arXiv subjects

José W. F. Valle

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

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Dark matter as the origin of neutrino mass in the inverse seesaw mechanism

We propose that neutrino masses are "seeded" by a dark sector within the inverse seesaw mechanism. This way we have a new, "hidden", variant of the scotogenic scenario for radiative neutrino masses. We discuss both explicit and dynamical lepton number violation. In addition to invisible Higgs decays with majoron emission, we discuss in detail the pheneomenolgy of dark matter, as well as the novel features associated to charged lepton flavour violation, and neutrino physics.

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arXiv2021

The simplest scoto-seesaw model: WIMP dark matter phenomenology and Higgs vacuum stability

We analyze the consistency of electroweak breaking, neutrino and dark matter phenomenology within the simplest scoto-seesaw model. By adding the minimal dark sector to the simplest "missing partner" type-I seesaw one has a physical picture for the neutrino oscillation lengths: the "atmospheric" mass scale arises from the tree-level seesaw, while the "solar" scale is induced radiatively, mediated by the dark sector. We identify parameter regions consistent with theoretical constraints, as well as dark matter relic abundance and direct detection searches. Using two-loop renormalization group equations we explore the stability of the vacuum and the consistency of the underlying dark parity symmetry. One also has a lower bound for the neutrinoless double beta decay amplitude.

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arXiv2021

Phenomenology of fermion dark matter as neutrino mass mediator with gauged B-L

We analyze a model with unbroken B-L gauge symmetry where neutrino masses are generated at one loop, after spontaneous breaking of a global U(1) symmetry. These symmetries ensure dark matter stability and the Diracness of neutrinos. Within this context, we examine fermionic dark matter. Consistency between the required neutrino mass and the observed relic abundance indicates dark matter masses and couplings within the reach of direct detection experiments.

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arXiv2021

Electroweak symmetry breaking in the inverse seesaw mechanism

We investigate the stability of Higgs potential in inverse seesaw models. We derive the full two-loop RGEs of the relevant parameters, such as the quartic Higgs self-coupling, taking thresholds into account. We find that for relatively large Yukawa couplings the Higgs quartic self-coupling goes negative well below the Standard Model instability scale $\sim 10^{10}$ GeV. We show, however, that the ``dynamical'' inverse seesaw with spontaneous lepton number violation can lead to a completely consistent and stable Higgs vacuum up to the Planck scale.

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arXiv2021

Dynamical inverse seesaw mechanism as a simple benchmark for electroweak breaking and Higgs boson studies

The Standard Model(SM) vacuum is unstable for the measured values of the top Yukawa coupling and Higgs mass. Here we study the issue of vacuum stability when neutrino masses are generated through spontaneous low-scale lepton number violation. In the simplest dynamical inverse seesaw, the SM Higgs has two siblings: a massive CP-even scalar plus a massless Nambu-Goldstone boson, called majoron. For TeV scale breaking of lepton number, Higgs bosons can have a sizeable decay into the invisible majorons. We examine the interplay and complementarity of vacuum stability and perturbativity restrictions, with collider constraints on visible and invisible Higgs boson decay channels. This simple framework may help guiding further studies, for example, at the proposed FCC facility.

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arXiv2021

Phenomenology of scotogenic scalar dark matter

We reexamine the minimal Singlet + Triplet Scotogenic Model, where dark matter is the mediator of neutrino mass generation. We assume it to be a scalar WIMP, whose stability follows from the same $\mathbb{Z} _{2}$ symmetry that leads to the radiative origin of neutrino masses. The scheme is the minimal one that allows for solar and atmospheric mass scales to be generated. We perform a full numerical analysis of the signatures expected at dark matter as well as collider experiments. We identify parameter regions where dark matter predictions agree with theoretical and experimental constraints, such as neutrino oscillations, Higgs data, dark matter relic abundance and direct detection searches. We also present forecasts for near future direct and indirect detection experiments. These will further probe the parameter space. Finally, we explore collider signatures associated with the mono-jet channel at the LHC, highlighting the existence of a viable light dark matter mass range.

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arXiv2020

Neutrino oscillations and flavor theories

I discuss neutrino mixing ansatze, such as the generalized Tri-bimaximal and bi-large mixing patterns, and their utility in describing the oscillation data. Unitarity tests and probes of the absolute neutrino mass scale are briefly discussed. A short overview of neutrino mass generation is given. I discuss an orbifold approach to the flavor problem and the resulting implications, e.g. the golden quark-lepton mass relation, neutrinoless double beta decay and neutrino oscillation predictions.

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arXiv2020

Predictions from warped flavordynamics based on the $T'$ family group

We propose a realistic theory of fermion masses and mixings using a five-dimensional warped scenario where all fermions propagate in the bulk and the Higgs field is localized on the IR brane. The assumed $T'$ flavor symmetry is broken on the branes by flavon fields, providing a consistent scenario where fermion mass hierarchies arise from adequate choices of the bulk mass parameters, while quark and lepton mixing angles are restricted by the family symmetry. Neutrino mass splittings, mixing parameters and the Dirac CP phase all arise from the type-I seesaw mechanism and are tightly correlated, leading to predictions for the neutrino oscillation parameters, as well as expected \znbb decay rates within reach of upcoming experiments. The scheme also provides a good global description of flavor observables in the quark sector.

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arXiv2020

Scotogenic dark matter in an orbifold theory of flavor

We propose a flavour theory in which the family symmetry results naturally from a six-dimensional orbifold compactification. "Diracness" of neutrinos is a consequence of the spacetime dimensionality, and the fact that right-handed neutrinos live in the bulk. Dark matter is incorporated in a scotogenic way, as a result of an auxiliary $\mathbb{Z}_3$ symmetry, and its stability is associated to the conservation of a "dark parity" symmetry. The model leads naturally to a "golden" quark-lepton mass relation.

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arXiv2020

Reloading the Axion in a 3-3-1 setup

We generalize the idea of the axion to an extended electroweak gauge symmetry setup. We propose a minimal axion extension of the Singer-Valle-Schechter (SVS) theory, in which the standard model fits in $\mathrm{SU(3)_L\otimes U(1)_X}$, the number of families results from anomaly cancellation, and the Peccei-Quinn (PQ) solution to the strong-CP problem is implemented. Neutrino masses arise from a type-I Dirac seesaw mechanism, suppressed by the ratio of SVS and PQ scales, suggesting the existence of new physics at a moderate SVS scale. Novel features include an enhanced axion coupling to photons when compared to the DFSZ axion, as well as flavour-changing axion couplings to quarks.

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arXiv2020

Scotogenic neutrino masses and dark matter stability from residual gauge symmetry

In the context of the $\mathrm{SU(3)_c \otimes SU(3)_L \otimes U(1)_X \otimes U(1)_{N}}$ (3-3-1-1) extension of the standard model, we show how the spontaneous breaking of the gauge symmetry gives rise to a residual symmetry which accounts for dark matter stability and small neutrino masses in a scotogenic fashion. As a special feature, the gauge structure implies that one of the light neutrinos is massless and, as a result, there is a lower bound for the $0νββ$ decay rate.

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arXiv2020

Simple theory for scotogenic dark matter with residual matter-parity

Dark matter stability can result from a residual matter-parity symmetry surviving spontaneous breaking of an extended gauge symmetry. We propose the simplest scotogenic dark matter completion of the original SVS theory (Phys.Rev. D22 (1980) 738), in which the "dark sector" particles as well as matter-parity find a natural theoretical origin in the model. We briefly comment on its main features.

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arXiv2020

Dark matter stability from Dirac neutrinos in scotogenic 3-3-1-1 theory

We propose the simplest TeV-scale scotogenic extension of the original 3-3-1 theory, where dark matter stability is linked to the Dirac nature of neutrinos, which results from an unbroken $B-L$ gauge symmetry. The new gauge bosons get masses through the interplay of spontaneous symmetry breaking à la Higgs and the Stueckelberg mechanism.

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arXiv2020

Scotogenic dark matter and Dirac neutrinos from unbroken gauged $B-L$ symmetry

We propose a simple extension of the standard model where neutrinos get naturally small "scotogenic" Dirac masses from an unbroken gauged $B-L$ symmetry, ensuring dark matter stability. The associated gauge boson gets mass through the Stueckelberg mechanism. Two scenarios are identified, and the resulting phenomenology briefly sketched.

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arXiv2020

Cornering (quasi) degenerate neutrinos with cosmology

In light of the improved sensitivities of cosmological observations, we examine the status of quasi-degenerate neutrino mass scenarios. Within the simplest extension of the standard cosmological model with massive neutrinos, we find that quasi-degenerate neutrinos are severely constrained by present cosmological data and neutrino oscillation experiments. % % We find that Planck 2018 observations of cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies disfavour quasi-degenerate neutrino masses at $2.4$ Gaussian $σ$'s, while adding Baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) data brings the rejection to 5.9$σ$'s. % The highest statistical significance with which one would be able to rule out quasi-degeneracy would arise if the sum of neutrino masses is $Σm_ν= 60$ \meV (the minimum allowed by neutrino oscillation experiments); % indeed a sensitivity of 15 meV, as expected from a combination of future cosmological probes, would further improve the rejection level up to 17$σ$. % We discuss the robustness of these projections with respect to assumptions on the underlying cosmological model, and also compare them with bounds from $β$ decay endpoint and neutrinoless double beta decay studies.

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arXiv2020

Consistency of the dynamical high-scale type-I seesaw mechanism

We analyze the consistency of electroweak breaking within the simplest high-scale Standard Model type-I seesaw mechanism. We derive the full two-loop RGEs of the relevant parameters, including the quartic Higgs self-coupling of the Standard Model. For the simplest case of bare "right-handed" neutrino mass terms we find that, with large Yukawa couplings, the Higgs quartic self-coupling becomes negative much below the seesaw scale, so that the model may be inconsistent even as an effective theory. We show, however, that the "dynamical" type-I high-scale seesaw with spontaneous lepton number violation has better stability properties.

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arXiv2020

Probing the predictions of an orbifold theory of flavor

We examine the implications of a recently proposed theory of fermion masses and mixings in which an $A_4$ family symmetry emerges from orbifold compactification. We analyse two variant schemes concerning their predictions for neutrino oscillations, neutrinoless double-beta decay and the golden quark-lepton unification mass relation. We find that upcoming experiments DUNE as well as LEGEND and nEXO offer good chances of exploring a substantial region of neutrino parameters.

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arXiv2020

Gravitational footprints of massive neutrinos and lepton number breaking

We investigate the production of primordial Gravitational Waves (GWs) arising from First Order Phase Transitions (FOPTs) associated to neutrino mass generation in the context of type-I and inverse seesaw schemes. We examine both "high-scale" as well as "low-scale" variants, with either explicit or spontaneously broken lepton number symmetry $U(1)_L$ in the neutrino sector. In the latter case, a pseudo-Goldstone majoron-like boson may provide a candidate for cosmological dark matter. We find that schemes with softly-broken $U(1)_L$ and with single Higgs-doublet scalar sector lead to either no FOPTs or too weak FOPTs, precluding the detectability of GWs in present or near future measurements. Nevertheless, we found that, in the majoron-like seesaw scheme with spontaneously broken $U(1)_L$ at finite temperatures, one can have strong FOPTs and non-trivial primordial GW spectra which can fall well within the frequency and amplitude sensitivity of upcoming experiments, including LISA, BBO and u-DECIGO. However, GWs observability clashes with invisible Higgs decay constraints from the LHC. A simple and consistent fix is to assume the majoron-like mass to lie above the Higgs-decay kinematical threshold. We also found that the majoron-like variant of the low-scale seesaw mechanism implies a different GW spectrum than the one expected in the high-scale seesaw. This feature will be testable in future experiments. Our analysis shows that GWs can provide a new and complementary portal to test the neutrino mass generation mechanism.

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