Abele, H. et al, Algora, A., Gonzalez-Alonso, M., & Novella, P. (2023). Particle physics at the European Spallation Source. Phys. Rep., 1023, 1–84.
Abstract: Presently under construction in Lund, Sweden, the European Spallation Source (ESS) will be the world's brightest neutron source. As such, it has the potential for a particle physics program with a unique reach and which is complementary to that available at other facilities. This paper describes proposed particle physics activities for the ESS. These encompass the exploitation of both the neutrons and neutrinos produced at the ESS for high precision (sensitivity) measurements (searches).
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Anzivino, G. et al, Gonzalez-Alonso, M., Passemar, E., & Pich, A. (2024). Workshop summary: Kaons@CERN 2023. Eur. Phys. J. C, 84(4), 377–34pp.
Abstract: Kaon physics is at a turning point – while the rare-kaon experiments NA62 and KOTO are in full swing, the end of their lifetime is approaching and the future experimental landscape needs to be defined. With HIKE, KOTO-II and LHCb-Phase-II on the table and under scrutiny, it is a very good moment in time to take stock and contemplate about the opportunities these experiments and theoretical developments provide for particle physics in the coming decade and beyond. This paper provides a compact summary of talks and discussions from the Kaons@CERN 2023 workshop, held in September 2023 at CERN.
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Bhattacharya, T., Cirigliano, V., Cohen, S. D., Filipuzzi, A., Gonzalez-Alonso, M., Graesser, M. L., et al. (2012). Probing novel scalar and tensor interactions from (ultra)cold neutrons to the LHC. Phys. Rev. D, 85(5), 054512–29pp.
Abstract: Scalar and tensor interactions were once competitors to the now well-established V – A structure of the standard model weak interactions. We revisit these interactions and survey constraints from low-energy probes (neutron, nuclear, and pion decays) as well as collider searches. Currently, the most stringent limit on scalar and tensor interactions arise from 0(+) -> 0(+) nuclear decays and the radiative pion decay pi -> e nu gamma, respectively. For the future, we find that upcoming neutron beta decay and LHC measurements will compete in setting the most stringent bounds. For neutron beta decay, we demonstrate the importance of lattice computations of the neutron-to-proton matrix elements to setting limits on these interactions, and provide the first lattice estimate of the scalar charge and a new average of existing results for the tensor charge. Data taken at the LHC is currently probing these interactions at the 10(-2) level (relative to the standard weak interactions), with the potential to reach the less than or similar to 10(-3) level. We show that, with some theoretical assumptions, the discovery of a charged spin-0 resonance decaying to an electron and missing energy implies a lower limit on the strength of scalar interactions probed at low energy.
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Breso-Pla, V., Falkowski, A., & Gonzalez-Alonso, M. (2021). A(FB) in the SMEFT: precision Z physics at the LHC. J. High Energy Phys., 08(8), 021–27pp.
Abstract: We study the forward-backward asymmetry A(FB) in pp -> l(+)l(-) at the Z peak within the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT). We find that this observable provides per mille level constraints on the vertex corrections of the Z boson to quarks, which close a flat direction in the electroweak precision SMEFT fit. Moreover, we show that current A(FB) data is precise enough so that its inclusion in the fit improves significantly LEP bounds even in simple New Physics setups. This demonstrates that the LHC can compete with and complement LEP when it comes to precision measurements of the Z boson properties.
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Breso-Pla, V., Falkowski, A., Gonzalez-Alonso, M., & Monsalvez-Pozo, K. (2023). EFT analysis of New Physics at COHERENT. J. High Energy Phys., 05(5), 074–53pp.
Abstract: Using an effective field theory approach, we study coherent neutrino scattering on nuclei, in the setup pertinent to the COHERENT experiment. We include non-standard effects both in neutrino production and detection, with an arbitrary flavor structure, with all leading Wilson coefficients simultaneously present, and without assuming factorization in flux times cross section. A concise description of the COHERENT event rate is obtained by introducing three generalized weak charges, which can be associated (in a certain sense) to the production and scattering of nu(e), nu(mu) and (nu) over bar (mu) on the nuclear target. Our results are presented in a convenient form that can be trivially applied to specific New Physics scenarios. In particular, we find that existing COHERENT measurements provide percent level constraints on two combinations of Wilson coefficients. These constraints have a visible impact on the global SMEFT fit, even in the constrained flavor-blind setup. The improvement, which affects certain 4-fermion LLQQ operators, is significantly more important in a flavor-general SMEFT. Our work shows that COHERENT data should be included in electroweak precision studies from now on.
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Cirigliano, V., Diaz-Calderon, D., Falkowski, A., Gonzalez-Alonso, M., & Rodriguez-Sanchez, A. (2022). Semileptonic tau decays beyond the Standard Model. J. High Energy Phys., 04(4), 152–61pp.
Abstract: Hadronic tau decays are studied as probe of new physics. We determine the dependence of several inclusive and exclusive tau observables on the Wilson coefficients of the low-energy effective theory describing charged-current interactions between light quarks and leptons. The analysis includes both strange and non-strange decay channels. The main result is the likelihood function for the Wilson coefficients in the tau sector, based on the up-to-date experimental measurements and state-of-the-art theoretical techniques. The likelihood can be readily combined with inputs from other low-energy precision observables. We discuss a combination with nuclear beta, baryon, pion, and kaon decay data. In particular, we provide a comprehensive and model-independent description of the new physics hints in the combined dataset, which are known under the name of the Cabibbo anomaly.
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Cirigliano, V., Falkowski, A., Gonzalez-Alonso, M., & Rodriguez-Sanchez, A. (2019). Hadronic tau Decays as New Physics Probes in the LHC Era. Phys. Rev. Lett., 122(22), 221801–7pp.
Abstract: We analyze the sensitivity of hadronic tau decays to nonstandard interactions within the model-independent framework of the standard model effective field theory. Both exclusive and inclusive decays are studied, using the latest lattice data and QCD dispersion relations. We show that there are enough theoretically clean channels to disentangle all the effective couplings contributing to these decays, with the tau -> pi pi nu(tau) channel representing an unexpected powerful new physics probe. We find that the ratios of nonstandard couplings to the Fermi constant are bound at the subpercent level. These bounds are complementary to the ones from electroweak precision observables and pp -> tau nu(tau) measurements at the LHC. The combination of tau decay and LHC data puts tighter constraints on lepton universality violation in the gauge boson-lepton vertex corrections.
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Cirigliano, V., Jenkins, J. P., & Gonzalez-Alonso, M. (2010). Semileptonic decays of light quarks beyond the Standard Model. Nucl. Phys. B, 830(1-2), 95–115.
Abstract: We describe non-standard contributions to semileptonic processes in a model independent way in terms of in SU(2)(L) x U(1)(Y) invariant effective lagrangian at the weak scale, front which we derive the low-energy effective lagrangian governing muon and beta decays. We find that the deviation from Cabibbo universality, Delta(CKM) equivalent to vertical bar V-ud vertical bar(2) + vertical bar V-us vertical bar(2) + vertical bar V-ub vertical bar(2) – 1, receives contributions from four effective operators. The phenomenological bound Delta(CKM) = (-1 +/- 6) x 10(-4) provides strong constraints on all four operators, corresponding to art effective scale Lambda > 11 TeV (90% CL). Depending on the operator, this constraint is at the same level or better then the Z pole observables. Conversely, precision electroweak constraints alone would allow universality violations as large as Delta(CKM) = -0.01 (90% CL). An observed Delta(CKM) not equal 0 at this level Could be explained in terms of a single four-fermion operator which is relatively poorly constrained by electroweak precision measurements.
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Falkowski, A., Gonzalez-Alonso, M., Kopp, J., Soreq, Y., & Tabrizi, Z. (2021). EFT at FASER nu. J. High Energy Phys., 10(10), 086–46pp.
Abstract: We investigate the sensitivity of the FASER nu detector to new physics in the form of non-standard neutrino interactions. FASER nu, which will be installed 480 m downstream of the ATLAS interaction point, will for the first time study interactions of multi-TeV neutrinos from a controlled source. Our formalism – which is applicable to any current and future neutrino experiment – is based on the Standard Model Effective Theory (SMEFT) and its counterpart, Weak Effective Field Theory (WEFT), below the electroweak scale. Starting from the WEFT Lagrangian, we compute the coefficients that modify neutrino production in meson decays and detection via deep-inelastic scattering, and we express the new physics effects in terms of modified flavor transition probabilities. For some coupling structures, we find that FASER nu will be able to constrain interactions that are two to three orders of magnitude weaker than Standard Model weak interactions, implying that the experiment will be indirectly probing new physics at the multi-TeV scale. In some cases, FASER nu constraints will become comparable to existing limits – some of them derived for the first time in this paper – already with 150 fb(-1) of data.
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Falkowski, A., Gonzalez-Alonso, M., & Naviliat-Cuncic, O. (2021). Comprehensive analysis of beta decays within and beyond the Standard Model. J. High Energy Phys., 04(4), 126–36pp.
Abstract: Precision measurements in allowed nuclear beta decays and neutron decay are reviewed and analyzed both within the Standard Model and looking for new physics. The analysis incorporates the most recent experimental and theoretical developments. The results are interpreted in terms of Wilson coefficients describing the effective interactions between leptons and nucleons (or quarks) that are responsible for beta decay. New global fits are performed incorporating a comprehensive list of precision measurements in neutron decay, superallowed 0(+)-> 0(+) transitions, and other nuclear decays that include, for the first time, data from mirror beta transitions. The results confirm the V-A character of the interaction and translate into updated values for V-ud and g(A) at the 10(-4) level. We also place new stringent limits on exotic couplings involving left-handed and right-handed neutrinos, which benefit significantly from the inclusion of mirror decays in the analysis.
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