Probing Gravitational Dark Matter

So far all evidences of dark matter (DM) come from astrophysical and cosmological observations, due to gravitational interactions of the DM. It is possible that the true DM particle in the universe joins gravitational interactions only, but nothing else. Such a Gravitational DM (GDM) acts as a weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP), which is conceptually simple and attractive. In this work, we explore this direction by constructing the simplest scalar GDM particle $\chi_s$. It is a $Z_2$ odd singlet under the standard model (SM) gauge group, and naturally joins the unique dimension-4 interaction with Ricci curvature, $\xi_s \chi_s^2 R$, where $\xi_s$ is the dimensionless nonminimal coupling. We demonstrate that this gravitational interaction $\xi_s \chi_s^2 R$, together with Higgs-curvature nonminimal coupling term $\xi_h H^\dag H R$, induces effective couplings between $\chi_s^2$ and SM fields which can account for the observed DM thermal relic abundance. We analyze the annihilation cross sections of GDM particles and derive the viable parameter space for realizing the DM thermal relic density. We further study the direct/indirect detections and the collider signatures of such a scalar GDM. These turn out to be highly predictive and testable.Comment: 33pp, JCAP Final Version. Only minor rewordings, references adde

Higgs Gravitational Interaction, Weak Boson Scattering, and Higgs Inflation in Jordan and Einstein Frames

We study gravitational interaction of Higgs boson through the unique dimension-4 operator $\xi H^\dag H R$, with $H$ the Higgs doublet and $R$ the Ricci scalar curvature. We analyze the effect of this dimensionless nonminimal coupling $\xi$ on weak gauge boson scattering in both Jordan and Einstein frames. We explicitly establish the longitudinal-Goldstone boson equivalence theorem with nonzero $\xi$ coupling in both frames, and analyze the unitarity constraints. We study the $\xi$-induced weak boson scattering cross sections at O(1-30)TeV scales, and propose to probe the Higgs-gravity coupling via weak boson scattering experiments at the LHC(14TeV) and the next generation pp colliders (50-100TeV). We further extend our study to Higgs inflation, and quantitatively derive the perturbative unitarity bounds via coupled channel analysis, under large field background at the inflation scale. We analyze the unitarity constraints on the parameter space in both the conventional Higgs inflation and the improved models in light of the recent BICEP2 data.Comment: 40pp, JCAP Final Version. Use jcappub.sty, only minor rewordings, references adde

Gravitational Interaction of Higgs Boson and Weak Boson Scattering

With the LHC discovery of a 125 GeV Higgs-like boson, we study gravitational interaction of the Higgs boson via the unique dimension-4 operator involving Higgs doublet and scalar curvature, $\,\xi H^\dag H R\,$, with nonminimal coupling $\,\xi\,$. This Higgs portal term can be transformed away in Einstein frame and induces gauge-invariant effective interactions in the Higgs sector. We study the weak boson scattering in Einstein frame, and explicitly demonstrate the longitudinal-Goldstone boson equivalence theorem in the presence of $\,\xi\,$ coupling. With these, we derive unitarity bound on the Higgs gravitational coupling $\,\xi\,$ in Einstein frame, which is stronger than that inferred from the current LHC Higgs measurements. We further study $\xi$-dependent weak boson scattering cross sections at TeV scale, and propose a new LHC probe of the Higgs-gravity coupling $\,\xi\,$ via weak boson scattering experiments.Comment: 7pp, Phys.Rev.D Published Version. All results + conclusions un-changed. Only minor rewording to clarify the Importance of this wor

LHC Search of New Higgs Boson via Resonant Di-Higgs Production with Decays into 4W

Searching for new Higgs particle beyond the observed light Higgs boson h(125GeV) will unambiguously point to new physics beyond the standard model. We study the resonant production of a CP-even heavy Higgs state $H^0$ in the di-Higgs channel via, $gg\to H^0\to h^0h^0\to WW^*WW^*$, at the LHC Run-2 and the high luminosity LHC (HL-LHC). We analyze two types of the $4W$ decay modes, one with the same-sign di-leptons ($4W\to\ell^\pm\nu\ell^\pm\nu 4q$) and the other with tri-leptons ($4W\to\ell^\pm\nu\ell^\mp\nu\ell^\pm\nu 2q$). We perform a full simulation for the signals and backgrounds, and estimate the discovery potential of the heavy Higgs state at the LHC Run-2 and the HL-LHC, in the context of generical two-Higgs-doublet models (2HDM). We determine the viable parameter space of the 2HDM as allowed by the theoretical constraints and the current experimental limits. We systematically analyze the allowed parameter space of the 2HDM which can be effectively probed by the heavy Higgs searches of the LHC, and further compare this with the viable parameter region under the current theoretical and experimental bounds.Comment: v3: JHEP published version, 34pp, 10 Figs(36 plots) and 9 Tables. Only minor typos fixed, references added. v2: JHEP version. All results and conclusions un-changed, discussions and references added. (This update is much delayed due to author's traveling and flu.

The effect of large scale photovoltaic-based projects on poverty reduction: Empirical evidence from China

As a high-quality clean energy, exploring the benefits of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects on regional economy and sustainable development will challenge its development at the policy and planning levels, which also involves two key goals in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations: poverty reduction and clean energy provision. To address this problem, we take China's Photovoltaic Poverty Alleviation Project (PPAP) as an example to empirically study the benefits of large-scale PV deployment for alleviating poverty in its multiple dimensions and achieving regional sustainable development. We investigated its effect using a panel dataset of 71 pilot counties supported by PPAP in China from 2014 to 2017, with propensity score matching and difference-in-difference estimation as the main modeling tools. We found that PPAP can reduce multidimensional poverty on average by 3.0% in a county, benefiting sustainable livelihoods. In detail regarding multidimensional poverty alleviation, PPAP can effectively reduce the poverty level of economic capital, social capital, and human capital. However, it has a limited impact on physical and natural capital. Besides, state-designated poverty counties benefit more from PPAP than the non-poverty counties. Geographically, the poverty reduction effect of PPAP also shows strong regional heterogeneity, with the most substantial poverty alleviation effect in Northwest China. Our research will enhance the public's understanding of PPAP, promote the realization of Goal 1 on poverty reduction and Goal 7 on affordable and clean energy in SDGs, and provide a reference for policymakers for future decision-making, as well as for large-scale PV project deployment in other developing countries

What do we know about multidimensional poverty in China: its dynamics, causes, and implications for sustainability

Poverty is a primary obstacle to achieving sustainable development. Therefore, exploring the spatiotemporal dynamics and causes of poverty is of great significance to the sustainable poverty reduction of the “post poverty alleviation era” in China. This paper used the multisource big data of 2022 counties in China from 2000 to 2015 to establish a comprehensive evaluation framework to explore the multidimensional poverty situation in China. The results showed the following findings: There is an obvious spatiotemporal heterogeneity of multidimensional poverty, showing a typical stair-like gradient from high in the west to low in the east, with the poverty level in state-designated poverty counties higher and intensifying over time. The spatial differentiation of multidimensional poverty is contributed to by multiple factors, in which the geographical condition has a stronger impact on state-designated poverty counties, while natural endowment and human resources have a stronger effect on non-state-designated poverty counties. These things considered, the regional poverty causes were relatively stable before 2015, but the poverty spatial agglomeration of some regions in the Northwest, Northeast, and Yangtze River Economic Belt has undergone significant changes after 2015. These findings can help policymakers better target plans to eliminate various types of poverty in different regions