On the Potential of Leptonic Minimal Flavour Violation

Minimal Flavour Violation can be realized in several ways in the lepton sector due to the possibility of Majorana neutrino mass terms. We derive the scalar potential for the fields whose background values are the Yukawa couplings, for the simplest See-Saw model with just two right-handed neutrinos, and explore its minima. The Majorana character plays a distinctive role: the minimum of the potential allows for large mixing angles -in contrast to the simplest quark case- and predicts a maximal Majorana phase. This points in turn to a strong correlation between neutrino mass hierarchy and mixing pattern.Comment: 6 pages; version published on Physics Letters

Analysis of General Power Counting Rules in Effective Field Theory

We derive the general counting rules for a quantum effective field theory (EFT) in $\mathsf{d}$ dimensions. The rules are valid for strongly and weakly coupled theories, and predict that all kinetic energy terms are canonically normalized. They determine the energy dependence of scattering cross sections in the range of validity of the EFT expansion. We show that the size of cross sections is controlled by the $\Lambda$ power counting of EFT, not by chiral counting, even for chiral perturbation theory ($\chi$PT). The relation between $\Lambda$ and $f$ is generalized to $\mathsf{d}$ dimensions. We show that the naive dimensional analysis $4\pi$ counting is related to $\hbar$ counting. The EFT counting rules are applied to $\chi$PT, low-energy weak interactions, Standard Model EFT and the non-trivial case of Higgs EFT.Comment: V2: more details and examples added; version published in journal. 17 pages, 4 figures, 2 table

CP violation with a dynamical Higgs

We determine the complete set of independent gauge and gauge-Higgs CP-odd effective operators for the generic case of a dynamical Higgs, up to four derivatives in the chiral expansion. The relation with the linear basis of dimension six CP-odd operators is clarified. Phenomenological applications include bounds inferred from electric dipole moment limits, and from present and future collider data on triple gauge coupling measurements and Higgs signals.Comment: 41 pages, 3 figures; V2: citations added, typos corrected, version published on JHE

Higgs ultraviolet softening

We analyze the leading effective operators which induce a quartic momentum dependence in the Higgs propagator, for a linear and for a non-linear realization of electroweak symmetry breaking. Their specific study is relevant for the understanding of the ultraviolet sensitivity to new physics. Two methods of analysis are applied, trading the Lagrangian coupling by: i) a "ghost" scalar, after the Lee-Wick procedure; ii) other effective operators via the equations of motion. The two paths are shown to lead to the same effective Lagrangian at first order in the operator coefficients. It follows a modification of the Higgs potential and of the fermionic couplings in the linear realization, while in the non-linear one anomalous quartic gauge couplings, Higgs-gauge couplings and gauge-fermion interactions are induced in addition. Finally, all LHC Higgs and other data presently available are used to constrain the operator coefficients; the future impact of $pp\to\text{4 leptons}$ data via off-shell Higgs exchange and of vector boson fusion data is considered as well. For completeness, a summary of pure-gauge and gauge-Higgs signals exclusive to non-linear dynamics at leading-order is included.Comment: 31 pages, 3 figures, 7 table

THE VERNACULAR HERITAGE OF GJIROKASTRA (ALBANIA): ANALYSIS OF URBAN AND CONSTRUCTIVE FEATURES, THREATS AND CONSERVATION STRATEGIES

Abstract. The old town of Gjirokastra (Albania), was included in the World Heritage List in 2005 thanks to the valuable presence of several remarkable examples of Ottoman-styled houses and in the integrity of the vernacular urban landscape. The urban structure is strongly influenced by the orography of the Drino valley and its slopes where the city was founded. Stone is the building material that characterizes the paving of the streets, the walls of the buildings and the roof coverings. The wood, mostly local, was used to build the frame structure of the upper floors and the roofs, in order to provide large windows and bright interior spaces. In December 2018, as part of the activities of the 3D Past project, founded by Eu Creative Europe Programme, Italian and Albanian students took part in a workshop in Gjirokastra. Such an initiative was designed to understand the tangible and intangible components of the vernacular heritage of Gjrokastra. In a multidisciplinary approach, students, professors, researchers and local experts analysed the morphological features of the historic center, the public spaces, and the traditional building systems. Traditional instruments such as the direct survey, the on-site observation and the interviews were adopted in combination with more innovative tools such as the laser scanner and the photogrammetry. This contribution not only illustrates the results of a multi-scale analysis, but it also highlights the transformations and threats that endanger the transmission of the unique characteristics of the city to the future generations. Moreover, it deals with the conservation strategies currently in use and some possible future measures that can contribute to the sustainable safeguard and development of the site

A fretting fatigue setup for testing shrink-fit connections and experimental evidence of the strength enhancement induced by deep rolling

Fretting tests are usually performed on flat specimens with lateral contacting pads. The shrink-fitted connection, which experiences fretting at the edge of the contact, prompted the alternative use of a round-shaped specimen. This simplified the equipment and provided an accurate alignment between the fretting specimen and the external hub which plays the role of the pad. The deep rolling treatment can also be efficiently applied to a round shape, which would otherwise be difficult on the flat specimen geometry. After introducing this solution for fretting testing, the paper shows an experimental campaign on three shrink-fitted connections with different sizes and material combinations. There was a significant improvement in fretting fatigue strength, induced by the deep rolling, for all three specimen types. Finally, scanning electron microscopic analyses provided insights into the fretting fatigue nucleation mechanisms both for untreated and deep-rolled specimens

AlpStore Project: A Viable Model for Renewables Exploitation in the Alps

AbstractNowadays, the integration of intermittent and unpredictable Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) has led to new issues for the electrical system. The paper proposes a model, named Virtual Power System (VPS), which enables the management of generators and loads as a single (virtual) entity in order to achieve a “global” benefit, i.e. to improve the capability of the grid to host RESs. Moreover Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) could be integrated in the VPS in order to provide ancillary services: voltage regulation, primary frequency regulation and exchange profiles adjustment for a better RESs programmability. This work proposes a quantitative approach for ESSs design and integration in a VPS. Numerical results are reported with respect to an experimental application in the AlpStore project (Alpine Space Program 2007-2013)