Equilibrium random-field Ising critical scattering in the antiferromagnet Fe(0.93)Zn(0.07)F2

It has long been believed that equilibrium random-field Ising model (RFIM) critical scattering studies are not feasible in dilute antiferromagnets close to and below Tc(H) because of severe non-equilibrium effects. The high magnetic concentration Ising antiferromagnet Fe(0.93)Zn(0.07)F2, however, does provide equilibrium behavior. We have employed scaling techniques to extract the universal equilibrium scattering line shape, critical exponents nu = 0.87 +- 0.07 and eta = 0.20 +- 0.05, and amplitude ratios of this RFIM system.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, minor revision

Cornering pseudoscalar-mediated dark matter with the LHC and cosmology

Models in which dark matter particles communicate with the visible sector through a pseudoscalar mediator are well-motivated both from a theoretical and from a phenomenological standpoint. With direct detection bounds being typically subleading in such scenarios, the main constraints stem either from collider searches for dark matter, or from indirect detection experiments. However., LHC searches for the mediator particles themselves can not only compete with — or even supersede — the reach of direct collider dark matter probes, but they can also test scenarios in which traditional monojet searches become irrelevant, especially when the mediator cannot decay on-shell into dark matter particles or its decay is suppressed. In this work we perform a detailed analysis of a pseudoscalar-mediated dark matter simplified model, taking into account a large set of collider constraints and concentrating on the parameter space regions favoured by cos-mological and astrophysical data. We find that mediator masses above 100-200 GeV are essentially excluded by LHC searches in the case of large couplings to the top quark, while forthcoming collider and astrophysical measurements will further constrain the available parameter space

Natural regulatory (CD4+CD25+FOXP+) T cells control the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines during Plasmodium chabaudi adami infection and do not contribute to immune evasion.

Different functions have been attributed to natural regulatory CD4+CD25+FOXP+ (Treg) cells during malaria infection. Herein, we assessed the role for Treg cells during infections with lethal (DS) and non-lethal (DK) Plasmodium chabaudi adami parasites, comparing the levels of parasitemia, inflammation and anaemia. Independent of parasite virulence, the population of splenic Treg cells expanded during infection, and the absolute numbers of activated CD69+ Treg cells were higher in DS-infected mice. In vivo depletion of CD25+ T cells, which eliminated 80% of CD4+FOXP3+CD25+ T cells and 60–70% of CD4+FOXP3+ T cells, significantly decreased the number of CD69+ Treg cells in mice with lethal malaria. As a result, higher parasite burden and morbidity were measured in the latter, whereas the kinetics of infection with non-lethal parasites remained unaffected. In the absence of Treg cells, parasite-specific IFN-γ responses by CD4+ T cells increased significantly, both in mice with lethal and non-lethal infections, whereas IL-2 production was only stimulated in mice with non-lethal malaria. Following the depletion of CD25+ T cells, the production of IL-10 by CD90− cells was also enhanced in infected mice. Interestingly, a potent induction of TNF- and IFN-γ production by CD4+ and CD90− lymphocytes was measured in DS-infected mice, which also suffered severe anaemia earlier than non-depleted infected controls. Taken together, our data suggest that the expansion and activation of natural Treg cells represent a counter-regulatory response to the overwhelming inflammation associated with lethal P.c. adami. This response to infection involves TH1 lymphocytes as well as cells from the innate immune system

Uncertainties in Relic Density Calculations in mSUGRA

We compare the relic density of neutralino dark matter within the minimal supergravity model (mSUGRA) using four different public codes for supersymmetric spectra evaluation. While the predictions for the relic density of neutralinos are rather stable in most of the mSUGRA space, it is in the most physically interesting regions that large discrepancies can be observed, in particular the focus point, large tan beta and coannihilation regions.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Global fit to Higgs signal strengths and couplings and implications for extended Higgs sectors

The most recent LHC data have provided a considerable improvement in the precision with which various Higgs production and decay channels have been measured. Using all available public results from ATLAS, CMS and the Tevatron, we derive for each final state the combined confidence level contours for the signal strengths in the (gluon fusion + ttH associated production) versus (vector boson fusion + VH associated production) space. These "combined signal strength ellipses" can be used in a simple, generic way to constrain a very wide class of New Physics models in which the couplings of the Higgs boson deviate from the Standard Model prediction. Here, we use them to constrain the reduced couplings of the Higgs boson to up-quarks, down-quarks/leptons and vector boson pairs. We also consider New Physics contributions to the loop-induced gluon-gluon and photon-photon couplings of the Higgs, as well as invisible/unseen decays. Finally, we apply our fits to some simple models with an extended Higgs sector, in particular to Two-Higgs-Doublet models of Type I and Type II, the Inert Doublet model, and the Georgi-Machacek triplet Higgs model.Comment: 31 pages, 15 figures; v2: fixed important factor of 2 missing in Eq. (1) (results unchanged), extended discussion in the next-to-last paragraph of Section 3, some references added; v3: appendices and references added, matches version accepted by PR

Higgs Couplings at the End of 2012

Performing a fit to all publicly available data, we analyze the extent to which the latest results from the LHC and Tevatron constrain the couplings of the Higgs boson-like state at ~ 125 GeV. To this end we assume that only Standard Model (SM) particles appear in the Higgs decays, but tree-level Higgs couplings to the up-quarks, down-quarks and vector bosons, relative to the SM are free parameters. We also assume that the leptonic couplings relative to the SM are the same as for the down-quark, and a custodial symmetry for the V=W,Z couplings. In the simplest approach, the effective Higgs couplings to gluons and photons are computed in terms of the previous parameters. This approach is also applied to Two-Higgs-Doublet Models of Type I and Type II. However, we also explore the possibility that the net Higgs to gluon-gluon and gamma-gamma couplings have extra loop contributions coming from Beyond-the-Standard Model physics. We find that the SM p-value ~ 0.5 is more than 2 sigma away from fits in which: a) there is some non-SM contribution to the gamma-gamma coupling of the Higgs; or b) the sign of the top quark coupling to the Higgs is opposite that of the W coupling. In both these cases p-values ~ 0.9 can be achieved. Since option b) is difficult to realize in realistic models, it would seem that new physics contributions to the effective couplings of the Higgs are preferred.Comment: 25 pages, 11 figures; v2: minor corrections, references added; v3: acknowledgement adde

Magnetic Properties of the Metamagnet Ising Model in a three-dimensional Lattice in a Random and Uniform Field

By employing the Monte Carlo technique we study the behavior of Metamagnet Ising Model in a random field. The phase diagram is obtained by using the algorithm of Glaubr in a cubic lattice of linear size $L$ with values ranging from 16 to 42 and with periodic boundary conditions.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure

Status of invisible Higgs decays

We analyze the extent to which the LHC and Tevatron results as of the end of 2012 constrain invisible (or undetected) decays of the Higgs boson-like state at ~ 125 GeV. To this end we perform global fits for several cases: 1) a Higgs boson with Standard Model (SM) couplings but additional invisible decay modes; 2) SM couplings to fermions and vector bosons, but allowing for additional new particles modifying the effective Higgs couplings to gluons and photons; 3) no new particles in the loops but tree-level Higgs couplings to the up-quarks, down-quarks and vector bosons, relative to the SM, treated as free parameters. We find that in the three cases invisible decay rates of 23%, 61%, 88%, respectively, are consistent with current data at 95% confidence level (CL). Limiting the coupling to vector bosons, CV, to CV < 1 in case 3) reduces the allowed invisible branching ratio to 56% at 95% CL. Requiring in addition that the Higgs couplings to quarks have the same sign as in the SM, an invisible rate of up to 36% is allowed at 95% CL. We also discuss direct probes of invisible Higgs decays, as well as the interplay with dark matter searches.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures; v2: extended discussion on ZH associated production, references added, minor corrections; v4: matches final version published in Phys. Lett.

Associated production of a light Higgs boson and a chargino pair in the MSSM at linear colliders

In the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), we study the light Higgs-boson radiation off a light-chargino pair in the process e+e- -> h chi^+ chi^- at linear colliders with \sqs=500 GeV. We analyze cross sections in the regions of the MSSM parameter space where the process can not proceed via on-shell production and subsequent decay of either heavier charginos or the pseudoscalar Higgs boson A. Cross sections up to a few fb's are allowed, according to present experimental limits on the Higgs-boson, chargino and sneutrino masses. We also show how a measurement of the process production rate could provide a determination of the Higgs-boson couplings to charginos.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figures; figure misplacement fixed; to appear in Eur.Phys.J.

Random field spin models beyond one loop: a mechanism for decreasing the lower critical dimension

The functional RG for the random field and random anisotropy O(N) sigma-models is studied to two loop. The ferromagnetic/disordered (F/D) transition fixed point is found to next order in d=4+epsilon for N > N_c (N_c=2.8347408 for random field, N_c=9.44121 for random anisotropy). For N < N_c the lower critical dimension plunges below d=4: we find two fixed points, one describing the quasi-ordered phase, the other is novel and describes the F/D transition. The lower critical dimension can be obtained in an (N_c-N)-expansion. The theory is also analyzed at large N and a glassy regime is found.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure