Top 2014: Theory Summary

This write-up is the summary of the theoretical presentations at the Top 2014 Workshop held in Mandelieu France from September 29 to October 3, 2014.Comment: 7 page

Dark Matter from Unification of Color and Baryon Number

We analyze a recently proposed extension of the Standard Model based on the SU(4) x SU(2)_L x U(1)_X gauge group, in which baryon number is interpreted as the fourth color and dark matter emerges as a neutral partner of the ordinary quarks under SU(4). We show that under well-motivated minimal flavor-violating assumptions the particle spectrum contains a heavy dark matter candidate which is dominantly the partner of the right-handed top quark. Assuming a standard cosmology, the correct thermal relic density through freeze-out is obtained for dark matter masses around 2 - 3 TeV. We examine the constraints and future prospects for direct and indirect searches for dark matter. We also briefly discuss the LHC phenomenology, which is rich in top quark signatures, and investigate the prospects for discovery at a 100 TeV hadron collider.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

A Fat Higgs with a Fat Top

A new variant of the supersymmetric Fat Higgs model is presented in which the MSSM Higgses as well as the top quark are composite. The underlying theory is an s-confining SU(3) gauge theory with the MSSM gauge groups realized as gauged sub-groups of the chiral flavor symmetries. This motivates the large Yukawas necessary for the large top mass and SM-like Higgs of mass>>M_Z in a natural way as the residual of the strong dynamics responsible for the composites. This removes fine-tuning associated with these couplings present in the original Fat Higgs and New Fat Higgs models, respectively.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, Latex2e, uses JHEP3.cls and youngtab.sty, new references adde

A High Quality Composite Axion

The strong CP problem is a compelling motivation for physics beyond the Standard Model. The most popular solutions invoke a global Peccei-Quinn symmetry, but are challenged by quantum gravitational corrections which are thought to be incompatible with global symmetries, arguing that realistic theories contain additional structure. We explore a construction in which the Peccei-Quinn symmetry is protected to arbitrary order by virtue of a supersymmetric, confining $SU(N)_L \times SU(N) \times SU(N)_R \times U(1)_X$ product gauge group, achieving $\bar\theta < 10^{-11}$ for an $SU(5)$ model with $f_a \lesssim 3 \times 10^{11}$ GeV. This construction leads to low energy predictions such as a $U(1)_X$ gauge symmetry, and for $X = B-L$ engineers a naturally order ~TeV value for the $\mu$ parameter of the MSSM.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figures, 3 table

Sensitivity of a Future High Energy e+e−e^+ e^- Collider to Z′Z^\prime Bosons

We consider the capability of a future high energy $e^+ e^-$ collider to search for the $Z^\prime$ bosons associated with a $U(1)^\prime$ gauge extension of the Standard Model. Even for $Z^\prime$ masses well above the center of mass energy of the collider, the rates of production of $e^+ e^-$, $\mu^+ \mu^-$, unflavored jets, and $b$-tagged jets can reveal the presence of virtual $Z^\prime$ exchange. We consider collider configurations with center-of-mass energy 200, 300, and 500 GeV, and show how various classes of $Z^\prime$ model-lines can be probed with $100~{\rm fb}^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. We find that for order one couplings, $Z^\prime$ masses on the order of several TeV can be discovered, depending on the collider energy. Our results suggest that a 200 GeV collision energy is unlikely to discover any of the $Z^\prime$ models we consider that would not have already been visible in late stages of LHC running, but could still help refine understanding of the couplings and distinguish between different models. For $e^+ e^-$ collision energies of 300 GeV, parameter space beyond the reach of the LHC becomes accessible

Extended MSSM Neutralinos as the Source of the PAMELA Positron Excess

We consider a scenario within the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model extended by a singlet chiral superfield, in which neutralino dark matter annihilates to light singlet-like Higgs bosons, which proceed to decay to either electron-positron or muon-antimuon pairs. Unlike neutralino annihilations in the MSSM, this model can provide a good fit to the PAMELA cosmic ray positron fraction excess. Furthermore, the singlet-like scalar Higgs can induce a large Sommerfeld enhancement and provide an annihilation rate sufficient to accommodate the observed positron excess

Top Spin and Experimental Tests

We examine pair mass dependence near threshold as a means to measure the spin of the top quark in hadron collisions, and we discuss the possibility that a top squark signal could be hidden among the top events.Comment: 9 pages, RevTeX, 3 figures. Contribution to the Thinkshop on Top-Quark Physics for the Tevatron Run II, Fermilab, October 16 - 18, 199