arXiv subjects

Yi Cai

Publications and source records attributed to Yi Cai.

125 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

The Galactic Center Excess from Z3 Scalar Semi-Annihilations

We investigate the possibility of the Z3 scalar singlet model explaining the Fermi galactic centre excess. We find a good fit to the measured spectral excess in the region where the dark matter mass is comparable to the Higgs and the Higgs portal coupling $λ_{HS}\sim 0.04$. This preferred region is consistent with constraints from vacuum stability and current dark matter experiments, and will be discovered or falsified soon by future dark matter direct detection experiment.

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arXiv2015

Mono-W Dark Matter Signals at the LHC: Simplified Model Analysis

We study mono-W signals of dark matter (DM) production at the LHC, in the context of gauge invariant renormalizable models. We analyze two simplified models, one involving an s-channel Z' mediator and the other a t-channel colored scalar mediator, and consider examples in which the DM-quark couplings are either isospin conserving or isospin violating after electroweak symmetry breaking. While previous work on mono-W signals have focused on isospin violating EFTs, obtaining very strong limits, we find that isospin violating effects are small once such physics is embedded into a gauge invariant simplified model. We thus find that the 8 TeV mono-W results are much less constraining than those arising from mono-jet searches. Considering both the leptonic (mono-lepton) and hadronic (mono fat jet) decays of the W, we determine the 14 TeV LHC reach of the mono-W searches with 3000 fb$^{-1}$ of data. While a mono-W signal would provide an important complement to a mono-jet discovery channel, existing constraints on these models imply it will be a challenging signal to observe at the 14 TeV LHC.

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arXiv2015

Semi-Annihilating Wino-Like Dark Matter

Semi-annihilation is a generic feature of dark matter theories with symmetries larger than Z_2. We explore a model based on a Z_4-symmetric dark sector comprised of a scalar singlet and a "wino"-like fermion SU(2)_L triplet. This is the minimal example of semi-annihilation with a gauge-charged fermion. We study the interplay of the Sommerfeld effect in both annihilation and semi-annihilation channels. The modifications to the relic density allow otherwise-forbidden regions of parameter space and can substantially weaken indirect detection constraints. We perform a parameter scan and find that the entire region where the model comprises all the observed dark matter is accessible to current and planned direct and indirect searches.

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arXiv2015

Dark matter at the LHC: EFTs and gauge invariance

Effective field theory (EFT) formulations of dark matter interactions have proven to be a convenient and popular way to quantify LHC bounds on dark matter. However, some of the non-renormalizable EFT operators considered do not respect the gauge symmetries of the Standard Model. We carefully discuss under what circumstances such operators can arise, and outline potential issues in their interpretation and application.

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arXiv2015

Testing Radiative Neutrino Mass Models at the LHC

The Large Hadron Collider provides us new opportunities to search for the origin of neutrino mass. Beyond the minimal see-saw models a plethora of models exist which realise neutrino mass at tree- or loop-level, and it is important to be sure that these possibilities are satisfactorily covered by searches. The purpose of this paper is to advance a systematic approach to this problem. Majorana neutrino mass models can be organised by SM-gauge-invariant operators which violate lepton number by two units. In this paper we write down the minimal ultraviolet completions for all of the mass-dimension 7 operators. We predict vector-like quarks, vector-like leptons, scalar leptoquarks, a charged scalar, and a scalar doublet, whose properties are constrained by neutrino oscillation data. A detailed collider study is presented for $O_3=LLQ\bar dH$ and $O_8 = L\bar d\bar e^\dagger \bar u^\dagger H$ completions with a vector-like quark $χ\sim(3, 2, -\frac{5}{6})$ and a leptoquark $ϕ\sim(\bar 3,1,\frac{1}{3})$. The existing LHC limits extracted from searches for vector-like fermions and sbottoms/stops are $m_χ\gtrsim 620$ GeV and $m_ϕ\gtrsim 600$ GeV.

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arXiv2014

Testable two-loop radiative neutrino mass model based on an $LLQd^cQd^c$ effective operator

A new two-loop radiative Majorana neutrino mass model is constructed from the gauge-invariant effective operator $L^i L^j Q^k d^c Q^l d^c ε_{ik} ε_{jl}$ that violates lepton number conservation by two units. The ultraviolet completion features two scalar leptoquark flavors and a color-octet Majorana fermion. We show that there exists a region of parameter space where the neutrino oscillation data can be fitted while simultaneously meeting flavor-violation and collider bounds. The model is testable through lepton flavor-violating processes such as $μ \to eγ$, $μ\to eee$, and $μN \to eN$ conversion, as well as collider searches for the scalar leptoquarks and color-octet fermion. We computed and compiled a list of necessary Passarino-Veltman integrals up to boxes in the approximation of vanishing external momenta and made them available as a Mathematica package, denoted as ANT.

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arXiv2014

The Higgs Seesaw Induced Neutrino Masses and Dark Matter

In this paper we propose a possible explanation of the active neutrino Majorana masses with the TeV scale new physics which also provide a dark matter candidate. We extend the Standard Model (SM) with a local U(1)' symmetry and introduce a seesaw relation for the vacuum expectation values (VEVs) of the exotic scalar singlets, which break the U(1)' spontaneously. The larger VEV is responsible for generating the Dirac mass term of the heavy neutrinos, while the smaller for the Majorana mass term. As a result active neutrino masses are generated via the modified inverse seesaw mechanism. The lightest of the new fermion singlets, which are introduced to cancel the U(1)' anomalies, can be a stable particle with ultra flavor symmetry and thus a plausible dark matter candidate. We explore the parameter space with constraints from the dark matter relic abundance and dark matter direct detection.

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arXiv2014

Leptophilic Dark Matter with $Z'$ interactions

We consider a scenario where dark matter (DM) interacts exclusively with Standard Model (SM) leptons at tree level. Due to the absence of tree-level couplings to quarks, the constraints on leptophilic dark matter arising from direct detection and hadron collider experiments are weaker than those for a generic WIMP. We study a simple model in which interactions of DM with SM leptons are mediated by a leptophilic $Z'$ boson, and determine constraints on this scenario arising from relic density, direct detection, and other experiments. We then determine current LHC limits and project the future discovery reach. We show that, despite the absence of direct interactions with quarks, this scenario can be strongly constrained.

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arXiv2014

Co-annihilating Dark Matter: Effective Operator Analysis and Collider Phenomenology

We study dark matter (DM) models in which there are two dark sector particles, $χ_1$ and $χ_2$, of near mass. In such models, co-annihilation of $χ_1$ and $χ_2$ may be the dominant process controlling the DM relic density during freezeout in the early universe. In this scenario, there is no significant contribution to direct and indirect detection signals, unless there exists an extreme degeneracy in the masses of the lightest dark sector particles. Therefore, relic density constraints and collider searches provide the most relevant information about these models. We consider Dirac fermion dark matter which couples to standard model (SM) particles via an effective operator. For the collider phenomenology, where an effective field theory may not be valid, we adopt a simple Z' model to provide an appropriate UV completion. We explore the interesting LHC signals that arise from the dark matter production process $pp \rightarrow \overline{χ_1} + χ_2 + \textrm{ jet}$, followed by the decay $χ_2 \rightarrow χ_1 + SM$.

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arXiv2013

Singlet Dark Matter in Type II Two Higgs Doublet Model

Inspired by the dark matter searches in the low mass region, we study the Type II two Higgs doublet model with a light gauge singlet WIMP stabilized by a Z_2 symmetry. The real singlet is required to only couple to the non-Standard Model Higgs. We investigate singlet candidates with different spins as well as isospin violating effect. The parameter space favored by LHC data in two Higgs doublet model and hadronic uncertainties in WIMP-nucleon elastic scattering are also taken into account. We find only the scalar singlet in the isospin conserving case leads to a major overlap with the region of interests of most direct detection experiments.

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arXiv2012

Scalar Septuplet Dark Matter and Enhanced $h\rightarrow γγ$ Decay Rate

Inspired by recent results on the Higgs search from ATLAS and CMS, we extend the SM with complex septuplet scalars. The lightest neutral component of the septuplets is a natural cold dark Matter candidate and the charged components can contribute to the $h\to γγ$ decay rate, providing a significant enhancement factor. The dark matter phenomenology and possible collider signatures of the model are investigated. We find a dark matter candidate with mass around 70 GeV consistent with astrophysical and direct detection constraints. In the meanwhile, the enhancement factor of $h\to γγ$ decay rate can be in the range 1.5\sim 2.

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arXiv2012

Sneutrino Dark Matter in Gauged Inverse Seesaw Models for Neutrinos

Extending the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) to explain small neutrino masses via the inverse seesaw mechanism can lead to a new light supersymmetric scalar partner which can play the role of inelastic dark matter (iDM). It is a linear combination of the superpartners of the neutral fermions in the theory (the light left-handed neutrino and two heavy Standard Model singlet neutrinos) which can be very light with mass in $\sim 5-20$ GeV range, as suggested by some current direct detection experiments. The iDM in this class of models has keV-scale mass splitting, which is intimately connected to the small Majorana masses of neutrinos. We predict the differential scattering rate and annual modulation of the iDM signal which can be testable at future Germanium- and Xenon-based detectors.

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arXiv2011

R$ν$MDM and Lepton Flavor Violation

A model relating radiative seesaw and minimal dark matter mass scales without beyond the standard model (SM) gauge symmetry (R$ν$MDM) is constructed. In addition to the SM particles, the R$ν$MDM contains, a Majorana fermion multiplet $N_R$ and scalar multiplet $χ$ that transform respectively as $(1,5,0)$ and $(1,6,-1/2)$ under the SM gauge group $SU(3)_C\times SU(2)_L\times U(1)_Y$. The neutral component $N_R^0$ plays the role of dark matter with a mass in the range of 9 to 10 TeV. This scale also sets the lower limit for the scale for the heavy degrees of freedom in $N_R$ and $χ$ which generate light neutrino masses through the radiative seesaw mechanism. The model predicts an $N_R^0$-nucleus scattering cross section that would be accessible with future dark matter direct detection searches as well as observable effects in present and searches for charged lepton flavor violating processes, such as $l_i\to l_j γ$ and $μ- e$ conversion.

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arXiv2011

Low Mass Dark Matter and Invisible Higgs Width In Darkon Models

The Standard Model (SM) plus a real gauge-singlet scalar field dubbed darkon (SM+D) is the simplest model possessing a weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) dark-matter candidate. In this model, the parameters are constrained from dark matter relic density and direct searches. The fact that interaction between darkon and SM particles is only mediated by Higgs boson exchange may lead to significant modifications to the Higgs boson properties. If the dark matter mass is smaller than a half of the Higgs boson mass, the Higgs boson can decay into a pair of darkons resulting in a large invisible branching ratio. The Higgs boson will be searched for at the LHC and may well be discovered in the near future. If a Higgs boson with a small invisible decay width will be found, the SM+D model with small dark matter mass will be in trouble. We find that by extending the SM+D to a two-Higgs-doublet model plus a darkon (THDM+D) it is possible to have a Higgs boson with a small invisible branching ratio and at the same time the dark matter can have a low mass. We also comment on other implications of this model.

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arXiv2010

Minimal Gaugomaly Mediation

Mixed anomaly and gauge mediation ("gaugomaly'' mediation) gives a natural solution to the SUSY flavor problem with a conventional LSP dark matter candidate. We present a minimal version of gaugomaly mediation where the messenger masses arise directly from anomaly mediation, automatically generating a messenger scale of order 50 TeV. We also describe a simple relaxation mechanism that gives rise to realistic mu and B mu terms. B is naturally dominated by the anomaly-mediated contribution from top loops, so the mu/B mu sector only depends on a single new parameter. In the minimal version of this scenario the full SUSY spectrum is determined by two continuous parameters (the anomaly- and gauge-mediated SUSY breaking masses) and one discrete parameter (the number of messengers). We show that these simple models can give realistic spectra with viable dark matter.

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arXiv2010

Leptonic Indirect Detection Signals from Strongly Interacting Asymmetric Dark Matter

Particles with TeV mass and strong self-interactions generically have the right annihilation cross section to explain an observed excess of cosmic electrons and positrons if the end-product of the annihilation is charged leptons. We present an explicit model of strongly-coupled TeV-scale dark matter whose relic abundance related to the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the observed universe. The B - L asymmetry of the standard model is transfered to the dark sector by an operator carrying standard model lepton number. Lepton number violation naturally induces dark matter particle-antiparticle oscillations at late times, allowing dark matter-antimatter annihilations today. The dark matter annihilates into lighter strongly-interacting particles in the dark sector that decay to leptons via the transfer operator. The strong dynamics in the dark sector is at the weak scale due to supersymmetry breaking. The correct dark matter abundance is automatically obtained for natural values of dimensionless parameters, analogous to the situation for conventional WIMPs.

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arXiv2006

An SO(10) GUT Model with $S4$ Flavor Symmetry

We present a supersymmetric grand unification model based on SO(10) group with $S4$ flavor symmetry. In this model, the fermion masses are from Yukawa couplings involving $\bf{10}$ and $\bar{\bf{126}}$ Higgs multiplets and the flavor structures of mass matrices of both quarks and leptons are determined by spontaneously broken $S4$. This model fits all of the masses and mixing angles of the quarks and leptons. For the most general CP-violation scenario, this model gives $\sinθ_{13}$ a wide range of values from zero to the current bound with the most probable values $0.02-0.09$. With certain assumptions where leptonic phases have same CP-violation source as CKM phase, one gets a narrower range $0.03-0.09$ for $\sinθ_{13}$ with the most probable values $0.04-0.08$. This model gives leptonic Dirac CP phase the most probable values 2-4 radians in the general CP-violation case.

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