On interference and non-interference in the SMEFT

We discuss interference in the limit $\hat{m}_{W}^2/s \rightarrow 0$ in the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT). Dimension six operators that contribute to $\bar{\psi} \psi \rightarrow \bar{\psi'}_1 \psi_2' \bar{\psi'}_3 \psi'_4$ scattering events can experience a suppression of interference effects with the Standard Model in this limit. This occurs for subsets of phase space in some helicity configurations. We show that approximating these scattering events by $2\rightarrow 2$ on-shell scattering results for intermediate unstable gauge bosons, and using the narrow width approximation, can miss interference terms present in the full phase space. Such interference terms can be uncovered using off-shell calculations as we explicitly show and calculate. We also study the commutation relation between the SMEFT expansion and the narrow width approximation, and discuss some phenomenological implications of these results.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures. Updated to published JHEP versio

Efficient inference of parsimonious phenomenological models of cellular dynamics using S-systems and alternating regression

The nonlinearity of dynamics in systems biology makes it hard to infer them from experimental data. Simple linear models are computationally efficient, but cannot incorporate these important nonlinearities. An adaptive method based on the S-system formalism, which is a sensible representation of nonlinear mass-action kinetics typically found in cellular dynamics, maintains the efficiency of linear regression. We combine this approach with adaptive model selection to obtain efficient and parsimonious representations of cellular dynamics. The approach is tested by inferring the dynamics of yeast glycolysis from simulated data. With little computing time, it produces dynamical models with high predictive power and with structural complexity adapted to the difficulty of the inference problem.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figure

Quantum Gravity Phenomenology, Lorentz Invariance and Discreteness

Contrary to what is often stated, a fundamental spacetime discreteness need not contradict Lorentz invariance. A causal set's discreteness is in fact locally Lorentz invariant, and we recall the reasons why. For illustration, we introduce a phenomenological model of massive particles propagating in a Minkowski spacetime which arises from an underlying causal set. The particles undergo a Lorentz invariant diffusion in phase space, and we speculate on whether this could have any bearing on the origin of high energy cosmic rays.Comment: 13 pages. Replaced version with corrected fundamental solution, missing m's (mass) and c's (speed of light) added and reference on diffusion on the three sphere changed. Note with additional references added and addresses updated, as in published versio