Abstract: The matching of specific new physics scenarios onto the SMEFT framework is a well-understood procedure. The inverse problem, the matching of the SMEFT to UV scenarios, is more difficult and requires the development of new methods to perform a systematic exploration of models. In this paper we use a diagrammatic technique to construct in an automated way a complete set of possible UV models (given certain, well specified assumptions) that can produce specific groups of SMEFT operators, and illustrate its use by generating models with no tree-level contributions to four-fermion (4F) operators. Those scenarios, which only contribute to 4F at one-loop order, can contain relatively light particles that could be discovered at the LHC in direct searches. For this class of models, we find an interesting interplay between indirect SMEFT and direct searches. We discuss some examples on how this interplay would look like when combining low-energy observables with the SMEFT Higgs-fermion analyses and searches for resonance at the LHC.

Abstract: We revisit the joint constraints in the mixed hot dark matter scenario in which both thermally produced QCD axions and relic neutrinos are present. Upon recomputing the cosmological axion abundance via recent advances in the literature, we improve the state-of-the-art analyses and provide updated bounds on axion and neutrino masses. By avoiding approximate methods, such as the instantaneous decoupling approximation, and limitations due to the limited validity of the perturbative approach in QCD that forced to artificially divide the constraints from the axion-pion and the axion-gluon production channels, we find robust and self-consistent limits. We investigate the two most popular axion frameworks: KSVZ and DFSZ. From Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) light element abundances data we find for the KSVZ axion Delta N-eff < 0.31 and an axion mass bound m(a) < 0.53 eV (i.e., a bound on the axion decay constant f(a) > 1.07 x 10(7) GeV) both at 95% CL. These BBN bounds are improved to Delta N-eff < 0.14 and m(a) < 0.16 eV (f(a) > 3.56 x 10(7) GeV) if a prior on the baryon energy density from Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) data is assumed. When instead considering cosmological observations from the CMB temperature, polarization and lensing from the Planck satellite combined with large scale structure data we find Delta N-eff < 0.23, m(a) < 0.28 eV (f(a) > 2.02 x 10(7) GeV) and Sigma m(nu) < 0.16 eV at 95% CL. This corresponds approximately to a factor of 5 improvement in the axion mass bound with respect to the existing limits. Very similar results are obtained for the DFSZ axion. We also forecast upcoming observations from future CMB and galaxy surveys, showing that they could reach percent level errors for m(a) similar to 1 eV.

Abstract: Recently, the LHCb Collaboration reported a near-threshold enhancement X(3960) in the D+sD-s invariant mass distribution. We show that the data can be well described by either a bound or a virtual state below the D+sD-s threshold. The mass given by the pole position is (3928 +/- 3) MeV. Using this mass and the existing information on the X(3872) and Zc(3900) resonances, a complete spectrum of the S-wave hadronic molecules formed by a pair of ground state charmed and anticharmed mesons is established. Thus, pole positions of the partners of the X(3872) , Zc(3900) , and the newly observed D+sD-s state are predicted. Calculations have been carried out at the leading order of nonrelativistic effective field theory and considering both heavy quark spin and light flavor SU(3) symmetries, though conservative errors from the breaking of these symmetries are provided.