Time-dependent perturbations in two-dimensional String Black Holes

We discuss time-dependent perturbations (induced by matter fields) of a black-hole background in tree-level two-dimensional string theory. We analyse the linearized case and show the possibility of having black-hole solutions with time-dependent horizons. The latter exist only in the presence of time-dependent `tachyon' matter fields, which constitute the only propagating degrees of freedom in two-dimensional string theory. For real tachyon field configurations it is not possible to obtain solutions with horizons shrinking to a point. On the other hand, such a possibility seems to be realized in the case of string black-hole models formulated on higher world-sheet genera. We connect this latter result with black hole evaporation/decay at a quantum level.}Comment: 11 pages, two figures,UA-NPPS.9/92; CERN-TH.6671/9

On `Graceful Exit' from inflationary phase in two-dimensional Liouville String Cosmology

Within the context of a super-critical (Liouville) string, we discuss (target-space) two-dimensional string cosmology. A numerical analysis indicates that the identification of time with the Liouville mode results in an expanding universe with matter which exhibits an inflationary phase, and `graceful exit' from it, tending asymptotically to a flat-metric fixed point.This fixed point is characterized by a dilaton configuration which, depending on the initial conditions, either decreases linearly with the cosmic time, or is a finite constant. This implies that, in contrast to the critical string case, the string coupling remains bounded during the exit from the inflationary phase, and, thus, the pertinent dynamics can be reliably described in terms of a tree-level string effective action. The r\^ole of matter in inducing such phenomena is emphasized. It is also interesting to note that the asymptotic value of the vacuum energy, which in the $\sigma$-model framework is identified with the `running' central charge deficit, depends crucially on the set of initial conditions. Thus, although preliminary, this toy model seems to share all the features expected to characterize a phenomenologically acceptable cosmological string model.Comment: 23 pages LATEX, six eps figures incorporate

Bottom-Tau Yukawa Unification in the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

We discuss the unification of the bottom quark and tau lepton Yukawa couplings within the framework of the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model. We compare the allowed regions of the $m_t$-$\tan \beta$ plane to those in the minimal supersymmetric standard model, and find that over much of the parameter space the deviation between the predictions of two models is small, and nearly always much less than the effect of current theoretical and experimental uncertainties in the bottom quark mass and the strong coupling constant. However over some regions of parameter space top-bottom Yukawa unification cannot be achieved. We also discuss the scaling of the light fermion masses and mixing angles, and show that to within current uncertainties the results of recent texture analyses performed for the minimal model also apply to the next-to-minimal model.Comment: Southampton preprint SHEP 93/94-15, This is a latex file with postscript figures attached to the end of the documen

Dissipative Liouville Cosmology: A Case Study

We consider solutions of the cosmological equations pertaining to a dissipative, dilaton-driven off-equilibrium Liouville Cosmological model, which may describe the effective field theoretic limit of a non-critical string model of the Universe. The non-criticality may be the result of an early-era catastrophic cosmic event, such as a big-bang, brane-world collision etc. The evolution of the various cosmological parameters of the model are obtained, and the effects of the dilaton and off-shell Liouville terms, including briefly those on relic densities, which distinguish the model from conventional cosmologies, are emphasised.Comment: 19 pages latex, 11 eps figures incorporate

Likelihood Functions for Supersymmetric Observables in Frequentist Analyses of the CMSSM and NUHM1

On the basis of frequentist analyses of experimental constraints from electroweak precision data, g-2, B physics and cosmological data, we investigate the parameters of the constrained MSSM (CMSSM) with universal soft supersymmetry-breaking mass parameters, and a model with common non-universal Higgs masses (NUHM1). We present chi^2 likelihood functions for the masses of supersymmetric particles and Higgs bosons, as well as b to s gamma, b to mu mu and the spin-independent dark matter scattering cross section. In the CMSSM we find preferences for sparticle masses that are relatively light. In the NUHM1 the best-fit values for many sparticle masses are even slightly smaller, but with greater uncertainties. The likelihood functions for most sparticle masses are cut off sharply at small masses, in particular by the LEP Higgs mass constraint. Both in the CMSSM and the NUHM1, the coannihilation region is favoured over the focus-point region at about the 3-sigma level, largely but not exclusively because of g-2. Many sparticle masses are highly correlated in both the CMSSM and NUHM1, and most of the regions preferred at the 95% C.L. are accessible to early LHC running. Some slepton and chargino/neutralino masses should be in reach at the ILC. The masses of the heavier Higgs bosons should be accessible at the LHC and the ILC in portions of the preferred regions in the (M_A, tan beta) plane. In the CMSSM, the likelihood function for b to mu mu is peaked close to the Standard Model value, but much larger values are possible in the NUHM1. We find that values of the DM cross section > 10^{-10} pb are preferred in both the CMSSM and the NUHM1. We study the effects of dropping the g-2, b to s gamma, relic density and M_h constraints.Comment: 34 pages, 24 figure

Naturalness Priors and Fits to the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

We examine the effect of a prior that favours low values of fine-tuning on Bayesian multi-dimensional fits of the constrained minimal supersymmetric standard model (CMSSM or mSUGRA) to current data. The dark matter relic density, the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon and the branching ratio of b->s gamma are all used to constrain the model via a Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampler. As a result of the naturalness prior, posterior probability distributions skew towards lighter higgs and sparticle masses, the effect being most pronounced in the gaugino sector. Interestingly, slepton masses are an exception and skew towards heavier masses. The lightest CP-even Higgs h^0-pole region becomes allowed at the 2 sigma level for the latest combination of measurements of m_t=172.7+/-2.9 GeV, provided we allow for a theoretical error in the prediction of its mass m_{h^0}. m_{h^0} is constrained to be less than 120 GeV at the 95% C.L. Probing the branching ratio of B_s->mu^+ mu^- to the level of 2 x 10^{-8}, as might be achieved by the Tevatron experiments, would cover 32% of the probability density, irrespective of which of the two priors is used.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures. Ref adde

Implications of LHC Searches on SUSY Particle Spectra: The pMSSM Parameter Space with Neutralino Dark Matter

We study the implications of LHC searches on SUSY particle spectra using flat scans of the 19-parameter pMSSM phase space. We apply constraints from flavour physics, g_mu-2, dark matter and earlier LEP and Tevatron searches. The sensitivity of the LHC SUSY searches with jets, leptons and missing energy is assessed by reproducing with fast simulation the recent CMS analyses after validation on benchmark points. We present results in terms of the fraction of pMSSM points compatible with all the constraints which are excluded by the LHC searches with 1 fb^{-1} and 15 fb^{-1} as a function of the mass of strongly and weakly interacting SUSY particles. We also discuss the suppression of Higgs production cross sections for the MSSM points not excluded and contrast the region of parameter space tested by the LHC data with the constraints from dark matter direct detection experiments.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figures. v2: increased statistics, to appear in EPJ

Quadruple Yukawa Unification in the Minimal Supersymmetric Model

Predictions for m_t, tan beta, m_nu_tau are calculated for quadruple third family t-b-tau-nu_tau Yukawa unified models in the MSSM. The renormalisation group equations for the 3 families of the MSSM, including the right handed neutrino, are presented. For right handed tau neutrino Majorana masses that are bigger than 10^11 GeV, the tau neutrino mass is consistent with present cosmological bounds. The m_t, tan beta predictions are approximately equivalent to those in triple third family Yukawa unified models.Comment: 10 pages plain LaTex, uuencoded .epsf files in part 2. Revised version has NO changes to content, merely changed format to .tex fil

WMAP-Compliant Benchmark Surfaces for MSSM Higgs Bosons

We explore `benchmark surfaces' suitable for studying the phenomenology of Higgs bosons in the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM), which are chosen so that the supersymmetric relic density is generally compatible with the range of cold dark matter density preferred by WMAP and other observations. These benchmark surfaces are specified assuming that gaugino masses m_{1/2}, soft trilinear supersymmetry-breaking parameters A_0 and the soft supersymmetry-breaking contributions m_0 to the squark and slepton masses are universal, but not those associated with the Higgs multiplets (the NUHM framework). The benchmark surfaces may be presented as M_A-tan_beta planes with fixed or systematically varying values of the other NUHM parameters, such as m_0, m_{1/2}, A_0 and the Higgs mixing parameter mu. We discuss the prospects for probing experimentally these benchmark surfaces at the Tevatron collider, the LHC, the ILC, in B physics and in direct dark-matter detection experiments. An Appendix documents developments in the FeynHiggs code that enable the user to explore for her/himself the WMAP-compliant benchmark surfaces.Comment: Minor corrections, references added. 43 pages, 10 figures. Version to appear in JHE

Revisiting the Higgs Mass and Dark Matter in the CMSSM

Taking into account the available accelerator and astrophysical constraints, the mass of the lightest neutral Higgs boson h in the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model with universal soft supersymmetry-breaking masses (CMSSM) has been estimated to lie between 114 and ~ 130 GeV. Recent data from ATLAS and CMS hint that m_h ~ 125 GeV, though m_h ~ 119 GeV may still be a possibility. Here we study the consequences for the parameters of the CMSSM and direct dark matter detection if the Higgs hint is confirmed, focusing on the strips in the (m_1/2, m_0) planes for different tan beta and A_0 where the relic density of the lightest neutralino chi falls within the range of the cosmological cold dark matter density allowed by WMAP and other experiments. We find that if m_h ~ 125 GeV focus-point strips would be disfavoured, as would the low-tan beta stau-chi and stop -chi coannihilation strips, whereas the stau-chi coannihilation strip at large tan beta and A_0 > 0 would be favoured, together with its extension to a funnel where rapid annihilation via direct-channel H/A poles dominates. On the other hand, if m_h ~ 119 GeV more options would be open. We give parametrizations of WMAP strips with large tan beta and fixed A_0/m_0 > 0 that include portions compatible with m_h = 125 GeV, and present predictions for spin-independent elastic dark matter scattering along these strips. These are generally low for models compatible with m_h = 125 GeV, whereas the XENON100 experiment already excludes some portions of strips where m_h is smaller.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figure