30 research outputs found
Rare B decays and Tevatron top-pair asymmetry
The recent Tevatron result on the top quark forward-backward asymmetry, which
deviates from its standard model prediction by 3.4, has prompted many
authors to build new models to account for this anomaly. Among the various
proposals, we find that those mechanisms which produce via - or
-channel can have a strong correlation to the rare B decays. We demonstrate
this link by studying a model with a new charged gauge boson, . In terms of
the current measurements on decays, we conclude that the branching
ratio for is affected most by the new effects.
Furthermore, using the world average branching ratio for the exclusive B decays
at level, we discuss the allowed values for the new parameters.
Finally, we point out that the influence of the new physics effects on the
direct CP asymmetry in B decays is insignificant.Comment: 15 page, 6 figures, typos corrected and references added, final
version to appear journa
Flavour physics from an approximate U(2)^3 symmetry
The quark sector of the Standard Model exhibits an approximate U(2)^3 flavour
symmetry. This symmetry, broken in specific directions dictated by minimality,
can explain the success of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa picture of flavour
mixing and CP violation, confirmed by the data so far, while allowing for
observable deviations from it, as expected in most models of ElectroWeak
Symmetry Breaking. Building on previous work in the specific context of
supersymmetry, we analyze the expected effects and we quantify the current
bounds in a general Effective Field Theory framework. As a further relevant
example we then show how the U(2)^3 symmetry and its breaking can be
implemented in a generic composite Higgs model and we make a first analysis of
its peculiar consequences. We also discuss how some partial extension of U(2)^3
to the lepton sector can arise, both in general and in composite Higgs models.
An optimistic though conceivable interpretation of the considerations developed
in this paper gives reasons to think that new physics searches in the flavour
sector may be about to explore an interesting realm of phenomena.Comment: 29 pages, 5 figure
New Physics Models of Direct CP Violation in Charm Decays
In view of the recent LHCb measurement of Delta A_CP, the difference between
the time-integrated CP asymmetries in D --> K+K- and D --> pi+pi- decays, we
perform a comparative study of the possible impact of New Physics degrees of
freedom on the direct CP asymmetries in singly Cabibbo suppressed D meson
decays. We systematically discuss scenarios with a minimal set of new degrees
of freedom that have renormalizable couplings to the SM particles and that are
heavy enough such that their effects on the D meson decays can be described by
local operators. We take into account both constraints from low energy flavor
observables, in particular D0-D0bar mixing, and from direct searches. While
models that explain the large measured value for Delta A_CP with chirally
enhanced chromomagnetic penguins are least constrained, we identify a few
viable models that contribute to the D meson decays at tree level or through
loop induced QCD penguins. We emphasize that such models motivate direct
searches at the LHC.Comment: 24 pages, 13 figures. v2: typos corrected, reference added, published
versio
The Custodial Randall-Sundrum Model: From Precision Tests to Higgs Physics
We reexamine the Randall-Sundrum (RS) model with enlarged gauge symmetry
SU(2)_L x SU(2)_R x U(1)_X x P_LR in the presence of a brane-localized Higgs
sector. In contrast to the existing literature, we perform the Kaluza-Klein
(KK) decomposition within the mass basis, which avoids the truncation of the KK
towers. Expanding the low-energy spectrum as well as the gauge couplings in
powers of the Higgs vacuum expectation value, we obtain analytic formulas which
allow for a deep understanding of the model-specific protection mechanisms of
the T parameter and the left-handed Z-boson couplings. In particular, in the
latter case we explain which contributions escape protection and identify them
with the irreducible sources of P_LR symmetry breaking. We furthermore show
explicitly that no protection mechanism is present in the charged-current
sector confirming existing model-independent findings. The main focus of the
phenomenological part of our work is a detailed discussion of Higgs-boson
couplings and their impact on physics at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. For
the first time, a complete one-loop calculation of all relevant Higgs-boson
production and decay channels is presented, incorporating the effects stemming
from the extended electroweak gauge-boson and fermion sectors.Comment: 74 pages, 13 figures, 3 tables. v2: Matches version published in JHE
The birds and the Bs in RS: the b to s gamma penguin in a warped extra dimension
We calculate contributions to the photon and gluon magnetic dipole operators
that mediate b -> s gamma and b -> d gamma transitions in the Randall-Sundrum
model of a warped extra dimension with anarchic bulk fermions and a brane
localized Higgs. Unlike the Standard Model, there are large contributions to
the left-handed b quark decays, parameterized by the Wilson coefficient C'_7,
due to the pattern of bulk fermion localization, and sizable contributions from
the gluonic penguins, C(')_8, through renormalization group mixing. Further,
unlike the Randall-Sundrum result for mu -> e gamma, the unprimed Wilson
coefficients receive non-negligible contributions from the misalignment of the
bulk fermion spectrum with the Standard Model flavor sector. We compare the
size of effects and the constraints imposed by the branching ratios Br(B -> X_s
gamma) and X_d gamma)> within the minimal and the custodial model.
Within the custodial framework, we study the effect on a number of benchmark
observables and find that Br(B -> X_s mu^+ mu^-) and the forward-backward
asymmetry in B -> K^* mu^+ mu^- remain close to their Standard Model
predictions. On the other hand, there can be large enhancements of the
time-dependent CP asymmetry in B -> K^* gamma and the transverse asymmetry
A_T^(2).Comment: 47 pages, 14 figures. Matches published versio
The provocative lumbar facet joint
Low back pain is the most common pain symptom experienced by American adults and is the second most common reason for primary care physician visits. There are many structures in the lumbar spine that can serve as pain generators and often the etiology of low back pain is multifactorial. However, the facet joint has been increasingly recognized as an important cause of low back pain. Facet joint pain can be diagnosed with local anesthetic blocks of the medial branches or of the facet joints themselves. Subsequent radiofrequency lesioning of the medial branches can provide more long-term pain relief. Despite some of the pitfalls associated with facet joint blocks, they have been shown to be valid, safe, and reliable as a diagnostic tool. Medial branch denervation has shown some promise for the sustained control of lumbar facet joint-mediated pain, but at this time, there is insufficient evidence that it is a wholly efficacious treatment option. Developing a universal algorithm for evaluating facet joint-mediated pain and standard procedural techniques may facilitate the performance of larger outcome studies. This review article provides an overview of the anatomy, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of facet joint-mediated pain
Measurements of charge and CP asymmetries in b-hadron decays using top-quark events collected by the ATLAS detector in pp collisions at √s=8 TeV
Same- and opposite-sign charge asymmetries are measured in lepton+jets tt¯ events in which a b-hadron decays semileptonically to a soft muon, using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb−1 from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √ s = 8 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. The charge asymmetries are based on the charge of the lepton from the top-quark decay and the charge of the soft muon from the semileptonic decay of a b-hadron and are measured in a fiducial region corresponding to the experimental acceptance. Four CP asymmetries (one mixing and three direct) are measured and are found to be compatible with zero and consistent with the Standard Model