Abstract: We construct a comprehensive list of nonsupersymmetric standard model extensions with a low-scale left-right (LR)-symmetric intermediate stage that may be obtained as simple low-energy effective theories within a class of renormalizable SO(10) grand unified theories. Unlike the traditional “minimal” LR models many of our example settings support a perfect gauge coupling unification even if the LR scale is in the LHC domain at a price of only (a few copies of) one or two types of extra fields pulled down to the TeV-scale ballpark. We discuss the main aspects of a potentially realistic model building conforming the basic constraints from the quark and lepton sector flavor structure, proton decay limits, etc. We pay special attention to the theoretical uncertainties related to the limited information about the underlying unified framework in the bottom-up approach, in particular, to their role in the possible extraction of the LR-breaking scale. We observe a general tendency for the models without new colored states in the TeV domain to be on the verge of incompatibility with the proton stability constraints.

Abstract: It has been pointed out recently that current low-energy constraints still allow for sizable flavor-changing decay rates of the 125 GeV boson into leptons, h -> tau l (l = e, mu). In this work we discuss the role of hadronic tau-lepton decays in probing lepton flavor violating couplings in the Higgs sector. At low energy, the effective Higgs coupling to gluons induced by heavy quarks contributes to hadronic tau decays, establishing a direct connection with the relevant process at the LHC, pp(gg) -> h -> tau l. Semileptonic transitions like tau -> l pi pi are sensitive to flavor-changing scalar couplings, while decays such as tau -> l eta((l)) probe pseudoscalar couplings, thus providing a useful low-energy handle to disentangle possible Higgs flavor violating signals at the LHC. As part of our analysis, we provide an appropriate description of all the relevant hadronic matrix elements needed to describe Higgs mediated tau -> pi pi transitions, improving over previous treatments in the literature.

Abstract: The next-to-leading order QCD corrections to W-+/-gamma. production in association with two jets via vector boson fusion are calculated, including the leptonic decay of the W with full off-shell effects and spin correlations. The process lends itself to a test of quartic gauge couplings. The next-to-leading order corrections reduce the scale uncertainty significantly and show a nontrivial phase space dependence.

Abstract: A search is presented for new particles in an extension to the Standard Model that includes a heavy Higgs boson (H-0), an intermediate charged Higgs-boson pair (H-+/-), and a light Higgs boson (h(0)). The analysis searches for events involving the production of a single heavy neutral Higgs boson which decays to the charged Higgs boson and a W boson, where the charged Higgs boson subsequently decays into a W boson and the lightest neutral Higgs boson decaying to a bottom-antibottom-quark pair. Such a cascade results in a W-boson pair and a bottom-antibottom-quark pair in the final state. Events with exactly one lepton, missing transverse momentum, and at least four jets are selected from a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb(-1), collected by the ATLAS detector in proton-proton collisions at root s = 8 TeV at the LHC. The data are found to be consistent with Standard Model predictions, and 95% confidence-level upper limits are set on the product of cross section and branching ratio. These limits range from 0.065 to 43 pb as a function of H-0 and H-+/- masses, with m(h)o fixed at 125 GeV.

Abstract: In this paper we study the reaction e(+)e(-) -> (D*(D*) over bar (+/-)pi(-/+) in which the BESIII collaboration has claimed the existence of a 1(+) resonance, named Z(c)(4025), in the (D*(D*) over bar invariant mass spectrum with a mass around 4026 MeV and width close to 26 MeV. We determine the (D*(D*) over bar invariant mass distribution and find that although the explanation considered by the BESIII collaboration is plausible, there are others which are equally possible, like a 2(+) resonance or a bound state. Even more, we find that the data can be explained without the existence of a resonance/bound state. In view of the different possible interpretations found for the BESIII data, we try to devise a strategy which could help in identifying the origin of the signal reported by the BESIII collaboration. For this, we study the dependence of the (D*(D*) over bar spectrum considering the different options as a function of the total center-of-mass energy. We arrive at the conclusion that increasing the center-of-mass energy from 4.26 GeV to 4.6 GeV can be useful to distinguish between a resonance, a bound state or just a pure background as being responsible for the signal found. This information should be useful for future experiments.