Search

The International Linear Collider (ILC) is on the table now as a new global energy-frontier accelerator laboratory taking data in the 2030s. The ILC addresses key questions for our current understanding of particle physics. It is based on a proven accelerator technology. Its experiments will challenge the Standard Model of particle physics and will provide a new window to look beyond it. This document brings the story of the ILC up to date, emphasizing its strong physics motivation, its readiness for construction, and the opportunity it presents to the US and the global particle physics community., Comment: 356 pages, Large pdf file (40 MB) submitted to Snowmass 2021; v2 references to Snowmass contributions added, additional authors; v3 references added, some updates, additional authors

We find a background solution of the string theory which has a special property distinguished from the usual background solutions. This background solution does not produce the NS-NS two-form fields under T-duality and therefore the background vacua described by this solution essentially do not involve NS-NS type branes in their configurations, unlikely to the case of the ordinary Calabi-Yau ansatz. As a result the non-linear $\sigma$-models, whose target space metrics are given by these T-dual partners, can both be torsion-free.

We present a new scenario for the moduli stabilization with a very small but nonzero positive cosmological constant $\lambda$. In this scenario the complex structure moduli are still stabilized by the three-form fluxes as in the usual flux compactifications, but the K$\ddot{\rm a}$hler modulus is not fixed by the KKLT scenario. In our case the scale factor (or the K$\ddot{\rm a}$hler modulus) of the internal dimensions is basically allowed to change with time. But at the supergravity level it is fixed by a set of dynamical (plus constraint) equations defined on the 4D spacetime, not by the nonperturbative corrections of KKLT. Also at the supergravity level it is shown that $\lambda$ is fine-tuned to zero, $\lambda =0$, by the same set of 4D equations. This result changes once we admit $\alpha^{\prime}$-corrections of the string theory. The fine-tuning $\lambda=0$ changes into $\lambda = \frac{2}{3} Q$, where $Q$ is a constant representing quantum corrections of the brane and 6D action defined on the internal dimensions and its value is determined by the $\alpha^{\prime}$-corrections. It is also shown that this nonzero $\lambda$ must be positive and at the same time the internal dimensions must evolve with time almost at the same rate as the external dimensions in the case of nonzero $\lambda$., Comment: New sections have been added. Contents of the manuscript have been generally upgraded

In supersymmetric models with Dirac neutrinos, the lightest sneutrino can be an excellent thermal dark matter candidate when the soft sneutrino trilinear parameter is large. We focus on scenarios where the mass of the mixed sneutrino is of the order of GeV and sensitivity of dark matter direct detection is weak. We investigate phenomenological constraints on the model parameter space including the vacuum stability bound. We show that the allowed regions can be explored by measuring Higgs boson properties at future collider experiments., Comment: 14 pages, 1 figure

We apply a new self-tuning mechanism to the well-known Kachru-Kallosh-Linde-Trivedi (KKLT) model to address the cosmological constant problem. In this mechanism the cosmological constant $\lambda$ contains a supersymmetry breaking term ${\mathcal E}_{\rm SB}$ besides the usual scalar potential ${\mathcal V}_{\rm scalar}$ of the $N=1$ supergravity, which is distinguished from the usual theories where $\lambda$ is directly identified with ${\mathcal V}_{\rm scalar}$ alone. Also in this mechanism, whether $\lambda$ vanishes or not is basically determined by the tensor structure of the scalar potential density, not by the zero or nonzero values of the scalar potential itself. As a result of this application we find that the natural scenario for the vanishing $\lambda$ of the present universe is to take one of the AdS (rather than dS) vacua of KKLT as the background vacuum of our present universe. This AdS vacuum scenario has more nice properties as compared with dS vacua of the usual flux compctifications. The background vacuum is stable both classically and quantum mechanically (no tunneling instabilities), and the value $\lambda =0$ is also stable against quantum corrections because in this scenario the perturbative corrections of ${\mathcal V}_{\rm scalar}$ and quantum fluctuations $\delta_Q {\hat I}_{\rm brane}^{(NS)} + \delta_Q {\hat I}_{\rm brane}^{(R)}$ on the branes are all gauged away by an automatic cancelation between ${\mathcal V}_{\rm scalar} + \delta_Q {\hat I}_{\rm brane}^{(NS)} + \delta_Q {\hat I}_{\rm brane}^{(R)}$ and ${\mathcal E}_{\rm SB}$., Comment: Final version (typos all fixed)

We propose, based on the viewpoint that our three-dimensional space is a stack of BPS D3-branes located at the conifold singularity of the Calabi-Yau three-fold, a new mechanism to address the cosmological constant problem in the framework of the conventional compactifications where the $n$-form fluxes including NS-NS three-form are all turned off. In this mechanism the four-dimensional cosmological constant $\lambda$ appears as two types, NS-NS type and R-R type, of vacuum energies on the brane plus supersymmetry breaking term, which constitute a brane action density ${\hat I}_{\rm brane}$, and sum of these three terms of ${\hat I}_{\rm brane}$ are forced to vanish by field equations so that $\lambda$ adjusts itself to zero as a result. Also in this mechanism the $d=4$ supersymmetry is broken in the brane region, while still maintaining $\lambda =0$. The supersymmetry breaking occurs as a result of the gauge symmetry breaking of the R-R four-form arising at the quantum level. We generalize the above mechanism to the case of the flux compactifications where the fluxes are all turned on to stabilize the moduli. In the generalized theory $\lambda$ appears as ${\hat I}_{\rm brane}$ plus the scalar potential ${\mathcal V}_{\rm scalar}$ for the moduli, in contrast to the case of the ordinary flux compactifications where $\lambda$ is simply given by ${\mathcal V}_{\rm scalar}$. Also in this theory any nonzero ${\mathcal V}_{\rm scalar}$ arising from perturbative or nonperturbative corrections is gauged away by the gauge arbitrariness of ${\hat I}_{\rm brane}$ and the condition $\lambda=0$. So $\lambda$ is again expressed only as a brane action density as before, or it simply vanishes by the cancelation between ${\hat I}_{\rm brane}$ and ${\mathcal V}_{\rm scalar}$., Comment: Trivial corrections

We study codimension-1 brane solutions of the 5d brane world models compactified on $S_1 / \mathbb{Z}_2$. In string theoretical setup they suggest that the background branes located at orbifold fixed points should be NS-branes (in the five dimensional sense), rather than D-branes. Indeed, the existence of the background NS-branes is indispensable to obtain flat geometry $M_4 \times S_1 / \mathbb{Z}_2$ where $M_4$ represents the 4d Minkowski spacetime, and without these branes the 5d metric becomes singular everywhere. This result is very reminiscent of the $(p+3)$d effective string theory \cite{1} where the NS-NS type $p$-brane is indispensable to obtain a flat geometry $R_2$ or $R_2 /\mathbb{Z}_n$ on the transverse dimensions. Without this NS-NS type $p$-brane the 2d transverse space becomes a pin-shaped singular space. The correspondence between these two theories leads us to a conjecture that the whole flat backgrounds of the string theory inherently invovle the NS-branes implicitly in their ansatz, and hence the true background $p$-branes immanent in our spacetime may be NS-branes, instead of D-branes. We argue that this result can have a significant consequence in the context of the cosmological constant problem., Comment: Section 6 has been revised

We investigate the detectability of neutralino Dark Matter via direct and indirect searches as well as collider signatures of an $SO(10)$ model with two intermediate scales. We compare the direct Dark Matter detection cross section and the muon flux due to neutralino annihilation in the Sun that we obtain in this model with mSUGRA predictions and with the sensitivity of current and future experiments. In both cases, we find that the detectability improves as the model deviates more from mSUGRA. In order to study collider signatures, we choose two benchmark points that represent the main phenomenological features of the model: a lower value of $|\mu|$ and reduced third generation sfermion masses due to extra Yukawa coupling contributions in the Renormalization Group Equations, and increased first and second generation slepton masses due to new gaugino loop contributions. We show that measurements at the LHC can distinguish this model from mSUGRA in both cases, by counting events containing leptonically decaying $Z^0$ bosons, heavy neutral Higgs bosons, or like--sign lepton pairs., Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures

We present an overview of supersymmetry searches, both at collider experiments and via searches for dark matter (DM). We focus on three DM possibilities in the SUSY context: the thermally produced neutralino, a mixture of axion and axino, and the gravitino, and compare and contrast signals that may be expected at colliders, in direct detection (DD) experiments searching of DM relics left over from the Big Bang, and indirect detection (ID) experiments designed to detect the products of DM annihilations within the solar interior or galactic halo. Detection of DM particles using multiple strategies provides complementary information that may shed light on the new physics associated with the dark matter sector. In contrast to the mSUGRA model where the measured cold DM relic density restricts us to special regions mostly on the edge of the m_0-m_{1/2} plane, the entire parameter plane becomes allowed if the universality assumption is relaxed in models with just one additional parameter. Then, thermally produced neutralinos with a well-tempered mix of wino, bino and higgsino components, or with a mass adjusted so that their annihilation in the early universe is Higgs-resonance-enhanced, can be the DM. Well-tempered neutralinos typically yield heightened rates for DD and ID experiments compared to generic predictions from minimal supergravity. If instead DM consists of axinos (possibly together with axions) or gravitinos, then there exists the possibility of detection of quasi-stable next-to-lightest SUSY particles at colliding beam experiments, with especially striking consequences if the NLSP is charged, but no DD or ID detection. The exception for mixed axion/axino DM is that DD of axions may be possible., Comment: 28 pages, 11 eps figures; invited contribution to NJP Focus Issue on "Dark Matter and Particle Physics"

We argue that in ($p+3$)d string theory the existence of NS-NS type $p$-brane with negative tension is essential to obtain background geometry $R_2$ or $R_2 / Z_n$ on the transverse dimensions, and the usual codimension-2 brane solutions with these background geometries already contain the negative tension NS-brane implicity in their ansatz. Such an argument leads us, in the context of brane world scenarios, to a conjecture that true background $p$-brane immanent in our spacetime may perhaps be NS-NS type brane, rather than D-brane., Comment: 16 pages. Version to appear in JHEP

We present brief synopses of supersymmetric models where either the neutralino composition or its mass is adjusted so that thermal relic neutralinos from the Big Bang saturate the measured abundance of cold dark matter in the universe. We first review minimal supergravity (mSUGRA), and then examine its various one-parameter extensions where we relax the assumed universality of the soft supersymmetry breaking parameters. Our goal is to correlate relic-density-allowed parameter choices with expected phenomena in direct, indirect and collider dark matter search experiments. For every non-universal model, we first provide plots to facilitate the selection of ``dark-matter allowed'' parameter space points, and then present salient features of each model with respect to searches at Tevatron, LHC and ILC and also direct and indirect dark matter searches. We present benchmark scenarios that allow one to compare and contrast the non-universal models with one another and with the paradigm mSUGRA framework. We show that many implications about sparticle properties and collider signals drawn from the analysis of the relic density constraint within mSUGRA do not carry over to simple one-parameter extensions of the mSUGRA framework. We find that in many relic-density-consistent models, there is one (or more) detectable edge in the invariant mass distribution of same-flavour, opposite sign dileptons in SUSY cascade decay events at the LHC. Finally, we scan the parameter space of these various models, requiring consistency with the LEP2 constraint on the chargino mass, and with the observed relic density, and examine prospects for direct and indirect dark matter detection. We find that in a large number of cases the mechanism that causes the early universe neutralino annihilation rate to be large (so as to produce the measured relic density) also enhances the direct detection rate, and often also the rates for indirect detection of neutralino dark matter., Comment: 53 pages, 24 figures; (v2) references added, version to appear in JHEP

Martin has proposed a scenario dubbed ``compressed supersymmetry'' (SUSY) where the MSSM is the effective field theory between energy scales M_{\rm weak} and M_{\rm GUT}, but with the GUT scale SU(3) gaugino mass M_3<< M_1 or M_2. As a result, squark and gluino masses are suppressed relative to slepton, chargino and neutralino masses, leading to a compressed sparticle mass spectrum, and where the dark matter relic density in the early universe may be dominantly governed by neutralino annihilation into ttbar pairs via exchange of a light top squark. We explore the dark matter and collider signals expected from compressed SUSY for two distinct model lines with differing assumptions about GUT scale gaugino mass parameters. For dark matter signals, the compressed squark spectrum leads to an enhancement in direct detection rates compared to models with unified gaugino masses. Meanwhile, neutralino halo annihilation rates to gamma rays and anti-matter are also enhanced relative to related scenarios with unified gaugino masses but, depending on the halo dark matter distribution, may yet be below the sensitivity of indirect searches underway. In the case of collider signals, we compare the rates for the potentially dominant decay modes of the stop_1 which may be expected to be produced in cascade decay chains at the LHC: \tst_1\to c\tz_1 and \tst_1\to bW\tz_1. We examine the extent to which multilepton signal rates are reduced when the two-body decay mode dominates. For the model lines that we examine here, the multi-lepton signals, though reduced, still remain observable at the LHC., Comment: 22 pages including 24 eps figures

We examine supersymmetric models with mixed modulus-anomaly mediated SUSY breaking (MM-AMSB) soft terms which get comparable contributions to SUSY breaking from moduli-mediation and anomaly-mediation. The apparent (mirage) unification of soft SUSY breaking terms at Q=mu_mir not associated with any physical threshold is the hallmark of this scenario. The MM-AMSB structure of soft terms arises in models of string compactification with fluxes, where the addition of an anti-brane leads to an uplifting potential and a de Sitter universe, as first constructed by Kachru {\it et al.}. The phenomenology mainly depends on the relative strength of moduli- and anomaly-mediated SUSY breaking contributions, and on the Higgs and matter field modular weights, which are determined by the location of these fields in the extra dimensions. We delineate the allowed parameter space for a low and high value of tan(beta), for a wide range of modular weight choices. We calculate the neutralino relic density and display the WMAP-allowed regions. We show the reach of the CERN LHC and of the International Linear Collider. We discuss aspects of MM-AMSB models for Tevatron, LHC and ILC searches, muon g-2 and b->s \gamma branching fraction. We also calculate direct and indirect dark matter detection rates, and show that almost all WMAP-allowed models should be accessible to a ton-scale noble gas detector. Finally, we comment on the potential of colliders to measure the mirage unification scale and modular weights in the difficult case where mu_mir>>M_GUT., Comment: 34 pages plus 42 EPS figures; version with high resolution figures is at http://www.hep.fsu.edu/~baer

We present a new type of self-tuning mechanism for ($3+p$)d brane world models in the framework of gravity-scalar theory. This new type of self-tuning mechanism exhibits a remarkable feature. In the limit $g_s \to 0$, $g_s$ being the string coupling, the geometry of bulk spacetime remains virtually unchanged by an introduction of the Standard Model(SM)-brane, and consequently it is virtually unaffected by quantum fluctuations of SM fields with support on the SM-brane. Such a feature can be obtained by introducing Neveu-Schwarz(NS)-brane as a background brane on which our SM-brane is to be set. Indeed, field equations naturally suggest the existence of the background NS-brane. Among the given such models, of the most interest is the case with $\Lambda=0$, where $\Lambda$ represents the bulk cosmological constant. This model contains a pair of coincident branes (of the SM- and the NS-branes), one of which is a codimension-2 brane placed at the origin of 2d transverse space ($\equiv \Sigma_2$), another a codimension-1 brane placed at the edge of $\Sigma_2$. These two branes are (anti) T-duals of each other, and one of them may be identified as our SM-brane plus the background NS-brane. In the presence of the background NS-brane (and in the absence of $\Lambda$), the 2d transverse space $\Sigma_2$ becomes an orbifold $R_2 /Z_n$ with an appropriate deficit angle. But this is only possible if the ($3+p$)d Planck scale $M_{3+p}$ and the string scale $M_s$($\equiv 1/\sqrt{\alpha^{\prime}}$) are of the same order, which accords with the hierarchy assumption \cite{1,2,3} that the electroweak scale $m_{EW}$ is the only short distance scale existing in nature.

In the post-LEP2 era, and in light of recent measurements of the cosmic abundance of cold dark matter (CDM) in the universe from WMAP, many supersymmetric models tend to predict 1. an overabundance of CDM and 2. pessimistically low rates for direct detection of neutralino dark matter. However, in models with a ``well-tempered neutralino'', where the neutralino composition is adjusted to give the measured abundance of CDM, the neutralino is typically of the mixed bino-wino or mixed bino-higgsino state. Along with the necessary enhancement to neutralino annihilation rates, these models tend to give elevated direct detection scattering rates compared to predictions from SUSY models with universal soft breaking terms. We present neutralino direct detection cross sections from a variety of models containing a well-tempered neutralino, and find cross section asymptotes with detectable scattering rates. These asymptotic rates provide targets that various direct CDM detection experiments should aim for. In contrast, in models where the neutralino mass rather than its composition is varied to give the WMAP relic density via either resonance annihilation or co-annihilation, the neutralino remains essentially bino-like, and direct detection rates may be below the projected reaches of all proposed experiments., Comment: 13 pages including 1 EPS figure

String compactification with fluxes yields MSSM soft SUSY breaking terms that receive comparable contributions from modulus and anomaly mediation whose relative strength is governed by a phenomenological parameter $\alpha$. Gaugino and first/second generation (and sometimes also Higgs and third generation) scalar mass parameters unify at a mirage unification scale $Q \not= M_{\rm GUT}$, determined by the value of $\alpha$. The ratio of scalar to gaugino masses at this mirage unification scale depends directly on the scalar field modular weights, which are fixed in turn by the brane or brane intersections on which the MSSM fields are localized. We outline a program of measurements which can in principle be made at the CERN LHC and the International Linear $e^+e^-$ collider (ILC) which can lead to a determination of the modular weights., Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures

We investigate the phenomenology of supersymmetric models where moduli fields and the Weyl anomaly make comparable contributions to SUSY breaking effects in the observable sector of fields. This mixed modulus-anomaly mediated supersymmetry breaking (MM-AMSB) scenario is inspired by models of string compactification with fluxes, which have been shown to yield a de Sitter vacuum (as in the recent construction by Kachru {\it et al}). The phenomenology depends on the so-called modular weights which, in turn, depend on the location of various fields in the extra dimensions. We find that the model with zero modular weights gives mass spectra characterized by very light top squarks and/or tau sleptons, or where M_1\sim -M_2 so that the bino and wino are approximately degenerate. The top squark mass can be in the range required by successful electroweak baryogenesis. The measured relic density of cold dark matter can be obtained via top squark co-annihilation at low \tan\beta, tau slepton co-annihilation at large \tan\beta or via bino-wino coannihilation. Then, we typically find low rates for direct and indirect detection of neutralino dark matter. However, essentially all the WMAP-allowed parameter space can be probed by experiments at the CERN LHC, while significant portions may also be explored at an e^+e^- collider with \sqrt{s}=0.5--1 TeV. We also investigate a case with non-zero modular weights. In this case, co-annihilation, A-funnel annihilation and bulk annihilation of neutralinos are all allowed. Results for future colliders are qualitatively similar, but prospects for indirect dark matter searches via gamma rays and anti-particles are somewhat better., Comment: 38 pages including 22 EPS figures; latest version posted to conform with published version

In gravity-mediated SUSY breaking models with non-universal gaugino masses, lowering the SU(3) gaugino mass |M_3| leads to a reduction in the squark and gluino masses. Lower third generation squark masses, in turn, diminish the effect of a large top quark Yukawa coupling in the running of the higgs mass parameter m_{H_u}^2, leading to a reduction in the magnitude of the superpotential mu parameter (relative to M_1 and M_2). A low | mu | parameter gives rise to mixed higgsino dark matter (MHDM), which can efficiently annihilate in the early universe to give a dark matter relic density in accord with WMAP measurements. We explore the phenomenology of the low |M_3| scenario, and find for the case of MHDM increased rates for direct and indirect detection of neutralino dark matter relative to the mSUGRA model. The sparticle mass spectrum is characterized by relatively light gluinos, frequently with m(gl)<Z_i+g loop decays dominating the gluino branching fraction. Top squarks can be much lighter than sbottom and first/second generation squarks. The presence of low mass higgsino-like charginos and neutralinos is expected at the CERN LHC. The small m(Z2)-m(Z1) mass gap should give rise to a visible opposite-sign/same flavor dilepton mass edge. At a TeV scale linear e^+e^- collider, the region of MHDM will mean that the entire spectrum of charginos and neutralinos are amongst the lightest sparticles, and are most likely to be produced at observable rates, allowing for a complete reconstruction of the gaugino-higgsino sector., Comment: 35 pages, including 26 EPS figures

In supersymmetric models with non-universal gaugino masses, it is possible to have opposite-sign SU(2) and U(1) gaugino mass terms. In these models, the gaugino eigenstates experience little mixing so that the lightest SUSY particle remains either pure bino or pure wino. The neutralino relic density can only be brought into accord with the WMAP measured value when bino-wino co-annihilation (BWCA) acts to enhance the dark matter annihilation rate. We map out parameter space regions and mass spectra which are characteristic of the BWCA scenario. Direct and indirect dark matter detection rates are shown to be typically very low. At collider experiments, the BWCA scenario is typified by a small mass gap m_{\tilde Z_2}-m_{\tilde Z_1} ~ 20-80 GeV, so that tree level two body decays of \tilde Z_2 are not allowed. However, in this case the second lightest neutralino has an enhanced loop decay branching fraction to photons. While the photonic neutralino decay signature looks difficult to extract at the Fermilab Tevatron, it should lead to distinctive events at the CERN LHC and at a linear e^+e^- collider., Comment: 44 pages, 21 figures

This paper has been withdrawn by the authors due to an incorrect analysis., Comment: This paper has been withdrawn by the authors

In supersymmetric models with gravity-mediated SUSY breaking and gaugino mass unification, the predicted relic abundance of neutralinos usually exceeds the strict limits imposed by the WMAP collaboration. One way to obtain the correct relic abundance is to abandon gaugino mass universality and allow a mixed wino-bino lightest SUSY particle (LSP). The enhanced annihilation and scattering cross sections of mixed wino dark matter (MWDM) compared to bino dark matter lead to enhanced rates for direct dark matter detection, as well as for indirect detection at neutrino telescopes and for detection of dark matter annihilation products in the galactic halo. For collider experiments, MWDM leads to a reduced but significant mass gap between the lightest neutralinos so that chi_2^0 two-body decay modes are usually closed. This means that dilepton mass edges-- the starting point for cascade decay reconstruction at the CERN LHC-- should be accessible over almost all of parameter space. Measurement of the m_{\tz_2}-m_{\tz_1} mass gap at LHC plus various sparticle masses and cross sections as a function of beam polarization at the International Linear Collider (ILC) would pinpoint MWDM as the dominant component of dark matter in the universe., Comment: 29 pages including 19 eps figures

It is shown that flat zero-energy solutions (vacua) of the 5d Kaluza-Klein theory admit a non-trivial homotopy structure generated by certain Kaluza-Klein excitations. These vacua consist of an infinite set of homotopically different spacetimes denoted by $\mathcal{M}^{(n)}_5$, among which $\mathcal{M}^{(0)}_5$ and $\mathcal{M}^{(1)}_5$ are especially identified as $M_{4} \times S^{1}$ and $M_5$, the ground states of the 5d Kaluza-Klein theory and the 5d general relativity, respectively (where $M_k$ represents the $k$-dimensional Minkowski space)., Comment: 8 pages