arXiv subjects

Qaisar Shafi

Publications and source records attributed to Qaisar Shafi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

Axion Model with Intermediate Scale Fermionic Dark Matter

We investigate a non-supersymmetric $SO(10)\times U(1)_{\rm PQ}$ axion model in which the spontaneous breaking of $U(1)_{\rm PQ}$ occurs after inflation, and the axion domain wall problem is resolved by employing the Lazarides-Shafi mechanism. This requires the introduction of two fermion 10-plets, such that the surviving discrete symmetry from the explicit $U(1)_{\rm PQ}$ breaking by QCD instantons is reduced from $Z_{12}$ to $Z_4$, where $Z_4$ coincides with the center of $SO(10)$ (more precisely $Spin(10)$). An unbroken $Z_2$ subgroup of $Z_4$ yields intermediate scale topologically stable strings, as well as a stable electroweak doublet non-thermal dark matter candidate from the fermion 10-plets with mass comparable to or somewhat smaller than the axion decay constant $f_{\rm a}$. We present an explicit realization with inflation taken into account and which also incorporates non-thermal leptogenesis. The fermion dark matter mass lies in the $3\times 10^{8}-10^{10}~{\rm GeV}$ range and its contribution to the relic dark matter abundance can be comparable to that from the axion.

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arXiv2020

Inflection-Point Inflation with Axion Dark Matter in light of Trans-Planckian Censorship Conjecture

Motivated by the recently proposed Trans-Planckian Censorship Conjecture (TCC), we propose a gauged $B-L$ model of inflection-point inflation with axion dark matter. The Hubble scale during inflation ($H_{\rm inf}$) satisfies the TCC bound of $H_{\rm inf} \lesssim 1$ GeV, the axion dark matter scenario is free from the axion domain wall and isocurvature problems, and the axion decay constant can be larger than $10^{12}$ GeV. The seesaw mechanism is automatically incorporated in the model and the observed baryon asymmetry of the universe can be reproduced via resonant leptogenesis.

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arXiv2020

Pseudosmooth Tribrid Inflation in $SU(5)$

A realistic tribrid model of sneutrino inflation is constructed in an $R$-symmetric $SU(5)$ grand unified theory (GUT). To avoid the monopole problem, a pseudosmooth inflationary trajectory is generated with the help of an additional $Z_5$ symmetry which is broken during and after inflation. The predictions of inflationary parameters are made at the central value of the scalar spectral index, $n_s =0.968$. The largest possible value of the tensor to scalar ratio, $r\lesssim 0.0027$, is obtained with sub-Planckian field values ($\lesssim m_P$). A successful realization of reheating and leptogenesis is achieved by avoiding the gravitino problem with a reheat temperature as low as $10^6$ GeV. The predicted range of the gauge symmetry breaking scale, $ 5 \times 10^{16} \lesssim M/\text{GeV} \lesssim 5 \times 10^{17}$, turns out to be somewhat larger than the typical GUT scale. With additional vector-like families, a successful gauge coupling unification is achieved by avoiding the no-go theorem related to $R$-symmetric $SU(5)$ GUT.

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arXiv2020

Light $Z^\prime$ and Dark Matter from U(1)$_X$ Gauge Symmetry

We consider a U(1)$_X$ gauge symmetry extension of the Standard Model (SM) with a $Z^\prime$-portal Majorana fermion dark matter that allows for a relatively light gauge boson $Z^\prime$ with mass of 10 MeV$-$ a few GeV and a much heavier dark matter through the freeze-in mechanism. In a second scenario the roles are reversed, and the dark matter mass, in the keV range or so, lies well below the $Z^\prime$ mass, say, $\sim 1$ GeV. We outline the parameter space that can be explored for these two scenarios at the future Lifetime Frontier experiments including Belle-II, FASER, LDMX and SHiP.

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arXiv2020

Testing Yukawa Unification at LHC Run-3 and HL-LHC

We explore $t-b-τ$ Yukawa unification (YU) in a supersymmetric $SU(4)_c \times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R $ model without imposing a discrete left-right (L-R) symmetry. A number of interesting solutions that are compatible with $t-b-τ$ YU, LSP neutralino dark matter (DM), and LHC and other experimental constraints are identified. In particular, they include gluino-neutralino and stau-neutralino co-annihilation scenarios, where the NLSP gluino mass can range from 1-3 TeV. Higgsino-like dark matter solutions are also identified for which gluino masses can approach 5 TeV or so. This scenario will be tested at LHC Run-3 and its future upgrades.

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arXiv2020

SMART U(1)$_X$ $-$ Standard Model with Axion, Right handed neutrinos, Two Higgs doublets and U(1)$_X$ gauge symmetry

To address five fundamental shortcomings of the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics and cosmology, we propose a SMART U(1)$_X$ model which is a $U(1)_X \times U(1)_{PQ}$ extension of the SM. The $U(1)_X$ gauge symmetry is a generalization of the well-known $U(1)_{B-L}$ symmetry and $U(1)_{PQ}$ is the global Peccie-Quinn (PQ) symmetry. Three right handed neutrinos are added to cancel $U(1)_X$ related anomalies, and they play a crucial role in understanding the observed neutrino oscillations and explaining the observed baryon asymmetry in the universe via leptogenesis. The PQ symmetry helps resolve the strong CP problem and also provides axion as a compelling dark matter (DM) candidate. The $U(1)_X$ gauge symmetry enables us to implement the inflection-point inflation scenario with $H_{inf} \lesssim 2 \times 10^{7}$ GeV, where $H_{inf}$ is the value of Hubble parameter during inflation. This allows us to overcome a potential axion domain wall problem as well as the axion isocurvature problem. The SMART U(1)$_X$ model can be merged with $SU(5)$ as we briefly show.

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arXiv2019

Gluino Search with Stop and Top in Nonuniversal Gaugino Mass Models at LHC and Future Colliders

We discuss the gluino mass in the CMSSM and Nonuniversal Gaugino Mass Models (NUGM) frameworks in light of the results from the current LHC and Dark Matter experiments. We probe the gluino mass scales by considering its decay modes into stop and top quarks, $\tilde{g}\rightarrow \tilde{t}_{1}t$ and $\tilde{g}\rightarrow \bar{t}t\tildeχ_{1}^{0}$, where $\tilde{t}_{1}t$ represents both $\tilde{t}_{1}\bar{t}$ and $\tilde{t}_{1}^{*}t$. The region with $m_{\tilde{g}} \lesssim 2$ TeV is excluded up to $68\%$ CL in the CMSSM if the gluino decays into a stop and top quark, while the $95\%$ CL exclusion requires $m_{\tilde{g}}\gtrsim 1.9$ TeV. Such exclusion bounds on the gluino mass more or less overlap with the current LHC results. The decay mode $\tilde{g}\rightarrow \bar{t}t\tildeχ_{1}^{0}$ may take over if $\tilde{g}\rightarrow \tilde{t}_{1}t$ is not allowed. One can probe the gluino mass in this case up to about 1.5 TeV with $68\%$ CL in the CMSSM, and about 1.4 TeV with $95\%$ CL. A similar analyses in the NUGM framework yield exclusion curves for the gluino mass $m_{\tilde{g}}\gtrsim 2.1$ TeV at 14 TeV for both decay modes of the gluino under consideration. We also show that increasing the center of mass energy to 27 TeV can probe the gluino mass up to about 3 TeV through its decay mode into stop and top quark. The Dark Matter constraints are not very severe in the framework of NUGM, and they allow solutions with $m_{\tilde{g}},m_{\tilde{t}} \gtrsim 1$ TeV. In addition, with NUGM the LSP neutralino can coannihilate with gluino and/or stop for $m_{\tilde{g}},m_{\tilde{t}}\approx m_{\tildeχ_{1}^{0}} \in [0.9-1.5]$ TeV. The 100 TeV FCC collider can probe the gluino masses up to about 6 TeV with $36.1~fb^{-1}$ integrated luminosity. We also find that the decay $\tilde{g}\rightarrow \tilde{t}t$ can indirectly probe the stop mass up to about 4 TeV.

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arXiv2019

Inflation, Proton Decay, and Higgs-Portal Dark Matter in $SO(10) \times U(1)_ψ$

We propose a simple non-supersymmetric grand unified theory (GUT) based on the gauge group $SO(10) \times U(1)_ψ$. The model includes 3 generations of fermions in ${\bf 16}$ ($+1$), ${\bf 10}$ ($-2$) and ${\bf 1}$ ($+4$) representations. The ${\bf 16}$-plets contain Standard Model (SM) fermions plus right-handed neutrinos, and the ${\bf 10}$-plet and the singlet fermions are introduced to make the model anomaly-free. Gauge coupling unification at $M_{GUT} \simeq 5 \times 10^{15}-10^{16}$ GeV is achieved by including an intermediate Pati-Salam breaking at $M_{I} \simeq 10^{12}-10^{11}$ GeV, which is a natural scale for the seesaw mechanism. For $M_{I} \simeq 10^{12}-10^{11}$, proton decay will be tested by the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment. The extra fermions acquire their masses from $U(1)_ψ$ symmetry breaking, and a $U(1)_ψ$ Higgs field drives a successful inflection-point inflation with a low Hubble parameter during inflation, $H_{inf} \ll M_{I}$. Hence, cosmologically dangerous monopoles produced from $SO(10)$ and PS breakings are diluted away. The reheating temperature after inflation can be high enough for successful leptogenesis. With the Higgs field contents of our model, a ${\bf Z}_2$ symmetry remains unbroken after GUT symmetry breaking, and the lightest mass eigenstate among linear combinations of the ${\bf 10}$-plet and the singlet fermions serves as a Higgs-portal dark matter (DM). We identify the parameter regions to reproduce the observed DM relic density while satisfying the current constraint from the direct DM detection experiments. The present allowed region will be fully covered by the future direct detection experiments such as LUX-ZEPLIN DM experiment. In the presence of the extra fermions, the SM Higgs potential is stabilized up to $M_{I}$.

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arXiv2019

Spontaneous Breaking of Lepton Number and Cosmological Domain Wall Problem

We show that if global lepton number symmetry is spontaneously broken in a post inflation epoch, then it can lead to the formation of cosmological domain walls. This happens in the well-known "Majoron paradigm" for neutrino mass generation. We propose some realistic examples which allow spontaneous lepton number breaking to be safe from such domain walls.

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arXiv2019

Supersymmetric $SU(5) \times U(1)_χ$ and the Weak Gravity Conjecture

The gauge symmetry $SU(5) \times U(1)_χ$ is the unique maximal subgroup of SO(10) which retains manifest unification at $M_{GUT}$ of the Standard Model gauge couplings, especially if low scale supersymmetry is present. The spontaneous breaking of $U(1)_χ$ at some intermediate scale leaves unbroken a $Z_2$ symmetry which is precisely `matter' parity. This yields a stable supersymmetric dark matter particle as well as topologically stable cosmic strings. Motivated by the weak gravity conjecture we impose unification of $SU(5)$ and $U(1)_χ$ at an ultraviolet cutoff $Λ\sim α_Λ^{1/2} M_{P} \approx 5 \times 10^{17}$ GeV, where $α_Λ$ denotes the $SU(5)$ gauge coupling at $Λ$ and $M_P \approx 2.4 \times 10^{18}$ GeV is the reduced Planck Scale. The impact of dimension five operators suppressed by $Λ$ on gauge coupling unification, proton lifetime estimates and $b-τ$ Yukawa unification is discussed. In particular, the gauge boson mediated proton decay into $e^+π^0$ can lie within the $2-σ$ sensitivity of HyperKamiokande. We also discuss how the intermediate scale strings may survive inflation while the $SU(5)$ monopoles are inflated away. The unbroken $Z_2$ symmetry provides an intriguing link between dark matter, black holes carrying `quantum hair' and cosmic strings.

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arXiv2018

$b-τ$ Yukawa Unification in SUSY SU(5) with Mirage Mediation: LHC and Dark Matter Implications

We consider a class of $b-τ$ Yukawa unified Supersymmetric (SUSY) $SU(5)$ GUTs, in which the asymptotic gaugino $M_{1,2,3}$ masses are generated through a combination of gravity and mirage mediated supersymmetry breaking. Due to the contributions from mirage mediation, $M_{3}$ is always lighter than M_{1} and M_{2}, and consequently for the range of asymptotic masses considered, the gluino mass at low scale is bounded from above at about 4 TeV. We realize two different regions, one in which the MSSM $μ-$term is less than about 3 TeV. This region yields a stop mass up to 5 TeV, and the stop mass is nearly degenerate with the LSP neutralino for mass around 0.8 to 1.7 TeV. A stau mass can be realized up to about 5 TeV, and the stau mass is approximately degenerate with the LSP neutralino for mass around 2 to 3 TeV. In addition, an A-funnel solution $m_{A}$ with mass $\sim 1.4-1.8$ TeV is realized. A second region, on the other hand, arises for gluino around 1.1 TeV. The $μ-$term is rather large than 20 TeV, and the LSP neutralino is a bino-wino mixture. The gluino mass ($\sim 0.8-1.2$ TeV) is nearly degenerate with the LSP neutralino mass and hence, the gluino-neutralino coannihilation processes play a role in reducing the relic abundance of LSP neutralino down to ranges allowed by the current WMAP measurements. The two regions above can be distinguished through the direct detection experiments. The first region with relatively low $μ$ values yields Higgsino-like DM, whose scattering on the nucleus typically has a large cross-section. We find that such solutions are still allowed by the current results from the LUX experiment, and they will be severely tested by the LUX-Zeplin experiment. The second region contains bino-wino DM whose scattering cross-section is relatively low. These solutions are harder to rule out in the foreseeable future.

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arXiv2018

Light Sterile Neutrino and Low Scale Left-Right Symmetry in D-brane inspired $SU(4)_C \times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R$

Motivated by the ongoing searches for new physics at the LHC, we explore the low energy consequences of a D-brane inspired $ SU(4)_C\times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R$ (4-2-2) model. The Higgs sector consists of an $SU(4)$ adjoint, a pair $H+\bar H$ in $(4,1,2)+(\bar 4,1,2)$, and a bidoublet field in $h(1,2,2)$. With the $SU(4)$ adjoint the symmetry breaks to a left-right symmetric $SU(3)_C\times U(1)_{B-L} \times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R$ model. A missing partner mechanism protects the $SU(2)_R$ Higgs doublets in $H,\bar H$, which subsequently break the symmetry to the Standard Model at a few TeV scale. An inverse seesaw mechanism generates masses for the observed neutrinos and also yields a sterile neutrino which can play the rôle of dark matter if its mass lies in the keV range. Other phenomenological implications including proton decay are briefly discussed.

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arXiv2018

Gravity Waves and Gravitino Dark Matter in $μ$-Hybrid Inflation

We propose a novel reformulation of supersymmetric (more precisely $μ$-) hybrid inflation based on a local U(1) or any suitable extension of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) which also resolves the $μ$ problem. We employ a suitable Kahler potential which effectively yields quartic inflation with non-minimal coupling to gravity. Imposing the gravitino Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) constraint on the reheat temperature ($T_r \lesssim 10^6$ GeV) and requiring a neutralino LSP, the tensor to scalar ratio ($r$) has a lower bound $r \gtrsim 0.004$. The U(1) symmetry breaking scale lies between $10^8$ and $10^{12}$ GeV. We also discuss a scenario with gravitino dark matter whose mass is a few GeV.

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arXiv2018

Leptonic $CP$ Violation and Leptogenesis in Minimal Supersymmetric SU(4)$_c \times$SU(2)$_L \times$SU(2)$_R$

We consider a supersymmetric SU(4)$_c \times$SU(2)$_L \times$SU(2)$_R$ model with a minimal number of Higgs multiplets and Dirac and Majorana $CP$-violating phases in the neutrino flavor mixing matrix. The model incorporates the charged fermion masses and quark mixings, and uses type I seesaw to explain the solar and atmospheric neutrino oscillations. With the neutrino oscillation data of two mass squared differences and three flavor mixing angles, we employ thermal leptogenesis and the observed baryon asymmetry to find the allowed regions for the Dirac and Majorana phases. For a normal neutrino mass hierarchy, we find that the observed baryon asymmetry can be reproduced by a Dirac phase of around $δ_{CP}=3 π/2$, which is strongly indicated by the recent T2K and NO$ν$A data. For the case of inverted neutrino mass hierarchy, the predicted baryon asymmetry is not compatible with the observed value.

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arXiv2018

Induced-Gravity GUT-Scale Higgs Inflation in Supergravity

Models of induced-gravity inflation are formulated within Supergravity employing as inflaton the Higgs field which leads to a spontaneous breaking of a U(1)B-L symmetry at Mgut=2x10^16 GeV. We use a renormalizable superpotential, fixed by a U(1) R symmetry, and Kahler potentials which exhibit a quadratic non-minimal coupling to gravity with or without an independent kinetic mixing in the inflaton sector. In both cases we find inflationary solutions of Starobinsky type whereas in the latter case, others (more marginal) which resemble those of linear inflation arise too. In all cases the inflaton mass is predicted to be of the order of 10^13~GeV. Extending the superpotential of the model with suitable terms, we show how the MSSM mu parameter can be generated. Also, non-thermal leptogenesis can be successfully realized, provided that the gravitino is heavier than about 10 TeV.

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arXiv2018

Type II Seesaw with scalar dark matter in light of AMS-02, DAMPE and Fermi-LAT

The Standard Model (SM) supplemented by Type II Seesaw and a SM gauge-singlet scalar dark matter (DM) is a very simple framework to incorporate the observed neutrino oscillations and provide a plausible DM candidate. In this framework, the scalar DM naturally has a leptophilic nature with a pair annihilating mainly into the SM SU(2)$_L$ triplet Higgs scalar of Type II Seesaw which, in turn, decay into leptons. In this work, we consider indirect signatures of this leptophilic DM and examine the spectrum of the cosmic ray electron/positron flux from DM pair annihilations in the Galactic halo. Given an astrophysical background spectrum of the cosmic ray electron/positron flux, we find that the contributions from DM annihilations can nicely fit the observed data from the AMS-02, DAMPE and Fermi-LAT collaborations, with a multi-TeV range of DM mass and a boost factor for the DM annihilation cross section of ${\cal O}(1000)$. The boost factor has a slight tension with the Fermi-LAT data for gamma-ray from dwarf spheroidal galaxies, which can be ameliorated with an enhanced local DM density by a factor of about 2.

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arXiv2018

Axion Inflation, Proton Decay and Leptogenesis in $SU(5)\times U(1)_{PQ}$

We implement inflation in a non-supersymmetric SU(5) model based on a non-minimal coupling of the axion field to gravity. The isocurvature fluctuations are adequately suppressed, axions comprise the dark matter, proton lifetime estimates are of order 8e34-3e35 years, and the observed baryon asymmetry arises via non-thermal leptogenesis. The presence of low scale colored scalars ensures unification of the Standard Model gauge couplings and also helps in stabilizing the electroweak vacuum.

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arXiv2018

Gravity Waves and Proton Decay in Flipped SU(5) Hybrid Inflation Model

We revisit supersymmetric hybrid inflation in the context of flipped $SU(5)$ model. With minimal superpotential and minimal Kähler potential, and soft SUSY masses of order $(1 - 100)$ TeV, compatibility with the Planck data yields a symmetry breaking scale $M$ of flipped $SU(5)$ close to $(2 - 4) \times 10^{15}$ GeV. This disagrees with the lower limit $M \gtrsim 7 \times 10^{15}$ GeV set from proton decay searches by the Super-Kamiokande collaboration. We show how $M$ close to the unification scale $2\times 10^{16}$ GeV can be reconciled with SUSY hybrid inflation by employing a non-minimal Kähler potential. Proton decays into $e^+ π^0$ with an estimated lifetime of order $10^{36}$ years. The tensor to scalar ratio $r$ in this case can approach observable values $\sim 10^{-4} - 10^{-3}$.

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