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Stefania De Curtis

Publications and source records attributed to Stefania De Curtis.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Non Minimal Terms in Composite Higgs Models and in QCD

We introduce a general parametrisation for theories where the Higgs is a Goldstone boson that encompasses all existing models. Our construction deviates from extra-dimensional or deconstructed theories through the inclusion of "non-local" interactions in theory space. These terms are necessary to reproduce the most general 4D effective lagrangian compatible with the symmetries. After showing the relation of our formalism to the Callan-Coleman-Wess-Zumino effective lagrangian we apply our framework to SO(5)/SO(4) composite Higgs models studying the implications for the Higgs potential, coupling of resonances and S-parameter. We also outline the relevance of non-minimal terms in effective descriptions of QCD, studying the electro-magnetic splitting of pions and the correlation between L_9 and L_10 in the chiral lagrangian.

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Future Electron-Positron Colliders and the 4-Dimensional Composite Higgs Model

In this note we analyse the prospects of a future electron-positron collider in testing a particular realisation of a composite Higgs model encompassing partial compositeness, namely, the 4-Dimensional Composite Higgs Model. We study the main Higgs production channels for three possible energy stages and different luminosity options of such a machine and confront our results to the expected experimental accuracies in the various Higgs decay channels accessible herein and, for comparison, also at the Large Hadron Collider.

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Composite Higgs: searches for new physics at future $e^+e^-$ colliders

In this proceeding, we extend a previous analysis concerning the prospects of a future electron-positron collider in testing the 4-Dimensional Composite Higgs Model. In particular, we introduce two motivated benchmarks and study them in Higgs-Strahlung, for three possible energy stages and different luminosity options of such a machine and confront our results to the expected experimental accuracies in the various accessible Higgs decay channels.

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Exploring Drell-Yan signals from the 4D Composite Higgs Model at the LHC

We study the phenomenology of Drell-Yan processes at the Large Hadron Collider for the case of both the neutral and charged current channels within a recently proposed 4-Dimensional formulation of the Minimal Composite Higgs Model. We estimate the integrated and differential event rates at the CERN machine, assuming 14 TeV and data samples of ${\cal O}(100 {\rm{fb}}^{-1})$, as at lower energy and/or luminosity event rates are prohibitively small. We pay particular attention to the presence of multiple resonances in either channel, by showing that in certain region of parameter space some of these can be distinguishable and experimentally accessible in the invariant and/or transverse mass distribution, sampled in either the cross section, the forward-backward asymmetry or both. At the same time, we assess the indirect impact onto the line-shape of the emerging gauge boson resonances, both neutral and charged, of additional heavy fermionic states present in the spectrum of the model. Finally, we show how to exploit in the kinematic selection the fact that the extra neutral and charged gauge boson resonances in composite Higgs models are correlated in mass. Such results rely on a parton level study including a statystical error analysis.

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Discovery and Mass Spectroscopy via Mixed Di-Boson Production at the LHC in a 4-Site Model with a Composite Higgs Boson

We investigate the scope of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in probing the parameter space of a 4-Site (4S) model supplemented by one composite Higgs state. We concentrate on the yield of `mixed' di-boson production giving three leptons and missing (transverse) energy in the final state, i.e., events induced via the sub-process $q\bar q' -> l^+ν_l l^{'+}l^{'-}$ + ${\rm{c.c.}}$, where $q,q'$ are quarks and $l,l'=e,μ$ in all possible combinations, signature which enables the production in the intermediate steps of all additional -- with respect to the Standard Model (SM) -- neutral and charged gauge bosons belonging to the spectrum of this scenario, all of which in resonant topologies. We not only find this channel to be accessible over the background but also show that, after a dedicated cut-based analysis, kinematical reconstruction of all such resonances is always possible. We finally compare the yield of the mixed di-boson mode to that of the `charged' di-boson one and find that the former is of lesser scope than the latter at smaller gauge boson masses but it overcomes it at higher values, thereby revealing itself a viable search mode covering new regions of parameter space.

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Leptonic final states from di-boson production at the LHC in the 4-Dimensional Composite Higgs Model

We study di-boson production via both neutral and charged current at the Large Hadron Collider, i.e. subprocesses $q\bar q\to e^+ν_e μ^-\barν_μ$ + ${\rm{c.c.}}$ and $q\bar q'\to l^+ν_l l^{'+}l^{'-}$ + ${\rm{c.c.}}$, respectively, where $q,q'$ are quarks and $l,l'=e,μ$, in all possible combinations, in the context of the 4-Dimensional Composite Higgs Model. These modes enable the production in the intermediate steps of several additional -- with respect to the Standard Model -- neutral and charged gauge bosons belonging to the spectrum of this scenario, all of which in resonant topologies. We not only find these channels to be accessible over the background but also show that, after a dedicated cut-based analysis, kinematic reconstruction of most such resonances is always possible. However, since the Electro-Weak precision data generally disfavor neutral and charged gauge boson masses below the TeV range and also their large couplings to light-fermions, these modes turn out to be relevant only for the 14 TeV option with high integrated luminosity.

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Interference effects in heavy W'-boson searches at the LHC

Interference effects are widely neglected in searches for new physics. This is the case in recent publications on searches for W'-bosons using leptonic final states. We examine the effects of interference on distributions frequently used to determine mass limits for possible W'-bosons and show that there are important qualitative effects on the behaviour of the new physics signal. There are two main consequences. Firstly, exclusion limits where interferences effects have not been considered are likely to have been overestimated. Secondly, presenting experimental results as a function of a transverse mass cut rather than in terms of the contribution of new physics to the total cross-section would be more informative.

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The 4D Composite Higgs

We propose a four dimensional description of Composite Higgs Models which represents a complete framework for the physics of the Higgs as a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson. Our setup captures all the relevant features of 5D models and more in general of composite Higgs models with partial compositeness. We focus on the minimal scenario where we include a single multiplet of resonances of the composite sector, as these will be the only degrees of freedom which might be accessible at the LHC. This turns out to be sufficient to compute the effective potential and derive phenomenological consequences of the theory. Moreover our simplified approach is well adapted to simulate these models at the LHC. We also consider the impact of non-minimal terms in the effective lagrangian which do not descend from a 5D theory and could be of phenomenological relevance, for example contributing to the S-parameter.

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Indirect Sensitivity to Heavy Z' Bosons at a Multi-TeV e+e- Collider

We compare the phenomenology of two models, the so-called minimal Z' and an effective model for a SM-like Higgs realised as a composite state of a new strong interaction, at a multi-TeV linear collider in the hypothesis that the new physics is at a scale beyond the direct reach of the machine.

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W' production at the LHC in the 4-site Higgsless model

We study the phenomenology of the 4-site Higgsless model, based on the $SU(2)_L\times SU(2)_1\times SU(2)_2\times U(1)_Y$ gauge symmetry, at present colliders. The model predicts the existence of two neutral and four charged extra gauge bosons, Z1,Z2,W1,W2. In this paper, we focus on the charged gauge sector. We first derive limits on W1,W2-boson masses and couplings to SM fermions from direct searches at the Tevatron. We then estimate at the 7 TeV LHC the exclusion limits with the actual L=1 fb-1 and the discovery potential with the expected L=10 fb-1. In contrast to the minimal (or 3-site) Higgsless model which predicts almost fermiophobic extra gauge bosons, the next-to-minimal (or 4-site) Higgsless model recovers sizeable W1,W2-boson couplings to ordinary matter, expressing the non-fermiophobic multiresonance inner nature of extra-dimensional theories. Owing to this feature, we find that in one year from now the new heavy gauge bosons, W1 and W2, could be discovered in the final state with an electron and large missing transverse energy at the 7 TeV LHC for W1,W2-boson masses in the TeV region, depending on model parameters.

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Improved analysis of the bounds from the electroweak precision tests on the 4-site model

We present a new complete analysis of the electroweak precision observables within the recently proposed 4-site Higgsless model, which is based on the SU(2)_L x SU(2)_1 x SU(2)_2 x U(1)_Y gauge symmetry and predicts six extra gauge bosons, W_{1,2} and Z_{1,2}. Within the epsilon_i (i=1,2,3,b) parametrization, we compute for the first time the EWPT bounds via a complete numerical algorithm going beyond commonly used approximations. Both epsilon_{1,3} impose strong constraints. Hence, it is mandatory to consider them jointly when extracting EWPT bounds and to fully take in to account the correlations among the electroweak precison measurements. The phenomenological consequence is that the extra gauge bosons must be heavier than 250 GeV. Their couplings to SM fermions, even if bounded, might be of the same order of magnitude than the SM ones. In contrast to other Higgsless models, the 4-site model is not fermiophobic. The new gauge bosons could thus be discovered in the favoured Drell-Yan channel already during the present run of the LHC experiment.

hep-ph↗

Z' production at the LHC in the four-site Higgsless model

We study the phenomenology of the neutral gauge sector of the four-site Higgsless model, based on the SU(2)_L x SU(2)_1 x SU(2)_2 x U(1)_Y gauge symmetry, at present colliders. The model predicts the existence of two neutral and four charged extra gauge bosons, Z_{1,2} and W^\pm_{1,2}. We expand and update a previous study, by concentrating on the neutral sector. We derive new limits on Z_{1,2}-boson masses and couplings from recent direct searches at the Tevatron. We moreover estimate the discovery potential at the Tevatron with a project luminosity L=10 fb^{-1}, and at the 7 TeV LHC with L=1 fb^{-1}. In contrast to other Higgsless theories characterized by almost fermiophobic extra gauge bosons, the four-site model allows sizeable Z_{1,2}-boson couplings to SM fermions. Owing to this feature, we find that in the next two years the extra Z_{1,2}-bosons could be discovered in the favoured Drell-Yan channel at the 7 TeV LHC for Z_{1,2} masses in the TeV region, depending on model parameters.

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The BESS model revisited as a Higgsless Linear Moose @ the LHC

We study the phenomenological consequences of a four site Higgsless model based on the SU(2)_L x SU(2)_1 x SU(2)_2 x U(1)_Y gauge symmetry, which predicts two neutral and four charged extra gauge bosons, Z_{1,2} and W_{1,2}. The model represents an extension of the minimal three site version (or BESS model), largely investigated in the literature, which includes three heavy vector bosons. We compute the properties of the new particles, and derive indirect and direct limits on their masses and couplings from LEP and Tevatron data and from the perturbative unitarity requirements. In contrast to other Higgsless models characterized by fermiophobic extra gauge bosons, here sizeable fermion-boson couplings are allowed by the electroweak precision data. The prospects of detecting the new predicted particles in the favoured Drell-Yan channel at the LHC are thus investigated. The outcome is that all six extra gauge bosons could be discovered in the early stage of the LHC low-luminosity run.

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From hidden symmetry to extra dimensions: a five dimensional formulation of the Degenerate BESS model

We consider the continuum limit of a moose model corresponding to a generalization to N sites of the Degenerate BESS model. The five dimensional formulation emerging in this limit is a realization of a RS1 type model with SU(2)_L x SU(2)_R in the bulk, broken by boundary conditions and a vacuum expectation value on the infrared brane. A low energy effective Lagrangian is derived by means of the holographic technique and corresponding bounds on the model parameters are obtained.

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Nearby resonances beyond the Breit-Wigner approximation

We consider a description of propagators for particle resonances which takes into account the quantum mechanical interference due to the width of two or more nearby states that have common decay channels, by incorporating the effects arising from the imaginary parts of the one-loop self-energies. Depending on the couplings to the common decay channels, the interference effect, not taken into account in the usual Breit-Wigner approximation, can significantly modify the cross section or make the more long-lived resonance narrower. We give few examples of New Physics models for which the effect is sizable, namely a generic two and multiple Higgs model and neutral vector resonances in Higgsless models. Based on these results we suggest the implementation of a proper treatment of nearby resonances into Monte Carlo generators.

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Modified spontaneous symmetry breaking pattern by brane-bulk interaction terms

We show how translational invariance can be broken by the vacuum that drives the spontaneous symmetry breaking of extra-dimensional extensions of the Standard Model, when delta-like interactions between brane and bulk scalar fields are present. We explicitly build some examples of vacuum configurations, which induce the spontaneous symmetry breaking, and have non trivial profile in the extra coordinate.

hep-th↗

The scalar sector in an extended electroweak gauge symmetry model

The scalar sector of the linear formulation of the degenerate BESS model is analyzed. The model predicts two additional scalar states which mix with the SM Higgs. As a consequence the properties of the SM Higgs are modified and Higgs precision measurements can constrain the mixing angle. One of the two additional Higgses has no coupling to fermions and suppressed couplings to ordinary gauge bosons, therefore its detection is difficult. The production of the other two Higgses at future e+e- linear colliders in the Higgstrahlung and fusion channels is investigated.

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