3,444 research outputs found
Radiative Symmetry Breaking of the Minimal Left-Right Symmetric Model
Under the assumption of classical conformal invariance, we study the
Coleman-Weinberg symmetry breaking mechanism in the minimal left-right
symmetric model. This model is attractive as it provides a natural framework
for small neutrino masses and the restoration of parity as a good symmetry of
nature. We find that, in a large fraction of the parameter space, the parity
symmetry is maximally broken by quantum corrections in the Coleman-Weinberg
potential, which are a consequence of the conformal anomaly. As the left-right
symmetry breaking scale is connected to the Planck scale through the
logarithmic running of the dimensionless couplings of the scalar potential, a
large separation of the two scales can be dynamically generated. The symmetry
breaking dynamics of the model was studied using a renormalization group
analysis. Electroweak symmetry breaking is triggered by the breakdown of
left-right symmetry, and the left-right breaking scale is therefore expected in
the few TeV range. The phenomenological implications of the symmetry breaking
mechanism are discussed.Comment: 23 pages, 1 figure; version as published in journal; title changed,
changes in abstract, introduction and conclusion
Reversible male sterility in eggplant
SummarySince decades, plant male sterility is considered a powerful tool for biological containment to minimize unwanted self‐pollination for hybrid seed production. Furthermore, prevention of pollen dispersal also answers to concerns regarding transgene flow via pollen from Genetically Modified (GM) crops to traditional crop fields or wild relatives. We induced male sterility by suppressing endogenous general transcription factor genes, TAFs, using anther‐specific promoters combined with artificial microRNA (amiRNA) technology (Schwab et al., 2006). The system was made reversible by the ethanol inducible expression of an amiRNA‐insensitive form of the target gene. We provide proof of concept in eggplant, a cultivated crop belonging to the Solanaceae family that includes many important food crops. The transgenic eggplants that we generated are completely male sterile and fertility can be fully restored by short treatments with ethanol, confirming the efficiency but also the reliability of the system in view of open field cultivation. By combining this system with induced parthenocarpy (Rotino et al., 1997), we provide a novel example of complete transgene containment in eggplant, which enables biological mitigation measures for the benefit of coexistence or biosafety purposes for GM crop cultivation
Dynamical Gauge Symmetry Breaking in Extension of the Standard Model
We study the extension of the Standard model with a
strong U(1) coupling. We argue that current experiments limit this coupling to
be relatively large. The model is dynamically broken to the Standard model at the scale of a few TeV with all the extra gauge bosons
and the exotic quarks acquiring masses much larger than the scale of
electroweak symmetry breaking. Furthermore we find that the model leads to
large dynamical mass of the top quark and hence also breaks the electroweak
gauge symmetry. It therefore leads to large dynamical effects within the
Standard model and can partially replace the Higgs interactions.Comment: 4 pages, revtex, no figures; revised version predicting realistic
mass spectru
Planck Scale Boundary Conditions and the Higgs Mass
If the LHC does only find a Higgs boson in the low mass region and no other
new physics, then one should reconsider scenarios where the Standard Model with
three right-handed neutrinos is valid up to Planck scale. We assume in this
spirit that the Standard Model couplings are remnants of quantum gravity which
implies certain generic boundary conditions for the Higgs quartic coupling at
Planck scale. This leads to Higgs mass predictions at the electroweak scale via
renormalization group equations. We find that several physically well motivated
conditions yield a range of Higgs masses from 127-142 GeV. We also argue that a
random quartic Higgs coupling at the Planck scale favors M_H > 150 GeV, which
is clearly excluded. We discuss also the prospects for differentiating
different boundary conditions imposed for \lambda(M_{pl}) at the LHC. A
striking example is M_H = 127\pm 5 GeV corresponding to \lambda(M_{pl})=0,
which would imply that the quartic Higgs coupling at the electroweak scale is
entirely radiatively generated.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures; references added and other minor improvements,
matches version published in JHE
A Tumbling Top-Quark Condensate Model
We propose a renormalizable model with no fundamental scalars which breaks
itself in the manner of a "tumbling" gauge theory down to the standard model
with a top-quark condensate. Because of anomaly cancellation requirements, this
model contains two color sextet fermions (quixes), which are vector-like with
respect to the standard model gauge group. The model also has a large number of
pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone bosons, some of which can be light. The top-quark
condensate is responsible for breaking the electroweak gauge symmetry and gives
the top quark a large mass. We discuss the qualitative features and instructive
shortcomings of the model in its present form. We also show that this model can
be naturally embedded into an aesthetically pleasing model in which the
standard model fermion families appear symmetrically.Comment: 16 pages. v2: TeX formatting fixed, no other change
Limits on Non-Standard Top Quark Couplings from Electroweak Measurements
We calculate the typical size of loop corrections to electroweak observables
arising from non-standard and vertices. We use an
effective Lagrangian formalism based on the electroweak gauge group
. Limits on the non-standard model
top quark couplings from electroweak observables are presented and compared
with previously obtained limits.Comment: 9 pages, uses epsf.st
Z -> b\bar{b} Versus Dynamical Electroweak Symmetry Breaking involving the Top Quark
In models of dynamical electroweak symmetry breaking which sensitively
involve the third generation, such as top quark condensation, the effects of
the new dynamics can show up experimentally in Z->b\bar{b}. We compare the
sensitivity of Z->b\bar{b} and top quark production at the Tevatron to models
of the new physics. Z->b\bar{b} is a relatively more sensitive probe to new
strongly coupled U(1) gauge bosons, while it is generally less sensitive a
probe to new physics involving color octet gauge bosons as is top quark
production itself. Nonetheless, to accomodate a significant excess in
Z->b\bar{b} requires choosing model parameters that may be ruled out within run
I(b) at the Tevatron.Comment: LaTex file, 19 pages + 2 Figs., Fermilab-Pub-94/231-
Influence of Light and Heavy Thresholds on SUSY Unification
In this paper we study and compare susy unification using two different
approaches in order to take into account the effect of light particle
thresholds on the evolution of gauge couplings: the step--function
approximation, on the one hand, and a mass dependent procedure, which gives a
more accurate description of the dependence of the results on the masses, on
the other. We also include the effect of heavy thresholds, when is
chosen as the unifying group. We find that the mass--dependent procedure
excludes scenarios where all susy masses are below , and favors a value
of near its upper experimental bound, contrary to the results
obtained with the step--function approximation. We underline the dependence of
the results on the procedure chosen to deal with light thresholds.Comment: 18 pages,LAEFF-93/014,REVTEX-2.1, 5 figures not included, available
upon request (include FAX number)
Dynamical fermion mass generation at a tricritical point in strongly coupled U(1) lattice gauge theory
Fermion mass generation in the strongly coupled U(1) lattice gauge theory
with fermion and scalar fields of equal charge is investigated by means of
numerical simulation with dynamical fermions. Chiral symmetry of this model is
broken by the gauge interaction and restored by the light scalar. We present
evidence for the existence of a particular, tricritical point of the
corresponding phase boundary where the continuum limit might possibly be
constructed. It is of interest as a model for dynamical symmetry breaking and
mass generation due to a strong gauge interaction. In addition to the massive
and unconfined fermion F and Goldstone boson , a gauge ball of mass and some other states are found. Tricritical exponents appear
to be non-classical.Comment: 21 page
Observations of the BL Lac Object 3C 66A with STACEE
We present the analysis and results of recent high-energy gamma-ray
observations of the BL Lac object 3C 66A conducted with the Solar Tower
Atmospheric Cherenkov Effect Experiment (STACEE). During the 2003-2004
observing season, STACEE extensively observed 3C 66A as part of a
multiwavelength campaign on the source. A total of 33.7 hours of data was taken
on the source, plus an equivalent-duration background observation. After
cleaning the data set a total of 16.3 hours of live time remained, and a net
on-source excess of 1134 events was seen against a background of 231742 events.
At a significance of 2.2 standard deviations this excess is insufficient to
claim a detection of 3C 66A, but is used to establish flux upper limits for the
source.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa
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