Vector-like Fields, Messenger Mixing and the Higgs mass in Gauge Mediation

In order to generate, in the context of gauge mediation, a Higgs mass around 126 GeV that avoids the little hierarchy problem, we explore a set of models where the messengers are directly coupled to new vector-like fields at the TeV scale in addition to the usual low energy degrees of freedom. We find that in this context, stop masses lighter than 2 TeV and large $A$-terms are generated, thereby improving issues of fine tuning.Comment: 17 pages. V3: Version accepted for publication at JHE

Neutrino Masses, Leptogenesis, and Unification in the Absence of Low Energy Supersymmetry

We explore generating the dimension five operator leading to neutrino masses by integrating out heavy SU(2)_L triplet fermions. We exhibit a model that has a neutrino mass matrix consistent with observations. In addition, the model is capable of producing the observed baryon asymmetry, and unification can be achieved without dangerous proton decay. Supersymmetry can be broken at the fundamental scale with no supersymmetric signal at low energies.Comment: 26 pages, 3 figures, typos corrected and references added, published in JHE