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The Minimal Scale Invariant Extension of the Standard Model

Alexander-Nunneley, Lisa Pamela

[Thesis]. Manchester, UK: The University of Manchester; 2010.

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Abstract

The Minimal Scale Invariant extension of the Standard Model (MSISM) is a model of low-energy particle physics which is identical to the Standard Model except for the inclusion of an additional complex singlet scalar and tree-level scale invariance. Scale invariance is a classical symmetry which is explicitly broken by quantum corrections whose interplay with the quartic couplings can be used to trigger electroweak symmetry breaking. The scale invariant Standard Model suffers from a number of problems, however the inclusion of a complex singlet scalar results in a perturbative and phenomenologically viable theory. We present a thorough and systematic investigation of the MSISM for a number of representative scenarios along two of its three classified types of flat direction. In these scenarios we determine the permitted quartic coupling parameter space, using both theoretical and experimental constraints, and apply these limits to make predictions of the scalar mass spectrum and the energy scale at which scale invariance is broken. We calculate the one-loop effective potential and the one-loop beta functions of the pertinent couplings of the MSISM specifically for this purpose. We also discuss the phenomenological implications of these scenarios, in particular, whether they realise explicit or spontaneous CP violation, contain neutrino masses or provide dark matter candidates. Of particular importance is the discovery of a new minimal scale invariant model which provides maximal spontaneous CP violation, can naturally incorporate neutrino masses, produces a massive stable scalar dark matter candidate and can remain perturbative up to the Planck scale. It can be argued that the last property, along with the classical scale invariance, can potentially solve the gauge hierarchy problem for this model.

Bibliographic metadata

Type of resource:
Content type:
Form of thesis:
Type of submission:
Degree type:
Doctor of Philosophy
Degree programme:
PhD Physics (48 month)
Publication date:
Location:
Manchester, UK
Total pages:
139
Abstract:
The Minimal Scale Invariant extension of the Standard Model (MSISM) is a model of low-energy particle physics which is identical to the Standard Model except for the inclusion of an additional complex singlet scalar and tree-level scale invariance. Scale invariance is a classical symmetry which is explicitly broken by quantum corrections whose interplay with the quartic couplings can be used to trigger electroweak symmetry breaking. The scale invariant Standard Model suffers from a number of problems, however the inclusion of a complex singlet scalar results in a perturbative and phenomenologically viable theory. We present a thorough and systematic investigation of the MSISM for a number of representative scenarios along two of its three classified types of flat direction. In these scenarios we determine the permitted quartic coupling parameter space, using both theoretical and experimental constraints, and apply these limits to make predictions of the scalar mass spectrum and the energy scale at which scale invariance is broken. We calculate the one-loop effective potential and the one-loop beta functions of the pertinent couplings of the MSISM specifically for this purpose. We also discuss the phenomenological implications of these scenarios, in particular, whether they realise explicit or spontaneous CP violation, contain neutrino masses or provide dark matter candidates. Of particular importance is the discovery of a new minimal scale invariant model which provides maximal spontaneous CP violation, can naturally incorporate neutrino masses, produces a massive stable scalar dark matter candidate and can remain perturbative up to the Planck scale. It can be argued that the last property, along with the classical scale invariance, can potentially solve the gauge hierarchy problem for this model.
Thesis main supervisor(s):
Language:
en

Institutional metadata

University researcher(s):

Record metadata

Manchester eScholar ID:
uk-ac-man-scw:96798
Created by:
Alexander-Nunneley, Lisa
Created:
1st December, 2010, 12:57:27
Last modified by:
Alexander-Nunneley, Lisa
Last modified:
7th April, 2011, 11:01:07

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