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Kristjan Kannike

Publications and source records attributed to Kristjan Kannike.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Dark matter in the scale-invariant 3-3-1-1 model

We propose a novel scale-invariant model with the 3-3-1-1 gauge symmetry featuring a universal see-saw mechanism for all fermion masses, which, through the inclusion of additional vector-like quarks, provides a partial explanation for the observed fermion mass hierarchies. A discrete remnant of the gauge group, the matter parity ($P_M$), stabilises a fermionic dark matter candidate, and the scalar sector includes two triplets (minimal for 3-3-1 breaking) and two scalar singlets. We identify the lightest $ P_M $-odd fermion, $f_d$, as a viable dark matter candidate. Our analysis shows that $f_d$ satisfies the observed relic density constraint within the mass range 220 GeV $< m_{f_d}$ 555 GeV , primarily due to resonant annihilation via the new scalar $H_2$. While this mass range depends on the symmetry-breaking scale $v_χ$, which has a lower bound of $ v_χ\gtrsim 3.6$ TeV from LEP constraints on the $ρ_0$ parameter, we adopt a more conservative lower bound of $v_χ> 10$ TeV. This choice is made to ensure that the $Z'$ boson mass remains above approximately $ 4$ TeV, and is motivated by recent LHC results and future projections for Z' boson searches, which provide more stringent constraints than previous bounds or those from the $ρ_0$ parameter. Spin-independent (SI) interactions dominate the direct detection phenomenology of $f_d$. We calculate the SI elastic scattering cross-section and find that parameter points satisfying the relic density constraint are consistent with current experimental limits from LZ and PandaX-4T for certain parameter choices, particularly depending on the $α_{12}$ angle. Some regions of the viable parameter space lie below the neutrino floor. Prospects for detection by future experiments like XLZD and PandaX-xT are also presented and discussed.

hep-ph

Boosted dark particles and the LZ nuclear recoil event

The LZ experiment reported one anomalous event with nuclear recoil energy of 248 keV. Galactic halo dark matter (DM) cannot produce such a large energy unless heavier than 74 GeV, and heavy DM with spin-independent interactions would have produced unseen recoils at lower energy. Inelastic DM has been proposed as a way out. We consider, instead, an elastic collision of a dark sector particle with a momentum of at least 123~MeV and mass in the range 1-74 GeV as deuteron break-up in SNO disfavors sub-GeV masses. The absence of accompanying lower-energy recoils favours interactions whose rate grows with the momentum transfer, such as a pseudoscalar-pseudoscalar nucleon operator. This implies no leading-order signal in argon, an annual modulation below 1 %, and recoils in spinful light nuclei where inelastic halo DM gives nothing.

hep-ph

Is our vacuum global in a 331 model with three triplets?

We consider a 331 model, based on $β=-1/\sqrt{3}$, with three $SU(3)$ triplets with a softly broken $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry. The resulting scalar potential is commonly used in phenomenology. We systematically determine all the potential minima and obtain the conditions under which the electroweak vacuum is global with the help of orbit space methods. For the case the electroweak vacuum is not global, we calculate bounds on the scalar couplings from metastability. We find a parametrisation of the potential couplings in terms of physical quantities and use it to show the available parameter space.

hep-ph

An EFT approach to the study of multi-phase criticality scenarios

Multi-phase critical scenarios explain the observed Higgs boson mass scale by the almost simultaneous occurrence of two smoothly connected phases of the theory, which differ by the selected vacuum configuration. A generic prediction of the framework is the presence of a further light scalar state, the dilaton, which naturally couples weakly to the Higgs boson. The implementation of the framework usually requires the presence of a third, heavier state, which plays the role of dark matter and ensures the couplings run so that the multi-phase criticality condition is met. In this paper we consider the multi-phase criticality limit of an extension of the Standard Model including two extra scalar singlets, addressing the scenario with effective field theory methods that are particularly suited for treating the hierarchical mass spectrum that this construction yields. The analysis improves on the approximated results available in the Literature and explores the phenomenology of the model at collider and dark matter experiments. We find that the running of scalar couplings in the EFT between the two scales cannot be ignored, but the quantum corrections from the dark matter candidate are not noticeably modified.

hep-ph

Interpreting DESI 2024 BAO: late-time dynamical dark energy or a local effect?

We perform fits to DESI, CMB and supernova data to understand the physical origin of the DESI hint for dynamical dark energy. We find that the linear parametrization of the equation of state $w$ may guide to misleading interpretations, such as the hint for a phantom Universe, which are not preferred by the data. Instead, physical quintessence models fit the data well. Model-independently, present observations prefer deviations from the constant dark energy, $w=-1$, only at very low redshifts, $z < \mathcal{O}(0.1)$. We find that this result is driven by low-$z$ supernova data. Therefore, either the fundamental properties of our Universe, characterised by the equation of state $w$ and the Hubble parameter $H$, underwent dramatic changes very recently or, alternatively, we do not fully understand the systematics of our local Universe in a radius of about $300\,h^{-1}\rm Mpc$.

astro-ph.CO

Phase Transitions and Gravitational Waves in a Model of $\mathbb{Z}_{3}$ Scalar Dark Matter

Theories with more than one scalar field often exhibit phase transitions producing potentially detectable gravitational wave (GW) signal. In this work we study the semi-annihilating $\mathbb{Z}_3$ dark matter model, whose dark sector comprises an inert doublet and a complex singlet, and assess its prospects in future GW detectors. Without imposing limits from requirement of providing a viable dark matter candidate, i.e. taking into account only other experimental and theoretical constraints, we find that the first order phase transition in this model can be strong enough to lead to a detectable signal. However, direct detection and the dark matter thermal relic density constraint calculated with the state-of-the-art method including the impact of early kinetic decoupling, very strongly limit the parameter space of the model explaining all of dark matter and providing observable GW peak amplitude. Extending the analysis to underabundant dark matter thus reveals region with detectable GWs from a single-step or multi-step phase transition.

hep-ph

Constraining the Higgs Trilinear Coupling from an $SU(2)$ Quadruplet with Bounded-from-Below Conditions

Integrating out a heavy scalar can cause the Higgs trilinear coupling to deviate from its Standard Model value: a good example is provided by an $SU(2)$ quadruplet. Constraints on the full theory, however, can limit the size of the deviation. We show that the bounded-from-below conditions for the Standard Model extended by an $SU(2)$ quadruplet strongly constrain the $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$-breaking Higgs portal and can bound the Higgs trilinear coupling close to its Standard Model value. For TeV-scale quadruplet masses in models with custodial symmetry violation, these constraints can be a few times stronger than constraints from electroweak precision measurements. For the custodial quadruplet, these are the strongest theoretical constraints available.

hep-ph

Rebuttal of 'Note on "Vacuum stability of a general scalar potential of a few fields"'

We show that the recent 'Note on "Vacuum stability of a general scalar potential of a few fields"' [arXiv:2401.13863] erroneously misses the possibility that the Higgs portal term may have a different sign for different values of the two singlet fields. Due to this mistake, the derived vacuum stability conditions are sufficient, but not necessary.

hep-ph

Pseudo-Goldstone dark matter in a radiative inverse seesaw scenario

We consider a scale-invariant inverse seesaw model with dynamical breaking of gauge symmetry and lepton number. In some regions of the parameter space, the Majoron - the pseudo-Goldstone of lepton number breaking - is a viable dark matter candidate. The bound on the Majoron decay rate implies a very large dilaton vacuum expectation value, which also results in a suppression of other dark matter couplings. Because of that, the observed dark matter relic abundance can only be matched via the freeze-in mechanism. The scalar field which gives mass to heavy neutrinos can play the role of the inflaton, resulting in a tensor-to-scalar ratio $r \lesssim 0.01$ for metric inflation and $r \lesssim 0.21$ for Palatini gravity.

hep-ph

Dark matter induced dynamical symmetry breaking

We consider the classically scale invariant Higgs-dilaton model of dynamical symmetry breaking extended with an extra scalar field that plays the role of dark matter. The Higgs boson is light near a critical boundary between different symmetry breaking phases, where quantum corrections beyond the usual Gildener-Weinberg approximation become relevant. The only large scale, which generates the other scales, is given by the mass of dark matter. This implies a tighter connection between dark matter and Higgs phenomenology. The model has only three free parameters, yet it allows for the observed relic abundance of dark matter while respecting all constraints. The direct detection cross section mediated by the Higgs boson is determined by the dark matter mass alone and is testable at future experiments.

hep-ph

Vacuum Stability and Radiative Symmetry Breaking of the Scale-Invariant Singlet Extension of Type II Seesaw Model

The questions of the origin of electroweak symmetry breaking and neutrino mass are two major puzzles in particle physics. Neutrino mass generation requires new physics beyond the Standard Model and also suggests reconsideration of physics of symmetry breaking. The aim of this paper is to study radiative symmetry breaking in the singlet scalar extension of type II seesaw neutrino mass model. We derive bounded-from-below conditions for the scalar potential of the model in full generality for the first time. The Gildener-Weinberg approach is utilised in minimising the multiscalar potential. Upon imposing the bounded-from-below and perturbativity conditions, as well as experimental constraints from colliders, we find the parameter space of scalar quartic couplings that can radiatively realise electroweak symmetry breaking at one-loop level. To satisfy all the constraints, the masses of the heavy triplet-like Higgs bosons must be nearly degenerate. The evolution of the Higgs doublet quartic coupling $λ_{H}$ can be prevented from being negative up to the Planck scale.

hep-ph

The 2HD+a model: collider, dark matter and gravitational wave signals

We perform a comprehensive study of a model in which the Higgs sector is extended to contain two Higgs doublet fields, with the four types of possibilities to couple to standard fermions, as well as an additional light pseudoscalar Higgs boson which mixes with the one of the two doublets. This 2HD+a model includes also a stable isosinglet massive fermion that has the correct thermal relic abundance to account for the dark matter in the Universe. We summarize the theoretical constraints to which the model is subject and then perform a detailed study of the phenomenological constraints. In particular, we discuss the bounds from the LHC in the search for light and heavy scalar resonances and invisible states and those from high precision measurements in the Higgs, electroweak and flavor sectors, addressing the possibility of explaining the deviation from the standard expectation of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon and the $W$-boson mass recently observed at Fermilab. We also summarize the astrophysical constraints from direct and indirect detection dark matter experiments. We finally conduct a thorough analysis of the cosmic phase transitions and the gravitational wave spectrum that are implied by the model and identify the parameter space in which the electroweak vacuum is reached after single and multiple phase transitions. We then discuss the prospects for observing the signal of such gravitational waves in near future experiments such as LISA, BBO or DECIGO.

hep-ph

Multi-step phase transitions and gravitational waves in the inert doublet model

The inert doublet model is a well-motivated extension of the Standard Model that contains a dark matter candidate and modifies the dynamics of the electroweak symmetry breaking. In order to detail its phenomenology, we perform a comprehensive study of cosmic phase transitions and gravitational wave signals implied by the framework, accounting for the latest results of collider experiments. We require the neutral inert scalar to constitute, at least, a subdominant part of the observed dark matter abundance. While most of the phase transitions proceed through a single step, we identify regions of the parameter space where the electroweak vacuum is reached after multiple phase transitions. The resulting gravitational wave spectrum is generally dominated by single-step transitions and, in part of the parameter space, falls within the reach of future gravitational wave detectors such as LISA, BBO or DECIGO. We find that direct detection experiments efficiently probe the part of parameter space associated with multi-step phase transitions, which remain unconstrained only in the Higgs resonance region testable with future monojet searches. The implications of the new determination of the $W$ boson mass are also discussed.

hep-ph

Dark Matter-Induced Multi-Phase Dynamical Symmetry Breaking

We consider the classically scale invariant Higgs-dilaton model of dynamical symmetry breaking extended with an extra scalar field that plays the role of dark matter. The Higgs boson is light near a critical boundary between different symmetry breaking phases, where quantum corrections beyond the usual Gildener-Weinberg approximation become relevant. This implies a tighter connection between dark matter and Higgs phenomenology. The model has only three free parameters, yet it allows for the observed relic abundance of dark matter while respecting all constraints. The direct detection cross section mediated by the Higgs boson is determined by the dark matter mass alone and is testable at future experiments.

hep-ph

Vacuum Stability Conditions and Potential Minima for a Matrix Representation in Lightcone Orbit Space

The orbit space for a scalar field in a complex square matrix representation obtains a Minkowski space structure from the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality. It can be used to find vacuum stability conditions and minima of the scalar potential. The method is suitable for fields such as a bidoublet, an $SU(2)$ triplet or $SU(3)$ octet. We use the formalism to find the vacuum stability conditions for the left-right symmetric potential of a bidoublet and left and right Higgs doublets.

hep-ph

Multi-phase critical Higgs boson at colliders

The recently proposed multi-phase criticality principle in Coleman-Weinberg models can provide a new explanation for the hierarchy between the electroweak and new physics scales. When applied to the Standard Model, a Higgs boson as light as the pseudo-Goldstone boson of broken scale invariance occurs. The suppressed mixing between the two light fields still carries information about the large scale of symmetry breaking, albeit up to logarithmic corrections. In this work we probe this scenario with the present LHC data and assess the impact of future lepton and hadron colliders. Our results show that the multi-phase criticality can easily explain the apparent absence of new physics at the energy scales tested in current experiments.

hep-ph

Minima of Classically Scale-Invariant Potentials

We propose a new formalism to analyse the extremum structure of scale-invariant effective potentials. The problem is stated in a compact matrix form, used to derive general expressions for the stationary point equation and the mass matrix of a multi-field RG-improved effective potential. Our method improves on (but is not limited to) the Gildener-Weinberg approximation and identifies a set of conditions that signal the presence of a radiative minimum. When the conditions are satisfied at different scales, or in different subspaces of the field space, the effective potential has more than one radiative minimum. We illustrate the method through simple examples and study in detail a Standard-Model-like scenario where the potential admits two radiative minima. Whereas we mostly concentrate on biquadratic potentials, our results carry over to the general case by using tensor algebra.

hep-ph

Phenomenology of a Fake Inert Doublet Model

We introduce a new way of modeling the physics beyond the Standard Model by considering fake, strictly off-shell degrees of freedom: the fakeons. To demonstrate the approach and exemplify its reach, we re-analyze the phenomenology of the Inert Doublet Model under the assumption that the second doublet is a fakeon. Remarkably, the fake doublet avoids the most stringent $Z$-pole constraints regardless of the chosen mass scale, thereby allowing for the presence of new effects well below the electroweak scale. Furthermore, the absence of on-shell propagation prevents fakeons from inducing missing energy signatures in collider experiments. The distinguishing features of the model appear at the loop level, where fakeons modify the Higgs boson $h\toγγ$ decay width and the Higgs trilinear coupling. The running of Standard Model parameters proceeds as in the usual Inert Doublet Model case. Therefore, the fake doublet can also ensure the stability of the Standard Model vacuum. Our work shows that fakeons are a valid alternative to the usual tools of particle physics model building, with the potential to shape a new paradigm, where the significance of the existing experimental constraints towards new physics must necessarily be reconsidered.

hep-ph