Coupling spans of the Higgs-like boson

Using the LHC and Tevatron data, we set upper and lower limits on the total width of the Higgs-like boson. The upper limit is based on the well-motivated assumption that the Higgs coupling to a W or Z pair is not much larger than in the Standard Model. These width limits allow us to convert the rate measurements into ranges for the Higgs couplings to various particles. A corollary of the upper limit on the total width is an upper limit on the branching fraction of exotic Higgs decays. Currently, this limit is 47% at the 95% CL if the electroweak symmetry is broken only by doublets.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures; v2: Minor clarifications, references adde

New and Improved Superstring Phenomenology

Recent developments in string theory have important implications for cosmology. Topics discussed here are inflation, the cosmological constant, smoothing of cosmological singularities, and dark matter from parallel universes. Talk presented at the International Workshop on Particle Physics and the Early Universe (COSMO-98), 15-20 Nov, Asilomar, Monterey, CA.Comment: 9 page

Ultrahigh-energy neutrino flux as a probe of large extra-dimensions

A suppression in the spectrum of ultrahigh-energy (UHE, >= 10^{18} eV) neutrinos will be present in extra-dimensional scenarios, due to enhanced neutrino-antineutrino annihilation processes with the supernova relic neutrinos. In the n>4 scenario, being n the number of extra dimensions, neutrinos can not be responsible for the highest energy events observed in the UHE cosmic ray spectrum. A direct implication of these extra-dimensional interactions would be the absence of UHE neutrinos in ongoing and future neutrino telescopes.Comment: JCAP accepted version. Included 5, 6 and 7 extra-dimensional cases, and 2 new figures. The conclusion remains unchanged that UHE neutrino flux would be suppressed in large extra-dimensional model

Beyond the Standard Model

Six major frameworks have emerged attempting to describe particle physics beyond the Standard Model. Despite their different theoretical genera, these frameworks have a number of common phenomenological features and problems. While it will be possible (and desirable) to conduct model-independent searches for new physics at the LHC, it is equally important to develop robust methods to discriminate between BSM 'look-alikes'.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, Lectures given at the 2009 European School of High-Energy Physics, Bautzen, Germany, 14-27 Jun 200

Moriond Electroweak 2006: Theory Summary

A concise look at the big picture of particle physics, including the status of the Standard Model, neutrinos, supersymmetry, extra dimensions and cosmology. Based upon the theoretical summary presented at the XLIst Rencontres de Moriond on Electroweak Interactions and Unified Theories, La Thuile, 11-18 March 2006.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure

The Standard Model: Alchemy and Astrology

An brief unconventional review of Standard Model physics, containing no plots.Comment: 12 pages, 0 figures, review talk from "Physics at LHC", Krakow, 3-8 July 200

The Shape of Gravity

In a nontrivial background geometry with extra dimensions, gravitational effects will depend on the shape of the Kaluza-Klein excitations of the graviton. We investigate a consistent scenario of this type with two positive tension three-branes separated in a five-dimensional Anti-de Sitter geometry. The graviton is localized on the ``Planck'' brane, while a gapless continuum of additional gravity eigenmodes probe the {\it infinitely} large fifth dimension. Despite the background five-dimensional geometry, an observer confined to either brane sees gravity as essentially four-dimensional up to a position-dependent strong coupling scale, no matter where the brane is located. We apply this scenario to generate the TeV scale as a hierarchically suppressed mass scale. Arbitrarily light gravitational modes appear in this scenario, but with suppressed couplings. Real emission of these modes is observable at future colliders; the effects are similar to those produced by {\it six} large toroidal dimensions.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur