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John Ellis

Publications and source records attributed to John Ellis.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources

Physics Motivations for Future CERN Accelerators

We summarize the physics motivations for future accelerators at CERN. We argue that (a) a luminosity upgrade for the LHC could provide good physics return for a relatively modest capital investment, (b) CLIC would provide excellent long-term perspectives within many speculative scenarios for physics beyond the Standard Model, (c) a Very Large Hadron Collider could provide the first opportunity to explore the energy range up to about 30 TeV, (d) a neutrino factory based on a muon storage ring would provide an exciting and complementary scientific programme and a muon collider could be an interesting later option.

hep-ex↗

CP Violation in the Minimal Supersymmetric Seesaw Model

We study CP violation in the lepton sector of the supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model with three generations of massive singlet neutrinos with Yukawa couplings $Y_ν$ to lepton doublets, in a minimal seesaw model for light neutrino masses and mixing. This model contains six physical CP-violating parameters, namely the phase $δ$ observable in oscillations between light neutrino species, two Majorana phases $ϕ_{1,2}$ that affect $ββ_{0 ν}$ decays, and three independent phases appearing in ${Y_ν}{Y_ν}^\dagger$, that control the rate of leptogenesis. Renormalization of the soft supersymmetry-breaking parameters induces observable CP violation at low energies, including T-odd asymmetries in polarized $μ\to eee$ and $τ\to \ell \ell \ell$ decays, as well as lepton electric dipole moments. In the leading-logarithmic approximation in which the massive singlet neutrinos are treated as degenerate, these low-energy observables are sensitive via ${Y_ν}^\dagger{Y_ν}$ to just one combination of the leptogenesis and light-neutrino phases. We present numerical results for the T-odd asymmetry in polarized $μ\to eee$ decay, which may be accessible to experiment, but the lepton electric dipole moments are very small in this approximation. To the extent that the massive singlet neutrinos are not degenerate, low-energy observables become sensitive also to two other combinations of leptogenesis and light-neutrino phases, in this minimal supersymmetric seesaw model.

hep-ph↗

Lepton Electric Dipole Moments in Non-Degenerate Supersymmetric Seesaw Models

In the context of supersymmetric seesaw models of neutrino masses with non-degenerate heavy neutrinos, we show that Dirac Yukawa interactions N^c_i (Y_nu)_{ij} L_j H_2 induce large threshold corrections to the slepton soft masses via renormalization. While still yielding rates for lepton-flavour-violating processes below the experimental bounds, these contributions may increase the muon and electron electric dipole moments d_mu and d_e by several orders of magnitude. In the leading logarithmic approximation, this is due to three additional physical phases in Y_nu, one of which also contributes to leptogenesis. The naive relation d_mu/d_e\approx -m_mu/m_e is violated strongly in the case of successful phenomenological textures for Y_nu, and the values of d_mu and/or d_e may be within the range of interest for the future experiments.

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Supersymmetric Dark Matter Detection at Post-LEP Benchmark Points

We review the prospects for discovering supersymmetric dark matter in a recently proposed set of post-LEP supersymmetric benchmark scenarios. We consider direct detection through spin-independent nuclear scattering, as well as indirect detection through relic annihilations to neutrinos, photons, and positrons. We find that several of the benchmark scenarios offer good prospects for direct detection through spin-independent nuclear scattering, as well as indirect detection through muons produced by neutrinos from relic annihilations in the Sun, and photons from annihilations in the galactic center.

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Constraints from Accelerator Experiments on the Elastic Scattering of CMSSM Dark Matter

We explore the allowed ranges of cross sections for the elastic scattering of neutralinos χon nucleons in the constrained minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (CMSSM), in which scalar and gaugino masses are each assumed to be universal at some input grand unification scale. We extend previous calculations to larger \tan βand investigate the limits imposed by the recent LEP lower limit on the mass of the Higgs boson and by b \to s γ, and those suggested by g_μ- 2. The Higgs limit and b \to s γprovide upper limits on the cross section, particularly at small and large \tan β, respectively, and the value of g_μ- 2 suggests a lower limit on the cross section for μ> 0. The spin-independent nucleon cross section is restricted to the range 6 \times 10^{-8} pb > σ_{SI} > 2 \times 10^{-10} pb for μ> 0, and the spin-dependent nucleon cross section to the range 10^{-5} pb > σ_{SD} > 2 \times 10^{-7} pb. Lower values are allowed if μ<0.

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Prospects for Detecting Supersymmetric Dark Matter at Post-LEP Benchmark Points

A new set of supersymmetric benchmark scenarios has recently been proposed in the context of the constrained MSSM (CMSSM) with universal soft supersymmetry-breaking masses, taking into account the constraints from LEP, $b \to s γ$ and $g_μ- 2$. These points have previously been used to discuss the physics reaches of different accelerators. In this paper, we discuss the prospects for discovering supersymmetric dark matter in these scenarios. We consider direct detection through spin-independent and spin-dependent nuclear scattering, as well as indirect detection through relic annihilations to neutrinos, photons, and positrons. We find that several of the benchmark scenarios offer good prospects for direct detection via spin-independent nuclear scattering and indirect detection via muons produced by neutrinos from relic annihilations inside the Sun, and some models offer good prospects for detecting photons from relic annihilations in the galactic centre.

astro-ph↗

Lower Limits on Soft Supersymmetry-Breaking Scalar Masses

Working in the context of the CMSSM, we argue that phenomenological constraints now require the universal soft supersymmetry-breaking scalar mass m_0 be non-zero at the input GUT scale. This conclusion is primarily imposed by the LEP lower limit on the Higgs mass and the requirement that the lightest supersymmetric particle not be charged. We find that m_0 > 0 for all tan beta if mu < 0, and m_0 = 0 may be allowed for mu > 0 only when tan beta sim 8 and one allows an uncertainty of 3+ GeV in the theoretical calculation of the Higgs mass. Upper limits on flavour-changing neutral interactions in the MSSM squark sector allow substantial violations of non-universality in the m_0 values, even if their magnitudes are comparable to the lower limit we find in the CMSSM. Also, we show that our lower limit on m_0 at the GUT scale in the CMSSM is compatible with the no-scale boundary condition m_0 = 0 at the Planck scale.

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On Electron-Positron Annihilation into Nucleon-Antinucleon Pairs

We discuss the puzzling experimental results on baryon-antibaryon production in e+e- annihilation close to the threshold, in particular the fact that sigma(e+e- --> nbar n) >~ sigma(e+e- --> pbar p). We discuss an interpretation in terms of a two-step process, via an intermediate coherent isovector state serving as an intermediary between e+e- and the baryon-antibaryon system. We provide evidence that the isovector channel dominates both e+e- --> pions and from Nbar N annihilation at rest, and show that the observed ratio of sigma(e+e- --> nbar n)/sigma(e+e- --> pbarp p) can be understood quantitatively in this picture.

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Options for Gauge Groups in Five-Dimensional Supergravity

Motivated by the possibility that physics may be effectively five-dimensional over some range of distance scales, we study the possible gaugings of five-dimensional N=2 supergravity. Using a constructive approach, we derive the conditions that must be satisfied by the scalar fields in the vector, tensor and hypermultiplets if a given global symmetry is to be gaugeable. We classify all those theories that admit the gauging of a compact group that is either Abelian or semi-simple, or a direct product of a semi-simple and an Abelian group. In the absence of tensor multiplets, either the gauge group must be semi-simple or the Abelian part has to be U(1)_R and/or an Abelian isometry of the hyperscalar manifold. On the other hand, in the presence of tensor multiplets the gauge group cannot be semi-simple. As an illustrative exercise, we show how the Standard Model SU(3) X SU(2) X U(1) group may be gauged in five-dimensional N=2 supergravity. We also show how previous special results may be recovered within our general formalism.

hep-th↗

Theoretical Aspects of Dark Matter Detection

Direct and indirect dark matter detection relies on the scattering of the dark matter candidate on nucleons or nuclei. Here, attention is focused on dark matter candidates (neutralinos) predicted in the minimal supersymmetric standard model and its constrained version with universal input soft supersymmetry-breaking masses. Current expectations for elastic scattering cross sections for neutralinos on protons are discussed with particular attention to satisfying all current accelerator constraints as well as insuring a sufficient cosmological relic density to account for the dark matter in the Universe.

hep-ph↗

\$tring Theory and an Accelerating Universe

An accelerating Universe can be accommodated naturally within non-critical string theory, in which scattering is described by a superscattering matrix \$ that does not factorize as a product of $S$- and $S^\dagger$-matrix elements and time evolution is described by a modified Liouville equation characteristic of open quantum-mechanical systems. We describe briefly alternative representations in terms of the stochastic Ito and Fokker-Planck equations. The link between the vacuum energy and the departure from criticality is stressed. We give an explicit example in which non-marginal \$tring couplings cause a departure from criticality, and the corresponding cosmological vacuum energy relaxes to zero à la quintessence.

hep-th↗

Astroparticle Aspects of Supersymmetry

After recalling the motivations for expecting supersymmetry to appear at energies below 1 TeV, the reasons why the lightest supersymmetric particle is an ideal candidate for cold dark matter are reviewed from a historical perspective. Recent calculations of the relic density including coannihilations and rapid annihilations through direct-channel Higgs boson poles are presented. The experimental constraints from LEP and elsewhere on supersymmetric dark matter are reviewed, and the prospects for its indirect or direct detection are mentioned. The potential implications of a Higgs boson weighing about 115 GeV and the recent measurement of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon are summarized.

hep-ph↗

Charged-Lepton-Flavour Violation in the CMSSM in View of the Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment

We use the BNL E821 measurement of g - 2, the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, to normalize, within a supersymmetric GUT framework, constrained MSSM (CMSSM) predictions for processes that violate charged-lepton flavour conservation, including mu to e gamma, mu to e conversion and K^0_L to mu e. We illustrate our analysis with two examples of lepton mass matrix textures motivated by data on neutrino oscillations. We find that mu to e gamma may well occur at a rate within one or two (two or three) orders of magnitude of the present experimental upper limit if g - 2 is within the one- (two-)standard deviation range indicated by E821. We also find that mu to e conversion is likely to occur at rate measurable by MECO, and there is a chance that K^0_L to mu e may be observable in an experiment using an intense proton source.

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Gluon Contributions to Parity-Violating Asymmetries in Polarized Proton-Proton Scattering

We report on a calculation of one-loop weak corrections to polarized quark-gluon scattering and the corresponding crossed channels. Such contributions are suppressed formally by one power of alpha_s relative to W- or Z-mediated quark-quark scattering, but would enable the spin asymmetry of the gluon distribution to contribute to parity-violating asymmetries that will soon be investigated in polarized proton-proton scattering experiments at RHIC. In certain kinematic regions, gluon contributions to parity-violating asymmetries can be as large as 10% of the tree-level W- and Z-exchanges in quark-quark scattering, but usually only where the parity-violating asymmetries are already small.

hep-ph↗

Space-Time Foam Effects on Particle Interactions and the GZK Cutoff

Modelling space-time foam using a non-critical Liouville-string model for the quantum fluctuations of D branes with recoil, we discuss the issues of momentum and energy conservation in particle propagation and interactions. We argue that momentum should be conserved exactly during propagation and on the average during interactions, but that energy is conserved only on the average during propagation and is in general not conserved during particle interactions, because of changes in the background metric. We discuss the possible modification of the GZK cutoff on high-energy cosmic rays, in the light of this energy non-conservation as well as the possible modification of the usual relativistic momentum-energy relation.

hep-th↗

A light Higgs Boson would invite Supersymmmetry

If the Higgs boson weighs about 115 GeV, the effective potential of the Standard Model becomes unstable above a scale of about 10^6 GeV. This instability may be rectified only by new bosonic particles such as stop squarks. However, avoiding the instability requires fine-tuning of the model couplings, in particular if the theory is not to become non-perturbative before the Planck scale. Such fine-tuning is automatic in a supersymmetric model, but is lost if there are no Higgsinos. A light Higgs boson would be prima facie evidence for supersymmetry in the top-quark and Higgs sectors.

hep-ph↗

Highlights of CP 2000

Various developing topics in CP violation are reviewed. There are many theoretical reasons to hope that the CKM paradigm may be incomplete. It is surely too soon to be claiming new physics in ε^\prime/εor in D^0-\bar D^0 mixing, but rare K decays offer interesting places to search for new physics. It is probably also premature to see a clash between global CKM fits and current estimates of sin βand γ, where much more precise data will soon be available. There are interesting possibilities to look for CP violation in neutrino oscillations and in Higgs physics. Rapid progress can be expected now that CP violation is moving to the top of the particle physics agenda.

hep-ph↗

The 115 GeV Higgs Odyssey

On his way home from Troy, Odysseus had arrived within reach of Ithaca when a great storm blew up. He was swept away, and only several years later was he able to return to reclaim his rights from the rapacious suitors, with the aid of his son Telemachus. Some wonder whether this epic is repeating itself, if the Higgs weighs 115 GeV. If so, are CMS and ATLAS cast in the role of Telemachus? In this paper, I first discuss how close to Ithaca LEP may have been, the fact that a 115 GeV Higgs boson would disfavour technicolour, its potential implications for supersymmetry, and finally the prospects for completing the Higgs Odyssey.

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