Dark matter from a complex scalar singlet: the role of dark CP and other discrete symmetries

We study the case of a pseudo-scalar dark matter candidate which emerges from a complex scalar singlet, charged under a global U(1) symmetry, which is broken both explicitly and spontaneously. The pseudo-scalar is naturally stabilized by the presence of a remnant discrete symmetry: dark CP. We study and compare the phenomenology of several simplified models with only one explicit symmetry breaking term. We find that several regions of the parameter space are able to reproduce the observed dark matter abundance while respecting direct detection and invisible Higgs decay limits: in the resonances of the two scalars, featuring the known as forbidden or secluded dark matter, and through non-resonant Higgs-mediated annihilations. In some cases, combining different measurements would allow one to distinguish the breaking pattern of the symmetry. Moreover, this setup admits a light DM candidate at the sub-GeV scale. We also discuss the situation where more than one symmetry breaking term is present. In that case, the dark CP symmetry may be spontaneously broken, thus spoiling the stability of the dark matter candidate. Requiring that this does not happen imposes a constraint on the allowed parameter space. Finally, we consider an effective field theory approach valid in the pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson limit and when the U(1) breaking scale is much larger than the electroweak scale.

Topological violation of global symmetries in quantum gravity

We discuss a topological reason why global symmetries are not conserved in quantum gravity, at least when the symmetry comes from compactification of a higher form symmetry. The mechanism is purely topological and does not require any explicit breaking term in the UV Lagrangian. Local current conservation does not imply global charge conservation in a sum over geometries in the path integral. We explicitly consider the shift symmetry of an axion-like field which originates from the compactification of a p-form gauge field. Our topological construction is motivated by the brane/black-brane correspondence, brane instantons, and an idea that virtual black branes of a simple kind may be realized by surgery on spacetime manifolds.

Leaks of CP violation in the real two-Higgs-doublet model

We discuss the $$Z_2$$ Z 2 symmetric two-Higgs-doublet model with a real soft-breaking term (real 2HDM). We explain in detail why it is not tenable to assume CP conservation in the scalar sector to keep the dimension two term real, while CP is violated by the dimension four Yukawa couplings. We propose the calculation of the infinite tadpole of the (would-be) pseudoscalar neutral scalar. We construct a simple toy model with the same flaws, where the unrenormalizable infinity is easier to calculate. We then consider the same tadpole in the real 2HDM. We spearhead this effort focusing on diagrams involving solely bare quantities. This involves hundreds of Feynman three-loop diagrams that could feed the CP violation from the quark into the scalar sector, and is only possible with state of the art automatic computation tools. Remarkably, some intermediate results agree when using three independent derivations, including the peculiar cancellation of the leading pole divergence due to a subtle interplay between masses and the Jarlskog invariant, which we calculate analytically. The calculation is not complete however, since the full two-loop renormalization of the real 2HDM is not yet available in the literature. Still, we argue convincingly that there is an irremovable infinity.

CPT-violating z = 3 Horava–Lifshitz QED and generation of the Carroll–Field–Jackiw term

We study the new extension of the [Formula: see text] Horava–Lifshitz QED involving a CPT-breaking term, characterized by the axial vector [Formula: see text], and calculate the Carroll–Field–Jackiw (CFJ) term in the one-loop approximation. Explicitly, we use two regularization schemes and demonstrate that in our case, the CFJ term is finite but ambiguous, so that its exact coefficient depends on the used regularization.

Novel thick brane solutions with U(1) symmetry breaking

In this work, using two scalar fields ($$\phi $$ ϕ , $$\psi $$ ψ ) coupled to 4 + 1 dimensional gravity, we construct novel topological brane solutions through an explicit U(1) symmetry breaking term. The potential of this model is constructed so that two distinct degenerate vacua in the $$\phi $$ ϕ field exist, in analogy to the $$\phi ^{4}$$ ϕ 4 potential. Therefore, brane solutions appear due to the vacuum structure of the $$\phi $$ ϕ field. However, the topology and vacuum structure in the $$\psi $$ ψ direction depends on the symmetry breaking parameter $$\beta ^{2}$$ β 2 , which leads to different types of branes. As a result, one can interpret the present model as a combination of a $$\phi ^{4}$$ ϕ 4 brane with an auxiliary field, which leads to deviations from the $$\phi ^{4}$$ ϕ 4 system with the brane achieving a richer internal structure. Furthermore, we analyse in detail the behaviour of the superpotentials, the warp factors, the Ricci and Kretschmann scalars and the Einstein tensor components. In addition to this, we explore the stability of the brane in terms of the free parameters of the model. The analysis presented here complements previous work and is sufficiently novel to be interesting.

Near conformal perturbation theory in SYK type models

We present a systematic procedure to extract the dynamics of the low energy soft mode in SYK type models with a single energy scale J and emergent reparametrization symmetry in the IR. This is given in the framework of the perturbative scheme of arXiv:1608.07567 based on a specific (off-shell) breaking of conformal invariance in the UV, adjusted to yield the exact large-N saddle point. While this breaking term formally vanishes on-shell, it has a non-trivial effect on correlation functions and the effective action. In particular, it leads to the Schwarzian action with a specific coupling to bi-local matter. The method is applied to the evaluation of O(1) corrections to the correlation function of bi-locals. As a byproduct we confirm precise agreement with the explicit, symmetry breaking procedure. We provide a verification in the large q limit (Liouville theory), where the correlators can be calculated exactly at all length scales. In this case, our scheme illuminates how the enhanced O(J) and the subleading O(1) contributions originate from the Schwarzian dynamics of the soft mode and its interaction with h = 2 (bi-local) matter.

Incoherent superconductivity well above Tc in high-Tc cuprates - harmonizing the spectroscopic and thermodynamic data

© 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. Cuprate superconductors have long been known to exhibit an energy gap that persists high above the superconducting transition temperature (Tc). Debate has continued now for decades as to whether it is a precursor superconducting gap or a pseudogap arising from some competing correlation. Failure to resolve this has arguably delayed explaining the origins of superconductivity in these highly complex materials. Here we effectively settle the question by calculating a variety of thermodynamic and spectroscopic properties, exploring the effect of a temperature-dependent pair-breaking term in the self-energy in the presence of pairing interactions that persist well above Tc.We start by fitting the detailed temperature-dependence of the electronic specific heat and immediately can explain its hitherto puzzling field dependence. Taking this same combination of pairing temperature and pairbreaking scattering we are then able to simultaneously describe in detail the unusual temperature and field dependence of the superfluid density, tunneling, Raman and optical spectra, which otherwise defy explanation in terms a superconducting gap that closes conventionally at Tc. These findings demonstrate that the gap above Tc in the overdoped regime likely originates from incoherent superconducting correlations, and is distinct from the competing-order pseudogap that appears at lower doping.

Incoherent superconductivity well above Tc in high-Tc cuprates - harmonizing the spectroscopic and thermodynamic data

© 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. Cuprate superconductors have long been known to exhibit an energy gap that persists high above the superconducting transition temperature (Tc). Debate has continued now for decades as to whether it is a precursor superconducting gap or a pseudogap arising from some competing correlation. Failure to resolve this has arguably delayed explaining the origins of superconductivity in these highly complex materials. Here we effectively settle the question by calculating a variety of thermodynamic and spectroscopic properties, exploring the effect of a temperature-dependent pair-breaking term in the self-energy in the presence of pairing interactions that persist well above Tc.We start by fitting the detailed temperature-dependence of the electronic specific heat and immediately can explain its hitherto puzzling field dependence. Taking this same combination of pairing temperature and pairbreaking scattering we are then able to simultaneously describe in detail the unusual temperature and field dependence of the superfluid density, tunneling, Raman and optical spectra, which otherwise defy explanation in terms a superconducting gap that closes conventionally at Tc. These findings demonstrate that the gap above Tc in the overdoped regime likely originates from incoherent superconducting correlations, and is distinct from the competing-order pseudogap that appears at lower doping.

Extended Divisibility Relations for Constraint Polynomials of the Asymmetric Quantum Rabi Model

The quantum Rabi model (QRM) is widely regarded as one of the fundamental models of quantum optics. One of its generalizations is the asymmetric quantum Rabi model (AQRM), obtained by introducing a symmetry-breaking term depending on a parameter $$\varepsilon \in \mathbb {R}$$ to the Hamiltonian of the QRM. The AQRM was shown to possess degeneracies in the spectrum for values $$\epsilon \in 1/2\mathbb {Z}$$ via the study of the divisibility of the so-called constraint polynomials. In this article, we aim to provide further insight into the structure of Juddian solutions of the AQRM by extending the divisibility properties and the relations between the constraint polynomials with the solution of the AQRM in the Bargmann space. In particular we discuss a conjecture proposed by Masato Wakayama.

Corrections to Wigner–Eckart Relations by Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking

The matrix elements of operators transforming as irreducible representations of an unbroken symmetry group G are governed by the well-known Wigner–Eckart relations. In the case of infinite-dimensional systems, with G spontaneously broken, we prove that the corrections to such relations are provided by symmetry breaking Ward identities, and simply reduce to a tadpole term involving Goldstone bosons. The analysis extends to the case in which an explicit symmetry breaking term is present in the Hamiltonian, with the tadpole term now involving pseudo Goldstone bosons. An explicit example is discussed, illustrating the two cases.