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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Next-to-leading order QCD corrections to fully charm tetraquark hadronic decay

We compute the next-to-leading order (NLO) QCD corrections to the light hadron decays of fully charm tetraquarks within the nonrelativistic QCD (NRQCD) factorization framework. The short-distance coefficients for the $gg$ and $q\bar{q}$ final states from fully charm tetraquarks are obtained analytically. The NLO corrections are found to be significant, altering the LO predictions by about $170\%$ for the $0^{++}$ state and $30\%$ for the $2^{++}$ state. The resulting $\mathcal{R}_{\mathrm{LH}}$ values are of order $10^{-5}$ to $10^{-4}$ MeV, about three orders of magnitude larger than the diphoton channel, as expected for strong-interaction decays. Our results provide updated theoretical predictions for future experimental studies of fully charm tetraquark decays.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology) · Cross-listed from cond-mat.other

Magnetoelectric Phase Transition and Axion Dynamics

Magnetoelectric phase transitions have been experimentally studied, but no macroscopic theory has been proposed to explain their dynamical origin. In this work, we assume that the axion quasiparticle with frequency undergoes a condensation like process. We show that these magnetoelectric phase transitions can be described within a Ginzbur Landau framework by introducing a coupled dynamic parameter, the axion angle, which is proportional to the magnetoelectric coeffcient. We derive relations between the static axion angle, the axion frequency, and the phase transition temperature for different magnetoelectric materials, respectively, and compare these calculations with existing experimental results. We also connect the artificially designed Dzyaloshinskii Moriya interaction with the axion condensate like process, so that the relation between the static axion angle and the experimentally measured frequency shift can be obtained.
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All authors Chen-Hui Xie, Runyu Lei, Jiayi Liu, Yihuai Chen, Jinxing Zhang, Yu Gao, Sichun Sun

High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Next-to-Leading-Order Multi-Jet Merging of Higgs Boson Production via Vector Boson Fusion in the Presence of Anomalous Couplings

We present the results of a detailed simulation study of Higgs boson production via vector boson fusion (VBF) at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in the presence of anomalous couplings. The analysis utilizes the Herwig event generator interfaced with VBFNLO, employing a multi-jet merging scheme that combines NLO accurate matrix elements for Higgs plus 2- and 3-jet multiplicities with LO accurate matrix elements for Higgs plus 4-jet multiplicities. We investigate both matching and merging setups to consistently combine these hard scattering processes with QCD parton showers. Finally, we demonstrate the robustness of azimuthal angle observables against QCD radiative corrections across these frameworks.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Entanglement entropy minimization and global symmetry violation in scatterings

The concept of quantum information has provided new ways to investigate the theoretical structure of particle interactions. In particular, it has been shown that extrema of quantum entanglement in scattering and decay processes can be related to symmetries and characteristic properties of particles. We focus on a more specific question: whether the minimization of entanglement entropy generated in scattering processes is systematically related to the suppression of interactions that violate global symmetries or selection rules. We conjecture that the minimization of the entanglement entropy can select the symmetry-preserving point when a new interaction opens a symmetry-violating scattering channel. We investigate the plausibility of this conjecture by considering interactions beyond the Standard Model (BSM) that violate global symmetries or the corresponding selection rules, including lepton number violation, baryon number violation, lepton flavor violation, and flavor-changing neutral currents. We show that, when symmetry-violating interactions open final-state sectors that are orthogonal to the symmetry-preserving sector, the symmetry-preserving point becomes a local minimum of the entanglement entropy. Our results support the possibility that the minimization of entanglement provides a common information-theoretic principle underlying the suppression of BSM phenomena relevant to symmetry-violating interactions.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology) · Cross-listed from gr-qc

Ultralight Bosons Explain the Mass-Spin Correlations in the Merging Binary Black Hole Population

Ultralight bosons could trigger superradiant instabilities in rapidly spinning black holes, forming oscillating clouds while extracting rotational energy. We consider an extended, superradiance-informed spin distribution model that characterizes possible environment-induced spin variations and compare its predictions with the observed population of merging black hole binaries in the Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalogs (GWTCs). We find that the mass-spin relation predicted by a scalar boson with mass $m_b\sim 10^{-12} \,\rm eV$ is consistent with the GWTCs, with increasing significance from GWTC-3.0 to 5.0. The Bayes factor reaches $\ln B \approx 7.8$ for GWTC-5.0. Intriguingly, this mass range largely coincides with a previous study based on a waveform analysis of the GW190728 gravitational wave event. Our findings provide compelling evidence that a superradiance-informed spin distribution model is highly compatible with the expanding binary black hole population dataset.
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All authors Xiao-Xiao Kou, Vuk Mandic, Ran Ding, Chi Tian

High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Dark Matter at the Kinematic Edge: Interpreting the 248 keV LZ Nuclear-Recoil Candidate

The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) Collaboration recently reported one event consistent with a $248$ keV nuclear recoil in a $2.84$ tonne-year exposure, with a maximum local significance of $3.4\sigma$ and a global significance of $2.6\sigma$. We investigate whether the dark matter (DM)–nucleon interactions favored by this high-energy event can arise from particle DM models that simultaneously reproduce the observed relic abundance and satisfy indirect-detection constraints. Using the published LZ efficiency and operator significances, we show that elastic spin-independent (SI) scattering poorly explains an isolated high-energy recoil because its spectrum is concentrated at lower energies, whereas elastic spin-dependent (SD) $\mathcal{O}_4$ scattering remains viable. Endothermic scattering instead naturally suppresses the low-energy rate and shifts the recoil spectrum toward the observed energy. A thermal pseudo-Dirac fermion with an off-diagonal vector interaction provides a simple realization of this mechanism. For $m_\chi\simeq1$ TeV, the relic-density requirement predicts $\sigma_N\simeq6.5\times10^{-43}\,\mathrm{cm}^2$, while a splitting $\delta\simeq297$ keV shifts the recoil spectrum into the LZ event region. Present-day indirect-detection signals can be strongly suppressed because freeze-out proceeds mainly through coannihilation, while the excited state is depleted at late times. A thermal Higgsino provides a more predictive realization: its relic abundance fixes the mass near $1.1$ TeV, while a splitting $\delta\simeq 377$ keV is required to reproduce the event. This interpretation is testable through the associated gamma-ray line signal. Overall, combining direct detection, relic density, and indirect detection significantly restricts the viable interpretations of the LZ event and provides concrete targets for future searches.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

$D\rightarrow \pi$ transitions from QCD Light-Cone Sum Rules with the chiral currents

We present a systematic study of the transition form factors for the semileptonic decays $D\rightarrow Pe^{+}v_{e}$ and $D\rightarrow P\mu^{+}\bar{v}_{\mu}$ using QCD light-cone sum rules with chiral currents, with emphasis on the nonperturbative structure of the pion. The distribution amplitudes of the meson $\pi$, including twist-2 and higher-twist components, are analyzed and incorporated in our computation, employing both Gegenbauer polynomial expansions and the Basis Light-Front Quantization (BLFQ) method, where the latter yields a distribution that rapidly converges to the asymptotic form. Two relations linking transition form factors are derived and found to be consistent with the chiral symmetry of QCD. Our numerical predictions for the $D$-to-pion form factors agee well with BES\uppercase\expandafter{\romannumeral3} measurements and lattice QCD calculations. Furthermore, the differential decay widths obtained thereby for the $D$-to-pion decay also show consistency with the BES\uppercase\expandafter{\romannumeral3} data in the high-momentum-transfer ($q$) region with the $q^{2}>1\ \rm{GeV^2}$, implying new opportunities for the precise extraction of the CKM matrix element and the exploration of physics beyond the Standard Model.
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All authors Di Gao, Jiangshan Lan, Duojie Jia, Xingbo Zhao, Yanjun Sun

High Energy Physics (Phenomenology) · Cross-listed from hep-ex

Measurement of inelastic scattering $\Lambda(\overline{\Lambda})+p\to\Sigma^{0}(\overline{\Sigma}^{0})+p$ via $e^+e^-\to J/\psi\to\Lambda\overline{\Lambda}$

Using a sample of $(10087\pm44)\times10^{6}$ $J/\psi$ events collected with the BESIII detector, we investigate the inelastic scattering processes $\Lambda+p\to\Sigma^{0}+p$ and $\overline{\Lambda}+p\to\overline{\Sigma}^{0}+p$, exploiting hyperons from $J/\psi\to\Lambda\overline{\Lambda}$ decays as an effective beam and the beam-pipe materials as targets. The processes $\Lambda+{}^{9}\mathrm{Be}\to\Sigma^{0}+p+{}^{8}\mathrm{Li}$ and $\overline{\Lambda}+{}^{9}\mathrm{Be}\to\overline{\Sigma}^{0}+p+{}^{8}\mathrm{Li}$ are measured at a hyperon momentum of $1.074~\mathrm{GeV}/c$, with cross sections of $(10.1\pm1.4_{\rm stat}\pm0.7_{\rm syst})$ mb and $(1.7\pm0.6_{\rm stat}\pm0.4_{\rm syst})$ mb, respectively. Under the assumption of surface-dominated hyperon-nucleus scattering, these measurements are used to extract the corresponding proton-target cross sections. Independently, direct measurements using the hydrogen component of the beam-pipe oil yield $(3.2\pm1.1_{\rm stat}\pm0.5_{\rm syst})$ mb for $\Lambda+p\to\Sigma^{0}+p$ and $(1.5\pm0.5_{\rm stat}\pm0.1_{\rm syst})$ mb for $\overline{\Lambda}+p\to\overline{\Sigma}^{0}+p$, consistent with the indirect determinations. The combined cross sections are $(4.7\pm0.7)$ mb and $(1.1\pm0.3)$ mb, respectively. The $\overline{\Lambda}+p\to\overline{\Sigma}^{0}+p$ signal constitutes the first evidence for anti-hyperon inelastic scattering with baryonic final states, with a significance of $3.1\sigma$. The pronounced difference between the $\Lambda p$ and $\overline{\Lambda}p$ inelastic scattering cross sections provides new experimental constraints on hyperon-nucleon and anti-hyperon-nucleon interactions.
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All authors BESIII Collaboration: M. Ablikim, M. N. Achasov, P. Adlarson, X. C. Ai, C. S. Akondi, R. Aliberti, A. Amoroso, Q. An, M. S. Anderson, Y. Bai, O. Bakina, H. R. Bao, X. L. Bao, M. Barbagiovanni, V. Batozskaya, K. Begzsuren, N. Berger, M. Berlowski, M. B. Bertani, D. Bettoni, F. Bianchi, E. Bianco, A. Bortone, I. Boyko, R. A. Briere, A. Brueggemann, D. Cabiati, H. Cai, M. H. Cai, X. Cai, A. Calcaterra, G. F. Cao, N. Cao, S. A. Cetin, X. Y. Chai, J. F. Chang, T. T. Chang, G. R. Che, Y. Z. Che, C. H. Chen, Chao Chen, G. Chen, H. S. Chen, H. Y. Chen, M. L. Chen, S. J. Chen, S. M. Chen, T. Chen, W. Chen, X. R. Chen, X. T. Chen, X. Y. Chen, Y. B. Chen, Y. Q. Chen, Z. K. Chen, J. Cheng, L. N. Cheng, S. K. Choi, X. Chu, G. Cibinetto, F. Cossio, J. Cottee-Meldrum, H. L. Dai, J. P. Dai, X. C. Dai, A. Dbeyssi, R. E. de Boer, D. Dedovich, C. Q. Deng, Z. Y. Deng, A. Denig, I. Denisenko, M. Destefanis, F. De Mori, E. Di Fiore, X. X. Ding, Y. Ding, Y. X. Ding, J. Dong, L. Y. Dong, M. Y. Dong, X. Dong, Z. J. Dong, M. C. Du, S. X. Du, Shaoxu Du, X. L. Du, Y. Q. Du, Y. Y. Duan, Z. H. Duan, P. Egorov, G. F. Fan, J. J. Fan, K. X. Fan, Y. H. Fan, J. Fang, Jin Fang, S. S. Fang, W. X. Fang, Y. Q. Fang, L. Fava, F. Feldbauer, G. Felici, C. Q. Feng, J. H. Feng, Q. X. Feng, Y. T. Feng, M. Fritsch, C. D. Fu, J. L. Fu, Y. W. Fu, H. Gao, Xu Gao, Y. Gao, Y. N. Gao, Y. Y. Gao, Yunong Gao, Z. Gao, S. Garbolino, I. Garzia, L. Ge, P. T. Ge, Z. W. Ge, C. Geng, A. Gilman, K. Goetzen, J. Gollub, J. B. Gong, J. D. Gong, L. Gong, W. X. Gong, W. Gradl, M. Greco, M. D. Gu, M. H. Gu, C. Y. Guan, A. Q. Guo, H. Guo, J. N. Guo, L. B. Guo, M. J. Guo, R. P. Guo, X. Guo, Y. P. Guo, Z. Guo, A. Guskov, J. Gutierrez, J. Y. Han, T. T. Han, X. Han, F. Hanisch, J. Y. Hao, K. D. Hao, X. Q. Hao, F. A. Harris, C. Z. He, K. K. He, K. L. He, F. H. Heinsius, C. H. Heinz, Y. K. Heng, C. Herold, P. C. Hong, G. Y. Hou, X. T. Hou, Y. R. Hou, Z. L. Hou, H. M. Hu, J. F. Hu, Q. P. Hu, S. L. Hu, T. Hu, Y. Hu, Y. X. Hu, Z. M. Hu, G. S. Huang, K. X. Huang, L. Q. Huang, P. Huang, X. T. Huang, Y. P. Huang, Y. S. Huang, T. Hussain, N. Hüsken, N. in der Wiesche, J. Jackson, Q. Ji, Q. P. Ji, W. Ji, X. B. Ji, X. L. Ji, Y. Y. Ji, L. K. Jia, X. Q. Jia, D. Jiang, S. J. Jiang, X. S. Jiang, Y. Jiang, J. B. Jiao, J. K. Jiao, Z. Jiao, L. C. L. Jin, S. Jin, Y. Jin, M. Q. Jing, X. M. Jing, T. Johansson, S. Kabana, X. L. Kang, X. S. Kang, B. C. Ke, V. Khachatryan, A. Khoukaz, O. B. Kolcu, B. Kopf, L. Kröger, L. Krümmel, Y. Y. Kuang, M. Kuessner, X. Kui, N. Kumar, A. Kupsc, W. Kühn, Q. Lan, W. N. Lan, T. T. Lei, M. Lellmann, T. Lenz, C. Li, C. H. Li, C. K. Li, Cong Li, D. M. Li, F. Li, G. Li, H. B. Li, H. J. Li, H. L. Li, H. N. Li, H. P. Li, Hui Li, J. N. Li, J. S. Li, J. W. Li, K. Li, K. L. Li, L. J. Li, L. K. Li, Lei Li, M. H. Li, M. R. Li, M. T. Li, P. L. Li, P. R. Li, Q. M. Li, Q. X. Li, R. Li, S. Li, S. X. Li, S. Y. Li, Shanshan Li, T. Li, T. Y. Li, W. D. Li, W. G. Li, X. Li, X. H. Li, X. K. Li, X. L. Li, X. Y. Li, X. Z. Li, Y. Li, Y. H. Li, Y. B. Li, Y. C. Li, Y. G. Li, Y. P. Li, Yi Li, Z. H. Li, Z. J. Li, Z. L. Li, Z. X. Li, Z. Y. Li, Zaiyi Li, C. Liang, H. Liang, Y. F. Liang, Y. T. Liang, Z. Z. Liang, G. R. Liao, L. B. Liao, M. H. Liao, Y. P. Liao, J. Libby, A. Limphirat, C. C. Lin, C. X. Lin, D. X. Lin, T. Lin, B. J. Liu, B. X. Liu, C. Liu, C. X. Liu, F. Liu, F. H. Liu, Feng Liu, G. M. Liu, H. Liu, H. B. Liu, H. M. Liu, Huihui Liu, J. B. Liu, K. Liu, K. Y. Liu, Ke Liu, Kun Liu, L. Liu, L. C. Liu, Lu Liu, M. H. Liu, P. L. Liu, Q. Liu, S. B. Liu, T. Liu, W. M. Liu, W. T. Liu, X. Liu, X. K. Liu, X. L. Liu, X. P. Liu, X. T. Liu, X. Y. Liu, Y. Liu, Y. B. Liu, Yi Liu, Z. A. Liu, Z. D. Liu, Z. Q. Liu, Z. X. Liu, Z. Y. Liu, Ziqiang Liu, X. C. Lou, H. J. Lu, J. G. Lu, X. L. Lu, Y. Lu, Y. H. Lu, Y. P. Lu, Z. H. Lu, C. L. Luo, J. R. Luo, J. S. Luo, M. X. Luo, T. Luo, X. L. Luo, Z. Y. Lv, X. R. Lyu, Y. F. Lyu, Y. H. Lyu, C. L. Ma, F. C. Ma, H. L. Ma, Heng Ma, J. L. Ma, L. L. Ma, L. R. Ma, Q. M. Ma, R. Q. Ma, R. Y. Ma, T. Ma, X. T. Ma, X. Y. Ma, F. E. Maas, I. MacKay, M. Maggiora, S. Maity, S. Malde, Y. J. Mao, Z. P. Mao, S. Marcello, A. Marshall, F. M. Melendi, Y. H. Meng, Z. X. Meng, G. Mezzadri, H. Miao, T. J. Min, R. E. Mitchell, X. H. Mo, B. Moses, N. Yu. Muchnoi, J. Muskalla, Y. Nefedov, F. Nerling, H. Neuwirth, Z. Ning, S. Nisar, Q. L. Niu, W. D. Niu, Y. Niu, C. Normand, S. L. Olsen, Q. Ouyang, I. V. Ovtin, S. Pacetti, Y. Pan, C. Y. Pang, A. Pathak, Y. P. Pei, M. Pelizaeus, G. L. Peng, H. P. Peng, X. J. Peng, Y. Y. Peng, K. Peters, K. Petridis, J. L. Ping, R. G. Ping, S. Plura, V. Prasad, L. Pöpping, F. Z. Qi, H. R. Qi, L. Y. Qian, S. Qian, W. B. Qian, C. F. Qiao, J. H. Qiao, J. J. Qin, J. L. Qin, L. Q. Qin, L. Y. Qin, P. B. Qin, X. P. Qin, X. S. Qin, Z. H. Qin, J. F. Qiu, Z. H. Qu, J. Rademacker, K. Ravindran, C. F. Redmer, A. Rivetti, M. Rolo, G. Rong, S. S. Rong, F. Rosini, Ch. Rosner, M. Q. Ruan, W. R. Ruangyoo, N. Salone, A. Sarantsev, Y. Schelhaas, M. Schernau, K. Schoenning, M. Scodeggio, W. Shan, X. Y. Shan, Z. J. Shang, J. F. Shangguan, L. G. Shao, M. Shao, C. P. Shen, H. F. Shen, W. H. Shen, X. Y. Shen, B. A. Shi, Ch. Y. Shi, H. Shi, J. L. Shi, J. Y. Shi, M. H. Shi, S. Shi, S. Y. Shi, X. Shi, H. L. Song, J. J. Song, M. H. Song, T. Z. Song, W. M. Song, Zirong Song, S. Sosio, S. Spataro, S. Stansilaus, F. Stieler, M. Stolte, S. S Su, G. B. Sun, G. X. Sun, H. Sun, H. K. Sun, J. F. Sun, K. Sun, L. Sun, R. Sun, S. S. Sun, T. Sun, W. Y. Sun, Y. C. Sun, Y. H. Sun, Y. J. Sun, Y. Z. Sun, Z. Q. Sun, Z. T. Sun, H. Tabaharizato, N. T. Tagsinsit, C. J. Tang, G. Y. Tang, J. Tang, J. J. Tang, L. F. Tang, Y. A. Tang, Z. H. Tang, L. Y. Tao, M. Tat, J. X. Teng, J. Y. Tian, W. H. Tian, Y. Tian, Z. F. Tian, K. Yu. Todyshev, I. Uman, E. van der Smagt, B. Wang, Bin Wang, Bo Wang, C. Wang, Chao Wang, Cong Wang, D. Y. Wang, F. K. Wang, H. J. Wang, H. R. Wang, J. Wang, J. H. Wang, J. J. Wang, J. P. Wang, K. Wang, L. L. Wang, L. W. Wang, M. Wang, Mi Wang, N. Y. Wang, S. Wang, Shun Wang, T. Wang, W. Wang, W. P. Wang, X. F. Wang, X. L. Wang, X. N. Wang, Xin Wang, Y. Wang, Y. D. Wang, Y. F. Wang, Y. H. Wang, Y. J. Wang, Y. L. Wang, Y. N. Wang, Yanning Wang, Yaqian Wang, Yi Wang, Yuan Wang, Z. Wang, Z. L. Wang, Z. Q. Wang, Z. Y. Wang, Zhi Wang, Ziyi Wang, D. Wei, D. H. Wei, D. J. Wei, H. R. Wei, F. Weidner, H. R. Wen, S. P. Wen, U. Wiedner, G. Wilkinson, M. Wolke, J. F. Wu, L. H. Wu, L. J. Wu, Lianjie Wu, S. G. Wu, S. M. Wu, X. W. Wu, Z. Wu, H. L. Xia, L. Xia, B. H. Xiang, D. Xiao, G. Y. Xiao, H. Xiao, Y. L. Xiao, Z. J. Xiao, C. Xie, K. J. Xie, Y. Xie, Y. G. Xie, Y. H. Xie, Z. P. Xie, T. Y. Xing, D. B. Xiong, G. F. Xu, H. Y. Xu, Q. J. Xu, Q. N. Xu, T. D. Xu, X. P. Xu, Y. Xu, Y. C. Xu, Z. S. Xu, F. Yan, L. Yan, W. B. Yan, W. C. Yan, W. H. Yan, W. P. Yan, X. Q. Yan, Y. Y. Yan, H. J. Yang, H. L. Yang, H. X. Yang, J. H. Yang, L. Y. Yang, N. Yang, R. J. Yang, X. Y. Yang, Y. Yang, Y. G. Yang, Y. H. Yang, Y. M. Yang, Y. Q. Yang, Y. Z. Yang, Youhua Yang, Z. B. Yang, W. J. Yao, Z. P. Yao, M. Ye, M. H. Ye, Z. J. Ye, K. Yi, Junhao Yin, Z. Y. You, B. X. Yu, C. X. Yu, G. Yu, J. S. Yu, L. W. Yu, T. Yu, X. D. Yu, Y. C. Yu, Yongchao Yu, C. Z. Yuan, H. Yuan, J. Yuan, Jie Yuan, L. Yuan, M. K. Yuan, S. H. Yuan, Y. Yuan, C. X. Yue, Ying Yue, A. A. Zafar, F. R. Zeng, S. H. Zeng, X. Zeng, Y. J. Zeng, Yujie Zeng, Y. C. Zhai, Y. H. Zhan, B. L. Zhang, B. R. Zhang, B. X. Zhang, D. H. Zhang, G. Y. Zhang, Gengyuan Zhang, H. Zhang, H. C. Zhang, H. H. Zhang, H. L. Zhang, H. Q. Zhang, H. R. Zhang, H. Y. Zhang, Han Zhang, J. Zhang, J. J. Zhang, J. L. Zhang, J. Q. Zhang, J. S. Zhang, J. W. Zhang, J. X. Zhang, J. Y. Zhang, J. Z. Zhang, Jianyu Zhang, Jin Zhang, Jiyuan Zhang, L. M. Zhang, Lei Zhang, N. Zhang, P. Zhang, Q. Zhang, Q. Y. Zhang, Q. Z. Zhang, R. Y. Zhang, S. H. Zhang, S. N. Zhang, Shulei Zhang, X. M. Zhang, X. Y. Zhang, Y. T. Zhang, Y. H. Zhang, Y. P. Zhang, Yao Zhang, Yu Zhang, Yu Zhang, Z. Zhang, Z. D. Zhang, Z. H. Zhang, Z. L. Zhang, Z. R. Zhang, Z. X. Zhang, Z. Y. Zhang, Zh. Zh. Zhang, Zhaoke Zhang, Zhilong Zhang, Ziyang Zhang, Ziyu Zhang, G. Zhao, J.-P. Zhao, J. Y. Zhao, J. Z. Zhao, L. Zhao, Lei Zhao, M. G. Zhao, R. P. Zhao, Y. B. Zhao, Y. L. Zhao, Y. P. Zhao, Y. X. Zhao, Z. G. Zhao, A. Zhemchugov, B. Zheng, B. M. Zheng, J. P. Zheng, W. J. Zheng, W. Q. Zheng, X. R. Zheng, Y. H. Zheng, B. Zhong, C. Zhong, X. Zhong, H. Zhou, J. Q. Zhou, S. Zhou, X. Zhou, X. K. Zhou, X. R. Zhou, X. Y. Zhou, Y. X. Zhou, Y. Z. Zhou, A. N. Zhu, J. Zhu, K. Zhu, K. J. Zhu, K. S. Zhu, L. X. Zhu, Lin Zhu, S. H. Zhu, W. D. Zhu, W. J. Zhu, W. Z. Zhu, Y. C. Zhu, Z. A. Zhu, X. Y. Zhuang, M. Zhuge, J. H. Zou, J. Zu

High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Analysis of the two-body strong decays of the hidden-charm pentaquark states in QCD sum rules

In the present work, we study the two-body strong decays of the hidden-charm pentaquark states with the quark content $uudc\bar c$ and the quantum numbers $I(J^P)=\frac{1}{2}(\frac{1}{2}^-)$ in the framework of the three-point QCD sum rules. The initial pentaquark states are described by four local diquark-diquark-antiquark type interpolating currents with definite isospin. We construct the three-point correlation functions for the decay channels $P_c\to \eta_c p$, $J/\psi p$, $\Lambda_c\bar D$, $\Lambda_c\bar D^{*}$ and $\Sigma_c\bar D$, and derive the corresponding QCD sum rules for the strong coupling constants. At the hadron side, the correlation functions are expressed in terms of the hadron masses, pole residues, decay constants and strong coupling constants. At the QCD side, they are calculated by carrying out the operator product expansion with the full quark propagators, where the vacuum condensates up to dimension 10 are taken into account. After matching the two representations and performing the double Borel transformations, we extract the strong coupling constants from the selected Lorentz structures. With the obtained coupling constants, we evaluate the partial decay widths and discuss the possible assignments of the corresponding pentaquark states. The numerical results indicate that two of the compact hidden-charm pentaquark states can be related to the $P_c(4312)$ and $P_c(4457)$, respectively, while the other two lower-mass states may be regarded as possible hidden-charm pentaquark candidates to be searched for in future experiments. The present results may be useful for identifying the hidden-charm pentaquark states in future experiments.
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All authors Zi-Hao Chen, Han-Xiong Huang, Jie Lu, Xiao-Song Yang, Zhi-Gang Wang, Guo-Liang Yu

High Energy Physics (Phenomenology) · Cross-listed from hep-th

Universal fingerprint of topological defect cores

Topological defects are ubiquitous in physics, arising from condensed matter physics to the early universe. Although there exist many universal scaling laws for correlations between topological defects, such as Porod scaling, the fingerprint of topological defect cores has remained largely unexplored. Here, we discover a universal scaling law in the region $k>1/\xi$, where $\xi$ is the healing length of the topological defects, taking the scaling of the form factor $S_f \propto k^{-(d+p+2)}$, where $d$ is the spatial dimension and $p$ is the defect codimension. We analytically prove that this exponent originates from a universal V-shaped cusp at the defect core and is independent of the underlying system and dynamics. Numerical simulations verify this scaling law in four typical frameworks: the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau and Gross-Pitaevskii equations in the weak-coupling regime, the gauge/gravity duality model in the strong-coupling regime, and the Klein-Gordon equation in the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker background in cosmology. Our work provides a new probe for studying topological defects in systems ranging from superconductors to cosmological phase transitions.
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All authors Zi-Qiang Zhao, Nayun Jia, Zhang-Yu Nie, Hua-Bi Zeng, Jing-Fei Zhang, Xin Zhang

High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Dark Matter as the Z_2 Partner of the Standard Model Higgs Boson

A possible gamma-ray excess from the Galactic halo favors dark matter with a mass of several hundred GeV. In previous work, we found that an electroweak scalar doublet is a particularly economical, and nearly uniquely selected, interpretation among simple renormalizable thermal dark-matter models. We point out that its unbroken Z_2 symmetry is exactly equivalent to an interchange symmetry between two Higgs doublets, making dark matter the Z_2-odd partner of the Standard Model Higgs boson and suggesting that the two doublets may share a common weak-scale origin. We connect this model to the recently reported 248 keV nuclear-recoil event in the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment. For dark-matter masses of 440–600 GeV, a technically natural, mass-dependent neutral-state splitting of order 350 keV defines a narrow strip near the kinematic boundary where the fixed off-diagonal Z interaction can produce the observed recoil. Because the scattering probes the extreme high-velocity tail of the Galactic distribution, this interpretation predicts a large annual modulation, with future events preferentially occurring around early summer. Neither observation is yet conclusive, but their common interpretation is sharply testable.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Scalar Portal Verifiable Light Dark Matter and Correlated Gravitational Wave Signatures

The lack of signals in direct detection experiments has placed the canonical Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) paradigm under severe tension, motivating a shift toward the sub-GeV Light Dark Matter (LDM) regime. However, realizing detectable LDM interaction rates typically requires large couplings to the visible sector, which leads to a severe thermal underabundance of the dark matter relic density within standard cosmology. Furthermore, LDM models featuring vector mediators face stringent constraints from the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) due to late-time energy injection. In this work, we propose a minimal scalar portal extension featuring a vector-like fermion dark matter candidate, which naturally evades CMB bounds via inherent p-wave annihilation suppression. To simultaneously achieve the correct relic density and large direct-detection couplings, we invoke a pre-Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) non-standard cosmology dominated by a stiff fluid ($w > 1/3$). The enhanced Hubble expansion during this epoch triggers an early dark matter freeze-out, successfully rescuing the asymptotic relic abundance. Crucially, this stiff pre-BBN phase heavily blue-shifts inflationary gravitational waves that re-enter the horizon prior to BBN, imprinting a distinct high-frequency tilt on the stochastic gravitational wave background. We establish a robust correlation between the non-standard expansion history, the particle physics parameters verifiable in future terrestrial direct detection experiments, and the unique gravitational wave signatures observable by forthcoming space-based interferometers like LISA and DECIGO. This framework highlights how multi-messenger observations can concurrently probe the dark sector and the pre-BBN thermal history of the Universe.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Lepton-flavor violation and muon $(g-2)$ in the flavor-dependent $U(1)_F$ model

Lepton flavor violation (LFV) processes are forbidden in the standard model (SM), hence the observation of LFV transitions would represent a clear signal of new physics beyond the SM. In this work, we investigate the muon anomalous magnetic dipole moments (MDM) and LFV processes $l_{j}^{-}\to l_{i}^{-}\gamma $ and $l_{j}^{-}\to l_{i}^{-}l_{i}^{-}l_{i}^{+}$ in the extension of the SM with $U(1)_F$ local gauge symmetry (FDM). The muon anomalous MDM is one of the most precisely measured quantities in particle physics, which can be used to constrain the contributions from new couplings in the FDM. The newly incorporated $U(1)_F$ charges are correlated with the flavor properties of fermions, hence the newly added Yukawa couplings make contributions to these LFV processes. Considering the latest experimental constraints on the muon anomalous MDM, the new interactions in the FDM can make significant contributions to the LFV processes $l_{j}^{-}\to l_{i}^{-}\gamma $ and $l_{j}^{-}\to l_{i}^{-}l_{i}^{-}l_{i}^{+}$, the predicted branching ratios can well reach the future experimental sensitivity.
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All authors Yu-Ju Peng, Feng-Yan Niu, Qi-Zhen Qin, Zhan Cao, Jin-Lei Yang

High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Entanglement Signatures of Kinetic-Mixing Portals in Dark Monopole Scattering

We examine the interaction between the Standard Model (SM) fermions and the topological dark magnetic monopoles mediated via a kinetic-mixing portal to investigate the generation of quantum entanglement in particle-portal scattering. While the conventional phenomenology only takes into account total cross-sections, decay widths, and missing-energy signatures, we employ an information-theoretic approach to explain the scattering event. We quantify the quantum correlations transported over the portal boundary by calculating the Von Neumann entropy ($S_{\text{ent}}$) and the subsystem purity deterioration ($\gamma < 1$) analytically. Our results demonstrate that the non-perturbative core form factor of the dark monopole controls its high-energy momentum transfer and that the Von Neumann entropy increases quadratically with the topological magnetic charge ($g_m^2$) and the kinetic-mixing parameter ($\epsilon^2$). This paradigm provides an information-theoretic "microscope" to restrict portal parameter spaces and explore underlying topological structures without using traditional energy signatures by establishing quantum decoherence and purity loss as new, complementary observables.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Strictly solvable $d=4$ quantum field theory models with unitarity violation. Possible implications for baryon asymmetry of the Universe and dark matter

In this paper we consider quantum field theory with unitarity violation. We construct several $d = 4$ strictly solvable models with unitarity violation. As a possible application of the models with unitarity violation we construct two models explaining the observed baryon asymmetry of the Universe and the dark matter existence. In considered models dark matter particles have nonzero baryon number and the total baryon number of the Universe being the sum of the baryon number of the matter and dark matter is equal to zero. Dark matter paricles have mass $\sim 6~GeV$. Proposed models predict negligible cross sections of the dark matter with nuclei and electrons. It means that underground experiments will fail to discover dark matter.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Recoil Geometry Unmasks Gluon Saturation in Forward $Z^0$ Production

Gluon saturation produces characteristic transverse-momentum broadening in nuclei, but QCD radiation largely washes out this signature. We show that fiducial recoil subtraction turns detector acceptance into a transverse-momentum projector that unmasks the broadening in forward $Z^0$ production. Subtracting the hadronic recoil measured in a chosen rapidity interval from the boson transverse momentum defines a residual momentum. At leading power, the radiative recoil in this interval cancels, while the residual momentum retains sensitivity to the small-$x$ nuclear field. Combining a CGC description of the small-$x$ target with soft-collinear effective theory (SCET) resummation for finite rapidity coverage, we find that a benchmark rapidity coverage $|\eta^{\rm lab}|<2.5$ lowers the effective hard scale from $M_Z\simeq 91.2$ GeV to about $7.5~\mathrm{GeV}$ of the Sudakov evolution. Increasing the saturation scale broadens the residual-momentum distribution and weakens recoil alignment, whereas wider coverage makes the proton–nucleus separation clearer in both observables. Detector geometry thus provides tunable control over perturbative recoil, enabling a probe of nonlinear small-$x$ QCD.
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All authors Wanchen Li, Ding Yu Shao, Shu-Yi Wei, Jian Zhou

High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Distribution amplitudes of vector and axial-vector mesons in a nonperturbatively improved symmetry-preserving framework

Using continuum Schwinger-function methods with a nonperturbatively improved, symmetry-preserving kernel, we deliver predictions for the leading-twist light-front distribution amplitudes (DAs) of the $\rho$, $K^\ast$, $a_1(1260)$, $b_1(1235)$, and the unmixed strange partners of the $1^{++}$ and $1^{+-}$ axial-vector (AV) channels, reconstructed from Mellin moments of the associated Bethe–Salpeter wave functions. For vector mesons, polarisation barely affects longitudinal momentum sharing: the longitudinal and transverse DAs are nearly degenerate, and both narrower than the asymptotic distribution in the second-moment sense. The AV sector is different in kind. Charge conjugation compels one projection – interchanged between the $1^{++}$ and $1^{+-}$ channels – to vanish at $x=1/2$ and change sign; breaking $SU_F(3)$ symmetry removes this protection, whereupon the zeroth moments become nonzero and the nodes shift from the midpoint. Under a common weighted normalisation, the $1^{+-}$ zeroth moment is $1.63$ times that of the $1^{++}$ channel, and the profile distortion follows the same pattern. A coupling forbidden by charge conjugation in the symmetric limit, $f_{b_1}=0$, becomes $f_{K_1^{+-}}=0.019\,$GeV in the strange channel: an independent measure of the same symmetry breaking, obtained from a current matrix element rather than from the DA reconstruction. What distinguishes the two sectors is thus a symmetry-enforced zero, not the size of the flavour asymmetry.
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All authors Zhen-Ni Xu, Zhao-Qian Yao, Peng Cheng, Khépani Raya

High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Quark masses and mixing in the D_5 model under spontaneous CP violation

It is known that CP violation occurs in flavor physics, and the CKM matrix is complex. We investigate the Yukawa sector of a four-Higgs model based on D_5 symmetry. To understand all possible sources of CP violation in the Yukawa sector, we systematically analyze the impact of all possible representation assignments of the left-handed and right-handed quark fields under the D_5 group. After imposing the conditions of non-block-diagonal CKM matrix and the absence of massless quarks, we find that the only viable representation consists of one D_5 doublet and one singlet. In this case, two distinct types of quark mass models emerge in the quark sector. For each model, we introduce the most general vacuum that allows spontaneous CP violation (SCPV) into the mass matrices. Due to the specific structure of the D_5 symmetry, the vacuum expectation values (vevs) satisfy particular relations such that, for both quark models, the up- and down-quark mass squared matrices (i.e., M_d M_d^\dagger and M_u M_u^\dagger) can be simultaneously block-diagonalized by the same unitary transformation, forcing the CKM matrix to be block-diagonal and thus yielding vanishing mixing angles and CP violation. This result rules out the possibility of explaining experimental observations within the D_5 4HDM under the SCPV framework.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology) · Cross-listed from hep-th

Residues on Permanent Pinches: Finite Integrals and Leading Divergences

We study infrared (IR) divergences from the point of view of permanent pinches. We show how canceling permanent pinches allows us to form finite linear combinations of integrals. We further show how to compute scheme-independent leading IR divergences with- out introducing a regulator, by integrating certain residue forms along desingularizations of permanent pinch varieties. Our methods work for massless and mixed massive-massless inte- grals, for non-planar integrals with arbitrary numerators as well as for integrals with higher (integer) powers of propagators. We use this analysis to determine leading singular terms in some examples of box integrals. We further study examples of finite integrals at higher loops, and in particular provide a basis for finite non-evanescent integrals in a non-planar two-loop five-point topology.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Evading Sudakov Dilution in Gluon Tomography

Sudakov broadening and competing azimuthal harmonics from final-state soft radiation limit the precision of gluon tomography. We suppress both effects using fiducial hadronic recoil—the vector sum of all hadronic transverse momenta within a rapidity interval—while a tagged jet fixes the azimuthal axis. Momentum conservation ensures that emissions inside the interval contribute neither to recoil broadening nor to these harmonics, so widening the interval reduces their impact without a soft-radiation veto. As a benchmark, we study the $\cos 2\phi$ modulation probing $h_1^{\perp g}$ in DIS. For rapidity interval $\Delta\eta=3$, fiducial recoil enhances the $h_1^{\perp g}$ contribution by a factor of $4.6$ and suppresses the final-state soft gluon term by a factor of $4.0$ relative to the conventional dijet imbalance. Fiducial recoil thereby enables precision gluon-TMD tomography.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology) · Cross-listed from astro-ph.GA

Disc-Based Estimation of the Local Dark Matter Density and Velocity Distribution in IllustrisTNG50

We study the dark matter (DM) density and velocity distribution in the solar neighborhood of Milky Way-like galaxies using the TNG50-1 run of the IllustrisTNG simulation suite. Milky Way-like galaxies are selected according to both their halo mass and their bulge-to-total stellar mass ratio, and the solar-neighborhood region within each galaxy is identified from the positions and number density of stars, so that DM particles associated with the galactic disc are extracted while contributions from the halo component are suppressed. Averaging over the selected galaxies, we obtain a local DM density of $\rho \simeq 0.47\pm0.02~{\rm GeV\,cm^{-3}}$, consistent with the range inferred from observations. The disc-based extraction gives a higher peak density, $0.41\pm0.02~{\rm GeV\,cm^{-3}}$, than the value $0.34\pm0.02~{\rm GeV\,cm^{-3}}$ from a simple distance-based extraction, probably because it excludes the low-density DM in the halo. The width of the density distribution, on the other hand, is nearly unchanged. The velocity distribution is well described by an isotropic Maxwellian with a peak velocity of about $226~{\rm km~s^{-1}}$, close to the value assumed in the standard halo model. The differences in the density and velocity distributions between our disc-based and simple distance-based extractions are not so large as to significantly affect the interpretation of direct-detection experiments.
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All authors Hatsume Chujo, Shogo Masaki, Keiko I. Nagao, Takuho Nakabayashi

High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Macroscopic Coherent Axion Production by Reverse Parametric Fluorescence

We propose a macroscopically coherent laboratory source of axion-like particles (ALPs) through the axion–electron coupling \(g_{ae}\). Two counterpropagating optical modes drive reverse parametric fluorescence in a crystal, where two pump photons are converted into a relativistic ALP through virtual ionic transitions, while the medium returns to its initial state. Phase matching enables emission amplitudes from many ions to add coherently without preparing material coherence. The pump frequencies determine the ALP energy, making the source continuously tunable. The production rate scales with the product of the two pump powers and the square of the source length. Resonant absorption followed by fluorescence completes the detection scheme. For benchmark crystal and laser parameters, a one-year operation gives a reach of \(g_{ae}\simeq2.8\times10^{-11}\), substantially improving the sensitivity of purely laboratory-based searches for low-mass ALPs.
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All authors Zhan Bai, Baifei Shen, Liangliang Ji, Ruxin Li

High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Quasicrystalline Inflation: From the Cosmological Dipole to Primordial Diffraction

We propose quasicrystalline inflation. Six quasiperiodic phases decompose into three phonons and three phasons. It turns out that a coherent pure-phason displacement can generate a local power dipole while the linear traceless quadrupole vanishes. From spatially varying quadratic effective field theory, we derive off-diagonal correlations whose momentum transfer is restricted to integer combinations of the six icosahedral wavevectors. These correlated off-diagonal signals provide a characteristic observational signature of primordial quasiperiodic order, primordial diffraction.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Extension of the non-pole technique to the twist-3 gluon distribution contribution in $pp$ collisions

It is known that the Sivers effect is described as a twist-3 effect within the collinear factorization framework and has the characteristic feature that it arises from the pole contribution in a hard parton scattering. The calculation formalism that focuses only on the pole part was established in the 2000s and SSAs were calculated for many processes in $ep$ and $pp$ collisions. On the other hand, there also exists a contribution from twist-3 fragmentation functions regarded as the Collins effect. The Collins effect arises from the nonpole part of the hard scattering and its calculation is formulated in a somewhat different manner from that for the Sivers effect. In recent years, some attempts have been made to revisit the Sivers effect by applying the “nonpole” formalism developed for the Collins effect. For $ep$ collisions, this approach has successfully reproduced the known results. For $pp$ collisions, however, the presence of both initial-state-interaction and final-state-interaction makes the calculation more complicated and the known results have not yet been reproduced. In this paper, we provide a solution to this problem and develop the nonpole method so that it can be applied to the Sivers effect in any process.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology) · Cross-listed from gr-qc

Cosmological implications for hairy black holes via spontaneous symmetry breaking: Are Hairy Black Holes Primordial?

We investigate whether hairy black holes generated through spontaneous symmetry breaking in Einstein-Scalar-Gauss-Bonnet (ESGB) theory, involving a complex scalar field with a global $U(1)$ symmetry, can be compatible with cosmological evolution. To this end, we introduce the ESGB theory with a scalar self-interaction that becomes relevant on cosmological scales while remaining negligible near the black hole. Owing to the time dependence of the GB term on cosmological scales, the scalar field dynamics in the evolving FLRW background differ qualitatively from those in the nearly static black hole background. In particular, for scalar-GB couplings compatible with hairy black hole formation, the effective potential supports a symmetry-broken vacuum throughout inflation. However, after inflation, a decelerated expansion changes the sign of the GB term, temporarily making the effective potential unbounded from below. As the GB contribution subsequently decreases, the scalar self-interaction eventually dominates and restores the symmetry. Within this schematic framework, we derive stringent constraints on the coupling strengths, the cutoff scale, and the black hole mass, which primarily arise for avoiding efficient tachyonic amplification of the scalar field perturbations during the unbounded phase. For cutoff scales compatible with both cosmological evolution and scalar hair formation, we find that only ultralight black holes with masses of the order of a few grams can develop scalar hair, identifying them as hairy primordial black holes.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology) · Cross-listed from astro-ph.CO

Calculating the squeezed bispectrum in stochastic inflation by Monte Carlo simulation

The bispectrum of cosmological perturbations is an important probe of inflation and the underlying particle physics. However, calculating it becomes challenging in inflation models where inflaton dynamics is dominated by quantum diffusion rather than slow-roll, especially in the multi-field case. In this paper, employing the stochastic-$\delta \mathcal{N}$ formalism, we propose a Monte Carlo-based method to calculate the bispectrum in the squeezed limit, as an extension of the method for the power spectrum that we previously proposed. Our method involves generating paths of inflatons' time evolution that branch only several times, avoiding nested path generation, which incurs a prohibitive computational cost. As numerical demonstrations, we apply the proposed method to single- and double-field chaotic inflation for validation, and to hybrid inflation with mild waterfall, for which, to the best of our knowledge, the bispectrum is calculated for the first time in this work.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Generalized Foldy-Wouthuysen approach for the derivation of non-relativistic effective field theories

Effective field theories (EFTs) are a powerful framework for performing high-precision calculations at reduced complexity compared to their fundamental counterparts. A particularly important class of EFTs arises in the non-relativistic (NR) regime. Their construction relies on a different realization of the underlying symmetries, since Lorentz invariance is no longer manifest in covariant form in the NR regime. This behavior imposes a link between certain matching coefficients, and therefore additional constraints, commonly referred to as hidden Lorentz invariance. These constraints are established in quantum field theories on inertial flat spacetime, such as NR quantum electrodynamics. However, deriving these constraints becomes considerably more involved for theories involving physics beyond the Standard Model or formulated in non-inertial spacetime backgrounds, where the hidden symmetry structure is less transparent. In this work, we present an approach to obtain the NR EFT by first constructing a relativistic EFT and then performing a generalized NR reduction based on an extended Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation. We illustrate this method by a quantum chromo-electrodynamics EFT for inertial flat spacetime, describing both electromagnetic and strong interactions, and show how it reduces to the established Lagrangian of NR quantum chromodynamics and electrodynamics. The hidden Lorentz invariance emerges as a direct consequence of the construction. This approach provides a route to obtain the NR limits of more complex theories, \eg Dirac fields in non-inertial spacetime or extensions involving physics beyond the Standard Model. As an example, we apply the method to add the coupling of a pseudoscalar axion field in a simplified model and derive its NR limit.
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All authors Tobias Asano, Fabio Di Pumpo, Enno Giese, Motoaki Bamba

Tuesday 1 September

High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

A PQ-Symmetric High-Scale SUSY Interpretation of the LZ High-Energy Recoil

The 248-keV nuclear-recoil-like event reported by LZ can be interpreted as near-threshold upscattering of 1.08-TeV thermal Higgsino dark matter. A neutral-Higgsino splitting of order $0.3$–$0.35$ MeV places the fixed weak-interaction cross section close to the observed LZ interval and implies electroweak gauginos at ${O}(10^7)$ GeV. This spectrum is compatible with gravity-mediated high-scale supersymmetry and a Kim–Nilles Peccei–Quinn sector. Although the GUT scale is predicted to be lower than the conventional one, proton decay is suppressed due to the high SUSY scale which also solves the conventional CP, flavor, gravitino and moduli problems. Indeed, proton decay may be probed in the future. The PQ symmetry lowers the Higgsino mass below the SUSY scale and also yields a QCD axion that solves the strong-$CP$ problem. If the axion and Higgsino constitute mixed dark matter, the halo-profile-dependent H.E.S.S. limit can be relaxed.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology) · Cross-listed from nucl-th

Unveiling QCD Criticality with Cross-Rapidity Net-Baryon Cumulants

Fluctuations of conserved charges are a primary tool in the search for the QCD critical endpoint, but their beam-energy dependence is complicated by global baryon-number conservation, whose influence changes as the experimental acceptance covers different fractions of the collision system. We propose using correlations of net-baryon fluctuations between two separated rapidity windows to exploit the distinct signatures of conservation and critical dynamics. Global conservation produces a negative cross-window correlation, whereas a common long-wavelength critical fluctuation produces a positive one. We show that, within a canonical independent-source framework, the conservation-induced background and the critical signal enter additively at leading order, allowing the leading conservation term to be estimated and subtracted. The resulting yield-scaled correlator follows the nonmonotonic enhancement of an Ising-mapped equilibrium correlation length along a freeze-out trajectory passing near a hypothetical critical endpoint, while wider rapidity windows reduce the response through thermal smearing. Cross-rapidity cumulants therefore provide a rapidity-differential strategy for reducing the leading conservation background and sharpening fluctuation-based searches for QCD criticality in beam-energy-scan experiments.
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High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)

Tremaine-Gunn Control: Evading Bounds on Light Fermion Dark Matter

Pauli exclusion is often regarded as imposing a model-independent lower bound on the mass of fermionic dark matter in galaxies. We show that dark-sector interactions can substantially weaken this conclusion. In particular, eV-scale fermions can form bound structures with the characteristic sizes and densities of dwarf galaxies, thereby circumventing the conventional Tremaine-Gunn mass constraint. Within these objects, the degeneracy pressure is balanced by an attractive finite-range scalar Yukawa force that is significantly stronger than gravity. The interaction acts on dwarf-galaxy scales while remaining screened on larger scales. We derive the evolution of the resulting dark-matter fluid and identify a viable cosmological history in which structures first form gravitationally, with the new interaction becoming active only at late times. As a proof of concept, we construct a model in which a single late-time phase transition generates the required dynamics. These results provide a new route to exceptionally light fermionic dark matter and demonstrate that dark-sector interactions can qualitatively alter conventional phase-space limits.
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All authors Joel Barir, Diego Blas, Anubhav Mathur, Tomer Volansky