arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Riccardo Barbieri.
I discuss two topics: i) the empirical adequacy of the Standard Model in the Flavour Sector in view of recent data; ii) the possible existence of a hidden structure in the quark masses and mixings based on textures.
In hep-ph/0011311 the one Higgs doublet standard model was obtained by an orbifold projection of a 5D supersymmetric theory in an essentially unique way, resulting in a prediction for the Higgs mass m_H = 127 \pm 8 GeV and for the compactification scale 1/R = 370 \pm 70 GeV. The dominant one loop contribution to the Higgs potential was found to be finite, while the above uncertainties arose from quadratically divergent brane Z factors and from other higher loop contributions. In hep-th/0108184, a quadratically divergent Fayet-Iliopoulos term was found at one loop in this theory. We show that the resulting uncertainties in the predictions for the Higgs boson mass and the compactification scale are small, about 25% of the uncertainties quoted above, and hence do not affect the original predictions. However, a tree level brane Fayet-Iliopoulos term could, if large enough, modify these predictions, especially for 1/R.
A SU(3) \times SU(2) \times U(1) supersymmetric theory is constructed with a TeV sized extra dimension compactified on the orbifold S^1/(Z_2 \times Z_2'). The compactification breaks supersymmetry leaving a set of zero modes which correspond precisely to the states of the 1 Higgs doublet standard model. Supersymmetric Yukawa interactions are localized at orbifold fixed points. The top quark hypermultiplet radiatively triggers electroweak symmetry breaking, yielding a Higgs potential which is finite and exponentially insensitive to physics above the compactification scale. This potential depends on only a single free parameter, the compactification scale, yielding a Higgs mass prediction of 127 \pm 8 GeV. The masses of the all superpartners, and the Kaluza-Klein excitations are also predicted. The lightest supersymmetric particle is a top squark of mass 197 \pm 20 GeV. The top Kaluza-Klein tower leads to the ρparameter having quadratic sensitivity to unknown physics in the ultraviolet.
Is there a Higgs? Where is it? Is supersymmetry there? Where is it? By discussing these questions, we call attention to the `LEP paradox', which is how we see the naturalness problem of the Fermi scale after a decade of electroweak precision measurements, mostly done at LEP.
We assume that the scale of the soft supersymmetry breaking masses, m_SUSY, sliding at tree level, is fixed by the minimization of the potential, but without a significant contribution of the cosmological term. Under these assumptions the electroweak breaking scale gets related to m_SUSY by a loop factor. Applied to specific models of supersymmetry breaking, this mechanism naturally gives sparticles slightly above all present accelerator bounds.
Assuming that right-handed neutrinos exist and propagate in some large extra dimensions, we attempt to give a comprehensive description of the phenomenology of neutrino oscillations. A few alternative explanations of the atmospheric neutrino anomaly emerge, different from the standard nuMu --> nuTau or nuMu --> nuSterile interpretations. Constraints from nucleosynthesis and supernova 1987a are discussed. The constraints from SN1987a indicates a maximum radius of any extra dimension of about 1 Angstrom.
We obtain the bounds on all the gauge invariant, flavour symmetric, CP-even operators of dimension 6 that can affect the electroweak precision tests. For the preferred Higgs mass of about 100 GeV, their minimal scales range from 2 to 10 TeV. Depending on the individual operator, these limits are often significantly stronger than those quoted in the literature, when they exist at all. The impact, if any, of these bounds on the upper limit con the Higgs mass itself is discussed.
We extend a previously developed description of the flavour parameters in the charged fermion sector, based on a U(2) flavour symmetry, to include two main features of the neutrino sector seemingly implied by recent data: a large mixing angle $θ_{μτ}$ and a large hierarchy in the neutrino squared mass differences. A unified description of quark and lepton masses and mixings emerges. The neatest quantitative predictions are for elements of the unitary mixing matrix in the lepton sector: |V_{μ1}| = |V_{e 3} / V_{μ3}| = |V_{e 2} / V_{τ3}| = \sqrt{m_e / m_μ}, which go together with the analogous relations in the quark sector: |V_{ub} / V_{cb}| = \sqrt{m_u / m_c}, |V_{td} / V_{ts}| = \sqrt{m_d / m_s}
The relations $|V_{ub}/V_{cb}|=(m_u/m_c)^{1/2}$ and $|V_{td}/V_{ts}|=(m_d/m_s)^{1/2}$ between the CKM matrix elements and the quark masses are shown to imply a remarkably precise determination of the CKM unitarity triangle or of the Wolfenstein parameters $ρ$, $η$ consistent with the data so far. We view this as a clean test of a quark mass texture neatly arising from a hierarchical breaking of a U(2) flavour symmetry.
The hierarchy $Δm^2_{atm} \gg Δm^2_\odot$ and the large $θ_{23}$ mixing angle, as suggested by neutrino oscillation experiments, can be accounted for by a variety of lepton flavour models. A dichotomy emerges: i) Models were all neutrino masses are bounded by $m_{atm}\equiv (Δm^2_{atm})^{1/2}\approx 0.03 eV$; ii) Models of quasi-degenerate neutrinos. It is shown how these different patterns of neutrino masses may arise from different lepton flavour symmetries. Physical implications are discussed in the various cases.
Theories with non-Abelian flavour symmetries lead at zeroth order to neutrino degeneracy and massless charged fermions. The flavour symmetry is spontaneously broken sequentially to give hierarchies $Δm_{atm}^2 \gg Δm_{\odot}^2$ and $m_τ\gg m_μ\gg m_e$, and a misalignment of the vacuum between neutrino and charged sectors gives large $θ_{atm}$. Explicit models are given which determine $θ_{atm} = 45^\circ$. A similar construction gives vacuum misalignment for the lighter generations and gives a vanishing $ββ_{0 ν}$ rate, so that there is no laboratory constraint on the amount of neutrino hot dark matter in the universe, and the solar mixing angle is also maximal, $θ_\odot = 45^\circ$.
We show how a specific sequential breaking pattern of a U(2) flavour symmetry occurs automatically in a broad framework. The relative orientation in U(2) space of the spurion fields that breaks the U(2) symmetry is uniquely fixed, thus determining the form of the fermion mass matrices in a predictive way.
CP violation in hadronic B-decays is studied in a definite and well motivated framework of flavour physics and supersymmetry. Possible deviations from the standard model both in mixing and in decay amplitudes are discussed. An attempt is made to describe an experimental strategy for looking at these deviations and for measuring the relevant parameters.
In theories with three light neutrinos, a complete list of five zeroth-order textures for lepton mass matrices is found, which naturally yield: m_e = m_mu=0, m_tau \neq 0, Delta m^2_sun = 0, together with theta_{e tau} = 0, theta_{mu tau} approx 1. These textures provide suitable starting points for constructing theories which account for both atmospheric and solar neutrino fluxes. Using flavor symmetries, two schemes for such lepton masses are found, and example constructions exhibited.
Following Chankowski, Ellis and Pokorski we quantify the amount of fine-tuning of input parameters of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model that is needed to respect the lower limits on sparticle and Higgs masses imposed by negative searches so far, direct or indirect. By including the one loop radiative corrections to the effective potential, the amount of fine-tuning is reduced with respect to the results of CEP by a factor of 2--5, strongly increasing as tanβapproaches 1. A further reduction factor may come from a more appropriate, less restrictive, definition of the fine-tuning parameter itself.
Recent improvements to the limit of Delta M_{B_s} imply that pure superweak theories, while not excluded, no longer provide a good fit to the data. A class of general superweak theories is introduced in which all flavor changing interactions are governed by an approximate flavor symmetry which gives a ``3 mechanism''. These theories are in good agreement with data, and predict low values for |V_{td}|, |V_{ub}/V_{cb}|, B(K^+ to pi^+ nu nubar), epsilon'/epsilon and CP asymmetries in B decays, and high values for Delta M_{B_s} and f_B sqrt{B_B}. An important example of such a theory is provided by weak scale supersymmetric theories with soft CP violation. The CP violation originates in the squark mass matrix, and, with phases of order unity, flavor symmetries can yield a correct prediction for the order of magnitude of epsilon_K.
We discuss an initial condition on the superpotential couplings of an SU(5) theory which allows the R-violating term L d^c Q but avoids the simultaneous presence of L L e^c + d^c d^c u^c. This same condition keeps under control the products of pairs of different couplings lambda_{ijk} L_i d^c_j Q_k, which are more strongly constrained by flavour-changing-neutral-current limits. In our view, this observation makes relatively more plausible the interpretation of the high-Q^2 Hera anomaly, if real, as caused by squark production.
While solving the supersymmetric flavour problem, a U(2) flavour symmetry might be at the origin of the pattern of fermion masses and mixings. The consequences of this hypothesis are spelled out concerning the parameters of the CKM matrix and their observability in B- and K-physics. The relevance of searching for lepton flavour violation and for the electric dipole moments of the electron and the neutron is also emphasized.