Abstract: We identify the parameter regions of the phenomenological minimal supersymmetric standard model (pMSSM) with the minimal possible fine-tuning. We show that the fine-tuning of the pMSSM is not large, nor under pressure by LHC searches. Low sbottom, stop and gluino masses turn out to be less relevant for low fine-tuning than commonly assumed. We show a link between low fine-tuning and the dark matter relic density. Fine-tuning arguments point to models with a dark matter candidate yielding the correct dark matter relic density: a bino-higgsino particle with a mass of 35-155 GeV. Some of these candidates are compatible with recent hints seen in astrophysics experiments such as Fermi-LAT and AMS-02. We argue that upcoming direct search experiments, such as XENON1T, will test all of the most natural solutions in the next few years due to the sensitivity of these experiments on the spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon cross section.

Abstract: We explore cosmological constraints on the sum of the three active neutrino masses M-v in the context of dynamical dark energy (DDE) models with equation of state (EoS) parametrized as a function of redshift z by w(z) = w(0) + w(a)z/ (1 + z), and satisfying w(z) >= -1 for all z. We make use of cosmic microwave background data from the Planck satellite, baryon acoustic oscillation measurements, and supernovae la luminosity distance measurements, and perform a Bayesian analysis. We show that, within these models, the bounds on M-v do not degrade with respect to those obtained in the Lambda CDM case; in fact, the bounds arc slightly tighter, despite the enlarged parameter space. We explain our results based on the observation that, for fixed choices of w(0), w(a) such that w(z) >= -1 (but not w = -1 for all z), the upper limit on M-v is tighter than the Lambda CDM limit because of the well-known degeneracy between w and M-v. The Bayesian analysis we have carried out then integrates over the possible values of w(0)-w(a) such that w(z) >= -1, all of which correspond to tighter limits on M-v than the Lambda CDM limit. We find a 95% credible interval (C.I.) upper bound of M-v < 0.13 eV. This bound can be compared with the 95% C.I. upper bounds of M-v < 0.16 eV, obtained within the Lambda CDM model, and M-v < 0.41 eV, obtained in a DDE model with arbitrary EoS (which allows values of w < -1). Contrary to the results derived for DDE models with arbitrary EoS, we find that a dark energy component with w(z) >= -1 is unable to alleviate the tension between high-redshift observables and direct measurements of the Hubble constant H o . Finally, in light of the results of this analysis, we also discuss the implications for DDE models of a possible determination of the neutrino mass ordering by laboratory searches.

Abstract: We present a study of the D* rho system made by using the method of QCD sum rules to determine the mass of possible resonances generated in the same system. Using isospin and spin projectors, we investigate the different configurations and obtain evidences for three D* mesons with isospin I = 1/2, spin S = 0, 1, 2 and with masses 2500 +/- 67, 2523 +/- 60, and 2439 +/- 119 MeV, respectively. The last state can be associated with D-2*(2460) ( spin 2) listed by the Particle Data Group, while one of the first two might be related to D* (2640), with unknown spin parity. In the case of I = 3/2 we also find evidences of three states with spin 0, 1, and 2, respectively, with masses 2467 +/- 82, 2420 +/- 128, and 2550 +/- 56 MeV. The results for the sector I = 1/2 and S 0, 1, 2, are intriguingly similar to a previous study of the D* rho system based on effective field theories, supporting in this way a molecular picture for the resonances D* (2640) and D-2* (2460), while the results for I = 3/2 hint towards the existence of exotic mesons since a multiquark configuration is required to get the quantum numbers of the states found.

Abstract: By looking at the pseudoscalar-vector meson spectra in the (B) over bar -> J/psi rho(K) over bar and (B) over bar -> J/psi(K) over bar*pi weak decays, we theoretically investigate the double-pole structure of the K-1 (1270) resonance by using the chiral unitary approach to account for the final-state interactions between the pseudoscalar (P) and vector (V) mesons. The K-1 (1270) resonance is dynamically generated through these interactions in coupled channels and influences the shape of the invariant mass distributions under consideration. We show how these shapes are affected by the K-1 (1270) double-pole structure to confront the results from our model with future experiments that might investigate the PV spectra in these decays.

Abstract: Many scenarios of new physics predict the existence of neutrino nonstandard interactions, new vector contact interactions between neutrinos, and first generation fermions beyond the Standard Model. We obtain model-independent constraints on the Standard Model effective field theory at high energies from bounds on neutrino nonstandard interactions derived at low energies. Our analysis explores a large set of new physics scenarios and includes full one-loop running effects below and above the electroweak scale. Our results show that neutrino nonstandard interactions already push the scale of new physics beyond the TeV. We also conclude that bounds derived by other experimental probes, in particular by low-energy precision measurements and by charged lepton flavor violation searches, are generally more stringent. Our study constitutes a first step toward the systematization of phenomenological analyses to evaluate the impact of neutrino nonstandard interactions for new physics scenarios at high energies.