arXiv subjects

Qaisar Shafi

Publications and source records attributed to Qaisar Shafi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Yukawa Unification and Sparticle Spectroscopy in Gauge Mediation Models

We explore the implications of t-b-tau (and b-tau) Yukawa coupling unification condition on the fundamental parameter space and sparticle spectroscopy in the minimal gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking (mGMSB) model. We find that this scenario prefers values of the CP-odd Higgs mass m_A > 1 TeV, with all colored sparticle masses above 3 TeV. These predictions will be hard to test at LHC13 but they may be testable at HE-LHC 33 TeV or a 100 TeV collider. Both t-b-tau and b-tau Yukawa coupling unifications prefer a relatively light gravitino with mass < 30 eV, which makes it a candidate hot dark matter particle. However, it cannot account for more than 15 % of the observed dark matter density.

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arXiv2015

Higgs Inflation, Seesaw Physics and Fermion Dark Matter

We present an inflationary model in which the Standard Model Higgs doublet field with non-minimal coupling to gravity drives inflation, and the effective Higgs potential is stabilized by new physics which includes a dark matter particle and right-handed neutrinos for the seesaw mechanism. All of the new particles are fermions, so that the Higgs doublet is the unique inflaton candidate. With central values for the masses of the top quark and the Higgs boson, the renormalization group improved Higgs potential is employed to yield the scalar spectral index $n_s \simeq 0.968$, the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r \simeq 0.003$, and the running of the spectral index $α=dn_s/d \ln k \simeq -5.2 \times 10^{-4}$ for the number of e-folds $N_0=60$ ($n_s \simeq 0.962$, $r \simeq 0.004$, and $α\simeq -7.5 \times 10^{-4}$ for $N_0=50$). The fairly low value of $r \simeq 0.003$ predicted in this class of models means that the ongoing space and land based experiments are not expected to observe gravity waves generated during inflation. [Dedicated to the memory of Dr. Paul Weber (1947 - 2015). Paul was an exceptional human being and a very special friend who will be sorely missed.]

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arXiv2015

GUT-Inspired Supersymmetric Model for h\rightarrow γγand Muon g-2

We study a GUT-inspired supersymmetric model with non-universal gaugino masses that can explain the observed muon g-2 anomaly while simultaneously accommodating an enhancement or suppression in the h \rightarrowγγdecay channel. In order to accommodate these observations and m_h \simeq 125-126 GeV, the model requires a spectrum consisting of relatively light sleptons whereas the colored sparticles are heavy. The predicted stau mass range corresponding to R_{γγ}\ge 1.1 is 100 {\rm \ GeV} \lesssim m_{\tildeτ} \lesssim 200 {\rm \ GeV}. The constraint on the slepton masses, particularly on the smuons, arising from considerations of muon g-2 is somewhat milder. The slepton masses in this case are predicted to lie in the few hundred GeV range. The colored sparticles turn out to be considerably heavier with m_{\tilde{g}} \gtrsim 4.5 {\rm \ TeV} and m_{\tilde{t}_1} \gtrsim 3.5 {\rm \ TeV}, which makes it challenging for these to be observed at the 14 TeV LHC.

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arXiv2014

NLSP Gluino and NLSP Stop Scenarios from b-tau Yukawa Unification

We present a study of b-tau Yukawa unified supersymmetric SU(4)_c x SU(2)_L x SU(2)_R model (with mu > 0), which predicts the existence of gluino - neutralino and stop - neutralino coannihilation scenarios compatible with the desired relic LSP neutralino dark matter abundance and other collider constraints. The NLSP gluino or NLSP stop masses vary between 400 GeV to ~ 1 TeV. The NLSP gluinos will be accessible at the 14 TeV LHC, while we hope that the NSLP stop solutions will be probed in future LHC searches. We also identify regions of the parameter space in which the gluino and the lighter stop are closely degenerate in mass, interchangeably playing the role of NLSP and NNLSP. We also update a previous study of t-b-tau Yukawa unification and show that NLSP gluino of mass ~ 1 TeV, with a mass difference between the gluino and neutralino of less than 80 GeV, can be realized consistent with the current collider and astrophysical constraints. We present benchmark points for b-tau and t-b-tau Yukawa unification that can be accessible at the LHC.

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arXiv2014

3.5 keV X-ray line and R-Parity Conserving Supersymmetry

We present some R-parity conserving supersymmetric models which can accommodate the 3.5 keV X-ray line reported in recent spectral studies of the Perseus galaxy cluster and the Andromeda galaxy. Within the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) framework, the dark matter (DM) gravitino (or the axino) with mass of around 7 keV decays into a massless neutralino (bino) and a photon with lifetime ~10^{28} sec. The massless bino contributes to the effective number of neutrino species N_eff and future data will test this prediction. In the context of NMSSM, we first consider scenarios where the bino is massless and the singlino mass is around 7 keV. We also consider quasi-degenerate bino-singlino scenarios where the mass scale of DM particles are O(GeV) or larger. In such a scenario we require the mass gap to generate the 3.5 keV line. We comment on the possibility of a 7 keV singlino decaying via R parity violating couplings while all other neutralinos are heavy.

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arXiv2014

Inflation and majoron dark matter in the seesaw mechanism

We propose that inflation and dark matter have a common origin, connected to the neutrino mass generation scheme. As a model we consider spontaneous breaking of global lepton number within the seesaw mechanism. We show that it provides an acceptable inflationary scenario consistent with the recent CMB B-mode observation by the BICEP2 experiment. The scheme may also account for the baryon asymmetry of the Universe through leptogenesis for reasonable parameter choices.

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arXiv2014

From Hybrid to Quadratic Inflation With High-Scale Supersymmetry Breaking

Motivated by the reported discovery of inflationary gravity waves by the BICEP2 experiment, we propose an inflationary scenario in supergravity, based on the standard superpotential used in hybrid inflation. The new model yields a tensor-to-scalar ratio r ~ 0.14 and scalar spectral index ns ~ 0.964, corresponding to quadratic (chaotic) inflation. The important new ingredients are the high-scale, (1.6-10) x 10^13 GeV, soft supersymmetry breaking mass for the gauge singlet inflaton field and a shift symmetry imposed on the Kähler potential. The end of inflation is accompanied, as in the earlier hybrid inflation models, by the breaking of a gauge symmetry at (1.2-7.1) x 10^16 GeV, comparable to the grand-unification scale.

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arXiv2014

Muon g-2, 125 GeV Higgs and Neutralino Dark Matter in sMSSM

We discuss the sparticle (and Higgs) spectrum in a class of flavor symmetry-based minimal supersymmetric standard models, referred to here as sMSSM. In this framework the SUSY breaking Lagrangian takes the most general form consistent with a grand unified symmetry such as SO(10) and a non-Abelian flavor symmetry acting on the three families with either a 2+1 or a 3 family assignment. Models based on gauged SU(2) and SO(3) flavor symmetry, as well as non-Abelian discrete symmetries such as S_3 and A_4, have been suggested which fall into this category. These models describe supersymmetry breaking in terms of seven phenomenological parameters. The soft supersymmetry breaking masses at M_GUT of all sfermions of the first two families are equal in sMSSM, which differ in general from the corresponding third family mass. In such a framework we show that the muon g-2 anomaly, the observed Higgs boson mass of ~ 125 GeV, and the observed relic neutralino dark matter abundance can be simultaneously accommodated. The resolution of the muon g-2 anomaly in particular yields the result that the first two generation squark masses, as well the gluino mass, should be <~ 2 TeV, which will be tested at LHC14.

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arXiv2014

Flavor Symmetry Based MSSM (sMSSM): Theoretical Models and Phenomenological Analysis

We present a class of supersymmetric models in which symmetry considerations alone dictate the form of the soft SUSY breaking Lagrangian. We develop a class of minimal models, denoted as sMSSM -- for flavor symmetry-based minimal supersymmetric standard model, which respect a grand unified symmetry such as SO(10) and a non-Abelian flavor symmetry H which suppresses SUSY-induced flavor violation. Explicit examples are constructed with the flavor symmetry being gauged SU(2)_H and SO(3)_H with the three families transforming as 2 + 1 and 3 representations respectively. A simple solution is found in the case of SU(2)_H for suppressing the flavor violating D--terms based on an exchange symmetry. Explicit models based on SO(3)_H without the D--term problem are developed. In addition, models based on discrete non-Abelian flavor groups are presented which are automatically free from D--term issues. The permutation group S_3 with a 2 + 1 family assignment, as well as the tetrahedral group A_4 with a 3 assignment are studied. In all cases, a simple solution to the SUSY CP problem is found, based on spontaneous CP violation leading to a complex quark mixing matrix. We develop the phenomenology of the resulting sMSSM, which is controlled by seven soft SUSY breaking parameters for both the 2 + 1 assignment and the 3 assignment of fermion families. These models are special cases of the phenomenological MSSM (pMSSM), but with symmetry restrictions. We discuss the parameter space of sMSSM compatible with LHC searches, B physics constraints and dark matter relic abundance. Fine-tuning in these models is relatively mild, since all SUSY particles can have masses below about 3 TeV.

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arXiv2014

Upper Bound on the Tensor-to-Scalar Ratio in GUT-Scale Supersymmetric Hybrid Inflation

We explore the upper bound on the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$ in supersymmetric (F-term) hybrid inflation models with the gauge symmetry breaking scale set equal to the value $2.86\cdot10^{16} {\rm GeV}$, as dictated by the unification of the MSSM gauge couplings. We employ a unique renormalizable superpotential and a quasi-canonical Kähler potential, and the scalar spectral index $n_s$ is required to lie within the two-sigma interval from the central value found by the Planck satellite. In a sizable region of the parameter space the potential along the inflationary trajectory is a monotonically increasing function of the inflaton, and for this case, $r\lesssim2.9\cdot10^{-4}$, while the spectral index running, $|dn_{\rm s}/d\ln k|$, can be as large as $0.01$. Ignoring higher order terms which ensure the boundedness of the potential for large values of the inflaton, the upper bound on $r$ is significantly larger, of order $0.01$, for subplanckian values of the inflaton, and $|dn_{\rm s}/d\ln k|\simeq0.006$.

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arXiv2014

Nonuniversal Gaugino Masses and Muon g-2

We consider two classes of supersymmetric models with nonuniversal gaugino masses at M_GUT in an attempt to resolve the apparent muon g-2 anomaly encountered in the Standard Model. We explore two distinct scenarios, one in which all gaugino masses have the same sign at M_GUT, and a second case with opposite sign gaugino masses. The sfermion masses in both cases are assumed to be universal at M_GUT. We exploit the non universality among gaugino masses to realize large mass splitting between the colored and non-colored sfermions. Thus, the sleptons can have masses in the few hundred GeV range, whereas the colored sparticles turn out to be an order of magnitude or so heavier. In both models the resolution of the muon g-2 anomaly is compatible, among other things, with a 125-126 GeV Higgs boson mass and the WMAP dark matter bounds.

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arXiv2014

Split Sfermion Families, Yukawa Unification and Muon g-2

We consider two distinct classes of Yukawa unified supersymmetric SO(10) models with non-universal and universal soft supersymmetry breaking (SSB) gaugino masses at M_{\rm GUT}. In both cases, we assume that the third family SSB sfermion masses at M_{\rm GUT} are different from the corresponding sfermion masses of the first two families (which are equal). For the SO(10) model with essentially arbitrary (non-universal) gaugino masses at M_{\rm GUT}, it is shown that t-b-τYukawa coupling unification is compatible, among other things, with the 125 GeV Higgs boson mass, the WMAP relic dark matter density, and with the resolution of the apparent muon g-2 anomaly. The colored sparticles in this case all turn out to be quite heavy, of order 5 TeV or more, but the sleptons (smuon and stau) can be very light, of order 200 GeV or so. For the SO(10) model with universal gaugino masses and NUHM2 boundary conditions, the muon g-2 anomaly cannot be resolved. However, the gluino in this class of models is not too heavy, \lesssim 3 TeV, and therefore may be found at the LHC.

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arXiv2014

Top Quark and Higgs Boson Masses in Supersymmetric Models

We study the implications for bounds on the top quark pole mass m_t in models with low scale supersymmetry following the discovery of the Standard Model-like Higgs boson. In the minimal supersymmetric standard model, we find that m_t >= 164 GeV, if the light CP even Higgs boson mass m_h = 125 +-2 GeV. We also explore the top quark and Higgs boson masses in two classes of supersymmetric SO(10) models with t-b-tau Yukawa coupling unification at M_GUT. In particular, assuming SO(10) compatible non-universal gaugino masses, setting m_h = 125 GeV and requiring 5% or better Yukawa unification, we obtain the result 172 GeV <= m_t <= 175 GeV. Conversely, demanding 5% or better t-b-tau Yukawa unification and setting m_t=173.2 GeV, the Higgs boson mass is predicted to lie in the range 122 GeV <= m_h <= 126 GeV.

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arXiv2013

Update on Minimal Supersymmetric Hybrid Inflation in Light of PLANCK

The minimal supersymmetric (or F-term) hybrid inflation is defined by a unique renormalizable superpotential, fixed by a $U(1)$ R-symmetry, and it employs a canonical Kähler potential. The inflationary potential takes into account both radiative and supergravity corrections, as well as an important soft supersymmetry breaking term, with a mass coefficient in the range $(0.1 - 10)~{\rm TeV}$. The latter term assists in obtaining a scalar spectral index $n_s$ close to $0.96$, as strongly suggested by the PLANCK and WMAP-9yr measurements. The minimal model predicts that the tensor-to-scalar $r$ is extremely tiny, of order $10^{-12}$, while the spectral index running, $|dn_{\rm s}/d\ln k| \sim 10^{-4}$. If inflation is associated with the breaking of a local $U(1)_{B-L}$ symmetry, the corresponding symmetry breaking scale $M$ is $(0.7 - 1.6)\cdot10^{15}~{\rm GeV}$ with $n_{\rm s} \simeq 0.96$. This scenario is compatible with the bounds on $M$ from cosmic strings, formed at the end of inflation from $B-L$ symmetry breaking. We briefly discuss non-thermal leptogenesis which is readily implemented in this class of models.

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arXiv2013

Observable Gravity Waves From U(1)_${B-L}$ Higgs and Coleman-Weinberg Inflation

We present a realistic non-supersymmetric inflation model based on a gauged U(1)$_{B-L}$ symmetry and a tree-level Higgs potential. The inflaton is identified with the scalar field which spontaneously breaks U(1)$_{B-L}$, and we include radiative corrections à la Coleman-Weinberg in the inflaton potential. If the scalar spectral index $n_s$ lies close to 0.96, as indicated by the recent Planck and WMAP 9-yr measurements, the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$, a canonical measure for gravity waves, exceeds 0.01. Thus, according to this model, gravity waves should be found in the near future. In this case, the quantity $|dn_s/d \ln k|$ lies in the range $0.004-0.005$. Successful baryogenesis can be realized in this class of models either via thermal or non-thermal leptogenesis.

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arXiv2013

125 GeV Higgs Boson From Gauge-Higgs Unification: A Snowmass white paper

In certain five dimensional gauge theories compactified on the orbifold $S^1/Z_2$ the Standard Model Higgs doublet is identified with the zero mode of the fifth component of the gauge field. This gauge-Higgs unification scenario is realized at high energies, and the Standard Model as an effective theory below the compactification scale satisfies the boundary condition that the Higgs quartic coupling vanishes at the compactification scale (gauge-Higgs condition). This is because at energies above the compactification scale, the five dimensional gauge invariance is restored and the Higgs potential vanishes as a consequence. We consider scenario where top quark Yukawa and weak gauge coupling unification can be realized and identify the compactification scale as one at which this two coupling couplings have the same value. Taking into account the experimental uncertainties in measurements of the top quark mass and the QCD coupling constant, the Higgs mass prediction of 119-126 GeV from the gauge-Higgs unification scenario is consistent with the experimentally measured value of 125-126 GeV. More precise measurements of the top quark mass and the QCD coupling constant are crucial to reduce the interval of the Higgs mass prediction and thereby test the feasibility of the gauge-Higgs unification scenario.

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arXiv2013

Higgs and Sparticle Masses from Yukawa Unified SO(10): A Snowmass White Paper

We discuss ways to probe t-b-tau Yukawa coupling unification condition at the Energy and Intensity frontiers. We consider non-universal soft supersymmetry breaking mass terms for gauginos related by the SO(10) grand unified theory (GUT). We have previously shown that t-b-tau Yukawa coupling unification prefers a mass of around 125 GeV for the Standard Model-like Higgs boson with all colored sparticle masses above 3 TeV. The well-known MSSM parameter tan(beta) is about 47-48 and neutralino-stau coannihilation yields the desired relic dark matter density.

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arXiv2013

Sparticle Spectroscopy from SO(10) GUT with a Unified Higgs Sector

We study the low energy implications, especially the particle spectroscopy, of SO(10) grand unification in which the SO(10) symmetry is broken to the Standard Model gauge group with a single pair of (144+\bar144) dimensional Higgs multiplet (unified Higgs sector). In this class of models, the asymptotic relation Y_b \approx Y_τ\approx Y_t/6 among the third generation quark and lepton Yukawa couplings can be derived. This relation leads to the prediction \tanβ\approx 14, where \tanβis the well known MSSM parameter. We find that this type of Yukawa coupling unification (YU) is realized only by employing non-universal soft supersymmetry breaking terms, dictated by SO(10) symmetry, for the gauginos. A 125 GeV Higgs boson mass is also found to be consistent with YU at the \sim 5% level. Without imposing a constraint on the relic abundance of dark matter in these models, the squark and slepton masses, with the exception of the stop, exceed 2 TeV and the gluino is heavier than 1 TeV. We show that the neutralino in this model is an acceptable dark matter candidate through the neutralino-stop coannihilation scenario, with the stop quark being relatively light (\gtrsim 500 GeV).

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