arXiv subjects

Mark B. Wise

Publications and source records attributed to Mark B. Wise.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

Low Energy Supersymmetry with Baryon and Lepton Number Gauged

We investigate the spontaneous breaking of the Baryon (B) and Lepton (L) number at the TeV scale in supersymmetric models. A simple extension of the minimal supersymmetric standard model where B and L are spontaneously broken local gauge symmetries is proposed. The B and L symmetry breaking scales are defined by the supersymmetry breaking scale. By gauging B and L we understand the absence of the baryon and lepton number violating interactions of dimension four and five in the MSSM. Furthermore we show that even though these symmetries are spontaneously broken there are no dangerous operators mediating proton decay. We discuss the main properties of the spectrum, the possible baryon number violating decays and the implications for the dark matter candidates. In this model one can have lepton number violating signals from the decays of the right-handed neutrinos and baryon number violating signals from the decays of squarks and gauginos without conflict with the bounds coming from proton decay, n-nbar oscillations and dinucleon decays.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2011

Standard model with compactified spatial dimensions

We analyze the structure of the standard model coupled to gravity with spatial dimensions compactified on a three-torus. We find that there are no stable one-dimensional vacua at zero temperature, although there does exist an unstable vacuum for a particular set of Dirac neutrino masses.

hep-th↗

arXiv2011

Fourth Generation Bound States

We investigate the spectrum and wave functions of {\bar q}'q' bound states for heavy fourth generation quarks (q') that have a very small mixing with the three observed generations of standard model quarks. Such bound states come with different color, spin and flavor quantum numbers. Since the fourth generation Yukawa coupling, λ_{q'}, is large we include all perturbative corrections to the potential between the heavy quark and antiquark of order λ_{q'}^2N_c/16π^2 where N_c is the number of colors, as well as relativistic corrections suppressed by (v/c)^2. We find that the lightest fourth generation quark masses for which a bound state exists for color octet states. For the the color singlet states, which always have a bound state, we analyze the influence that the Higgs couplings have on the size and binding energy of the bound states.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2011

Standard Model Vacua for Two-dimensional Compactifications

We examine the structure of lower-dimensional standard model vacua for two-dimensional compactifications (on a 2D torus and on a 2D sphere). In the case of the torus we find a new standard model vacuum for a large range of neutrino masses consistent with experiment. Quantum effects play a crucial role in the existence of this vacuum. For the compactification on a sphere the classical terms dominate the effective potential for large radii and a stable vacuum is achieved only by introducing a large magnetic flux. We argue that there are no two-dimensional standard model vacua for compactifications on a surface of genus greater than one.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

On theories of enhanced CP violation in B_s,d meson mixing

The DO collaboration has measured a deviation from the standard model (SM) prediction in the like sign dimuon asymmetry in semileptonic b decay with a significance of 3.2 sigma. We discuss how minimal flavour violating (MFV) models with multiple scalar representations can lead to this deviation through tree level exchanges of new MFV scalars. We review how the two scalar doublet model can accommodate this result and discuss some of its phenomenology. Limits on electric dipole moments suggest that in this model the coupling of the charged scalar to the right handed u-type quarks is suppressed while its coupling to the d-type right handed quarks must be enhanced. We construct an extension of the MFV two scalar doublet model where this occurs naturally.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2010

Dark Matter, Baryon Asymmetry, and Spontaneous B and L Breaking

We investigate the dark matter and the cosmological baryon asymmetry in a simple theory where baryon (B) and lepton (L) number are local gauge symmetries that are spontaneously broken. In this model, the cold dark matter candidate is the lightest new field with baryon number and its stability is an automatic consequence of the gauge symmetry. Dark matter annihilation is either through a leptophobic gauge boson whose mass must be below a TeV or through the Higgs boson. Since the mass of the leptophobic gauge boson has to be below the TeV scale one finds that in the first scenario there is a lower bound on the elastic cross section of about 5x10^{-46} cm^2. Even though baryon number is gauged and not spontaneously broken until the weak scale, a cosmologically acceptable baryon excess is possible. There is tension between achieving both the measured baryon excess and the dark matter density.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2010

Baryon and Lepton Number as Local Gauge Symmetries

We investigate a simple theory where Baryon number (B) and Lepton number (L) are local gauge symmetries. In this theory B and L are on the same footing and the anomalies are cancelled by adding a single new fermionic generation. There is an interesting realization of the seesaw mechanism for neutrino masses. Furthermore, there is a natural suppression of flavour violation in the quark and leptonic sectors since the gauge symmetries and particle content forbid tree level flavor changing neutral currents involving the quarks or charged leptons. Also one finds that the stability of a dark matter candidate is an automatic consequence of the gauge symmetry. Some constraints and signals at the Large Hadron Collider are briefly discussed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2010

Trispectrum versus Bispectrum in Single-Field Inflation

In the standard slow-roll inflationary cosmology, quantum fluctuations in a single field, the inflaton, generate approximately Gaussian primordial density perturbations. At present, the bispectrum and trispectrum of the density perturbations have not been observed and the probability distribution for these perturbations is consistent with Gaussianity. However, Planck satellite data will bring a new level of precision to bear on this issue, and it is possible that evidence for non-Gaussian effects in the primordial distribution will be discovered. One possibility is that a trispectrum will be observed without evidence for a non-zero bispectrum. It is not difficult for this to occur in inflationary models where quantum fluctuations in a field other than the inflaton contribute to the density perturbations. A natural question to ask is whether such an observation would rule out the standard scenarios. We explore this issue and find that it is possible to construct single-field models in which inflaton-generated primordial density perturbations have an observable trispectrum, but a bispectrum that is too small to be observed by the Planck satellite. However, an awkward fine tuning seems to be unavoidable.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2010

Translational Invariance and the Anisotropy of the Cosmic Microwave Background

Primordial quantum fluctuations produced by inflation are conventionally assumed to be statistically homogeneous, a consequence of translational invariance. In this paper we quantify the potentially observable effects of a small violation of translational invariance during inflation, as characterized by the presence of a preferred point, line, or plane. We explore the imprint such a violation would leave on the cosmic microwave background anisotropy, and provide explicit formulas for the expected amplitudes $ $ of the spherical-harmonic coefficients.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2009

Scalar Representations and Minimal Flavor Violation

We discuss the representations that new scalar degrees of freedom (beyond those in the minimal standard model) can have if they couple to quarks in a way that is consistent with minimal flavor violation. If the new scalars are singlets under the flavor group then they must be color singlets or color octets. In this paper we discuss the allowed representations and renormalizable couplings when the new scalars also transform under the flavor group. We find that color \bar{3} and 6 representations are also allowed. We focus on the cases where the new scalars can have renormalizable Yukawa couplings to the quarks without factors of the quark Yukawa matrices. The renormalizable couplings in the models we introduce automatically conserve baryon number.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2009

Inflaton Two-Point Correlation in the Presence of a Cosmic String

Precise measurements of the microwave background anisotropy have confirmed the inflationary picture of approximately scale invariant, Gaussian primordial adiabatic density perturbations. However, there are some anomalies that suggest a small violation of rotational and/or translational invariance in the mechanism that generates the primordial density fluctuations. Motivated by this we study the two point correlation of a massless scalar (the inflaton) when the stress tensor contains the energy density from an infinitely long straight cosmic string in addition to a cosmological constant.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

The Lee Wick Standard Model

This article reviews some recent work on a version of the standard model (the Lee-Wick standard model) that contains higher derivative kinetic terms that improve the convergence of loop diagrams removing the quadratic divergence in the Higgs boson mass. Naively higher derivative theories of this type are not acceptable since the higher derivative terms either cause instabilities (from negative energies) or a loss of unitarity (from negative norm states). Lee and Wick provided an interpretation for such theories arguing that theories with higher derivative kinetic terms can be unitary and stable if the states associated with the massive propagator poles, that arise from the higher derivatives, have widths and hence decay and are not in the spectrum of the theory.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2009

Imprints of a Primordial Preferred Direction on the Microwave Background

Rotational invariance is a well-established feature of low-energy physics. Violations of this symmetry must be extremely small today, but could have been larger in earlier epochs. In this paper we examine the consequences of a small breaking of rotational invariance during the inflationary era when the primordial density fluctuations were generated. Assuming that a fixed-norm vector picked out a preferred direction during the inflationary era, we explore the imprint it would leave on the cosmic microwave background anisotropy, and provide explicit formulas for the expected amplitudes $ $ of the spherical-harmonic coefficients. We suggest that it is natural to expect that the imprint on the primordial power spectrum of a preferred spatial direction is approximately scale-invariant, and examine a simple model in which this is true.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2009

On the Origin of Neutrino Masses

We discuss the simplest mechanisms for generating neutrino masses at tree level and one loop level. We find a significant number of new possibilities where one can generate neutrino masses at the one-loop level by adding only two new types of representations. These models have renormalizable interactions that automatically conserve baryon number. Adding to the minimal standard model a scalar color octet with SU(3) X SU(2) X U(1) quantum numbers, (8,2,1/2), and a fermionic color octet in the fundamental or adjoint representation of SU(2) one can generate neutrino masses in agreement with the experiment. Signals at the LHC, and constraints from flavour violation are briefly discussed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2009

Lee-Wick Theories at High Temperature

An extension of the standard model, the Lee-Wick standard model, based on ideas of Lee and Wick was recently introduced. It does not contain quadratic divergences in the Higgs mass and hence solves the hierarchy puzzle. The Lee-Wick standard model contains new heavy Lee-Wick resonances at the TeV scale that decay to ordinary particles. In this paper we examine the behavior of Lee-Wick resonances at high temperature. We argue that they contribute negatively to the energy density rho and pressure p and at temperatures much greater than their mass M their O(T^4) contributions to rho and p cancel against those of the ordinary (light) particles. The remaining O(M^2*T^2) contributions are positive and result in an equation of state that approaches w=1 from below as T goes to infinity.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

Exotic Implications of Electron and Photon Final States

New resonances with masses of order a few ${\rm TeV}$ might be discovered at the LHC. We show that no resonance that couples to electrons only through Standard Model interactions can decay to both $e^+e^-$and $γγ$ with significant branching ratios. This means that finding both electron-positron and two-photon final states is evidence that electrons couple directly to the new physics associated with the resonance and furthermore that the resonance is not spin-1. The least fine-tuned such examples involve electron compositeness. One such example, Kaluza Klein excitations of the graviton in the version of the Randall Sundrum Model where Standard Model matter is located on the ${\rm TeV}$ brane, can be distinguished from other possibilities by its predicted branching fractions into the two modes.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Correlated Random Walks and the Joint Survival Probability

First passage models, where corporate assets undergo correlated random walks and a company defaults if its assets fall below a threshold provide an attractive framework for modeling the default process. Typical one year default correlations are small, i.e., of order a few percent, but nonetheless including correlations is very important, for managing portfolio credit risk and pricing some credit derivatives (e.g. first to default baskets). In first passage models the exact dependence of the joint survival probability of more than two firms on their asset correlations is not known. We derive an expression for the dependence of the joint survival probability of $n$ firms on their asset correlations using first order perturbation theory in the correlations. It includes all terms that are linear in the correlations but neglects effects of quadratic and higher order. For constant time independent correlations we compare the first passage model expression for the joint survival probability with what a multivariate normal Copula function gives. As a practical application of our results we calculate the dependence of the five year joint survival probability for five basic industrials on their asset correlations.

q-fin.ST↗

arXiv2008

Classical stability of a homogeneous, anisotropic inflating space-time

We study the classical stability of an anisotropic space-time seeded by a spacelike, fixed norm, dynamical vector field in a vacuum-energy-dominated inflationary era. It serves as a model for breaking isotropy during the inflationary era. We find that, for a range of parameters, the linear differential equations for small perturbations about the background do not have a growing mode. We also examine the energy of fluctuations about this background in flat-space. If the kinetic terms for the vector field do not take the form of a field strength tensor squared then there is a negative energy mode and the background is unstable. For the case where the kinetic term is of the form of a field strength tensor squared we show that perturbations about the background have positive energy at lowest order.

astro-ph↗