270 research outputs found
Spin-independent elastic WIMP scattering and the DAMA annual modulation signal
We discuss the interpretation of the annual modulation signal seen in the
DAMA experiment in terms of spin-independent elastic WIMP scattering. Taking
into account channeling in the crystal as well as the spectral signature of the
modulation signal we find that the low-mass WIMP region consistent with DAMA
data is confined to WIMP masses close to GeV, in
disagreement with the constraints from CDMS and XENON. We conclude that even if
channeling is taken into account this interpretation of the DAMA modulation
signal is disfavoured. There are no overlap regions in the parameter space at
90% CL and a consistency test gives the probability of . We
study the robustness of this result with respect to variations of the WIMP
velocity distribution in our galaxy, by changing various parameters of the
distribution function, and by using the results of a realistic N-body dark
matter simulation. We find that only by making rather extreme assumptions
regarding halo properties can we obtain agreement between DAMA and CDMS/XENON.Comment: 21 pages, 12 figures, matches version accepted in JCA
nu_e Disappearance in MiniBooNE
The anomalous excess of low-energy nu_e events measured in the MiniBooNE
experiment is explained through a renormalization of the absolute neutrino flux
and a simultaneous disappearance of the nu_e's in the beam, which is compatible
with that indicated by the results of Gallium radioactive source experiments.
We present the results of the fit of MiniBooNE data (P(nu_e->nu_e) = 0.64 +0.08
-0.07) and the combined fit of MiniBooNE data and the nu_e disappearance
measured in the Gallium radioactive source experiments, which gives
P(nu_e->nu_e) = 0.82 +- 0.04. We show that our interpretation of the data is
also compatible with an old indication in favor of nu_e disappearance found
from the analysis of the results of beam-dump experiments, leading to
P(nu_e->nu_e) = 0.80 +0.03 -0.04.Comment: 17 pages. Final version published in Phys. Rev. D 77, 093002 (2008
Fitting Neutrino Physics with a U(1)_R Lepton Number
We study neutrino physics in the context of a supersymmetric model where a
continuous R-symmetry is identified with the total Lepton Number and one
sneutrino can thus play the role of the down type Higgs. We show that
R-breaking effects communicated to the visible sector by Anomaly Mediation can
reproduce neutrino masses and mixing solely via radiative contributions,
without requiring any additional degree of freedom. In particular, a relatively
large reactor angle (as recently observed by the Daya Bay collaboration) can be
accommodated in ample regions of the parameter space. On the contrary, if the
R-breaking is communicated to the visible sector by gravitational effects at
the Planck scale, additional particles are necessary to accommodate neutrino
data.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures; v2: references added, constraints updated,
overall conclusions unchange
Solar neutrino-electron scattering as background limitation for double beta decay
The background on double beta decay searches due to elastic electron
scattering of solar neutrinos of all double beta emitters with Q-value larger
than 2 MeV is calculated, taking into account survival probability and flux
uncertainties of solar neutrinos. This work determines the background level to
be [1-2]E-7 counts /keV/kg/yr, depending on the precise Q-value of the double
beta emitter. It is also shown that the background level increases dramatically
if going to lower Q-values. Furthermore, studies are done for various detector
systems under consideration for next generation experiments. It was found that
experiments based on loaded liquid scintillator have to expect a higher
background. Within the given nuclear matrix element uncertainties any approach
exploring the normal hierarchy has to face this irreducible background, which
is a limitation on the minimal achievable background for purely calorimetric
approaches. Large scale liquid scintillator experiments might encounter this
problem already while exploring the inverted hierarchy. Potential caveats by
using more sophisticated experimental setups are also discussed
Cosmic rays from Leptonic Dark Matter
If dark matter possesses a lepton number, it is natural to expect the
dark-matter annihilation and/or decay mainly produces the standard model
leptons, while negligible amount of the antiproton is produced. To illustrate
such a simple idea, we consider a scenario that a right-handed sneutrino dark
matter decays into the standard model particles through tiny R-parity violating
interactions. Interestingly enough, charged leptons as well as neutrinos are
directly produced, and they can lead to a sharp peak in the predicted positron
fraction. Moreover, the decay of the right-handed sneutrino also generates
diffuse continuum gamma rays which may account for the excess observed by
EGRET, while the primary antiproton flux can be suppressed. Those predictions
on the cosmic-ray fluxes of the positrons, gamma rays and antiprotons will be
tested by the PAMELA and FGST observatories.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, updated plots including PAMELA dat
Ultraviolet Completion of Flavour Models
Effective Flavour Models do not address questions related to the nature of
the fundamental renormalisable theory at high energies. We study the
ultraviolet completion of Flavour Models, which in general has the advantage of
improving the predictivity of the effective models. In order to illustrate the
important features we provide minimal completions for two known A4 models. We
discuss the phenomenological implications of the explicit completions, such as
lepton flavour violating contributions that arise through the exchange of
messenger fields.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figure
On the Effective Action of N=1 Supersymmetric Yang-Mills Theory
We propose a generalization of the Veneziano-Yankielowicz effective
low-energy action for N=1 SUSY Yang-Mills theory which includes composite
operators interpolating pure gluonic bound states. The chiral supermultiplet of
anomalies is embedded in a larger three-form multiplet and an extra term in the
effective action is introduced. The mass spectrum and mixing of the lowest-spin
bound states are studied within the effective Lagrangian approach. The physical
mass eigenstates form two multiplets, each containing a scalar, pseudoscalar
and Weyl fermion. The multiplet containing the states which are most closely
related to glueballs is the lighter one.Comment: 20 pages, LaTex file, some references and footnotes are adde
Leptogenesis in the presence of exact flavor symmetries
In models with flavor symmetries in the leptonic sector leptogenesis can take
place in a very different way compared to the standard leptogenesis scenario.
We study the generation of a asymmetry in these kind of models in the
flavor symmetric phase pointing out that successful leptogenesis requires (i)
the right-handed neutrinos to lie in different representations of the flavor
group; (ii) the flavons to be lighter at least that one of the right-handed
neutrino representations. When these conditions are satisfied leptogenesis
proceeds due to new contributions to the CP violating asymmetry and -depending
on the specific model- in several stages. We demonstrate the validity of these
arguments by studying in detail the generation of the asymmetry in a
scenario of a concrete flavor model realization.Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures; version 2: A few clarifications added. Version
matches publication in JHE
Tri-Bimaximal Mixing from Twisted Friedberg-Lee Symmetry
We investigate the Friedberg-Lee (FL) symmetry and its promotion to include
the symmetry, and call that the twisted FL symmetry.Based on the
twisted FL symmetry, two possible schemes are presented toward the realistic
neutrino mass spectrum and the tri-bimaximal mixing.In the first scheme, we
suggest the semi-uniform translation of the FL symmetry.The second one is based
on the permutation family symmetry.The breaking terms, which are twisted
FL symmetric, are introduced.Some viable models in each scheme are also
presented.Comment: 14 pages, no figure. v2: 16 pages, modified some sentences, appendix
added, references added. v3: 14 pages, composition simplified, accepted
version in EPJ
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