Abstract: Nuclear matrix elements (NME) are a crucial input for the interpretation of neutrinoless double beta decay data. We consider a representative set of recent NME calculations from different methods and investigate the impact on the present bound on the effective Majorana mass m(& beta;& beta;) by performing a combined analysis of the available data as well as on the sensitivity reach of future projects. A crucial role is played by the recently discovered short-range contribution to the NME, induced by light Majorana neutrino masses. Depending on the NME model and the relative sign of the long- and short-range contributions, the current 3 & sigma; bound can change between m(& beta;& beta;)< 40 meV and 600 meV. The sign-uncertainty may either boost the sensitivity of next-generation experiments beyond the region for m(& beta;& beta;) predicted for inverted mass ordering or prevent even advanced setups to reach this region. Furthermore, we study the possibility to distinguish between different NME calculations by assuming a positive signal and by combining measurements from different isotopes. Such a discrimination will be impossible if the relative sign of the long- and short-range contribution remains unknown, but can become feasible if m(& beta;& beta;) & GSIM; 40 meV and if the relative sign is known to be positive. Sensitivities will be dominated by the advanced Ge-76 and Xe-136 setups assumed here, but NME model-discrimination improves if data from a third isotope is added, e.g., from Te-130 or Mo-100.

Abstract: The top-quark FCNC processes will be searched for at the CERN LHC, which are correlated with the B-meson decays. In this paper, we study the e ff ects of top-quark anomalous interactions tq gamma in the exclusive radiative B --> K*gamma and B --> rho gamma decays. With the current experimental data of the branching ratios, the direct CP and the isospin asymmetries, bounds on the coupling kappa(gamma)(tcR) from B --> K*gamma and kappa(gamma)(tuR) from B --> rho gamma decays are derived, respectively. The bound on vertical bar kappa(gamma)(tcR)vertical bar from B (B --> K*gamma) is generally compatible with that from B (B --> X(s)gamma). However, the isospin asymmetry Delta (K*gamma) further restrict the phase of kappa(gamma)(tuR), and the combined bound results in the upper limit, B (t --> c gamma) < 0 : 21%, which is lower than the CDF result. For real kappa(gamma)(tuR), the upper bound on B (t --> c gamma) is about of the same order as the 5 sigma discovery potential of ATLAS with an integrated luminosity of 10 fb(-1). For B --> rho gamma decays, the NP contribution is enhanced by a large CKM factor vertical bar V(ud)/V(td)vertical bar, and the constraint on tu gamma coupling is rather restrictive, B (t --> u gamma) < 1 : 44 x 10(-5). With re fi ned measurements to be available at the LHCb and the future super-B factories, we can get close correlations between B --> V gamma and the rare t --> q gamma decays, which will be studied directly at the LHC ATLAS and CMS.

Abstract: Motivated by the very recent measurements performed at the LHCb and the Tevatron of the B-s(0) – (B) over bar (0)(s) mixing, in this paper we revisit it in a family non-universal Z' model, to check if a simultaneous explanation for all the mixing observables, especially for the like-sign dimuon charge asymmetry observed by the D0 collaboration, could be made in such a specific model. In the first scenario where the Z' boson contributes only to the off-diagonal element M-12(s), it is found that, once the combined constraints from Delta M-s, phi(s) and Delta Gamma(s) are imposed, the model could not explain the measured flavour-specific CP asymmetry a(fs)(s), at least within its 1 sigma ranges. In the second scenario where the NP contributes also to the absorptive part Gamma(s)(12) via tree-level Z'-induced b -> c (c) over bars operators, we find that, with the constraints from Delta M-s, phi(s) and the indirect CP asymmetry in (B) over bar (d) -> J/psi K-S taken into account, the present measured 1 sigma experimental ranges for a(fs)(s) could not be reproduced too. Thus, such a specific Z' model with our specific assumptions could not simultaneously reconcile all the present data on B-s(0) – B-s(0) mixing. Future improved measurements from the LHCb and the proposed superB experiments, especially of the flavour-specific CP asymmetries, are expected to shed light on the issue.

Abstract: The couplings of the electroweak effective theory contain information on the heavy-mass scales which are no-longer present in the low-energy Lagrangian. We build a general effective Lagrangian, implementing the electroweak chiral symmetry breaking SU(2)(L) circle times SU(2)(R) -> SU(2)(L+R), which couples the known particle fields to heavier states with bosonic quantum numbers J(P) = 0(+/-) and 1(+/-). We consider colour-singlet heavy fields that are in singlet or triplet representations of the electroweak group. Integrating out these heavy scales, we analyze the pattern of low-energy couplings among the light fields which are generated by the massive states. We adopt a generic non-linear realization of the electroweak symmetry breaking with a singlet Higgs, without making any assumption about its possible doublet structure. Special attention is given to the different possible descriptions of massive spin-1 fields and the differences arising from naive implementations of these formalisms, showing their full equivalence once a proper short-distance behaviour is required.

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.