arXiv subjects

Yuhsin Tsai

Publications and source records attributed to Yuhsin Tsai.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Searching for Confining Hidden Valleys at the LHC(b)

We explore strategies for probing Hidden Valley scenarios exhibiting confinement. Such scenarios lead to a multiplicity of light hidden hadrons from showering processes. Their decays are typically soft and displaced, making them challenging to probe with traditional LHC searches. We show the low trigger thresholds and excellent track and vertex reconstruction at LHCb provide an ideal environment to search for such signals -- in both muonic and hadronic channels. We also explore the potential of ATLAS/CMS and discuss modifications to present searches that might make these experiments competitive with the LHCb reach. Our proposed searches can probe $Z^{\prime}$ models with dominant decays to dark sectors as well as exotic Higgs boson decays in Twin Higgs models.

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arXiv2017

Reconciling Large And Small-Scale Structure In Twin Higgs Models

We study extensions of the Twin Higgs model that solve the Hierarchy problem and simultaneously address problems of the large- and small-scale structures of the Universe. Besides naturally providing dark matter (DM) candidates as the lightest charged twin fermions, the twin sector contains a light photon and neutrinos, which can modify structure formation relative to the prediction from the $Λ$CDM paradigm. We focus on two scenarios. First, we study a Fraternal Twin Higgs model in which the spin-3/2 baryon $\hatΩ\sim(\hat{b}\hat{b}\hat{b})$ and the lepton twin tau $\hatτ$ contribute to the dominant and subcomponent dark matter densities. A non-decoupled scattering between the twin tau and twin neutrino arising from a gauged twin lepton number symmetry provides a drag force that damps the density inhomogeneity of a dark matter subcomponent. Next, we consider the possibility of having the twin hydrogen atom $\hat{H}$ as the dominant DM component. After recombination, a small fraction of the twin protons and leptons remains ionized during structure formation, and their scattering to twin neutrinos through a gauged U$(1)_{B-L}$ force provides the mechanism that damps the density inhomogeneity. Both scenarios realize the Partially Acoustic dark matter (PAcDM) scenario and explain the $σ_8$ discrepancy between the CMB and weak lensing results. Moreover, the self-scattering neutrino behaves as a dark fluid that enhances the size of the Hubble rate $H_0$ to accommodate the local measurement result while satisfying the CMB constraint. For the small-scale structure, the scattering of $\hatΩ$'s and $\hat{H}$'s through the twin photon exchange generates a self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) model that solves the mass deficit problem from dwarf galaxy to galaxy cluster scales.

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arXiv2017

Partially Acoustic Dark Matter, Interacting Dark Radiation, and Large Scale Structure

The standard paradigm of collisionless cold dark matter is in tension with measurements on large scales. In particular, the best fit values of the Hubble rate $H_0$ and the matter density perturbation $σ_8$ inferred from the cosmic microwave background seem inconsistent with the results from direct measurements. We show that both problems can be solved in a framework in which dark matter consists of two distinct components, a dominant component and a subdominant component. The primary component is cold and collisionless. The secondary component is also cold, but interacts strongly with dark radiation, which itself forms a tightly coupled fluid. The growth of density perturbations in the subdominant component is inhibited by dark acoustic oscillations due to its coupling to the dark radiation, solving the $σ_8$ problem, while the presence of tightly coupled dark radiation ameliorates the $H_0$ problem. The subdominant component of dark matter and dark radiation continue to remain in thermal equilibrium until late times, inhibiting the formation of a dark disk. We present an example of a simple model that naturally realizes this scenario in which both constituents of dark matter are thermal WIMPs. Our scenario can be tested by future stage-IV experiments designed to probe the CMB and large scale structure.

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arXiv2017

Faking SM Photons by Displaced Dark Photon Decays

A light meta-stable dark photon decaying into collimated electron/positron pair can fake a photon, either converted or unconverted, at the LHC. The detailed object identification relies on the specifics of the detector and strategies for the reconstruction. We study the fake rate based on the ATLAS(CMS) detector geometry and show that it can be O(1) with a generic choice of parameters. Especially, the probability of being registered as a photon is angular dependent. Such detector effects can induce bias to measurements on certain properties of new physics. In this paper, we consider the scenario where dark photons in final states are from a heavy resonance decay. Consequently, the detector effects can dramatically affect the results when determine the spin of a resonance. Further, if the decay products from the heavy resonance are one photon and one dark photon, which has a large probability to fake a diphoton event, the resonance is allowed to be a vector. Due to the difference in detector, the cross sections measured in ATLAS and CMS do not necessarily match. Furthermore, if the diphoton signal is given by the dark photons, the SM $Zγ$ and $ZZ$ final states do not necessarily come with the $γγ$ channel, which is a unique signature in our scenario. The issue studied here is relevant also for any future new physics searches with photon(s) in the final state. We discuss possible ways of distinguishing dark photon decay and real photon in the future.

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arXiv2017

Exotic Electroweak Signals in Twin Higgs

The Twin Higgs model is the preeminent example of a theory of neutral naturalness, where the new particles that alleviate the little hierarchy problem are Standard Model (SM) singlets. The most promising collider search strategy, based on rare Higgs decays, is nevertheless not effective in significant regions of the parameter space of the low energy theory. This underlines the importance of phenomenological studies on ultraviolet completions of the Twin Higgs model, which must lie at a scale lower than 5-10 TeV. We pursue this course in the context of non-supersymmetric completions, focusing on exotic fermions that carry SM electroweak and twin color charges, as well as on exotic vectors that transform as the bi-fundamental of the electroweak or color groups. Both $Z_2$-preserving and $Z_2$-breaking mass spectra are considered for the exotic fermions. In the former case they must be heavier than $\sim 1$ TeV, but can still be sizably produced in the decays of the color bi-fundamental vector. In the $Z_2$-breaking scenario, the exotic fermions can have masses in the few hundred GeV range without significantly increasing the fine-tuning. Once pair-produced through the electroweak interactions, they naturally form bound states held together by the twin color force, which subsequently annihilate back to SM particles. The associated resonance signals are discussed in detail. We also outline the phenomenology of the electroweak bi-fundamental vectors, some of which mix with the SM $W$ and $Z$ and can therefore be singly produced in hadron collisions.

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arXiv2016

Gamma-rays from Dark Showers with Twin Higgs Models

We consider a twin WIMP scenario whose twin sector contains a full dark copy of the SM hadrons, where the lightest twin particles are twin pions. By analogy to the standard WIMP paradigm, the dark matter (DM) freezes out through twin electroweak interactions, and annihilates into a dark shower of light twin hadrons. These are either stable or decay predominantly to standard model (SM) photons. We show that this 'hadrosymmetric' scenario can be consistent with all applicable astrophysical, cosmological and collider constraints. In order to decay the twin hadrons before the big-bang nucleosynthesis epoch, an additional portal between the SM and twin sector is required. In most cases we find this additional mediator is within reach of either the LHC or future intensity frontier experiments. Furthermore, we conduct simulations of the dark shower and consequent photon spectra. We find that fits of these spectra to the claimed galactic center gamma-ray excess seen by Fermi-LAT non-trivially coincide with regions of parameter space that both successfully generate the observed DM abundance and exhibit minimal fine-tuning.

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arXiv2015

Exotic Quarks in Twin Higgs Models

The Twin Higgs model provides a natural theory for the electroweak symmetry breaking without the need of new particles carrying the standard model gauge charges below a few TeV. In the low energy theory, the only probe comes from the mixing of the Higgs fields in the standard model and twin sectors. However, an ultraviolet completion is required below ~ 10 TeV to remove residual logarithmic divergences. In non-supersymmetric completions, new exotic fermions charged under both the standard model and twin gauge symmetries have to be present to accompany the top quark, thus providing a high energy probe of the model. Some of them carry standard model color, and may therefore be copiously produced at current or future hadron colliders. Once produced, these exotic quarks can decay into a top together with twin sector particles. If the twin sector particles escape the detection, we have the irreducible stop-like signals. On the other hand, some twin sector particles may decay back into the standard model particles with long lifetimes, giving spectacular displaced vertex signals in combination with the prompt top quarks. This happens in the Fraternal Twin Higgs scenario with typical parameters, and sometimes is even necessary for cosmological reasons. We study the potential displaced vertex signals from the decays of the twin bottomonia, twin glueballs, and twin leptons in the Fraternal Twin Higgs scenario. Depending on the details of the twin sector, the exotic quarks may be probed up to ~ 2.5 TeV at the LHC and beyond 10 TeV at a future 100 TeV collider, providing a strong test of this class of ultraviolet completions.

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arXiv2015

Dark Matter Annihilation Decay at The LHC

Collider experiments provide an opportunity to shed light on dark matter (DM) self-interactions. In this work, we study the possibility of generating DM bound states -- the Darkonium -- at the LHC and discuss how the annihilation decay of the Darkonium produces force carriers. We focus on two popular scenarios that contain large DM self-couplings: the Higgsinos in the $λ$-SUSY model, and self-interacting DM (SIDM) framework. After forming bound states, the DM particles annihilate into force mediators, which decay into the standard model particles either through a prompt or displaced process. This generates interesting signals for the heavy resonance search. We calculate the production rate of bound states and study the projected future constraints from the existing heavy resonance searches.

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arXiv2015

Galactic Center Gamma-Ray Excess through a Dark Shower

The reported excess of $γ$-rays, emitted from an extended region around the galactic center, has a distribution and rate suggestive of an origin in dark matter (DM) annihilations. The conventional annihilation channels into standard model (SM) $b$ quarks or $τ$ leptons may, however, be in tension with various experimental constraints on antiproton and positron fluxes. We present a framework that is free from such constraints. The key idea is that the mediators between the dark matter and the SM are themselves part of a strongly coupled sector: a hidden valley. In this scenario, the dark matter particles annihilate only into hidden quarks that subsequently shower and hadronize. Hidden quark effective couplings to SM hypercharge allow the lightest hidden bound states to subsequently decay into SM photons, producing the observed photon energy spectrum. Associated production of SM fermions is, in contrast, suppressed by electroweak, loop or helicity effects. We find that, generically, $\sim$ 10 GeV DM and a confinement scale $\sim$ 1 GeV provide a good fit to the observed spectrum. An $SU(2)$ hidden confining group is preferred over $SU(3)$ or higher rank gauge groups, up to uncertainties in the extraction of the astrophysical background. An explicit realization of this framework is also presented, and its phenomenology is discussed in detail, along with pertinent cosmological, astrophysical and collider bounds. This framework may be probed by model-independent searches, including future beam-dump experiments.

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arXiv2015

The Dark Penguin Shines Light at Colliders

Collider experiments are one of the most promising ways to constrain Dark Matter (DM) interactions. For several types of DM-Standard Model couplings, a meaningful interpretation of the results requires to go beyond effective field theory, considering simplified models with light mediators. This is especially important in the case of loop-mediated interactions. In this paper we perform the first simplified model study of the magnetic dipole interacting DM, by including the one-loop momentum-dependent form factors that mediate the coupling -- given by the Dark Penguin -- in collider processes. We compute bounds from the monojet, monophoton, and diphoton searches at the $8$ and $14$ TeV LHC, and compare the results to those of direct and indirect detection experiments. Future searches at the $100$ TeV hadron collider and at the ILC are also addressed. We find that the optimal search strategy requires loose cuts on the missing transverse energy, to capture the enhancement of the form factors near the threshold for on-shell production of the mediators. We consider both minimal models and models where an additional state beyond the DM is accessible. In the latter case, under the assumption of anarchic flavor structure in the dark sector, the LHC monophoton and diphoton searches will be able to set much stronger bounds than in the minimal scenario. A determination of the mass of the heavier dark fermion might be feasible using the $M_{T2}$ variable. In addition, if the Dark Penguin flavor structure is almost aligned with that of the DM mass, a displaced signal from the decay of the heavier dark fermion into the DM and photon can be observed. This allows us to set constraints on the mixings and couplings of the model from an existing search for non-pointing photons.

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arXiv2014

The Double-Dark Portal

In most models of the dark sector, dark matter is charged under some new symmetry to make it stable. We explore the possibility that not just dark matter, but also the force carrier connecting it to the visible sector is charged under this symmetry. This dark mediator then acts as a Double-Dark Portal. We realize this setup in the \emph{dark mediator Dark matter} model (dmDM), featuring a fermionic DM candidate $χ$ with Yukawa couplings to light scalars $ϕ_i$. The scalars couple to SM quarks via the operator $\bar q q ϕ_i^* ϕ_j/Λ_{ij}$. This can lead to large direct detection signals via the $2\rightarrow3$ process $χN \rightarrow χN ϕ$ if one of the scalars has mass $ \lesssim 10$ keV. For dark matter Yukawa couplings $y_χ\sim 10^{-3} - 10^{-2}$, dmDM features a thermal relic dark matter candidate while also implementing the SIDM scenario for ameliorating inconsistencies between dwarf galaxy simulations and observations. We undertake the first systematic survey of constraints on light scalars coupled to the SM via the above operator. The strongest constraints are derived from a detailed examination of the light mediator's effects on stellar astrophysics. LHC experiments and cosmological considerations also yield important bounds. Observations of neutron star cooling exclude the minimal model with one dark mediator, but a scenario with two dark mediators remains viable and can give strong direct detection signals. We explore the direct detection consequences of this scenario and find that a heavy $\mathcal{O}(100)$ GeV dmDM candidate fakes different $\mathcal{O}(10)$ GeV WIMPs at different experiments. Large regions of dmDM parameter space are accessible above the irreducible neutrino background.

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arXiv2014

Phenomenology of Induced Electroweak Symmetry Breaking

We study the phenomenology of models of electroweak symmetry breaking where the Higgs potential is dominated by a positive quadratic term destabilized by a tadpole arising from the coupling to an "auxiliary" Higgs sector. The auxiliary Higgs sector can be either perturbative or strongly coupled, similar to technicolor models. Since electroweak symmetry breaking is driven by a tadpole, the cubic and quartic Higgs couplings can naturally be significantly smaller than their values in the standard model. The theoretical motivation for these models is that they can explain the 125 GeV Higgs mass in supersymmetry without fine-tuning. The auxiliary Higgs sector contains additional Higgs states that cannot decouple from standard model particles, so these models predict a rich phenomenology of Higgs physics beyond the standard model. In this paper we analyze a large number of direct and indirect constraints on these models. We present the current constraints after the 8 TeV run of the LHC, and give projections for the sensitivity of the upcoming 14 TeV run. We find that the strongest constraints come from the direct searches $A^0 \to Zh$, $A^0 \to t\bar{t}$, with weaker constraints from Higgs coupling fits. For strongly-coupled models, additional constraints come from $ρ^+ \to WZ$ where $ρ^+$ is a vector resonance. Our overall conclusion is that a significant parameter space for such models is currently open, allowing values of the Higgs cubic coupling down to 0.4 times the standard model value for weakly coupled models and vanishing cubic coupling for strongly coupled models. The upcoming 14 TeV run of the LHC will stringently test this scenario and we identify several new searches with discovery potential for this class of models.

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arXiv2014

Direct Detection with Dark Mediators

We introduce dark mediator Dark matter (dmDM) where the dark and visible sectors are connected by at least one light mediator $ϕ$ carrying the same dark charge that stabilizes DM. $ϕ$ is coupled to the Standard Model via an operator $\bar q q ϕϕ^*/Λ$, and to dark matter via a Yukawa coupling $y_χ\overline{χ^c}χϕ$. Direct detection is realized as the $2\rightarrow3$ process $χN \rightarrow \bar χN ϕ$ at tree-level for $m_ϕ\lesssim 10 \ \mathrm{keV}$ and small Yukawa coupling, or alternatively as a loop-induced $2\rightarrow2$ process $χN \rightarrow χN$. We explore the direct-detection consequences of this scenario and find that a heavy $\mathcal{O}(100 \ \mathrm{GeV})$ dmDM candidate fakes different $\mathcal{O}(10 \ \mathrm{GeV})$ standard WIMPs in different experiments. Large portions of the dmDM parameter space are detectable above the irreducible neutrino background and not yet excluded by any bounds. Interestingly, for the $m_ϕ$ range leading to novel direct detection phenomenology, dmDM is also a form of Self-Interacting Dark Matter (SIDM), which resolves inconsistencies between dwarf galaxy observations and numerical simulations.

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arXiv2014

A Dynamical Framework for KeV Dirac Neutrino Warm Dark Matter

If the source of the reported $3.5$ keV x-ray line is a sterile neutrino, comprising an $\mathcal{O}(1)$ fraction of the dark matter (DM), then it exhibits the property that its mass times mixing angle is $\sim \mbox{few} \times 10^{-2}$ eV, a plausible mass scale for the active neutrinos. This property is a common feature of Dirac neutrino mixing. We present a framework that dynamically produces light active and keV sterile Dirac neutrinos, with appropriate mixing angles to be the x-ray line source. The central idea is that the right-handed active neutrino is a composite state, while elementary sterile neutrinos gain keV masses similarly to the quarks in extended Technicolor. The entire framework is fixed by just two dynamical scales and may automatically exhibit a warm dark matter (WDM) production mechanism -- dilution of thermal relics from late decays of a heavy composite neutrino -- such that the keV neutrinos may comprise an $\mathcal{O}(1)$ fraction of the DM. In this framework, the WDM is typically quite cool and within structure formation bounds, with temperature $\sim \mbox{few}\times 10^{-2}~T_ν$ and free-streaming length $\sim$ few kpc. A toy model that exhibits the central features of the framework is also presented.

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arXiv2014

Missing Energy Signatures of Dark Matter at the LHC

We use ATLAS and CMS searches in the mono-jet + missing energy and mono-photon + missing energy final state to set limits on the couplings of dark matter to quarks and gluons. Working in an effective field theory framework we compare several existing mono-jet analyses and find that searches with high p_T cuts are more sensitive to dark matter. We constrain the suppression scale of the effective dark matter-Standard Model interactions, and convert these limits into bounds on the cross sections relevant to direct and indirect detection. We find that, for certain types of operators, in particular spin-independent dark matter-gluon couplings and spin-dependent dark matter-quark couplings, LHC constraints from the mono-jet channel are competitive with, or superior to, limits from direct searches up to dark matter masses of order 1 TeV. Comparing to indirect searches, we exclude, at 90% C.L., dark matter annihilating to quarks with the annihilation cross section of a thermal relic for masses below ~ 15-70 GeV, depending on the Lorentz structure of the effective couplings. Mono-photon limits are somewhat weaker than mono-jet bounds, but still provide an important cross check in the case of a discovery in mono-jets. We also discuss the possibility that dark matter--Standard Model interactions at LHC energies cannot be described by effective operators, in which case we find that constraints can become either significantly stronger, or considerably weaker, depending on the mass and width of the intermediate particle. We also discuss the special case of dark matter coupling to the Higgs boson, and we show that searches for invisible Higgs decays would provide superior sensitivity, particularly for a light Higgs mass and light dark matter.

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arXiv2013

Induced Electroweak Symmetry Breaking and Supersymmetric Naturalness

In this paper we study a new class of supersymmetric models that can explain a 125 GeV Higgs without fine-tuning. These models contain additional `auxiliary Higgs' fields with large tree-level quartic interaction terms but no Yukawa couplings. These have electroweak-breaking vacuum expectation values, and contribute to the VEVs of the MSSM Higgs fields either through an induced quartic or through an induced tadpole. The quartic interactions for the auxiliary Higgs fields can arise from either D-terms or F-terms. The tadpole mechanism has been previously studied in strongly-coupled models with large D-terms, referred to as `superconformal technicolor.' The perturbative models studied here preserve gauge coupling unification in the simplest possible way, namely that all new fields are in complete SU(5) multiplets. The models are consistent with the observed properties of the 125 GeV Higgs-like boson as well as precision electroweak constraints, and predict a rich phenomenology of new Higgs states at the weak scale. The tuning is less than 10% in almost all of the phenomenologically allowed parameter space. If electroweak symmetry is broken by an induced tadpole, the cubic and quartic Higgs self-couplings are significantly smaller than in the standard model.

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arXiv2013

Soft RPV Through the Baryon Portal

Supersymmetric (SUSY) models with R-parity generically predict sparticle decays with invisible neutralinos, which yield distinctive missing energy events at colliders. Since most LHC searches are designed with this expectation, the putative bounds on sparticle masses become considerably weaker if R-parity is violated so that squarks and gluinos decay to jets with large QCD backgrounds. Here we introduce a scenario in which baryonic R-parity violation (RPV) arises effectively from soft SUSY-breaking interactions, but leptonic RPV remains accidentally forbidden to evade constraints from proton decay and FCNCs. The model features a global R-symmetry that initially forbids RPV interactions, a hidden R-breaking sector, and a heavy mediator that communicates this breaking to the visible sector. After R-symmetry breaking, the mediator is integrated out and an effective RPV A-term arises at tree level; RPV couplings between quarks and squarks arise only at loop level and receive additional suppression. Although this mediator must be heavy compared to soft masses, the model introduces no new hierarchy since viable RPV can arise when the mediator mass is near the SUSY breaking scale. In generic regions of parameter space, a light thermally-produced gravitino is stable and can be a viable dark matter candidate.

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arXiv2012

Neutralino Oscillations at the LHC

We study a supersymmetric phenomenon that can give spectacular signals at the LHC: oscillations of neutralinos. Such oscillations can be naturally realised in R-symmetric models, where additional fields are introduced as Dirac mass partners of gauginos and Higgsinos. Majorana masses for gauginos, necessarily generated from anomaly mediation, can create tiny mass splittings between degenerate mass eigenstates, causing states produced at the LHC to oscillate between neutralinos and their Dirac partner fields. Scenarios where such states decay with displaced vertices can lead to striking signatures at the LHC, where the oscillation can be visible directly in the distribution of displaced vertex lengths. We elaborate on the theory and LHC phenomenology of this feature within a specific scenario of a Higgsino decaying with a displaced vertex into a gravitino and a Z boson.

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