Natural emergence of neutrino masses and dark matter from RR-symmetry

We propose a supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (SM) with a continuous global $U(1)_R$ symmetry. The $R$-charges of the SM fields are identified with that of their lepton numbers. As a result, both bilinear and trilinear `$R$-parity violating' (RPV) terms could be present at the superpotential. However, $R$-symmetry is not an exact symmetry as it is broken by supergravity effects. Hence, sneutrinos acquire a small vacuum expectation value in this framework. However, a suitable choice of basis ensures that the bilinear RPV terms can be completely rotated away from the superpotential and the scalar potential. On the other hand, the trilinear terms play a very crucial role in generating neutrino masses and mixing at the tree level. This is noticeably different from the typical $R$-parity violating Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. Also, gravitino mass turns out to be the order parameter of $R$-breaking and is directly related to the neutrino mass. We show that such a gravitino, within the mass range $200~\text{keV}\lesssim m_{3/2}\lesssim 0.1~\text{GeV}$ can be an excellent dark matter candidate. Finally, we looked into the collider implications of our framework.Comment: 23 pages, one figure (added), title changed, discussion added on sneutrino vev basis, accepted for publication in JHE

Higgs boson mass, neutrino masses and mixing and keV dark matter in an U(1)R−U(1)_R- lepton number model

We discuss neutrino masses and mixing in the framework of a supersymmetric model with an $U(1)_{R}$ symmetry, consisting of a single right handed neutrino superfield with an appropriate R charge. The lepton number ($L$) of the standard model fermions are identified with the negative of their R-charges. As a result, a subset of leptonic R-parity violating operators can be present and are consistent with the $U(1)_R$ symmetry. This model can produce one light Dirac neutrino mass at the tree level without the need of introducing a very small neutrino Yukawa coupling. We analyze the scalar sector of this model in detail paying special attention to the mass of the lightest Higgs boson. One of the sneutrinos might acquire a substantial vacuum expectation value leading to interesting phenomenological consequences. Different sum rules involving the physical scalar masses are obtained and we show that the lightest Higgs boson mass receives a contribution proportional to the square of the neutrino Yukawa coupling $f$. This allows for a 125 GeV Higgs boson at the tree level for $f \sim {\cal O} (1)$ and still having a small tree level mass for the active neutrino. In order to fit the experimental results involving neutrino masses and mixing angles we introduce a small breaking of $U(1)_R$ symmetry, in the context of anomaly mediated supersymmetry breaking. In the presence of this small R-symmetry breaking, light neutrino masses receive contributions at the one-loop level involving the R-parity violating interactions. We also identify the right handed sterile neutrino as a warm dark matter candidate in our model. In the case of R-symmetry breaking, the large $f$ case is characterized by a few hundred MeV lightest neutralino as an unstable lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) and we briefly discuss the cosmological implications of such a scenario.Comment: Minor corrections in the text, figure 9.6 and 9.7 modified, eq. (66) added, matches with the published version in JHE

Constraining compressed versions of MUED and MSSM using soft tracks at the LHC

A compressed spectrum is an anticipated hideout for many beyond standard model scenarios. Such a spectrum naturally arises in the minimal universal extra dimension framework and also in supersymmetric scenarios. Low $p_T$ leptons and jets are characteristic features of such situations. Hence, a monojet with $\not E_T$ has been the conventional signal at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). However, we stress that inclusion of $p_T$-binned track observables from such soft objects provide very efficient discrimination of new physics signals against various SM backgrounds. We consider two benchmark points each for minimal universal extra dimension (MUED) and minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) scenarios. We perform a detailed cut-based and multivariate analysis (MVA) to show that the new physics parameter space can be probed in the ongoing run of LHC at 13 TeV center-of-mass energy with an integrated luminosity $\sim$ 20-50 fb$^{-1}$. When studied in conjunction with the dark matter relic density constraint assuming standard cosmology, we find that compressed MUED (with $\Lambda R=2$) can be already excluded from the existing data. Also, MVA turns out to be a better technique than regular cut-based analysis since tracks provide uncorrelated observables which would extract more information from an event.Comment: 26 pages, 7 figures. Minor modifications in the text, references added, accepted for publication in JHE

Lepton flavour violating decay of 125 GeV Higgs boson to μτ\mu\tau channel and excess in ttˉHt\bar t H

A recent search for the lepton flavor violating (LFV) decays of the Higgs boson, performed by CMS collaboration, reports an interesting deviation from the standard model (SM). The search conducted in the channel $H\rightarrow \mu\tau_e$ and $H\rightarrow \mu\tau_{\textrm{had}}$ shows an excess of $2.4\sigma$ signal events with 19.7 fb$^{-1}$ data at a center-of-mass energy $\sqrt s=8$ TeV. On the other hand, a search performed by CMS collaboration for the SM Higgs boson produced in association with a top quark pair ($t\bar t H$) also showed an excess in the same-sign di-muon final state. In this work we try to find out if these two seemingly uncorrelated excesses are related or not. Our analysis reveals that a lepton flavour violating Higgs decay ($H\rightarrow\mu\tau$) can partially explain the excess in the same sign di-muon final state in the $t\bar t H$ search, infact brings down the excess well within 2$\sigma$ error of the SM expectation. Probing such non-standard Higgs boson decay is of interest and might contain hints of new physics at the electroweak scale.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures and 3 table

h→γγh \rightarrow \gamma \gamma in U(1)R−U(1)_{R}- lepton number model with a right-handed neutrino

We perform a detailed study of the signal rate of the lightest Higgs boson in the diphoton channel ($\mu_{\gamma \gamma}$), recently analyzed by both the ATLAS and CMS collaborations at the Large Hadron Collider, in the framework of $U(1)_R-$ lepton number model with a right handed neutrino superfield. The corresponding neutrino Yukawa coupling, `$f$', plays a very important role in the phenomenology of this model. A large value of $f\sim\mathcal O(1)$ provides an additional tree level contribution to the lightest Higgs boson mass along with a very light (mass $\sim$ a few hundred MeV) bino like neutralino and a small tree level mass of one of the active neutrinos that is compatible with various experimental results. In the presence of this light neutralino, the invisible decay width of the Higgs boson can become important. We studied this scenario in conjunction with the recent LHC results. The signal rate $\mu_{\gamma\gamma}$ obtained in this scenario is compatible with the recent results from both the ATLAS and the CMS collaborations at 1$\sigma$ level. A small value of `$f$', on the other hand, is compatible with a sterile neutrino acting as a 7 keV dark matter that can explain the observation of a mono-energetic X-ray photon line by the XMM-Newton X-ray observatory. We also study the impact of $\mu_{\gamma\gamma}$ in this case.Comment: 45 pages, Corrected a sign error in the numerical code and included the correct symmetry factor in Eq.(B.8). One figure removed, some modifications in the text, conclusions partially changed. Erratum published in JHE