On neutrino masses and mixings from extra dimensions

In the framework of a Kaluza-Klein type theory with the Standard Model fields localized on a 4-dimensional section while gravity propagates in a full 4+δ-dimensional space-time, we examine a mechanism of naturally small neutrino mass generation through couplings of the Standard Model singlet fermion(s) living also in the full space-time. A numerical study is carried out on the charged current universality constraint from the ratio of pion decay partial widths. The bounds obtained on the fundamental mass scale could be stringent.     

Astrophysical implications of the induced neutrino magnetic moment from large extra dimensions

Theories involving extra dimensions, a low (TeV) string scale and bulk singlet neutrinos will produce an effective neutrino magnetic moment which may be large (10⁻¹¹μ_B). The effective magnetic moment increases with neutrino energy, and therefore high energy reactions are most useful for limiting the allowed number of extra dimensions. We examine constraints from both neutrino-electron scattering and also astrophysical environments. We find that supernova energy loss considerations require a number of extra dimensions, n≥2, for an electron neutrino-bulk neutrino Yukawa coupling of order 1.     

Three flavour neutrino oscillations in models with large extra dimensions

The key challenges for models with large extra dimensions, posed by neutrino physics are: first to understand why neutrino masses are small and second, whether one can have a simultaneous explanation of all observed oscillation phenomena. There exist models that answer the first challenge by using singlet bulk neutrinos coupled to the standard model in the brane. Our goal in this paper is to see to what extent the simplest versions of these models can answer the second challenge. Our conclusion is that the minimal framework that has no new physics beyond the above simple picture cannot simultaneously explain solar, atmospheric and LSND data, whereas there are several ways that it can accommodate the first two. This would suggest that confirmation of LSND data would indicate the existence of new physics either in the brane or in extra dimensions or both, if indeed it turns out that there are large extra dimensions.     

Low-scale axion from large extra dimensions

The mass of the axion and its decay rate are known to depend only on the scale of Peccei–Quinn symmetry breaking, which is constrained by astrophysics and cosmology to be between 10⁹ and 10¹² GeV. We propose a new mechanism such that this effective scale is preserved and yet the fundamental breaking scale of U(1)_PQ is very small (a kind of inverse seesaw) in the context of large extra dimensions with an anomalous U(1) gauge symmetry in our brane. The production and decay of the associated Z_A gauge boson, which ends up as two gluons and two axions, is a distinct collider signature of this scenario.     

Universal torsion-induced interaction from large extra dimensions

We consider the Kaluza-Klein (KK) scenario in which only gravity exists in the bulk. Without the assumption of symmetric connection, the presence of brane fermions induces torsion. The result is a universal axial contact interaction that dominates those induced by KK gravitons. This enhancement arises from a large spin density on the brane. Using a global fit to Z-pole observables, we find the 3sigma bound on the scale of quantum gravity to be 28 TeV for n = 2. If Dirac or light sterile neutrinos are present, the data from SN1987A increase the bound to sqrt[n] M(S)>/=210 TeV.     

Physics with large extra dimensions

The recent understanding of string theory opens the possibility that the string scale can be as low as a few TeV. The apparent weakness of gravitational interactions can then be accounted by the existence of large internal dimensions, in the sub-millimeter region. Furthermore, our world must be confined to live on a brane transverse to these large dimensions, with which it interacts only gravitationally. In my lecture, I describe briefly this scenario which gives a new theoretical framework for solving the gauge hierarchy problem and the unification of all interactions. I also discuss a minimal embedding of the standard model, gauge coupling unification and proton stability. On leave from: Centre de Physique Théorique, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau, Cedex, France.     

Seesaw neutrino masses with large mixings from dimensional deconstruction

We demonstrate a dynamical origin for the dimension-five seesaw operator in dimensional deconstruction models. Light neutrino masses arise from the seesaw scale which corresponds to the inverse lattice spacing. It is shown that the deconstructing limit naturally prefers maximal leptonic mixing. Higher-order corrections which are allowed by gauge invariance can transform the bimaximal into a bilarge mixing. These terms may appear to be nonrenormalizable at scales smaller than the deconstruction scale.     

Unconventional model of neutrino masses

Gelmini and Roncadelli have proposed a model of neutrino masses in which B?L symmetry is spontaneously broken by a small vacuum expectation value of a Higgs triplet. We give an exegesis of this model. We show that the massive neutrinos in this model cannot be cosmologically relevant today and that conflicting analyses of double beta decay experiments can be reconciled.     

The Higgs in large extra dimensions

Transverse (submillimeter) and longitudinal (TeV) extra dimensions can help in dealing with the Higgs hierarchy problem. On the one hand large transverse dimensions can lower the fundamental scale of quantum gravity from the Planck scale to the TeV range. On the other hand longitudinal dimensions can provide genuine extra-dimensional symmetries (higher dimensional gauge symmetry and/or supersymmetry) to protect the Higgs mass against ultraviolet sensitivity. In this article we review recent developments along these directions. To cite this article: K. Benakli, M. Quirós, C. R. Physique 4 (2003).     

Gamma rays from the Galactic bulge and large extra dimensions

An intriguing feature of extra dimensions is the possible production of Kaluza-Klein gravitons by nucleon-nucleon bremsstrahlung, in the course of core collapse of massive stars, with gravitons then being trapped around the newly born neutron stars and decaying into two gamma rays, making neutron stars gamma-ray sources. We strengthen the limits on the radius of compactification of extra dimensions for a small number n of them, or alternatively the fundamental scale of quantum gravity, considering the gamma-ray emission of the whole population of neutron stars sitting in the Galactic bulge, instead of the closest member of this category. For n=1 the constraint on the compactification radius is R<400 microm.     

Stringent neutron-star limits on large extra dimensions

Supernovae (SNe) are copious sources for Kaluza-Klein (KK) gravitons which are generic for theories with large extra dimensions. These massive particles are produced with average velocities approximately 0.5c so that many of them are gravitationally retained by the SN core. Every neutron star thus has a halo of KK gravitons which decay into nu(nu), e(+)e(-), and gammagamma on time scales approximately 10(9) years. The EGRET gamma-flux limits (E(gamma) approximately 100 MeV) for nearby neutron stars constrain the compactification scale for n = 2 extra dimensions to M > or = 500 TeV, and M > or = 30 TeV for n = 3. The requirement that neutron stars are not excessively heated by KK decays implies M > or = 1700 TeV for n = 2, and M > or = 60 TeV for n = 3.     

Weak gravity conjecture with large extra dimensions

In the presence of large extra dimensions, the fundamental Planck scale can be much lower than the apparent four-dimensional Planck scale. In this setup, the weak gravity conjecture implies a much more stringent constraint on the UV cutoff for the U(1) gauge theory in four dimensions. This new energy scale may be relevant to LHC.     

Black hole production and large extra dimensions

Black hole (BH) production at colliders is possible when the colliding energy is above the Planck scale, which can effectively be at TeV scale in models of large extra dimensions. In this work, we study the production of black holes at colliders and discuss the possible signatures. We point out the " ij-->BH+others" subprocesses, in which the BH and other standard-model particles are produced with a large transverse momentum. When the BH decays, it gives a signature that consists of particles of high multiplicity in a boosted spherical shape on one side of the event and a few numbers of high p(T) partons on the other side, which provide very useful tags for the event.     

GIMPs from extra dimensions

We study a scalar field theory in a flat five-dimensional setup, where a scalar field lives in a bulk with a Dirichlet boundary condition, and give an implementation of this setup to the Froggatt–Nielsen (FN) mechanism. It is shown that all couplings of physical field of the scalar with the all brane localized standard model particles are vanishing while realizing the usual FN mechanism. This setup gives the scalar a role as an only Gravitationally Interacting Massive Particle (GIMP), which is a candidate for dark matter.     

On symmetry-extended standard model and neutrino masses

Angular distributions of electrons intersecting 40- and 120-μm aluminum foils and a 60-μm copper foil have been measured. Electrons have been injected from a microtron with a particle energy of 7.4 MeV. The effect of the material and thickness of a foil, as well as of the direction of injection, on the spatial distribution of passed particles has been analyzed. The measurements have shown that the intersection of the foil at small angles to its surface not only increases the transverse dimensions of the beam but also changes the direction of its motion.     

Electroweak baryogenesis from late neutrino masses

Electroweak baryogenesis, given a first-order phase transition, does not work in the standard model because the quark Yukawa matrices are too hierarchical. On the other hand, the neutrino mass matrix is apparently not hierarchical. In models with neutrino mass generation at low scales, the neutrino Yukawa couplings lead to large CP violation in the reflection probability of heavy leptons by the expanding Higgs bubble wall, and can generate the observed baryon asymmetry of the universe. The mechanism predicts new vectorlike leptons below the TeV scale and sizable mu --> e processes.     

Probing a supersymmetric model for neutrino masses at ultrahigh energy neutrino telescopes

A bilinear R-parity breaking SUSY model for neutrino mass and mixing predicts the lightest superparticle to decay mainly into a pair of tau leptons or b quarks along with a neutrino for relatively light SUSY spectra. This leads to a distinctive triple bang signature of SUSY events at ultrahigh energy neutrino telescopes like IceCube or Antares. While the expected signal size is only marginal at IceCube, it will be promising for a future multi-km³ size neutrino telescope.     

Majorana neutrino masses in the three-flavor Pauli model

A special Majorana model for three neutrino flavors is developed on the basis of the Pauli transformation group. In this model, the neutrinos possess a partially conserved generalized lepton (Pauli) charge that makes it possible to discriminate between neutrinos of different type. It is shown that, within the model in question, a transition from the basic “mass” representation, where the average value of this charge is zero, to the representation associated with physical neutrinos characterized by specific Pauli “flavor” charges establishes a relation between the neutrino mixing angles θ _{mix, 12}, θ _{mix, 23}, and θ _{mix, 13} and an additional relation between the Majorana neutrino masses. The Lagrangian mass part, which includes a term invariant under Pauli transformations and a representation-dependent term, concurrently assumes a “quasi-Dirac” form. With allowance for these relations, the existing set of experimental data on the features of neutrino oscillations makes it possible to obtain quantitative estimates for the absolute values of the neutrino masses and the 2β-decay mass parameter m _ββ and a number of additional constraints on the neutrino mixing angles.     

n-n* oscillations in models with large extra dimensions

We analyze n-n* oscillations in generic models with large extra dimensions in which standard-model fields propagate and fermion wave functions have strong localization. We find that in these models n-n* oscillations might occur at levels not too far below the current limit.     

Maximal atmospheric neutrino mixing from texture zeros and quasi-degenerate neutrino masses

It is well known that, in the basis where the charged-lepton mass matrix is diagonal, there are seven cases of two texture zeros in Majorana neutrino mass matrices that are compatible with all experimental data. We show that two of these cases, namely B₃ and B₄ in the classification of Frampton, Glashow and Marfatia, are special in the sense that they automatically lead to near-maximal atmospheric neutrino mixing in the limit of a quasi-degenerate neutrino mass spectrum. This property holds true irrespective of the values of the solar and reactor mixing angles because, for these two cases, in the limit of a quasi-degenerate spectrum, the second and third row of the lepton mixing matrix are, up to signs, approximately complex-conjugate to each other. Moreover, in the same limit the aforementioned cases also develop a maximal CP-violating CKM-type phase, provided the reactor mixing angle is not too small.