Hugues Beauchesne, Enrico Bertuzzo, Giovanni Grilli di Cortona
It is a distinct possibility that a Hidden Valley sector would have a spectrum of light particles consisting of both stable and unstable dark mesons. The simultaneous presence of these two types of particles can lead to novel mechanisms for generating the correct dark matter relic abundance, which in turn can reflect themselves into new exotic signatures at colliders. We study the viability of such sectors for various Hidden Valley models and map the valid parameter space to possible collider signatures. Mediators studied include various scalar bifundamentals and a heavy $Z'$. It is shown that in general bounds from direct and indirect detection can easily be avoided. In most of the allowed parameter space, the relic density is determined by stable mesons annihilating to unstable ones which in turn decay quickly to Standard Model particles. Dark mesons that decay mainly to heavier Standard Model fermions allow for more valid parameter space, though dark mesons are still allowed to decay exclusively to some of the lighter fermions. Possible exotic collider signatures include displaced vertices, emerging jets and semivisible jets.
Alexandre Alves, Oscar J. P. Eboli, Giovanni Grilli di Cortona, Roberto R. Moreira
We obtain constraints on first- and second-generation scalar leptoquarks using the available data on dilepton (Drell-Yan) and monojet searches at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. Assuming that the leptoquark interactions respect the Standard Model gauge symmetries as well as lepton and baryon numbers, we show that the study of dilepton production enlarges the exclusion region on the mass and coupling plane with respect to the pair production searches for first-generation leptoquarks. Moreover, the monojet channel leads to a larger excluded parameter region for moderate to large values of the leptoquark Yukawa coupling than the presently available experimental results.
Marcin Badziak, Giovanni Grilli di Cortona, Keisuke Harigaya
Supersymmetric Twin Higgs models have a discrete symmetry for which each Standard Model particle and its supersymmetric partner have a corresponding state that transforms under a mirror Standard Model gauge group. This framework is able to accommodate the non-discovery of new particles at the LHC with the naturalness of the electroweak scale. We point out that supersymmetric Twin Higgs models also provide a natural dark matter candidate. We investigate the possibility that a twin bino-like state is the Lightest Supersymmetric Particle and find that its freeze-out abundance can explain the observed dark matter abundance without fine-tuning the mass spectrum of the theory. Most of the viable parameter space can be probed by future dark matter direct detection experiments and the LHC searches for staus and higgsinos which may involve displaced vertices.
Hugues Beauchesne, Enrico Bertuzzo, Giovanni Grilli di Cortona
We study the experimental constraints on strongly interacting vector-fermions compatible with the relaxion mechanism and investigate any possible tuning. The focus is on a minimal model and low confinement scale. More precisely, we study bounds from electroweak precision tests, Higgs decay, Big Bang nucleosynthesis and direct collider searches. The effect of these new fermions on vacuum stability is also investigated. Combining our bounds, we show that the relaxion mechanism becomes increasingly constrained and fine-tuned as the confinement scale decreases. For example, a confinement scale of a few tens of MeVs would require tuning at the percent level.
Federico Bianchini, Giovanni Grilli di Cortona, Mauro Valli
We compare the QCD axion phase-space distribution from unitarized next-to-leading order chiral perturbation theory with the one extracted from pion-scattering data. We derive a robust bound by confronting momentum-dependent Boltzmann equations against up-to-date observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background, of the Baryonic Acoustic Oscillations and of primordial abundances. These datasets imply $m_{a} \leq \, 0.16 $ eV for the 95% credible interval, i.e. $\sim$30% stronger bound than what previously found. We present forecasts using dedicated likelihoods for future cosmological surveys and the sphaleron rate from unquenched lattice QCD.
Giovanni Grilli di Cortona, Edward Hardy, Javier Pardo Vega, Giovanni Villadoro
We show how several properties of the QCD axion can be extracted at high precision using only first principle QCD computations. By combining NLO results obtained in chiral perturbation theory with recent Lattice QCD results the full axion potential, its mass and the coupling to photons can be reconstructed with percent precision. Axion couplings to nucleons can also be derived reliably, with uncertainties smaller than ten percent. The approach presented here allows the precision to be further improved as uncertainties on the light quark masses and the effective theory couplings are reduced. We also compute the finite temperature dependence of the axion potential and its mass up to the crossover region. For higher temperature we point out the unreliability of the conventional instanton approach and study its impact on the computation of the axion relic abundance.
Daniele Barducci, Enrico Bertuzzo, Giovanni Grilli di Cortona, Gabriel M. Salla
Dark photons are massive abelian gauge bosons that interact with ordinary photons via a kinetic mixing with the hypercharge field strength tensor. This theory is probed by a variety of different experiments and limits are set on a combination of the dark photon mass and kinetic mixing parameter. These limits can however be strongly modified by the presence of additional heavy degrees of freedom. Using the framework of dark effective field theory, we study how robust are the current experimental bounds when these new states are present. We focus in particular on the possible existence of a dark dipole interaction between the Standard Model leptons and the dark photon. We show that, under certain assumptions, the presence of a dark dipole modifies existing supernovæ bounds for cut-off scales up to $\mathcal{O}(10 - 100~\text{TeV})$. On the other hand, terrestrial experiments, such as LSND and E137, can probe cut-off scales up to $\mathcal{O}(3~\text{TeV})$. For the latter experiment we highlight that the bound may extend down to vanishing kinetic mixing.
Jorge de Blas, Debtosh Chowdhury, Marco Ciuchini, Antonio M. Coutinho, Otto Eberhardt, Marco Fedele, Enrico Franco, Giovanni Grilli di Cortona, Victor Miralles, Satoshi Mishima, Ayan Paul, Ana Penuelas, Maurizio Pierini, Laura Reina, Luca Silvestrini, Mauro Valli, Ryoutaro Watanabe, Norimi Yokozaki
$\texttt{HEPfit}$ is a flexible open-source tool which, given the Standard Model or any of its extensions, allows to $\textit{i)}$ fit the model parameters to a given set of experimental observables; $\textit{ii)}$ obtain predictions for observables. $\texttt{HEPfit}$ can be used either in Monte Carlo mode, to perform a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo analysis of a given model, or as a library, to obtain predictions of observables for a given point in the parameter space of the model, allowing $\texttt{HEPfit}$ to be used in any statistical framework. In the present version, around a thousand observables have been implemented in the Standard Model and in several new physics scenarios. In this paper, we describe the general structure of the code as well as models and observables implemented in the current release.
Giovanni Grilli di Cortona, Enrico Nardi
The MUonE experiment, that aims to provide a precise measurement of the hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to the muon $g-2$ via elastic muon-electron scattering, has also the potential to explore the parameter space of light new physics. Exploiting the process $μ^- N \to μ^- N X$, where $N$ is the target nucleus and X is a new physics light mediator, we demonstrate that MUonE can be sensitive to new regions of parameter space for sub-GeV dark photons. In particular, thanks to its muon beam, MUonE will be able to explore uncharted parameter space regions for the $L_μ-L_τ$ model. Finally, we also find that MUonE can probe the parameter space of axion-like particles for different assumptions of the couplings to electrons, muons and photons.
Alexander Belyaev, Enrico Bertuzzo, Cristian Caniu Barros, Oscar Eboli, Giovanni Grilli di Cortona, Fabio Iocco, Alexander Pukhov
We present accurate and up-to-date constraints on the complete set of dimension five and six operators with scalar, fermion and vector Dark Matter (DM). We find limits using LHC mono-jet data, spin inde- pendent and spin dependent direct searches, relic density and CMB, and show the interplay between high and low energy data in setting bounds on the parameter space. In order to properly compare data taken at different energies, we take into account the effect of the running and mixing of operators. We also take into account the local density uncertainties affecting direct detection data, and apply EFT validity criteria related to the cut on the invariant mass of DM pair production at the LHC, which turns out to be especially important for the case of vector DM. Finally, we estimate the potential of the future LHC runs to probe DM parameter space.
Fernando Arias-Aragón, Maurizio Giannotti, Giovanni Grilli di Cortona, Federico Mescia
We revisit and update the axion-induced pair production process in a nuclear electric field mediated by the axion-electron coupling, $a+{{}^{A}_{Z}X} \rightarrow {{}^{A}_{Z}X} + e^{+} + e^{-}$. This process emerges as one of the most efficient channels for detecting axions with energies above a few MeV in large underground detectors. It is particularly relevant for detecting axions produced in nuclear reactions, such as the $p+d~\rightarrow~{ }^3 \mathrm{He}~+~a(5.5\,\mathrm{MeV})$ reaction in the solar pp-chain, and for axions originating in supernovae. Despite recent interest in detecting high-energy axions, the pair production process has received limited attention, even in scenarios where it is the dominant detection channel. This study fills this gap by demonstrating that pair production is a highly effective detection mechanism for high-energy axions. We apply our results to axions from supernovae and the solar 5.5 MeV line, recasting the current bounds of Borexino and comparing the detection capabilities of the JUNO and Hyper-Kamiokande detectors.
Giovanni Grilli di Cortona
We studied the interplay between the mass reach for electroweakinos at future hadron colliders and direct detection experiments. The lack of new phenomena at the LCH motivates us to focus on split supersymmetry scenarios with different electroweakino spectra. A 100 TeV hadron collider may reach masses up to 3 TeV in models of anomaly mediation with long-lived thermal Winos. Moreover, in scenarios where the lightest neutralino is not the only dark matter component, the interplay between collider searches and direct detection experiments might cover large part of the parameter space.
Hugues Beauchesne, Giovanni Grilli di Cortona
New confining sectors can contain a set of pseudo-Goldstone mesons that exhibit a complicated structure in terms of stability and relative masses. Stable ones can act as dark matter candidates, while their interactions with the unstable ones determine their relic abundances. The overall structure, by specifying which channels are kinematically forbidden or not, affects the cosmology, constraints and collider phenomenology. In this paper, we present a classification of these pseudo-Goldstone meson structures. We find that the structures can be classified into three categories, corresponding to strong, suppressed and essentially non-existent constraints from indirect detection. Limits on decay lengths of the unstable mesons and dark jet properties are presented for several benchmark models.
Giovanni Grilli di Cortona, Edward Hardy, Andrew J. Powell
We compare the prospects for observing theories with Majorana or Dirac gauginos at a future 100 TeV proton-proton collider. Calculating the expected discovery and exclusion regions, we find that for heavy gluino masses the squark discovery reach is significantly reduced in Dirac gluino models relative to the Majorana case. However, if the squark and gluino masses are close the reach is similar in both scenarios. We also consider the electroweak fine tuning of theories observable at such a collider, and the impact of existing constraints from flavour and CP violating observables. Models with Majorana gluinos that are fine tuned to less than one part in 10,000 can typically be discovered or excluded, and Dirac models with tuning of one part in 1,000 can be probed. The flavour structure of Majorana models is highly constrained if they have observable squarks, while O(1) violation is possible in accessible Dirac models. In both cases new sources of CP violation must be very suppressed. Future collider searches can also give important information on possible dark matter candidates. We study the relation of this to indirect and direct detection searches, and find that if dark matter is a neutralino, a 100 TeV collider could probe the viable dark matter candidates in large classes of both Dirac and Majorana models.
Marcin Badziak, Giovanni Grilli di Cortona, Mustafa Tabet, Robert Ziegler
We study a class of DFSZ-like models for the QCD axion that can address observed anomalies in stellar cooling. Stringent constraints from SN1987A and neutron stars are avoided by suppressed couplings to nucleons, while axion couplings to electrons and photons are sizable. All axion couplings depend on few parameters that also control the extended Higgs sector, in particular lepton flavor-violating couplings of the Standard Model-like Higgs boson $h$. This allows us to correlate axion and Higgs phenomenology, and we find that that ${\rm BR}(h \to τe)$ can be as large as the current experimental bound of 0.22%, while ${\rm BR} (h \to μμ)$ can be larger than in the Standard Model by up to 70%. Large parts of the parameter space will be tested by the next generation of axion helioscopes such as the IAXO experiment.
Giovanni Grilli di Cortona
We analyse the mass reach for electroweakinos at future hadron colliders and their interplay with direct detection experiments. Motivated by the LHC data, we focus on split supersymmetry models with different electroweakino spectra. We find for example that a 100 TeV collider may explore Winos up to ~ 7 TeV in low scale gauge mediation models or thermal Wino dark matter around 3 TeV in models of anomaly mediation with long-lived Winos. We show moreover how collider searches and direct detection experiments have the potential to cover large part of the parameter space even in scenarios where the lightest neutralino does not contribute to the whole dark matter relic density.
Enrico Bertuzzo, Cristian J. Caniu Barros, Giovanni Grilli di Cortona
We use the framework of dark matter effective field theories to study the complementarity of bounds for a dark matter particle with mass in the MeV range. Taking properly into account the mixing between operators induced by the renormalization group running, we impose experimental constraints coming from the CMB, BBN, LHC, LEP, direct detection experiments and meson decays. In particular, we focus on the case of a vector coupling between the dark matter and the standard model fermions, and study to which extent future experiments can hope to probe regions of parameters space which are not already ruled out by current data.
Giovanni Grilli di Cortona, Andrea Messina, Stefano Piacentini
The search for dark matter weakly interacting massive particles with noble liquids has probed masses down and below a GeV/c^2. The ultimate limit is represented by the experimental threshold on the energy transfer to the nuclear recoil. Currently, the experimental sensitivity has reached a threshold equivalent to a few ionization electrons. In these conditions, the contribution of a Bremsstrahlung photon or a so-called Migdal electron due to the sudden acceleration of a nucleus after a collision might be sizable. In the present work, we use a Bayesian approach to study how these effects can be exploited in experiments based on liquid argon detectors. In particular, taking inspiration from the DarkSide-50 public spectra, we develop a simulated experiment to show how the Migdal electron and the Bremsstrahlung photon allow to push the experimental sensitivity down to masses of 0.1 GeV/c^2, extending the search region for dark matter particles of previous results. For these masses we estimate the effect of the Earth shielding that, for strongly interacting dark matter, makes any detector blind. Finally, we show how the sensitivity scales for higher exposure.
Fernando Arias-Aragón, Giovanni Grilli di Cortona, Enrico Nardi
Atomic electron motion is responsible for well-studied effects observed in low-energy (MeV-scale) processes. Recently, interest in this phenomenon has also emerged within the high-energy physics community, due to its potential to increase significantly the center-of-mass energy in fixed-target experiments. However, direct experimental evidence of this effect in high energy collisions has yet to be observed. We argue that a striking manifestation of atomic electron momenta could be revealed by the NA64 experiment at CERN during the proposed run with a 40 GeV positron beam. At this energy, $μ^+μ^-$ production via positron annihilation on electrons at rest is kinematically forbidden. The detection of $μ^+μ^-$ pairs from the annihilation channel would thus constitute direct evidence of an increase in the center-of-mass energy resulting from atomic electron motion. We also investigate the expected signatures for the proposed 60 GeV run, as well as for the data already collected at 70 GeV. Intriguingly, in both these cases, the predicted number of $μ^+μ^-$ pairs from positron annihilation is reduced compared to the electron-at-rest approximation.
Fernando Arias-Aragón, Giovanni Grilli di Cortona, Enrico Nardi, Claudio Toni
The Positron Annihilation into Dark Matter Experiment at the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati has reported an excess of $e^+e^-$ final-state events from positron annihilation on fixed-target atomic electrons. While the global significance remains at the $(1.77\pm 0.15)\,σ$ level, the excess is centered around $\sqrt{s} \sim 17\,\text{MeV}$, coinciding with the invariant mass at which anomalous $e^+e^-$ pair production has previously been observed in nuclear transitions from excited to ground states in $^8$Be, $^4$He and $^{12}$C, thereby strengthening the case for a common underlying origin, possibly involving a hypothetical new $X_{17}$ boson. We discuss the significance of this independent accelerator-based evidence. Combining it with existing nuclear physics results, we obtain a value for the $X_{17}$ mass of $m_{X_{17}} = 16.88 \pm 0.05\,\text{MeV}$, reducing the uncertainty from nuclear physics determinations by more than a factor of two, and mitigating the impact of poorly known correlations among their systematic errors.