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Steve F. King

Publications and source records attributed to Steve F. King.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A Modular $SU(5)$ Littlest Seesaw

We extend the littlest modular seesaw to a Grand Unified scenario based on $SU(5)$ endowed with three modular $S_4$ symmetries. We leverage symmetry protected zeroes in the leptonic and down quark sectors to suppress deviations to the littlest modular seesaw predictions, but not contributions to the quark mixing. The model is supplemented by two weighton fields, such that the hierarchical nature of the charged-lepton masses, as well as the quark masses and mixing, stem from the content and symmetries of the model, rather than a hierarchical nature of the Yukawa coefficients.

hep-ph

Littlest Modular Seesaw

We present the first complete model of the Littlest Modular Seesaw, based on two right-handed neutrinos, within the framework of multiple modular symmetries, justifying the use of multiple moduli fields which take their values at 3 specific stabilizers of $Γ_4 \simeq S_4$, including a new phenomenological possibility. Using a semi-analytical approach, we perform a $χ^2$ analysis of each case and show that good agreement with neutrino oscillation data is obtained, including predictive relations between the leptonic mixing angles and the ratio of light neutrino masses, which non-trivially agree with the experimental values. It is noteworthy that in this very predictive setup, the models fit the global fits of the experimental data remarkably well, both with and without the Super-Kamiokande atmospheric data, for both choices of stabilizers. By extending the model to include a weighton and the double cover group $Γ'_4 \simeq S'_4$, we are able to also account for the hierarchy of the charged leptons using modular symmetries, without altering the neutrino predictions.

hep-ph

Non-universal Z' from SO(10) GUTs with vector-like family and the origin of neutrino masses

A $Z'$ gauge boson with mass around the (few) TeV scale is a popular example of physics beyond the Standard Model (SM) and can be a fascinating remnant of a Grand Unified Theory (GUT). Recently, $Z'$ models with non-universal couplings to the SM fermions due to extra vector-like states have received attention as potential explanations of the present $R_K$, $R_{K^{\ast}}$ anomalies; this includes GUT model proposals based on the $\mathrm{SO}(10)$ group. In this paper we further develop GUT models with a flavour non-universal low scale $Z'$ and clarify several outstanding issues within them. First, we successfully incorporate a realistic neutrino sector (with linear and/or inverse low scale seesaw mechanism), which was so far a missing ingredient. Second, we investigate in detail their compatibility with the $R_K$, $R_{K^{\ast}}$ anomalies; we find that the anomalies do not have a consistent explanation within such models. Third, we demonstrate that these models have other compelling phenomenological features; we study the correlations between the flavour violating processes of $μ\to 3e$ and $μ$-$e$ conversion in a muonic atom, showing how a GUT imprint could manifest itself in experiments.

hep-ph

Muon g-2 and Dark Matter suggest Non-Universal Gaugino Masses: $\mathbf{SU(5)\times A_4}$ case study at the LHC

We argue that in order to account for the muon anomalous magnetic moment $g-2$, dark matter and LHC data, non-universal gaugino masses $M_i$ at the high scale are required in the framework of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). We also need a right-handed smuon $\tildeμ_R$ with a mass around 100 GeV, evading LHC searches due to the proximity of a neutralino $\tildeχ^0_1$ several GeV lighter which allows successful dark matter. We discuss such a scenario in the framework of an $SU(5)$ Grand Unified Theory (GUT) combined with $A_4$ family symmetry, where the three $\overline{5}$ representations form a single triplet of $A_4$ with a unified soft mass $m_F$, while the three $10$ representations are singlets of $A_4$ with independent soft masses $m_{T1}, m_{T2}, m_{T3}$. Although $m_{T2}$ (and hence $\tildeμ_R$) may be light, the muon $g-2$ and relic density also requires light $M_1\simeq 250$ GeV, which is incompatible with universal gaugino masses due to LHC constraints on $M_2$ and $M_3$ arising from gaugino searches. After showing that universal gaugino masses $M_{1/2}$ at the GUT scale are excluded by gluino searches, we provide a series of benchmarks which show that while $M_{1}= M_{2} \ll M_3$ is also excluded by chargino searches, $M_{1}< M_{2} \ll M_3$ is currently allowed. Even this scenario is almost excluded by the tension between the muon $g-2$, relic density, Dark Matter direct detection and LHC data. The surviving parameter space is characterised by a higgsino mass $μ\approx -300$ GeV, as required by the muon $g-2$. The LHC will be able to fully test this scenario with the upgraded luminosity via muon-dominated tri- and di-lepton signatures resulting from higgsino dominated $\tildeχ^\pm_1 \, \tildeχ^0_2$ and $\tildeχ^+_1 \, \tildeχ^-_1$ production.

hep-ph

A to Z of the Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment in the MSSM with Pati-Salam at the GUT scale

We analyse the low energy predictions of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) arising from a GUT scale Pati-Salam gauge group further constrained by an $A_4 \times Z_5$ family symmetry, resulting in four soft scalar masses at the GUT scale: one left-handed soft mass $m_0$ and three right-handed soft masses $m_1,m_2,m_3$, one for each generation. We demonstrate that this model, which was initially developed to describe the neutrino sector, can explain collider and non-collider measurements such as the dark matter relic density, the Higgs boson mass and, in particular, the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon $(g-2)_μ$. Since about two decades, $(g-2)_μ$ suffers a puzzling about 3$\,σ$ excess of the experimentally measured value over the theoretical prediction, which our model is able to fully resolve. As the consequence of this resolution, our model predicts specific regions of the parameter space with the specific properties including light smuons and neutralinos, which could also potentially explain di-lepton excesses observed by CMS and ATLAS.

hep-ph

Invariant approach to CP in family symmetry models

We propose the use of basis invariants, valid for any choice of CP transformation, as a powerful approach to studying specific models of CP violation in the presence of discrete family symmetries. We illustrate the virtues of this approach for examples based on $A_4$ and $Δ(27)$ family symmetries. For $A_4$, we show how to elegantly obtain several known results in the literature. In $Δ(27)$ we use the invariant approach to identify how explicit (rather than spontaneous) CP violation arises, which is geometrical in nature, i.e. persisting for arbitrary couplings in the Lagrangian.

hep-ph

A fuller flavour treatment of N_2-dominated leptogenesis

We discuss N_2-dominated leptogenesis in the presence of flavour dependent effects that have hitherto been neglected, in particular the off-diagonal entries of the flavour coupling matrix that connects the total flavour asymmetries, distributed in different particle species, to the lepton and Higgs doublet asymmetries. We derive analytical formulae for the final asymmetry including the flavour coupling at the N_2-decay stage as well as at the stage of washout by the lightest right-handed neutrino N_1. Moreover, we point out that in general part of the electron and muon asymmetries (phantom terms), can completely escape the wash-out at the production and a total B-L asymmetry can be generated by the lightest RH neutrino wash-out yielding so called phantom leptogenesis. However, the phantom terms are proportional to the initial N_2 abundance and in particular they vanish for initial zero N_2-abundance. Taking any of these new effects into account can significantly modify the final asymmetry produced by the decays of the next-to-lightest RH neutrinos, opening up new interesting possibilities for N_2-dominated thermal leptogenesis.

hep-ph

Gauge Non-Singlet Inflation in SUSY GUTs

We explore the novel possibility that the inflaton responsible for cosmological inflation is a gauge non-singlet in supersymmetric (SUSY) Grand Unified Theories (GUTs). For definiteness we consider SUSY hybrid inflation where we show that the scalar components of gauge non-singlet superfields, together with fields in conjugate representations, may form a D-flat direction suitable for inflation. We apply these ideas to SUSY models with an Abelian gauge group, a Pati-Salam gauge group and finally Grand Unified Theories based on SO(10) where the scalar components of the matter superfields in the $\sixteen$s may combine with a single $\bar {sixteen}$ to form the inflaton, with the right-handed sneutrino direction providing a possible viable trajectory for inflation. Assuming sneutrino inflation, we calculate the one-loop Coleman-Weinberg corrections and the two-loop corrections from gauge interactions giving rise to the "gauge η-problem" and show that both corrections do not spoil inflation, and the monopole problem can be resolved. The usual η-problem arising from supergravity may also be resolved using a Heisenberg symmetry.

hep-ph

Chaotic Inflation in Supergravity with Heisenberg Symmetry

We propose the introduction of a Heisenberg symmetry of the Kahler potential to solve the problems with chaotic inflation in supergravity, as a viable alternative to the use of shift symmetry. The slope of the inflaton potential emerges from a small Heisenberg symmetry breaking term in the superpotential. The modulus field of the Heisenberg symmetry is stabilized and made heavy with the help of the large vacuum energy density during inflation. The observable predictions are indistinguishable from those of typical chaotic inflation models, however the form of the inflationary superpotential considered here may be interpreted in terms of sneutrino inflation arising from certain classes of string theory.

hep-th

Solving the $η$-Problem in Hybrid Inflation with Heisenberg Symmetry and Stabilized Modulus

We propose a class of models in which the $η$-problem of supersymmetric hybrid inflation is resolved using a Heisenberg symmetry, where the associated modulus field is stabilized and made heavy with the help of the large vacuum energy during inflation without any fine-tuning. The proposed class of models is well motivated both from string theory considerations, since it includes the commonly encountered case of no-scale supergravity Kaehler potential, and from the perspective of particle physics since a natural candidate for the inflaton in this class of models is the right-handed sneutrino which is massless during the inflationary epoch, and subsequently acquires a large mass at the end of inflation. We study a specific example motivated by sneutrino hybrid inflation with no-scale supergravity in some detail, and show that the spectral index may lie within the latest WMAP range, while the tensor-to-scalar ratio is very small.

hep-ph

Lepton Flavour Violation in the Constrained MSSM with Constrained Sequential Dominance

We consider charged Lepton Flavour Violation (LFV) in the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, extended to include the see-saw mechanism with Constrained Sequential Dominance (CSD), where CSD provides a natural see-saw explanation of tri-bimaximal neutrino mixing. When charged lepton corrections to tri-bimaximal neutrino mixing are included, we discover characteristic correlations among the LFV branching ratios, depending on the mass ordering of the right-handed neutrinos, with a pronounced dependence on the leptonic mixing angle $θ_{13}$ (and in some cases also on the Dirac CP phase $δ$).

hep-ph

Charged Lepton Corrections to Neutrino Mixing Angles and CP Phases Revisited

We re-analyze charged lepton corrections to neutrino mixing angles and CP phases, carefully including CP phases from the charged lepton sector. We present simple analytical formulae for including the charged lepton corrections and derive compact new results for small neutrino and charged lepton mixings $θ^ν_{13}$ and $θ^{e}_{13}$. We find a generic relation $θ_{12} + \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} θ^{e}_{12} \cos(δ- π) \approx θ^ν_{12}$, which relates the prediction from the neutrino sector $θ^ν_{12}$ to the charged lepton mixing $θ^{e}_{12}$ and to the MNS neutrino oscillation phase $δ$. We apply our formula to the examples of bimaximal or tri-bimaximal neutrino mixing. One implication is that the so-called quark-lepton complementarity relation $θ_{12} + θ_C = 45^\circ$ can only hold for $δ= π$ and it gets modified in the presence of leptonic CP violation. On the other hand, the lepton mixing $θ_{13}$ generated from the charged lepton correction $θ^{e}_{12}$ is independent of CP phases and given by $θ_{13} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} θ^{e}_{12}$. Combining these results leads to a model-independent sum rule: $θ_{12} + θ_{13} \cos(δ- π) \approx θ^ν_{12}$ where $θ^ν_{12} = (35.26^\circ) 45^\circ$ in the case of (tri-)bimaximal neutrino mixing, for example.

hep-ph

Leptogenesis in Unified Theories with Type II See-Saw

In some classes of flavour models based on unified theories with a type I see-saw mechanism, the prediction for the mass of the lightest right-handed neutrino is in conflict with the lower bound from the requirement of successful thermal leptogenesis. We investigate how lifting the absolute neutrino mass scale by adding a type II see-saw contribution proportional to the unit matrix can solve this problem. Generically, lifting the neutrino mass scale increases the prediction for the mass of the lightest right-handed neutrino while the decay asymmetry is enhanced and washout effects are reduced, relaxing the lower bound on the mass of the lightest right-handed neutrino from thermal leptogenesis. For instance in classes of unified theories where the lightest right-handed neutrino dominates the type I see-saw contribution, we find that thermal leptogenesis becomes possible if the neutrino mass scale is larger than about 0.15 eV, making this scenario testable by neutrinoless double beta decay experiments in the near future.

hep-ph

Quark-Lepton Complementarity in Unified Theories

As pointed out by many authors, recent observations are consistent with an intriguing relation between the Cabibbo angle $θ_C$ and the solar neutrino mixing angle $θ_{12}$, namely $θ_{12} \simeq π/4 - θ_C$. Such quark-lepton complementarity (QLC) may be a signal of an underlying quark-lepton unification at short distances. We discuss possible ways to realize this relation in realistic quark-lepton unification theories by identifying a minimal set of operators that lead to QLC while remaining consistent with other known data. The purpose of this paper is to present the first elements of a unified model at the GUT scale capable of predicting the QLC relation. A generic prediction of our proposed class of models is the new relation for the lepton mixing angle $θ_{13} \simeq θ_C$, which allows these models to be confirmed or excluded by the current generation of neutrino oscillation experiments.

hep-ph

Kahler corrections and softly broken family symmetries

Spontaneously broken family symmetry provides a promising origin for the observed quark and lepton mass and mixing angle structure. In a supersymmetric theory such structure comes from a combination of the contributions from the superpotential and the Kähler potential. The superpotential effects have been widely studied but relatively little attention has been given to the effects of the Kähler sector. In this paper we develop techniques to simplify the analysis of such Kähler effects. Using them we show that in the class of theories with an hierarchical structure for the Yukawa couplings the Kähler corrections to both the masses and mixing angles are subdominant. This is true even in cases that texture zeros are filled in by the terms coming from the Kähler potential.

hep-ph

Dirac Neutrinos and Hybrid Inflation from String Theory

We consider a possible scenario for the generation of Dirac neutrino masses motivated by Type I string theory. The smallness of the neutrino Yukawa couplings is explained by an anisotropic compactification with one compactification radius larger than the others. In addition to this we utilise small Yukawa couplings to develop strong links between the origin of neutrino masses and the physics driving inflation. We construct a minimal model which simultaneously accommodates small Dirac neutrino masses leading to bi-large lepton mixing as well as an inflationary solution to the strong CP and to the $μ$ problem.

hep-ph

Sneutrino Hybrid Inflation in Supergravity

We propose a hybrid inflation scenario in which the singlet sneutrino, the superpartner of the right-handed neutrino, plays the role of the inflaton. We study a minimal model of sneutrino hybrid inflation in supergravity, where we find a spectral index $n_s \approx 1 + 2 γ$ with $|γ| \lesssim 0.02$, and predict a running spectral index $|d n_s/d\ln k| \ll |γ|$ and a tensor-to-scalar ratio $r \ll γ^2$ for field values well below the Planck scale. In our scenario, the baryon asymmetry of our universe can be explained via non-thermal leptogenesis and a low reheat temperature $T_{RH} \approx 10^{6}$ GeV can be realized.

hep-ph

From Hierarchical to Partially Degenerate Neutrinos via Type II Upgrade of Type I See-Saw Models

We propose a type II upgrade of type I see-saw models leading to new classes of models where partially degenerate neutrinos are as natural as hierarchical ones. The additional type II contribution to the neutrino mass matrix, which determines the neutrino mass scale, is forced to be proportional to the unit matrix by a SO(3) flavour symmetry. The type I see-saw part of the neutrino mass matrix, which controls the mass squared differences and mixing angles, may be governed by sequential right-handed neutrino dominance and a natural alignment for the SO(3)-breaking vacuum. We focus on classes of models with bi-large mixing originating from the neutrino mass matrix although we also briefly discuss other classes of models where large mixing stems from the charged lepton mass matrix. We study renormalization group corrections to the neutrino mass squared differences and mixings and find that the low energy values do not depend sensitively on the high energy values for partially degenerate neutrinos with a mass scale up to about 0.15 eV. Our scenario predicts the effective mass for neutrinoless double beta decay to be approximately equal to the neutrino mass scale and therefore neutrinoless double beta decay will be observable if the neutrino mass spectrum is partially degenerate. We also find that all observable CP phases as well as $θ_{13}$ become small as the neutrino mass scale increases.

hep-ph