Abstract: We carry out global fits to the nonuniversal Higgs Model (NUHM), applying all relevant present-day constraints. We present global probability maps for the NUHM parameters and observables (including collider signatures, direct, and indirect detection quantities), both in terms of posterior probabilities and in terms of profile likelihood maps. We identify regions of the parameter space where the neutralino dark matter in the model is either binolike, or else higgsinolike with mass close to 1 TeV and a spin-independent scattering cross section similar to 10(-9)-10(-8) pb. We trace the occurrence of the higgsinolike region to be a consequence of a mild focusing effect in the running of one of the Higgs masses, the existence of which in the NUHM we identify in our analysis. Although the usual binolike neutralino is more prominent, higgsinolike dark matter cannot be excluded, however its significance strongly depends on the prior and statistics used to assess it. We note that, despite experimental constraints often favoring different regions of parameter space to the constrained minimal supersymmetric standard model, most observational consequences appear fairly similar, which will make it challenging to distinguish the two models experimentally.

Abstract: We investigate the conditions on the Higgs sector that allow supersymmetric SO(10) grand unified theories to break spontaneously to the standard electroweak model at the renormalizable level. If one considers Higgs representations of dimension up to the adjoint, a supersymmetric standard model vacuum requires, in most cases, the presence of nonrenormalizable operators. The active role of Planck-induced nonrenormalizable operators in the breaking of the gauge symmetry introduces a hierarchy in the mass spectrum at the grand unified theory scale that may be an issue for gauge unification and proton decay. We show that the minimal Higgs scenario that allows for a renormalizable breaking to the standard model is obtained by considering flipped SO(10) circle times U(1) with one adjoint (45(H)) and two pairs of 16(H) circle plus (16) over bar (H) Higgs representations. We consider a nonanomalous matter content and discuss the embedding of the model in an E-6 grand unified scenario just above the flipped SO(10) scale.

Abstract: An algorithm is presented, that provides a fast and robust reconstruction of neutrino induced upward-going muons and a discrimination of these events from downward-going atmospheric muon background in data collected by the ANTARES neutrino telescope. The algorithm consists of a hit merging and hit selection procedure followed by fitting steps for a track hypothesis and a point-like light source. It is particularly well-suited for real time applications such as online monitoring and fast triggering of optical follow-up observations for multi-messenger studies. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated with Monte Carlo simulations and various distributions are compared with that obtained in ANTARES data.