The b -> s gamma decay revisited

In this work we compute the leading logarithmic corrections to the b -> s gamma decay in a dimensional scheme which does not require any definition of the gamma5 matrix. The scheme does not exhibit unconsistencies and it is therefore a viable alternative to the t'Hooft Veltman scheme, particularly in view of the next-to-leading computation. We confirm the recent results of Ciuchini et al.Comment: 11 pages RevTeX + 2 EPSF figures, report IFUP-TH 2/94, HUTP-93/A038. PostScript file or hardcopy available from the authors upon reques

Rare K decays in a model of quark and lepton masses

An extension of a model of neutrino masses to the quark sector provides an interesting link between these two sectors. A parameter which is important to describe neutrino oscillations and masses is found to be a crucial one appearing in various ``penguin'' operators, in particular the so-called Z penguin. This parameter is severely constrained by the rare decay process $K_{L} \to \mu^{+} \mu^{-}$. This in turn has interesting implications on the decay rates of other rare processes such as $K_{L} \to \mu e$, etc..., as well as on the masses of the neutrinos and the masses of the vector-like quarks and leptons which appear in our model.Comment: 34 pages, 10 figures, corrected some typos in the introductio

Global analysis of leptophilic Z′ bosons

New neutral heavy gauge bosons (Z′) are predicted within many extensions of the Standard Model. While in case they couple to quarks the LHC bounds are very stringent, leptophilic Z′ bosons (even with sizable couplings) can be much lighter and therefore lead to interesting quantum effects in precision observables (like (g − 2)μ) and generate flavour violating decays of charged leptons. In particular, ℓ→ℓ′vv¯¯¯ decays, anomalous magnetic moments of charged leptons, ℓ → ℓ′γ and ℓ → 3ℓ′ decays place stringent limits on leptophilic Z′ bosons. Furthermore, in case of mixing Z′ with the SM Z, Z pole observables are affected. In light of these many observables we perform a global fit to leptophilic Z′ models with the main goal of finding the bounds for the Z′ couplings to leptons. To this end we consider a number of scenarios for these couplings. While in generic scenarios correlations are weak, this changes once additional constraints on the couplings are imposed. In particular, if one considers an Lμ − Lτ symmetry broken only by left-handed rotations, or considers the case of τ − μ couplings only. In the latter setup, on can explain the (g − 2)μ anomaly and the hint for lepton flavour universality violation in τ→μvv¯¯¯/τ→evv¯¯¯ without violating bounds from electroweak precision observables

QCD Corrections to the Radiative Decay B -> X_s gamma

In this short review, the calculation of the next-to-next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the inclusive radiative decay B -> X_s gamma is described. I summarize the salient features of the calculational framework adopted, discuss the results obtained in the last few years, and indicate the technical tools that made the NNLO calculations possible. I conclude by comparing the current NNLO theoretical estimate for the branching ratio with the experimental measurement and by briefly discussing the size and origin of the residual theoretical uncertainty.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures. Invited review for Modern Physics Letters

Phenomenological implications of light stop and higgsinos

We examine the phenomenological implications of light $\tilde{t}_R$ and higgsinos in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, assuming $\tan^2 \beta < m_t / m_b$ and heavy $\tilde{t}_L$ and gauginos. In this simplified setting, we study the contributions to $\Delta m_{B_d}$, $\epsilon_K$, $BR(b \rightarrow s \gamma)$, $R_b \equiv \Gamma (Z \rightarrow b \overline{b}) / \Gamma ( Z \to {\rm hadrons})$, $BR(t \to b W)$, and their interplay.Comment: plain LATEX, 6 figures, 23 A4 page

Upper bound on Hot Dark Matter Density from SO(10)SO(10) Yukawa Unification

We study low-energy consequences of supersymmetric $SO(10)$ models with Yukawa unification $h_t = h_N$ and $h_b = h_\tau$. We find that it is difficult to reproduce the observed $m_b/m_\tau$ ratio when the third-generation right-handed neutrino is at an intermediate scale, especially for small $\tan \beta$. We obtain a conservative lower bound on the mass of the right-handed neutrino $M_N > 6 \times 10^{13}$~GeV for $\tan \beta < 10$. This bound translates into an upper bound on the $\tau$-neutrino mass, and therefore on its contribution to the hot dark matter density of the present universe, $\Omega_\nu h^2 < 0.004$. Our analysis is based on the full two-loop renormalization group equations with one-loop threshold effects. However, we also point out that physics above the GUT-scale could modify the Yukawa unification condition $h_b = h_\tau$ for \tan \beta \lsim 10. This might affect the prediction of $m_b/m_\tau$ and the constraint on $M_N$.Comment: LBL-35774, RU-94-51, 18 pages, plain LaTeX, two PostScript figures appended in uuencoded forma

Electron and muon electric dipoles in supersymmetric scenarios

We study if a sizeable muon electric dipole can arise in supersymmetric frameworks able to account for the tight experimental bounds on sfermion masses, like an appropriate flavor symmetry, or like a flavor-blind mechanism of SUSY breaking (in presence of radiative corrections charchteristic of GUT models, or due to Yukawa couplings of neutrinos in see-saw models). In some cases it is possible to evade the naive scaling d_mu/d_e = m_mu/m_e and obtain a d_mu as large as 10^{-22--23} e cm. In most cases d_mu is around 10^{-24--25} e cm and (d_mu/d_e)/(m_mu/m_e) is only slightly different from one: this ratio contains interesting informations on the source of the dipoles and on the texture of the lepton Yukawa matrix. We also update GUT predictions for mu --> e gamma and related processes.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures. v2: ref.s added, final versio

Natural ranges of supersymmetric signals

The LEP2 experiments pose a serious naturalness problem for supersymmetric models. The problem is stronger in gauge mediation than in supergravity models. Particular scenarios, like electroweak baryogenesis or gauge mediation with light messengers, are strongly disfavoured. Searching a theoretical reason that naturally explains why supersymmetry has not been found poses strong requests on model building. If instead an unlikely (p\approx 5%) numerical accident has hidden supersymmetry to LEP2, we compute the naturalness distribution of values of allowed sparticle masses and supersymmetric loop effects. We find that b to s gamma remains a very promising signal of minimal supersymmetry even if there is now a 20% (4%) probability that coloured particles are heavier than 1 TeV (3 TeV). We study how much other effects are expected to be detectable.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures. Final versio

Rank-one flavor violation and B-meson anomalies

We assume that the quark-flavor coefficients matrix of the semileptonic operators addressing the neutral-current B-meson anomalies has rank-one, i.e. it can be described by a single vector in quark-flavor space. By correlating the observed anomalies to other flavor and high-pT observables, we constrain its possible directions and we show that a large region of the parameter space of this framework will be explored by flavor data from the NA62, KOTO, LHCb and Belle II experiments