611 research outputs found
LHC discovery potential for supersymmetry with \sqrt{s}=7 TeV and 5-30 fb^{-1}
We extend our earlier results delineating the supersymmetry (SUSY) reach of
the CERN Large Hadron Collider operating at a centre-of-mass energy \sqrt{s}=7
TeV to integrated luminosities in the range 5 - 30 fb^{-1}. Our results are
presented within the paradigm minimal supergravity model (mSUGRA or CMSSM).
Using a 6-dimensional grid of cuts for the optimization of signal to background
ratio -- including missing E_T-- we find for m(gluino) \sim m(squark) an LHC
5\sigma SUSY discovery reach of m(gluino) \sim 1.3,\ 1.4,\ 1.5 and 1.6 TeV for
5, 10, 20 and 30 fb^{-1}, respectively. For m(squark)>> m(gluino), the
corresponding reach is instead m(gluino)\sim 0.8,\ 0.9,\ 1.0 and 1.05 TeV, for
the same integrated luminosities.Comment: 7 pages with 2 .eps figure. In version 2, a new figure has been added
along with associated discussio
Higgs ID at the LHC
We make a complete catalog of extended Higgs sectors involving SU(2)_L
doublets and singlets, subject to natural flavor conservation. In each case we
present the couplings of a light neutral CP-even Higgs state h in terms of the
model parameters, and identify which models are distinguishable in principle
based on this information. We also give explicit expressions for the model
parameters in terms of h couplings and exhibit the behaviors of the couplings
in the limit where the deviations from the Standard Model Higgs couplings are
small. Finally we discuss prospects for differentiation of extended Higgs
models based on measurements at the LHC and ILC and identify the regions in
which these experiments could detect deviations from the SM Higgs predictions.Comment: 46 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, PRD versio
Novel methods to measure the gravitational constant in space
We present two novel methods, tested by LISA Pathfinder, to measure the gravitational constant G for the first time in space. Experiment 1 uses electrostatic suspension forces to measure a change in acceleration of a test mass due to a displaced source mass. Experiment 2 measures a change in relative acceleration between two test masses due to a slowly varying fuel tank mass. Experiment 1 gave a value of G=6.71±0.42(×10-11)¿¿m3¿s-2¿kg-1 and experiment 2 gave 6.15±0.35(×10-11)¿¿m3¿s-2¿kg-1, both consistent with each other to 1s and with the CODATA 2014 recommended value of 6.67408±0.00031(×10-11)¿¿m3¿s-2¿kg-1 to 2s. We outline several ideas to improve the results for a future experiment, and we suggest that a measurement in space would isolate many terrestrial issues that could be responsible for the inconsistencies between recent measurements.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
LISA pathfinder micronewton cold gas thrusters: in-flight characterization
The LISA Pathfinder (LPF) mission has demonstrated the ability to limit and measure the fluctuations in acceleration between two free falling test masses down to sub-femto-g levels. One of the key elements to achieve such a level of residual acceleration is the drag free control. In this scheme the spacecraft is used as a shield against any external disturbances by adjusting its relative position to a reference test mass. The actuators used to move the spacecraft are cold gas micropropulsion thrusters. In this paper, we report in-flight characterization of these thrusters in term of noise and artefacts during science operations using all the metrology capabilities of LISA Pathfinder. Using the LISA Pathfinder test masses as an inertial reference frame, an average thruster noise of ~0.17¿¿µN/Hz is observed and decomposed into a common (coherent) and an uncorrelated component. The very low noise and stability of the onboard metrology system associated with the quietness of the space environment allowed the measurement of the thruster noise down to ~20¿¿µHz, more than an order of magnitude below any ground measurement. Spectral lines were observed around ~1.5¿¿mHz and its harmonics and around 55 and 70 mHz. They are associated with the cold gas system itself and possibly to a clock synchronization issue. The thruster noise-floor exhibits an excess of ~70% compared to characterization that have been made on ground on a single unit and without the feeding system. However this small excess has no impact on the LPF mission performance and is compatible with the noise budget for the upcoming LISA gravitational wave observatory. Over the whole mission, nominal, and extension, the thrusters showed remarkable stability for both the science operations and the different maneuvers necessary to maintain LPF on its orbit around L1. It is therefore concluded that a similar cold gas system would be a viable propulsion system for the future LISA mission.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft
Temperature stability in the sub-milliHertz band with LISA Pathfinder
This article has been accepted for publication in "Monthly notices of the royal astronomical society" published by Oxford University Press.LISA Pathfinder (LPF) was a technology pioneering mission designed to test key technologies required for gravitational wave detection in space. In the low frequency regime (milliHertz and below), where space-based gravitational wave observatories will operate, temperature fluctuations play a crucial role since they can couple into the interferometric measurement and the test masses’ free-fall accuracy in many ways. A dedicated temperature measurement subsystem, with noise levels in 10¿µK¿Hz-1/2 down to 1¿mHz was part of the diagnostics unit onboard LPF. In this paper we report on the temperature measurements throughout mission operations, characterize the thermal environment, estimate transfer functions between different locations, and report temperature stability (and its time evolution) at frequencies as low as 10¿µHz, where typically values around 1¿K¿Hz-1/2 were measured.Peer ReviewedPreprin
Determining the squark mass at the LHC
We propose a new way to determine the squark mass based on the shape of
di-jet invariant mass distribution of supersymmetry (SUSY) di-jet events at the
Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Our algorithm, which is based on event kinematics,
requires that the branching ratio is
substantial for at least some types of squarks, and that
. We select di-jet events with no
isolated leptons, and impose cuts on the total jet transverse energy,
, on , and on the
azimuthal angle between the two jets to reduce SM backgrounds. The shape of the
resulting di-jet mass distribution depends sensitively on the squark mass,
especially if the integrated luminosity is sufficient to allow a hard enough
cut on and yet leave a large enough signal to obtain the
distribution. We simulate the signal and Standard Model (SM) backgrounds for
100 fb integrated luminosity at 14 TeV requiring GeV.
We show that it should be possible to extract to within about
3% at 95% CL --- similar to the precision obtained using --- from the
di-jet mass distribution if GeV, or to within % if TeV.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures. Footnote added, updated reference
Brane inflation and the fine-tuning problem
Brane inflation can provide a promissing framework for solving the
fine-tuning problem in standard inflationary models. The aim of this paper is
to illustrate the mechanism by which this can be achieved. By considering the
supersymmetric two-stage inflation model it is shown that the initial
fine-tuning of the coupling parameter can be considerably relaxed. SubPlanckian
values of the inflaton during inflation can also be obtained.Comment: 04 pages (Revtex
Beyond the required LISA free-fall performance: new LISA pathfinder results down to 20 mu Hz
In the months since the publication of the first results, the noise performance of LISA Pathfinder has improved because of reduced Brownian noise due to the continued decrease in pressure around the test masses, from a better correction of noninertial effects, and from a better calibration of the electrostatic force actuation. In addition, the availability of numerous long noise measurement runs, during which no perturbation is purposely applied to the test masses, has allowed the measurement of noise with good statistics down to 20¿¿µHz. The Letter presents the measured differential acceleration noise figure, which is at (1.74±0.05)¿¿fm¿s-2/vHz above 2 mHz and (6±1)×10¿¿fm¿s-2/vHz at 20¿¿µHz, and discusses the physical sources for the measured noise. This performance provides an experimental benchmark demonstrating the ability to realize the low-frequency science potential of the LISA mission, recently selected by the European Space Agency.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Atmospheric and Solar Neutrino Masses from Horizontal U(1) Symmetry
We study the neutrino mass matrix in supersymmetric models in which the quark
and charged lepton mass hierarchies and also the suppression of baryon or
lepton number violating couplings are all explained by horizontal
symmetry. It is found that the neutrino masses and mixing angles suggested by
recent atmospheric and solar neutrino experiments arise naturally in this
framework which fits in best with gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking with
large . This framework highly favors the small angle MSW oscillation
of solar neutrinos, and determine the order of magnitudes of all the neutrino
mixing angles and mass hierarchies.Comment: No figures. 14 pages, revte
Charge-induced force noise on free-falling test masses: results from LISA pathfinder
We report on electrostatic measurements made on board the European Space Agency mission LISA Pathfinder. Detailed measurements of the charge-induced electrostatic forces exerted on free-falling test masses (TMs) inside the capacitive gravitational reference sensor are the first made in a relevant environment for a space-based gravitational wave detector. Employing a combination of charge control and electric-field compensation, we show that the level of charge-induced acceleration noise on a single TM can be maintained at a level close to 1.0¿¿fm¿s-2¿Hz-1/2 across the 0.1–100 mHz frequency band that is crucial to an observatory such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). Using dedicated measurements that detect these effects in the differential acceleration between the two test masses, we resolve the stochastic nature of the TM charge buildup due to interplanetary cosmic rays and the TM charge-to-force coupling through stray electric fields in the sensor. All our measurements are in good agreement with predictions based on a relatively simple electrostatic model of the LISA Pathfinder instrument.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
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