Showing papers on "Lepton published in 2008"

Updated values of running quark and lepton masses

Abstract: Reliable values of quark and lepton masses are important for model building at a fundamental energy scale, such as the Fermi scale M-Z approximate to 91.2 GeV and the would-be GUT scale Lambda(GUT) similar to 2 x 10(16) GeV. Using the latest data given by the Particle Data Group, we update the running quark and charged-lepton masses at a number of interesting energy scales below and above M-Z. In particular, we take into account the possible new physics scale (mu similar to 1 TeV) to be explored by the CERN LHC and the typical seesaw scales (mu similar to 10(9) GeV and mu similar to 10(12) GeV) which might be relevant to the generation of neutrino masses. For illustration, the running masses of three light Majorana neutrinos are also calculated. Our up-to-date tables of running fermion masses are expected to be very useful for the study of flavor dynamics at various energy scales.

Direct measurement of the 7Be solar neutrino flux with 192 days of Borexino data

Abstract: We report the direct measurement of the 7Be solar neutrino signal rate performed with the Borexino detector at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. The interaction rate of the 0.862 MeV 7Be neutrinos is 49+/-3stat+/-4syst counts/(day.100 ton). The hypothesis of no oscillation for 7Be solar neutrinos is inconsistent with our measurement at the 4sigma C.L. Our result is the first direct measurement of the survival probability for solar nu(e) in the transition region between matter-enhanced and vacuum-driven oscillations. The measurement improves the experimental determination of the flux of 7Be, pp, and CNO solar nu(e), and the limit on the effective neutrino magnetic moment using solar neutrinos.

Hints of θ 13 > 0 from Global Neutrino Data Analysis

Abstract: Nailing down the unknown neutrino mixing angle theta{13} is one of the most important goals in current lepton physics. In this context, we perform a global analysis of neutrino oscillation data, focusing on theta{13}, and including recent results [ (unpublished)]. We discuss two converging hints of theta{13}>0, each at the level of approximately 1sigma: an older one coming from atmospheric neutrino data, and a newer one coming from the combination of solar and long-baseline reactor neutrino data. Their combination provides the global estimate sin{2}theta{13}=0.016+/-0.010(1sigma), implying a preference for theta{13}>0 with non-negligible statistical significance ( approximately 90% C.L.). We discuss possible refinements of the experimental data analyses, which might sharpen such intriguing indications.

Effects of new leptons in electroweak precision data

Abstract: We obtain limits on generic vectorlike leptons at the TeV scale from electroweak precision tests. These limits are complementary to the ones obtained from lepton flavor violating processes. In general, the quality of the global electroweak fit is comparable to the one for the standard model. In the case of an extra neutrino singlet mixing with the muon or electron, the global fit allows for a relatively large Higgs mass (${M}_{H}\ensuremath{\lesssim}260\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$ at 90% C.L.), thus relaxing the tension between the direct CERN LEP limit and the standard model fit.

NNLO predictions for the Higgs boson signal in the H->WW->lnu lnu and H->ZZ->4l decay channels

Abstract: We consider Standard Model Higgs boson production by gluon--gluon fusion in hadron collisions. We present a calculation of the next-to-next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the cross section in the H->WW->lnu lnu and H->ZZ->4l decay channels. The calculation is implemented in the parton level Monte Carlo program HNNLO and allows us to apply arbitrary cuts on the final state leptons and the associated jet activity. We present selected numerical results for the signal cross section at the LHC, by using all the nominal cuts proposed for the forthcoming Higgs boson search.

Energy spectra of gamma-rays, electrons and neutrinos produced at interactions of relativistic protons with low energy radiation

Abstract: We derived simple analytical parametrizations for energy distributions of photons, electrons, and neutrinos produced in interactions of relativistic protons with an isotropic monochromatic radiation field. The results on photomeson processes are obtained using numerical simulations of proton-photon interactions based on the public available Monte Carlo code SOPHIA. For calculations of energy spectra of electrons and positrons from the pair-production (Bethe-Heitler) process we suggest a simple formalism based on the well-known differential cross section of the process in the rest frame of the proton. The analytical presentations of energy distributions of photons and leptons provide a simple but accurate approach for calculations of broadband energy spectra of gamma rays and neutrinos in cosmic proton accelerators located in radiation dominated environments.

Type-III seesaw mechanism at CERN LHC

Abstract: Neutrino masses can be generated by fermion triplets with TeV-scale mass, that would manifest at LHC as production of two leptons together with two heavy standard model (SM) vectors or Higgs, giving rise to final states such as $2\ensuremath{\ell}+4j$ (that can violate lepton number and/or lepton flavor) or $\ensuremath{\ell}+4j+{\mathrm{E\ensuremath{\llap{ ot\;}}}}_{T}$. We devise cuts to suppress the SM backgrounds to these signatures. Furthermore, for most of the mass range suggested by neutrino data, triplet decays are detectably displaced from the production point, allowing to infer the neutrino mass parameters. We compare with LHC signals of type-I and type-II seesaw.

Discovering the top partners at the LHC using same-sign dilepton final states

Abstract: A natural, non-supersymmetric solution to the hierarchy problem generically requires fermionic partners of the top quark with masses not much heavier than 500 GeV. We study the pair production and detection at the LHC of the top partners with electric charge Q=5/3 (T_{5/3}) and Q=-1/3 (B), that are predicted in models where the Higgs is a pseudo-Goldstone boson. The exotic T_{5/3} fermion, in particular, is the distinct prediction of a LR custodial parity invariance of the electroweak symmetry breaking sector. Both kinds of new fermions decay to Wt, leading to a t\bar{t}WW final state. We focus on the golden channel with two same-sign leptons, and show that a discovery could come with less than 100 pb^{-1} (less than 20 fb^{-1}) of integrated luminosity for masses M=500 GeV (M=1TeV). In the case of the T_{5/3}, we present a simple strategy for its reconstruction in the fully hadronic decay chain. Although no full mass reconstruction is possible for the B, we still find that the same-sign dilepton channel offers the best chances of discovery compared to other previous searches that used final states with one or two opposite-sign leptons, and hence suffered from the large t\bar{t} background. Our analysis also directly applies to the search of 4th generation b' quarks.

Upper limit on the diffuse flux of ultrahigh energy tau neutrinos from the Pierre Auger Observatory

Abstract: The surface detector array of the Pierre Auger Observatory is sensitive to Earth-skimming tau neutrinos that interact in Earth's crust. Tau leptons from ντ charged-current interactions can emerge and decay in the atmosphere to produce a nearly horizontal shower with a significant electromagnetic component. The data collected between 1 January2004 and 31 August 2007 are used to place an upper limit on the diffuse flux of ντ at EeV energies. Assuming an Eν-2 differential energy spectrum the limit set at 90% C.L. is Eν2dNντ/dEν<1.3×10-7GeVcm-2s-1sr-1 in the energy range 2×1017eV

Survey of lepton number violation via effective operators

Abstract: We survey 129 lepton number violating effective operators, consistent with the minimal standard model gauge group and particle content, of mass dimension up to and including 11. Upon requiring that each one radiatively generates the observed neutrino masses, we extract an associated characteristic cutoff energy scale which we use to calculate other observable manifestations of these operators for a number of current and future experimental probes, concentrating on lepton number violating phenomena. These include searches for neutrinoless double-beta decay and rare meson, lepton, and gauge boson decays. We also consider searches at hadron/lepton collider facilities in anticipation of the CERN LHC and the future ILC. We find that some operators are already disfavored by current data, while more are ripe to be probed by next-generation experiments. We also find that our current understanding of lepton mixing disfavors a subset of higher dimensional operators. While neutrinoless double-beta decay is the most promising signature of lepton number violation for the majority of operators, a handful is best probed by other means. We argue that a combination of constraints from various independent experimental sources will help to pinpoint the ''correct'' model of neutrino mass, or at least aid in narrowing down the setmore » of possibilities.« less

NNLO predictions for the Higgs boson signal in the H → WW → lνlν and H → ZZ → 4l decay channels

Abstract: We consider Standard Model Higgs boson production by gluon-gluon fusion in hadron collisions. We present a calculation of the next-to-next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the cross section in the H ? WW ? l?l? and H ? ZZ ? 4l decay channels. The calculation is implemented in the parton level Monte Carlo program HNNLO and allows us to apply arbitrary cuts on the final state leptons and the associated jet activity. We present selected numerical results for the signal cross section at the LHC, by using all the nominal cuts proposed for the forthcoming Higgs boson search.

A Model of Lepton Masses from a Warped Extra Dimension

Abstract: In order to explain the non-hierarchical neutrino mixing angles and the absence of lepton flavor violating processes in the context of warped extra dimensions one needs to introduce bulk flavor symmetries. We present a simple model of lepton masses and mixings in RS models based on the A4 non-abelian discrete symmetry. The virtues of this choice are: (i) the natural appearance of the tri-bimaximal mixing pattern; (ii) the complete absence of tree-level flavor violations in the neutral sector; (iii) the absence of flavor gauge bosons; (iv) the hierarchies in the charged lepton masses are explained via wave-function overlaps. We present the minimal field content and symmetry breaking pattern necessary to obtain a successful model of this type. The bounds from electroweak precision measurements allow the KK mass scale to be as low as 3 TeV. Tree-level lepton flavor violation is absent in this model, while the loop induced mu -> e gamma branching fraction is safely below the experimental bound.

Measurement of muon neutrino quasielastic scattering on carbon.

Abstract: Low energy (200 < E{sub v} < 2000 MeV) neutrino oscillation experiments, including MiniBooNE, require a model of charged current quasi-elastic (CCQE) neutrino interactions to predict signal samples. Using a high-statistics sample of muon neutrino CCQE events, MiniBooNE finds that a simple Fermi gas model, with appropriate adjustments, accurately characterizes the CCQE events observed in a carbon-based detector. The extracted parameters include an effective axial mass, M{sub A} = 1.23 {+-} 0.20 GeV, used to describe the four-momentum dependence of the axial-vector form factor of the nucleon; and a Pauli-suppression parameter, {kappa} = 1.019 {+-} 0.011.

Discovering the top partners at the LHC using same-sign dilepton final states

Abstract: A natural, non-supersymmetric solution to the hierarchy problem generically requires fermionic partners of the top quark with masses not much heavier than 500GeV. We study the pair production and detection at the LHC of the top partners with electric charge Qe = 5/3 (T5/3) and Qe = −1/3 (B), that are predicted in models where the Higgs is a pseudo-Goldstone boson. The exotic T 5/3 fermion, in particular, is the distinct prediction of a LR custodial parity invariance of the electroweak symmetry breaking sector. Both kinds of new fermions decay to W t, leading to a tW final state. We focus on the golden channel with two same-sign leptons, and show that a discovery could come with less than 100pb −1 (less than 20fb −1 ) of integrated luminosity for masses M = 500GeV (M = 1TeV). In the case of the T5/3, we present a simple strategy for its reconstruction in the fully hadronic decay chain. Although no full mass reconstruction is possible for the B, we still find that the same-sign dilepton channel offers the best chances of discovery compared to other previous searches that used final states with one or two opposite-sign leptons, and hence suffered from the large tbackground.

A Model of Lepton Masses from a Warped Extra Dimension

Abstract: In order to explain the non-hierarchical neutrino mixing angles and the absence of lepton flavor violating processes in the context of warped extra dimensions one needs to introduce bulk flavor symmetries. We present a simple model of lepton masses and mixings in RS models based on the A4 non-abelian discrete symmetry. The virtues of this choice are: (i) the natural appearance of the tri-bimaximal mixing pattern; (ii) the complete absence of tree-level flavor violations in the neutral sector; (iii) the absence of flavor gauge bosons; (iv) the hierarchies in the charged lepton masses are explained via wave-function overlaps. We present the minimal field content and symmetry breaking pattern necessary to obtain a successful model of this type. The bounds from electroweak precision measurements allow the KK mass scale to be as low as ∼ 3TeV. Tree-level lepton flavor violation is absent in this model, while the loop induced � → eγ branching fraction is safely below the experimental bound.

Mass effects in muon and semileptonic b-->c decays.

Abstract: Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) effects in the semileptonic decay b-->clnu are evaluated to the second order in the coupling constant, O(alpha(s){2}), and to several orders in the expansion in quark masses, m{c}/m{b}. Corrections are calculated for the total decay rate as well as for the first two moments of the lepton energy and the hadron system energy distributions. Translated into QED and applied to the muon decay, they decrease its predicted rate by -0.43 ppm.

Charged Lepton Flavor Violation Experiments

Abstract: We provide a review of the status of experimental searches for lepton flavor violation involving electrons, muons, and tau leptons. Future experimental programs are discussed and placed in the context of theories beyond the standard model.

Constraining nonstandard neutrino-electron interactions

Abstract: We present a detailed analysis on nonstandard neutrino interactions (NSI) with electrons including all muon and electron (anti)-neutrino data from existing accelerators and reactors, in conjunction with the 'neutrino counting' data (e{sup +}e{sup -}{yields}{nu}{nu}{gamma}) from the four LEP collaborations. First we perform a one-parameter-at-a-time analysis, showing how most constraints improve with respect to previous results reported in the literature. We also present more robust results where the NSI parameters are allowed to vary freely in the analysis. We show the importance of combining LEP data with the other experiments in removing degeneracies in the global analysis constraining flavor-conserving NSI parameters which, at 90% and 95% C.L., must lie within unique allowed regions. Despite such improved constraints, there is still substantial room for improvement, posing a big challenge for upcoming experiments.

Quark and lepton masses at the GUT scale including supersymmetric threshold corrections

Abstract: We investigate the effect of supersymmetric (SUSY) threshold corrections on the values of the running quark and charged lepton masses at the grand unified theory (GUT) scale within the large tan{beta} regime of the minimal supersymmetric standard model. In addition to the typically dominant SUSY QCD contributions for the quarks, we also include the electroweak contributions for quarks and leptons and show that they can have significant effects. We provide the GUT scale ranges of quark and charged lepton Yukawa couplings as well as of the ratios m{sub {mu}}/m{sub s}, m{sub e}/m{sub d}, y{sub {tau}}/y{sub b} and y{sub t}/y{sub b} for three example ranges of SUSY parameters. We discuss how the enlarged ranges due to threshold effects might open up new possibilities for constructing GUT models of fermion masses and mixings.

Collective neutrino oscillations in matter and CP violation

Abstract: We explore CP violation effects on the neutrino propagation in dense environments, such as in core-collapse supernovae, where the neutrino self-interaction induces nonlinear evolution equations. We demonstrate that the electron (anti)neutrino fluxes are not sensitive to the CP violating phase if the muon and tau neutrinos interact similarly with matter. On the other hand, we numerically show that new features arise, because of the nonlinearity and the flux dependence of the evolution equations, when the muon and tau neutrinos have different fluxes at the neutrinosphere (due to loop corrections or physics beyond the standard model). In particular, the electron (anti)neutrino probabilities and fluxes depend upon the CP violating phase. We also discuss the CP effects induced by radiative corrections to the neutrino refractive index.

LHC Signals for a SuperUnified Theory of Dark Matter

Abstract: A new theory of WIMP Dark Matter has been proposed, motivated directly by striking Data from the PAMELA and ATIC collaborations. The WIMP is taken to be charged under a hidden gauge symmetry G_Dark, broken near the GeV scale; this also provides the necessary ingredients for the "exciting" and "inelastic" Dark Matter interpretations of the INTEGRAL and DAMA signals. In this short note we point out the consequences of the most straightforward embedding of this simple picture within low-energy SUSY, in which G_Dark breaking at the GeV scale arises naturally through radiative corrections, or Planck-suppressed operators. The theory predicts major additions to SUSY signals at the LHC. A completely generic prediction is that G_Dark particles can be produced in cascade decays of MSSM superpartners, since these end with pairs of MSSM LSP's that in turn decay into the true LSP and other particles in the dark sector. In turn, the lightest GeV-scale dark Higgses and gauge bosons eventually decay back into light SM states, and dominantly into leptons. Therefore, a large fraction of all SUSY events will contain at least two ``lepton jets'': collections of n>= 2 leptons, with small angular separations and GeV scale invariant masses. Furthermore, if the Dark Matter sector is directly charged under the Standard Model, the success of gauge coupling unification implies the presence of new long-lived colored particles that can be copiously produced at the LHC.

μ --> eγ and τ --> lγ decays in the fermion triplet seesaw model

Abstract: In the framework of the seesaw models with triplets of fermions, we evaluate the decay rates of {mu}{yields}e{gamma} and {tau}{yields}l{gamma} transitions. We show that although, due to neutrino mass constraints, those rates are in general expected to be well under the present experimental limits, this is not necessarily always the case. Interestingly enough, the observation of one of those decays in planned experiments would nevertheless contradict bounds stemming from present experimental limits on the {mu}{yields}eee and {tau}{yields}3l decay rates, as well as from {mu} to e conversion in atomic nuclei. Such detection of radiative decays would therefore imply that there exist sources of lepton flavor violation not associated to triplet fermions.

S4 Flavor Symmetry of Quarks and Leptons in SU(5) GUT

Abstract: We have presented a $S_4$ flavor model to unify quarks and leptons in the framework of the SU(5) GUT. Three generations of $\bar5$-plets in SU(5) are assigned $3_1$ of $S_4$ while the first and the second generations of 10-plets in SU(5) are assigned to be 2 of $S_4$, and the third generation of 10-plet is to be $1_1$ of $S_4$. The right-handed neutrinos are also assigned 2 for the first and second generations and $1_1$ for the third generation, respectively. Taking vacuum alignments of relevant gauge singlet scalars, we predict the quark mixing as well as the tri-bimaximal mixing of neutrino flavors. Especially, the Cabbibo angle is predicted to be $15^{\circ}$ in the limit of the vacuum alignment. We can improve the model to predict observed CKM mixing angles as well as the non-vanishing $U_{e3}$ of the neutrino flavor mixing.

Leptoquarks: Neutrino masses and accelerator phenomenology

Abstract: Leptoquark-Higgs interactions induce mixing between leptoquark (LQ) states with different chiralities once the electroweak symmetry is broken. In such LQ models Majorana neutrino masses are generated at 1-loop order. Here we calculate the neutrino mass matrix and explore the constraints on the parameter space enforced by the assumption that LQ-loops explain current neutrino oscillation data. LQs will be produced at the CERN LHC, if their masses are at or below the TeV scale. Since the fermionic decays of LQs are governed by the same Yukawa couplings, which are responsible for the nontrivial neutrino mass matrix, several decay branching ratios of LQ states can be predicted from measured neutrino data. Especially interesting is that large lepton flavor violating rates in muon and tau final states are expected. In addition, the model predicts that, if kinematically possible, heavier LQs decay into lighter ones plus either a standard model Higgs boson or a Z{sup 0}/W{sup {+-}} gauge boson. Thus, experiments at the LHC might be able to exclude the LQ mechanism as an explanation of neutrino data.

Neutrino mass hierarchy and Majorana CP phases within the Higgs triplet model at the LHC

Abstract: Neutrino masses may be generated by the VEV of an SU(2)L Higgs triplet. We assume that the doubly charged component of such a triplet has a mass in the range of several 100 GeV, such that it is accessible at LHC. Its decay into like-sign leptons provides a clean experimental signature, which allows for a direct test of the neutrino mass matrix. By exploring the branching ratios of this decay into leptons of various flavours, we show that within this model the type of the neutrino mass spectrum (normal, inverted or quasi-degenerate) might actually be resolved at the LHC. Furthermore, we show that within the Higgs triplet model for neutrino mass the decays of the doubly charged scalar into like-sign lepton pairs at the LHC provide a possibility to determine the Majorana CP phases of the lepton mixing matrix.

Introduction to elementary particle physics

Abstract: Preface 1. Preliminary notions 2. Nucleons, leptons and bosons 3. Symmetries 4. Hadrons 5. Quantum electrodynamics 6. Chromodynamics 7. Weak interactions 8. The neutral k and b mesons and cp violation 9. The standard model 10. Beyond the standard model Appendixes References Index.

Constraining sterile neutrino dark matter by phase-space density observations

Abstract: We apply phase-space density considerations to obtain lower bounds on the mass of sterile neutrino as dark matter candidate. The bounds are different for non-resonant production, resonant production in the presence of lepton asymmetry and production in decays of heavier particles. In the former case our bound is comparable to, but independent of the Lyman-alpha bound, and together with X-ray upper limit it disfavors non-resonantly produced sterile neutrino dark matter. An interesting feature of the latter case is that warm dark matter may be composed of heavy particles.

Two-loop QCD corrections to the heavy-to-light quark decay

Abstract: We present an analytic expression for the two-loop QCD corrections to the decay process b ? u?W*, where b and u are a massive and massless quark, respectively, while W* is an off-shell charged weak boson. Since the W-boson can subsequently decay in a lepton anti-neutrino pair, the results of this paper are a first step towards a fully analytic computation of differential distributions for the semileptonic decay of a b-quark. The latter partonic process plays a crucial role in the study of inclusive semileptonic charmless decays of B-mesons. The three independent form factors characterizing the bWu vertex are provided in form of a Laurent series in (d?4), where d is the space-time dimension. The coefficients in the series are expressed in terms of Harmonic Polylogarithms of maximal weight 4, and are functions of the invariant mass of the leptonic decay products of the W-boson.

Direct determination of neutrino mass parameters at future colliders

Abstract: If the observed light neutrino masses are induced by their Yukawa couplings to singlet right-handed neutrinos, the natural smallness of those makes direct collider tests of the electroweak scale neutrino mass mechanisms difficult in the simplest models. In the triplet Higgs seesaw scenario the smallness of light neutrino masses may come from the smallness of B - L breaking parameters, allowing sizable Yukawa couplings even for a TeV scale triplet. We show that, in this scenario, measuring the branching fractions of doubly charged Higgs to different same-charged lepton flavors at CERN LHC and/or ILC experiments will allow one to measure the neutrino mass parameters that neutrino oscillation experiments are insensitive to, including the neutrino mass hierarchy, lightest neutrino mass, and Majorana phases.