arXiv subjects

Michele Frigerio

Publications and source records attributed to Michele Frigerio.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Monojet searches for momentum-dependent dark matter interactions

We consider minimal dark matter scenarios featuring momentum-dependent couplings of the dark sector to the Standard Model. We derive constraints from existing LHC searches in the monojet channel, estimate the future LHC sensitivity for an integrated luminosity of 300 fb$^{-1}$, and compare with models exhibiting conventional momentum-independent interactions with the dark sector. In addition to being well motivated by (composite) pseudo-Goldstone dark matter scenarios, momentum-dependent couplings are interesting as they weaken direct detection constraints. For a specific dark matter mass, the LHC turns out to be sensitive to smaller signal cross-sections in the momentum-dependent case, by virtue of the harder jet transverse-momentum distribution.

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arXiv2015

Fermionic extensions of the Standard Model in light of the Higgs couplings

As the Higgs boson properties settle, the constraints on the Standard Model extensions tighten. We consider all possible new fermions that can couple to the Higgs, inspecting sets of up to four chiral multiplets. We confront them with direct collider searches, electroweak precision tests, and current knowledge of the Higgs couplings. The focus is on scenarios that may depart from the decoupling limit of very large masses and vanishing mixing, as they offer the best prospects for detection. We identify exotic chiral families that may receive a mass from the Higgs only, still in agreement with the $hγγ$ signal strength. A mixing $θ$ between the Standard Model and non-chiral fermions induces order $θ^2$ deviations in the Higgs couplings. The mixing can be as large as $θ\sim 0.5$ in case of custodial protection of the $Z$ couplings or accidental cancellation in the oblique parameters. We also notice some intriguing effects for much smaller values of $θ$, especially in the lepton sector. Our survey includes a number of unconventional pairs of vector-like and Majorana fermions coupled through the Higgs, that may induce order one corrections to the Higgs radiative couplings. We single out the regions of parameters where $hγγ$ and $hgg$ are unaffected, while the $hγZ$ signal strength is significantly modified, turning a few times larger than in the Standard Model in two cases. The second run of the LHC will effectively test most of these scenarios.

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arXiv2014

Sterile Neutrino Dark Matter and Low Scale Leptogenesis from a Charged Scalar

We show that novel paths to dark matter generation and baryogenesis are open when the Standard Model is extended with three sterile neutrinos $N_i$ and a charged scalar $δ^+$. Specifically, we propose a new production mechanism for the dark matter particle --a multi-keV sterile neutrino, $N_1$-- that does not depend on the active-sterile mixing angle and does not rely on a large primordial lepton asymmetry. Instead, $N_1$ is produced, via freeze-in, by the decays of $δ^+$ while it is in equilibrium in the early Universe. In addition, we demonstrate that, thanks to the couplings between the heavier sterile neutrinos $N_{2,3}$ and $δ^+$, baryogenesis via leptogenesis can be realized close to the electroweak scale. The lepton asymmetry is generated either by $N_{2,3}$-decays for masses $M_{2,3}\gtrsim$ TeV, or by $N_{2,3}$-oscillations for $M_{2,3}\sim$ GeV. Experimental signatures of this scenario include an X-ray line from dark matter decays, and the direct production of $δ^+$ at the LHC. This model thus describes a minimal, testable scenario for neutrino masses, the baryon asymmetry, and dark matter.

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arXiv2013

Minimal lepton flavour structures lead to non-maximal 2-3 mixing

Present data prefer a large but non-maximal 2-3 mixing in the lepton sector. We argue that this value, in connection with $\sinθ_{13}\simeq 0.15$, is the generic outcome of minimal flavour structures. We present a few different incarnations of this statement, in terms of lepton mass matrices depending on a small number of parameters, that can be justified by discrete flavour symmetries. We also propose a general procedure to study the correlation between $θ_{23}$, the absolute scale and ordering of the neutrino masses, and the leptonic CP-violating phases.

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arXiv2012

Composite Scalar Dark Matter

We show that the dark matter (DM) could be a light composite scalar $η$, emerging from a TeV-scale strongly-coupled sector as a pseudo Nambu-Goldstone boson (pNGB). Such state arises naturally in scenarios where the Higgs is also a composite pNGB, as in $O(6)/O(5)$ models, which are particularly predictive, since the low-energy interactions of $η$ are determined by symmetry considerations. We identify the region of parameters where $η$ has the required DM relic density, satisfying at the same time the constraints from Higgs searches at the LHC, as well as DM direct searches. Compositeness, in addition to justify the lightness of the scalars, can enhance the DM scattering rates and lead to an excellent discovery prospect for the near future. For a Higgs mass $m_h\simeq 125$ GeV and a pNGB characteristic scale $f \lesssim 1$ TeV, we find that the DM mass is either $m_η\simeq 50-70$ GeV, with DM annihilations driven by the Higgs resonance, or in the range 100-500 GeV, where the DM derivative interaction with the Higgs becomes dominant. In the former case the invisible Higgs decay to two DM particles could weaken the LHC Higgs signal.

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arXiv2011

Sub-GeV dark matter as pseudo-Goldstone from the seesaw scale

Pseudo Nambu-Goldstone bosons (pNGBs) are naturally light spin-zero particles, which can be interesting dark matter (DM) candidates. We study the phenomenology of a pNGB theta associated with an approximate symmetry of the neutrino seesaw sector. A small coupling of theta to the Higgs boson is induced radiatively by the neutrino Yukawa couplings. By virtue of this Higgs portal interaction (i) the pNGB acquires a mass m_theta proportional to the electroweak scale, and (ii) the observed DM relic density can be generated by the freeze-in of theta-particles with mass m_theta ~ 3 MeV. Alternatively, the coupling of theta to heavy sterile neutrinos can account for the DM relic density, in the 1 keV-3 MeV window. The decays of theta into light fermions are suppressed by the seesaw scale, making such pNGB sufficiently stable to play the role of DM.

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arXiv2011

Composite GUTs: models and expectations at the LHC

We investigate grand unified theories (GUTs) in scenarios where electroweak (EW) symmetry breaking is triggered by a light composite Higgs, arising as a Nambu-Goldstone boson from a strongly interacting sector. The evolution of the standard model (SM) gauge couplings can be predicted at leading order, if the global symmetry of the composite sector is a simple group G that contains the SM gauge group. It was noticed that, if the right-handed top quark is also composite, precision gauge unification can be achieved. We build minimal consistent models for a composite sector with these properties, thus demonstrating how composite GUTs may represent an alternative to supersymmetric GUTs. Taking into account the new contributions to the EW precision parameters, we compute the Higgs effective potential and prove that it realizes consistently EW symmetry breaking with little fine-tuning. The G group structure and the requirement of proton stability determine the nature of the light composite states accompanying the Higgs and the top quark: a coloured triplet scalar and several vector-like fermions with exotic quantum numbers. We analyse the signatures of these composite partners at hadron colliders: distinctive final states contain multiple top and bottom quarks, either alone or accompanied by a heavy stable charged particle, or by missing transverse energy.

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arXiv2010

Dark matter stability and unification without supersymmetry

In the absence of low energy supersymmetry, we show that (a) the dark matter particle alone at the TeV scale can improve gauge coupling unification, raising the unification scale up to the lower bound imposed by proton decay, and (b) the dark matter stability can automatically follow from the grand unification symmetry. Within reasonably simple unified models, a unique candidate satisfying these two properties is singled out: a fermion isotriplet with zero hypercharge, member of a 45 (or larger) representation of SO(10). We discuss the phenomenological signatures of this TeV scale fermion, which can be tested in direct and indirect future dark matter searches. The proton decay rate into e^+ π^0 is predicted close to the present bound.

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arXiv2009

Flavour violation in supersymmetric SO(10) unification with a type II seesaw mechanism

We study flavour violation in a supersymmetric SO(10) implementation of the type II seesaw mechanism, which provides a predictive realization of triplet leptogenesis. The experimental upper bounds on lepton flavour violating processes have a significant impact on the leptogenesis dynamics, in particular they exclude the strong washout regime. Requiring successful leptogenesis then constrains the otherwise largely unknown overall size of flavour-violating observables, thus yielding testable predictions. In particular, the branching ratio for mu -> e gamma lies within the reach of the MEG experiment if the superpartner spectrum is accessible at the LHC, and the supersymmetric contribution to epsilon_K can account for a significant part of the experimental value. We show that this scenario can be realized in a consistent SO(10) model achieving gauge symmetry breaking and doublet-triplet splitting in agreement with the proton decay bounds, improving on the MSSM prediction for alpha_3(m_Z), and reproducing the measured quark and lepton masses.

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arXiv2008

Fermion masses and mixing in models with SO(10) x A_4 symmetry

We study the flavour sector in models where the three families of matter are unified in a $(16,3)$ representation of the $SO(10)\times A_4$ group. The necessary ingredients to realize tri-bi-maximal mixing in the lepton sector are identified systematically. The non-renormalizable operators contributing to the fermion mass matrices play an important role. We also present a mechanism to explain the inter-family mass hierarchy of quarks and charged leptons, which relies on a `universal seesaw' mechanism and is compatible with tri-bi-maximal mixing.

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arXiv2008

A new, direct link between the baryon asymmetry and neutrino masses

We point out that, in a class of SO(10) models with matter fields in 16 and 10 representations and type II realization of the seesaw mechanism, the light neutrino masses and the CP asymmetry needed for leptogenesis are controlled by one and the same set of couplings. The generated baryon asymmetry then directly depends on the low-energy neutrino parameters, with no unknown seesaw-scale flavour parameters involved; in particular, the necessary CP violation is provided by the CP-violating phases of the lepton mixing matrix. We compute the CP asymmetry in triplet decays for this scenario and show that it can lead to successful leptogenesis.

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arXiv2007

Common origin of θ_{13} and Δm^2_{12} in a model of neutrino mass with quaternion symmetry

The smallness of the 1-3 lepton mixing angle $θ_{13}$ and of the neutrino mass-squared-difference ratio $Δm^2_{12}/Δm^2_{23}$ can be understood as the departure from a common limit where they both vanish. We discuss in general the conditions for realizing the mass degeneracy of a pair of neutrinos and show that the vanishing of a CP violating phase is needed. We find that the discrete quaternion group Q of eight elements is the simplest family symmetry which correlates the smallness of $Δm^2_{12}$ to the value of $θ_{13}$. In such a model we predict $0.12\lesssim \sinθ_{13} \lesssim 0.2$ if the ordering of the neutrino mass spectrum is normal, and $\sinθ_{13}\lesssim 0.12$ if it is inverted.

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arXiv2007

Low scale leptogenesis with an SU(2)_L singlet scalar

We consider thermal leptogenesis as the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe. Some phenomenologically unpleasant features of the usual leptogenesis scenario are reviewed. We propose a minimal alternative, which makes use of a charged scalar $δ^+$, singlet under $SU(2)_L$. Such particle is contained in natural extensions of the Standard Model. The lepton asymmetry is generated by the decays of a right-handed neutrino into $δ^+$ and a right-handed charged lepton and it turns out to be sufficiently large for scales as low as $\sim$ TeV. The phenomenological signatures at colliders are discussed.

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arXiv2007

Interplay of type I and type II seesaw contributions to neutrino mass

Type I and type II seesaw contributions to the mass matrix of light neutrinos are inherently related if left-right symmetry is realized at high energy scales. We investigate implications of such a relation for the interpretation of neutrino data. We proved recently that the left-right symmetric seesaw equation has eight solutions, related by a duality property, for the mass matrix of right-handed neutrinos $M_R$. In this paper the eight allowed structures of $M_R$ are reconstructed analytically and analyzed numerically in a bottom-up approach. We study the dependence of right-handed neutrino masses on the mass spectrum of light neutrinos, mixing angle $θ_{13}$, leptonic CP violation, scale of left-right symmetry breaking and on the hierarchy in neutrino Yukawa couplings. The structure of the seesaw formula in several specific SO(10) models is explored in the light of the duality. The outcome of leptogenesis may depend crucially on the choice among the allowed structures of $M_R$ and on the level crossing between right-handed neutrino masses.

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arXiv2006

Right-Handed Sector Leptogenesis

Instead of creating the observed baryon asymmetry of the universe by the decay of right-handed (RH) neutrinos to left-handed leptons, we propose to generate it dominantly by the decay of the RH neutrinos to RH leptons. This mechanism turns out to be successful in large regions of parameter space. It may work, in particular, at a scale as low as $\sim$~TeV, with no need to invoke quasi-degenerate RH neutrino masses to resonantly enhance the asymmetry. Such a possibility can be probed experimentally by the observation at colliders of a singlet charged Higgs particle and of RH neutrinos. Other mechanisms which may lead to successful leptogenesis from the RH lepton sector interactions are also briefly presented. The incorporation of these scenarios in left-right symmetric and unified models is discussed.

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arXiv2005

Hybrid Seesaw Neutrino Masses with A_4 Family Symmetry

We consider the scenario in which neutrino data are explained by the interplay of type I and II seesaw terms in the Majorana neutrino mass matrix ${\cal M}_ν= {\cal M}_L - {\cal M}_D {\cal M}_R^{-1} {\cal M}_D^T$. We construct a predictive model with ${\cal M}_L$ proportional to the unit matrix, 3 diagonal texture zeros in ${\cal M}_R$, and ${\cal M}_D$ diagonal. We show how this pattern can be maintained by the non-Abelian discrete symmetry $A_4$, and discuss its phenomenological consequences. It turns out that the two types of seesaw give contributions of the same order to ${\cal M}_ν$. In the CP conserving case, we find $\sinθ_{13}\approx 2/(\tan 2θ_{23} \tan 2θ_{12})$ and we predict inverted (normal) ordering of the mass spectrum for $\tan^2θ_{12} < 0.5 ~(>0.5)$.

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arXiv2005

A New Family Symmetry: Discrete Quaternion Group

We examine the structure of the quaternion group $Q_8$ and its possible application to the physics of flavor. We find that a $Q_8$ family symmetry is suitable to explain the difference between quark and lepton mixing patterns. Distinctive phenomenological predictions are derived for the neutrino sector and the electroweak Higgs sector. We also show how the $Q_8$ symmetry suppresses the effective operators which mediate proton decay.

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arXiv2005

Smallness of Leptonic $θ_{13}$ and Discrete Symmetry

The leptonic mixing angle $θ_{13}$ is known to be small. If it is indeed tiny, the simplest explanation is that charged leptons mix only in the $μ-τ$ sector and neutrinos only in the 1-2 sector. We show that this pattern may be explained by the discrete symmetry $Z_2 \times Z_2$ of a complete Lagrangian, which has 2 Higgs doublets and 2 Higgs triplets (or 2 heavy right-handed singlet neutrinos). In the case of Higgs triplets, the Majorana neutrino masses are arbitrary, whereas in the case of heavy singlet neutrinos, an inverted hierarchy is predicted. Lepton-Flavor-Violation effects, present only in the $μ-τ$ sector, are analyzed in detail: the LFV $τ$-decay rates are predicted below the present bounds by a few orders of magnitude, whereas LFV Higgs decays could allow for a direct test of the model.

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