Showing papers on "Gauge boson published in 2021"

Electroweak couplings of the Higgs boson at a multi-TeV muon collider

Abstract: We estimate the expected precision at a multi-TeV muon collider for measuring the Higgs boson couplings with electroweak gauge bosons, $HVV$ and $HHVV(V={W}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}},Z)$, as well as the trilinear Higgs self-coupling $HHH$. At very high energies both single and double Higgs productions rely on the vector-boson fusion (VBF) topology. The outgoing remnant particles have a strong tendency to stay in the very forward region, leading to the configuration of the ``inclusive process'' and making it difficult to isolate $ZZ$ fusion events from the $WW$ fusion. In the single Higgs channel, we perform a maximum likelihood analysis on $HWW$ and $HZZ$ couplings using two categories: the inclusive Higgs production and the 1-muon exclusive signal. In the double Higgs channel, we consider the inclusive production and study the interplay of the trilinear $HHH$ and the quartic $VVHH$ couplings, by utilizing kinematic information in the invariant mass spectrum. We find that at a center-of-mass energy of 10 TeV (30 TeV) with an integrated luminosity of $10\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{ab}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ ($90\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{ab}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$), one may reach a 95% confidence level sensitivity of 0.073% (0.023%) for $WWH$ coupling, 0.61% (0.21%) for $ZZH$ coupling, 0.62% (0.20%) for $WWHH$ coupling, and 5.6% (2.0%) for $HHH$ coupling. For dim-6 operators contributing to the processes, these sensitivities could probe the new physics scale $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$ in the order of 1--10 (2--20) TeV at a 10 TeV (30 TeV) muon collider.

High energy leptonic collisions and electroweak parton distribution functions

Abstract: In high-energy leptonic collisions well above the electroweak scale, the collinear splitting mechanism of the electroweak gauge bosons becomes the dominant phenomena via the initial state radiation and the final state showering. We point out that at future high-energy lepton colliders, such as a multi-TeV muon collider, the electroweak parton distribution functions (EW PDFs) should be adopted as the proper description for partonic collisions of the initial states. The leptons and electroweak gauge bosons are the EW partons, that evolve according to the unbroken Standard Model (SM) gauge group and that effectively resum potentially large collinear logarithms. We present a formalism for the EW PDFs at the Next-to-Leading-Log (NLL) accuracy. We calculate semi-inclusive cross sections for some important SM processes at a future multi-TeV muon collider. We conclude that it is appropriate to adopt the EW PDF formalism for future high-energy lepton colliders.

Scalar leptoquarks in leptonic processes

Abstract: Leptoquarks are hypothetical new particles, which couple quarks directly to leptons. They experienced a renaissance in recent years as they are prime candidates to explain the so-called flavor anomalies, i.e. the deviations between the Standard Model predictions and measurements in b → sl+l− and b → cτν processes and in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. At the one-loop level these particles unavoidably generate effects in the purely leptonic processes like Z → l+l−, Z → $$ v\overline{v} $$ , W → lν and h → l+l− and can even generate non-zero rates for lepton flavor violating processes such as l → l′γ, Z → l+l′−, h → l+l′− and l → 3l′. In this article we calculate these processes for all five representations of scalar Leptoquarks. We include their most general interaction terms with the Standard Model Higgs boson, which leads to Leptoquark mixing after the former acquires a vacuum expectation value. In our phenomenological analysis we investigate the effects in modified lepton couplings to electroweak gauge bosons, we study the correlations of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon with h → μ+μ− and Z → μ+μ− as well as the interplay between different lepton flavor violating decays.

GUT Baryogenesis With Primordial Black Holes

Abstract: In models of baryogenesis based on grand unified theories (GUTs), the baryon asymmetry of the Universe is generated through the $CP$ and baryon number violating, out-of-equilibrium decays of very massive gauge or Higgs bosons in the very early Universe. Recent constraints on the scale of inflation and the subsequent temperature of reheating, however, have put pressure on many such models. In this paper, we consider the role that primordial black holes may have played in the process of GUT baryogenesis. Through Hawking evaporation, black holes can efficiently generate GUT Higgs or gauge bosons, regardless of the masses of these particles or the temperature of the early Universe. Furthermore, in significant regions of parameter space, the black holes evaporate after the electroweak phase transition, naturally evading the problem of sphaleron washout that is normally encountered in GUT models based on $SU(5)$. We identify a wide range of scenarios in which black holes could facilitate the generation of the baryon asymmetry through the production and decays of GUT bosons.

Measurements of WH and ZH production in the H→ bb¯ decay channel in pp collisions at 13Te with the ATLAS detector

Abstract: Measurements of the Standard Model Higgs boson decaying into a $b\bar{b}$ pair and produced in association with a W or Z boson decaying into leptons, using proton–proton collision data collected between 2015 and 2018 by the ATLAS detector, are presented. The measurements use collisions produced by the Large Hadron Collider at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13\,\text {Te}\text {V}$, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $139\,\mathrm {fb}^{-1}$. The production of a Higgs boson in association with a W or Z boson is established with observed (expected) significances of 4.0 (4.1) and 5.3 (5.1) standard deviations, respectively. Cross-sections of associated production of a Higgs boson decaying into bottom quark pairs with an electroweak gauge boson, W or Z, decaying into leptons are measured as a function of the gauge boson transverse momentum in kinematic fiducial volumes. The cross-section measurements are all consistent with the Standard Model expectations, and the total uncertainties vary from 30% in the high gauge boson transverse momentum regions to 85% in the low regions. Limits are subsequently set on the parameters of an effective Lagrangian sensitive to modifications of the WH and ZH processes as well as the Higgs boson decay into $b\bar{b}$.

Global analysis of leptophilic Z′ bosons

Abstract: New neutral heavy gauge bosons (Z′) are predicted within many extensions of the Standard Model. While in case they couple to quarks the LHC bounds are very stringent, leptophilic Z′ bosons (even with sizable couplings) can be much lighter and therefore lead to interesting quantum effects in precision observables (like (g − 2)μ) and generate flavour violating decays of charged leptons. In particular, $$ \mathrm{\ell}\to \mathrm{\ell}^{\prime }v\overline{v} $$ decays, anomalous magnetic moments of charged leptons, l → l′γ and l → 3l′ decays place stringent limits on leptophilic Z′ bosons. Furthermore, in case of mixing Z′ with the SM Z, Z pole observables are affected. In light of these many observables we perform a global fit to leptophilic Z′ models with the main goal of finding the bounds for the Z′ couplings to leptons. To this end we consider a number of scenarios for these couplings. While in generic scenarios correlations are weak, this changes once additional constraints on the couplings are imposed. In particular, if one considers an Lμ − Lτ symmetry broken only by left-handed rotations, or considers the case of τ − μ couplings only. In the latter setup, on can explain the (g − 2)μ anomaly and the hint for lepton flavour universality violation in $$ \tau \to \mu v\overline{v}/\tau \to ev\overline{v} $$ without violating bounds from electroweak precision observables.

Search for Efficient Formulations for Hamiltonian Simulation of non-Abelian Lattice Gauge Theories

Abstract: Hamiltonian formulation of lattice gauge theories (LGTs) is the most natural framework for the purpose of quantum simulation, an area of research that is growing with advances in quantum-computing algorithms and hardware. It, therefore, remains an important task to identify the most accurate, while computationally economic, Hamiltonian formulation(s) in such theories, considering the necessary truncation imposed on the Hilbert space of gauge bosons with any finite computing resources. This paper is a first step toward addressing this question in the case of non-Abelian LGTs, which further require the imposition of non-Abelian Gauss's laws on the Hilbert space, introducing additional computational complexity. Focusing on the case of SU(2) LGT in 1+1 D coupled to matter, a number of different formulations of the original Kogut-Susskind framework are analyzed with regard to the dependence of the dimension of the physical Hilbert space on boundary conditions, system's size, and the cutoff on the excitations of gauge bosons. The impact of such dependencies on the accuracy of the spectrum and dynamics is examined, and the (classical) computational-resource requirements given these considerations are studied. Besides the well-known angular-momentum formulation of the theory, the cases of purely fermionic and purely bosonic formulations (with open boundary conditions), and the Loop-String-Hadron formulation are analyzed, along with a brief discussion of a Quantum Link Model of the same theory. Clear advantages are found in working with the Loop-String-Hadron framework which implements non-Abelian Gauss's laws a priori using a complete set of gauge-invariant operators. Although small lattices are studied in the numerical analysis of this work, and only the simplest algorithms are considered, a range of conclusions will be applicable to larger systems and potentially to higher dimensions.

Elastic positivity vs extremal positivity bounds in SMEFT: a case study in transversal electroweak gauge-boson scatterings

Abstract: The positivity bounds, derived from the axiomatic principles of quantum field theory (QFT), constrain the signs of Wilson coefficients and their linear combinations in the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT). The precise determination of these bounds, however, can become increasingly difficult as more and more SM modes and oper- ators are taken into account. We study two approaches that aim at obtaining the full set of bounds for a given set of SM fields: 1) the traditional elastic positivity approach, which exploits the elastic scattering amplitudes of states with arbitrarily superposed helicities as well as other quantum numbers, and 2) the newly proposed extremal positivity approach, which constructs the allowed coefficient space directly by using the extremal representation of convex cones. Considering the electroweak gauge-bosons as an example, we demonstrate how the best analytical and numerical positivity bounds can be obtained in several ways. We further compare the constraining power and the efficiency of various approaches, as well as their applicability to more complex problems. While the new extremal approach is more constraining by construction, we also find that it is analytically easier to use, nu- merically much faster than the elastic approach, and much more applicable when more SM particle states and operators are taken into account. As a byproduct, we provide the best positivity bounds on the transversal quartic-gauge-boson couplings, required by the axiomatic principles of QFT, and show that they exclude ≈ 99.3% of the parameter space currently being searched at the LHC.

Axiomatic derivation of coincident general relativity and its premetric extension

Abstract: A theory of gravity is deduced from the axioms of the premetric program. The starting point is the conservation of energy and momenta, and the equivalence of gravitation and inertia. The latter is what leads to the framework of the so-called purified gravity. The local and linear constitutive relation has 14 components when it is assumed to be metrical, but the compatibility of the constitutive relation with an action principle fixes uniquely the theory of coincident general relativity. The premetric formalism of purified gravity has a direct analogy with massive electromagnetism, the Planck mass corresponding to the Proca mass of the gauge boson. The metric emerges as a Stueckelberg field, and the graviton as a Goldstone boson of the broken symmetry.

Mixed QCD-electroweak corrections to W-boson production in hadron collisions

Abstract: We compute mixed QCD-electroweak corrections to the fully differential production of an on-shell $W$ boson. Decays of $W$ bosons to lepton pairs are included in the leading order approximation. The required two-loop virtual corrections are computed analytically for arbitrary values of the electroweak gauge boson masses. Analytic results for integrated subtraction terms are obtained within a soft-collinear subtraction scheme optimized to accommodate the structural simplicity of infrared singularities of mixed QCD-electroweak contributions. Numerical results for mixed corrections to the fiducial cross section of $pp\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{W}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{l}^{+}\ensuremath{ u}$ and selected kinematic distributions in this process are presented.

Scale-invariant quadratic gravity and inflation in the Palatini formalism

Abstract: In the framework of classical scale invariance, we consider quadratic gravity in the Palatini formalism and investigate the inflationary predictions of the theory. Our model corresponds to a two-field scalar-tensor theory, that involves the Higgs field and an extra scalar field stemming from a gauge $U(1)_X$ extension of the Standard Model, which contains an extra gauge boson and three right-handed neutrinos. Both scalar fields couple nonminimally to gravity and induce the Planck scale dynamically, once they develop vacuum expectation values. By means of the Gildener-Weinberg approach, we describe the inflationary dynamics in terms of a single scalar degree of freedom along the flat direction of the tree-level potential. The one-loop effective potential in the Einstein frame exhibits plateaus on both sides of the minimum and thus the model can accommodate both small and large field inflation. The inflationary predictions of the model are found to comply with the latest bounds set by the Planck collaboration for a wide range of parameters and the effect of the quadratic in curvature terms is to reduce the value of the tensor-to-scalar ratio.

Constraining early dark energy with gravitational waves before recombination

Abstract: We show that the nonperturbative decay of ultralight scalars into Abelian gauge bosons, recently proposed as a possible solution to the Hubble tension, produces a stochastic background of gravitational waves which is constrained by the cosmic microwave background. We simulate the full nonlinear dynamics of resonant dark photon production and the associated gravitational-wave production, finding the signals to exceed constraints for the entire parameter space we consider. Our findings suggest that gravitational-wave production from the decay of early dark energy may provide a unique probe of these models.

Muonic Force Behind Flavor Anomalies

Abstract: We develop an economical theoretical framework for combined explanations of the flavor physics anomalies involving muons: $(g-2)_\mu$, $R_{K^{(*)}}$, and $b \to s \mu^+ \mu^-$ angular distributions and branching ratios, that was first initiated by some of us in Ref. [1]. The Standard Model (SM) is supplemented with a lepton-flavored $\mathrm{U}(1)_X$ gauge group. The $\mathrm{U}(1)_X$ gauge boson with the mass of $\mathcal{O}(0.1)$ GeV resolves the $(g-2)_\mu$ tension. A TeV-scale leptoquark, charged under the $\mathrm{U}(1)_X$, carries a muon number and mediates $B$-decays without prompting charged lepton flavor violation or inducing proton decay. We explore the theory space of the chiral, anomaly-free $\mathrm{U}(1)_X$ gauge extensions featuring the above scenario, and identify 273 suitable charge assignments for the SM$+3 u_R$ fermion content with the integer charges in the range $X_{F_i} \in [-10,10]$. We then carry out a comprehensive phenomenological study of the muonic force in representative benchmark models. Interestingly, a large class of models can resolve the tension without conflicting the complementary constraints, and all of the viable parameter space will be tested in future muonic resonance searches. Finally, the catalog of the anomaly-free lepton-non-universal charge assignments motivated us to explore different directions in model building. We present a model in which the muon mass and the $(g-2)_\mu$ are generated radiatively from a common short-distance dynamics after the $\mathrm{U}(1)_X$ breaking. We also show how to charge a vector leptoquark under $\mathrm{U}(1)_{\mu - \tau}$ in a complete gauge model.

Non-Abelian vector dark matter and lepton g-2

Abstract: The mystery of dark matter remains an unsettled problem of particle physics. On top of that, experiments show a persistent contention of the muon anomalous magnetic moment (AMM) relative to the Standard Model (SM) prediction. In this work, we consider the possibility of extending the SM with a non-Abelian gauge symmetry $SU(2)_X$, under which SM leptons transform non-trivially. SM leptons receive corrections to their AMMs of right order via one-loop processes mediated by beyond SM (BSM) fermions required to cancel anomalies, and BSM gauge bosons that play the role of dark matter. We show that simultaneous explanation of the the muon AMM along with reproducing correct relic abundance allows rather a narrow range of 0.5 - 2 TeV dark matter mass, consistent with current experimental constraints. However, a concurrent description that also includes electron AMM is challenging in this set-up.

Interplay of New Physics effects in (g − 2)ℓ and h → ℓ+ℓ− — lessons from SMEFT

Abstract: We explore the interplay of New Physics (NP) effects in (g − 2)l and h → l+l− within the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT) framework, including one-loop Renormalization Group (RG) evolution of the Wilson coefficients as well as matching to the observables below the electroweak symmetry breaking scale. We include both the leading dimension six chirality flipping operators including a Higgs and SU(2)L gauge bosons as well as four-fermion scalar and tensor operators, forming a closed operator set under the SMEFT RG equations. We compare present and future experimental sensitivity to different representative benchmark scenarios. We also consider two simple UV completions, a Two Higgs Doublet Model and a single scalar LeptoQuark extension of the SM, and show how tree level matching to SMEFT followed by the one-loop RG evolution down to the electroweak scale can reproduce with high accuracy the (g −2)l and h → l+l− contributions obtained by the complete one- and even two-loop calculations in the full models.

Search for dark matter in association with an energetic photon in pp collisions at √s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Abstract: A search for dark matter is conducted in final states containing a photon and missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at $$ \sqrt{s} $$ = 13 TeV. The data, collected during 2015–2018 by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN LHC, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb−1. No deviations from the predictions of the Standard Model are observed and 95% confidence-level upper limits between 2.45 fb and 0.5 fb are set on the visible cross section for contributions from physics beyond the Standard Model, in different ranges of the missing transverse momentum. The results are interpreted as 95% confidence-level limits in models where weakly interacting dark-matter candidates are pair-produced via an s-channel axial-vector or vector mediator. Dark-matter candidates with masses up to 415 (580) GeV are excluded for axial-vector (vector) mediators, while the maximum excluded mass of the mediator is 1460 (1470) GeV. In addition, the results are expressed in terms of 95% confidence-level limits on the parameters of a model with an axion-like particle produced in association with a photon, and are used to constrain the coupling gaZγ of an axion-like particle to the electroweak gauge bosons.

Axiogenesis from SU(2)R phase transition

Abstract: The baryon asymmetry of the universe may be explained by rotations of the QCD axion in field space and baryon number violating processes. We consider the minimal extension of the Standard Model by a non-Abelian gauge interaction, SU(2)R, whose sphaleron process violates baryon number. Assuming that axion dark matter is also created from the axion rotation by the kinetic misalignment mechanism, the mass scale of the SU(2)R gauge boson is fixed as a function of the QCD axion decay constant, and vise versa. Significant portion of the parameter space has already been excluded by new gauge boson searches, and the high-luminocity LHC will further probe the viable parameter space.

Flavor structure of anomaly-free hidden photon models

Abstract: Extensions of the Standard Model with an Abelian gauge group are constrained by gauge anomaly cancellation, so that only a limited number of possible charge assignments is allowed without the introduction of new chiral fermions. For flavor universal charges, couplings of the associated hidden photon to Standard Model fermions are flavor conserving at tree level. We show explicitly that even the flavor-specific charge assignments allowed by anomaly cancellation condition lead to flavor-conserving tree-level couplings of the hidden photon to quarks and charged leptons if the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa or Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata matrix can be successfully reconstructed. Further, loop-induced flavor-changing couplings are strongly suppressed. As a consequence, the structure of the Majorana mass matrix is constrained and flavor-changing tree-level couplings of the hidden photon to neutrino mass eigenstates are identified as a means to distinguish the $U(1{)}_{B\ensuremath{-}L}$ gauge boson from any other anomaly-free extension of the Standard Model without new chiral fermions. We present a comprehensive analysis of constraints and projections for future searches for a $U(1{)}_{B\ensuremath{-}3{L}_{i}}$ gauge boson, calculate the reach of resonance searches in $B$ meson decays and comment on the implications for nonstandard neutrino interactions.

Leptonic g − 2 anomaly in an extended Higgs sector with vector-like leptons

Abstract: We address the observed discrepancies in the anomalous magnetic dipole moments (MDM) of the muon and electron by extending the inert two Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM) with SM gauge singlet complex scalar field and singlet Vector-like Lepton (VLL) field. We obtain the allowed parameter space constrained from the Higgs decays to gauge Bosons at LHC, LEP II data and electro-weak precision measurements. The muon and electron MDM's are then explained within a common parameter space for different sets of allowed couplings and masses of the model particles.

Self-interacting inelastic dark matter in the light of XENON1T excess

Abstract: We propose a self-interacting inelastic dark matter (DM) scenario as a possible origin of the recently reported excess of electron recoil events by the XENON1T experiment. Two quasidegenerate Majorana fermion DM particles interact within themselves via a light hidden sector massive gauge boson and with the standard model particles via gauge kinetic mixing. We also consider an additional long-lived singlet scalar, which helps in realizing correct dark matter relic abundance via a hybrid setup comprising both freeze-in and freeze-out mechanisms. While being consistent with the required DM phenomenology along with sufficient self-interactions to address the small-scale issues of cold dark matter, the model with GeV-scale DM can explain the XENON1T excess via inelastic down-scattering of the heavier DM component into the lighter one. All these requirements leave a very tiny parameter space, keeping the model very predictive for near-future experiments.

Probing new light gauge bosons with gravitational-wave interferometers using an adapted semicoherent method

Abstract: We adapt a method, originally developed for searches for quasimonochromatic, quasi-infinite duration gravitational-wave signals, to directly detect new light gauge bosons with laser interferometers, which could be candidates for dark matter. To search for these particles, we optimally choose the analysis coherence time as a function of boson mass, such that all of the signal power will be confined to one frequency bin. We focus on the dark photon, a gauge boson that could couple to the baryon or baryon-lepton number, and explain that its interactions with gravitational-wave interferometers result in a narrow-band, stochastic signal. We provide an end-to-end analysis scheme, estimate its computational cost, and investigate follow-up techniques to confirm or rule out dark matter candidates. Furthermore, we derive a theoretical estimate of the sensitivity, and show that it is consistent with both the empirical sensitivity determined through simulations, and results from a cross-correlation search. Finally, we place Feldman-Cousins upper limits using data from LIGO Livingston's second observing run, which give a new and strong constraint on the coupling of gauge bosons to the interferometer.

Asymptotic dynamics on the worldline for spinning particles

Abstract: There has been a renewed interest in the description of dressed asymptotic states a la Faddeev-Kulish. In this regard, a worldline representation for asymptotic states dressed by radiation at subleading power in the soft expansion, known as the Generalized Wilson Line (GWL) in the literature, has been available for some time, and it recently found applications in the derivation of factorization theorems for scattering processes of phenomenological relevance. In this paper we revisit the derivation of the GWL in the light of the well-known supersymmetric wordline formalism for the relativistic spinning particle. In particular, we discuss the importance of wordline supersymmetry to understand the contribution of the soft background field to the asymptotic dynamics. We also provide a derivation of the GWL for the gluon case, which was not previously available in the literature, thus extending the exponentiation of next-to-soft gauge boson corrections to Yang-Mills theory. Finally, we comment about possible applications in the current research about asymptotic states in scattering amplitudes for gauge and gravity theories and their classical limit.

Global evolution of the U(1) Higgs Boson: nonlinear stability and uniform energy bounds

Abstract: Relying on the hyperboloidal foliation method, we establish the nonlinear stability of the ground state of the U(1) standard model of electroweak interactions. This amounts to establishing a global-in-time theory for the initial value problem for a nonlinear wave–Klein–Gordon system that couples (Dirac, scalar, gauge) massive equations together. In particular, we investigate here the Dirac equation and study a new energy functional defined with respect to the hyperboloidal foliation of Minkowski spacetime. We provide a decay result for the Dirac equation which is uniform in the mass coefficient and thus allows for the Dirac mass coefficient to be arbitrarily small. Furthermore, we establish energy bounds for the Higgs fields and gauge bosons that are uniform with respect to the hyperboloidal time variable.

Atomki anomaly in gauged U(1)R symmetric model

Abstract: The Atomki collaboration has reported that unexpected excesses have been observed in the rare decays of Beryllium nucleus. It is claimed that such excesses can suggest the existence of a new boson, called X, with the mass of about 17 MeV. To solve the Atomki anomaly, we consider a model with gauged U(1)R symmetry and identify the new gauge boson with the X boson. We also introduce two SU(2) doublet Higgs bosons and one singlet Higgs boson, and discuss a very stringent constraint from neutrino-electron scattering. It is found that the U(1)R charges of the doublet scalars are determined to evade the constraint. In the end, we find the parameter region in which the Atomki signal and all experimental constraints can be simultaneously satisfied.