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Michele Papucci

Publications and source records attributed to Michele Papucci.

66 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
arXiv2006

Next to Minimal Flavor Violation

The flavor structure of a wide class of models, denoted as next to minimal flavor violation (NMFV), is considered. In the NMFV framework, new physics (NP), which is required for stabilization of the electroweak symmetry breaking (EWSB) scale, naturally couples (dominantly) to the third generation quarks and is quasi-aligned with the Yukawa matrices. Consequently, new sources of flavor and CP violation are present in the theory, mediated by a low scale of few TeV. However, in spite of the low flavor scale, the most severe bounds on the scale of NP are evaded since these are related to flavor violation in the first two generations. Instead, one typically finds that the NP contributions are comparable in size to SM loop processes. We argue that, in spite of the successful SM unitary triangle fit and contrary to the common lore, such a sizable contribution to Delta F=2 processes of ~ 40% (with arbitrary phase) compared to SM is presently allowed since B-factories are only beginning to constrain these models. Thus, it is very interesting that in the NMFV models one is not forced to separate the scale of NP related to EWSB and the scale of flavor violation. We show briefly that this simple setup includes a wide class of supersymmetric and non-supersymmetric models all of which solve the hierarchy problem. We further discuss tests related to Delta F=1 processes, in particular the ones related to b -> s transition. The b -> s processes are computed using two different hadronic models to estimate the uncertainties involved. In addition, we derive constraints on the NP from B -> Kpi data using only SU(3) flavor symmetry and minimal dynamical assumptions. Finally we argue that in many cases correlating Delta F=2 and Delta F=1 processes is a powerful tool to probe our framework.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2006

The gravitational phase shift in a matter-wave interferometer (MIGO)

The original computation did not take into account the initial phase shift. A corrected computation, included as section II in the revised version of gr-qc/0407039, still gives a term proportional to the derivative of the signal, qualitatively confirming the original result.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2006

Sensitivity of a small matter-wave interferometer to gravitational waves

We study the possibility of using matter wave interferometry techniques to build a gravitational wave detector. We derive the response function and find that it contains a term proportional to the derivative of the gravitational wave, a point which has been disputed recently. We then study in detail the sensitivity that can be reached by such a detector and find that, if it is operated near resonance, it can reach potentially interesting values in the high frequency regime. The correlation between two or more of such devices can further improve the sensitivity for a stochastic signal.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2005

Natural Little Hierarchy from a Partially Goldstone Twin Higgs

We construct a simple theory in which the fine-tuning of the standard model is significantly reduced. Radiative corrections to the quadratic part of the scalar potential are constrained to be symmetric under a global U(4) x U(4)' symmetry due to a discrete Z_2 "twin" parity, while the quartic part does not possess this symmetry. As a consequence, when the global symmetry is broken the Higgs fields emerge as light pseudo-Goldstone bosons, but with sizable quartic self-interactions. This structure allows the cutoff scale, Λ, to be raised to the multi-TeV region without significant fine-tuning. In the minimal version of the theory, the amount of fine-tuning is about 15% for Λ= 5 TeV, while it is about 30% in an extended model. This provides a solution to the little hierarchy problem. In the minimal model, the "visible" particle content is exactly that of the two Higgs doublet standard model, while the extended model also contains extra vector-like fermions with masses ~(1-2)TeV. At the LHC, our minimal model may appear exactly as the two Higgs doublet standard model, and new physics responsible for cutting off the divergences of the Higgs mass-squared parameter may not be discovered. Several possible processes that may be used to discriminate our model from the simple two Higgs doublet model are discussed for the LHC and for a linear collider.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2005

Ghosts in Massive Gravity

In the context of Lorentz-invariant massive gravity we show that classical solutions around heavy sources are plagued by ghost instabilities. The ghost shows up in the effective field theory at huge distances from the source, much bigger than the Vainshtein radius. Its presence is independent of the choice of the non-linear terms added to the Fierz-Pauli Lagrangian. At the Vainshtein radius the mass of the ghost is of order of the inverse radius, so that the theory cannot be trusted inside this region, not even at the classical level.

hep-th↗
arXiv2005

Infrared Lorentz Violation and Slowly Instantaneous Electricity

We study a modification of electromagnetism which violates Lorentz invariance at large distances. In this theory, electromagnetic waves are massive, but the static force between charged particles is Coulomb not Yukawa. At very short distances the theory looks just like QED. But for distances larger than 1/m the massive dispersion relation of the waves can be appreciated, and the Coulomb force can be used to communicate faster than the speed of light. In fact, electrical signals are transmitted instantly, but take a time ~ 1/m to build up to full strength. After that, undamped oscillations of the electric field are set in and continue until they are dispersed by the arrival of the Lorentz-obeying part of the transmission. We study experimental constraints on such a theory and find that the Compton wavelength of the photon may be as small as 6000 km. This bound is weaker than for a Lorentz-invariant mass, essentially because in our case the Coulomb constraint is removed.

hep-th↗
arXiv2004

NDA and perturbativity in Higgsless models

We analyze unitarity violation in 5D Higgsless theories using tree level unitarity bounds on gauge vector bosons scatterings. Both elastic and inelastic amplitudes are analytically computed and used to estimate the perturbativity cutoff. The results are compared with 5D NDA estimates. The inelastic channels are essential for a correct determination of the cutoff when light KK states are present. In flat space Higgsless models the cutoff is always quite low, and can be raised at 5 TeV only if one has the first KK state at around 500 GeV, which is disfavored by Electroweak data.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2004

Constraints on neutrino masses from leptogenesis models

Upper bounds on the CP asymmetry relevant for leptogenesis are reexamined and found weaker than in previous literature, both for hierarchical and for quasi-degenerate right-handed neutrinos. Successful leptogenesis implies the usual lower bound on right-handed neutrino masses, and an upper bound on left-handed neutrino masses (which we obtain to be 0.15eV at 3sigma) only if right-handed neutrinos are assumed to be much more hierarchical than left-handed neutrinos. Otherwise both bounds can be considerably relaxed. The constraint on light neutrino masses varies assuming different interpretations of why neutrinos should be quasi-degenerate. With conservative assumptions, we find that a mild quasi-degeneracy allows neutrinos heavier than an eV compatibly with leptogenesis. We also extend computations of thermal leptogenesis to an alternative model of neutrino mass mediated by fermion triplets which was never considered so far for leptogenesis. Leptogenesis can be successful despite the effect of gauge interactions, resulting in only slightly stronger constraints on neutrino masses.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2003

Radiative Electroweak Symmetry Breaking from a Quasi-Localized Top Quark

We consider 5D supersymmetric SU(3) x SU(2) x U(1) theories compactified at the TeV scale on S^1/Z_2 with supersymmetry broken by boundary conditions. Localizing the top quark at a boundary of a fifth dimension by a bulk mass term M_t, reduces the strength of radiative electroweak symmetry breaking. For M_t R approximately 1--2, the natural value for the top and bottom squark masses are raised to 500--1200 GeV, and all other superpartners may have masses of the compactification scale, which has a natural range of 1/R ~= 1.5--3.5 TeV. The superpartner masses depend only on 1/R, and are precisely correlated amongst themselves and with the mass of the Higgs boson, which is lighter than 130 GeV.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2003

The Higgs mass as a function of the compactification scale

We calculate to a few percent precision the Higgs potential in a model with supersymmetry broken by boundary conditions on an extra-dimension, compactified to a segment of length $L$, and a top quark quasi-localized on one of the two boundaries. 1/L alone, in the range 2-4 TeV, determines the Higgs mass, in the range 110-125 GeV, and the spectrum of gauginos, higgsinos and of the third-generation squarks. Lower values of 1/L cannot be excluded, with a progressive delocalization of the top quark.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2002

Breaking the electroweak symmetry and supersymmetry by a compact extra dimension

We revisit in some more detail a recent specific proposal for the breaking of the electroweak symmetry and of supersymmetry by a compact extra dimension. Possible mass terms for the Higgs and the matter hypermultiplets are considered and their effects on the spectrum analyzed. Previous conclusions are reinforced and put on firmer ground.

hep-ph↗