The functional renormalization group is employed to study the nonlinear regime of late-time cosmic structure formation. This framework naturally allows for nonperturbative approximation schemes, usually guided by underlying symmetries or a truncation of the theory space. An extended symmetry that is related to Galilean invariance is studied and corresponding Ward identities are derived. These are used to obtain (formally) closed renormalization group flow equations for two-point correlation functions in the limit of large wave numbers (small scales). The flow equations are analytically solved in an approximation that is connected to the “sweeping effect” previously described in the context of fluid turbulence.

In order to extract full cosmological information from next-generation large and high-precision weak lensing (WL) surveys (e.g., Euclid, Roman, and LSST), higher-order statistics that probe the small-scale, nonlinear regime of large-scale structure (LSS) need to be utilized. WL peak counts, which trace overdensities in the cosmic web, are one promising and simple statistic for constraining cosmological parameters. The physical origin of WL peaks have previously been linked to dark matter halos along the line of sight, and this peak-halo connection has been used to develop various semianalytic halo-based models for predicting peak counts. Here, we study the origin of WL peaks and the effectiveness of halo-based models for WL peak counts using a suite of ray-tracing N-body simulations. We compare WL peaks in convergence maps from the full simulations to those in maps created from only particles associated with halos—the latter playing the role of a “perfect” halo model. We find that, while halo-only contributions are able to replicate peak counts qualitatively well, halos do not explain all WL peaks. Halos particularly underpredict negative peaks, which are associated with local overdensities in large-scale underdense regions along the line of sight. In addition, neglecting nonhalo contributions to peaks counts leads to a significant bias on the parameters (${\mathrm{\Omega }}_{\mathrm{m}}$, ${\sigma }_8$) for surveys larger than $⪆100{\mathrm{deg}}^2$. We conclude that other elements of the cosmic web, outside and far away from dark matter halos, need to be incorporated into models of WL peaks in order to infer unbiased cosmological constraints.

Large composite dark matter states source a scalar binding field that, when coupled to Standard Model nucleons, provides a potential under which nuclei recoil and accelerate to energies capable of ionization, radiation, and thermonuclear reactions. We show that these dynamics are detectable for nucleon couplings as small as $g_n\sim {10}^{-17}$ at dark matter experiments, where the greatest sensitivity is attained by considering the Migdal effect. We also explore type-Ia supernovae and planetary heating as possible means to discover this type of dark matter.

In the event of a black hole (BH) forming stellar collapse, the neutrino signal should terminate abruptly at the moment of BH formation, after a phase of steady accretion. Since neutrinos are expected to reach Earth hours before the electromagnetic signal, the combined detection of the neutrino burst through multiple neutrino telescopes could allow to promptly determine the angular location of a nearby stellar collapse in the sky with high precision. In this paper, we contrast the triangulation pointing procedure that relies on the rise time of the neutrino curve, often considered in the literature, to the one that takes advantage of the cutoff of the neutrino curve at the moment of BH formation. By forecasting the neutrino signal expected in the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, Hyper-Kamiokande, and DUNE, we devise a strategy to optimize the identification of the rise and cutoff time of the neutrino curve. We show that the triangulation method developed by employing the end tail of the neutrino curve allows to achieve at least one order of magnitude improvement in the pointing precision for a galactic burst, while being insensitive to the neutrino mixing scenario. The triangulation-pointing method based on the cutoff of the neutrino curve will also guarantee a better performance for BH forming collapses occurring beyond our own Galaxy.

We study the ${\gamma }^{*}p\to N^{*}$ transition of the $N(1440)$ resonance in quark models to reveal the inner structure of the resonance. The $N(1440)$ is assumed in the study: (a) the first radial excitation of the nucleon, where the quark distribution is imported from low-lying baryon mass spectrum calculations, (b) a general radial excitation of the nucleon, and (c) a $q^3$ state with positive parity. The comparison between the theoretical results and experimental data on the helicity amplitudes $A_{1/2}$ and $S_{1/2}$ and the analysis of the spatial wave function of the $N(1440)$ resonance reveal that the $N(1440)$ resonance is mainly the $q^3$ first radial excitation.

In this work, we perform a nonlinear extension of the $U(1{)}_{\mathrm{Y}}$ sector of the Standard Model leading to novel quartic effective interactions between the neutral gauge bosons. We study the induced effects through high-energy processes resulting in three photons, namely, Z-boson decay and electron-positron annihilation. Available experimental data on these processes do not yield viable lower bounds on the mass parameter $\sqrt{\beta }$, but we estimate that the range $\sqrt{\beta }\lesssim m_Z$ could be reliably excluded with better statistics in future $e^{-}{e}^{+}$ colliders. We also discuss neutral gauge-boson scatterings, contextualizing our findings with recent results on anomalous quartic gauge couplings.

Single phonon excitations are sensitive probes of light-dark matter in the keV-GeV mass window. For anisotropic target materials, the signal depends on the direction of the incoming dark matter wind and exhibits a daily modulation. We discuss in detail the various sources of anisotropy and carry out a comparative study of 26 crystal targets, focused on sub-MeV dark matter benchmarks. We compute the modulation reach for the most promising targets, corresponding to the cross section where the daily modulation can be observed for a given exposure, which allows us to combine the strength of dark matter-phonon couplings and the amplitude of daily modulation. We highlight ${\mathrm{Al}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$ (sapphire), ${\mathrm{CaWO}}_4$, and h-BN (hexagonal boron nitride) as the best polar materials for recovering a daily modulation signal, which feature $\mathcal{O}(1–100)\%$ variations of detection rates throughout the day, depending on the dark matter mass and interaction. The directional nature of single phonon excitations offers a useful handle to mitigate backgrounds, which is crucial for fully realizing the discovery potential of near future experiments.

Effective field theories are useful tools to search for physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). However, effective theories can lead to nonunitary behavior with fast growing amplitudes. This unphysical behavior may induce a too large sensitivity to SM deviations, making necessary a unitarization of the amplitudes prior to a comparison with experiment. In the present work, we focus on all the processes entering two-Higgs production via longitudinal $WW$ scattering. We perform a one-loop calculation in the Higgs effective field theory framework of all relevant processes, determining the necessary counterterms in the on-shell scheme, and we study how the full inclusion of the gauge degrees of freedom modifies the previously computed masses and widths of the dynamical resonances arising from the unitarization process in the vector-isovector channel. Altogether, we are able to provide the technical tools that are needed to study the low-energy couplings in the Higgs effective theory under the requirements of unitarity and causality.

We present sensitivity of LHC differential cross-section measurements to so-called “stealth dark matter” scenarios occurring in an $\mathrm{SU}(N_D)$ dark gauge group, where constituents are charged under the Standard Model and $N_D=2$ or 4. The low-energy theory contains mesons which can be produced at the LHC, and a scalar baryon dark matter (DM) candidate which cannot. We evaluate the impact of LHC measurements on the dark meson masses. Using existing lattice results, we then connect the LHC explorations to DM phenomenology, in particular considering direct-detection experiments. We show that current LHC measurements constrain DM masses in the region of 3.0–5.5 TeV. We discuss potential pathways to explore these models further at the LHC.

This article is an addendum to [S. Baek et al., Phys. Rev. D 90, 055014 (2014).]. Here, we discuss the invisible Higgs decay width ${\mathrm{\Gamma }}_h^{\mathrm{inv}}$ in the Higgs portal vector dark matter (VDM) model in the limit $m_V\to 0^{+}$. In the effective field theory (EFT) approach where the VDM mass is attributed to the Stückelberg mechanism, $({\mathrm{\Gamma }}_h^{\mathrm{inv}}{)}_{\mathrm{EFT}}$ is divergent, which is unphysical and puzzling. On the other hand $({\mathrm{\Gamma }}_h^{\mathrm{inv}}{)}_{\mathrm{UV}}$ becomes finite in a UV completion, where the VDM mass is generated by the dark Higgs mechanism. Then we can take the limit $m_V\to 0^{+}$ by taking either (i) the dark gauge coupling $g_X\to 0^{+}$ with a fixed dark Higgs vacuum expectation value $v_{\mathrm{\Phi }}$, or (ii) $v_{\mathrm{\Phi }}\to 0^{+}$ with a fixed $g_X$. Such a difference in the behavior of ${\mathrm{\Gamma }}_h^{\mathrm{inv}}$ in the massless VDM limit demonstrates another limitation of EFT for the Higgs portal VDM, and the importance of gauge-invariant and renormalizable models for the Higgs portal VDM.

We perform digital quantum simulation, using a classical simulator, to study screening and confinement in a gauge theory with a topological term, focusing on ($1+1$)-dimensional quantum electrodynamics (Schwinger model) with a theta term. We compute the ground state energy in the presence of probe charges to estimate the potential between them, via adiabatic state preparation. We compare our simulation results and analytical predictions for a finite volume, finding good agreements. In particular our result in the massive case shows a linear behavior for noninteger charges and a nonlinear behavior for integer charges, consistently with the expected confinement (screening) behavior for noninteger (integer) charges.

The properties of strangelets at finite temperature are studied within the framework of a baryon densitydependent quark mass model, where a new quark mass scaling and self-consistent thermodynamic treatment are adopted. The effects of finite volume and Coulomb energy are taken into account. Our results show that the temperature $T$, baryon number $A$, and perturbation interactions have strong influences on the properties of strangelets. It is found that the energy per baryon $M/A$ and charge-to-mass ratio $f_z$ decrease with baryon number $A$, while the mechanically stable radius $R$ and strangeness per baryon $f_S$ are increasing. For a strangelet with a fixed baryon number, we note that as temperature $T$ increases the quantities $M/A$, $R$, and $f_S$ are increasing while $f_z$ is decreasing. The effects of confinement and perturbative interactions are investigated as well by readjusting the corresponding parameters.

Implications for Cabibbo universality based on progress in the study of semileptonic kaon and pion decays are discussed. Included are recent updates of experimental input along with improved radiative corrections, form factors, and isospin-breaking effects. As a result, we obtain for the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) quark mixing matrix element $|V_{us}|=0.22309(56)$ from semileptonic $K_{\ell 3}$ $(K\to \pi \ell \nu )$ decays and $|V_{us}/V_{ud}|=0.22908(87)$ from the ratio between the kaon and pion (${\pi }_{e3}$) semileptonic decay rates. In both, a lattice QCD value of the form factor $|f_{+}^K(0)|=0.9698(17)$ is employed. The $V_{us}$ from $K_{\ell 3}$ decays together with $V_{ud}=0.97373(31)$ found from superallowed nuclear beta decays implies an apparent $3.2\sigma$ violation of the first-row CKM unitarity condition. The $|V_{us}|/|V_{ud}|$ obtained from the ratio of weak vector current induced meson decays is consistent with the observed unitarity violation but found to differ by $2.2\sigma$ from its extraction using the ratio of weak axial-vector leptonic decay rates $\mathrm{\Gamma }(K\to \mu \nu )/\mathrm{\Gamma }(\pi \to \mu \nu )$. The situation suggests a difference between vector and axial-vector derived CKM matrix elements or a problem with the lattice QCD form factor input. Prospects for future improvements in comparative precision tests involving $|V_{ud}|$, $|V_{us}|$, and their ratios are briefly described.

Kaluza-Klein axions appear in theories with extra dimensions as higher mass, significantly shorter lifetime, excitations of the Peccei-Quinn axion. When produced in the Sun, they would remain gravitationally trapped in the solar system, and their decay to a pair of photons could provide an explanation of the solar corona heating problem. A low-density detector would discriminate such a signal from the background, by identifying the separation of the interaction point of the two photons. The NEWS-G collaboration uses large volume spherical proportional counters, gas-filled metallic spheres with a spherical anode in their centre. After observation of a single axionlike event in a 42 day long run with the SEDINE detector, a 90% C.L. upper limit of $g_{a\gamma \gamma }<8.99\times {10}^{-13}{\mathrm{GeV}}^{-1}$ is set on the axion-photon coupling for the benchmark of a Kaluza-Klein axion density on Earth of $n_a=4.07\times {10}^{13}{\mathrm{m}}^{-3}$ and two extra dimensions of size $R=1{\mathrm{eV}}^{-1}$.

A search optimized for new heavy particles decaying to two $b$-quarks and produced in association with additional $b$-quarks is reported. The sensitivity is improved by $b$-tagging at least one lower-$p_{\mathrm{T}}$ jet in addition to the two highest-$p_{\mathrm{T}}$ jets. The data used in this search correspond to an integrated luminosity of $103{\mathrm{fb}}^{-1}$ collected with a dedicated trijet trigger during the 2017 and 2018 $\sqrt{s}=13\mathrm{TeV}$ proton-proton collision runs with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The search looks for resonant peaks in the $b$-tagged dijet invariant mass spectrum over a smoothly falling background. The background is estimated with an innovative data-driven method based on orthonormal functions. The observed $b$-tagged dijet invariant mass spectrum is compatible with the background-only hypothesis. Upper limits at 95% confidence level on a heavy vector-boson production cross section times branching ratio to a pair of $b$-quarks are derived.

Using the entire data sample of $980{\mathrm{fb}}^{-1}$ collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^{+}{e}^{-}$ collider, we present measurements of the branching fractions of the Cabibbo-favored decays ${\mathrm{\Xi }}_c^0\to \mathrm{\Lambda }{K}_S^0$, ${\mathrm{\Xi }}_c^0\to {\mathrm{\Sigma }}^0{K}_S^0$, and ${\mathrm{\Xi }}_c^0\to {\mathrm{\Sigma }}^{+}{K}^{-}$. Taking the decay ${\mathrm{\Xi }}_c^0\to {\mathrm{\Xi }}^{-}{\pi }^{+}$ as the normalization mode, we measure the branching fraction ratio $\mathcal{B}({\mathrm{\Xi }}_c^0\to \mathrm{\Lambda }{K}_S^0)/\mathcal{B}({\mathrm{\Xi }}_c^0\to {\mathrm{\Xi }}^{-}{\pi }^{+})=0.229\pm 0.008\pm 0.012$ with improved precision, and measure the branching fraction ratios $\mathcal{B}({\mathrm{\Xi }}_c^0\to {\mathrm{\Sigma }}^0{K}_S^0)/\mathcal{B}({\mathrm{\Xi }}_c^0\to {\mathrm{\Xi }}^{-}{\pi }^{+})=0.038\pm 0.006\pm 0.004$ and $\mathcal{B}({\mathrm{\Xi }}_c^0\to {\mathrm{\Sigma }}^{+}{K}^{-})/\mathcal{B}({\mathrm{\Xi }}_c^0\to {\mathrm{\Xi }}^{-}{\pi }^{+})=0.123\pm 0.007\pm 0.010$ for the first time. Taking into account the branching fraction of the normalization mode, the absolute branching fractions are determined to be $\mathcal{B}({\mathrm{\Xi }}_c^0\to \mathrm{\Lambda }{K}_S^0)=(3.27\pm 0.11\pm 0.17\pm 0.73)\times {10}^{-3}$, $\mathcal{B}({\mathrm{\Xi }}_c^0\to {\mathrm{\Sigma }}^0{K}_S^0)=(0.54\pm 0.09\pm 0.06\pm 0.12)\times {10}^{-3}$, and $\mathcal{B}({\mathrm{\Xi }}_c^0\to {\mathrm{\Sigma }}^{+}{K}^{-})=(1.76\pm 0.10\pm 0.14\pm 0.39)\times {10}^{-3}$. The first and second uncertainties above are statistical and systematic, respectively, while the third ones arise from the uncertainty of the branching fraction of ${\mathrm{\Xi }}_c^0\to {\mathrm{\Xi }}^{-}{\pi }^{+}$.

We investigate the conjecture on the upper bound of the Lyapunov exponent for the chaotic motion of a charged particle around a Kerr-Newman black hole. The Lyapunov exponent is closely associated with the maximum of the effective potential with respect to the particle. We show that when the angular momenta of the black hole and particle are considered, the Lyapunov exponent can exceed the conjectured upper bound. This is because the angular momenta change the effective potential and increase the magnitude of the chaotic behavior of the particle. Furthermore, the location of the maximum is also related to the value of the Lyapunov exponent and the extremal and nonextremal states of the black hole.

Employing time-dependent perturbation theory, we discuss the conditions under which a spatially extended two level Unruh-DeWitt detector, coupled to the proper time derivative of a scalar field, can drive itself into a coherent superposition of its energy basis. It is shown that this process, which is assisted due to the energy cost required for the implementation of the interaction, is only possible for a field with a nonzero coherent amplitude distribution. When the detector interacts instantaneously with the field through a delta coupling, the latter acts as a catalyst resulting in the extraction of the same amount of coherence each time at the cost of a positive amount of work. For a Gaussian smeared detector and a field in a coherent state the amount generated to lowest order in the coupling constant depends on the phase of the amplitude distribution, the initial energy of the field, the mean radius of the detector and the mean interaction duration between the two. We observe that for a detector moving at a constant velocity and with a mean radius of the same order as its transition wavelength, coherence swelling effects are present the intensity of which depends on the dimension of the underlying Minkowski spacetime.

The investigations presented in this study are directed at relativistic modifications of the uncertainty relation derived from the curvature of the background spacetime. These findings generalize previous work that is recovered in the nonrelativistic limit. Applying the $3+1$ splitting in accordance with the ADM formalism, we find the relativistic physical momentum operator and compute its standard deviation for wave functions confined to a geodesic ball on a spacelike hypersurface. Its radius can then be understood as a measure of position uncertainty. Under the assumption of small position uncertainties in comparison to background curvature length scales, we obtain the corresponding corrections to the uncertainty relation in flat space. Those depend on the Ricci scalar of the effective spatial metric, the particle is moving on, and, if there are nonvanishing time-space components of the spacetime metric, there are gradients of the shift vector and the lapse function. Interestingly, this result is applicable not only to massive but also to massless particles. Over all, this is not a covariant, yet a consistently general relativistic approach. We further speculate on a possible covariant extension.

We renormalize the Wess-Zumino model at five loops in both the minimal subtraction ($\overline{\mathrm{MS}}$) and momentum subtraction schemes. The calculation is carried out automatically using a routine that performs the $D$-algebra. Generalizations of the model to include $O(N)$ symmetry as well as the case with real and complex tensor couplings are also considered. We confirm that the emergent $SU(3)$ symmetry of six-dimensional $O(N){\varphi }^3$ theory is also a property of the tensor $O(N)$ model. With the new loop order precision we compute critical exponents in the $\epsilon$ expansion for several of these generalizations as well as the XYZ model in order to compare with conformal bootstrap estimates in three dimensions. For example at five loops our estimate for the correction to scaling exponent is in very good agreement for the Wess-Zumino model which equates to the emergent supersymmetric fixed point of the Gross-Neveu-Yukawa model. We also compute the rational number that is part of the six loop $\overline{\mathrm{MS}}$ $\beta$-function.