arXiv subjects

Yoav Afik

Publications and source records attributed to Yoav Afik.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Experimental characterization of the hierarchy of quantum correlations in top quark pairs

Recent results from the Large Hadron Collider have demonstrated quantum entanglement of top quark-antiquark pairs using the spin degrees of freedom. Based on the doubly differential measurement of the spin density matrix of the top quark and antiquark performed by the CMS collaboration in the helicity and beam bases, we evaluate a set of quantum observables, including discord, steerability, Bell correlation, and magic. These observables allow for a quantitative characterization of the quantum correlations present in a top quark-antiquark system, thus enabling an interpretation of collider data in terms of quantum states and their properties. Discord is observed to be greater than zero with a significance of more than 5 standard deviations ($\sigma$) in several regions of phase space, some of which correspond to separable quantum states. Evidence for steerability is established for the first time in a high-energy system, with a significance of more than 3$\sigma$. No Bell correlation is observed within the currently probed phase space, in agreement with the theoretical prediction. These results experimentally corroborate the hierarchy of quantum correlations in top quarks with discord being the most basic form of quantum correlation, followed by entanglement, steerability, and Bell correlation. The significance of nonzero magic, which is a complementary observable to the quantum correlation hierarchy, is found to exceed 5$\sigma$ in several regions of phase space.

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arXiv2025

Quantum Information meets High-Energy Physics: Input to the update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics

Some of the most astonishing and prominent properties of Quantum Mechanics, such as entanglement and Bell nonlocality, have only been studied extensively in dedicated low-energy laboratory setups. The feasibility of these studies in the high-energy regime explored by particle colliders was only recently shown and has gathered the attention of the scientific community. For the range of particles and fundamental interactions involved, particle colliders provide a novel environment where quantum information theory can be probed, with energies exceeding by about 12 orders of magnitude those employed in dedicated laboratory setups. Furthermore, collider detectors have inherent advantages in performing certain quantum information measurements, and allow for the reconstruction of the state of the system under consideration via quantum state tomography. Here, we elaborate on the potential, challenges, and goals of this innovative and rapidly evolving line of research and discuss its expected impact on both quantum information theory and high-energy physics.

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arXiv2024

Entanglement and Bell nonlocality with bottom-quark pairs at hadron colliders

It has been shown that entanglement and Bell nonlocality, which are key concepts in Quantum Mechanics, can be probed in high-energy colliders via processes of fundamental particle scattering. In fact, the ATLAS and CMS collaborations have measured entanglement using top-quark pairs produced in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. Recently, it was shown that spin correlations can be measured in pairs of bottom quarks at the LHC, despite the fact that bottom quarks, unlike top quarks, hadronize before decaying. Here, we demonstrate that quantum correlations can also be studied using bottom-quark pairs, and analyze the feasibility of the observation of entanglement and Bell nonlocality in several collider experiments. Given the low mass of the bottom quark relative to typical energies accessible at the LHC, many of the bottom-quark pairs are in the ultrarelativistic regime, where they can exhibit strong spin entanglement. We find that entanglement of bottom-quark pairs may be measurable even with the LHC Run 2 data, especially with the CMS $B$ parking dataset, while observation of Bell nonlocality may become feasible at the high-luminosity phase of the LHC.

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arXiv2023

Probing the muon (g-2) anomaly at the LHC in final states with two muons and two taus

The longstanding muon $(g-2)$ anomaly, as well as the persistent hints of lepton flavor universality violation in $B$-meson decays, could be signaling new physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). A minimal $R$-parity-violating supersymmetric framework with light third-generation sfermions (dubbed as 'RPV3') provides a compelling solution to these flavor anomalies, while simultaneously addressing other pressing issues of the SM. We propose a new RPV3 scenario for the solution of the muon $(g-2)$ anomaly, which leads to an interesting LHC signal of $μ^+μ^-τ^+τ^-$ final state. We analyze the Run-2 LHC multilepton data to derive stringent constraints on the sneutrino mass and the relevant RPV coupling in this scenario. We then propose dedicated selection strategies to improve the bound even with the existing dataset. We also show that the high-luminosity LHC will completely cover the remaining muon $(g-2)$-preferred parameter space, thus providing a robust, independent test of the muon $(g-2)$ anomaly.

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arXiv2023

Quantum discord and steering in top quarks at the LHC

Top quarks have been recently shown to be a promising system to study quantum information at the highest-energy scale available. The current lines of research mostly discuss topics such as entanglement, Bell nonlocality or quantum tomography. Here, we provide the full picture of quantum correlations in top quarks by studying also quantum discord and steering. We find that both phenomena are present at the LHC. In particular, quantum discord in a separable quantum state is expected to be detected with high-statistical significance. Interestingly, due to the singular nature of the measurement process, quantum discord can be measured following its original definition, and the steering ellipsoid can be experimentally reconstructed, both highly-demanding measurements in conventional setups. In contrast to entanglement, the asymmetric nature of quantum discord and steering can provide witnesses of $CP$-violating physics beyond the Standard Model.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Hints of a new leptophilic Higgs sector?

We show that a new leptophilic Higgs sector can resolve some intriguing anomalies in current experimental data across multiple energy ranges. Motivated by the recent CMS excess in the resonant $e\mu$ channel at 146 GeV, we focus on a leptophilic two-Higgs-doublet model, and propose a resonant production mechanism for the neutral components of the second Higgs doublet at the LHC using the lepton content of the proton. Interestingly, the same Yukawa coupling $Y_{e\mu}\sim 0.6-0.8$ that explains the CMS excess also addresses the muon $(g-2)$ anomaly. Moreover, the new Higgs doublet also resolves the recent CDF $W$-boson mass anomaly. The relevant model parameter space will be completely probed by future LHC data.

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arXiv2023

Probing long-lived axions at the KOTO experiment

While the main goal of the J-PARC KOTO experiment is to measure the rare decay $K_L \to \pi^0 \nu \bar \nu$, the unique setup of KOTO raises the possibility to search for physics beyond the Standard Model, in an attempt to probe parts of the parameter space which are not covered by other experiments. In this paper, we test the possibility of using KOTO to search for heavy QCD axions, or axion-like particles, a well-motivated extension of the Standard Model emerging in a variety of models. In particular, we estimate the sensitivity of the current KOTO setup as well as the KOTO Step-2 for various benchmark scenarios of axion coupling to the Standard Model. We find that KOTO Step-2 can probe new regions in the parameter space, while KOTO with its current form can only reaffirm the existing bounds. The obtained axion datasets are available as an update of the public code of the ALPINIST framework, including implementation of KOTO setups in the simulation, allowing for interpretation of various analyses as searches for axions in custom models.

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arXiv2022

Generic tests of CP-violation in high-$p_\text{T}$ multi-lepton signals at the LHC and beyond

We introduce a modification to the standard expression for tree-level CP-violation in scattering processes at the LHC, which is important when the initial state in not self-conjugate. Based on that, we propose a generic and model-independent search strategy for probing tree-level CP-violation in inclusive multi-lepton signals. We then use TeV-scale 4-fermion operators of the form $tu\ell\ell$ and $tc \ell \ell$ with complex Wilson coefficients as an illustrative example and show that it may generate ${\cal O}(10\%)$ CP asymmetries that should be accessible at the LHC with an integrated luminosity of ${\cal O}(1000)$ fb$^{-1}$.

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arXiv2022

Quantum information with top quarks in QCD

Top quarks represent unique high-energy systems since their spin correlations can be measured, thus allowing to study fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics with qubits at high-energy colliders. We present here the general framework of the quantum state of a top-antitop ($t\bar{t}$) quark pair produced through quantum chromodynamics (QCD) in a high-energy collider. We argue that, in general, the total quantum state that can be probed in a collider is given in terms of the production spin density matrix, which necessarily gives rise to a mixed state. We compute the quantum state of a $t\bar{t}$ pair produced from the most elementary QCD processes, finding the presence of entanglement and CHSH violation in different regions of phase space. We show that any realistic hadronic production of a $t\bar{t}$ pair is a statistical mixture of these elementary QCD processes. We focus on the experimentally relevant cases of proton-proton and proton-antiproton collisions, performed at the LHC and the Tevatron, analyzing the dependence of the quantum state with the energy of the collisions. We provide experimental observables for entanglement and CHSH-violation signatures. At the LHC, these signatures are given by the measurement of a single observable, which in the case of entanglement represents the violation of a Cauchy-Schwarz inequality. We extend the validity of the quantum tomography protocol for the $t\bar{t}$ pair proposed in the literature to more general quantum states, and for any production mechanism. Finally, we argue that a CHSH violation measured in a collider is only a weak form of violation of Bell's theorem, necessarily containing a number of loopholes.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Multi-lepton probes of new physics and lepton-universality in top-quark interactions

We explore the sensitivity to new physics (NP) in the associated production of top-quarks with leptons $pp \to t \bar t \ell^+ \ell^-$, which leads to the multi-leptons signals $pp \to n \ell + {\tt jets} + \not\!\! E_T$, where $n = 2,3,4$. The NP is parameterized via 4-Fermi effective $t\bar{t} \ell^+ \ell^-$ contact interactions of various types, which are generated by multi-TeV heavy scalar, vector or tensor exchanges in $t \bar t \to \ell^+ \ell^-$; we focus on the case of $\ell=e,μ$. We match the 4-Fermi $t t \ell \ell$ terms to the SMEFT operators and also give examples of specific underlying heavy physics that can generate such terms. Analysis of the SM signals and corresponding backgrounds shows that the di-lepton and tri-lepton channels are much better probes of the effective $t\bar{t} \ell^+ \ell^-$ 4-Fermi terms than the four-lepton one at the 13 TeV LHC. Therefore, the best sensitivity is obtained in the di- and tri-lepton channels, for which the dominant background $pp \to t \bar t$ and $pp \to WZ$, respectively, can be essentially eliminated after applying the $2\ell$ and $ 3 \ell$ selections and a sufficiently high invariant mass selection for the opposite sign same flavor (OSSF) lepton-pair. We explore two cases: lepton flavor universal (LFU) NP where the $t t e e$ and $t t μμ$ contact interactions are of same size and LFU violating (LFUV) NP, where the scale of the $t t μμ$ terms is assumed to be much lower. We show that in both cases it is possible to obtain new 95\% CL bounds on the scale of the $t t \ell \ell$ contact interactions at the level $Λ\gtrsim 2-3$ TeV, which are considerably tighter than the current bounds on these 4-Fermi terms.

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arXiv2021

First neutrino interaction candidates at the LHC

FASER$ν$ at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is designed to directly detect collider neutrinos for the first time and study their cross sections at TeV energies, where no such measurements currently exist. In 2018, a pilot detector employing emulsion films was installed in the far-forward region of ATLAS, 480 m from the interaction point, and collected 12.2 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. We describe the analysis of this pilot run data and the observation of the first neutrino interaction candidates at the LHC. This milestone paves the way for high-energy neutrino measurements at current and future colliders.

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arXiv2021

Entanglement and quantum tomography with top quarks at the LHC

Entanglement is a central subject in quantum mechanics. Due to its genuine relativistic behavior and fundamental nature, high-energy colliders are attractive systems for the experimental study of fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics. We propose the detection of entanglement between the spins of top-antitop-quark pairs at the LHC, representing the first proposal of entanglement detection in a pair of quarks, and also the entanglement observation at the highest energy scale so far. We show that entanglement can be observed by direct measurement of the angular separation between the leptons arising from the decay of the top-antitop pair. The detection can be achieved with high statistical significance, using the current data recorded during Run 2 at the LHC. In addition, we develop a simple protocol for the quantum tomography of the top-antitop pair. This experimental technique reconstructs the quantum state of the system, providing a new experimental tool to test theoretical predictions. Our work explicitly implements canonical experimental techniques in quantum information in a two-qubit high-energy system, paving the way to use high-energy colliders to also study quantum information aspects.

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arXiv2021

New flavor physics in di- and tri-lepton events from single-top at the LHC and beyond

The associated production of a single-top with opposite-sign same-flavor (OSSF) di-leptons, $pp \to t \ell^+ \ell^-$ and $ pp \to t \ell^+ \ell^- + j$ ($j=$light jet), can lead to striking tri-lepton $pp \to \ell^\prime \ell^+ \ell^- + X$ and di-lepton $pp \to \ell^+ \ell^- + j_b + X$ ($j_b=b$-jet) events at the LHC, after the top decays. Although these rather generic multi-lepton signals are flavor-blind, they can be generated by new 4-Fermi flavor changing (FC) $u_i t \ell \ell$ scalar, vector and tensor interactions ($u_i \in u,c$), which we study in this paper; we match the FC $u_i t \ell \ell$ 4-Fermi terms to the SMEFT operators and also to different types of FC underlying heavy physics. The main backgrounds to these di- and tri-lepton signals arise from $t \bar t$, $Z$+jets and $VV$ ($V=W,Z$) production, but they can be essentially eliminated with a sufficiently high invariant mass selection on the OSSF di-leptons, $m_{\ell^+ \ell^-}^{\tt min}(OSSF) > 1$ TeV; the use of $b$-tagging as an additional selection in the di-lepton final state case also proves very useful. We find, for example, that the expected 95\% CL bounds on the scale of a tensor(vector) $u t μμ$ interaction, with the current $\sim 140$ fb$^{-1}$ of LHC data, are $Λ< 5(3.2) $ TeV or $Λ< 4.1(2.7)$ TeV, if analyzed via the di-muon $μ^+ μ^- + j_b$ signal or the $e μ^+ μ^-$ tri-lepton one, respectively. The expected reach at the HL-LHC with 3000 fb$^{-1}$ of data is $Λ< 7.1(4.7)$ TeV and $Λ< 2.4(1.5)$ TeV for the corresponding $u t μμ$ and $c t μμ$ operators. We also study the potential sensitivity at future 27 TeV and 100 TeV high-energy LHC successors and also discuss the possible implications of this class of FC 4-Fermi effective interactions on lepton non-universality tests at the LHC.

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arXiv2020

High $p_T$ correlated tests of lepton universality in lepton(s) + jet(s) processes; an EFT analysis

We suggest a new class of tests for searching for lepton flavor non-universality (LFNU) using ratio observables and based on correlations among the underlying LFNU new physics (NP) effects in several (seemingly independent) di-lepton and single lepton + jet(s) processes. This is demonstrated by studying the effects generated by LFNU 4-Fermi interactions involving 3rd generation quarks. We find that the sensitivity to the scale ($Λ$) of the LFNU 4-Fermi operators significantly improves when the correlations among the various di-lepton +jets and single-lepton + jets processes are used, reaching $Λ\sim {\cal O}(10)$~TeV at the HL-LHC.

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arXiv2020

Searching for New Physics with $b\bar{b} \ell^+ \ell^-$ Contact Interactions

We study the impact of contact interactions involving two leptons (electrons or muons) and two $b$-quarks ($b \bar{b} \ell^+ \ell^-$) on the high-mass di-lepton region at the LHC. We consider different selections of $b$-tagged jet multiplicities in the di-lepton final states: inclusive (no selection), 0, 1 and 2 $b$-tagged jets, and show that the single $b$-jet selection significantly improves the sensitivity to New Physics (NP) in the form of the $b \bar{b} \ell^+ \ell^-$ contact term. We obtain a better sensitivity compared to the currently existing searches of NP in the di-lepton inclusive channel. In particular, the expected limits go beyond competitive bounds set by LEP (for electrons) on the scale of NP, $Λ$, by a factor of $1.2-3.1$, depending on the chirality structure of the operator. In addition, the expected limits on $Λ$, set by using a non-resonant LHC di-lepton inclusive search, are expected to be improved by a factor of $1.3-1.4$ for both electrons and muons.

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arXiv2019

Searching for Dark Matter with $t\overline{t}$ Resonance

Many models containing particles which are candidates for dark matter, assume the standard model particles and the dark matter candidates are mediated by a spin-0 particle. At the LHC, one can use these models for dark matter searches. One of the possible approaches for the search of these models is by considering the decay of the spin-0 particle to a pair of $t\bar{t}$, thus modifying the pattern of the top quark pair invariant mass spectrum. This search suggests a good sensitivity in a parameter space different than the more traditional searches. We examine this sensitivity and put limits on two benchmark models containing candidates for dark matter, using previous ATLAS results. It was found that when the mediator mass ($m_{Y_0}$) and the dark matter candidate mass ($m_χ$) have values of $m_{Y_0} \sim 2 \cdot m_χ$, mediator masses in the range of $[400,600]$ GeV are excluded. We compare our results to direct detection experiments and show that we gain sensitivity for new regions which are not covered by other searches.

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arXiv2018

LHC Dark Matter Working Group: Next-generation spin-0 dark matter models

Dark matter (DM) simplified models are by now commonly used by the ATLAS and CMS Collaborations to interpret searches for missing transverse energy ($E_T^\mathrm{miss}$). The coherent use of these models sharpened the LHC DM search program, especially in the presentation of its results and their comparison to DM direct-detection (DD) and indirect-detection (ID) experiments. However, the community has been aware of the limitations of the DM simplified models, in particular the lack of theoretical consistency of some of them and their restricted phenomenology leading to the relevance of only a small subset of $E_T^\mathrm{miss}$ signatures. This document from the LHC Dark Matter Working Group identifies an example of a next-generation DM model, called $\textrm{2HDM+a}$, that provides the simplest theoretically consistent extension of the DM pseudoscalar simplified model. A comprehensive study of the phenomenology of the $\textrm{2HDM+a}$ model is presented, including a discussion of the rich and intricate pattern of mono-$X$ signatures and the relevance of other DM as well as non-DM experiments. Based on our discussions, a set of recommended scans are proposed to explore the parameter space of the $\textrm{2HDM+a}$ model through LHC searches. The exclusion limits obtained from the proposed scans can be consistently compared to the constraints on the $\textrm{2HDM+a}$ model that derive from DD, ID and the DM relic density.

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arXiv2018

DM+$b\bar b$ simulations with DMSimp: an update

Searches for dark matter (DM) produced using collider data probe wide regions of the allowed parameter space of many models and have become competitive with more traditional searches. The interpretations of the results can be efficiently performed in simplified models, which feature only a mediator and a DM candidate together with the interactions among them and the standard model particles. The DMSimp model in FeynRules currently features a wide set of $s$-channel simplified models and can be exploited by the MadGraph5_aMC@NLO framework to produce event samples including NLO QCD corrections for realistic simulations. Higher-order corrections typically have a sizeable impact on the total production rate and lead to a reduction of the theoretical uncertainties. In this short note we report on a recent update of the DMSimp model, which makes it possible to simulate dark matter production in association with bottom quarks in a mixed four-flavour scheme, where the $\overline{\rm MS}$ renormalisation for the bottom-quark Yukawa is employed, while the bottom quark mass is on shell. By comparing with five-flavour scheme, we show that the mixed four-flavor scheme provides reliable predictions for DM+$b\bar b$ final states in a wide range of DM masses.

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