Dicyclic Horizontal Symmetry and Supersymmetric Grand Unification

It is shown how to use as horizontal symmetry the dicyclic group $Q_6 \subset SU(2)$ in a supersymmetric unification $SU(5)\otimes SU(5)\otimes SU(2)$ where one $SU(5)$ acts on the first and second families, in a horizontal doublet, and the other acts on the third. This can lead to acceptable quark masses and mixings, with an economic choice of matter supermultiplets, and charged lepton masses can be accommodated.Comment: 10 pages, LaTe

Bilinear R-parity violation with flavor symmetry

Bilinear R-parity violation (BRPV) provides the simplest intrinsically supersymmetric neutrino mass generation scheme. While neutrino mixing parameters can be probed in high energy accelerators, they are unfortunately not predicted by the theory. Here we propose a model based on the discrete flavor symmetry $A_4$ with a single R-parity violating parameter, leading to (i) correct Cabbibo mixing given by the Gatto-Sartori-Tonin formula, and a successful unification-like b-tau mass relation, and (ii) a correlation between the lepton mixing angles $\theta_{13}$ and $\theta_{23}$ in agreement with recent neutrino oscillation data, as well as a (nearly) massless neutrino, leading to absence of neutrinoless double beta decay.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures. Extended version, as published in JHE

REALISTIC MODELS WITH A LIGHT U(1) GAUGE BOSON COUPLED TO BARYON NUMBER

We recently showed that a new gauge boson $\gamma_B$ coupling only to baryon number is phenomenologically allowed, even if $m_B<m_Z$ and $\alpha_B \approx 0.2$. In our previous work we assumed that kinetic mixing between the baryon number and hypercharge gauge bosons (via an $F^{\mu\nu}_B F_{\mu\nu}^Y$ term) was small enough to evade constraints from precision electroweak measurements. In this paper we propose a class of models in which this term is naturally absent above the electroweak scale. We show that the generation of a mixing term through radiative corrections in the low-energy effective theory does not lead to conflict with precision electroweak measurements and may provide a leptonic signal for models of this type at an upgraded Tevatron.Comment: 21 pages, LaTeX, 4 figures in a uuencoded compressed postscript file

A Supersymmetric Theory of Flavor and R Parity

We construct a renormalizable, supersymmetric theory of flavor and $R$ parity based on the discrete flavor group $(S_3)^3$. The model can account for all the masses and mixing angles of the Standard Model, while maintaining sufficient squark degeneracy to circumvent the supersymmetric flavor problem. By starting with a simpler set of flavor symmetry breaking fields than we have suggested previously, we construct an economical Froggatt-Nielsen sector that generates the desired elements of the fermion Yukawa matrices. With the particle content above the flavor scale completely specified, we show that all renormalizable $R$-parity-violating interactions involving the ordinary matter fields are forbidden by the flavor symmetry. Thus, $R$ parity arises as an accidental symmetry in our model. Planck-suppressed operators that violate $R$ parity, if present, can be rendered harmless by taking the flavor scale to be $\lesssim 8 \times 10^{10}$ GeV.Comment: 28 pp. LaTeX, 1 Postscript Figur

Fermion Electric Dipole Moments in Supersymmetric Models with R-parity Violation

We analyze the electron and neutron electric dipole moments induced by R-parity violating interactions in supersymmetric models. It is pointed out that dominant contributions can come from one-loop diagrams involving both the bilinear and trilinear R-parity odd couplings, leading to somewhat severe constraints on the products of those couplings.Comment: Revtex, 19pp, four figures in axodraw.st

Supersymmetric Froggatt-Nielsen Models with Baryon- and Lepton-Number Violation

We systematically investigate the embedding of U(1)_X Froggatt-Nielsen models in (four-dimensional) local supersymmetry. We restrict ourselves to models with a single flavon field. We do not impose a discrete symmetry by hand, e.g. R-parity, baryon-parity or lepton-parity. Thus we determine the order of magnitude of the baryon- and/or lepton violating coupling constants through the Froggatt-Nielsen mechanism. We then scrutinize whether the predicted coupling constants are in accord with weak or GUT scale constraints. Many models turn out to be incompatible.Comment: Final version, references added, minor corrections; LaTeX, 46 page

Predictions from an Anomalous U(1) Model of Yukawa Hierarchies

We present a supersymmetric standard model with three gauged Abelian symmetries, of a type commonly found in superstrings. One is anomalous, the other two are $E_6$ family symmetries. It has a vacuum in which only these symmetries are broken by stringy effects. It reproduces all observed quark and charged lepton Yukawa hierarchies, and the value of the Weinberg angle. It predicts three massive neutrinos, with mixing that can explain both the small angle MSW effect, and the atmospheric neutrino anomaly. The Cabibbo angle is expressed in terms of the gauge couplings at unification. It conserves R-parity, and proton decay is close to experimental bounds.Comment: 26 page

Supersymmetry without R-Parity and without Lepton Number

We investigate Supersymmetric models where neither R parity nor lepton number is imposed. Neutrino masses can be kept highly suppressed compared to the electroweak scale if the $\mu$-terms in the superpotential are aligned with the SUSY-breaking bilinear $B$-terms. This situation arises naturally in the framework of horizontal symmetries. The same symmetries suppress the trilinear R parity violating terms in the superpotential to an acceptable level.Comment: 18 pages, harvma

The Winter Worries of Bats : Past and Present Perspectives on Winter Habitat and Management of Cave Hibernating Bats

Winter is a time of fascinating changes in biology for cave-hibernating bats, but it is also a time of vulnerability. Unsurprisingly, assessments of winter habitat for these mammals and how it can be managed have been a focus of many researchers involved with the North American Society for Bat Research over the last 50 years. Over this time, a paradigm shift has occurred in the way scientists think about factors driving selection of winter habitat, especially temperature. To illustrate this change, we review three hypotheses seeking to explain microclimate selection in cavernicolous bats. The first, which we call the “Colder is Better Hypothesis,” posits that bats should select cold microclimates that minimize energy expenditure. The “Hibernation Optimization Hypothesis” suggests that bats should select microclimates that reduce expression of torpor to balance energy conservation against non-energetic costs of hibernation. Finally, the “Thrifty Female Hypothesis” asserts that females should select colder microclimates than males to conserve energy for reproduction. We discuss these hypotheses and the shift from viewing hibernation as a phenomenon driven solely by the need to conserve energy in the context of hibernacula management in North America. We focus on both historical and recent conservation threats, most notably alteration of thermal regimes and the disease white-nose syndrome. We urge against returning to an over-simplified view of winter habitat selection in response to our current conservation challenges.Peer reviewe

Flavour Structure of R-violating Neutralino Decays at the LHC

We study signatures of R-parity violation in the production of supersymmetric particles at the LHC, and the subsequent decay of the lightest neutralino being the end product of a supersymmetric cascade decay. In doing so, we pay particular attention to the possible flavour structure of the operators, and how one may discriminate between different possibilities. A neutralino LSP would couple to all quarks and leptons and a comparative study of its decays provides an optimal channel for the simultaneous study of all 45 R-violating operators. By studying the expected signals from all these operators, we demonstrate the ability to understand whether more than one coupling dominates, and to map the experimental signatures to operator hierarchies that can then be compared against theoretical models of flavour. Detailed comparisons with backgrounds, including those from MSSM cascade decays are made, using the PYTHIA event simulator.Comment: 47 pages, 22 figures; v2 matches JHEP versio