arXiv subjects

Junwu Huang

Publications and source records attributed to Junwu Huang.

45 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Probing axions with neutron star inspirals and other stellar processes

In certain models of a QCD axion, finite density corrections to the axion potential can result in the axion being sourced by large dense objects. There are a variety of ways to test this phenomenon, but perhaps the most surprising effect is that the axion can mediate forces between neutron stars that can be as strong as gravity. These forces can be attractive or repulsive and their presence can be detected by Advanced LIGO observations of neutron star inspirals. By a numerical coincidence, axion forces between neutron stars with gravitational strength naturally have an associated length scale of tens of kilometers or longer, similar to that of a neutron star. Future observations of neutron star mergers in Advanced LIGO can probe many orders of magnitude of axion parameter space. Because the axion is only sourced by large dense objects, the axion force evades fifth force constraints. We also outline several other ways to probe this phenomenon using electromagnetic signals associated with compact objects.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Bounding milli-magnetically charged particles with magnetars

Milli-magnetically charged particles generically appear in scenarios with kinetic mixing. We present model independent bounds on these particles coming from magnetars. Schwinger pair production discharges the magnetic field of the magnetar. Thus the existence of large magnetic fields at magnetars place strong bounds on the milli-magnetic charge to be smaller than $10^{-18}$ over a large mass range.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

A collider observable QCD axion

We present a model where the QCD axion is at the TeV scale and visible at a collider via its decays. Conformal dynamics and strong CP considerations account for the axion coupling strongly enough to the standard model to be produced as well as the coincidence between the weak scale and the axion mass. The model predicts additional pseudoscalar color octets whose properties are completely determined by the axion properties rendering the theory testable.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Unified Maximally Natural Supersymmetry

Maximally Natural Supersymmetry, an unusual weak-scale supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model based upon the inherently higher-dimensional mechanism of Scherk-Schwarz supersymmetry breaking (SSSB), possesses remarkably good fine tuning given present LHC limits. Here we construct a version with precision $SU(2)_{\rm L} \times U(1)_{\rm Y} $ unification: $\sin^2 θ_W(M_Z) \simeq 0.231$ is predicted to $\pm 2\%$ by unifying $SU(2)_{\rm L} \times U(1)_{\rm Y} $ into a 5D $SU(3)_{\rm EW}$ theory at a Kaluza-Klein scale of $1/R_5 \sim 4.4\,{\rm TeV}$, where SSSB is simultaneously realised. Full unification with $SU(3)_{\rm C}$ is accommodated by extending the 5D theory to a $N=4$ supersymmetric $SU(6)$ gauge theory on a 6D rectangular orbifold at $1/R_6 \sim 40 \,{\rm TeV}$. TeV-scale states beyond the SM include exotic charged fermions implied by $SU(3)_{\rm EW}$ with masses lighter than $\sim 1.2\,{\rm TeV}$, and squarks in the mass range $1.4\,{\rm TeV} - 2.3\,{\rm TeV}$, providing distinct signatures and discovery opportunities for LHC run II.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Searching for dilaton dark matter with atomic clocks

We propose an experiment to search for ultralight scalar dark matter (DM) with dilatonic interactions. Such couplings can arise for the dilaton as well as for moduli and axion-like particles in the presence of CP violation. Ultralight dilaton DM acts as a background field that can cause tiny but coherent oscillations in Standard Model parameters such as the fine structure constant and the proton-electron mass ratio. These minute variations can be detected through precise frequency comparisons of atomic clocks. Our experiment extends current searches for drifts in fundamental constants to the well-motivated high-frequency regime. Our proposed setups can probe scalars lighter than 10^-15 eV with discovery potential of dilatonic couplings as weak as 10^-11 times the strength of gravity, improving current equivalence principle bounds by up to 8 orders of magnitude. We point out potential 10^4 sensitivity enhancements with future optical and nuclear clocks, as well as possible signatures in gravitational wave detectors. Finally, we discuss cosmological constraints and astrophysical hints of ultralight scalar DM, and show they are complimentary to and compatible with the parameter range accessible to our proposed laboratory experiments.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

Dark Matter Induced Nucleon Decay: Model and Signatures

If dark matter (DM) carries anti-baryon number, a DM particle may annihilate with a nucleon by flipping to anti-DM. Inspired by Hylogenesis models, we introduce a single component DM model where DM is asymmetric and carries B and L as -1/2. It can annihilate with a nucleon to an anti-lepton and an anti-DM at leading order or with an additional meson at sub-leading order. Such signals may be observed in proton decay experiments. If DM is captured in the Sun, the DM induced nucleon decay can generate a large flux of anti-neutrinos, which could be observed in neutrino experiments. Furthermore, the anti-DM particle in the final state obtains a relatively large momentum (few hundred MeV), and escapes the Sun. These fast-moving anti-DM particles could also induce interesting signals in various underground experiments.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

NLO merging in tt+jets

In this talk the application of the recently introduced methods to merge NLO calculations of successive jet multiplicities to the production of top pairs in association with jets will be discussed, in particular a fresh look is taken at the top quark forward-backward asymmetries. Emphasis will be put on the achieved theoretical accuracy and the associated perturbative and non-perturbative error estimates.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

Zero and one jet combined NLO analysis of the top quark forward-backward asymmetry

We present an analysis of the forward-backward asymmetry in the production of top quark pairs at the Tevatron collider. We use novel Monte Carlo methods for merging matrix elements and parton showers to combine NLO QCD predictions for tt and tt+jet production. Theoretical uncertainties are quantified in detail. We find agreement with experimental data on the transverse momentum dependence of the asymmetry.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2011

Bose and Fermi gases in the early universe with self-gravitational effect

We study the self-gravitational effect on the equation of state (EoS) of Bose and Fermi gases in thermal equilibrium at the end of reheating, the period after quark-hadron transition and before Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN). After introducing new grand canonical partition functions based on the work of Uhlenbeck and Gropper, we notice some interesting features of the newly developed EoSs with distinct behaviors of relativistic and non-relativistic gases under self-gravity. The usual negligence of the self-gravitational effect when solving the background expansion of the early universe is justified with numerical results, showing the magnitude of the self-gravitational modification of the state constant to be less than $O(10^{-78})$. This helps us to clarify the background thermal evolution of the primordial patch. Such clarification is crucial in testing gravity theories, evaluating inflation models and determining element abundances in BBN.

gr-qc↗