Caron, S., Casas, J. A., Quilis, J., & Ruiz de Austri, R. (2018). Anomaly-free dark matter with harmless direct detection constraints. J. High Energy Phys., 12(12), 126–24pp.
Abstract: Dark matter (DM) interacting with the SM fields via a Z-boson (Z-portal') remains one of the most attractive WIMP scenarios, both from the theoretical and the phenomenological points of view. In order to avoid the strong constraints from direct detection and dilepton production, it is highly convenient that the Z has axial coupling to DM and leptophobic couplings to the SM particles, respectively. The latter implies that the associated U(1) coincides with baryon number in the SM sector. In this paper we completely classify the possible anomaly-free leptophobic Z with minimal dark sector, including the cases where the coupling to DM is axial. The resulting scenario is very predictive and perfectly viable from the present constraints from DM detection, EW observables and LHC data (di-lepton, di-jet and mono-jet production). We analyze all these constraints, obtaining the allowed areas in the parameter space, which generically prefer mZ less than or similar to 500 GeV, apart from resonant regions. The best chances to test these viable areas come from future LHC measurements.
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Ruiz de Austri, R., & Perez de los Heros, C. (2013). Impact of nucleon matrix element uncertainties on the interpretation of direct and indirect dark matter search results. J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys., 11(11), 049–19pp.
Abstract: We study in detail the impact of the current uncertainty in nucleon matrix elements on the sensitivity of direct and indirect experimental techniques for dark matter detection. We perform two scans in the framework of the cMSSM: one using recent values of the pion-sigma term obtained from Lattice QCD, and the other using values derived from experimental measurements. The two choices correspond to extreme values quoted in the literature and reflect the current tension between different ways of obtaining information about the structure of the nucleon. All other inputs in the scans, astrophysical and from particle physics, are kept unchanged. We use two experiments, XENON100 and IceCube, as benchmark cases to illustrate our case. We find that the interpretation of dark matter search results from direct detection experiments is more sensitive to the choice of the central values of the hadronic inputs than the results of indirect search experiments. The allowed regions of cMSSM parameter space after including XENON100 constrains strongly differ depending on the assumptions on the hadronic matrix elements used. On the other hand, the constraining potential of IceCube is almost independent of the choice of these values.
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Ghosh, P., Lopez-Fogliani, D. E., Mitsou, V. A., Muñoz, C., & Ruiz de Austri, R. (2014). Probing the μnu SSM with light scalars, pseudoscalars and neutralinos from the decay of a SM-like Higgs boson at the LHC. J. High Energy Phys., 11(11), 102–57pp.
Abstract: The “mu from nu” supersymmetric standard model (mu nu SSM) can accommodate the newly discovered Higgs-like scalar boson with a mass around 125GeV. This model provides a solution to the mu-problem and simultaneously reproduces correct neutrino physics by the simple use of right-handed neutrino superfields. These new superfields together with the introduced R-parity violation can produce novel and characteristic signatures of the μnu SSM at the LHC. We explore the signatures produced through two-body Higgs decays into the new states, provided that these states lie below in the mass spectrum. For example, a pair produced light neutralinos depending on the associated decay length can give rise to displaced multi-leptons/taus/jets/photons with small/moderate missing transverse energy. In the same spirit, a Higgs-like scalar decaying to a pair of scalars/pseudoscalars can produce final states with prompt multi-leptons/taus/jets/photons.
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Kpatcha, E., Lara, I., Lopez-Fogliani, D. E., Muñoz, C., Nagata, N., Otono, H., et al. (2019). Sampling the μnu SSM for displaced decays of the tau left sneutrino LSP at the LHC. Eur. Phys. J. C, 79(11), 934–18pp.
Abstract: Within the framework of the μnu SSM, a displaced dilepton signal is expected at the LHC from the decay of a tau left sneutrino as the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) with a mass in the range 45-100 GeV. We compare the predictions of this scenario with the ATLAS search for long-lived particles using displaced lepton pairs in pp collisions, considering an optimization of the trigger requirements by means of a high level trigger that exploits tracker information. The analysis is carried out in the general case of three families of right-handed neutrino superfields, where all the neutrinos get contributions to their masses at tree level. To analyze the parameter space, we sample the μnu SSM for a tau left sneutrino LSP with proper decay length c tau>0.1mm using a likelihood data-driven method, and paying special attention to reproduce the current experimental data on neutrino and Higgs physics, as well as flavor observables. The sneutrino is special in the μnu SSM since its couplings have to be chosen so that the neutrino oscillation data are reproduced. We find that important regions of the parameter space can be probed at the LHC run 3.
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Desai, N., Domingo, F., Kim, J. S., Ruiz de Austri, R., Rolbiecki, K., Sonawane, M., et al. (2021). Constraining electroweak and strongly charged long-lived particles with CheckMATE. Eur. Phys. J. C, 81(11), 968–19pp.
Abstract: Long-lived particles have become a new frontier in the exploration of physics beyond the Standard Model. In this paper, we present the implementation of four types of long-lived particle searches, viz. displaced leptons, disappearing track, displaced vertex with either muons or with missing transverse energy, and heavy charged tracks. These four categories cover the signatures of a large range of physics models. We illustrate their potential for exclusion and discuss their mutual overlaps in mass-lifetime space for two simple phenomenological models involving either a U(1)-charged or a coloured scalar.
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Beenakker, W., Caron, S., Kip, J., Ruiz de Austri, R., & Zhang, Z. (2023). New energy spectra in neutrino and photon detectors to reveal hidden dark matter signals. J. High Energy Phys., 11(11), 028–13pp.
Abstract: Neutral particles capable of travelling cosmic distances from a source to detectors on Earth are limited to photons and neutrinos. Examination of the Dark Matter annihilation/decay spectra for these particles reveals the presence of continuum spectra (e.g. due to fragmentation and W or Z decay) and peaks (due to direct annihilations/decays). However, when one explores extensions of the Standard Model (BSM), unexplored spectra emerge that differ significantly from those of the Standard Model (SM) for both neutrinos and photons. In this paper, we argue for the inclusion of important spectra that include peaks as well as previously largely unexplored entities such as boxes and combinations of box, peak and continuum decay spectra.
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Fidalgo, J., Lopez-Fogliani, D. E., Muñoz, C., & Ruiz de Austri, R. (2011). The Higgs sector of the μnu SSM and collider physics. J. High Energy Phys., 10(10), 020–33pp.
Abstract: The μnu SSM is a supersymmetric standard model that accounts for light neutrino masses and solves the μproblem of the MSSM by simply using right-handed neutrino superfields. Since this mechanism breaks R-parity, a peculiar structure for the mass matrices is generated. The neutral Higgses are mixed with the right- and left-handed sneutrinos producing 8x8 neutral scalar mass matrices. We analyse the Higgs sector of the μnu SSM in detail, with special emphasis in possible signals at colliders. After studying in general the decays of the Higges, we focus on those processes that are genuine of the μnu SSM, and could serve to distinguish it form other supersymmetric models. In particular, we present viable benchmark points for LHC searches. For example, we find decays of a MSSM-like Higgs into two lightest neutralinos, with the latter decaying inside the detector leading to displaced vertices, and producing final states with 4 and 8 b-jets plus missing energy. Final states with leptons and missing energy are also found.
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Gomez, M. E., Lola, S., Ruiz de Austri, R., & Shafi, Q. (2018). Dark matter, sparticle spectroscopy and muon (g-2) in SU(4)(c) x SU(2)(L) x SU(2)(R). J. High Energy Phys., 10(10), 062–24pp.
Abstract: We explore the sparticle mass spectra including LSP dark matter within the framework of supersymmetric SU(4)(c) x SU(2)(L) x SU(2)(R) (422) models, taking into account the constraints from extensive LHC and cold dark matter searches. The soft supersymmetry-breaking parameters at M-GUT can be non-universal, but consistent with the 422 symmetry. We identify a variety of coannihilation scenarios compatible with LSP dark matter, and study the implications for future supersymmetry searches and the ongoing muon g-2 experiment.
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Roszkowski, L., Ruiz de Austri, R., Trotta, R., Tsai, Y. L. S., & Varley, T. A. (2011). Global fits of the nonuniversal Higgs model. Phys. Rev. D, 83(1), 015014–19pp.
Abstract: We carry out global fits to the nonuniversal Higgs Model (NUHM), applying all relevant present-day constraints. We present global probability maps for the NUHM parameters and observables (including collider signatures, direct, and indirect detection quantities), both in terms of posterior probabilities and in terms of profile likelihood maps. We identify regions of the parameter space where the neutralino dark matter in the model is either binolike, or else higgsinolike with mass close to 1 TeV and a spin-independent scattering cross section similar to 10(-9)-10(-8) pb. We trace the occurrence of the higgsinolike region to be a consequence of a mild focusing effect in the running of one of the Higgs masses, the existence of which in the NUHM we identify in our analysis. Although the usual binolike neutralino is more prominent, higgsinolike dark matter cannot be excluded, however its significance strongly depends on the prior and statistics used to assess it. We note that, despite experimental constraints often favoring different regions of parameter space to the constrained minimal supersymmetric standard model, most observational consequences appear fairly similar, which will make it challenging to distinguish the two models experimentally.
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Cabrera, M. E., Casas, J. A., Ruiz de Austri, R., & Trotta, R. (2011). Quantifying the tension between the Higgs mass and (g-2)(mu) in the constrained MSSM. Phys. Rev. D, 84(1), 015006–7pp.
Abstract: Supersymmetry has often been invoked as the new physics that might reconcile the experimental muon magnetic anomaly, a(mu), with the theoretical prediction (basing the computation of the hadronic contribution on e(+)e(-) data). However, in the context of the constrained minimal supersymmetric standard model (CMSSM), the required supersymmetric contributions (which grow with decreasing supersymmetric masses) are in potential tension with a possibly large Higgs mass (which requires large stop masses). In the limit of very large m(h) supersymmetry gets decoupled, and the CMSSM must show the same discrepancy as the standard model with a(mu). But it is much less clear for which size of m(h) does the tension start to be unbearable. In this paper, we quantify this tension with the help of Bayesian techniques. We find that for m(h) >= 125 GeV the maximum level of discrepancy given the current data (similar to 3.2 sigma) is already achieved. Requiring less than 3 sigma discrepancy, implies m(h) less than or similar to 120 GeV. For a larger Higgs mass we should give up either the CMSSM model or the computation of a(mu) based on e(+)e(-); or accept living with such an inconsistency.
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