arXiv subjects

M. N. Rebelo

Publications and source records attributed to M. N. Rebelo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Implications of symmetries in the scalar sector

Symmetries play a very important rôle in Particle Physics. In extended scalar sectors, the existence of symmetries may permit the models to comply with the experimental constraints in a natural way, and at the same time reduce the number of free parameters. There is a strong interplay among internal symmetries of the scalar potential, its CP properties and mass degeneracies of the physical scalars. Some of these aspects were discussed in this talk.

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arXiv2018

Symmetries and Mass Degeneracies in the Scalar Sector

We explore some aspects of models with two and three SU(2) scalar doublets that lead to mass degeneracies among some of the physical scalars. In Higgs sectors with two scalar doublets, the exact degeneracy of scalar masses, without an artificial fine-tuning of the scalar potential parameters, is possible only in the case of the inert doublet model (IDM), where the scalar potential respects a global U(1) symmetry that is not broken by the vacuum. In the case of three doublets, we introduce and analyze the replicated inert doublet model, which possesses two inert doublets of scalars. We then generalize this model to obtain a scalar potential, first proposed by Ivanov and Silva, with a CP4 symmetry that guarantees the existence of pairwise degenerate scalar states among two pairs of neutral scalars and two pairs of charged scalars. Here, CP4 is a generalized CP symmetry with the property that $({\rm CP}4)^n$ is the identity operator only for integer $n$ values that are multiples of 4. The form of the CP4-symmetric scalar potential is simplest when expressed in the Higgs basis, where the neutral scalar field vacuum expectation value resides entirely in one of the scalar doublet fields. The symmetries of the model permit a term in the scalar potential with a complex coefficient that cannot be removed by any redefinition of the scalar fields within the class of Higgs bases (in which case, we say that no real Higgs basis exists). A striking feature of the CP4-symmetric model is that it preserves CP even in the absence of a real Higgs basis, as illustrated by the cancellation of the contributions to the CP violating form factors of the effective ZZZ and ZWW vertices.

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arXiv2018

Solving a Fine-Tuning Problem of the Standard Model through the Introduction of Vector-Like Quarks

We emphasise that even in the extreme chiral limit where only the top and bottom quarks acquire mass, quark mixing is physically meaningful. This implies that the natural value of $|V_{13}|^2 + |V_{23}|^2$ is of order one, which is to be compared to its experimental value of order $10^{-3}$ . We show how this fine-tuning problem of the Standard Model can be solved through an extension of the Standard Model where vector-like quarks and a complex singlet are introduced, together with a flavour symmetry. The mixings of the light quarks are generated through the mixing of the vector-like quarks with the standard quarks.

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arXiv2018

Neutrino Physics and Leptonic Weak Basis Invariants

In this talk we present a powerful tool applied to the study of Leptonic Physics. This tool is based on the construction of Weak Basis invariant relations associated to different properties of leptonic models. The rationale behind these constructions is the fact that fermion mass matrices related through weak basis transformations look different but lead to the same physics. Such invariants can be built, for instance, with the aim to test leptonic models for different types of CP violation. These invariants are also relevant beyond such tests and have been applied to the study of implications from zero textures appearing in the leptonic mass matrices. In this case an important question is, how can a flavour model corresponding to a set of texture zeros be recognised, when written in a different weak basis, where the zeros are not explicitly present. Another important application is the construction of invariants sensitive to the neutrino mass ordering and the $θ_{23}$ octant.

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arXiv2018

CP violation in extended Higgs sectors

We discuss how one can identify CP violation (and conservation) in multi-Higgs-doublet potentials. After a brief review of CP violation in the 2HDM, we refer to the fact that for NHDM with $N \geq 3$ the well known methods useful in the case $N = 2$ have not been generalized in order to provide a set of well defined necessary and sufficient conditions for CP conservation. We then present a simple method, proposed by the authors, to be used in such cases. Two non-trivial examples based on an $S_3$-symmetric three-doublet model are analyzed by means of this new method.

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arXiv2017

Can One have Significant Deviations from Leptonic $3\times 3$ Unitarity in the Framework of Type I Seesaw Mechanism?

We address the question of deviations from $3\times 3$ unitarity of the leptonic mixing matrix showing that, contrary to conventional wisdom, one may have significant deviations from unitarity in the framework of type I seesaw mechanism. In order for this scenario to be feasible, at least one of the heavy neutrinos must have a mass at the TeV scale, while the other two may have much larger masses. We present specific examples where deviations from $3\times 3$ unitarity are sufficiently small to conform to all the present stringent experimental bounds but are sufficiently large to have the potential for being detectable at the next round of experiments.

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arXiv2017

A Simple Method to detect spontaneous CP Violation in multi-Higgs models

For models with several Higgs doublets we present an alternative method to the one proposed by Branco, Gerard and Grimus, in 1984, to check whether or not CP is spontaneously violated in the Higgs potential. The previous method is powerful and rigorous. It requires the identification of a matrix $U$ corresponding to a symmetry of the Lagrangian and verifying a simple relation involving the vacuum expectation values. The nonexistence of such a matrix signals spontaneous CP violation. However, as the number of Higgs doublets increases, finding such a matrix $U$ may not be straightforward and it may turn out to be easier to analyse the potential by going to the so-called Higgs basis. The transformation to the Higgs basis is straightforward once the vacuum expectation values are known. The method proposed in this work is also powerful and rigorous and can be particularly useful to analyse models with more than two Higgs doublets and with continuous symmetries.

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arXiv2017

Leptonic Invariants, Neutrino Mass-Ordering and the Octant of $θ_{23}$

We point out that leptonic weak-basis invariants are an important tool for the study of the properties of lepton flavour models. In particular, we show that appropriately chosen invariants can give a clear indication of whether a particular lepton flavour model favours normal or inverted hierarchy for neutrino masses and what is the octant of $θ_{23}$. These invariants can be evaluated in any conveniently chosen weak-basis and can also be expressed in terms of neutrino masses, charged lepton masses, mixing angles and CP violation phases.

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arXiv2017

The discrete charm of flavour and CP violation

We point out that in the Standard Model (SM) there is no explanation why $|V_{23}|^2 + |V_{13}|^2$ is of order $10^{-3}$. A framework is described for explaining this small mixing, involving the introduction of vector-like quarks. A symmetry is introduced so that at a first stage $V_{CKM} = 1\>\!\!\!\mathrm{I}$ and only the third generation of quarks acquires a mass. It is shown that when interactions of vector-like quarks are taken into account a realistic quark mass spectrum is generated together with a correct $V_{CKM}$ matrix.

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arXiv2017

Spontaneous symmetry breaking in three-Higgs-doublet $S_3$-symmetric models

The talk summarises work done by the authors consisting of a detailed study of the possible vacua in models with three Higgs doublets with $S_3$ symmetry and without explicit CP violation. Different vacua require special regions of the parameter space which were analysed in our work. We establish the possibility of spontaneous CP violation in this framework and we also show which complex vacua conserve CP. In our work we discussed constraints from vacuum stability. The results presented here are relevant for model building.

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arXiv2016

Vector-like Quarks at the Origin of Light Quark Masses and Mixing

We show how a novel fine-tuning problem present in the Standard Model can be solved through the introduction of a single flavour symmetry G, together with three $Q = - 1/3$ quarks, three $Q = 2/3$ quarks, as well as a complex singlet scalar. The symmetry G is extended to the additional fields and it is an exact symmetry of the Lagrangian, only spontaneously broken by the vacuum. Specific examples are given and a phenomenological analysis of the main features of the model is presented. It is shown that even for vector-like quarks with masses accessible at the LHC, one can have realistic quark masses and mixing, while respecting the strict constraints on process arising from flavour changing neutral currents (FCNC). The vector-like quark decay channels are also described.

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arXiv2016

Spontaneous symmetry breaking in the $S_3$-symmetric scalar sector

We present a detailed study of the vacua of the $S_3$-symmetric three-Higgs-doublet potential, specifying the region of parameters where these minimisation solutions occur. We work with a CP conserving scalar potential and analyse the possible real and complex vacua with emphasis on the cases in which the CP symmetry can be spontaneously broken. Results are presented both in the reducible-representation framework of Derman, and in the irreducible-representation framework. Mappings between these are given. Some of these implementations can in principle accommodate dark matter and for that purpose it is important to identify the residual symmetries of the potential after spontaneous symmetry breakdown. We are also concerned with constraints from vacuum stability.

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arXiv2016

CP Violation in the scalar sector

Models with an extended scalar sector may in principle provide new sources of CP violation originating in the scalar potential. One of the simplest ways to implement this idea is to have CP violation in a two-Higgs-doublet model. Here, it leads to CP violation in trilinear weak gauge boson couplings. We discuss how these couplings are becoming constrained in the alignment limit. In a model with three Higgs doublets, subject to an $S_3$ symmetry, several complex vacua are possible. Some of these, but not all, may lead to spontaneous CP violation.

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arXiv2016

On quasidegeneracy of Majorana neutrinos and the observed pattern of Leptonic mixing

We relate the observed pattern of leptonic mixing to the quaidegeneracy of three Majorana neutrinos. We show how lifting the degeneracy may lead to the measured value of $|U_{13}|$ and to sizeable CP violation of Dirac-type. We show some of the correlations obtained among physical observables, starting from some of the most interesting schemes proposed in the literature.

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arXiv2016

Flavour Changing Higgs Couplings in a Class of Two Higgs Doublet Models

We analyse various flavour changing processes like $t\to hu,hc$, $h\to τe,τμ$ as well as hadronic decays $h\to bs,bd$, in the framework of a class of two Higgs doublet models where there are flavour changing neutral scalar currents at tree level. These models have the remarkable feature of having these flavour-violating couplings entirely determined by the CKM and PMNS matrices as well as $\tanβ$. The flavour structure of these scalar currents results from a symmetry of the Lagrangian and therefore it is natural and stable under the renormalization group. We show that in some of the models the rates of the above flavour changing processes can reach the discovery level at the LHC at 13 TeV even taking into account the stringent bounds on low energy processes, in particular $μ\to eγ$.

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arXiv2016

What if the Masses of the First Two Quark Families are not Generated by the Standard Higgs?

We point out that, in the context of the SM, $|V^2_{13}| + | V^2_{23}|$ is expected to be large, of order one. The fact that $|V^2_{13}| + |V^2_{23}| \approx 1.6 \times 10^{-3}$ motivates the introduction of a symmetry S which leads to $V_{CKM} ={1\>\!\!\!\mathrm{I}} $, with only the third generation of quarks acquiring mass. We consider two scenarios for generating the mass of the first two quark generations and full quark mixing. One consists of the introduction of a second Higgs doublet which is neutral under S. The second scenario consists of assuming New Physics at a high energy scale , contributing to the masses of light quark generations, in an effective field theory approach. This last scenario leads to couplings of the Higgs particle to $s\overline s$ and $c \overline c$ which are significantly enhanced with respect to those of the SM. In both schemes, one has scalar-mediated flavour- changing neutral currents which are naturally suppressed. Flavour violating top decays are predicted in the second scenario at the level $ \mbox{Br} (t \rightarrow h c ) \geq 5\times 10^{-5}$.

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arXiv2015

Implication of Higgs mediated Flavour Changing Neutral Currents with Minimal Flavour Violation

We analise phenomenological implications of two Higgs doublet models with Higgs flavour changing neutral currents suppressed in the quark sector by small entries of the Cabibbo-Kokayashi-Maskawa matrix. This suppression occurs in a natural way since it is the result of a symmetry applied to the Lagrangian. These type of models were proposed some time ago by Branco Grimus and Lavoura. Our results clearly show that these class of models allow for new physical scalars, with masses which are reachable at the LHC. The imposed symmetry severely reduces the number of free parameters and allows for predictions. Therefore these models can eventually be proved right or eliminated experimentally.

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arXiv2015

Quasidegeneracy of Majorana Neutrinos and the Origin of Large Leptonic Mixing

We propose that the observed large leptonic mixing may just reflect a quasidegeneracy of three Majorana neutrinos. The limit of exact degeneracy of Majorana neutrinos is not trivial, as leptonic mixing and even CP violation may occur. We conjecture that the smallness of $|U_{13}|$, when compared to the other elements of $U_{PMNS}$, may just reflect the fact that, in the limit of exact mass degeneracy, the leptonic mixing matrix necessarily has a vanishing element. We show that the lifting of the mass degeneracy can lead to the measured value of $|U_{13}|$ while at the same time accommodating the observed solar and atmospheric mixing angles. In the scenario we consider for the breaking of the mass degeneracy there is only one CP violating phase, already present in the limit of exact degeneracy, which upon the lifting of the degeneracy generates both Majorana and Dirac-type CP violation in the leptonic sector. We analyse some of the correlations among physical observables and point out that in most of the cases considered, the implied strength of leptonic Dirac-type CP violation is large enough to be detected in the next round of experiments.

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