arXiv subjects

John Ellis

Publications and source records attributed to John Ellis.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources

arXiv2002

Precision Analysis of the Lightest MSSM Higgs Boson at Future Colliders

We investigate the sensitivity of observables measurable in e^+ e^-, gamma gamma and mu^+ mu^- collisions for distinguishing the properties of the light neutral CP-even Higgs boson in the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM) from those of a Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson with the same mass. We explore first the available parameter space in the constrained MSSM (CMSSM), with universal soft supersymmetry-breaking parameters, incorporating the most recent direct limits on sparticle and Higgs masses, the indirect constraints from b to s gamma and g_mu - 2, and the cosmological relic density. We calculate the products of the expected CMSSM Higgs production cross sections and decay branching ratios sigma X B normalized by the corresponding values expected for those of a SM Higgs boson of the same mass. The results are compared with the precisions expected at each collider, and allow for a direct comparison of the different channels. The measurements in the Higgs sector are found to provide important consistency tests of the CMSSM. We then generalize our analysis to the case of a non-universal Higgs model (NUHM), where the values of M_A and mu are independent parameters. We explore in particular the sensitivity to M_A, finding that measurements at e^+ e^-, gamma gamma and mu^+ mu^- colliders could yield indirect constraints on its value, up to M_A ~ 1200 GeV. We discuss the potential of these measurements for distinguishing between the CMSSM and the NUHM, probing in this way the assumption of universality.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Limits of the Standard Model

Supersymmetry is one of the most plausible extensions of the Standard Model, since it is well motivated by the hierarchy problem, supported by measurements of the gauge coupling strengths, consistent with the suggestion from precision electroweak data that the Higgs boson may be relatively light, and provides a ready-made candidate for astrophysical cold dark matter. In the first lecture, constraints on supersymmetric models are reviewed, the problems of fine-tuning the electroweak scale and the dark matter density are discussed, and a number of benchmark scenarios are proposed. Then the prospects for discovering and measuring supersymmetry at the LHC, linear colliders and in non-accelerator experiments are presented. In the second lecture, the evidence for neutrino oscillations is recalled, and the parameter space of the seesaw model is explained. It is shown how these parameters may be explored in a supersymmetric model via the flavour-changing decays and electric dipole moments of charged leptons. It is shown that leptogenesis does not relate the baryon asymmetry of the Universe directly to CP violation in neutrino oscillations. Finally, possible CERN projects beyond the LHC are mentioned.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Updated Nucleosynthesis Constraints on Unstable Relic Particles

We revisit the upper limits on the abundance of unstable massive relic particles provided by the success of Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis calculations. We use the cosmic microwave background data to constrain the baryon-to-photon ratio, and incorporate an extensively updated compilation of cross sections into a new calculation of the network of reactions induced by electromagnetic showers that create and destroy the light elements deuterium, he3, he4, li6 and li7. We derive analytic approximations that complement and check the full numerical calculations. Considerations of the abundances of he4 and li6 exclude exceptional regions of parameter space that would otherwise have been permitted by deuterium alone. We illustrate our results by applying them to massive gravitinos. If they weigh ~100 GeV, their primordial abundance should have been below about 10^{-13} of the total entropy. This would imply an upper limit on the reheating temperature of a few times 10^7 GeV, which could be a potential difficulty for some models of inflation. We discuss possible ways of evading this problem.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Intersecting Branes Flip SU(5)

Within a toroidal orbifold framework, we exhibit intersecting brane-world constructions of flipped SU(5) \times U(1) GUT models with various numbers of generations, other chiral matter representations and Higgs representations. We exhibit orientifold constructions with integer winding numbers that yield 8 or more conventional SU(5) generations, and orbifold constructions with fractional winding numbers that yield flipped SU(5) \times U(1) models with just 3 conventional generations. Some of these models have candidates for the 5 and {\bar 5} Higgs representations needed for electroweak symmetry breaking, but not for the 10 and {\bar 10} representations needed for GUT symmetry breaking. We have also derived models with complete GUT and electroweak Higgs sectors, but these have undesirable extra chiral matter.

hep-th↗

arXiv2002

High-Energy Astrophysics and Cosmology

Interfaces between high-energy physics, astrophysics and cosmology are reviewed, with particular emphasis on the important roles played by high-energy cosmic-ray physics. These include the understanding of atmospheric neutrinos, the search for massive cold dark matter particles and possible tests of models of quantum gravity. In return, experiments at the LHC may be useful for refining models of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, and thereby contributing indirectly to understanding their origin. Only future experiments will be able to tell whether these are due to some bottom-up astrophysical mechanism or some top-down cosmological mechanism.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Particle Physics at Future Colliders

The search for physics beyond the Standard Model motivates new high-energy accelerators, which will require high luminosities in order to produce interesting new heavy particles. Using the Higgs boson and supersymmetry as examples, we discuss the capabilities of the LHC and $e^+ e^-$ linear colliders in the TeV and multi-TeV energy ranges to discover and study new particles.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2002

Looking Back at the First Decade of 21st-Century High-Energy Physics

On the occasion of the Tenth Conference on String Phenomenology in 2011, I review the dramatic progress since 2002 in experimental tests of fundamental theoretical ideas. These include the discovery of (probably fermionic) extra dimensions at the LHC, the discovery of dark matter particles, observations of charged-lepton flavour violation, the debut of quantum gravity phenomenology and the emergence of space-time from the string soup.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Observable Consequences of Partially Degenerate Leptogenesis

In the context of the seesaw mechanism, it is natural that the large solar and atmospheric neutrino mixing angles originate separately from large 2 by 2 mixings in the neutrino and charged-lepton sectors, respectively, and large mixing in the neutrino couplings is in turn more plausible if two of the heavy singlet neutrinos are nearly degenerate. We study the phenomenology of this scenario, calculating leptogenesis by solving numerically the set of coupled Boltzmann equations for out-of-equilibrium heavy singlet neutrino decays in the minimal supersymmetric seesaw model. The near-degenerate neutrinos may weigh < 10^8 GeV, avoiding the cosmological gravitino problem. This scenario predicts that Br(mu to e gamma) should be strongly suppressed, because of the small singlet neutrino masses, whilst Br(tau to mu gamma) may be large enough to be observable in B-factory or LHC experiments. If the light neutrino masses are hierarchical, we predict that the neutrinoless double-beta decay parameter m_{ee} is approximately sqrt{Delta m_{sol}^2} times sin^2 theta_{12}.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Leptogenesis and the Violation of Lepton Number and CP at Low Energies

In the context of the minimal supersymmetric seesaw model, we study the implications of the current neutrino data for thermal leptogenesis, $ββ_{0ν}$ decay, and leptonic flavour- and CP-violating low-energy observables. We express the heavy singlet-neutrino Dirac Yukawa couplings $(Y_ν)_{ij}$ and Majorana masses $M_{N_i}$ in terms of the light-neutrino observables and an auxiliary hermitian matrix $H$, which enables us to scan systematically over the allowed parameter space. If the lightest heavy neutrino $N_1$ decays induce the baryon asymmetry, there are correlations between the $M_{N_1}$, the lightest active neutrino mass and the primordial lepton asymmetry $ε_1$ on the one hand, and the $ββ_{0ν}$ decay parameter $m_{ee}$ on the other hand. {\it However, leptogenesis is insensitive to the neutrino oscillation phase}. We find lower bounds $M_{N_1}\gsim 10^{10}$ GeV for the normal light-neutrino mass hierarchy, and $M_{N_1}\gsim 10^{11}$ GeV for the inverted mass hierarchy, respectively, indicating a potentially serious conflict with the gravitino problem. Depending on $M_{N_1}$, we find upper (upper and lower bounds) on the lightest active neutrino mass for the normal (inverted) mass hierarchy, and a lower bound on $m_{ee}$ even for the normal mass ordering. The low-energy lepton-flavour- and CP-violating observables induced by renormalization are almost independent of leptogenesis. The electron electric dipole moment may be close to the present bound, reaching $d_e\sim 10^{-(27-28)}$ e cm in our numerical examples, while $d_μ$ may reach $d_μ\sim 10^{-25}$ e cm.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

A New Parametrization of the Seesaw Mechanism and Applications in Supersymmetric Models

We present a new parametrization of the minimal seesaw model, expressing the heavy-singlet neutrino Dirac Yukawa couplings $(Y_ν)_{ij}$ and Majorana masses $M_{N_i}$ in terms of effective light-neutrino observables and an auxiliary Hermitian matrix $H.$ In the minimal supersymmetric version of the seesaw model, the latter can be related directly to other low-energy observables, including processes that violate charged lepton flavour and CP. This parametrization enables one to respect the stringent constraints on muon-number violation while studying the possible ranges for other observables by scanning over the allowed parameter space of the model. Conversely, if any of the lepton-flavour-violating process is observed, this measurement can be used directly to constrain $(Y_ν)_{ij}$ and $M_{N_i}.$ As applications, we study flavour-violating $τ$ decays and the electric dipole moments of leptons in the minimal supersymmetric seesaw model.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Future Perspectives at CERN

Current and future experiments at CERN are reviewed,with emphasis on those relevant to astrophysics and cosmology. These include experiments related to nuclear astrophysics, matter-antimatter asymmetry, dark matter, axions, gravitational waves, cosmic rays, neutrino oscillations, inflation, neutron stars and the quark-gluon plasma. The centrepiece of CERN's future programme is the LHC, but some ideas for perspectives after the LHC are also presented.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Flipping SU(5) out of Trouble

Minimal supersymmetric SU(5) GUTs are being squeezed by the recent values of alpha_s, sin^2 theta_W, the lower limit on the lifetime for p to nubar K decay, and other experimental data. We show how the minimal flipped SU(5) GUT survives these perils, accommodating the experimental values of alpha_s and sin^2 theta_W and other constraints, while yielding a p to e/mu+ pi0 lifetime beyond the present experimental limit but potentially accessible to a further round of experiments. We exemplify our analysis using a set of benchmark supersymmetric scenarios proposed recently in a constrained MSSM framework.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Intrinsic Polarized Strangeness and Lambda Polarization in Deep-Inelastic Production

We propose a model for the longitudinal polarization of Lambda baryons produced in deep-inelastic lepton scattering at any xF, based on static SU(6) quark-diquark wave functions and polarized intrinsic strangeness in the nucleon associated with individual valence quarks. Free parameters of the model are fixed by fitting NOMAD data on the longitudinal polarization of Lambda hyperons in neutrino collisions. Our model correctly reproduces the observed dependences of Lambda polarization on the kinematic variables. Within the context of our model, the NOMAD data imply that the intrinsic strangeness associated with a valence quark has anticorrelated polarization. We also compare our model predictions with results from the HERMES and E665 experiments using charged leptons. Predictions of our model for the COMPASS experiment are also presented.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

The MSSM Parameter Space with Non-Universal Higgs Masses

Without assuming that Higgs masses have the same values as other scalar masses at the input GUT scale, we combine constraints on the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM) coming from the cold dark matter density with the limits from direct searches at accelerators such as LEP, indirect measurements such as b to s gamma decay and the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. The requirement that Higgs masses-squared be positive at the GUT scale imposes important restrictions on the MSSM parameter space, as does the requirement that the LSP be neutral. We analyze the interplay of these constraints in the (mu, m_A), (mu, m_{1/2}), (m_{1/2}, m_0) and (m_A, tan beta) planes. These exhibit new features not seen in the corresponding planes in the constrained MSSM in which universality is extended to Higgs masses.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Dark 2002 and Beyond

Salient aspects of the meeting are summarized, including our knowledge of dark matter at different cosmological and astrophysical distance scales, ranging from large-scale structure to the cores of galaxies, and our speculations on particle candidates for dark matter, including neutrinos, neutralinos, axinos, gravitinos and cryptons. Comments are also made on prospects for detecting dark matter particles and on the dark energy problem.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Supersymmetry for Alp Hikers

These lectures provide a phenomenological introduction to supersymmetry, concentrating on the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM). In the first lecture, motivations are provided for thinking that supersymmetry might appear at the TeV scale, including the naturalness of the mass hierarchy, gauge unification and the probable mass of the Higgs boson. In the second lecture, simple globally supersymmetric field theories are introduced, with the emphasis on features important for model-building. Supersymmetry breaking and local supersymmetry (supergravity) are introduced in the third lecture, and the structure of sparticle mass matrices and mixing are reviewed. Finally, the available experimental and cosmological constraints on MSSM parameters are discussed and combined in the fourth lecture, and the prospects for discovering supersymmetry in future experiments are previewed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Constraining Supersymmetry

We review constraints on the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM) coming from direct searches at accelerators such as LEP, indirect measurements such as b -> s gamma decay and the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. The recently corrected sign of pole light-by-light scattering contributions to the latter is taken into account. We combine these constraints with those due to the cosmological density of stable supersymmetric relic particles. The possible indications on the supersymmetric mass scale provided by fine-tuning arguments are reviewed critically. We discuss briefly the prospects for future accelerator searches for supersymmetry.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Calculations of Neutralino-Stop Coannihilation in the CMSSM

We present detailed calculations of the neutralino-stop coannihilation channels that have the largest impact on the relic neutralino density in the constrained minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (CMSSM), in which scalar masses m_0, gaugino masses m_1/2 and the trilinear soft supersymmetry-breaking parameters A_0 are each assumed to be universal at some input grand unification scale. The most important stop-stop* and stop-stop annihilation channels are also calculated, as well as stop-slepton coannihilation channels. We illustrate the importance of these new coannihilation calculations when A_0 is relatively large. While they do not increase the range of m_1/2 and hence neutralino mass allowed by cosmology, these coannihilation channels do open up new `tails' of parameter space extending to larger values of m_0.

hep-ph↗