arXiv subjects

R. Barbieri

Publications and source records attributed to R. Barbieri.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

The Rise of Particle Physics

Discovery of the J Particle at Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Physics of Electrons and Positrons; The Standard Model Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow; The Rise of Gauge Theories: From Many Models to One Theory; From Charm to CP Violation; When the Standard Model Was Ignored; The Discovery of the W and Z Bosons at the CERN Proton-Antiproton Collider; A Personal History of CERN Particle Colliders (1972-2022); The Age of Gravitational Wave Astronomy; Precision Physics in the Era of (HL)LHC; Recent Developments in Flavor Physics, the Unitary Triangle Fit, Anomalies and All That; About BSM Physics, with Emphasis on Flavour; The Discovery of the Antiproton between Rome and Berkeley; Raoul Gatto and Bruno Touschek: the Rise of $e+e^-$ Physics; From ADONE's Multi-Hadron Production to the J/$\Psi$ Discovery; From Bjorken Scaling to Scaling Violations

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Constraining the evolution of Newton's constant with slow inspirals observed from spaceborne gravitational-wave detectors

Spaceborne gravitational-wave (GW) detectors observing at milli-Hz and deci-Hz frequencies are expected to detect large numbers of quasi-monochromatic signals. The first and second time-derivative of the GW frequency ($\dot f_0$ and $\ddot f_0$) can be measured for the most favourable sources and used to look for negative post-Newtonian corrections, which can be induced by the source's environment or modifications of general relativity. We present an analytical, Fisher-matrix-based approach to estimate how precisely such corrections can be constrained. We use this method to estimate the bounds attainable on the time evolution of the gravitational constant $G(t)$ with different classes of quasi-monochromatic sources observable with LISA and DECIGO, two representative spaceborne detectors for milli-Hz and deci-Hz GW frequencies. We find that the most constraining source among a simulated population of LISA galactic binaries could yield $\dot G/G_0 \lesssim 10^{-6}\text{yr}^{-1}$, while the best currently known verification binary will reach $\dot G/G_0 \lesssim 10^{-4}\text{yr}^{-1}$. We also perform Monte-Carlo simulations using quasi-monochromatic waveforms to check the validity of our Fisher-matrix approach, as well as inspiralling waveforms to analyse binaries that do not satisfy the quasi-monochromatic assumption. We find that our analytical Fisher matrix produces good order-of-magnitude constraints even for sources well beyond its regime of validity. Monte-Carlo investigations also show that chirping stellar-mass compact binaries detected by DECIGO-like detectors at cosmological distances of tens of Mpc can yield constraints as tight as $\dot G/G_0 \lesssim 10^{-11}\text{yr}^{-1}$.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Constraints on the cosmic expansion history from GWTC-3

We use 47 gravitational-wave sources from the Third LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog (GWTC-3) to estimate the Hubble parameter $H(z)$, including its current value, the Hubble constant $H_0$. Each gravitational-wave (GW) signal provides the luminosity distance to the source and we estimate the corresponding redshift using two methods: the redshifted masses and a galaxy catalog. Using the binary black hole (BBH) redshifted masses, we simultaneously infer the source mass distribution and $H(z)$. The source mass distribution displays a peak around $34\, {\rm M_\odot}$, followed by a drop-off. Assuming this mass scale does not evolve with redshift results in a $H(z)$ measurement, yielding $H_0=68^{+12}_{-7} {\rm km\,s^{-1}\,Mpc^{-1}}$ ($68\%$ credible interval) when combined with the $H_0$ measurement from GW170817 and its electromagnetic counterpart. This represents an improvement of 17% with respect to the $H_0$ estimate from GWTC-1. The second method associates each GW event with its probable host galaxy in the catalog GLADE+, statistically marginalizing over the redshifts of each event's potential hosts. Assuming a fixed BBH population, we estimate a value of $H_0=68^{+8}_{-6} {\rm km\,s^{-1}\,Mpc^{-1}}$ with the galaxy catalog method, an improvement of 42% with respect to our GWTC-1 result and 20% with respect to recent $H_0$ studies using GWTC-2 events. However, we show that this result is strongly impacted by assumptions about the BBH source mass distribution; the only event which is not strongly impacted by such assumptions (and is thus informative about $H_0$) is the well-localized event GW190814.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

Searching for galactic axions through magnetized media: the QUAX proposal

We present a proposal to search for QCD axions with mass in the 200 $\mu$eV range, assuming that they make a dominant component of dark matter. Due to the axion-electron spin coupling, their effect is equivalent to the application of an oscillating rf field with frequency and amplitude fixed by the axion mass and coupling respectively. This equivalent magnetic field would produce spin flips in a magnetic sample placed inside a static magnetic field, which determines the resonant interaction at the Larmor frequency. Spin flips would subsequently emit radio frequency photons that can be detected by a suitable quantum counter in an ultra-cryogenic environment. This new detection technique is crucial to keep under control the thermal photon background which would otherwise produce a too large noise.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Run 2 Upgrades to the CMS Level-1 Calorimeter Trigger

The CMS Level-1 calorimeter trigger is being upgraded in two stages to maintain performance as the LHC increases pile-up and instantaneous luminosity in its second run. In the first stage, improved algorithms including event-by-event pile-up corrections are used. New algorithms for heavy ion running have also been developed. In the second stage, higher granularity inputs and a time-multiplexed approach allow for improved position and energy resolution. Data processing in both stages of the upgrade is performed with new, Xilinx Virtex-7 based AMC cards.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2002

Anomalies, Fayet-Iliopoulos terms and the consistency of orbifold field theories

We study the consistency of orbifold field theories and clarify to what extent the condition of having an anomaly-free spectrum of zero-modes is sufficient to guarantee it. Preservation of gauge invariance at the quantum level is possible, although at the price, in general, of introducing operators that break the 5d local parity. These operators are, however, perfectly consistent with the orbifold projection. We also clarify the relation between localized Fayet-Iliopoulos (FI) terms and anomalies. These terms can be consistently added, breaking neither local supersymmetry nor the gauge symmetry. In the framework of supergravity the localized FI term arises as the boundary completion of a bulk interaction term: given the bulk Lagrangian the FI is fixed by gauge invariance.

hep-th↗

arXiv1999

Vacuum oscillations of quasi degenerate solar neutrinos

The atmospheric neutrino oscillations and the vacuum oscillation solution of the solar neutrino problem can be consistently described by a doubly or triply degenerate neutrino spectrum as long as the high level of degeneracy required is not spoiled by radiative corrections. We show that this is the case for neutrino mass matrices generated by symmetries. This imposes a strong constraint on the mixing angles and requires the mixing should be close to bi-maximal. We briefly discuss the relevance of our results for the measurability of the neutrino spectrum.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1999

Epsilon' from supersymmetry with non universal A terms?

In supersymmetric theories with a motivated flavour structure, we investigate the possibility that an epsilon' parameter as large as the measured value be generated without conflicting with the bounds from electron and neutron electric dipoles and mu --> e gamma.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1998

Oscillations of solar and atmospheric neutrinos

Motivated by recent results from SuperKamiokande, we study both solar and atmospheric neutrino fluxes in the context of oscillations of the three known neutrinos. We aim at a global view which identifies the various possibilities, rather than attempting the most accurate determination of the parameters of each scenario. For solar neutrinos we emphasise the importance of performing a general analysis, independent of any particular solar model and we consider the possibility that any one of the techniques --- chlorine, gallium or water Cerenkov --- has a large unknown systematic error, so that its results should be discarded. The atmospheric neutrino anomaly is studied by paying special attention to the ratios of upward and downward going nu_e and nu_mu fluxes. Both anomalies can be described in a minimal scheme where the respective oscillation frequencies are widely separated or in non-minimal schemes with two comparable oscillation frequencies. We discuss explicit forms of neutrino mass matrices in which both atmospheric and solar neutrino fluxes are explained. In the minimal scheme we identify only two `zeroth order' textures that can result from unbroken symmetries. Finally we discuss experimental strategies for the determination of the various oscillation parameters.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1997

Electroweak Precision Tests: A Concise Review

1. Introduction 2. Status of the Data 3. Precision Electroweak Data and the Standard Model 4. A More General Analysis of Electroweak Data 4.1 Basic Definitions and Results 4.2 Experimental Determination of the Epsilon Variables 4.3 Comparing the Data with the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model 5. Theoretical Limits on the Higgs Mass 6. Conclusion

hep-ph↗

arXiv1997

Unified theories

The present status of Unified Theories is summarized with special emphasis on their possible experimental tests. Outline: i) Unification of couplings; ii) Where can a positive signal come from? iii) HERA anomaly and Unification; iv) Recent progress in model building; v) Flavour and Unification.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1996

Unified Theories with U(2) Flavor Symmetry

A general operator expansion is presented for quark and lepton mass matrices in unified theories based on a U(2) flavor symmetry, with breaking parameter of order $V_{cb} \approx m_s/m_b \approx \sqrt{m_c/m_t}$. While solving the supersymmetric flavor-changing problem, a general form for the Yukawa couplings follows, leading to 9 relations among the fermion masses and mixings, 5 of which are precise. The combination of grand unified and U(2) symmetries provides a symmetry understanding for the anomalously small values of $m_u/m_c$ and $m_c/m_t$. A fit to the fermion mass data leads to a prediction for the angles of the CKM unitarity triangle, which will allow a significant test of these unified U(2) theories. A particular SO(10) model provides a simple realization of the general operator expansion. The lighter generation masses and the non-trivial structure of the CKM matrix are generated from the exchange of a single U(2) doublet of heavy vector generations. This model suggests that CP is spontaneously broken at the unification scale --- in which case there is a further reduction in the number of free parameters.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1996

On axion-mediated macroscopic forces again

In a supersymmetric unified theory or in a generic model where a large neutron electric dipole moment $d_N$ is expected, close to the present bound, we estimate the relation g_aNN = 10^{-21\pm1}(d_N/10^{-25} e cm)(10^10 GeV/f_a) between d_N itself, the scalar coupling g_{aNN} to nucleons of the axion, assumed to exist, and the breaking scale, f_a, of the Peccei-Quinn symmetry. Newly developing techniques to search for sub-cm macroscopic forces might reveal a signal due to axion exchange at least in a favorable range of f_a.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1995

Electric dipole moments as signals of supersymmetric unification

If supersymmetric unification is true, we show how the combined effort of several experiments under way to try to measure an electric dipole moment of the electron or of the neutron has a significant chance not only of producing a positive signal but also of providing crucial information to understand the physical origin of the signal itself.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1995

Light thresholds in Grand Unified Theories

In a generic Grand Unified Theory with a relatively small dispersion of the spectrum around the $Z$-boson and the unification masses, a connection is established, exact at one loop level, between $M_Z$, $G_{\rm F}$, $α(M_Z)$ and the strong coupling constant $α_3(M_Z)$. At this level of precision, this avoids the logical and phenomenological inconsistency of predicting $α_3(M_Z)$ by means of the electroweak couplings as extracted from the data in the Standard Model rather than in the complete theory. Attention is paid to the independence of the physical results from regularization and/or renormalization schemes. As a particularly relevant example, the analysis is specialized to the case of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, with emphasis on light charginos and neutralinos.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1995

Violations of lepton flavour and CP in supersymmetric unified theories

As a consequence of the large top quark Yukawa coupling, supersymmetric unified theories with soft supersymmetry breaking terms generated at the Planck scale predict lepton flavour and CP violating processes with significant rates. The flavour violating parameters of the low energy theory are derived in both SU(5) and SO(10) theories, and are used to calculate the rate for mu --> e gamma. The sensitivity of the search for mu --> e gamma is compared with that for mu --> e conversion in atoms, tau --> mu gamma and the electric dipole moment of the electron. The experimental search for these processes is shown to provide a very significant test of supersymmetric unification, especially in SO(10) but also in SU(5).

hep-ph↗

arXiv1994

Signals For Supersymmetric Unification

Using the Yukawa couplings of the minimal supersymmetric SU(5) model, the rates for $μ\to eγ$, $μ\to e$ conversion and $τ\to μγ$ are computed. For a selectron mass of 100 GeV, and without exploring the full parameter space, we find rates which are one order of magnitude beneath present experimental bounds. It is argued that these relatively large rates have a wide applicability, so that lepton flavor violating signals provide a more general test of supersymmetric unification than can be obtained from either proton decay or neutrino masses.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1994

Flavour in supersymmetric Grand Unification: a democratic approach

We consider the flavour problem in a supersymmetric Grand Unified theory with gauged SU(6) group, where the Higgs doublets are understood as pseudo-Goldstone bosons of a larger $\SU(6)\otimes\SU(6)$ global symmetry of the Higgs superpotential. A key element of this work is that we never appeal to any flavour symmetry. One main interesting feature emerges: only one of the light fermions, an up-type quark, to be identified with the top, can get a Yukawa coupling at renormalizable level. This fact, together with bottom-tau Yukawa unification, also implied in our scheme, gives rise to a characteristic correlation between the top and the Higgs mass. By including a flavour-blind discrete symmetry and requiring that all higher dimensional operators be mediated by the exchange of appropriate heavy multiplets, it is possible to give an approximate description of all masses and mixing angles in term of a hierarchy of grand unified scales. A special ``texture'' arises, implying a relation between the top mass and the third generation mixing angles. Several other possible consequences of this approach are pointed out, concerning the $μ/s$ mass ratio, the Cabibbo angle and the proton decay.

hep-ph↗