arXiv subjects

Jorge Alda

Publications and source records attributed to Jorge Alda.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Physically Consistent Parameter Inference: Transparent Machine Learning Emulation in High Energy Physics and Cosmology

Global fits in high energy physics and cosmology often face the challenge of exploring high-dimensional parameter spaces with computationally expensive or topologically complex likelihood functions. In this work, we present a Machine Learning framework designed to emulate complex, often non-Gaussian likelihood landscapes using gradient-boosted regression trees (XGBoost). We discuss the advantages of the Machine Learning approach in terms of computational efficiency and the resolution of confidence regions, particularly in scenarios with complex correlations or "curved" degeneracies. We validate this methodology by applying it to a recent analysis on flavour anomalies in semileptonic $B$ meson decays and discussing the adaptability of this framework to other phenomenological systems, such as axion-like particles or cosmology global fits. Finally, we utilise SHAP (Shapley Additive exPlanations) values to provide a transparent analysis of feature importance, ensuring that the Machine Learning predictions remain physically interpretable and consistent with the underlying physics.

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arXiv2026

Lecture notes on Machine Learning applications for global fits

These lecture notes provide a comprehensive framework for performing global statistical fits in high-energy physics using modern Machine Learning (ML) surrogates. We begin by reviewing the statistical foundations of model building, including the likelihood function, Wilks' theorem, and profile likelihoods. Recognizing that the computational cost of evaluating model predictions often renders traditional minimization prohibitive, we introduce Boosted Decision Trees to approximate the log-likelihood function. The notes detail a robust ML workflow including efficient generation of training data with active learning and Gaussian processes, hyperparameter optimization, model compilation for speed-up, and interpretability through SHAP values to decode the influence of model parameters and interactions between parameters. We further discuss posterior distribution sampling using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). These techniques are finally applied to the $B^\pm \to K^\pm \nu \bar{\nu}$ anomaly at Belle II, demonstrating how a two-stage ML model can efficiently explore the parameter space of Axion-Like Particles (ALPs) while satisfying stringent experimental constraints on decay lengths and flavor-violating couplings.

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arXiv2025

B-Meson Anomalies: Effective Field Theory Meets Machine Learning

Discrepancies between experimental measurements and Standard Model predictions in $B$-meson decays, especially in lepton flavor universality ratios like $R_{D^{(*)}}$, $R_{J/\psi}$ and branching ratios for processes like $B\to K^+\nu\bar\nu$, suggest possible new physics (NP). In this study, we use an effective field theory framework, assuming NP effects only affect a single generation in the interaction basis, leading to non-universal mixing when rotating to the mass basis. We perform a global fit to the current experimental data, exploring three scenarios characterized by different mixing patterns and constraints. Our analysis finds that the best fit involves mixing between the second and third quark generations, with no lepton sector mixing and independent coefficients for singlet and triplet four-fermion operators. To accurately capture the non-Gaussian nature of the resulting parameter distributions, we use a Machine Learning-based Monte Carlo algorithm, enabling the generation of representative samples that reflect the true underlying distributions. This work highlights the valuable role of Machine Learning in accurately modeling complex parameter distributions in particle physics analyses.

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arXiv2025

ALPaca: The ALP Automatic Computing Algorithm

The ALP Automatic Computing Algorithm, ALPaca, is an open source Python library devoted to studying the phenomenology of Axion-Like Particles (ALPs) with masses in the ranges $m_a \in [0.01 - 10]$ GeV. ALPaca provides a flexible and comprehensive framework to define ALP couplings at arbitrary energy scales, perform Renormalisation Group evolution and matching down to the desired low energy scale, and compute a large variety of ALP observables, with particular care to the meson decay sector. The package includes support for UV completions, experimental constraints, and visualisation tools, enabling both detailed analyses and broad parameter space exploration.

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arXiv2025

Comprehensive ALP Searches in Meson Decays

We present a comprehensive study of axion-like particles (ALPs) in meson decays, combining effective field theory and ultraviolet models within the open-source tool ALPaca. The analysis accounts for running and matching effects across energy scales, including non-perturbative QCD corrections via chiral perturbation theory. We discuss several benchmark models, both flavour-universal and non-universal, using the most up-to-date theoretical computations for ALP decays and branching ratios. Experimental signatures such as prompt, displaced, and invisible decays are included. A dedicated analysis of the Belle II anomaly in the decay $B^+ \to K^+ \nu \bar{\nu}$ is performed. Our results highlight the power of flavour observables in constraining ALPs and provide a versatile foundation for future searches.

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arXiv2024

Weak nuclear decays deep-underground as a probe of axion dark matter

We investigate the time modulation of weak nuclear decays as a method to probe axion dark matter. To this end, we develop a theoretical framework to compute the $\theta$-dependence of weak nuclear decays, including electron capture and $\beta$ decay, which enables us to predict the time variation of weak radioactivity in response to an oscillating axion dark matter background. As an application, we recast old data sets, from the weak nuclear decays of ${^{40}\text{K}}$ and ${^{137}\text{Cs}}$ taken at the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory, in order to set constraints on the axion decay constant, specifically in the axion mass range from few $10^{-23}\;$eV up to $10^{-19}\;$eV. We finally propose a new measurement at the Gran Sasso Laboratory, based on the weak nuclear decay of ${^{40}\text{K}}$ via electron capture, in order to explore even shorter timescales, thus reaching sensitivities to axion masses up to $10^{-9}\;$eV.

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arXiv2024

Flavour Anomalies: A comparative analysis using a machine learning algorithm

We present an analysis on flavour anomalies in semileptonic rare $B$-meson decays using an effective field theory approach and assuming that new physics affects only one generation in the interaction basis and non-universal mixing effects are generated by the rotation to the mass basis. A global fit to experimental data is performed, focusing on LFU ratios $R_{D^{(*)}}$ and $R_{J/\psi}$ and branching ratios that exhibit tensions with Standard Model predictions on $B \rightarrow K^{(*)} \nu \bar{\nu}$ decays. In our analysis, we use a Machine Learning Montecarlo algorithm, a framework that emulates the highly non-Gaussian structure of the likelihood landscape with minimal training cost. This method enables the generation of high-resolution confidence regions and detailed correlation analyses. By comparing three different scenarios, we show that the one that introduces only mixing between the second and third quark generations and no mixing in the lepton sector, as well as independent coefficients for the singlet and triplet four fermion effective operators, provides the best fit to the experimental data. A comparison with previous results is performed. We highlight the key strengths of the Machine Learning framework in our analysis.

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arXiv2024

Collider and astrophysical signatures of light scalars with enhanced $\tau$ couplings

Beyond Standard Model scenarios addressing the flavor puzzle and the hierarchy problem generally predict dominant new physics couplings with fermions of the third generation. In this Letter, we explore the collider and astrophysical signatures of new light scalar and pseudoscalar particles dominantly coupled to the $\tau$-lepton. The best experimental prospects are expected at Belle II through the $e^+e^-\to\tau^+\tau^-\gamma\gamma$, $\tau^+\tau^-\gamma$, $3\gamma$, mono-$\gamma$ processes, and the $\tau$ anomalous magnetic moment. The correlated effects in these searches can unambiguously point toward the underlying new physics dynamics. Moreover, we study astrophysics bounds - especially from core-collapse supernovae and neutron star mergers - finding them particularly effective and complementary to collider bounds. We carry out this program in the well-motivated context of axion-like particles as well as generic CP-even and CP-odd particles, highlighting possible ways to discriminate among them.

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arXiv2021

Exploring B-physics anomalies at colliders

Several experimental measurements of $B$ meson decays, in tension with Standard Model predictions, exhibit large sources of Lepton Flavour Universality violation. We perform an analysis of the effects of the global fits to the Wilson coefficients assuming a model independent effective Hamiltonian approach, by including a proposal of different scenarios to include the New Physics contributions. Both the current fits at the LHC and the ILC projections are considered. We found that for a simultaneous analysis of predictions for the $R_{D^{(*)}}$ and $R_{K^{(*)}}$ observables, the scenarios with three non-universal Wilson coefficients are favoured.

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arXiv2021

Using Machine Learning techniques in phenomenological studies in flavour physics

An updated analysis of New Physics violating Lepton Flavour Universality, by using the Standard Model Effective Field Lagrangian with semileptonic dimension six operators at $\Lambda = 1\,\mathrm{TeV}$ is presented. We perform a global fit, by discussing the relevance of the mixing in the first generation. We use for the first time in this context a Montecarlo analysis to extract the confidence intervals and correlations between observables. Our results show that machine learning, made jointly with the SHAP values, constitute a suitable strategy to use in this kind of analysis.

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arXiv2021

Anomalies in B mesons decays: Present status and future collider prospects

The experimental measurements on flavour physics, in tension with Standard Model predictions, exhibit large sources of Lepton Flavour Universality violation. This note summarises an analysis of the effects of the global fits to the Wilson coefficients assuming a model independent effective Hamiltonian approach, by including a proposal of different scenarios to include the New Physics contributions. Additionally, we include an overview of the impact of the future generation of colliders in the field of B-meson anomalies.

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arXiv2020

Anomalies in B mesons decays: A phenomenological approach

The experimental measurements on flavour physics, in tension with Standard Model predictions, exhibit large sources of Lepton Flavour Universality violation. We perform an analysis of the effects of the global fits on the Wilson coefficients assuming a model independent effective Hamiltonian approach, by including a set of different scenarios in which the New Physics contributions to the Wilson coefficients are present in one, two or three of the Wilson coefficients at a time. We compare the results of the global fit with respect to two cases: the Standard Model and the more general case in which New Physics modifies three independent Wilson coefficients. The last mentioned scenario is the favoured one for explaining the tension between Standard Model predictions and B-physics anomalies, but a specific more restricted scenario can provide similar goodness with a smaller set of free parameters. A discussion of the implications of our analysis in leptoquark models is included.

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arXiv2018

Some results on Lepton Flavour Universality Violation

Motivated by recent experimental measurements on flavour physics, in tension with Standard Model predictions, we perform an updated analysis of New Physics violating Lepton Flavour Universality, by using the effective Lagrangian approach and in the Z' and S_3 leptoquark models. We explicitly analyze the impact of considering complex Wilson coefficients in the analysis of B-anomalies, by performing a global fit of R_K and R_K*0 observables, together with \Delta Ms and A_CP^mix. The inclusion of complex couplings provides a slightly improved global fit, and a marginally improved \Delta Ms prediction.

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