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Kristian L. McDonald

Publications and source records attributed to Kristian L. McDonald.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2013

Generalized Inverse Seesaws

The seesaw mechanism can be generalized to a Type-III variant and a quintuplet variant. We present two models that provide analogous generalizations of the inverse seesaw mechanism. The first model employs a fermion triplet F ~ (1,3,0) and requires no additional multiplets or parameters relative to the standard inverse seesaw. We argue that, from a bottom-up perspective, there appears to be no particular reason to preference the usual scenario over this variant. The second model employs a fermion quintuplet F ~ (1,5,0) and requires an additional scalar S ~ (1,4,1). We also show that minimal inverse seesaws with even larger fermionic representations are not expected to realize naturally small neutrino masses.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2013

Sommerfeld Enhancement from Multiple Mediators

We study the Sommerfeld enhancement experienced by a scattering object that couples to a tower of mediators. This can occur in, e.g., models of secluded dark matter when the mediator scale is generated naturally by hidden-sector confinement. Specializing to the case of a confining CFT, we show that off-resonant values of the enhancement can be increased by ~ 20% for cases of interest when (i) the (strongly-coupled) CFT admits a weakly-coupled dual description and (ii) the conformal symmetry holds up to the Planck scale. Larger enhancements are possible for lower UV scales due to an increase in the coupling strength of the tower.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2013

The Simplest Models of Radiative Neutrino Mass: Excluding Simplified Zee Models and Beyond

The complexity of radiative neutrino-mass models can be judged by: (i) whether they require the imposition of ad hoc symmetries, (ii) the number of new multiplets they introduce, and (iii) the number of arbitrary parameters that appear. Adopting the view that the imposition of arbitrary new symmetries is the least appealing approach, the simplest models have two new multiplets and a minimal number of new parameters. With this in mind, we search for the simplest models of radiative neutrino mass. We are lead to two new models, containing a real scalar triplet and a charged scalar doublet (respectively), in addition to the charged singlet scalar considered by Zee [h^+\sim(1,1,2)]. The new models are essentially simplified versions of the Zee model and appear to be \emph{the simplest} models of radiative neutrino mass. However, these models are only of pedagogical interest; despite successfully generating nonzero masses, present-day data is sufficient to rule them out. The lessons learned from these models also enable one to exclude a more general class of radiative models. Moving beyond the minimal cases, we find a new model of two-loop masses that employs the charged doublet Φ\sim(1,2,3) and the doubly-charged scalar k^{++}\sim(1,1,4).

hep-ph↗
arXiv2012

Secluded Dark Matter Coupled to a Hidden CFT

Models of secluded dark matter offer a variant on the standard WIMP picture and can modify our expectations for hidden sector phenomenology and detection. In this work we extend a minimal model of secluded dark matter, comprised of a U(1)'-charged dark matter candidate, to include a confining hidden-sector CFT. This provides a technically natural explanation for the hierarchically small mediator-scale, with hidden-sector confinement generating m_{gamma'}>0. Furthermore, the thermal history of the universe can differ markedly from the WIMP picture due to (i) new annihilation channels, (ii) a (potentially) large number of hidden-sector degrees of freedom, and (iii) a hidden-sector phase transition at temperatures T << M_{dm} after freeze out. The mediator allows both the dark matter and the Standard Model to communicate with the CFT, thus modifying the low-energy phenomenology and cosmic-ray signals from the secluded sector.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2012

Inverse seesaw and dark matter in models with exotic lepton triplets

We show that models with exotic leptons transforming as E ~ (1,3,-1) under the standard model gauge symmetry are well suited for generating neutrino mass via a radiative inverse seesaw. This approach realizes natural neutrino masses and allows multiple new states to appear at the TeV scale. The exotic leptons are therefore good candidates for new physics that can be probed at the LHC. Furthermore, remnant low-energy symmetries ensure a stable dark matter candidate, providing a link between dark matter and the origins of neutrino mass.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2011

Neutrino Mass and $μ\rightarrow e + γ$ from a Mini-Seesaw

The recently proposed "mini-seesaw mechanism" combines naturally suppressed Dirac and Majorana masses to achieve light Standard Model neutrinos via a low-scale seesaw. A key feature of this approach is the presence of multiple light (order GeV) sterile-neutrinos that mix with the Standard Model. In this work we study the bounds on these light sterile-neutrinos from processes like μ---> e + γ, invisible Z-decays, and neutrinoless double beta-decay. We show that viable parameter space exists and that, interestingly, key observables can lie just below current experimental sensitivities. In particular, a motivated region of parameter space predicts a value of BR(μ---> e + γ) within the range to be probed by MEG.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2011

Gravity on a Little Warped Space

We investigate the consistent inclusion of 4D Einstein gravity on a truncated slice of AdS_5 whose bulk-gravity and UV scales are much less than the 4D Planck scale, M_* << M_{Pl}. Such "Little Warped Spaces" have found phenomenological utility and can be motivated by string realizations of the Randall-Sundrum framework. Using the interval approach to brane-world gravity, we show that the inclusion of a large UV-localized Einstein-Hilbert term allows one to consistently incorporate 4D Einstein gravity into the low-energy theory. We detail the spectrum of Kaluza-Klein metric fluctuations and, in particular, examine the coupling of the little radion to matter. Furthermore, we show that Goldberger-Wise stabilization can be successfully implemented on such spaces. Our results demonstrate that realistic low-energy effective theories can be constructed on these spaces, and have relevance for existing models in the literature.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2011

Low-Energy Signals from Kinetic Mixing with a Warped Abelian Hidden Sector

We investigate the detailed phenomenology of a light Abelian hidden sector in the Randall-Sundrum framework. Relative to other works with light hidden sectors, the main new feature is a tower of hidden Kaluza-Klein vectors that kinetically mix with the Standard Model photon and Z. We investigate the decay properties of the hidden sector fields in some detail, and develop an approach for calculating processes initiated on the ultraviolet brane of a warped space with large injection momentum relative to the infrared scale. Using these results, we determine the detailed bounds on the light warped hidden sector from precision electroweak measurements and low-energy experiments. We find viable regions of parameter space that lead to significant production rates for several of the hidden Kaluza-Klein vectors in meson factories and fixed-target experiments. This offers the possibility of exploring the structure of an extra spacetime dimension with lower-energy probes.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2011

Light Neutrinos from a Mini-Seesaw Mechanism in Warped Space

The seesaw mechanism provides a simple explanation for the lightness of the known neutrinos. Under the standard assumption of a weak scale Dirac mass and a heavy sterile Majorana scale the neutrino mass is naturally suppressed below the weak scale. However, Nature may employ Dirac and Majorana scales that are much less than typically assumed, possibly even far below the weak scale. In this case the seesaw mechanism alone would not completely explain the lightness of the neutrinos. In this work we consider a warped framework that realizes this possibility by combining naturally suppressed Dirac and Majorana scales together in a mini-seesaw mechanism to generate light neutrino masses. Via the AdS/CFT correspondence the model is dual to a 4D theory with a hidden strongly coupled sector containing light composite right-handed neutrinos.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2010

Low-Energy Probes of a Warped Extra Dimension

We investigate a natural realization of a light Abelian hidden sector in an extended Randall-Sundrum (RS) model. In addition to the usual RS bulk we consider a second warped space containing a bulk U(1)_x gauge theory with a characteristic IR scale of order a GeV. This Abelian hidden sector can couple to the standard model via gauge kinetic mixing on a common UV brane. We show that if such a coupling induces significant mixing between the lightest U(1)_x gauge mode and the standard model photon and Z, it can also induce significant mixing with the heavier U(1)_x Kaluza-Klein (KK) modes. As a result it might be possible to probe several KK modes in upcoming fixed-target experiments and meson factories, thereby offering a new way to investigate the structure of an extra spacetime dimension.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2010

Broken Symmetry as a Stabilizing Remnant

The Goldberger-Wise mechanism enables one to stabilize the length of the warped extra dimension employed in Randall-Sundrum models. In this work we generalize this mechanism to models with multiple warped throats sharing a common ultraviolet brane. For independent throats this generalization is straight forward. If the throats possess a discrete interchange symmetry like Z_n the stabilizing dynamics may respect the symmetry, resulting in equal throat lengths, or they may break it. In the latter case the ground state of an initially symmetric configuration is a stabilized asymmetric configuration in which the throat lengths differ. We focus on two- (three-) throat setups with a Z_2 (Z_3) interchange symmetry and present stabilization dynamics suitable for either breaking or maintaining the symmetry. Though admitting more general application, our results are relevant for existing models in the literature, including the two throat model with Kaluza-Klein parity and the three throat model of flavor based on a broken Z_3 symmetry.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2009

Warping, Extra Dimensions and a Slice of AdS_d

Inspired by the Randall-Sundrum (RS) framework we consider a number of phenomenologically relevant model building questions on a slice of compactified AdS_d for d >5. Such spaces are interesting as they enable one to realize the weak scale via warping. We perform the Kaluza-Klein (KK) reduction for gravitons and bulk vectors in these spaces and for the case of AdS_6 consider the KK spectrum of gauge-scalars. We further obtain the KK towers for bulk fermions on a slice of AdS_7 and AdS_9 and show that the RS approach to flavor generalizes to these spaces with the localization of chiral zero mode fermions controlled by their bulk Dirac mass parameters. However for the phenomenologically interesting case where the transverse radius is R^{-1}\sim TeV we show that bulk Standard Model fields are not viable due to a resulting volume suppression of the gauge coupling constants. A similar suppression occurs for the case of UV localization. Thus it seems that the Standard Model fields should be confined to the infrared brane in such spaces. Sterile fields and extended gauge sectors may propagate in the bulk with the gauge-coupling volume suppression experienced by the latter motivating a weak coupling to Standard Model fields. We also discuss some issues regarding the effective 4D theory description in these spaces.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2009

Warping the Universal Extra Dimensions

We develop the necessary ingredients for the construction of realistic models with warped universal extra dimensions. Our investigations are based on the seven dimensional (7D) spacetime AdS_5 x T^2 and we derive the Kaluza-Klein (KK) spectra for gravitons, bulk vectors and the TeV brane localized Higgs boson. We show that, starting with a massive 7D fermion, one may obtain a single chiral massless mode whose profile is readily localized towards the Planck or TeV brane. This allows one to place the standard model fermions in the bulk and construct models of flavor as in Randall-Sundrum models. Our solution also admits the familiar KK parity of UED models so that the lightest odd KK state is stable and may be a dark matter (DM) candidate. As an additional feature the AdS_5 warping ensures that the excited modes on the torus, including the DM candidate, appear at TeV energies (as is usually assumed in UED models) even though the Planck scale sets the dimensions for the torus.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2009

Dilaton as the Higgs boson

We propose a model where the role of the electroweak Higgs field is played by the dilaton. The model contains terms which explicitly violate gauge invariance, however it is shown that this violation is fictitious, so that the model is a consistent low energy effective theory. In the simplest version of the idea the resulting low energy effective theory is the same as the top mode standard model.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2008

Little Randall-Sundrum Model and a Multiply Warped Spacetime

A recent work has investigated the possibility that the mass scale for the ultraviolet (UV) brane in the Randall-Sundrum (RS) model is of the order 10^3 TeV. In this so called ``Little Randall-Sundrum'' (LRS) model the bounds on the gauge sector are less severe, permitting a lower Kaluza-Klein scale and cleaner discovery channels. However employing a low UV scale nullifies one major appeal of the RS model; namely the elegant explanation of the hierarchy between the Planck and weak scales. In this work we show that by localizing the gauge, fermion and scalar sector of the LRS model on a five dimensional slice of a doubly warped spacetime one may obtain the low UV brane scale employed in the LRS model and motivate the weak-Planck hierarchy. We also consider the generalization to an n-warped spacetime.

hep-th↗
arXiv2007

A solution to the hierarchy problem from an almost decoupled hidden sector within a classically scale invariant theory

If scale invariance is a classical symmetry then both the Planck scale and the weak scale should emerge as quantum effects. We show that this can be realized in simple scale invariant theories with a hidden sector. The weak/Planck scale hierarchy emerges in the (technically natural) limit where the hidden sector decouples from the ordinary sector. The weak scale is protected from quadratic divergences because of classical scale invariance, so there is no hierarchy problem.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2007

Combining Left-Right And Quark-Lepton Symmetries In 5D

A five dimensional model containing both left-right and quark-lepton symmetries is constructed, with the gauge group broken by a combination of orbifold compactification and the Higgs mechanism. An analysis of the gauge and scalar sectors is performed and it is shown that the 5d model admits a simpler scalar sector. Bounds on the relevant symmetry breaking scales are obtained and reveal that two neutral gauge bosons may appear in the TeV energy range to be explored by the LHC. Split fermions are employed to remove the mass relations implied by the quark-lepton symmetry and the necessary fermion localisation is achieved by introducing bulk scalars with kink vacuum profiles. The symmetries of the model constrain the Yukawa sector, which in turn severely constrains the extent to which realistic split fermion scenarios may be realized in the absence of Yukawa coupling hierarchies. Nevertheless we present two interesting one generation constructs. One of these provides a rationale for $m_t>m_b, m_τ$ and $m_ν\ll m_t$ with Yukawa parameters which vary by only a factor of five. The other also suppresses the proton decay rate by spatially separating quarks and leptons but requires a Yukawa parameter hierarchy of order $10^2$.

hep-ph↗