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Nobuchika Okada

Publications and source records attributed to Nobuchika Okada.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

eV-scale sterile neutrinos from an extra dimension

Motivated by the short-baseline neutrino oscillation anomalies that suggest the existence of sterile neutrinos at the eV scale, we construct a scenario of a seesaw mechanism for 3+1 light neutrinos implemented by warped compactification of an extra dimension. As the seesaw mechanism necessitates at least two right-handed neutrinos at mass scales much larger than eV, incorporating an eV-scale sterile neutrino into a seesaw entails large mass hierarchies among the singlet neutrinos. We show that such hierarchies can be naturally explained by moderate fluctuations of the five-dimensional fermion mass parameters.

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Braneworld Cosmological Effect on Freeze-in Dark Matter Density and Lifetime Frontier

In the 5-dimensional braneworld cosmology, the Friedmann equation of our 4-dimensional universe on a brane is modified at high temperatures while the standard Big Bang cosmology is reproduced at low temperatures. Based on two well-known scenarios, the Randall-Sundrum and Gauss-Bonnet braneworld cosmologies, we investigate the braneworld cosmological effect on the relic density of a non-thermal dark matter particle whose interactions with the Standard Model particles are so weak that its relic density is determined by the freeze-in mechanism. For dark matter production processes in the early universe, we assume a simple scenario with a light vector-boson mediator for the dark matter particle to communicate with the Standard Model particles. We find that the braneworld cosmological effect can dramatically alters the resultant dark matter relic density from the one in the standard Big Bang cosmology. As an application, we consider a right-handed neutrino dark matter in the minimal $B-L$ extended Standard Model with a light $B-L$ gauge boson ($Z^\prime$) as a mediator. We find an impact of the braneworld cosmological effect on the search for the long-lived $Z^\prime$ boson at the planned/proposed Lifetime Frontier experiments.

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Fermion Mass Hierarchy and Phenomenology in the 5D Domain Wall Standard Model

We have recently proposed a setup of the "Domain-Wall Standard Model" in 5D spacetime, where all the Standard Model (SM) fields are localized in certain domains of the extra 5th dimension. Utilizing this setup, we attempt to solve the fermion mass hierarchy problem of the SM. The mass hierarchy can be naturally explained by suitably distributing the fermions in different positions along the extra dimension. Due to these different localization points, the effective 4D gauge couplings of Kaluza-Klein (KK) mode gauge bosons to the SM fermions become non-universal. As a result, our model is severely constrained by the Flavor Changing Neutral Current (FCNC) measurements. We find two interesting cases in which our model is phenomenologically viable: (1) the KK-mode of the SM gauge bosons are extremely heavy and unlikely to be produced at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), while future FCNC measurements can reveal the existence of these heavy modes. (2) the width of the localized SM fermions is very narrow, leading to almost universal 4D KK-mode gauge couplings. In this case, the FCNC constraints can be easily avoided even if a KK gauge boson mass lies at the TeV scale. Such a light KK gauge boson can be searched at the LHC in the near future.

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Probing the seesaw mechanism at the 250 GeV ILC

We consider a gauged U(1)$_{B-L}$ (Baryon-minus-Lepton number) extension of the Standard Model (SM), which is anomaly-free in the presence of three Right-Handed Neutrinos (RHNs). Associated with the U(1)$_{B-L}$ symmetry breaking the RHNs acquire their Majorana masses and then play the crucial role to generate the neutrino mass matrix by the seesaw mechanism. Towards the experimental confirmation of the seesaw mechanism, we investigate a RHN pair production through the U(1)$_{B-L}$ gauge boson ($Z^\prime$) at the 250 GeV International Linear Collider (ILC). The $Z^\prime$ gauge boson has been searched at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Run-2 and its production cross section is already severely constrained. The constraint will become more stringent by the future experiments with the High-Luminosity upgrade of the LHC (HL-LHC). We find a possibility that even after a null $Z^\prime$ boson search result at the HL-LHC, the 250 GeV ILC can search for the RHN pair production through the final state with same-sign dileptons plus jets, which is a `smoking-gun' signature from the Majorana nature of RHNs. In addition, some of RHNs are long-lived and leave a clean signature with a displaced vertex. Therefore, the 250 GeV ILC can operate as not only a Higgs Factory but also a RHN discovery machine to explore the origin of the Majorana neutrino mass generation, namely the seesaw mechanism.

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A natural $Z^\prime$-portal Majorana dark matter in alternative U(1) extended Standard Model

We consider a non-exotic gauged U(1)$_X$ extension of the Standard Model (SM), where the U(1)$_X$ charge of a SM field is given by a linear combination of its hypercharge and Baryon-minus-Lepton ($B-L$) number. All the gauge and mixed gauge-gravitational anomalies are cancelled in this model with the introduction of three right-handed neutrinos (RHNs). Unlike the conventional minimal U(1)$_X$ model, where a universal U(1)$_X$ charge of $-1$ is assigned to three RHNs, we consider an alternative charge assignment, namely, two RHNs ($N_R^{1,2}$) have U(1)$_X$ charge $-4$ while one RHN ($N_R$) has a $+5$ charge. With a minimal extension of the Higgs sector, the three RHNs acquire their Majorana masses associated with U(1)$_X$ symmetry breaking. While $N_R^{1,2}$ have Yukawa coupling with the SM lepton doublets and play an essential role for the 'minimal seesaw' mechanism, $N_R$ is isolated from the SM particles due to its U(1)$_X$ charge and hence it is a natural candidate for the dark matter (DM) without invoking additional symmetries. In this model context, we investigate the $Z^\prime$-portal RHN DM scenario, where the RHN DM communicates with the SM particles through the U(1)$_X$ gauge boson ($Z^\prime$ boson). We identify a narrow parameter space by combining the constraints from the observed DM relic abundance, the results of the search for a $Z^\prime$ boson resonance at the Large Hadron Collider Run-2, and the gauge coupling perturbativity up to the Planck/Grand Unification scale. For a special choice of U(1)$_X$ charges for the SM fields allows us to extend the model to SU(5)$\times$U(1)$_X$ grand unification. In this scenario, the model parameter space is more severely constrained, which will be explored at future high energy collider experiments.

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Inflation, Proton Decay, and Higgs-Portal Dark Matter in $SO(10) \times U(1)_ψ$

We propose a simple non-supersymmetric grand unified theory (GUT) based on the gauge group $SO(10) \times U(1)_ψ$. The model includes 3 generations of fermions in ${\bf 16}$ ($+1$), ${\bf 10}$ ($-2$) and ${\bf 1}$ ($+4$) representations. The ${\bf 16}$-plets contain Standard Model (SM) fermions plus right-handed neutrinos, and the ${\bf 10}$-plet and the singlet fermions are introduced to make the model anomaly-free. Gauge coupling unification at $M_{GUT} \simeq 5 \times 10^{15}-10^{16}$ GeV is achieved by including an intermediate Pati-Salam breaking at $M_{I} \simeq 10^{12}-10^{11}$ GeV, which is a natural scale for the seesaw mechanism. For $M_{I} \simeq 10^{12}-10^{11}$, proton decay will be tested by the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment. The extra fermions acquire their masses from $U(1)_ψ$ symmetry breaking, and a $U(1)_ψ$ Higgs field drives a successful inflection-point inflation with a low Hubble parameter during inflation, $H_{inf} \ll M_{I}$. Hence, cosmologically dangerous monopoles produced from $SO(10)$ and PS breakings are diluted away. The reheating temperature after inflation can be high enough for successful leptogenesis. With the Higgs field contents of our model, a ${\bf Z}_2$ symmetry remains unbroken after GUT symmetry breaking, and the lightest mass eigenstate among linear combinations of the ${\bf 10}$-plet and the singlet fermions serves as a Higgs-portal dark matter (DM). We identify the parameter regions to reproduce the observed DM relic density while satisfying the current constraint from the direct DM detection experiments. The present allowed region will be fully covered by the future direct detection experiments such as LUX-ZEPLIN DM experiment. In the presence of the extra fermions, the SM Higgs potential is stabilized up to $M_{I}$.

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Long-lived TeV-scale right-handed neutrino production at the LHC in gauged $U(1)_X$ model

A gauged $U(1)_X$ extension of the Standard Model is a simple and consistent framework to naturally incorporate three right-handed neutrinos (RHNs) for generating the observed light neutrino masses and mixing by the type-I seesaw mechanism. We examine the collider testability of the $U(1)_X$ model, both in its minimal form with the conventional charges, as well as with an alternative charge assignment, via the resonant production of the $U(1)_X$ gauge boson ($Z^\prime$) and its subsequent decay into a pair of RHNs. We first derive an updated upper limit on the new gauge coupling $g_X$ as a function of the $Z'$-boson mass from the latest LHC dilepton searches. Then we identify the maximum possible cross section for the RHN pair-production under these constraints. Finally, we investigate the possibility of having one of the RHNs long-lived, even for a TeV-scale mass. Employing the general parametrization for the light neutrino mass matrix to reproduce the observed neutrino oscillation data, we perform a parameter scan and find a simple formula for the maximum RHN lifetime as a function of the lightest neutrino mass eigenvalue ($m_{\rm lightest}$). We find that for $m_{\rm lightest}\lesssim 10^{-5}$ eV, one of the RHNs in the minimal $U(1)_X$ scenario can be long-lived with a displaced-vertex signature which can be searched for at the LHC and/or with a dedicated long-lived particle detector, such as MATHUSLA. In other words, once a long-lived RHN is observed, we can set an upper bound on the lightest neutrino mass in this model.

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Gravitational waves from the minimal gauged $U(1)_{B-L}$ model

An additional $U(1)$ gauge interaction is one of promising extensions of the standard model of particle physics. Among others, the $U(1)_{B-L}$ gauge symmetry is particularly interesting because it addresses the origin of Majorana masses of right-handed neutrinos, which naturally leads to tiny light neutrino masses through the seesaw mechanism. We show that, based on the minimal $U(1)_{B-L}$ model, the symmetry breaking of the extra $U(1)$ gauge symmetry with its minimal Higgs sector in the early Universe can exhibit the first-order phase transition and hence generate a large enough amplitude of stochastic gravitational wave radiation which is detectable in future experiments.

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Domain-Wall Standard Model in non-compact 5D and LHC phenomenology

We propose a framework to construct "Domain-Wall Standard Model" in a non compact 5-dimensional space-time, where all the Standard Model (SM) fields are localized in certain domains of the 5th dimension and the SM is realized as a 4-dimensional effective theory without any compactification for the 5th dimension. In this context, we investigate the collider phenomenology of the Kaluza-Klein (KK) modes of the SM gauge bosons and the current constraints from the search for a new gauge boson resonance at the LHC Run-2. The couplings of the SM fermions with the KK-mode gauge bosons depend on the configuration of the SM fermions in the 5-dimensional bulk. This "geometry" of the model can be tested at the future Large Hadron Collider experiment, once a KK-mode of the SM gauge boson is discovered.

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Minimally Extended Left-Right Symmetric Model for Dark Matter with U(1) Portal

A minimal extension of the left-right symmetric model for neutrino masses that includes a vector-like singlet fermion dark matter (DM) is presented with the DM connected to the visible sector via a gauged U(1) portal. We discuss the symmetry breaking in this model and calculate the mass and mixings of the extra heavy neutral gauge boson at the TeV scale. The extra gauge boson can decay to both standard model particles as well to dark matter. We calculate the relic density of the singlet fermion dark matter and its direct detection cross section and use these constraints to obtain the allowed parameter range for the new gauge coupling and the dark matter mass.

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Gravity Waves and Gravitino Dark Matter in $μ$-Hybrid Inflation

We propose a novel reformulation of supersymmetric (more precisely $μ$-) hybrid inflation based on a local U(1) or any suitable extension of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) which also resolves the $μ$ problem. We employ a suitable Kahler potential which effectively yields quartic inflation with non-minimal coupling to gravity. Imposing the gravitino Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) constraint on the reheat temperature ($T_r \lesssim 10^6$ GeV) and requiring a neutralino LSP, the tensor to scalar ratio ($r$) has a lower bound $r \gtrsim 0.004$. The U(1) symmetry breaking scale lies between $10^8$ and $10^{12}$ GeV. We also discuss a scenario with gravitino dark matter whose mass is a few GeV.

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Probing the seesaw scale with gravitational waves

The $U(1)_{B-L}$ gauge symmetry is a promising extension of the standard model of particle physics, which is supposed to be broken at some high energy scale. Associated with the $U(1)_{B-L}$ gauge symmetry breaking, right-handed neutrinos acquire their Majorana masses and then tiny light neutrino masses are generated through the seesaw mechanism. In this paper, we demonstrate that the first-order phase transition of the $U(1)_{B-L}$ gauge symmetry breaking can generate a large amplitude of stochastic gravitational wave (GW) radiation for some parameter space of the model, which is detectable in future experiments. Therefore, the detection of GWs is an interesting strategy to probe the seesaw scale which can be much higher than the energy scale of collider experiments.

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$SU(2)_L$ Doublet Vector Dark Matter from Gauge-Higgs Unification

A new vector dark matter (DM) scenario in the context of the gauge-Higgs unification (GHU) is proposed. The DM particle is identified with an electric-charge neutral component in an $SU(2)_L$ doublet vector field with the same quantum number as the Standard Model Higgs doublet. Since such an $SU(2)_L$ doublet vector field is incorporated in any models of the GHU scenario, it is always a primary and model-independent candidate for the DM in the scenario. The observed relic density is reproduced through a DM pair annihilations into the weak gauge bosons with a TeV-scale DM mass, which is nothing but the compactification scale of extra-dimensions. Due to the higher-dimensional gauge structure of the GHU scenario, a pair of the DM particles has no direct coupling with a single $Z$-boson/Higgs boson, so that the DM particle evades the severe constraint from the current direct DM search experiments.

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DAMPE excess from decaying right-handed neutrino dark matter

The flux of high-energy cosmic-ray electrons plus positrons recently measured by the DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) exhibits a tentative peak excess at an energy of around $1.4$ TeV. In this paper, we consider the minimal gauged $U(1)_{B-L}$ model with a right-handed neutrino (RHN) dark matter (DM) and interpret the DAMPE peak with a late-time decay of the RHN DM into $e^\pm W^\mp$. We find that a DM lifetime $τ_{DM} \sim 10^{28}$ s can fit the DAMPE peak with a DM mass $m_{DM}=3$ TeV. This favored lifetime is close to the current bound on it by Fermi-LAT, our decaying RHN DM can be tested once the measurement of cosmic gamma ray flux is improved. The RHN DM communicates with the Standard Model particles through the $U(1)_{B-L}$ gauge boson ($Z^\prime$ boson), and its thermal relic abundance is controlled by only three free parameters: $m_{DM}$, the $U(1)_{B-L}$ gauge coupling ($α_{BL}$), and the $Z^\prime$ boson mass ($m_{Z^\prime}$). For $m_{DM}=3$ TeV, the rest of the parameters are restricted to be $m_{Z^\prime}\simeq 6$ TeV and $0.00807 \leq α_{BL} \leq 0.0149$, in order to reproduce the observed DM relic density and to avoid the Landau pole for the running $α_{BL}$ below the Planck scale. This allowed region will be tested by the search for a $Z^\prime$ boson resonance at the future Large Hadron Collider.

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Heavy Majorana neutrino pair productions at the LHC in minimal U(1) extended Standard Model

In our recent paper [1], we explored a prospect of discovering the heavy Majorana right-handed neutrinos (RHNs) at the future LHC in the context of the minimal non-exotic U(1) extended Standard Model (SM), where a pair of RHNs are created via decay of resonantly produced massive U(1) gauge boson ($Z^{\prime}$). We pointed out that this model can yield a significant enhancement of the branching ratio of the $Z^\prime$ boson to a pair of RHNs, which is crucial for discovering the RHNs under the very severe LHC Run-2 constraint from the search for the $Z^\prime$ boson with dilepton final states. In this paper, we perform a general parameter scan to evaluate the maximum production rate of the same-sign dilepton final states (smoking gun signature of Majorana RHNs production) at the LHC, while reproducing the neutrino oscillation data. We also consider the minimal non-exotic U(1) model with an alternative charge assignment. In this case, we find a further enhancement of the branching ratio of the $Z^\prime$ boson to a pair of RHNs compared to the conventional case, which opens up a possibility of discovering the RHNs even before the $Z^\prime$ boson at the future LHC experiment.

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Leptonic $CP$ Violation and Leptogenesis in Minimal Supersymmetric SU(4)$_c \times$SU(2)$_L \times$SU(2)$_R$

We consider a supersymmetric SU(4)$_c \times$SU(2)$_L \times$SU(2)$_R$ model with a minimal number of Higgs multiplets and Dirac and Majorana $CP$-violating phases in the neutrino flavor mixing matrix. The model incorporates the charged fermion masses and quark mixings, and uses type I seesaw to explain the solar and atmospheric neutrino oscillations. With the neutrino oscillation data of two mass squared differences and three flavor mixing angles, we employ thermal leptogenesis and the observed baryon asymmetry to find the allowed regions for the Dirac and Majorana phases. For a normal neutrino mass hierarchy, we find that the observed baryon asymmetry can be reproduced by a Dirac phase of around $δ_{CP}=3 π/2$, which is strongly indicated by the recent T2K and NO$ν$A data. For the case of inverted neutrino mass hierarchy, the predicted baryon asymmetry is not compatible with the observed value.

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Alternative renormalizable minimal SO(10) GUT and the Seesaw Scale

Alternative renormalizable minimal non-SUSY SO(10) GUT model is proposed. Instead of a ${\bf 126}$-dimensional Higgs field, a ${\bf 120}$-dimensional Higgs filed is ntroducedin addition to a ${\bf 10}$-dimensional Higgs field and plays a crucial role to reproduce the realistic charged fermion mass matrices. With contributions of ${\bf 120}$ Higgs field, the original Witten's scenario of inducing the right-handed Majorana neutrino mass through 2-loop diagrams becomes phenomenologically viable. This model inherits the nice features of the conventional renormalizable minimal SO(10) GUT model with ${\bf 10}+{\bf \overline{126}}$ Higgs fields, while supplemented with a low scale seesaw mechanism due to the 2-loop induced right-handed Majorana neutrino mass. %

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Displaced vertex signature of type-I seesaw

A certain class of new physics models includes long-lived particles which are singlet under the Standard Model (SM) gauge group.A displaced vertex is a spectacular signature to probe such particles productions at the high energy colliders, with a negligible SM background. In the context of the minimal gauged $B-L$ extended SM, we consider a pair creation of Majorana right-handed neutrinos (RHNs) at the high energy colliders through the production of the SM and the $B-L$ Higgs bosons and their subsequent decays into RHNs. With parameters reproducing the neutrino oscillation data, we show that the RHNs are long-lived and their displaced vertex signature can be observed at the next generation displaced vertex search experiments, such as the HL-LHC, the MATHUSLA, the LHeC, and the FCC-eh.We find that the lifetime of the RHNs is controlled by the lightest light neutrino mass, which leads to a correlation between the displaced vertex search and the search limit of the future neutrinoless double beta-decay experiments.

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