Search

We construct two concrete examples of flavour non-universal gauge theories which, after the inclusion of all $d\leq 4$ gauge invariant operators, allow to describe the observed pattern of flavour in the charged fermion sector without any small Yukawa coupling ($y \gtrsim 0.1$). Guided by the criterium of minimality, we assume that flavour non universality is confined to the Abelian sector of the gauge group: the universal hypercharge emerges after a sequence of symmetry-breaking steps characterised by two high mass scales, $\Lambda_{[23]} < \Lambda_{[12]}$, where the second and the first fermion generations get their mass respectively. At least in one of the two models the smaller of these scales can be in the 10 TeV range, consistently with current bounds from flavour observables. Both models are extended to include as well neutrino masses and mixings., Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures

Assuming confirmation of the anomalies in semi-leptonic $B$-decays, their explanation in terms of the exchange of a massive vector leptoquark field, $U_\mu^a$, of charge 2/3, appears to require the inclusion of $U_\mu^a$ in the vector multiplet of the adjoint of Pati-Salam $SU(4)$, $\mathcal{G}_\mu^A$, as well as the introduction of vector-like fermions, $F_j$, in the fundamental of $SU(4)$. We consider simplified models characterised by the nature of the $SU(4)$ symmetry (global or local), by the number of vector-like fermions, and by the couplings of the Higgs boson to SM fermions (direct or induced by mixing with the vector-like fermions). In all cases, we implement a minimal breaking of a $U(2)^n_f$ flavour symmetry, with a single motivated exception. We then perform a global fit including the main observables sensitive to exchanges of the $\mathcal{G}_\mu^A$ at tree level and in loops dominated by logs insensitive to the UV completion., Comment: 17 pages, 3 figures, 3 tables

Based on a view of current flavour physics and motivated by the hierarchy problem and by the pattern of quark masses and mixings, I describe a picture of flavour physics that should give rise in a not too distant future to observable deviations from the SM in Higgs compositeness and/or in B-decays with violations of Lepton Flavour Universality, as hinted by current data, or perhaps even in supersymmetry, depending on the specific realisation., Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures, to appear in The special volume of Acta Physica Polonica B to commemorate Martinus Veltman

Flavour physics, from now up to the operation of the next high energy collider, will be an important tool for BSM searches at the TeV scale. Although far from exhaustive, a particularly relevant case is represented by the possibility that the Higgs be a composite Pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone-Boson (PNGB) at a scale $l_H=1/m_*$. While a totally model-independent assessment of the potential of flavour physics in this case is impossible, here we illustrate what is likely to be a minimal sensitivity on $m_*$ by considering suitable examples.\, Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures

A properly defined and suitably broken $U(2)$ flavour symmetry leads to successful quantitative relations between quark mass ratios and CKM angles. At the same time the intrinsic distinction introduced by $U(2)$ between the third and the first two families of quarks and leptons may support anomalies in charged and neutral current semi-leptonic $B$-decays of the kind tentatively observed in current flavour experiments. We show how this is possible by the exchange of the $(3,1)_{2/3}$ vector leptoquark in two $U(2)$-models with significantly different values of Lepton Flavour Universality violation, observable in foreseen experiments., Comment: 19 pages, 2 figures; in v2 several points clarified, no change of results, matches published version

Attempts to incorporate in a coherent picture the $B$-decay anomalies presumably observed in $b\rightarrow c$ and $b\rightarrow s$ semi-leptonic decays have to face the absence of signals in other related experiments, both at low and at high energies. By extending and making more precise the content of Ref. [1], we describe one such attempt based on the Pati-Salam SU(4) group, that unifies colour and the $B$-$L$ charge, in the context of a new strongly interacting sector, equally responsible for producing a pseudo-Goldstone Higgs boson., Comment: 24 pages, 3 figures

As a way to recall and honour Guido Altarelli I contribute to the discussion on the prospect for the future of Particle Physics. I do this because I am sure that Guido would have liked the discussion, even though I am not equally sure that he would have agreed on all the opinions I express here., Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures

We consider two copies of the Standard Model, interchanged by an exact parity symmetry, P. The observed fermion mass hierarchy is described by suppression factors $\epsilon^{n_i}$ for charged fermion $i$, as can arise in Froggatt-Nielsen and extra-dimensional theories of flavor. The corresponding flavor factors in the mirror sector are $\epsilon'^{n_i}$, so that spontaneous breaking of the parity P arises from a single parameter $\epsilon'/\epsilon$, yielding a tightly constrained version of Minimal Mirror Twin Higgs, introduced in our previous paper. Models are studied for simple values of $n_i$, including in particular one with SU(5)-compatibility, that describe the observed fermion mass hierarchy. The entire mirror quark and charged lepton spectrum is broadly predicted in terms of $\epsilon'/\epsilon$, as are the mirror QCD scale and the decoupling temperature between the two sectors. Helium-, hydrogen- and neutron-like mirror dark matter candidates are constrained by self-scattering and relic ionization. In each case, the allowed parameter space can be fully probed by proposed direct detection experiments. Correlated predictions are made as well for the Higgs signal strength and the amount of dark radiation., Comment: 43 pages, 15 figures

The collection of a few anomalies in semileptonic $B$-decays, especially in $b\rightarrow c \tau \bar{\nu}$, invites to speculate about the emergence of some striking new phenomena, perhaps interpretable in terms of a weakly broken $U(2)^n$ flavor symmetry and of leptoquark mediators. Here we aim at a partial UV completion of this interpretation by generalizing the minimal composite Higgs model to include a composite vector leptoquark as well., Comment: 29 pages, 4 figures, 1 table

In a Mirror Twin World with a maximally symmetric Higgs sector the little hierarchy of the Standard Model can be significantly mitigated, perhaps displacing the cutoff scale above the LHC reach. We show that consistency with observations requires that the Z2 parity exchanging the Standard Model with its mirror be broken in the Yukawa couplings. A minimal such effective field theory, with this sole Z2 breaking, can generate the Z2 breaking in the Higgs sector necessary for the Twin Higgs mechanism. The theory has constrained and correlated signals in Higgs decays, direct Dark Matter Detection and Dark Radiation, all within reach of foreseen experiments, over a region of parameter space where the fine-tuning for the electroweak scale is 10-50%. For dark matter, both mirror neutrons and a variety of self-interacting mirror atoms are considered. Neutrino mass signals and the effects of a possible additional Z2 breaking from the vacuum expectation values of B-L breaking fields are also discussed., Comment: 42 pages, 8 figures; additional references and discussion on higgs physics and dark matter

We consider the NMSSM extended to include one vector-like family of quarks and leptons. If (some of) these vector-like matter particles, as the Higgs doublets, have Yukawa couplings to the singlet S that exceed unity at about the same scale $\Lambda \lesssim 10^3$ TeV, this gives the order 40 % enhancement of the tree level Higgs boson mass required in the MSSM to reach 125 GeV. It is conceivable that the Yukawa couplings to the singlet S, although naively blowing up close to $\Lambda$, will not spoil gauge coupling unification. In such a case the unified coupling $\alpha_X$ could be interestingly led to a value not far from unity, thus providing a possible explanation for the number of generations. The characteristic signal is an enhanced resonant production of neutral spin zero particles at LHC, that could even explain the putative diphoton resonance hinted by the recent LHC data at 750 GeV., Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, 1 table. v2: clarifications added in sections 2 and 3, figures updated, matches published version

The collection of a few anomalies in semileptonic $B$-decays invites to speculate about the emergence of some strikingly new phenomena. Here we offer a possible interpretation of these anomalies in the context of a weakly broken $U(2)^5$ flavour symmetry and lepto-quark mediators., Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures

Minimal Flavour Violation in its strong or weak versions, based on $U(3)^3$ and $U(2)^3$ respectively, allows suitable extensions of the Standard Model at the TeV scale to comply with current flavour constraints in the quark sector. Here we discuss considerations analogous to MFV in the context of $SU(5)$-unification, showing the new effects/constraints that arise both in the quark as in the lepton sector, where quantitative statements can be made controlled by the CKM matrix elements. The case of supersymmetry is examined in detail as a particularly motivated example. Third generation sleptons and neutralinos in the few hundred GeV range are shown to be compatible with current constraints., Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures

The test of the electroweak corrections has played a major role in providing evidence for the gauge and the Higgs sectors of the Standard Model. At the same time the consideration of the electroweak corrections has given significant indirect information on the masses of the top and the Higgs boson before their discoveries and important orientation/constraints on the searches for new physics, still highly valuable in the present situation.The progression of these contributions is reviewed., Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, a contribution to "The Standard Theory up to the Higgs discovery - 60 years of CERN"

Based on an explicit model, we propose and discuss the generic features of a possible implementation of the Twin Higgs program in the context of composite Higgs models. We find that the Twin Higgs quadratic divergence cancellation argument can be uplifted to a genuine protection of the Higgs potential, based on symmetries and selection rules, but only under certain conditions which are not fulfilled in some of the existing models. We also find that a viable scenario, not plagued by a massless Twin Photon, can be obtained by not gauging the Twin Hypercharge and taking this as the only source of Twin Symmetry breaking at a very high scale., Comment: 19 pages; v2: typos and notation corrected, results unchanged; v3: published version

Based on flavour symmetries only, there are two ways to give rise to an effective description of flavour physics in the quark sector close to the CKM picture: one is based on $U(3)_q\times U(3)_u\times U(3)_d$ (or equivalent) and the other on $U(2)_q\times U(2)_u\times U(2)_d$ (or equivalent). In this context we analyze the current status of flavour physics measurements and we compare their impact, in the specific case of supersymmetry, with the direct searches of new particles at the LHC, present or foreseen., Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures

Is the weak scale natural? This ever pending question makes the search for new particle production a highly motivated primary goal of the next LHC phase. These searches may or may not be successful. While waiting for a needed higher energy collider to extend the direct exploration, the search for signs of new physics might be confined to indirect tests for quite some time. In a few fully calculable models, weakly or semi-strongly interacting, we compare the significance to measure the Higgs couplings versus the electroweak observables., Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures. v2) one reference added, typos corrected

I summarize the status of the ElectroWeak Interactions after the first phase of the Large Hadron Collider and I give an outlook on its possible developments., Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures

Now that one has been found, the search for signs of more scalars is a primary task of current and future experiments. In the motivated hypothesis that the extra Higgs bosons of the next-to-minimal supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) be the lightest new particles around, we outline a possible overall strategy to search for signs of the CP-even states. This work complements Ref. arXiv:1304.3670., Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures. v2: references added, published in PRD

The Next to Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) with a Higgs-singlet coupling {\lambda} close to unity, moderate tan {\beta} and stop masses below 1 TeV minimizes the fine tuning of the electroweak scale, making possible that the lightest new particles, except perhaps for the LSP, be part of the extended Higgs system. We show how the measurements of the couplings of the 126 GeV Higgs boson constrain the region of the physical parameters of a generic NMSSM most relevant to this context. In the same region of parameter space we determine the cross section for the production of a heavier CP-even scalar together with its total width and its most relevant branching ratios. For comparison we show the same analysis for the MSSM. We also comment on how a coupling {\lambda} ~ 1 can be compatible with gauge coupling unification., Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures. v2: some figures improved, references added. Version published in PRD

I describe some of the highlights of ICHEP2012 with an eye to the current status of particle physics., Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures, ICHEP2012, Melbourne

A composite Higgs boson of 125 GeV mass, only mildly fine-tuned, requires top partners with a semi-perturbative coupling and a mass not greater than about a TeV. We analyze the strong constraints on such picture arising from flavour and electroweak precision tests in models of partial compositeness. We consider different representations for the composite fermions and compare the case of an anarchic flavour structure to models with a U(3)^3 and U(2)^3 flavour symmetry. Although non trivially, some models emerge that look capable of accommodating a 125 GeV Higgs boson with top partners in an interesting mass range for discovery at the LHC as well as associated flavour signals., Comment: 28 pages, 12 tables. v2: clarifications and references added, discussion in appendix E extended, numerical glitches in tables 4 and 8 corrected, conclusions unchanged

We consider the approximate U(2)^3 flavour symmetry exhibited by the quark sector of the Standard Model and all its possible breaking terms appearing in the quark Yukawa couplings. Taking an Effective Field Theory point of view, we determine the current bounds on these parameters, assumed to control the breaking of flavour in a generic extension of the Standard Model at a reference scale Lambda. In particular, a significant bound from epsilon'/epsilon is derived, which is relevant to Minimal Flavour Violation as well. In the up-quark sector, the recently observed CP violation in D -> pi+ pi-, K+ K- decays might be accounted for in this generic framework, consistently with any other constraint., Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure

The quark sector of the Standard Model exhibits an approximate U(2)^3 flavour symmetry. This symmetry, broken in specific directions dictated by minimality, can explain the success of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa picture of flavour mixing and CP violation, confirmed by the data so far, while allowing for observable deviations from it, as expected in most models of ElectroWeak Symmetry Breaking. Building on previous work in the specific context of supersymmetry, we analyze the expected effects and we quantify the current bounds in a general Effective Field Theory framework. As a further relevant example we then show how the U(2)^3 symmetry and its breaking can be implemented in a generic composite Higgs model and we make a first analysis of its peculiar consequences. We also discuss how some partial extension of U(2)^3 to the lepton sector can arise, both in general and in composite Higgs models. An optimistic though conceivable interpretation of the considerations developed in this paper gives reasons to think that new physics searches in the flavour sector may be about to explore an interesting realm of phenomena., Comment: 29 pages, 5 figures

We study CP asymmetries in rare B decays within supersymmetry with a U(2)^3 flavour symmetry, motivated by the SUSY flavour and CP problems, the hierarchies in the Yukawa couplings and the absence so far of any direct evidence for SUSY. Even in the absence of flavour-blind phases, we find potentially sizable CP violating contributions to b -> s decay amplitudes. The effects in the mixing-induced CP asymmetries in B ->phi K(S) and B -> eta' K(S), angular CP asymmetries in B -> K* mu+ mu- and the direct CP asymmetry in B -> X(s) gamma can be in the region to be probed by LHCb and next generation B factories. At the same time, these effects in B decays are compatible with CP violating contributions to meson mixing, including a non-standard B(s) mixing phase hinted by current tensions in the CKM fit mostly between S(psi K(S)), epsilon(K) and Delta M(B(s))/Delta M(B(d))., Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures

Rather than sticking to the full $U(3)^3$ approximate symmetry normally invoked in Minimal Flavour Violation, we analyze the consequences on the current flavour data of a suitably broken $U(2)^3$ symmetry acting on the first two generations of quarks and squarks. A definite correlation emerges between the $\Delta F=2$ amplitudes $\cM(K^0 \to \bar K^0)$, $\cM(B_d \to \bar B_d)$ and $\cM(B_s \to \bar B_s)$, which can resolve the current tension between between $\cM(K^0 \to \bar K^0)$ and $\cM(B_d \to \bar B_d)$, while predicting $\cM(B_s \to \bar B_s)$. In particular, the CP violating asymmetry in $B_s \to \psi \phi$ is predicted to be positive and above its Standard Model value ($0.05 \lsim S_{\psi\phi} \lsim 0.2$). The preferred region for the gluino and the left-handed sbottom masses is below about $1\div 1.5$ TeV. An existence proof of a dynamical model realizing the $U(2)^3$ pictured is outlined., Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures. v2: sign error in eqs. (11)-(15) and fig. 3 corrected, conclusions unchanged. Matches published version

If supersymmetry is relevant at the Fermi scale, the lack of any direct signal so far may require going beyond the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. In this talk I briefly summarize a simple and concrete extension of the MSSM that takes these issues, including a way to address the flavour and the CP problems. In its fully natural range of parameters, the expected signals for LHC, dark matter and flavour physics are clear and generally quite different from the ones of the MSSM. Gauge coupling unification may be only approximate., Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, Proceedings of DISCRETE'10, Rome, December 2010

We analyze CP violation in supersymmetry with Effective Minimal Flavour Violation, as recently proposed in arXiv:1011.0730. Unlike the case of standard Minimal Flavour Violation, we show that all the phases allowed by the flavour symmetry can be sizable without violating existing Electric Dipole Moment constraints, thus solving the SUSY CP problem. The EDMs at one and two loops are precisely analyzed as well as their correlations with the expected CP asymmetries in B physics., Comment: 22 pages, 7 figures. v2: Discussion in section 2 extended, conclusions unchanged. Matches published version

In a supersymmetric model with hierarchical squark masses we analyze a pattern of flavour symmetry breaking centered on the special role of the top Yukawa coupling and, by extension, of the full Yukawa couplings for the up-type quarks. For sufficiently heavy squarks of the first and second generation this leads to effective Minimal Flavour Violation of the Flavour Changing Neutral Current amplitudes. For this to happen we determine the bounds on the masses of the heavy squarks with QCD corrections taken into account, properly including previously neglected effects. We believe that the view presented in this paper altogether strengthens the case for hierarchical sfermions., Comment: 13 pages, 1 figure. v2: an equation corrected

Based on simple phenomenological Lagrangians, fulfilling reasonable consistency conditions, we consider under which circumstances the production of a single particle might be an early signal of new physics at the LHC. Effective final states are $\gamma \gamma $ and $\gamma +jet$ already with tens of inverse picobarns of integrated luminosity at 7 TeV., Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures

Taking a bottom-up point of view and focussing on the lack of signals so far in the Higgs and in the flavour sectors, we argue in favour of giving consideration to supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model where the lightest Higgs boson has a mass between 200 and 300 GeV and the first two generations of s-fermions are above 20 TeV. After examining the simplest extensions of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model that allow this in a natural way, we summarize the main consequences of this pattern of masses at the LHC and we analyze the consequences of a heavier than normal Higgs boson for Dark Matter., Comment: 15 pages, 14 figures. v2: a subsection added on the constraint from colour conservation. v3: minor changes in Fig 3 due to numerical corrections

In a strong-coupling picture of ElectroWeak Symmetry Breaking, a composite electroweak-neutral state in the TeV mass range, carrying a global (quasi-)conserved charge, makes a plausible Dark Matter (DM) candidate, with the ongoing direct DM searches being precisely sensitive to the expected signals. To exploit the crucial interplay between direct DM searches and the LHC, we consider a composite iso-singlet vector $V$, mixed with the hypercharge gauge field, as the essential mediator of the interaction between the DM particle and the nucleus. Based on a suitable effective chiral Lagrangian, we give the expected properties and production rates of $V$, showing its possible discovery at the maximal LHC energy with about 100 fb^{-1} of integrated luminosity., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures

An unspecified strong dynamics may give rise to composite vectors sufficiently light that their interactions, among themselves or with the electroweak gauge bosons, be approximately described by an effective Lagrangian invariant under $SU(2)_L\times SU(2)_R/ SU(2)_{L+R}$. We study the production at the LHC of two such states by vector boson fusion or by the Drell--Yan process in this general framework and we compare it with the case of gauge vectors from a $SU(2)_L\times SU(2)_R\times SU(2)^N$ gauge model spontaneously broken to the diagonal SU(2) subgroup by a generic $\sigma$-model. Special attention is payed to the asymptotic behaviour of the different amplitudes in both cases. The expected rates of multi-lepton events from the decay of the composite vectors are also given. A thorough phenomenological analysis and the evaluation of the backgrounds to such signals, aiming at assessing the visibility of composite-vector pairs at the LHC, is instead deferred to future work., Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables

We draw attention on a particular configuration of supersymmetric particle masses, motivated by naturalness and flavour considerations. All its relevant phenomenological properties for the LHC are described in terms of a few physical parameters, irrespective of the underlying theoretical model. This allows a simple characterization of its main features, useful to define a strategy for its discovery., Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, added references

Intrigued by some features of a small but significant fraction of the multi-muon events recently published by the CDF collaboration, we show an explicit attempt to describe them in terms of a light scalar singlet $\phi$ which communicates with the standard quarks either through a heavy scalar or a heavy fermion exchange. As suggested in arXiv:0810.7530, the singlet $\phi$ has a chain decay into a final state made of four $\tau\bar{\tau}$ pairs. We can simulate most of the muon properties of the selected sample of events. Some of these properties adhere rather well to the already published data; others should allow a decisive test of the proposed interpretation. Assuming that the test is positively passed, we show how the PAMELA excess can be fitted by the annihilation of a TeV Dark Matter particle that communicates with the Standard Model via the new light singlet(s)., Comment: 19 pp, v2: small changes, agrees with the published version

If the electroweak symmetry is broken by some unspecified strong dynamics, composite fermions may exist with definite transformation properties under SU(2)_L x SU(2)_R/SU(2)_{L+R} and may play a role in giving masses by mixing to all the standard quarks and leptons. Assuming this to be the case, we analyze the role of Singlets, Doublets and Triplets in the ElectroWeak Precision Tests and in Flavour Physics. Doublets and Triplets are generically disfavoured. In the Singlet case, we specify the breaking patterns of the flavour group that allow to keep the CKM picture of flavour physics and we discuss the effects of the mixing between composite and elementary fermions. These mixings affect in particular the rather peculiar LHC phenomenology of the composite fermions., Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures (v2: minor modifications, published version)

One or more heavy spin-1 fields may replace the Higgs boson in keeping perturbative unitarity up to a few TeV. By means of two prototype chiral models for the heavy spin-1 bosons, a "composite" model or a "gauge" model, we discuss if and how the sole exchange of the same fields can also account for the ElectroWeak Precision Tests. While this proves impossible in the gauge model, the composite model hints to a positive solution, which we exploit to constrain the phenomenological properties of the heavy vectors., Comment: 19 pages, 2 figures

I give an overview of the ideas and of the problems that orient the expectations for new physics at the Large Hadron Collider and, whenever I can, I describe the corresponding signals., Comment: 12 pages, talk at the 5th Italian workshop on LHC physics, Perugia, January 30-February 2, 2008

Can supersymmetric models with a moderate stop mass be made consistent with the negative Higgs boson searches at LEP, while keeping perturbative unification manifest? The NMSSM achieves this rather easily, but only if extra matter multiplets filling complete SU(5) representations are present at intermediate energies. As a concrete example which makes use of this feature, we give an analytic description of the phenomenology of a constrained NMSSM close to a Peccei-Quinn symmetry point. The related pseudo-Goldstone boson appears in decays of the Higgs bosons and possibly of the lightest neutralino, and itself decays into (b anti-b) and (tau anti-tau)., Comment: 19 pages, 13 figures; v2: possibility of pseudo-Goldstone below 2m_b threshold added, version published by JHEP

Elementary particle physics is the quadrant of nature whose laws can be written in a few lines with absolute precision and the greatest empirical adequacy. If this is the case, as I believe it is, it must be possible and is probably useful to introduce the students and the interested readers to the entire subject in a compact way. This is the main aim of these Lectures., Comment: Revised version published in a book form by Scuola Normale Superiore

The variety of ideas put forward in the context of a "composite" picture for the Higgs boson calls for a simple and effective description of the related phenomenology. Such a description is given here by means of a "minimal" model and is explicitly applied to the example of a Higgs-top sector from an SO(5) symmetry. We discuss the spectrum, the ElectroWeak Precision Tests, B-physics and naturalness. We show the difficulty to comply with the different constraints. The extended gauge sector relative to the standard SU(2)xU(1), if there is any, has little or no impact on these considerations. We also discuss the relation of the "minimal" model with its "little Higgs" or "holographic" extensions based on the same symmetry., Comment: 22 pp; v3: Small corrections, version to be published in Phys. Rev. D

Motivated by the absence, so far, of any direct signal of conventional low-energy supersymmetry, we explore the consequences of making the lightest Higgs boson in supersymmetry relatively heavy, up to about 300 GeV, in the most straightforward way, i.e. via the introduction of a chiral singlet S with a superpotential interaction with the Higgs doublets, \lambda S H_1 H_2. The coupling \lambda dominates over all the other couplings and, to maintain the successful perturbative analysis of the ElectroWeak Precision Tests, is only restricted to remain perturbative up to about 10 TeV. The general features of this "\lambda SUSY" framework, which deviates significantly from the MSSM or the standard NMSSM, are analyzed in different areas: ElectroWeak Precision Tests, Dark Matter, naturalness bounds on superparticle masses, and LHC signals. There is a rich Higgs/Higgsino sector in the (200-700)GeV mass region, which may include LSP Higgsino dark matter. All other superpartners, apart from the top squarks, may naturally be heavier than 1-2 TeV. This picture can be made consistent with gauge coupling unification., Comment: 27 pages

The quadratic divergences of the Higgs mass may be cancelled either accidentally or by the exchange of some new particles. Alternatively its impact on naturalness may be weakened by raising the Higgs mass, which requires changing the Standard Model below its natural cut-off. We show in detail how this can be achieved, while preserving perturbativity and consistency with the electroweak precision tests, by extending the Standard Model to include a second Higgs doublet that has neither a vev nor couplings to quarks and leptons. This Inert Doublet Model yields a perturbative and completely natural description of electroweak physics at all energies up to 1.5 TeV. The discrete symmetry that yields the Inert Doublet is unbroken, so that Dark Matter may be composed of neutral inert Higgs bosons, which may have escaped detection at LEP2. Predictions are given for multilepton events with missing transverse energy at the Large Hadron Collider, and for the direct detection of dark matter., Comment: 25 pages; v2: published version (a reference added, minor corrections)

The natural cutoff scale for the quadratically divergent top quark contribution to the Higgs mass parameter can be significantly raised above the surprisingly low standard model value, with important consequences for the LHC: the physics that cancels the top quark divergence may be out of reach, while an electroweak sector with "improved naturalness" may be discovered. Such a sector, consistent with electroweak precision tests, arises in the two Higgs doublet model with heavy Higgs and top quark interactions that approach strong coupling., Comment: 5 pages

Dark Matter (DM) and Dark Energy (DE) can be both described in terms of ultra-light Pseudo-Goldstone-Bosons (PGB) with masses m_{DM} ~ 10^{-23}eV and m_{DE} <= 10^{-33}eV respectively. Following Barbieri et al, we entertain the possibility that a PGB exists with mass m_I intermediate between these two limits, giving a partial contribution to DM. We evaluate the related effects on the power spectrum of the matter density perturbations and on the cosmic microwave background and we derive the bounds on the density fraction, f_I, of this intermediate field from current data, with room for a better sensitivity on f_I in the near future. We also give a simple and unified analytic description of the free streaming effects both for an ultra-light scalar and for a massive neutrino., Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures

A mirror world can modify in a striking way the LHC signals of the Higgs sector. An exact or approximate Z_2 symmetry between the mirror world and our world allows large mixing between the Higgs bosons of these worlds, leading to production rates and branching ratios for these states that are markedly different from the standard model and are characteristic of a mirror world. The constraints on these Higgs boson masses from precision electroweak data differ from the standard model bound, so that the new physics that cancels the quadratic divergence induced by the top quark may appear at a larger scale, possibly beyond the reach of the LHC. However, the scale of new physics needed to cancel the quadratic divergence induced by the Higgs boson is not significantly changed. With small breakings of the Z_2 parity, the lightest mirror quarks (and possibly charged mirror leptons) could be the dark matter in the universe, forming galactic halos that are stable to cooling. A possible signal from the relic radiation density of the mirror world is also discussed., Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure

We explore the possibility that a CP violating phase of the neutrino mass matrix is promoted to a pseudo-Goldstone-boson field and is identified as the quintessence field for Dark Energy. By requiring that the quintessence potential be calculable from a Lagrangian, and that the extreme flatness of the potential be stable under radiative corrections, we are led to an essentially unique model. Lepton number is violated only by Majorana masses of light, right-handed neutrinos, comparable to the Dirac masses that mix right- with left-handed neutrinos. We outline the rich and constrained neutrino phenomenology that results from this proposal., Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures

I overview the status of the Electroweak Symmetry Breaking problem, paying special attention to the possible signals of new physics at the Large Hadron Collider (and at a Linear Collider), Comment: 9 pages, plenary talk at ICHEP2004, Beijing, August 2004, typos corrected, added references

In a generic 'universal' theory of electroweak symmetry breaking, non fine-tuned heavy new physics affects the low-energy data through four parameters, which include and properly extend the generally insufficient S and T. Only by adding the LEP2 data to the global electroweak fit, can all these four form factors be determined and deviations from the SM be strongly constrained. Several of the recently proposed models (little Higgs, gauge bosons in extra dimensions or Higgsless models in 5D) are recognized to be 'universal' in a straightforward way after a proper definition of the effective vector boson fields. Among various applications, we show that proposed Higgsless models in 5D, when calculable, do not provide a viable description of electroweak symmetry breaking in their full range of parameters., Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures. Ref.s added, discussion of low energy observables improved

I review the status of the ElectroWeak Symmetry Breaking problem. The lectures are naturally divided into two parts. The first is mostly devoted to overview the impact of current data on the issue of EWSB. The tools are known, the latest data are included. Always in the first part, I say why I care about the "little hierarchy" problem and I summarize how some proposals for EWSB, recent and less recent, are confronted with this problem. Motivated by these considerations, in the second part I describe the essential features of a proposal for breaking supersymmetry, and consequently the electroweak symmetry, by boundary conditions on an extra dimension., Comment: Lectures given at the Cargese School of Physics and Cosmology - August 2003 - Cargese - France