arXiv subjects

Tom Steudtner

Publications and source records attributed to Tom Steudtner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Four-loop QCD mixing of current-current operators

We calculate the anomalous dimension of the $|\Delta S| = 1$ current-current operators of the weak effective Lagrangian at next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order (NNNLO) in QCD. This constitutes the first step towards a full four-loop calculation of the QCD correction to $\epsilon_K$, the measure for indirect CP violation in the neutral kaon system. We present fully analytic results, together with the expressions necessary to transform our results to a basis with an arbitrary different definition of evanescent operators. As an application, we calculate the corresponding results in the ``standard'' operator basis used in $B$ physics.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

General Four-Loop Beta Function for Scalar-Fermion Theories in Three Dimensions

We present general four-loop template $\beta$-functions and anomalous field dimensions for renormalisable scalar-fermion theories in three dimensions. By imposing $\mathcal{N}=1$ and $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetry, we obtain relations between the template RGE coefficients, valid in any renormalisation scheme. Directly in $d=3$, we identify a new theory with a non-trivial IR fixed point that is under perturbative control in a large-$N$ limit. We provide up-to-date numerical results for all required massive tadpole master integrals up to four loops and complement them with analytic expressions where available.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

Four Loop Renormalisation Group Equations in general Gross-Neveu-Yukawa Theories

We compute template formulae of all four-loop $\beta$-functions and anomalous dimensions of arbitrary renormalisable quantum field theories with fermions and scalar fields in the $\overline{\text{MS}}$ scheme. Using these results, novel contributions to the $\beta$-functions of the Higgs and top coupling are extracted. We discuss how four loops present a challenge to dimensional continuation from four to three dimensions and propose a solution.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

Quantum multicriticality and emergent symmetry in Dirac systems with two order parameters at three-loop order

Two-dimensional materials with interacting Dirac excitations can host quantum multicritical behavior near the phase boundaries of the semimetallic and two-ordered phases. We study such behavior in Gross--Neveu--Yukawa field theories where $N_f$ flavors of Dirac fermions are coupled to two order-parameter fields with $SO(N_A)$ and $SO(N_B)$ symmetry, respectively. To that end, we employ the perturbative renormalization group up to three-loop order in $4-\epsilon$ spacetime dimensions. We distinguish two key scenarios: (i) The two orders are compatible as characterized by anticommuting mass terms, and (ii) the orders are incompatible. For the first case, we explore the stability of a quantum multicritical point with emergent $SO(N_A\!+\!N_B)$ symmetry. We find that the stability is controlled by increasing the number of Dirac fermion flavors. Moreover, we extract the series expansion of the leading critical exponents for the chiral $SO(4)$ and $SO(5)$ models up to third order in $\epsilon$. Notably, we find a tendency towards rapidly growing expansion coefficients at higher orders, rendering an extrapolation to $\epsilon=1$ difficult. For the second scenario, we study a model with $SO(4) \simeq SO(3) \times SO(3)$ symmetry, which was recently suggested to describe criticality of antiferromagnetism and superconductivity in Dirac systems. However, it was also argued that a physically admissible renormalization-group fixed point only exists for $N_f$ above a critical number $N_{c}^>$. We determine the corresponding series expansion at three-loop order as $N_{c}^>\approx 16.83-7.14\epsilon-7.12\epsilon^2$. This suggests that the physical choice of $N_f=2$ may be a borderline case, where true criticality and pseudocriticality, as induced by fixed-point annihilation, are extremely challenging to distinguish.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Revisiting the $\phi^6$ Theory in Three Dimensions at Large $N$

We investigate the $O(N)$--symmetric $\phi^6$ theory in three spacetime dimensions using dimensional regularisation and minimal subtraction. The predictions of other methods are scrutinised in a large-$N$ expansion. We show how the tricritical line of fixed point emerges in a strict $N\to\infty$ limit but argue that it is not a physical manifestation. For the first time in this explicit manner, we compute the effective potential at next-to-leading order in the $1/N$-expansion and discuss its stability. The Bardeen-Moshe-Bander phenomenon is also analysed at next-to-leading order, and we demonstrate that it disappears without breaking the scale invariance spontaneously. Our findings indicate that the UV fixed point found by Pisarski persists at large $N$.

hep-th↗

arXiv2024

Stability of the Higgs Potential in the Standard Model and Beyond

The question of stability of the Higgs potential in the Standard Model is revisited employing advanced theoretical precision and recent experimental results. We show that the top mass and strong coupling constants are key observables in order to reach or refute absolute stability. We highlight new physics scenarios that lead to a decisive stabilisation of the Higgs sector. These proceedings summarise findings first reported in~[1,2].

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

General Quartic $\beta$-Function at Three Loops

We determine the three-loop $\overline{\text{MS}}$ quartic $ \beta $-function for the most general renormalisable four-dimensional theories. A general parametrization of the $ \beta $-function is compared to known $ \beta $-functions for specific theories to fix all coefficients. Three-loop $ \beta $-functions for the cubic coupling and scalar mass terms also follow from the result, which is made available in software packages.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Effective Potential and Vacuum Stability in the Litim-Sannino Model

We revisit the scalar potential in the Litim-Sannino model. We compute for the first time the full quantum corrections to the classical potential and show that they significantly ameliorate the stability analysis at the UV fixed point. The quantum effective potential is computed at two-loop order and the numerical precision is further improved using resummations and parameter optimisations. As a result, we find a consistent widening of the UV conformal window across various approximations.

hep-th↗

arXiv2024

Vacuum Stability in the Standard Model and Beyond

We revisit the stability of the Standard Model vacuum, and investigate its quantum effective potential using the highest available orders in perturbation theory and the most accurate determination of input parameters to date. We observe that the stability of the electroweak vacuum centrally depends on the values of the top mass and the strong coupling constant. We estimate that reducing their uncertainties by a factor of two to three is sufficient to establish or refute SM vacuum stability at the $5\sigma$ level. We further investigate vacuum stability for a variety of singlet scalar field extensions with and without flavor using the Higgs portal mechanism. We identify the BSM parameter spaces for stability and find sizable room for new physics. We further study the phenomenology of Planck-safe models at colliders, and determine the impact on the Higgs trilinear, the Higgs-to-electroweak-boson, and the Higgs quartic couplings, some of which can be significant. The former two can be probed at the HL-LHC, the latter requires a future collider with sufficient energy and precision such as the FCC-hh.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

MaRTIn -- Manual for the "Massive Recursive Tensor Integration"

We present MaRTIn, an extendable all-in-one package for calculating amplitudes up to two loops in an expansion in external momenta or using the method of infrared rearrangement. Renormalizable and non-renormalizable models can be supplied by the user; an implementation of the Standard Model is included in the package. In this manual, we discuss the scope and functionality of the software, and give instructions of its use.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Asymptotic Safety Guaranteed at Four Loop

We investigate a family of four-dimensional quantum field theories with weakly interacting ultraviolet fixed points up to four loop order in perturbation theory. Key new ingredients are the three loop gauge contributions to quartic scalar beta functions, which we compute in the $\overline{\text{MS}}$ scheme for a template $SU(N_c)$ gauge theory coupled to $N_f$ fundamental fermions and elementary scalars. We then determine fixed point couplings, field and mass anomalous dimensions, and universal scaling exponents up to the first three non-trivial orders in a small Veneziano parameter. The phase diagram and UV-IR connecting trajectories are found and contrasted with asymptotic freedom. Further, the size of the conformal window, unitarity, and mechanisms leading to the loss of conformality are investigated. Our results provide blueprints for concrete 4d non-supersymmetric conformal field theories with standard model-like field content, and invite further model building.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

Old and new anomalies in charm

The recent LHCb determination of the direct CP asymmetries in the decays $D^0 \to K^+ K^-, π^+ π^-$ hints at a sizeable breaking of two approximate symmetries of the SM: CP and U-spin. We aim at explaining the data with BSM physics and use the framework of flavorful $Z^\prime$ models. Interestingly, experimental and theoretical constraints very much narrow down the shape of viable models: Viable, anomaly-free models are electron- and muon-phobic and feature a light $Z^\prime$ of 10-20 GeV coupling only to right-handed fermions. The $Z^\prime$ can be searched for in low mass dijets or at the LHC as well as dark photon searches. A light $Z^\prime$ of $\sim$ 3 GeV or $\sim$ 5-7 GeV can moreover resolve the longstanding discrepancy in the $J/ψ, ψ^\prime$ branching ratios with pion form factors from fits to $e^+ e^- \to π^+ π^-$ data, and simultaneously explain the charm CP asymmetries. Smoking gun signatures for this scenario are $Υ$ and charmonium decays into pions, taus or invisbles.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Two is better than one: The U-spin-CP anomaly in charm

The recent measurement of the CP-asymmetry in the decay $D \to K^+ K^-$ by LHCb, combined with $ΔA_{\text{CP}}$, evidences a sizable CP-asymmetry in $D \to π^+ π^-$ decays, which requires a dynamical enhancement of standard model higher-order contributions over tree-level ones by a factor of two. The data furthermore imply huge U-spin breaking, about 4-5 times larger than the nominal standard model one of $\lesssim 30 \%$ in charm. Enhanced breakdown of the two approximate symmetries points to models that violate U-spin and CP and disfavors flavor singlet contributions such as chromomagnetic dipole operators as explanations of the data. We analyze the reach of flavorful $Z^\prime$ models for charm CP-asymmetries. Models feature explicit U-spin and isospin breaking, allowing for correlations with $D \to π^0 π^0$ and $D^+ \to π^+ π^0$ decays with corresponding CP-asymmetries at a similar level and sign as $D \to π^+ π^-$, about $ {\cal{O}}(1-2) \cdot 10^{-3}$. Experimental and theoretical constraints narrow down the shape of viable models: anomaly-free models are leptophobic -- or at least electro- and muo-phobic -- with light $Z^\prime$ below ${\cal{O}}(20)$ GeV, and can be searched for in low mass dijets at the LHC, $Υ$ and charmonium decays, and dark photon signatures. A $Z^\prime$ around $\sim 3$ GeV or $\sim (5-7)$ GeV can relieve the tensions in the $J/ψ\to π^+ π^-$ and $ψ^\prime \to π^+ π^-$ branching ratios with pion form factors from fits to Babar and JLab data, and simultaneously explain the charm CP asymmetries. Models also feature sizable branching ratios into light right-handed neutrinos or vector-like dark fermions, which can be searched for in $e^+ e^- \to$~hadrons + invisibles at Belle II and BESIII. Due to the low new physics scale dark fermions may induce an early Landau pole which requires UV-completion near the TeV-scale.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Vacuum Stability as a Guide for Model Building

We explain why vector-like fermions are natural candidates to lift the Standard Model vacuum instability. Results are further discussed from the viewpoint of criticality. Several models allow for vector-like quarks and leptons in the TeV-range which can be searched for at the LHC.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Explorations in Scalar Fermion Theories: $\beta$-functions, Supersymmetry and Fixed Points

Results for $\beta$-functions and anomalous dimensions in general scalar fermion theories are presented to three loops. Various constraints on the individual coefficients for each diagram following from supersymmetry are analysed. The results are used to discuss potential fixed points in the $\varepsilon$-expansion for scalar fermion theories, with arbitrary numbers of scalar fields, and where there are just two scalar couplings and one Yukawa coupling. For different examples the fixed points follow a similar pattern as the numbers of fermions is varied. For diagrams with subdivergences there are extensive consistency constraints arising from the existence of a perturbative $a$-function and these are analysed in detail. Further arbitrary scheme variations which preserve the form of $\beta$ functions and anomalous dimensions in terms of 1PI diagrams are also discussed. The existence of linear and quadratic scheme invariants is demonstrated and the consistency condition are shown to be expressible in terms of these invariants.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Portals into Higgs vacuum stability

We address the notorious metastability of the standard model (SM) and promote it to a model building task: What are the new ingredients required to stabilize the SM up to the Planck scale without encountering subplanckian Landau poles? Using the SM extended by vector-like fermions (VLFs), we chart out the corresponding landscape of Higgs stability. We find that the gauge portal mechanism, triggered by new SM charge carriers, opens up sizeable room for stability in a minimally invasive manner. We also find models with Higgs criticality, and Yukawa portals opening up at stronger coupling. Several models allow for VLFs in the TeV-range, which can be searched for at the LHC. For nontrivial flavor structure severe flavor-changing neutral current constraints arise which complement those from stability, and push lower fermion masses up to $\mathcal{O}(10^3\,\text{TeV})$.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Safe $Z'$ for LFUV

It is demonstrated that accounting for lepton flavor universality violating anomalies in $B$ meson decays via $Z'$ models implies a Landau pole problem. A family of models is proposed that resolve both issues simultaneously, fix the metastability of the Higgs and are predictive up to the Planck scale.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

B-Anomalies from flavorful U(1)' extensions, safely

$U(1)^\prime$ extensions of the standard model with generation-dependent couplings to quarks and leptons are investigated as an explanation of anomalies in rare $B$-decays, with an emphasis on stability and predictivity up to the Planck scale. To these ends, we introduce three generations of vector-like standard model singlet fermions, an enlarged, flavorful scalar sector, and, possibly, right-handed neutrinos, all suitably charged under the $U(1)^\prime$ gauge interaction. We identify several gauge-anomaly free benchmarks consistent with $B_s$-mixing constraints, with hints for electron-muon universality violation, and the global $b \to s$ fit. We further investigate the complete two-loop running of gauge, Yukawa and quartic couplings up to the Planck scale to constrain low-energy parameters and enhance the predictive power. A characteristic of models is that the $Z^\prime$ with TeV-ish mass predominantly decays to invisibles, i.e. new fermions or neutrinos. $Z^\prime$-production can be studied at a future muon collider. While benchmarks feature predominantly left-handed couplings $C_9^μ$ and $C_{10}^μ$, right-handed ones can be accommodated as well.

hep-ph↗