the axial and axial-vector electron and tau-neutrino nonstandard interaction parameters characterizing the deviations from the Standard Model predictions.

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arXiv2009

Confusing non-zero theta_13 with non-standard interactions in the solar neutrino sector

Solar and KamLAND data are in slight tension when interpreted in the standard two-flavor oscillations framework and this may be alleviated allowing for a non-zero value of the mixing angle theta_13. Here we show that, likewise, non-standard flavor-changing interactions (FCI), possibly intervening in the propagation of solar neutrinos, are equally able to alleviate this tension and therefore constitute a potential source of confusion in the determination of theta_13. By performing a full three-flavor analysis of solar and KamLAND data in presence of FCI we provide a quantitative description of the degeneracy existing between theta_13 and the vectorial coupling eps_eτ^dV characterizing the non-standard transitions between nu_e and nu_tau in the forward scattering process with d-type quarks. We find that couplings with magnitude eps_eτ^dV ~ 10%, compatible with the existing bounds, can mimic the non-zero values of theta_13 indicated by the latest analyses.

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arXiv2009

Progress in the understanding of neutrino properties

I briefly summarize neutrino oscillation results and discuss their robustness. I mention recent attempts to understand the pattern of neutrino mixing within various seesaw mechanisms, with or without supersymmetry and/or flavor symmetries. I also mention the possibility of intrinsic supersymmetric neutrino masses in the context of broken R parity models, showing how this leads to clear tests at the LHC.

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arXiv2009

Neutrino mass in supersymmetry

After summarizing neutrino oscillation results I discuss high and low-scale seesaw mechanisms, with or without supersymmetry, as well as recent attempts to understand the pattern of neutrino mixing from flavor symmetries. I also mention the possibility of intrinsic supersymmetric neutrino masses in the context of broken R parity models, showing how this leads to clear tests at the LHC.

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arXiv2009

Finding the Higgs Boson through Supersymmetry

The study of displaced vertices containing two b--jets may provide a double discovery at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC): we show how it may not only reveal evidence for supersymmetry, but also provide a way to uncover the Higgs boson necessary in the formulation of the electroweak theory in a large region of the parameter space. We quantify this explicitly using the simplest minimal supergravity model with bilinear breaking of R-parity, which accounts for the observed pattern of neutrino masses and mixings seen in neutrino oscillation experiments.

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arXiv2009

Inverse tri-bimaximal type-III seesaw and lepton flavor violation

We present a type-III version of inverse seesaw or, equivalently an inverse version of type-III seesaw. Naturally small neutrino masses arise at low-scale from the exchange of neutral fermions transforming as hyperchargeless SU(2) triplets. In order to implement tri-bimaximal lepton mixing we supplement the minimal SU(3)xSU(2)xU(1) gauge symmetry with an A4-based flavor symmetry. Our scenario induces lepton flavour violating (LFV) three body decays that can proceed at the tree level, while radiative li to lj gamma decays and mu-e conversion in nuclei are also expected to be sizeable. LFV decays are related by the underlying flavor symmetry and the new fermions are also expected to be accessible for study at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

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arXiv2009

Probing non-standard neutrino-electron interactions with solar and reactor neutrinos

Most neutrino mass extensions of the standard electroweak model entail non-standard interactions which, in the low energy limit, can be parametrized in term of effective four-fermion operators $ν_αν_β\bar f f $. Typically of sub-weak strength, $ε_{αβ} G_F$, these are characterized by dimensionless coupling parameters, $ε_{αβ}$, which may be relatively sizeable in a wide class of schemes. Here we focus on non-universal (NU) flavor conserving couplings ($α= β$) with electrons ($f = e$) and analyse their impact on the phenomenology of solar neutrinos. We consistently take into account their effect both at the level of propagation where they modify the standard MSW behavior, and at the level of detection, where they affect the cross section of neutrino elastic scattering on electrons. We find limits which are comparable to other existing model-independent constraints.

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