Properties of the general NHDM. I. The orbit space

We study the scalar sector of the general N-Higgs-doublet model via geometric constructions in the space of gauge orbits. We give a detailed description of the shape of the orbit space both for general N and, in more detail, for N=3. We also comment on remarkable analogies between NHDM and quantum information theory.Comment: 27 pages, 2 figure

Group-theoretic restrictions on generation of CP-violation in multi-Higgs-doublet models

It has been known since decades that imposing a symmetry group G on the scalar sector of multi-Higgs-doublet models has consequences for CP-violation. In all examples of two- and three-Higgs-doublet models equipped with symmetries, one observes the following intriguing property: if G prevents explicit CP-violation (CPV), at least in the neutral Higgs sector, then it also prevents spontaneous CPV, and if G allows explicit CPV, then it allows for spontaneous CPV. One is led to conjecture that this is a general phenomenon. In this paper, we prove this conjecture for any rephasing symmetry group G and any number of doublets.Comment: 16 page

Higgs masses of the general 2HDM in the Minkowski-space formalism

We study the masses of the Higgs bosons in the most general two-Higgs-doublet model in a basis-independent approach. We adapt the recently developed Minkowski-space formalism to this problem and calculate traces of any power of the mass-matrix in a compact and reparametrization-invariant form. Our results can be used to gain insight into the dynamics of the scalar sector of the general 2HDM.Comment: 14 pages, no figures; v2: reference added, misprints correcte

Orbital circularisation of white dwarfs and the formation of gravitational radiation sources in star clusters containing an intermediate mass black hole

(abbreviated) We consider how tight binaries consisting of a super-massive black hole of mass $M=10^{3}-10^{4}M_{\odot}$ and a white dwarf can be formed in a globular cluster. We point out that a major fraction of white dwarfs tidally captured by the black hole may be destroyed by tidal inflation during ongoing circularisation, and the formation of tight binaries is inhibited. However, some stars may survive being spun up to high rotation rates. Then the energy loss through gravitational wave emission induced by tidally excited pulsation modes and dissipation through non linear effects may compete with the increase of pulsation energy due to dynamic tides. The semi-major axes of these stars can be decreased below a 'critical' value where dynamic tides are not effective because pulsation modes retain phase coherence between successive pericentre passages. The rate of formation of such circularising stars is estimated assuming that they can be modelled as $n=1.5$ polytropes and that results of the tidal theory for slow rotators can be extrapolated to fast rotators. We estimate the total capture rate as $\sim \dot N\sim 2.5\cdot 10^{-8}M_{4}^{1.3}r_{0.1}^{-2.1}yr^{-1}$, where $M_{4}=M/10^4M_{\odot}$ and $r_{0.1}$ is the radius of influence of the black hole in units $0.1pc$. We find that the formation rate of tight pairs is approximately 10 times smaller than the total capture rate. It is used to estimate the probability of detection of gravitational waves coming from such tight binaries by LISA. We conclude that LISA may detect such binaries provided that the fraction of globular clusters with black holes in the mass range of interest is substantial and that the dispersion velocity of the cluster stars near the radius of influence of the black hole exceeds $\sim 20km/s$.Comment: accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics, minor corrections in proof

Beyond basis invariants

Physical observables cannot depend on the basis one chooses to describe fields. Therefore, all physically relevant properties of a model are, in principle, expressible in terms of basis-invariant combinations of the parameters. However, in many cases it becomes prohibitively difficult to establish key physical features exclusively in terms of basis invariants. Here, we advocate an alternative route in such cases: the formulation of basis-invariant statements in terms of basis-covariant objects. We give several examples where the basis-covariant path is superior to the traditional approach in terms of basis invariants. In particular, this includes the formulation of necessary and sufficient basis-invariant conditions for various physically distinct forms of CP conservation in two- and three-Higgs-doublet models.Comment: 20 pages, no figure

On The Violation Of Marshall-Peierls Sign Rule In The Frustrated J1−J2J_{1}-J_{2} Heisenberg Antiferromagnet

We present a number of arguments in favor of the suggestion that the Marshall-Peierls sign rule survives the frustration in the square-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet with frustrating next-nearest-neighbor (diagonal) bonds ($J_{1}-J_{2}$ model) for relatively large values of the parameter $J_{2}/J_{1}$. Both the spin-wave analysis and the exact-diagonalization data concerning the weight of Marshall states support the above suggestion.Comment: 8 pages, LaTex, 2 figurs on reques

Minkowski space structure of the Higgs potential in 2HDM: II. Minima, symmetries, and topology

We continue to explore the consequences of the recently discovered Minkowski space structure of the Higgs potential in the two-Higgs-doublet model. Here, we focus on the vacuum properties. The search for extrema of the Higgs potential is reformulated in terms of 3-quadrics in the 3+1-dimensional Minkowski space. We prove that 2HDM cannot have more than two local minima in the orbit space and that a twice-degenerate minimum can arise only via spontaneous violation of a discrete symmetry of the Higgs potential. Investigating topology of the 3-quadrics, we give concise criteria for existence of non-contractible paths in the Higgs orbit space. We also study explicit symmetries of the Higgs potential/lagrangian and their spontaneous violation from a wider perspective than usual.Comment: 27 pages, 5 figure

The semileptonic decays of the B_c meson

We study the semileptonic transitions B_c to \eta_c, J/\psi, D, D^*, B, B^*, B_s, B_s^* in the framework of a relativistic constituent quark model. We use experimental data on leptonic J/\psi decay, lattice and QCD sum rule results on leptonic B_c decay, and on radiative \eta_c transitions to adjust the quark model parameters. We compute all form factors of the above semileptonic B_c-transitions and give predictions for various semileptonic B_c decay modes including their \tau-modes when they are kinematically accessible. The implications of heavy quark symmetry for the semileptonic decays are discussed and are shown to be manifest in our explicit relativistic quark model calculation. A comparison of our results with the results of other calculations is performed.Comment: 31 pages Latex (uses epsf, revtex). Section II expanded, typos corrected. This version will appear in Phys. Rev.