Supercool composite Dark Matter beyond 100 TeV

Dark Matter could be a composite state of a confining sector with an approximate scale symmetry. We consider the case where the associated pseudo-Goldstone boson, the dilaton, mediates its interactions with the Standard Model. When the confining phase transition in the early universe is supercooled, its dynamics allows for Dark Matter masses up to 106 TeV. We derive the precise parameter space compatible with all experimental constraints, finding that this scenario can be tested partly by telescopes and entirely by gravitational waves

Observation of vortex coalescence in the anisotropic spin-triplet superconductor Sr2_{2}RuO4_{4}

We present direct imaging of magnetic flux structures in the anisotropic, spin-triplet superconductor Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$ using a scanning $\mu$SQUID microscope. Individual quantized vortices were seen at low magnetic fields. Coalescing vortices forming flux domains were revealed at intermediate fields. Based on our observations we suggest that a mechanism intrinsic to the material stabilizes the flux domains against the repulsive vortex-vortex interaction. Topological defects like domain walls can provide this, implying proof for unconventional chiral superconductivity.Comment: submitted to PR

Two-dimensional incommensurate magnetic fluctuations in Sr2_2(Ru0.99_{0.99}Ti0.01_{0.01})O4_4

We investigate the imaginary part of the wave vector dependent dynamic spin susceptibility in Sr$_2$(Ru$_{0.99}$Ti$_{0.01}$)O$_4$ as a function of temperature using neutron scattering. At T=5 K, two-dimensional incommensurate (IC) magnetic fluctuations are clearly observed around $\mathbf{Q}_\text{c}=(0.3,0.3,L)$ up to approximately 60 meV energy transfer. We find that the IC excitations disperse to ridges around the $(\pi,\pi)$ point. Below 50 K, the energy and temperature dependent excitations are well described by the phenomenological response function for a Fermi liquid system with a characteristic energy of 4.0(1) meV. Although the wave vector dependence of the IC magnetic fluctuations in Sr$_2$(Ru$_{0.99}$Ti$_{0.01}$)O$_4$ is similar to that in the Fermi liquid state of the parent compound, Sr$_2$RuO$_4$, the magnetic fluctuations are clearly suppressed by the Ti-doping.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Electronic theory for the normal state spin dynamics in Sr2_2RuO4_4: anisotropy due to spin-orbit coupling

Using a three-band Hubbard Hamiltonian we calculate within the random-phase-approximation the spin susceptibility, $\chi({\bf q},\omega)$, and NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate, 1/T$_1$, in the normal state of the triplet superconductor Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ and obtain quantitative agreement with experimental data. Most importantly, we find that due to spin-orbit coupling the out-of-plane component of the spin susceptibility $\chi^{zz}$ becomes at low temperatures two times larger than the in-plane one. As a consequence strong incommensurate antiferromagnetic fluctuations of the quasi-one-dimensional $xz$- and $yz$-bands point into the $z$-direction. Our results provide further evidence for the importance of spin fluctuations for triplet superconductivity in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$.Comment: revised versio

Baryon Number in Warped GUTs : Model Building and (Dark Matter Related) Phenomenology

In the past year, a new non-supersymmetric framework for electroweak symmetry breaking (with or without Higgs) involving SU(2)_L * SU(2)_R * U(1)_{B-L} in higher dimensional warped geometry has been suggested. In this work, we embed this gauge structure into a GUT such as SO(10) or Pati-Salam. We showed recently (in hep-ph/0403143) that in a warped GUT, a stable Kaluza-Klein fermion can arise as a consequence of imposing proton stability. Here, we specify a complete realistic model where this particle is a weakly interacting right-handed neutrino, and present a detailed study of this new dark matter candidate, providing relic density and detection predictions. We discuss phenomenological aspects associated with the existence of other light (<~ TeV) KK fermions (related to the neutrino), whose lightness is a direct consequence of the top quark's heaviness. The AdS/CFT interpretation of this construction is also presented. Most of our qualitative results do not depend on the nature of the breaking of the electroweak symmetry provided that it happens near the TeV brane.Comment: 61 pages, 12 figures; v2: minor changes; v3: Two additional diagrams in Fig. 10; a numerical factor corrected in section 16.1 (baryogenesis section), corresponding discussion slightly modified but qualitative results unchange

Anisotropy in the Antiferromagnetic Spin Fluctuations of Sr2RuO4

It has been proposed that Sr_2RuO_4 exhibits spin triplet superconductivity mediated by ferromagnetic fluctuations. So far neutron scattering experiments have failed to detect any clear evidence of ferromagnetic spin fluctuations but, instead, this type of experiments has been successful in confirming the existence of incommensurate spin fluctuations near q=(1/3 1/3 0). For this reason there have been many efforts to associate the contributions of such incommensurate fluctuations to the mechanism of its superconductivity. Our unpolarized inelastic neutron scattering measurements revealed that these incommensurate spin fluctuations possess c-axis anisotropy with an anisotropic factor \chi''_{c}/\chi''_{a,b} of \sim 2.8. This result is consistent with some theoretical ideas that the incommensurate spin fluctuations with a c-axis anisotropy can be a origin of p-wave superconductivity of this material.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures; accepted for publication in PR

Incommensurate magnetic ordering in Sr_2Ru_(1-x)Ti_xO_4

In $\rm Sr_2RuO_4$ the spin excitation spectrum is dominated by incommensurate fluctuations at q=(0.3 0.3 q$_z$), which arise from Fermi-surface nesting. We show that upon Ti substitution, known to suppress superconductivity, a short range magnetic order develops with a propagation vector (0.307 0.307 1). This finding confirms that superconducting $\rm Sr_2RuO_4$ is extremely close to an incommensurate spin density wave instability. In addition, the ordered moment in \srton ~ points along the c-direction, which indicates that the incommensurate spin fluctuations exhibit the anisotropy required to explain a p-wave spin triplet pairing.Comment: 4 pages 3 figures revtex-version correcte

Gamma Ray Lines from a Universal Extra Dimension

Indirect Dark Matter searches are based on the observation of secondary particles produced by the annihilation or decay of Dark Matter. Among them, gamma-rays are perhaps the most promising messengers, as they do not suffer deflection or absorption on Galactic scales, so their observation would directly reveal the position and the energy spectrum of the emitting source. Here, we study the detailed gamma-ray energy spectrum of Kaluza--Klein Dark Matter in a theory with 5 Universal Extra Dimensions. We focus in particular on the two body annihilation of Dark Matter particles into a photon and another particle, which produces monochromatic photons, resulting in a line in the energy spectrum of gamma rays. Previous calculations in the context of the five dimensional UED model have computed the line signal from annihilations into \gamma \gamma, but we extend these results to include \gamma Z and \gamma H final states. We find that these spectral lines are subdominant compared to the predicted \gamma \gamma signal, but they would be important as follow-up signals in the event of the observation of the \gamma \gamma line, in order to distinguish the 5d UED model from other theoretical scenarios.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figure

Inelastic neutron scattering study of magnetic excitations in Sr2_2RuO4_4

Magnetic excitations in \srruo ~ have been studied by inelastic neutron scattering. The magnetic fluctuations are dominated by incommensurate peaks related to the Fermi surface nesting of the quasi-one-dimensional $d_{xz}$- and $d_{yz}$-bands. The shape of the incommensurate signal agrees well with RPA calculations. At the incommensurate {\bf Q}-positions the energy spectrum considerably softens upon cooling pointing to a close magnetic instability : \srruo ~does not exhibit quantum criticality but is very close to it. $\omega / T$-scaling may be fitted to the data for temperatures above 30 K. Below the superconducting transition, the magnetic response at the nesting signal is not found to change in the energy range down to 0.4meV.Comment: 11 pages 9 figure

A Way to Reopen the Window for Electroweak Baryogenesis

We reanalyse the sphaleron bound of electroweak baryogenesis when allowing deviations to the Friedmann equation. These modifications are well motivated in the context of brane cosmology where they appear without being in conflict with major experimental constraints on four-dimensional gravity. While suppressed at the time of nucleosynthesis, these corrections can dominate at the time of the electroweak phase transition and in certain cases provide the amount of expansion needed to freeze out the baryon asymmetry without requiring a strongly first order phase transition. The sphaleron bound is substantially weakened and can even disappear so that the constraints on the higgs and stop masses do not apply anymore. Such modification of cosmology at early times therefore reopens the parameter space allowing electroweak baryogenesis which had been reduced substantially given the new bound on the higgs mass imposed by LEP. In contrast with previous attempts to turn around the sphaleron bound using alternative cosmologies, we are still considering that the electroweak phase transition takes place in a radiation dominated universe. The universe is expanding fast because of the modification of the Friedmann equation itself without the need for a scalar field and therefore evading the problem of the decay of this scalar field after the completion of the phase transition and the risk that its release of entropy dilutes the baryon asymmetry produced at the transition.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures; v2: minor changes, remark added at end of section 5 and in caption of figure 1; v3: references added, version to be publishe