Threshold Corrections to the Bottom Quark Mass Revisited

Threshold corrections to the bottom quark mass are often estimated under the approximation that tan$\beta$ enhanced contributions are the most dominant. In this work we revisit this common approximation made to the estimation of the supersymmetric threshold corrections to the bottom quark mass. We calculate the full one-loop supersymmetric corrections to the bottom quark mass and survey a large part of the phenomenological MSSM parameter space to study the validity of considering only the tan$\beta$ enhanced corrections. Our analysis demonstrates that this approximation underestimates the size of the threshold corrections by $\sim$12.5% for most of the considered parameter space. We discuss the consequences for fitting the bottom quark mass and for the effective couplings to Higgses. We find that it is important to consider the additional contributions when fitting the bottom quark mass but the modifications to the effective Higgs couplings are typically $\mathcal{O}$(few)% for the majority of the parameter space considered.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figures, 1 table; error in analysis corrected, results substantially modified, version to be submitted to JHE

Trouble for MAC

We show that the next-to-leading corrections to the kernel of the gap equation can be large and of opposite sign to the lowest order kernel, in the presence of a gauge boson mass. This calls into question the reliability of the Most Attractive Channel hypothesis.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, LaTe

Determining Heavy Mass Parameters in Supersymmetric SO(10) Models

Extrapolations of soft scalar mass parameters in supersymmetric theories can be used to explore elements of the physics scenario near the grand unification scale. We investigate the potential of this method in the lepton sector of SO(10) which incorporates right-handed neutrino superfields. The method is exemplified in two models by exploring limits on the precision that can be expected from coherent LHC and e+e- collider analyses in the reconstruction of the fundamental scalar mass parameters at the unification scale and of the D-terms related to the breaking of grand unification symmetries. In addition, the mass of the third-generation right-handed neutrino can be estimated in seesaw scenarios. Even though the models are simplified and not intended to account for all aspects of a final comprehensive SO(10) theory, they provide nevertheless a valid base for identifying essential elements that can be inferred on the fundamental high-scale theory from high-energy experiments.Comment: 26 pp LaTeX; version published in Phys. Rev.

Unification in 5D SO(10)

Gauge unification in a five dimensional supersymmetric SO(10) model compactified on an orbifold $S^1/(Z_2 \times Z_2^{\prime})$ is studied. One orbifolding reduces N=2 supersymmetry to N=1, and the other breaks SO(10) to the Pati-Salam gauge group \ps. Further breaking to the standard model gauge group is made through the Higgs mechanism on one of the branes. The differences of the three gauge couplings run logarithmically even in five dimensions and we can keep the predictability for unification as in four dimensional gauge theories. We obtain an excellent prediction for gauge coupling unification with a cutoff scale $M_* \sim 3 \times 10^{17}$ GeV and a compactification scale $M_c \sim 1.5 \times 10^{14}$ GeV. Finally, although proton decay due to dimension 5 operators may be completely eliminated, the proton decay rate in these models is sensitive to the placement of matter multiplets in the 5th dimension, as well as to the unknown physics above the cutoff scale.Comment: 33 pages, one reference added and fig. 3 caption correcte

Uncertainties of the Inclusive Higgs Production Cross Section at the Tevatron and the LHC

We study uncertainties of the predicted inclusive Higgs production cross section due to the uncertainties of parton distribution functions (PDF). Particular attention is given to bbH Yukawa coupling enhanced production mechanisms in beyond SM scenarios, such as MSSM. The PDF uncertainties are determined by the robust Lagrange Multiplier method within the CTEQ global analysis framework. We show that PDF uncertainties dominate over theoretical uncertainties of the perturbative calculation (usually estimated by the scale dependence of the calculated cross sections), except for low Higgs masses at LHC. Thus for the proper interpretation of any Higgs signal, and for better understanding of the underlying electroweak symmetry breaking mechanism, it is important to gain better control of the uncertainties of the PDFs.Comment: LaTeX, JHEP, 19 pages, 14 figure

An analysis of a Heavy Gluino LSP at CDF : The Heavy Gluino Window

In this paper we consider a heavy gluino to be the lightest supersymmetric particle [LSP]. We investigate the limits on the mass of a heavy gluino LSP, using the searches for excess events in the jets plus missing momentum channel in Run I. The neutral and charged R-hadrons, containing a heavy gluino LSP, have distinct signatures at the Fermilab Tevatron. The range of excluded gluino masses depends on whether the R-hadron is charged or neutral and the amount of energy deposited in the hadronic calorimeter. The latter depends on the energy loss per collision in the calorimeter and the number of collisions; where both quantities require a model for R-hadron- Nucleon scattering. We show how the excluded range of gluino mass depends on these parameters. We find that gluinos with mass in the range between $\sim 35$ GeV and $\sim 115$ GeV are excluded by CDF Run I data. Combined with previous results of Baer et al., which use LEP data to exclude the range 3 - 22$\sim$25 GeV, our result demonstrates that an allowed window for a heavy gluino with mass between 25 and 35 GeV is quite robust. Finally we discuss the relevant differences of our analysis of Tevatron data to that of Baer et al.Comment: 36 pages, 11 figures, added an acknowledgemen

Precision Gauge Unification from Extra Yukawa Couplings

We investigate the impact of extra vector-like GUT multiplets on the predicted value of the strong coupling. We find in particular that Yukawa couplings between such extra multiplets and the MSSM Higgs doublets can resolve the familiar two-loop discrepancy between the SUSY GUT prediction and the measured value of alpha_3. Our analysis highlights the advantages of the holomorphic scheme, where the perturbative running of gauge couplings is saturated at one loop and further corrections are conveniently described in terms of wavefunction renormalization factors. If the gauge couplings as well as the extra Yukawas are of O(1) at the unification scale, the relevant two-loop correction can be obtained analytically. However, the effect persists also in the weakly-coupled domain, where possible non-perturbative corrections at the GUT scale are under better control.Comment: 26 pages, LaTeX. v6: Important early reference adde

Self-Breaking of the Standard Model Gauge Symmetry

If the gauge fields of the Standard Model propagate in TeV-size extra dimensions, they rapidly become strongly coupled and can form scalar bound states of quarks and leptons. If the quarks and leptons of the third generation propagate in 6 or 8 dimensions, we argue that the most tightly bound scalar is a composite of top quarks, having the quantum numbers of the Higgs doublet and a large coupling to the top quark. In the case where the gauge bosons propagate in a bulk of a certain volume, this composite Higgs doublet can successfully trigger electroweak symmetry breaking. The mass of the top quark is correctly predicted to within 20%, without the need to add a fundamental Yukawa interaction, and the Higgs boson mass is predicted to lie in the range 165 - 230 GeV. In addition to the Higgs boson, there may be a few other scalar composites sufficiently light to be observed at upcoming collider experiments.Comment: 26 pages, 4 figures, typos corrected, references adde

Gauge Mediated Supersymmetry Signals at the Tevatron Involving Tau Leptons

We consider the phenomenology of GMSB models where the lighter stau is the next to lightest supersymmetric particle. In this situation the dominant signals for supersymmetry at the Tevatron are events where two or three high p_T tau leptons accompanied by large missing transverse energy are produced. This leads to signatures that are very different from the photonic signals for GMSB (where the lightest neutralino is the NLSP) and the dilepton and trilepton signals in the usual supergravity models (involving e and/or mu only) that have been investigated extensively. We find that the inclusive 2 tau-jet signature could be observable at the Tevatron Run II, while the inclusive 3 tau-jet signature could be important at Run III.Comment: Revtex, 22 pages, 12 figures. Uses eps