arXiv subjects

Julia Harz

Publications and source records attributed to Julia Harz.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Predicting the neutralino relic density in the MSSM more precisely

The dark matter relic density being a powerful observable to constrain models of new physics, the recent experimental progress calls for more precise theoretical predictions. On the particle physics side, improvements are to be made in the calculation of the (co)annihilation cross-section of the dark matter particle. We present the project DM@NLO which aims at calculating the neutralino (co)annihilation cross-section in the MSSM including radiative corrections in QCD. In the present document, we briefly review selected results for different (co)annihilation processes. We then discuss the estimation of the associated theory uncertainty obtained by varying the renormalization scale. Finally, perspectives are discussed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

The Di-Photon Excess in a Perturbative SUSY Model

We show that a 750 GeV di-photon excess as reported by the ATLAS and CMS experiments can be reproduced by the Minimal Dirac Gaugino Supersymmetric Standard Model (MDGSSM) without the need of any ad-hoc addition of new states. The scalar resonance is identified with the spin-0 partner of the Dirac bino. We perform a thorough analysis of constraints coming from the mixing of the scalar with the Higgs boson, the stability of the vacuum and the requirement of perturbativity of the couplings up to very high energy scales. We exhibit examples of regions of the parameter space that respect all the constraints while reproducing the excess. We point out how trilinear couplings that are expected to arise in supersymmetry-breaking mediation scenarios, but were ignored in the previous literature on the subject, play an important role.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Interplay of gaugino (co)annihilation processes in the context of a precise relic density calculation

The latest Planck data allow one to determine the dark matter relic density with previously unparalleled precision. In order to achieve a comparable precision on the theory side, we have calculated the full $\mathcal{O}(α_s)$ corrections to the most relevant annihilation and coannihilation processes for relic density calculations within the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). The interplay of these processes is discussed. The impact of the radiative corrections on the resulting relic density is found to be larger than the experimental uncertainty of the Planck data.

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arXiv2015

Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay and High-Scale Baryogenesis

The constraints on baryogenesis models obtained from an observation of neutrinoless double beta decay are discussed. The lepton number violating processes, which can underlie neutrinoless double beta decay, would together with sphaleron processes, which are effective in a wide range of energies, wash out any primordial baryon asymmetry of the universe. Typically, if a mechanism of neutrinoless double beta decay other than the standard light neutrino exchange is observed, typical scenarios of high-scale baryogenesis will be excluded. This can be achieved by different methods, e.g. through the observation in multiple isotopes or the measurement of the decay distribution. In addition, we will also highlight the connection with low energy lepton flavour violation and lepton number violation at the LHC.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Precise Prediction of the Dark Matter Relic Density within the MSSM

With the latest Planck results the dark matter relic density is determined to an unprecedented precision. In order to reduce current theoretical uncertainties in the dark matter relic density prediction, we have calculated next-to-leading order SUSY-QCD corrections to neutralino (co)annihilation processes including Coulomb enhancement effects. We demonstrate that these corrections can have significant impact on the cosmologically favoured MSSM parameter space and are thus of general interest for parameter studies and global fits.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Impact of Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay on Models of Baryogenesis

Interactions that manifest themselves as lepton number violating processes at low energies in combination with sphaleron transitions typically erase any pre-existing baryon asymmetry of the Universe. We demonstrate in a model independent approach that the observation of neutrinoless double beta decay would impose a stringent constraint on mechanisms of high-scale baryogenesis, including leptogenesis scenarios. Further, we discuss the potential of the LHC to model independently exclude high-scale leptogenesis scenarios when observing lepton number violating processes. In combination with the observation of lepton flavor violating processes, we can further strengthen this argument, closing the loophole of asymmetries being stored in different lepton flavors.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Falsifying High-Scale Baryogenesis with Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay and Lepton Flavor Violation

Interactions that manifest themselves as lepton number violating processes at low energies in combination with sphaleron transitions typically erase any preexisting baryon asymmetry of the Universe. In this article, we discuss the constraints obtained from an observation of neutrinoless double beta decay in this context. If a new physics mechanism of neutrinoless double beta decay other than the standard light neutrino exchange is observed, typical scenarios of high-scale baryogenesis will be excluded unless the baryon asymmetry is stabilized via some new mechanism. We also sketch how this conclusion can be extended beyond the first lepton generation by incorporating lepton flavor violating processes.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Flipped GUT Inflation

We analyse the prospects for constructing hybrid models of inflation that provide a dynamical realisation of the apparent closeness between the supersymmetric GUT scale and the possible scale of cosmological inflation. In the first place, we consider models based on the flipped SU(5)$\times$U(1) gauge group, which has no magnetic monopoles. In one model, the inflaton is identified with a sneutrino field, and in the other model it is a gauge singlet. In both cases we find regions of the model parameter spaces that are compatible with the experimental magnitudes of the scalar perturbations, $A_s$, and the tilt in the scalar perturbation spectrum, $n_s$, as well as with an indicative upper limit on the tensor-to-scalar perturbation ratio, $r$. We also discuss embeddings of these models into SO(10), which is broken at a higher scale so that its monopoles are inflated away.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Lepton Number Violation and the Baryon Asymmetry of the Universe

Neutrinoless double beta decay, lepton number violating collider processes and the Baryon Asymmetry of the Universe (BAU) are intimately related. In particular lepton number violating processes at low energies in combination with sphaleron transitions will typically erase any pre-existing baryon asymmetry of the Universe. In this contribution we briefly review the tight connection between neutrinoless double beta decay, lepton number violating processes at the LHC and constraints from successful baryogenesis. We argue that far-reaching conclusions can be drawn unless the baryon asymmetry is stabilized via some newly introduced mechanism.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

Impact of Lepton Number Violation at the LHC on Models of Leptogenesis

The discovery of lepton number violation (LNV) at the LHC would have profound consequences for the viability of high-scale leptogenesis models. As an example, we discuss the case of observing a signal with two same-sign leptons, two jets and no missing energy. This would imply a large washout factor for the lepton number density in the early Universe, which leads to a significant constraint on any high-scale model for the generation of the observed baryon asymmetry. In a standard leptogenesis scenario, the corresponding washout factor would strongly decrease a pre-existing lepton asymmetry and thus would render leptogenesis models that generate a (B-L) asymmetry far above the LHC scale ineffective. Therefore, LHC searches focused on LNV processes without missing energy are powerful probes for high-scale leptogenesis models and correspondingly shed light on the nature of baryogenesis and neutrino masses.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

Falsifying High-Scale Leptogenesis at the LHC

Measuring a non-zero value for the cross section of any lepton number violating (LNV) process would put a strong lower limit on the washout factor for the effective lepton number density in the early universe at times close to the electroweak phase transition and thus would lead to important constraints on any high-scale model for the generation of the observed baryon asymmetry based on LNV. In particular, for leptogenesis models with masses of the right-handed neutrinos heavier than the mass scale observed at the LHC, the implied large washout factors would lead to a violation of the out-of-equilibrium condition and exponentially suppress the net lepton number produced in such leptogenesis models. We thus demonstrate that the observation of LNV processes at the LHC results in the falsification of high-scale leptogenesis models. However, no conclusions about the viability of leptogenesis models can be drawn from the non-observation of LNV processes.

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