arXiv subjects

Sebastian A. R. Ellis

Publications and source records attributed to Sebastian A. R. Ellis.

45 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Mixed Heavy-Light Matching in the Universal One-Loop Effective Action

Recently, a general result for evaluating the path integral at one loop was obtained in the form of the Universal One-Loop Effective Action. It may be used to derive effective field theory operators of dimensions up to six, by evaluating the traces of matrices in this expression, with the mass-dependence encapsulated in the universal coefficients. Here we show that it can account for loops of mixed heavy-light particles in the matching procedure. Our prescription for computing these mixed contributions to the Wilson coefficients is conceptually simple. Moreover it has the advantage of maintaining the universal structure of the effective action, which we illustrate using the example of integrating out a heavy electroweak triplet scalar coupling to a light Higgs doublet. Finally we also identify new structures that were previously neglected in the universal results.

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arXiv2016

The lightest visible-sector supersymmetric particle is likely to be unstable

We argue, based on typical properties of known solutions of string/$M$-theory, that the lightest supersymmetric particle of the visible sector will not be stable. In other words, dark matter is {\em not} a particle with Standard Model quantum numbers, such as a WIMP. The argument is simple and based on the typical occurrence of a) hidden sectors, b) interactions between the Standard Model (visible) sector and these hidden sectors, and c) the lack of an argument against massive neutral hidden sector particles being lighter than the lightest visible supersymmetric particle. These conclusions do not rely on arguments such as R-parity violation.

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arXiv2016

On the Interpretation of a Possible $\sim 750$ GeV Particle Decaying into $γγ$

We consider interpretations of the recent $\sim 3 σ$ reports by the CMS and ATLAS collaborations of a possible $X(\sim 750~{\rm GeV})$ state decaying into $γγ$ final states. We focus on the possibilities that this is a scalar or pseudoscalar electroweak isoscalar state produced by gluon-gluon fusion mediated by loops of heavy fermions. We consider several models for these fermions, including a single vector-like charge $2/3$ T quark, a doublet of vector-like quarks $(T, B)$, and a vector-like generation of quarks, with or without leptons that also contribute to the $X \to γγ$ decay amplitude. We also consider the possibility that $X(750)$ is a dark matter mediator, with a neutral vector-like dark matter particle. These scenarios are compatible with the present and prospective direct limits on vector-like fermions from LHC Runs 1 and 2, as well as indirect constraints from electroweak precision measurements, and we show that the required Yukawa-like couplings between the $X$ particle and the heavy vector-like fermions are small enough to be perturbative so long as the $X$ particle has dominant decay modes into $gg$ and $γγ$. The decays $X \to Z Z, Z γ$ and $W^+ W^-$ are interesting prospective signatures that may help distinguish between different vector-like fermion scenarios.

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arXiv2015

Reaching for Squarks and Gauginos at a 100 TeV p-p Collider

We analyse the prospect of extending the reach for squarks and gauginos via associated production at a $\sqrt{s} = 100$ TeV proton-proton collider, given 3 ab$^{-1}$ integrated luminosity. Depending on the gluino mass, the discovery reach for squarks in associated production with a gluino can be up to 37 TeV for compressed spectra (small gluino-LSP mass splitting), and up to 32 TeV for non-compressed spectra. The discovery reach for Winos can be up to between 3.5 and 6 TeV depending on squark masses and Wino decay kinematics. Binos of up to 1.7 TeV could similarly be discovered. Squark-gaugino associated production could prove to be the discovery mode for supersymmetry at a 100 TeV collider in a large region of parameter space.

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arXiv2015

Lepton Flavour Violation via the Kähler Potential in Compactified M-Theory

We use lepton-flavour violating (LFV) processes as a probe of higher-order corrections to the Kähler potential in compactified M-theory. We consider a generic Kähler potential with higher-order terms coupling visible sector fields to fields in the hidden sector of the compactified theory. Such terms generally give rise to potentially large flavour-violating effects. Unless there are suppressions, the size of the resulting off-diagonal terms in the Kähler potential may be at odds with experimental results. The rare decay $μ\to e γ$ and $μ\to e$ conversion in nuclei probe the size of the potential flavour non-diagonality of the higher-order terms for realistic spectra in the M-theory compactification. We consider a parameterisation of the higher-order corrections in terms of a small parameter $ε$. By analysing various textures for the higher-order corrections, we find current bounds on $ε$ from the LFV processes. The constraint from the neutral kaon mass difference $Δm_K$ is currently similar to that from $μ\to e γ$. Measurement or new limits on the process $μ\to e γ$ and, in the future, $μ\to e$ conversion in Aluminium, will be an effective probe of the form of the higher-order Kähler potential terms. For the preferred range of gravitino masses, unless the Kähler potential is strikingly flavour-diagonal, improvement in experimental sensitivity of LFV processes should give a non-zero signal.

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arXiv2015

Visualizing gauge unification with high-scale thresholds

Tests of gauge coupling unification require knowledge of thresholds between the weak scale and the high scale of unification. If these scales are far separated, as is the case in most unification scenarios considered in the literature, the task can be factorized into IR and UV analyses. We advocate "$Δλ$ plots" as an efficient IR analysis projected to the high scale. The data from these plots gives an immediate qualitative guide to the size of threshold corrections needed at the high scale (e.g., the indices of high-scale representations) and provides precise quantitative data needed to test the viability of hypothesized high-scale unification theories. Such an approach shows more clearly the reasonable prospects of non-supersymmetric grand unification in large rank groups, and also shows the low summed values of high-scale threshold corrections required for supersymmetric unification. The latter may imply tuned cancellations of high-scale thresholds in theories based on weak-scale supersymmetry. For that reason we view non-supersymmetric unification to be just as viable as supersymmetric unification when confining ourselves only to the question of reasonable high-scale threshold corrections needed for exact unification. We illustrate these features for a non-supersymmetric $SO(10)$ graund unified theory and a supersymmetric $SU(5)$ theory.

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arXiv2014

Survey of vector-like fermion extensions of the Standard Model and their phenomenological implications

With the renewed interest in vector-like fermion extensions of the Standard Model, we present here a study of multiple vector-like theories and their phenomenological implications. Our focus is mostly on minimal flavor conserving theories that couple the vector-like fermions to the SM gauge fields and mix only weakly with SM fermions so as to avoid flavor problems. We present calculations for precision electroweak and vector-like state decays, which are needed to investigate compatibility with currently known data. We investigate the impact of vector-like fermions on Higgs boson production and decay, including loop contributions, in a wide variety of vector-like extensions and their parameter spaces.

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arXiv2014

Superpartners at LHC and Future Colliders: Predictions from Constrained Compactified M-Theory

We study a realistic top-down M-theory compactification with low-scale effective Supersymmetry, consistent with phenomenological constraints. A combination of top-down and generic phenomenological constraints fix the spectrum. The gluino mass is predicted to be about 1.5 TeV. Three and only three superpartner channels, $\tilde{g} \tilde{g}$, $χ_2^0 χ_1^\pm$ and $χ_1^+ χ_1^-$ (where $χ_2^0, χ_1^\pm$ are Wino-like), are expected to be observable at LHC-14. We also investigate the prospects of finding heavy squarks and Higgsinos at future colliders. Gluino-stop-top, gluino-sbottom-bottom associated production and first generation squark associated production should be observable at a 100 TeV collider, along with direct production of heavy Higgsinos. Within this framework the discovery of a single sparticle is sufficient to determine uniquely the SUSY spectrum, yielding a number of concrete testable predictions for LHC-14 and future colliders, and determination of $M_{3/2}$ and thereby other fundamental quantities.

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arXiv2014

Theoretical Prediction and Impact of Fundamental Electric Dipole Moments

The predicted Standard Model (SM) electric dipole moments (EDMs) of electrons and quarks are tiny, providing an important window to observe new physics. Theories beyond the SM typically allow relatively large EDMs. The EDMs depend on the relative phases of terms in the effective Lagrangian of the extended theory, which are generally unknown. Underlying theories, such as string/M-theories compactified to four dimensions, could predict the phases and thus EDMs in the resulting supersymmetric (SUSY) theory. Earlier one of us, with collaborators, made such a prediction and found, unexpectedly, that the phases were predicted to be zero at tree level in the theory at the unification or string scale $\sim\mathcal{O}(10^{16}$ GeV). Electroweak (EW) scale EDMs still arise via running from the high scale, and depend only on the SM Yukawa couplings that also give the CKM phase. Here we extend the earlier work by studying the dependence of the low scale EDMs on the constrained but not fully known fundamental Yukawa couplings. The dominant contribution is from two loop diagrams and is not sensitive to the choice of Yukawa texture. The electron EDM should not be found to be larger than about $ 5\times 10^{-30} e$ cm, and the neutron EDM should not be larger than about $5\times 10^{-29}e$ cm. These values are quite a bit smaller than the reported predictions from Split SUSY and typical effective theories, but much larger than the Standard Model prediction. Also, since models with random phases typically give much larger EDMs, it is a significant testable prediction of compactified M-theory that the EDMs should not be above these upper limits. The actual EDMs can be below the limits, so once they are measured they could provide new insight into the fundamental Yukawa couplings of leptons and quarks. We comment also on the role of strong CP violation. EDMs probe fundamental physics near the Planck scale.

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