Search arXiv⌕ Search

arXiv · hep-ph/0312197

Neutrino Telescopes as a Direct Probe of Supersymmetry Breaking

Abstract

We consider supersymmetric models where the scale of supersymmetry breaking lies between 5 $\times 10^6$ GeV and 5 $\times 10^8$ GeV. In this class of theories, which includes models of gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking, the lightest supersymmetric particle is the gravitino. The next to lightest supersymmetric particle is typically a long lived charged slepton with a lifetime between a microsecond and a second, depending on its mass. Collisions of high energy neutrinos with nucleons in the earth can result in the production of a pair of these sleptons. Their very high boost means they typically decay outside the earth. We investigate the production of these particles by the diffuse flux of high energy neutrinos, and the potential for their observation in large ice or water Cerenkov detectors. The relatively small cross-section for the production of supersymmetric particles is partially compensated for by the very long range of heavy particles. The signal in the detector consists of two parallel charged tracks emerging from the earth about 100 meters apart, with very little background. A detailed calculation using the Waxman-Bahcall limit on the neutrino flux and realistic spectra shows that km$^3$ experiments could see as many as 4 events a year. We conclude that neutrino telescopes will complement collider searches in the determination of the supersymmetry breaking scale, and may even give the first evidence for supersymmetry at the weak scale.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

I. Albuquerque, G. Burdman, Z. Chacko. 2003-12-15. Neutrino Telescopes as a Direct Probe of Supersymmetry Breaking. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.92.221802

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Extraction of the pion-nucleon coupling constant using the effective-range expansion with the left-hand cut

We apply the generalized effective-range expansion of Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 011903(2025), which incorporates the left-hand cut from one-pion exchange, to low-energy neutron-proton scattering in the $^1S_0$ and $^3S_1$ channels. The amplitude zero for the center-of-mass momentum near 0.35 GeV in the $^1S_0$ channel is naturally accommodated within this framework. We extract the pole position, scattering length, effective range, and the pseudoscalar pion-nucleon coupling constant $g_{πN}^2/(4π)$ at different expansion orders. The low-energy parameters are stable and consistent with established values, while $g_{πN}^2/(4π)$ exhibits larger uncertainties. The extraction of $g_{πN}^2/(4π)$ is data-driven, relying on the analytic constraints from the left-hand cut and phase-shift data within the one-pion-exchange approximation. Despite larger uncertainties compared to high-precision extractions, the consistency with established values demonstrates that this framework can probe the left-hand-cut singularity.

hep-ph↗

True Leptonium ($l^+ l^-$) Production in UPC Triphoton Interaction

True leptonium states ($l^+ l^-$) are compact pure QED systems, first theoretically predicted eight decades ago. Although considerable efforts have been devoted to their search, only positronium has been experimentally confirmed shortly after its theoretical prediction. By contrast, dimuonium ($μ^+ μ^-$) and tauonium ($τ^+ τ^-$) remain unobserved to date, partly due to their low production yields. In this work, we investigate ortho-leptonium production through triphoton interactions in ultraperipheral heavy-ion collisions (UPCs). Two photons originate from different ions in one beam, while the third is supplied by an ion in the opposing beam. Within the equivalent photon approximation, we compare continuum dimuon and $J/ψ$ production with UPC measurements and evaluate ortho-leptonium production at the LHC and FCC. The results illustrate the possible role of triphoton fusion in leptonium production and the sensitivity of the calculated rates to the low-energy photon input.

hep-ph↗

Semi-analytical two-loop QCD corrections to $e^+e^-\to J/ψ+χ_{cJ}$ at B factories

In this work, we compute the next-to-next-to-leading-order (NNLO) QCD corrections to the process $e^+e^-\to J/ψ+χ_{cJ}$ at B factories within the NRQCD factorization framework. The helicity amplitudes are obtained via asymptotic expansions around $r=0$ and $r=1$, with $r=16m_c^2/s$. Our asymptotic expressions reproduce the exact numerical results with high accuracy across the kinematic range $0\le r \le 1$, achieving a relative error below $10^{-5}$, which is sufficient for phenomenological applications. Notably, the large logarithmic terms are obtained analytically, and the explicit expressions established in this work provide a useful basis for further theoretical investigations. We compute the unpolarized cross sections. The $\mathcal{O}(α_s)$ correction is found to be large, while the $\mathcal{O}(α_s^2)$ correction for $χ_{c0}$ production amounts to $33\%$ of the leading-order (LO) cross section, significantly reducing the scale uncertainties. For $χ_{c1}$, the $\mathcal{O}(α_s)$ and $\mathcal{O}(α_s^2)$ corrections correspond to $35\%$ and $-15\%$, respectively. For $χ_{c2}$, the corresponding corrections are $24\%$ and $-38\%$. The large cancellation between the corrections for $χ_{c2}$ brings the NNLO cross section close to the LO prediction. Our prediction for $χ_{c0}$ is consistent with both the {\tt Belle} and {\tt BaBar} data within uncertainties. We also predict the angular distribution parameters $α^J_θ$, which are independent of nonperturbative inputs. A sharp discrepancy between the theory and the {\tt Belle} measurement is observed for $α^0_θ$, calling for further experimental and theoretical investigations. Moreover, future measurements of the angular distribution parameters for $χ_{c1}$ and $χ_{c2}$ will provide important tests of the theoretical framework.

hep-ph↗