Violation of Lepton Number in 3 Units
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The Five Common Particles
The Five Common Particles The world around you consists of only three particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons and neutrons form the nuclei of atoms, and electrons glue everything together and create chemicals and materials. Along with the photon and the neutrino, these particles are essentially the only ones that exist in our solar system, because all the other subatomic particles have half-lives of typically 10-9 second or less, and vanish almost the instant they are created by nuclear reactions in the Sun, etc. Particles interact via the four fundamental forces of nature. Some basic properties of these forces are summarized below. (Other aspects of the fundamental forces are also discussed in the Summary of Particle Physics document on this web site.) Force Range Common Particles It Affects Conserved Quantity gravity infinite neutron, proton, electron, neutrino, photon mass-energy electromagnetic infinite proton, electron, photon charge -14 strong nuclear force ≈ 10 m neutron, proton baryon number -15 weak nuclear force ≈ 10 m neutron, proton, electron, neutrino lepton number Every particle in nature has specific values of all four of the conserved quantities associated with each force. The values for the five common particles are: Particle Rest Mass1 Charge2 Baryon # Lepton # proton 938.3 MeV/c2 +1 e +1 0 neutron 939.6 MeV/c2 0 +1 0 electron 0.511 MeV/c2 -1 e 0 +1 neutrino ≈ 1 eV/c2 0 0 +1 photon 0 eV/c2 0 0 0 1) MeV = mega-electron-volt = 106 eV. It is customary in particle physics to measure the mass of a particle in terms of how much energy it would represent if it were converted via E = mc2. -
Lepton Flavor and Number Conservation, and Physics Beyond the Standard Model
Lepton Flavor and Number Conservation, and Physics Beyond the Standard Model Andr´ede Gouv^ea1 and Petr Vogel2 1 Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, USA 2 Kellogg Radiation Laboratory, Caltech, Pasadena, California, 91125, USA April 1, 2013 Abstract The physics responsible for neutrino masses and lepton mixing remains unknown. More ex- perimental data are needed to constrain and guide possible generalizations of the standard model of particle physics, and reveal the mechanism behind nonzero neutrino masses. Here, the physics associated with searches for the violation of lepton-flavor conservation in charged-lepton processes and the violation of lepton-number conservation in nuclear physics processes is summarized. In the first part, several aspects of charged-lepton flavor violation are discussed, especially its sensitivity to new particles and interactions beyond the standard model of particle physics. The discussion concentrates mostly on rare processes involving muons and electrons. In the second part, the sta- tus of the conservation of total lepton number is discussed. The discussion here concentrates on current and future probes of this apparent law of Nature via searches for neutrinoless double beta decay, which is also the most sensitive probe of the potential Majorana nature of neutrinos. arXiv:1303.4097v2 [hep-ph] 29 Mar 2013 1 1 Introduction In the absence of interactions that lead to nonzero neutrino masses, the Standard Model Lagrangian is invariant under global U(1)e × U(1)µ × U(1)τ rotations of the lepton fields. In other words, if neutrinos are massless, individual lepton-flavor numbers { electron-number, muon-number, and tau-number { are expected to be conserved. -
Accessible Lepton-Number-Violating Models and Negligible Neutrino Masses
PHYSICAL REVIEW D 100, 075033 (2019) Accessible lepton-number-violating models and negligible neutrino masses † ‡ Andr´e de Gouvêa ,1,* Wei-Chih Huang,2, Johannes König,2, and Manibrata Sen 1,3,§ 1Northwestern University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA 2CP3-Origins, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark 3Department of Physics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA (Received 18 July 2019; published 25 October 2019) Lepton-number violation (LNV), in general, implies nonzero Majorana masses for the Standard Model neutrinos. Since neutrino masses are very small, for generic candidate models of the physics responsible for LNV, the rates for almost all experimentally accessible LNV observables—except for neutrinoless double- beta decay—are expected to be exceedingly small. Guided by effective-operator considerations of LNV phenomena, we identify a complete family of models where lepton number is violated but the generated Majorana neutrino masses are tiny, even if the new-physics scale is below 1 TeV. We explore the phenomenology of these models, including charged-lepton flavor-violating phenomena and baryon- number-violating phenomena, identifying scenarios where the allowed rates for μ− → eþ-conversion in nuclei are potentially accessible to next-generation experiments. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.100.075033 I. INTRODUCTION Experimentally, in spite of ambitious ongoing experi- Lepton number and baryon number are, at the classical mental efforts, there is no evidence for the violation of level, accidental global symmetries of the renormalizable lepton-number or baryon-number conservation [5]. There Standard Model (SM) Lagrangian.1 If one allows for are a few different potential explanations for these (neg- generic nonrenormalizable operators consistent with the ative) experimental results, assuming degrees-of-freedom SM gauge symmetries and particle content, lepton number beyond those of the SM exist. -
Grand Unification and Proton Decay
Grand Unification and Proton Decay Borut Bajc J. Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia 0 Reminder This is written for a series of 4 lectures at ICTP Summer School 2011. The choice of topics and the references are biased. This is not a review on the sub- ject or a correct historical overview. The quotations I mention are incomplete and chosen merely for further reading. There are some good books and reviews on the market. Among others I would mention [1, 2, 3, 4]. 1 Introduction to grand unification Let us first remember some of the shortcomings of the SM: • too many gauge couplings The (MS)SM has 3 gauge interactions described by the corresponding carriers a i Gµ (a = 1 ::: 8) ;Wµ (i = 1 ::: 3) ;Bµ (1) • too many representations It has 5 different matter representations (with a total of 15 Weyl fermions) for each generation Q ; L ; uc ; dc ; ec (2) • too many different Yukawa couplings It has also three types of Ng × Ng (Ng is the number of generations, at the moment believed to be 3) Yukawa matrices 1 c c ∗ c ∗ LY = u YU QH + d YDQH + e YELH + h:c: (3) This notation is highly symbolic. It means actually cT αa b cT αa ∗ cT a ∗ uαkiσ2 (YU )kl Ql abH +dαkiσ2 (YD)kl Ql Ha +ek iσ2 (YE)kl Ll Ha (4) where we denoted by a; b = 1; 2 the SU(2)L indices, by α; β = 1 ::: 3 the SU(3)C indices, by k; l = 1;:::Ng the generation indices, and where iσ2 provides Lorentz invariants between two spinors. -
$\Delta L= 3$ Processes: Proton Decay And
IFIC/18-03 ∆L = 3 processes: Proton decay and LHC Renato M. Fonseca,1, ∗ Martin Hirsch,1, y and Rahul Srivastava1, z 1AHEP Group, Institut de F´ısica Corpuscular { C.S.I.C./Universitat de Val`encia,Parc Cient´ıficde Paterna. C/ Catedr´atico Jos´eBeltr´an,2 E-46980 Paterna (Valencia) - SPAIN We discuss lepton number violation in three units. From an effective field theory point of view, ∆L = 3 processes can only arise from dimension 9 or higher operators. These operators also violate baryon number, hence many of them will induce proton decay. Given the high dimensionality of these operators, in order to have a proton half-life in the observable range, the new physics associated to ∆L = 3 processes should be at a scale as low as 1 TeV. This opens up the possibility of searching for such processes not only in proton decay experiments but also at the LHC. In this work we analyze the relevant d = 9; 11; 13 operators which violate lepton number in three units. We then construct one simple concrete model with interesting low- and high-energy phenomenology. I. INTRODUCTION could be related to some particular combinations of lep- ton/quark flavours, as argued for example in [8], or to The standard model conserves baryon (B) and lepton total lepton and baryon numbers. The possibility we dis- (L) number perturbatively. However, this is no longer cuss in this paper is that lepton number might actually true for non-renormalizable operators [1] which might be be violated only in units of three: ∆L = 3. -
1 Drawing Feynman Diagrams
1 Drawing Feynman Diagrams 1. A fermion (quark, lepton, neutrino) is drawn by a straight line with an arrow pointing to the left: f f 2. An antifermion is drawn by a straight line with an arrow pointing to the right: f f 3. A photon or W ±, Z0 boson is drawn by a wavy line: γ W ±;Z0 4. A gluon is drawn by a curled line: g 5. The emission of a photon from a lepton or a quark doesn’t change the fermion: γ l; q l; q But a photon cannot be emitted from a neutrino: γ ν ν 6. The emission of a W ± from a fermion changes the flavour of the fermion in the following way: − − − 2 Q = −1 e µ τ u c t Q = + 3 1 Q = 0 νe νµ ντ d s b Q = − 3 But for quarks, we have an additional mixing between families: u c t d s b This means that when emitting a W ±, an u quark for example will mostly change into a d quark, but it has a small chance to change into a s quark instead, and an even smaller chance to change into a b quark. Similarly, a c will mostly change into a s quark, but has small chances of changing into an u or b. Note that there is no horizontal mixing, i.e. an u never changes into a c quark! In practice, we will limit ourselves to the light quarks (u; d; s): 1 DRAWING FEYNMAN DIAGRAMS 2 u d s Some examples for diagrams emitting a W ±: W − W + e− νe u d And using quark mixing: W + u s To know the sign of the W -boson, we use charge conservation: the sum of the charges at the left hand side must equal the sum of the charges at the right hand side. -
Neutrino Vs Antineutrino Lepton Number Splitting
Introduction to Elementary Particle Physics. Note 18 Page 1 of 5 Neutrino vs antineutrino Neutrino is a neutral particle—a legitimate question: are neutrino and anti-neutrino the same particle? Compare: photon is its own antiparticle, π0 is its own antiparticle, neutron and antineutron are different particles. Dirac neutrino : If the answer is different , neutrino is to be called Dirac neutrino Majorana neutrino : If the answer is the same , neutrino is to be called Majorana neutrino 1959 Davis and Harmer conducted an experiment to see whether there is a reaction ν + n → p + e - could occur. The reaction and technique they used, ν + 37 Cl e- + 37 Ar, was proposed by B. Pontecorvo in 1946. The result was negative 1… Lepton number However, this was not unexpected: 1953 Konopinski and Mahmoud introduced a notion of lepton number L that must be conserved in reactions : • electron, muon, neutrino have L = +1 • anti-electron, anti-muon, anti-neutrino have L = –1 This new ad hoc law would explain many facts: • decay of neutron with anti-neutrino is OK: n → p e -ν L=0 → L = 1 + (–1) = 0 • pion decays with single neutrino or anti-neutrino is OK π → µ-ν L=0 → L = 1 + (–1) = 0 • but no pion decays into a muon and photon π- → µ- γ, which would require: L= 0 → L = 1 + 0 = 1 • no decays of muon with one neutrino µ- → e - ν, which would require: L= 1 → L = 1 ± 1 = 0 or 2 • no processes searched for by Davis and Harmer, which would require: L= (–1)+0 → L = 0 + 1 = 1 But why there are no decays µµµ →→→ e γγγ ? 2 Splitting lepton numbers 1959 Bruno Pontecorvo -
Introduction to Flavour Physics
Introduction to flavour physics Y. Grossman Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA Abstract In this set of lectures we cover the very basics of flavour physics. The lec- tures are aimed to be an entry point to the subject of flavour physics. A lot of problems are provided in the hope of making the manuscript a self-study guide. 1 Welcome statement My plan for these lectures is to introduce you to the very basics of flavour physics. After the lectures I hope you will have enough knowledge and, more importantly, enough curiosity, and you will go on and learn more about the subject. These are lecture notes and are not meant to be a review. In the lectures, I try to talk about the basic ideas, hoping to give a clear picture of the physics. Thus many details are omitted, implicit assumptions are made, and no references are given. Yet details are important: after you go over the current lecture notes once or twice, I hope you will feel the need for more. Then it will be the time to turn to the many reviews [1–10] and books [11, 12] on the subject. I try to include many homework problems for the reader to solve, much more than what I gave in the actual lectures. If you would like to learn the material, I think that the problems provided are the way to start. They force you to fully understand the issues and apply your knowledge to new situations. The problems are given at the end of each section. -
Lecture 5: Quarks & Leptons, Mesons & Baryons
Physics 3: Particle Physics Lecture 5: Quarks & Leptons, Mesons & Baryons February 25th 2008 Leptons • Quantum Numbers Quarks • Quantum Numbers • Isospin • Quark Model and a little History • Baryons, Mesons and colour charge 1 Leptons − − − • Six leptons: e µ τ νe νµ ντ + + + • Six anti-leptons: e µ τ νe̅ νµ̅ ντ̅ • Four quantum numbers used to characterise leptons: • Electron number, Le, muon number, Lµ, tau number Lτ • Total Lepton number: L= Le + Lµ + Lτ • Le, Lµ, Lτ & L are conserved in all interactions Lepton Le Lµ Lτ Q(e) electron e− +1 0 0 1 Think of Le, Lµ and Lτ like − muon µ− 0 +1 0 1 electric charge: − tau τ − 0 0 +1 1 They have to be conserved − • electron neutrino νe +1 0 0 0 at every vertex. muon neutrino νµ 0 +1 0 0 • They are conserved in every tau neutrino ντ 0 0 +1 0 decay and scattering anti-electron e+ 1 0 0 +1 anti-muon µ+ −0 1 0 +1 anti-tau τ + 0 −0 1 +1 Parity: intrinsic quantum number. − electron anti-neutrino ν¯e 1 0 0 0 π=+1 for lepton − muon anti-neutrino ν¯µ 0 1 0 0 π=−1 for anti-leptons tau anti-neutrino ν¯ 0 −0 1 0 τ − 2 Introduction to Quarks • Six quarks: d u s c t b Parity: intrinsic quantum number • Six anti-quarks: d ̅ u ̅ s ̅ c ̅ t ̅ b̅ π=+1 for quarks π=−1 for anti-quarks • Lots of quantum numbers used to describe quarks: • Baryon Number, B - (total number of quarks)/3 • B=+1/3 for quarks, B=−1/3 for anti-quarks • Strangness: S, Charm: C, Bottomness: B, Topness: T - number of s, c, b, t • S=N(s)̅ −N(s) C=N(c)−N(c)̅ B=N(b)̅ −N(b) T=N( t )−N( t )̅ • Isospin: I, IZ - describe up and down quarks B conserved in all Quark I I S C B T Q(e) • Z interactions down d 1/2 1/2 0 0 0 0 1/3 up u 1/2 −1/2 0 0 0 0 +2− /3 • S, C, B, T conserved in strange s 0 0 1 0 0 0 1/3 strong and charm c 0 0 −0 +1 0 0 +2− /3 electromagnetic bottom b 0 0 0 0 1 0 1/3 • I, IZ conserved in strong top t 0 0 0 0 −0 +1 +2− /3 interactions only 3 Much Ado about Isospin • Isospin was introduced as a quantum number before it was known that hadrons are composed of quarks. -
Neutrino Masses-How to Add Them to the Standard Model
he Oscillating Neutrino The Oscillating Neutrino of spatial coordinates) has the property of interchanging the two states eR and eL. Neutrino Masses What about the neutrino? The right-handed neutrino has never been observed, How to add them to the Standard Model and it is not known whether that particle state and the left-handed antineutrino c exist. In the Standard Model, the field ne , which would create those states, is not Stuart Raby and Richard Slansky included. Instead, the neutrino is associated with only two types of ripples (particle states) and is defined by a single field ne: n annihilates a left-handed electron neutrino n or creates a right-handed he Standard Model includes a set of particles—the quarks and leptons e eL electron antineutrino n . —and their interactions. The quarks and leptons are spin-1/2 particles, or weR fermions. They fall into three families that differ only in the masses of the T The left-handed electron neutrino has fermion number N = +1, and the right- member particles. The origin of those masses is one of the greatest unsolved handed electron antineutrino has fermion number N = 21. This description of the mysteries of particle physics. The greatest success of the Standard Model is the neutrino is not invariant under the parity operation. Parity interchanges left-handed description of the forces of nature in terms of local symmetries. The three families and right-handed particles, but we just said that, in the Standard Model, the right- of quarks and leptons transform identically under these local symmetries, and thus handed neutrino does not exist. -
Proton Decay at the Drip-Line Magic Number Z = 82, Corresponding to the Closure of a Major Nuclear Shell
NEWS AND VIEWS NUCLEAR PHYSICS-------------------------------- case since it has one proton more than the Proton decay at the drip-line magic number Z = 82, corresponding to the closure of a major nuclear shell. In Philip Woods fact the observed proton decay comes from an excited intruder state configura WHAT determines whether a nuclear ton decay half-life measurements can be tion formed by the promotion of a proton species exists? For nuclear scientists the used to explore nuclear shell structures in from below the Z=82 shell closure. This answer to this poser is that the species this twilight zone of nuclear existence. decay transition was used to provide should live long enough to be identified The proton drip-line sounds an inter unique information on the quantum mix and its properties studied. This still begs esting place to visit. So how do we get ing between normal and intruder state the fundamental scientific question of there? The answer is an old one: fusion. configurations in the daughter nucleus. what the ultimate boundaries to nuclear In this case, the fusion of heavy nuclei Following the serendipitous discovery existence are. Work by Davids et al. 1 at produces highly neutron-deficient com of nuclear proton decay4 from an excited Argonne National Laboratory in the pound nuclei, which rapidly de-excite by state in 1970, and the first example of United States has pinpointed the remotest boiling off particles and gamma-rays, leav ground-state proton decay5 in 1981, there border post to date, with the discovery of ing behind a plethora of highly unstable followed relative lulls in activity. -
GRAND UNIFIED THEORIES Paul Langacker Department of Physics
GRAND UNIFIED THEORIES Paul Langacker Department of Physics, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104-3859, U.S.A. I. Introduction One of the most exciting advances in particle physics in recent years has been the develcpment of grand unified theories l of the strong, weak, and electro magnetic interactions. In this talk I discuss the present status of these theo 2 ries and of thei.r observational and experimenta1 implications. In section 11,1 briefly review the standard Su c x SU x U model of the 3 2 l strong and electroweak interactions. Although phenomenologically successful, the standard model leaves many questions unanswered. Some of these questions are ad dressed by grand unified theories, which are defined and discussed in Section III. 2 The Georgi-Glashow SU mode1 is described, as are theories based on larger groups 5 such as SOlO' E , or S016. It is emphasized that there are many possible grand 6 unified theories and that it is an experimental problem not onlv to test the basic ideas but to discriminate between models. Therefore, the experimental implications are described in Section IV. The topics discussed include: (a) the predictions for coupling constants, such as 2 sin sw, and for the neutral current strength parameter p. A large class of models involving an Su c x SU x U invariant desert are extremely successful in these 3 2 l predictions, while grand unified theories incorporating a low energy left-right symmetric weak interaction subgroup are most likely ruled out. (b) Predictions for baryon number violating processes, such as proton decay or neutron-antineutnon 3 oscillations.