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Tanumoy Mandal

Publications and source records attributed to Tanumoy Mandal.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Pinning down the leptophobic $Z^\prime$ in leptonic final states with Deep Learning

A leptophobic $Z^\prime$ that does not couple with the Standard Model leptons can evade the stringent bounds from the dilepton-resonance searches. In our earlier paper [T. Arun et al., Search for the $Z'$ boson decaying to a right-handed neutrino pair in leptophobic $U(1)$ models, Phys. Rev. D, 106 (2022) 095035; arXiv:2204.02949], we presented two gauge anomaly-free $U(1)$ models -- one based on the Green-Schwarz (GS) anomaly cancellation mechanism, and the other on a grand unified theory (GUT) framework with gauge kinetic mixing -- where a heavy leptophobic $Z'$ is present along with right-handed neutrinos ($N_R$). We pointed out the interesting possibility of a correlated search for $Z'$ and $N_R$ at the LHC through the $pp\to Z'\to N_R N_R$ channel. This channel can probe a part of the $Z'$ parameter space beyond the reach of the standard dijet resonance searches. In this follow-up paper, we analyse the challenging monolepton final state arising from the decays of the $N_R$ pair with Deep Learning. We present the high-luminosity LHC discovery reaches for six different GUT embeddings and a benchmark point in the GS setup. We also update our previous estimates in the dilepton channel with Deep Learning. We identify parameter regions that can be probed with the proposed channel but will remain inaccessible to dijet searches at the HL-LHC.

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Machine learning-enhanced search for a vectorlike singlet $B$ quark decaying to a singlet scalar or pseudoscalar

The presence of a new decay mode relaxes the current mass exclusion limits on vectorlike quarks considerably. We consider the case of a weak-singlet vectorlike $B$ quark that can decay to a singlet scalar or pseudoscalar $Φ$. In an earlier paper [A. Bhardwaj et al., Roadmap to explore vectorlike quarks decaying to a new scalar or pseudoscalar, Phys. Rev. D, 106 (2022) 095014; arXiv:2203.13753], we mapped the possibilities to explore such setups at the LHC. We showed that it is possible for a $B$ quark to decay into $Φ$ and the $Φ$ to dominantly decay to a pair of gluons or $b$ quark(s) without fine-tuning the parameters. In this paper, we present a collider search strategy to look for the pair production of singlet $B$ quarks. If both $B$ quarks decay into $bΦ$ pairs, the final state is fully hadronic: $B{B}\to(bΦ)({b}Φ)\to (bgg)({b}gg)/(bb{b})({b}b{b})$, which is very challenging to probe. Therefore, we consider a simpler mixed decay specific to the singlet $B$ case, $BB\to(bΦ)(tW)$ with a lepton in the final state, to achieve the best sensitivity at the high-luminosity LHC. We use a deep neural network with a weighted cross-entropy loss to separate the signal from the huge SM background. Our analysis shows that large areas of the $M_{B}-M_Φ$ parameter space are discoverable through this signature. We show how the discovery and exclusion regions scale with the branching ratio in the new decay mode. We also estimate the reach in the inclusive monolepton channel with the same network model.

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Leptogenesis in an anomaly-free $\mathrm{U}(1)$ extension with higher-dimensional operators

We explore an anomaly-free ${\textrm U}(1)$ gauge extended beyond the Standard model (BSM) framework, to account for the baryon asymmetry of the Universe, along with arranging for tiny neutrino mass. Neutrino masses are generated via higher-dimensional operators (HDOs) involving three right-handed neutrinos (RHNs) with gauge charges ($4$, $4$ and $-5$ respectively) and two BSM scalars. This is an attractive framework as it can accommodate a keV scale dark matter, with the lightest RHN being the candidate. The remaining two RHNs are quasi-degenerate at the TeV-scale, actively participating in the process of resonant leptogenesis through their decay governed by the same set of HDOs. The RHNs being at the TeV scale, make this framework relevant for studying flavored resonant leptogenesis. This TeV-scale resonant leptogenesis, after satisfying the neutrino oscillation data, leads to interesting predictions on the Yukawa sector of the model HDOs. The thermal evolution of the baryon asymmetry has followed the experimental results rather accurately in that corner of parameter space. As a matter of fact, this TeV-scale framework which in principle relies on the low scale resonant leptogenesis typically leads to predictions that potentially can be tested at the colliders. In particular, we consider the same-sign dilepton signature that arises from the RHN pair production through the decay of heavy gauge boson of the extra ${\textrm U}(1)$.

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Search for the $Z^\prime$ boson decaying to a right-handed neutrino pair in leptophobic $\mathrm{U(1)}$ models

The $U(1)$ extensions of the Standard Model contain a heavy neutral gauge boson $Z^\prime$. If leptophobic, the boson can evade the stringent bounds from the dilepton resonance searches. We consider two theoretically well-motivated examples of leptophobic $U(1)$ extensions in which the $Z'$ decays to right-handed neutrinos (RHNs) with substantial branchings. The coexistence of a leptophobic $Z^\prime$ and the RHNs opens up a new possibility of searching for these particles simultaneously through the production of a $Z^\prime$ at the LHC and its decay to a RHN pair. For this decay to occur, the RHNs need to be lighter than the $Z^\prime$. Hence, we study this process in an inverse seesaw setup where the RHNs can be in the TeV range. However, in this case, they have a pseudo-Dirac nature, i.e., a RHN pair would produce only opposite-sign lepton pairs, as opposed to the Majorana-type neutrinos, which can produce both same- and opposite-sign lepton pairs. Hence, the final state we study has a same-flavour opposite-sign lepton pair plus hadronically-decaying boosted $W$ bosons. Our analysis shows that the high luminosity LHC can discover a TeV-scale leptophobic $Z^\prime$ decaying via a RHN pair in a wide range of available parameters. Interestingly, large parameter regions beyond the reach of future dijet-resonance searches can be probed exclusively through our channel.

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Combined explanation of $W$-mass, muon $g-2$, $R_{K^{(*)}}$ and $R_{D^{(*)}}$ anomalies in a singlet-triplet scalar leptoquark model

In addition to the long-standing anomalies seen in the muon $g-2$, $R_{K^{(*)}}$, and $R_{D^{(*)}}$ observables by various independent experiments, the CDF Collaboration has found another significant one in the $W$-boson mass. These anomalies might be intertwined at a fundamental level and have a single new-physics explanation. In this paper, we present a simultaneous solution to these anomalies with two scalar leptoquarks of roughly equal mass -- one weak-singlet $S_1$ and the other a weak-triplet $S_3$ -- which mix through a Higgs portal. The solution has only a few new couplings and TeV-scale leptoquarks, making the solution testable at the LHC. We put a lower and upper bound on the leptoquark masses in this setup from the current LHC data and the assumption that all new couplings are within the perturbative limit.

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Discovery prospects of a vectorlike top partner decaying to a singlet boson

The possibility of a vectorlike top partner decaying to a new colourless weak-singlet scalar or pseudoscalar has attracted some attention in the literature. We investigate the production of a weak-singlet charge-$2/3$ $T$ quark that can decay to a spinless boson ($Φ$) and a top quark at the LHC. Earlier, in 2203.13753, we have shown that in a large part of the parameter space, the $T\to tΦ$ and the loop-induced $Φ\to gg$ decays become the dominant decay modes for these particles. Here, we investigate the discovery prospects of the $T$ quark in this region through the above decays. In particular, we focus on the $pp\to TT\to (tΦ)(tΦ)\to (t(gg))\,(t(gg))$ channel. Separating this signal from the huge Standard Model background is a challenging task, forcing us to employ a multivariate machine-learning technique. We find that the above channel can be a discovery channel of the top partner in the large part of the parameter space where the above decay chain dominates. Our analysis is largely model-independent, and hence our results would be useful in a broad class of new physics models.

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Roadmap to explore vectorlike quarks decaying to a new scalar or pseudoscalar

The current experimental data allow for a sub-TeV colourless weak-singlet scalar or pseudoscalar. If such a singlet field is present together with TeV-range vectorlike top and bottom partners, there is a possibility that the heavy quarks decay dominantly to the singlet state and a third-generation quark, and the singlet state decays to quark and boson pairs. Such a possibility may arise in various models but it has not been explored experimentally, especially in the context of vectorlike-quark searches. We consider some minimal models, covering the possible weak representations of the top and bottom partners, that can be mapped to many well-motivated ultraviolet-complete theories. We chart out the possible interesting and unexplored signatures of the exotic decay of vectorlike quarks and identify benchmark points representing different signal topologies for the high luminosity LHC. We perform a general scan of the parameter space with the relevant direct search bounds and find that large regions, which do not require any fine-tuning, remain open for the unexplored channels. We also perform a simple projection study in the cleanest channel and indicate how other new but experimentally challenging channels can be used to probe more regions of the parameter space.

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Testing left-right symmetry with an inverse seesaw mechanism at the LHC

In the left-right symmetric models, a heavy charged gauge boson $W'$ can decay to a lepton and a right-handed neutrino (RHN). If the neutrino masses are generated through the standard type-I seesaw mechanism, the Yukawa couplings controlling two-body decays of the RHN become very small. As a result, the RHN decays to another lepton and a pair of jets via an off-shell $W'$. This is the basis of the Keung-Senjanović (KS) process, which was originally proposed as a probe of lepton number violation at the LHC. However, if a different mechanism like the inverse seesaw generates the neutrino masses, a TeV-scale RHN can have large Yukawa couplings and hence dominantly decay to a lepton and a $W$ boson, leading to a kinematically different process from the KS one. We investigate the prospect of this unexplored process as a probe of the inverse seesaw mechanism in the left-right symmetric models at the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC). Our signal arises from the Drell-Yan production of a $W'$ and leads to two high-$p_T$ same-flavour-opposite-sign leptons and a boosted $W$-like fatjet in the final state. We find that a sequential $W'$ with mass up to $\sim 6$~TeV along with a TeV-scale RHN can be discovered at the HL-LHC.

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Precise LHC limits on the $\rm{U}_1$ leptoquark parameter space

A TeV scale leptoquark (LQ) is one of the promising explanations of the recent anomalies in the semileptonic decays of $B$ mesons. Among the various LQs, the vector $\rm{U}_1$ is capable of explaining the anomalies in both $R_{D^{(*)}}$ and $R_{K^{(*)}}$ observables. We use the current LHC data to put bounds on the parameter space of $\rm{U}_1$ relevant for the anomalies. Precise bounds are drawn by recasting the latest $ττ$ and $μμ$ searches by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations. We find that it is imperative to include the resonant production modes for obtaining limits in the low mass regions. For higher mass points, the non-resonant production modes play a dominant role.

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Improving third-generation leptoquark searches with combined signals and boosted top

Search strategies for the third-generation leptoquarks (LQs) are distinct from other LQ searches, especially when they decay to a top quark and a $τ$ lepton. We investigate the cases of all TeV-scale scalar and vector LQs that decay to either a top-tau pair (charge-$1/3$ and $5/3$ LQs) or a top-neutrino pair (charge-$2/3$ LQs). One can then use the boosted top (which can be tagged efficiently using jet-substructure techniques) and high-$p_{\rm T}$ $τ$ leptons to search for these LQs. We consider two search channels with either one or two taus along with at least one hadronically decaying boosted top quark. We estimate the high luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) search prospects of these LQs by considering both symmetric and asymmetric pair and single production processes. Our selection criteria are optimised to retain events from both pair and single production processes. The combined signal has better prospects than the traditional searches. We include new three-body single production processes to enhance the single production contributions to the combined signal. We identify the interference effect that appears in the dominant single production channel of charge-$1/3$ scalar LQ ($S^{1/3}$). This interference is constructive if $S^{1/3}$ is weak-triplet and destructive, for a singlet one. As a result, their LHC prospects differ appreciably.

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Precise limits on the charge-$2/3$ $U_1$ vector leptoquark

The $U_1$ leptoquark is known to be a suitable candidate for explaining the semileptonic $B$-decay anomalies. We derive precise limits on its parameter space relevant for the anomalies from the current LHC high-$p_{\rm T}$ dilepton data. We consider an exhaustive list of possible $B$-anomalies-motivated simple scenarios with one or two new couplings that can also be used as templates for obtaining bounds on more complicated scenarios. To obtain precise limits, we systematically consider all possible $U_1$ production processes that can contribute to the dilepton searches, including the resonant pair and single productions, nonresonant $t$-channel $U_1$ exchange, as well as its large interference with the Standard Model background. We demonstrate how the inclusion of resonant production contributions in the dilepton signal can lead to appreciably improved exclusion limits. We point out new search channels of $U_1$ that can act as unique tests of the flavour-motivated models. The template scenarios can also be used for future $U_1$ searches at the LHC. We compare the LHC limits with other relevant flavour bounds and find that a TeV-scale $U_1$ can accommodate both $R_{D^{(*)}}$ and $R_{K^{(*)}}$ anomalies while satisfying all the bounds.

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LHC Bounds on $R_{D^{(*)}}$ motivated Leptoquark Models

Most of the popular explanations of the observed anomalies in the semileptonic $B$-meson decays involve TeV scale Leptoquarks (LQs). Among the various possible LQ models, two particular LQs -- $S_{1}(3, 1, 1/3)$ and $U_{1}(3, 1, 2/3)$ seem to be most promising. Here, we use current LHC data to constrain the $S_{1}(3, 1, 1/3)$ and $U_{1}(3, 1, 2/3)$ parameter spaces relevant for the $R_{D^{(*)}}$ observables. We recast the latest ATLAS $ττ$ resonance search data to obtain new exclusion limits. For this purpose, we consider both resonant (pair and single productions) and non-resonant ($t$-channel LQ exchange) productions of these LQs at the LHC. For the limits, the most dominant contribution comes from the (destructive) interference of the non-resonant production with Standard Model backgrounds. The combined contribution from the pair and inclusive single production processes is less prominent but non-negligible. The limits we get are independent and competitive to other known bounds. For both the models, we set limits on $R_{D^{(*)}}$ motivated couplings.

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Boosting vector leptoquark searches with boosted tops

At the LHC, a TeV-scale leptoquark (LQ) that decays dominantly to a top quark ($t$) and a light charged lepton ($\ell=e,μ$) would form a resonance system of \emph{boosted-$t$ $+$ high-$p_{\rm T}$-$\ell$}. We consider all possible vector LQ models within the Buchmüller-Rückl-Wyler classifications with the desired decay. We propose simple phenomenological Lagrangians that are suitable for bottom-up/experimental studies and, at the same time, can cover the relevant parameter spaces of these models. In this simplified framework, we study the pair and single production channels of vector LQs at the LHC. Interestingly, we find that, like the pair production, the cross sections of some single production processes also depend on the parameter $κ$ that appears in the gluon-vector LQ coupling. We adopt a search strategy of selecting events with at least one boosted hadronic top quark and exactly two high-$p_{\rm T}$ leptons of the same flavor and opposite sign. This combines events from the pair and single production processes and, therefore, can enhance the discovery potential beyond that of the pair-production-only searches. For $5σ$ discovery we find that vector LQs can be probed up to $2.55$ TeV for $100\%$ branching ratio in the $t\ell $ decay mode and $\mathcal{O}(1)$ new couplings at the $14$ TeV LHC with $3$ ab$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity.

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Signatures of vector-like top partners decaying into new neutral scalar or pseudoscalar bosons

We explore the phenomenology of models containing one Vector-Like Quark (VLQ), $t'$, which can decay into the Standard Model (SM) top quark, $t$, and a new spin-0 neutral boson, $S$, the latter being either a scalar or pseudoscalar state. We parametrise the underlying interactions in terms of a simplified model which enables us to capture possible Beyond the SM (BSM) scenarios. We discuss in particular three such scenarios: one where the SM state is supplemented by an additional scalar, one which builds upon a 2-Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM) framework and another which realises a Composite Higgs Model (CHM) through partial compositeness. Such exotic decays of the $t'$ can be competitive with decays into SM particles, leading to new possible discovery channels at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Assuming $t'$ pair production via strong interactions, we design signal regions optimised for one $t'\rightarrow S t$ transition (while being inclusive on the other \bar{t'} decay, and vice versa), followed by the decay of $S$ into the two very clean experimental signatures $S\rightarrow γγ$ and $S\rightarrow Z(\rightarrow \ell^+\ell^-)γ$. We perform a dedicated signal-to-background analysis in both channels, by using Monte Carlo (MC) event simulations modelling the dynamics from the proton-proton to the detector level. Under the assumption of BR$(t' \rightarrow S t) = 100\%$, we are therefore able to realistically quantify the sensitivity of the LHC to both the $t'$ and $S$ masses, assuming both current and foreseen luminosities. This approach paves the way for the LHC experiments to surpass current VLQ search strategies based solely on $t'$ decays into SM bosons ($W^\pm, Z$, $h$).

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Neutrino and $Z'$ phenomenology in an anomaly-free $\mathbf{U}(1)$ extension: role of higher-dimensional operators

We consider an anomaly-free $\mathrm{U}(1)$ extension of the Standard Model with three right-handed neutrinos (RHNs) and two complex scalars, wherein the charge assignments preclude all tree-level mass terms for the neutrinos. Considering this setup, in turn, to be only a low-energy effective theory, we introduce higher-dimensional terms {\em a la} Froggatt-Nielsen to naturally generate tiny neutrino masses. One of the RHNs turns out to be very light, thereby constituting the main decay mode for the $Z'$ and hence relaxing the LHC dilepton resonance search constraints. This very RHN has a lifetime comparable to or bigger than the age of the Universe, and, hence, could account for a non-negligible fraction of the dark matter.

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Addressing the ${\mathbf R_{D^{(*)}}}$ anomalies with an ${\mathbf S_1}$ leptoquark from $\mathbf{SO(10)}$ grand unification

Motivated by the $R_{D^{(*)}}$ anomalies, we investigate an $\mathrm{SO}(10)$ grand unification scenario where a charge $-1/3$ scalar leptoquark ($S_1$) remains as the only new physics candidate at the TeV scale. This leptoquark along with the Standard Model (SM) Higgs doublet originates from the same 10-dimensional real scalar multiplet in the $\mathrm{SO}(10)$ grand unification framework taking its mass close to the electroweak scale. We explicitly show how the gauge coupling unification is achieved with only one intermediate symmetry-breaking scale at which the Pati-Salam gauge group is broken into the SM group. We investigate the phenomenological implications of our scenario and show that an $S_1$ with a specific Yukawa texture can explain the $R_{D^{(*)}}$ anomalies. We perform a multiparameter scan considering the relevant flavour constraints on $R_{D^{(*)}}$, $F_L{(D^*)}$, $P_τ(D^*)$ and $R_{K^{(*)}}^{νν}$ as well as the constraint coming from the $Z\toττ$ decay and the latest $ττ$ resonance search data at the LHC. Our analysis shows that a single leptoquark solution to the observed $R_{D^{(*)}}$ anomalies with $S_1$ is still a viable solution.

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Varying gauge couplings and collider phenomenology

In this paper we investigate a natural extension of the Standard Model that involves varying coupling constants. This is a general expectation in any fundamental theory such as string theory, and there are good reasons for why new physics could appear at reachable energy scales. We investigate the collider phenomenology of models with varying gauge couplings where the variations are associated with real singlet scalar fields. We introduce three different heavy scalar fields that are responsible for the variations of the three gauge couplings of the Standard Model. This gives rise to many interesting collider signatures that we explore, resulting in exclusion limits based on the most recent LHC data, and predictions of the future discovery potential at the high-luminosity LHC.

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Probing the inert doublet model using jet substructure with a multivariate analysis

We explore the challenging but phenomenologically interesting hierarchical mass spectrum of the Inert Doublet Model where relatively light dark matter along with much heavier scalar states can fully satisfy the constraints on the relic abundance and also fulfill other theoretical as well as collider and astrophysical bounds. To probe this region of parameter space at the LHC, we propose a signal process that combines up to two large radius boosted jets along with substantial missing transverse momentum. Aided by our intuitive signal selection, we capture a hybrid process where the di-fatjet signal is significantly enhanced by the mono-fatjet contribution with minimal effects on the SM di-fatjet background. Substantiated by the sizable mass difference between the scalars, these boosted jets, originally produced from the hadronic decay of massive vector bosons, still carry the inherent footprint of their root. These features implanted inside the jet substructure can provide additional handles to deal with a large background involving QCD jets. We adopt a multivariate analysis using boosted decision tree to provide a robust mechanism to explore the hierarchical scenario, which would bring almost the entire available parameter space well within reach of the 14 TeV LHC runs with high luminosity.

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