Composite scalars in ee collisions and radiative Z decays

Starting point is the hypothesis that the observed Z→e⁺e⁻γ decays are mediated by a (composite) spin 0 boson X with 40m_X50 GeV. The consequences for e⁺e⁻→e⁺e⁻, e⁺e⁻→γγ and e⁺e⁻→ hadrons at PETRA are explored. PETRA experiments turn out to be sensitive up to masses m_X50 GeV; the best indicator for m_X 48 GeV is the angular distribution of Bhabha scattering.     

Detecting heavy charged Higgs bosons at the LHC with triple b-tagging

We investigate the charged Higgs boson signal at the LHC using its dominant production and decay modes with triple b-tagging, i.e. , followed by leptonic decay of one W and hadronic decay of the other. We consider the continuum background from the associated production of with a b- or a light quark or gluon jet, which can be mis-tagged as b-jet. We reconstruct the top quark masses to identify the 3rd b-jet accompanying the pair, and use its p_T distribution to distinguish the signal from the background. Combining this with the reconstruction of the H^± mass gives a viable signature over two interesting regions of the parameter space – i.e. tanβ1 and m_t/m_b.     

CP violation in multi-Higgs supersymmetric models

We consider supersymmetric extensions of the standard model with two pairs of Higgs doublets. We study the possibility of spontaneous CP violation in these scenarios and present a model where the origin of CP violation is soft, with all the complex phases in the Lagrangian derived from complex masses and vacuum expectation values (VEVs) of the Higgs fields. The main ingredient of the model is an approximate global symmetry, which determines the order of magnitude of Yukawa couplings and scalar VEVs. We assume that the terms violating this symmetry are suppressed by powers of the small parameter ε_PQ = O(m_b/m_t). The tree-level flavor-changing interactions are small due to a combination of this global symmetry and a flavor symmetry, but they can be the dominant source of CP violation. All CP-violating effects occur at order ε_PQ² as the result of exchange of almost decoupled extra Higgs bosons and/or through the usual mechanisms with an almost real CKM matrix. On dimensional grounds, the model gives ε_K ≈ ε_PQ² and predicts for the neutron electric dipole moment (and possibly also for ε_K¹) a suppression of order ε_PQ² with respect to the values obtained in standard and minimal supersymmetric scenarios. The predicted CP asymmetries in B decays are generically too small to be seen in the near future. The mass of the lightest neutral scalar, the strong CP problem, and possible contributions to the Z decay into b quarks (the R_b puzzle) are also briefly addressed in the framework of this model.     

The generation problem and the symplectic group

The generation structure of quarks and leptons is studied in a series of extended electroweak models. They are gauge models constructed from subgroups of left-right symmetric SU(4) × S_P^L(6) × S_P^R(6). In particular, SU_C(3) × S_P^L(6) × U_Y(1), as well as SU_C(3) × SU_L(3) × SU_R(3) × U_X(1), are investigated in greater detail. It is shown that models based on such subgroups yield massless first generation fermions at the tree level. They acquire masses from those of the third generation via two-loop radiative corrections. Moreover, since such corrections are induced by charged scalar fields, it is found that there is a natural correlation between the two apparently conflicting inequalities m_u < m_d and m_t > m_b.     

Measurement of recoil proton polarizations in the electrodisintegration of deuterium by polarized electrons

In order to test modern theories of two-nucleon bound and scattering states, we have measured the spin polarization of ejectile protons in the electrodisintegration reaction . Compared with spin-averaged observations, these observables offer the potential of enhanced sensitivity to details of the reaction process. The experiment was carried out in quasielastic kinematics (q_μq^μ=−2m_pω=−0.38 GeV²/c²). Protons were detected at two angles corresponding to neutron recoil momenta p_r of 0 and 100 MeV/c. Full nonrelativistic calculations of the polarization transfer components s_l and s_t, including leading order relativistic contributions, describe our measurements well, but calculations of the induced polarization s_n at p_r=100 MeV/c underpredict the experimental result.     

The CMSSM parameter space at large tanβ

We extend previous combinations of LEP and cosmological relic density constraints on the parameter space of the constrained MSSM, with universal input supersymmetry-breaking parameters, to large tanβ. We take account of the possibility that the lightest Higgs boson might weigh about 115 GeV, but also retain the possibility that it might be heavier. We include the most recent implementation of the b→sγ constraint at large tanβ. We refine previous relic density calculations at large tanβ by combining a careful treatment of the direct-channel Higgs poles in annihilation of pairs of neutralinos χ with a complete treatment of χ– coannihilation, and discuss carefully uncertainties associated with the mass of the b quark. We find that coannihilation and pole annihilations allow the CMSSM to yield an acceptable relic density at large tanβ, but it is consistent with all the constraints only if m_χ>140 (180) GeV for μ>0 (μ<0) for our default choices  GeV, m_t=175 GeV, and A₀=0.     

Considerations concerning the radiative corrections to muon decay in the Fermi and Standard theories

The FAC, PMS, and BLM optimization methods are applied to the QED corrections to the muon lifetime in the Fermi V-A theory. The FAC and PMS scales are close to m_e, while the BLM scale nearly coincides with the geometric average √m_em_μ. The optimized expressions are employed to estimate the third order coefficient in the (m_μ) expansion and the theoretical error of the perturbative series. Using arguments based on effective field theory and a simple examination of Feynman diagrams, it is shown that, if contributions of (m_μ²/M_W²) are neglected, the corrections to muon decay in the SM factorize into the QED correction of the Fermi V-A theory and the electroweak amplitude g²/(1 − Δr), both of which are strictly scale-independent. We use the results to clarify how the QED corrections to muon decay and the Fermi constant G_F should be used in the SM, and what is the natural choice of scales if running couplings are employed.     

Neutrino oscillations induced by two-loop radiative mechanism

Two-loop radiative mechanism, when combined with an U(1)_L′ symmetry generated by L_e − L_μ − L_τ (=L′), is shown to provide an estimate of Δm²/Δm²_atm εm_e/m_τ, where ε measures the U(1)_L′-breaking. Since Δm²_atm 3.5×10⁻³ eV², we find that Δm² ε10⁻⁶ eV², which will fall into the allowed region of the LOW solution to the solar neutrino problem for ε 0.1.     

Understanding DsJ(2317)

We analyze the hadronic and radiative decay modes of the recently observed D_sJ(2317) meson, in the hypothesis that it can be identified with the scalar state of spectrum (D_s0). The method is based on heavy quark symmetries and vector meson dominance ansatz. We find that the hadronic isospin violating mode D_s0→D_sπ⁰ is enhanced with respect to the radiative mode D_s0→D_s^*γ. The estimated width of the meson is Γ(D_s0)7 keV.     

CP violation induced by heavy Majorana neutrinos in the decays of Higgs scalars into top-quark, W - and Z-boson pairs

We analyze the possibility of CP violation induced by heavy Majorana neutrinos in the decays of the Higgs particle into top-quark, W - and Z-boson pairs. In the framework of various “see-saw” models with interfamily mixings, we find that Majorana neutrinos may give rise to sizable CP-odd observables at the one-loop electroweak order. Numerical estimates of these CP-violating effects that may be detected in high-energy colliders are presented.     

Higher order QCD and quark mass corrections to the Z widths in the standard model

We estimate, in the scheme, the strenghts of the higher order QCD (_s², _s³) and quark mass (m_f², m_f⁴, _s(m_f², m_f⁴)) corrections to the Z widths in the standard model (SM). Then, we give improved SM predictions of these widths. The observables Γ_H/Γ_e and σ_H, which can be predicted and measured accurately are almost insensitive to the changes of the Higgs ( 40 GeV M_H 1 TeV) and top quark (M_zM_t230 GeV) masses. Then, they should be useful in the high precision tests of the SM> Improved estimates of some quantities related to the width which are sensitive to the top quark mass are also given.     

Spectral density analysis of the chiral transition in nf=4 finite temperature QCD

We apply the spectral density reweighting technique to the analysis of the chiral phase transition in finite-temperature lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) with four flavors of dynamical staggered fermions and m_qa=0.025. Our simulations were performed using the hybrid Monte Carlo method for L_tL³ lattices with L_t=4 and L=6, 8 and 10. We calculate partition function zeros, as well as the maxima of the specific heat and of the susceptibilities for the Polyakov loop and for the chiral condensate. A finite size scaling analysis of these data leads to preliminary results for the critical coupling β_c, for the critical exponent ν, for the latent heat, and for the jumps in the Polyakov loop and in the chiral condensate.     

Mono-top signature from stop decay at the HE-LHC

Searching for the top squark(stop)is a key task to test the naturalness of SUSY.Different from stop pair production,single stop production relies on its electroweak properties and can provide some unique signatures.Following the single production process pp→t^~1X(~)1→tX^~1⁰X^~1^-,the top quark has two decay channels:leptonic channel and hadronic channel.In this paper,we probe the observability of these two channels in a simplified minimal supersymmetric standard model scenario.We find that,at the 27 TeV LHC with the integrated luminosity of L=15 ab^-1,mt^-1<1900 GeV andμ<750 GeV can be excluded at 2σthrough the leptonic mono-top channel,while m_t^-1<1200 GeV andμ<350 GeV can be excluded at 2σthrough the hadronic channel.     

Z′ mediated flavor changing neutral currents in B meson decays

We study the effects of an extra U(1)′ gauge boson with flavor changing couplings with fermion mass eigenstates on certain B meson decays that are sensitive to such new physics contributions. In particular, we examine to what extent the current data on B_d→φK and B_d→η′K decays may be explained in such models, concentrating on the example in which the flavor changing couplings are left-chiral. We find that within reasonable ranges of parameters, the Z′ contribution can readily account for the anomaly in S_φKS but is not sufficient to explain large branching ratio of B_d→η′K with the same parameter value. S_φKS and S_η′KS are seen to be the dominant observables that constrain the extra weak phase in the model.     

Constraints on light bottom squarks from radiative B-meson decays

The presence of a light squark (  GeV) and gluino (  GeV) might explain the observed excess in b-quark production at the Tevatron. Though provocative, this model is not excluded by present data. The light supersymmetric particles can induce large flavor-changing effects in radiative decays of B mesons. We analyze the decays B→X_sγ and B→X_sg in this scenario and derive restrictive bounds on the flavor-changing quark–squark–gluino couplings.     

Measurements of cross sections and forward-backward asymmetries at the Z resonance and determination of electroweak parameters

Abstract. We report on measurements of hadronic and leptonic cross sections and leptonic forward-backward asymmetries performed with the L3 detector in the years 1993–95. A total luminosity of was collected at centre-of-mass energies and which corresponds to 2.5 million hadronic and 245 thousand leptonic events selected. These data lead to a significantly improved determination of Z parameters. From the total cross sections, combined with our measurements in 1990–92, we obtain the final results: An invisible width of is derived which in the Standard Model yields for the number of light neutrino species . Adding our results on the leptonic forward-backward asymmetries and the tau polarisation, the effective vector and axial-vector coupling constants of the neutral weak current to charged leptons are determined to be and . Including our measurements of the forward-backward and quark charge asymmetries a value for the effective electroweak mixing angle of is derived. All these measurements are in good agreement with the Standard Model of electroweak interactions. Using all our measurements of electroweak observables an upper limit on the mass of the Standard Model Higgs boson of GeV is set at 95% confidence level. Received: 4 February 2000 / Published online: 18 May 2000     

On nonanalytic solitary waves formed by a nonlinear dispersion

We study the prototypical, genuinely nonlinear, K(m, n) equation, u_t ± a(u^m)_x + (uⁿ)_xxx = 0, a = const, which exhibits a number of remarkable dispersive effects. In particular, the distinguished subclass wherein m = n + 2 is transformed into a new, purely dispersive equation free of convection. In addition to compactons, the K(m, n) can support both kinks and solitons with an infinite slope(s), periodic waves and dark solitons with cusp(s) all being manifestations of nonlinear dispersion in action. For n < 0 the enhanced dispersion at the tail may generate algebraically decaying patterns.     

Relative production of vector and pseudoscalar states for light- and heavy-flavour mesons

The relative fractions of vector, V, and pseudoscalar, P, primary mesons produced in and decays, and primary light-flavour mesons produced in fragmentation processes are explained by the hyperfine mass splitting. The difference in corresponding fractions arises from the difference in the constituent quark masses , m_s, m_c and m_b:

The production ratios for strange, charm and beauty mesons evaluated from the ρ/(3π) ratio, measured at LEP for primary produced ρ and π, agree with the results of LEP and lower energy e⁺e⁻ experiments.     

Exploring leptonic CP violation by reactor and neutrino superbeam experiments

We point out the possibility that reactor measurement of θ₁₃, when combined with high-statistics ν_e appearance accelerator experiments, can detect leptonic CP violation. Our proposal is based on a careful statistical analysis under reasonable assumptions on systematic errors, assuming 2 years running of the neutrino mode J-PARC → Hyper-Kamiokande experiment and a few years running of a reactor experiment with 100 t detectors at the Kashiwazaki–Kariwa nuclear power plant. We show that the method can be arranged to be insensitive to the intrinsic parameter degeneracy but is affected by the one due to unknown sign of Δm²₃₁.