Abstract: Two-Higgs-doublet models (2HDMs) arc minimal extensions of the Standard Model (SM) that may still be discovered at the LHC. The quartic couplings of their potentials can be determined from the measurement of the masses and branching ratios of their extended scalar sectors. We show that the evolution of these couplings through renormalization group equations can determine whether the observed 2HDM is a low energy manifestation of a more fundamental theory, as for instance, supersymmetry, which fixes the quartic couplings in terms of the gauge couplings. At leading order, the minimal supersymmetric extension of the SM (MSSM) dictates all the quartic couplings, which can be translated into a predictive structure for the scalar masses and mixings at the weak scale. Running these couplings to higher scales, one can check if they converge to their MSSM values, and more interestingly, whether one can infer the supersymmetry breaking scale. Although we study this question in the context of supersymmetry, this strategy could be applied to any theory whose ultraviolet completion unambiguously predicts all scalar quartic couplings.

Abstract: The DO Collaboration has recently seen a resonant-like peak in the B-s pi invariant mass spectrum, claimed to be a new state called X(5568). Using a B-s pi-B (K) over bar coupled channel analysis, implementing unitarity, and with the interaction derived from Heavy Meson Chiral Perturbation Theory, we are able to reproduce the reported spectrum, with a pole that can be associated to the claimed X(5568) state, and with mass and width in agreement with the ones reported in the experimental analysis. However, if the T-matrix regularization is performed by means of a momentum cutoff, the value for the latter needed to reproduce the spectrum is Lambda = 2.80 +/- 0.04 GeV, which is much larger than a “natural” value Lambda similar or equal to 1 GeV. In view of this, it is difficult to interpret the nature of this new state. This state would not qualify as a resonance dynamically generated by the unitarity loops. Assuming the observed peak to correspond to a physical state, we make predictions for partners in the D, D*, and B* sectors. Their observation (or lack thereof) would shed light into this issue.

Abstract: As dark matter (DM) direct detection experiments continue to improve their sensitivity they will inevitably encounter an irreducible background arising from coherent neutrino scattering. This so-called “neutrino floor” may significantly reduce the sensitivity of an experiment to DM-nuclei interactions, particularly if the recoil spectrum of the neutrino background is approximately degenerate with the DM signal. This occurs for the conventionally considered spin-independent (SI) or spin-dependent (SD) interactions. In such case, an increase in the experiment's exposure by multiple orders of magnitude may not yield any significant increase in sensitivity. The typically considered SI and SD interactions, however, do not adequately reflect the whole landscape of the well-motivated DM models, which includes other interactions. Since particle DM has not been detected yet in laboratories, it is essential to understand and maximize the detection capabilities for a broad variety of possible models and signatures. In this work we explore the impact of the background arising from various neutrino sources on the discovery potential of a DM signal for a large class of viable DM-nucleus interactions and several potential futuristic experimental settings, with different target elements. For some momentum suppressed cross sections, large DM particle masses and heavier targets, we find that there is no suppression of the discovery limits due to neutrino backgrounds. Further, we explicitly demonstrate that inelastic scattering, which could appear in models with multicomponent dark sectors, would help to lift the signal degeneracy associated with the neutrino floor. This study could assist with mapping out the optimal DM detection strategy for the next generation of experiments.