arXiv subjects

Jonathan L. Feng

Publications and source records attributed to Jonathan L. Feng.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

arXiv2003

Superweakly Interacting Massive Particles

We investigate a new class of dark matter: superweakly-interacting massive particles (superWIMPs). As with conventional WIMPs, superWIMPs appear in well-motivated particle theories with naturally the correct relic density. In contrast to WIMPs, however, superWIMPs are impossible to detect in all conventional dark matter searches. We consider the concrete examples of gravitino and graviton cold dark matter in models with supersymmetry and universal extra dimensions, respectively, and show that superWIMP dark matter satisfies stringent constraints from Big Bang nucleosynthesis and the cosmic microwave background.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2003

The Measurement of the Muon's Anomalous Magnetic Moment Isn't

Recent results announced as measurements of the muon's anomalous magnetic moment are in fact measurements of the muon's anomalous spin precession frequency. This precession frequency receives contributions from both the muon's anomalous magnetic and electric dipole moments. We note that all existing data cannot resolve this ambiguity, and the current deviation from standard model predictions may equally well be interpreted as evidence for new physics in the muon's anomalous magnetic moment, new physics in the muon's electric dipole moment, or both.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Supersymmetry and the Linear Collider

We present a pedagogical introduction to supersymmetry and supersymmetric models and give an overview of the potential of the linear collider for studying them. If supersymmetry is found, its discovery will bring with it many more questions than answers. These include: -Are the newly discovered particles really superpartners? -If not all superpartners are discovered, where are the rest of them? -Do the electromagnetic, weak, and strong forces unify? -Is a supersymmetric particle the dark matter? -How are the supersymmetric flavor and CP problems solved? -What is the scale of supersymmetry breaking? -What are the fundamental interactions at the Planck scale? We review how the linear collider will provide definitive answers to some of these and may shed light on the rest, even if only one or a few superpartners are kinematically accessible.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Neutrino Bounds on Astrophysical Sources and New Physics

Ultra-high energy cosmic neutrinos are incisive probes of both astrophysical sources and new TeV-scale physics. Such neutrinos would create extensive air showers deep in the atmosphere. The absence of such showers implies upper limits on incoming neutrino fluxes and cross sections. Combining the exposures of AGASA, the largest existing ground array, with the exposure of the Fly's Eye fluorescence detector integrated over all its operating epochs, we derive 95% CL bounds that substantially improve existing limits. We begin with model-independent bounds on astrophysical fluxes, assuming standard model cross sections, and model-independent bounds on new physics cross sections, assuming a conservative cosmogenic flux. We then derive model-dependent constraints on new components of neutrino flux for several assumed power spectra, and we update bounds on the fundamental Planck scale M_D in extra dimension scenarios from black hole production. For large numbers of extra dimensions, we find M_D > 2.0 (1.1) TeV for \mbhmin = M_D (5 M_D), comparable to or exceeding the most stringent constraints to date.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Kaluza-Klein Dark Matter

We propose that cold dark matter is made of Kaluza-Klein particles and explore avenues for its detection. The lightest Kaluza-Klein state is an excellent dark matter candidate if standard model particles propagate in extra dimensions and Kaluza-Klein parity is conserved. We consider Kaluza-Klein gauge bosons. In sharp contrast to the case of supersymmetric dark matter, these annihilate to hard positrons, neutrinos and photons with unsuppressed rates. Direct detection signals are also promising. These conclusions are generic to bosonic dark matter candidates.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Black Holes from Cosmic Rays: Probes of Extra Dimensions and New Limits on TeV-Scale Gravity

If extra spacetime dimensions and low-scale gravity exist, black holes will be produced in observable collisions of elementary particles. For the next several years, ultra-high energy cosmic rays provide the most promising window on this phenomenon. In particular, cosmic neutrinos can produce black holes deep in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to quasi-horizontal giant air showers. We determine the sensitivity of cosmic ray detectors to black hole production and compare the results to other probes of extra dimensions. With n \ge 4 extra dimensions, current bounds on deeply penetrating showers from AGASA already provide the most stringent bound on low-scale gravity, requiring a fundamental Planck scale M_D > 1.3 - 1.8 TeV. The Auger Observatory will probe M_D as large as 4 TeV and may observe on the order of a hundred black holes in 5 years. We also consider the implications of angular momentum and possible exponentially suppressed parton cross sections; including these effects, large black hole rates are still possible. Finally, we demonstrate that even if only a few black hole events are observed, a standard model interpretation may be excluded by comparison with Earth-skimming neutrino rates.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Observability of Earth-skimming Ultra-high Energy Neutrinos

Neutrinos with energies above 10^8 GeV are expected from cosmic ray interactions with the microwave background and are predicted in many speculative models. Such energetic neutrinos are difficult to detect, as they are shadowed by the Earth, but rarely interact in the atmosphere. Here we propose a novel detection strategy: Earth-skimming neutrinos convert to charged leptons that escape the Earth, and these leptons are detected in ground level fluorescence detectors. With the existing HiRes detector, neutrinos from some proposed sources are marginally detectable, and improvements of two orders of magnitude are possible at the proposed Telescope Array.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

p-Branes and the GZK Paradox

In spacetimes with asymmetric extra dimensions, cosmic neutrino interactions may be extraordinarily enhanced by p-brane production. Brane formation and decay may then initiate showers deep in the Earth's atmosphere at rates far above the standard model rate. We explore the p-brane discovery potential of cosmic ray experiments. The absence of deeply penetrating showers at AGASA already provides multi-TeV bounds on the fundamental Planck scale that significantly exceed those obtained from black hole production in symmetric compactification scenarios. This sensitivity will be further enhanced at the Auger Observatory. We also examine the possibility that p-brane formation resolves the GZK paradox. For flat compactifications, astrophysical bounds exclude this explanation. For warped scenarios, a solution could be consistent with the absence of deep showers only for extra dimensions with fine-tuned sizes well below the fundamental Planck length. In addition, it requires moderately penetrating showers, so far not reported, and ~100% modifications to standard model phenomenology at 100 GeV energies.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Detecting Microscopic Black Holes with Neutrino Telescopes

If spacetime has more than four dimensions, ultra-high energy cosmic rays may create microscopic black holes. Black holes created by cosmic neutrinos in the Earth will evaporate, and the resulting hadronic showers, muons, and taus may be detected in neutrino telescopes below the Earth's surface. We simulate such events in detail and consider black hole cross sections with and without an exponential suppression factor. We find observable rates in both cases: for conservative cosmogenic neutrino fluxes, several black hole events per year are observable at the IceCube detector; for fluxes at the Waxman-Bahcall bound, tens of events per year are possible. We also present zenith angle and energy distributions for all three channels. The ability of neutrino telescopes to differentiate hadrons, muons, and possibly taus, and to measure these distributions provides a unique opportunity to identify black holes, to experimentally constrain the form of black hole production cross sections, and to study Hawking evaporation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Black Hole Production by Cosmic Rays

Ultra-high energy cosmic rays create black holes in scenarios with extra dimensions and TeV-scale gravity. In particular, cosmic neutrinos will produce black holes deep in the atmosphere, initiating quasi-horizontal showers far above the standard model rate. At the Auger Observatory, hundreds of black hole events may be observed, providing evidence for extra dimensions and the first opportunity for experimental study of microscopic black holes. If no black holes are found, the fundamental Planck scale must be above 2 TeV for any number of extra dimensions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

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.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Particle and Astroparticle Searches for Supersymmetry

Supersymmetry may be discovered at high energy colliders, through low energy precision measurements, and by dark matter searches. We present a comprehensive analysis of all available probes in minimal supergravity. This work extends previous analyses by including the focus point branch of parameter space and the full array of promising indirect dark matter searches. We find that particle and astrophysical searches underway are highly complementary: each separately provides only partial coverage of the available parameter space, but together they probe almost all models. Cosmology does {\em not} provide upper bounds on superpartner masses useful for future colliders. At the same time, in the cosmologically preferred region, if supersymmetry is to be observable at a 500 GeV linear collider, some signature of supersymmetry must appear {\em before} the LHC.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

g_μ- 2 in Supersymmetry

The 2.6 sigma deviation in the muon's anomalous magnetic moment has strong implications for supersymmetry. In the most model-independent analysis to date, we consider gaugino masses with arbitrary magnitude and phase, and sleptons with arbitrary masses and left-right mixings. For tan(beta)=50, we find that 1 sigma agreement requires at least one charged superpartner with mass below 570 GeV; at 2 sigma, this upper bound shifts to 850 GeV. The deviation is remarkably consistent with all constraints from colliders, dark matter, and b -> s gamma in supergravity models, but disfavors the characteristic gaugino mass relations of anomaly-mediation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Muon Dipole Moment Experiments: Interpretation and Prospects

We examine the prospects for discovering new physics through muon dipole moments. The current deviation in $g_μ-2$ may be due entirely to the muon's {\em electric} dipole moment. We note that the precession frequency in the proposed BNL muon EDM experiment is also subject to a similar ambiguity, but this can be resolved by up-down asymmetry measurements. We then review the theoretical expectations for the muon's electric dipole moment in supersymmetric models.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

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↗

arXiv2001

Theoretical Expectations for the Muon's Electric Dipole Moment

We examine the muon's electric dipole moment $\dmu$ from a variety of theoretical perspectives. We point out that the reported deviation in the muon's g-2 can be due partially or even entirely to a new physics contribution to the muon's {\em electric} dipole moment. In fact, the recent g-2 measurement provides the most stringent bound on $\dmu$ to date. This ambiguity could be definitively resolved by the dedicated search for $\dmu$ recently proposed. We then consider both model-independent and supersymmetric frameworks. Under the assumptions of scalar degeneracy, proportionality, and flavor conservation, the theoretical expectations for $\dmu$ in supersymmetry fall just below the proposed sensitivity. However, non-degeneracy can give an order of magnitude enhancement, and lepton flavor violation can lead to $\dmu$ of order $10^{-22}$ e cm, two orders of magnitude above the sensitivity of the $\dmu$ experiment. We present compact expressions for leptonic dipole moments and lepton flavor violating amplitudes. We also derive new limits on the amount of flavor violation allowed and demonstrate that approximations previously used to obtain such limits are highly inaccurate in much of parameter space.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Selectron Studies at e-e- and e+e- Colliders

Selectrons may be studied in both e-e- and e+e- collisions at future linear colliders. Relative to e+e-, the e-e- mode benefits from negligible backgrounds and βthreshold behavior for identical selectron pair production, but suffers from luminosity degradation and increased initial state radiation and beamstrahlung. We include all of these effects and compare the potential for selectron mass measurements in the two modes. The virtues of the e-e- collider far outweigh its disadvantages. In particular, the selectron mass may be measured to 100 MeV with a total integrated luminosity of 1 fb^-1, while more than 100 fb^-1 is required in e+e- collisions for similar precision.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Supersymmetry and the Anomalous Anomalous Magnetic Moment of the Muon

The recently reported measurement of the muon's anomalous magnetic moment differs from the standard model prediction by 2.6 standard deviations. We examine the implications of this discrepancy for supersymmetry. Deviations of the reported magnitude are generic in supersymmetric theories. Based on the new result, we derive model-independent upper bounds on the masses of observable supersymmetric particles. We also examine several model frameworks. The sign of the reported deviation is as predicted in many simple models, but disfavors anomaly-mediated supersymmetry breaking.

hep-ph↗