Abstract: We examine the theoretical motivations for long-lived particle (LLP) signals at the LHC in a comprehensive survey of standard model (SM) extensions. LLPs are a common prediction of a wide range of theories that address unsolved fundamental mysteries such as naturalness, dark matter, baryogenesis and neutrino masses, and represent a natural and generic possibility for physics beyond the SM (BSM). In most cases the LLP lifetime can be treated as a free parameter from the μm scale up to the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis limit of similar to 10(7) m. Neutral LLPs with lifetimes above similar to 100 m are particularly difficult to probe, as the sensitivity of the LHC main detectors is limited by challenging backgrounds, triggers, and small acceptances. MATHUSLA is a proposal for a minimally instrumented, large-volume surface detector near ATLAS or CMS. It would search for neutral LLPs produced in HL-LHC collisions by reconstructing displaced vertices (DVs) in a low-background environment, extending the sensitivity of the main detectors by orders of magnitude in the long-lifetime regime. We study the LLP physics opportunities afforded by a MATHUSLA-like detector at the HL-LHC, assuming backgrounds can be rejected as expected. We develop a model-independent approach to describe the sensitivity of MATHUSLA to BSM LLP signals, and compare it to DV and missing energy searches at ATLAS or CMS. We then explore the BSM motivations for LLPs in considerable detail, presenting a large number of new sensitivity studies. While our discussion is especially oriented towards the long-lifetime regime at MATHUSLA, this survey underlines the importance of a varied LLP search program at the LHC in general. By synthesizing these results into a general discussion of the top-down and bottom-up motivations for LLP searches, it is our aim to demonstrate the exceptional strength and breadth of the physics case for the construction of the MATHUSLA detector.

Abstract: We examine the implications of a recently proposed theory of fermion masses and mixings in which an A(4) family symmetry emerges from orbifold compactification. We analyze two variant schemes concerning their predictions for neutrino oscillations, neutrinoless double-beta decay, and the golden quark-lepton unification mass relation. We find that upcoming experiments DUNE as well as LEGEND and nEXO offer good chances of exploring a substantial region of neutrino parameters.

Abstract: Entangled neutral K mesons allow for the study of their correlated dynamics at interference and decoherence times not accessible in any other system. We find novel quantum phenomena associated to a correlation in time between the two partners: The past state of the first decayed kaon, when it was entangled before its decay, is post-tagged by the result and the time of the future observation of the second decay channel. This surprising “from future to past” effect is fully observable and leads to the unique experimental tag of the K-S state, an unsolved problem since the discovery of CP violation.

Abstract: In this paper we investigate the (g – 2)(mu) discrepancy in the context of the R-parity conserving next-to minimal supersymmetric Standard Model plus right-handed neutrinos superfields. The model has the ability to reproduce neutrino physics data and includes the interesting possibility to have the right-handed sneutrino as the lightest supersymmetric particle and a viable dark matter candidate. Since right-handed sneutrinos are singlets, no new contributions for delta a(mu) with respect to the MSSM and NMSSM are present. However, the possibility to have the right-handed sneutrino as the lightest supersymmetric particle opens new ways to escape Large Hadron Collider and direct detection constraints. In particular, we find that dark matter masses within 10 less than or similar to m((upsilon) over tildeR) less than or similar to 600 GeV are fully compatible with current experimental constraints. Remarkably, not only spectra with light sleptons are needed, but we obtain solutions with m((mu) over tilde) greater than or similar to 600 GeV in the entire dark matter mass range that could be probed by new (g – 2)(mu) data in the near future. In addition, dark matter direct detection experiments will be able to explore a sizable portion of the allowed parameter space with mvR < 300 GeV, while indirect detection experiments will be able to probe a much smaller fraction within 200 less than or similar to m((nu)over tilde>R) less than or similar to 350 GeV.

Abstract: We consider special classes of Palatini f(R) theories, featured by additional Loop Quantum Gravity inspired terms, with the aim of identifying a set of modified Ashtekar canonical variables, which still preserve the SU(2) gauge structure of the standard theory. In particular, we allow for affine connection to be endowed with torsion, which turns out to depend on the additional scalar degree affecting Palatini f( R) gravity, and in this respect we successfully construct a novel Gauss constraint. We analyze the role of the additional scalar field, outlining as it acquires a dynamical character by virtue of a non vanishing Immirzi parameter, and we describe some possible effects on the area operator stemming from such a revised theoretical framework. Finally, we compare our results with earlier studies in literature, discussing differences between metric and Palatini approaches. It is worth noting how the Hamiltonian turns out to be different in the two cases. The results can be reconciled when the analysis is performed in the Einstein frame.