Triplet Leptogenesis in Left-Right Symmetric Seesaw Models

We discuss scalar triplet leptogenesis in a specific left-right symmetric seesaw model. We show that the Majorana phases that are present in the model can be effectively used to saturate the existing upper limit on the CP-asymmetry of the triplets. We solve the relevant Boltzmann equations and analyze the viability of triplet leptogenesis. It is known for this kind of scenario that the efficiency of leptogenesis is maximal if there exists a hierarchy between the branching ratios of the triplet decays into leptons and Higgs particles. We show that triplet leptogenesis typically favors branching ratios with not too strong hierarchies, since maximal efficiency can only be obtained at the expense of suppressed CP-asymmetries.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, published versio

Discretized Gravity in 6D Warped Space

We consider discretized gravity in six dimensions, where the two extra dimensions have been compactified on a hyperbolic disk of constant curvature. We analyze different realizations of lattice gravity on the disk at the level of an effective field theory for massive gravitons. It is shown that the observed strong coupling scale of lattice gravity in discretized five-dimensional flat or warped space can be increased when the latticized fifth dimension is wrapped around a hyperbolic disk that has a non-trivial warp factor. As an application, we also discuss the generation of naturally small Dirac neutrino masses via a discrete volume suppression mechanism and discuss briefly collider implications of our model.Comment: 35 pages, 10 figures, typos corrected. Matches final version published in Nucl.Phys.B781,32-63,200

Stability and leptogenesis in the left-right symmetric seesaw mechanism

We analyze the left-right symmetric type I+II seesaw mechanism, where an eight-fold degeneracy among the mass matrices of heavy right-handed neutrinos M_R is known to exist. Using the stability property of the solutions and their ability to lead to successful baryogenesis via leptogenesis as additional criteria, we discriminate among these eight solutions and partially lift their eight-fold degeneracy. In particular, we find that viable leptogenesis is generically possible for four out of the eight solutions.Comment: 25 pages, 11 figures, latex; minor changes, published versio

Indirect Detection of Kaluza-Klein Dark Matter from Latticized Universal Dimensions

We consider Kaluza-Klein dark matter from latticized universal dimensions. We motivate and investigate two different lattice models, where the models differ in the choice of boundary conditions. The models reproduce relevant features of the continuum model for Kaluza-Klein dark matter. For the model with simple boundary conditions, this is the case even for a model with only a few lattice sites. We study the effects of the latticization on the differential flux of positrons from Kaluza-Klein dark matter annihilation in the galactic halo. We find that for different choices of the compactification radius, the differential positron flux rapidly converges to the continuum model results as a function of the number of lattice sites. In addition, we consider the prospects for upcoming space-based experiments such as PAMELA and AMS-02 to probe the latticization effect.Comment: 25 pages, 9 figures, LaTeX. Final version published in JCA

Phenomenological studies of dimensional deconstruction

In this thesis, two applications of dimensional deconstruction are studied. The first application is a model for neutrino oscillations in the presence of a large decon- structed extra dimension. In the second application, Kaluza{Klein dark matter from a latticized universal extra dimension is studied. The goal of these projects have been twofold. First, to see whether it is possible to reproduce the relevant features of the higher-dimensional continuum theory, and second, to examine the effect of the latticization in experiments. In addition, an introduction to the the- ory of dimensional deconstruction as well as to the theory of continuous extra dimensions is given. Furthermore, the various higher-dimensional models, such as Arkani-Hamed{Dvali{Dimopolous (ADD) models and models with universal extra dimensions, that have been intensively studied in recent years, are discussed.QC 2010120

Aspects of Dimensional Deconstruction and Neutrino Physics

The existence of at or curved extra spatial dimensions provides new insights into several of the problems which face the Standard Model of particle physics, including the gauge hierarchy problem, the smallness of neutrino masses, and the dark matter problem. However, higher-dimensional gauge theories are not renormalizable and can only be considered as low-energy effective theories, with limited applicability. Dimensional deconstruction provides a class of manifestly gauge invariant possible ultraviolet completions of higher-dimensional gauge theories, formulated within conventional quantum eld theory. In dimensional deconstruction, the fundamental theory is a four-dimensional quantum eld theory and extra spatial dimensions are generated dynamically at low energies. In this thesis, we study di erent applications of dimensional deconstruction in the contexts of neutrino masses, mixing and oscillations, Kaluza{Klein dark matter, and e ective eld theories for discretized higher-dimensional gravity. A different possibility to understand the smallness of neutrino masses is provided by the see-saw mechanism. This is a genuinely four-dimensional mechanism, where the light neutrino masses are induced by the addition of heavy right-handed Majorana neutrinos or by other heavy degrees of freedom, such as scalar SU(2)L triplet elds. It has the attractive feature of simultaneously providing a mechanism for generating the observed baryon asymmetry of the Universe. We study in this context a specific left-right symmetric see-saw model.QC 2010071