71 research outputs found
Sphalerons and the Electroweak Phase Transition in Models with Higher Scalar Representations
In this work we investigate the sphaleron solution in a
gauge theory, which also encompasses the Standard Model, with higher scalar
representation(s) (). We show that the field profiles
describing the sphaleron in higher scalar multiplet, have similar trends like
the doublet case with respect to the radial distance. We compute the sphaleron
energy and find that it scales linearly with the vacuum expectation value of
the scalar field and its slope depends on the representation. We also
investigate the effect of gauge field and find that it is small for the
physical value of the mixing angle, and resembles the case for the
doublet. For higher representations, we show that the criterion for strong
first order phase transition, , is relaxed with respect to
the doublet case, i.e. .Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures & 1 table, published versio
The Dark Side of the Electroweak Phase Transition
Recent data from cosmic ray experiments may be explained by a new GeV scale
of physics. In addition the fine-tuning of supersymmetric models may be
alleviated by new O(GeV) states into which the Higgs boson could decay. The
presence of these new, light states can affect early universe cosmology. We
explore the consequences of a light (~ GeV) scalar on the electroweak phase
transition. We find that trilinear interactions between the light state and the
Higgs can allow a first order electroweak phase transition and a Higgs mass
consistent with experimental bounds, which may allow electroweak baryogenesis
to explain the cosmological baryon asymmetry. We show, within the context of a
specific supersymmetric model, how the physics responsible for the first order
phase transition may also be responsible for the recent cosmic ray excesses of
PAMELA, FERMI etc. We consider the production of gravity waves from this
transition and the possible detectability at LISA and BBO
The Sphaleron Rate in SU(N) Gauge Theory
The sphaleron rate is defined as the diffusion constant for topological
number NCS = int g^2 F Fdual/32 pi^2. It establishes the rate of equilibration
of axial light quark number in QCD and is of interest both in electroweak
baryogenesis and possibly in heavy ion collisions. We calculate the
weak-coupling behavior of the SU(3) sphaleron rate, as well as making the most
sensible extrapolation towards intermediate coupling which we can. We also
study the behavior of the sphaleron rate at weak coupling at large Nc.Comment: 18 pages with 3 figure
New AdS solitons and brane worlds with compact extra-dimensions
We construct new static, asymptotically AdS solutions where the conformal
infinity is the product of Minkowski spacetime and a sphere . Both
globally regular, soliton-type solutions and black hole solutions are
considered. The black holes can be viewed as natural AdS generalizations of the
Schwarzschild black branes in Kaluza-Klein theory. The solitons provide new
brane-world models with compact extra-dimensions. Different from the
Randall-Sundrum single-brane scenario, a Schwarzschild black hole on the Ricci
flat part of these branes does not lead to a naked singularity in the bulk.Comment: 28 pages, 4 figure
Excluding Electroweak Baryogenesis in the MSSM
In the context of the MSSM the Light Stop Scenario (LSS) is the only region
of parameter space that allows for successful Electroweak Baryogenesis (EWBG).
This possibility is very phenomenologically attractive, since it allows for the
direct production of light stops and could be tested at the LHC. The ATLAS and
CMS experiments have recently supplied tantalizing hints for a Higgs boson with
a mass of ~ 125 GeV. This Higgs mass severely restricts the parameter space of
the LSS, and we discuss the specific predictions made for EWBG in the MSSM.
Combining data from all the available ATLAS and CMS Higgs searches reveals a
tension with the predictions of EWBG even at this early stage. This allows us
to exclude EWBG in the MSSM at greater than (90) 95% confidence level in the
(non-)decoupling limit, by examining correlations between different Higgs decay
channels. We also examine the exclusion without the assumption of a ~ 125 GeV
Higgs. The Higgs searches are still highly constraining, excluding the entire
EWBG parameter space at greater than 90% CL except for a small window of m_h ~
117 - 119 GeV.Comment: 24 Pages, 4 Figures (v3: fixed typos, minor corrections, added
references
f(R) theories
Over the past decade, f(R) theories have been extensively studied as one of
the simplest modifications to General Relativity. In this article we review
various applications of f(R) theories to cosmology and gravity - such as
inflation, dark energy, local gravity constraints, cosmological perturbations,
and spherically symmetric solutions in weak and strong gravitational
backgrounds. We present a number of ways to distinguish those theories from
General Relativity observationally and experimentally. We also discuss the
extension to other modified gravity theories such as Brans-Dicke theory and
Gauss-Bonnet gravity, and address models that can satisfy both cosmological and
local gravity constraints.Comment: 156 pages, 14 figures, Invited review article in Living Reviews in
Relativity, Published version, Comments are welcom
Testing CPT- and Lorentz-odd electrodynamics with waveguides
We study CPT- and Lorentz-odd electrodynamics described by the Standard Model
Extension. Its radiation is confined to the geometry of hollow conductor
waveguide, open along . In a special class of reference frames, with
vanishing both 0-th and components of the background field, , we realize a number of {\em huge and macroscopically detectable}
effects on the confined waves spectra, compared to standard results.
Particularly, if points along (or ) direction only
transverse electric modes, with , should be observed propagating
throughout the guide, while all the transverse magnetic, , are absent.
Such a strong mode suppression makes waveguides quite suitable to probe these
symmetry violations using a simple and easily reproducible apparatus.Comment: 11pages, double-spacing, tex forma
Sphalerons and the electroweak phase transition in models with higher scalar representations
Gene-flow through space and time: dispersal, dormancy and adaptation to changing environments
Phenotypic plasticity in sex allocation for a simultaneously hermaphroditic coral reef fish.
Phenotypic plasticity can facilitate reproductive strategies that maximize mating success in variable environments and lead to differences in sex allocation among populations. For simultaneous hermaphrodites with sperm competition, including Serranus tortugarum a small coral reef fish, proportional male allocation (testis in total gonad) is often greater where local density or mating group size is higher. We tested whether S. tortugarum reduced male allocation when transplanted from a higher density site to a lower density site. After 4 months, transplants mirrored the sex-allocation patterns of the resident population on their new reef. Transplants had significantly lower male allocation than representatives from their source population, largely as a result of reduced testis mass relative to body size. © 2011 Springer-Verlag
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