Flavor and Collider Signatures of Asymmetric Dark Matter

We consider flavor constraints on, and collider signatures of, Asymmetric Dark Matter (ADM) via higher dimension operators. In the supersymmetric models we consider, R-parity violating (RPV) operators carrying B-L interact with n dark matter (DM) particles X through an interaction of the form W = X^n O_{B-L}, where O_{B-L} = q l d^c, u^c d^c d^c, l l e^c. This interaction ensures that the lightest ordinary supersymmetric particle (LOSP) is unstable to decay into the X sector, leading to a higher multiplicity of final state particles and reduced missing energy at a collider. Flavor-violating processes place constraints on the scale of the higher dimension operator, impacting whether the LOSP decays promptly. While the strongest limitations on RPV from n-\bar{n} oscillations and proton decay do not apply to ADM, we analyze the constraints from meson mixing, mu-e conversion, mu -> 3 e and b -> s l^+ l^-. We show that these flavor constraints, even in the absence of flavor symmetries, allow parameter space for prompt decay to the X sector, with additional jets and leptons in exotic flavor combinations. We study the constraints from existing 8 TeV LHC SUSY searches with (i) 2-6 jets plus missing energy, and (ii) 1-2 leptons, 3-6 jets plus missing energy, comparing the constraints on ADM-extended supersymmetry with the usual supersymmetric simplified models.Comment: 63 pages, 26 figures, 10 tables, revtex

On Models of New Physics for the Tevatron Top A_FB

CDF has observed a top forward-backward asymmetry discrepant with the Standard Model prediction at 3.4 \sigma. We analyze models that could generate the asymmetry, including flavor-violating W's, horizontal Z'_Hs, triplet and sextet diquarks, and axigluons. We consider the detailed predictions of these models for the invariant mass and rapidity distributions of the asymmetry at the parton level, comparing against the unfolded parton-level CDF results. While all models can reproduce the asymmetry with the appropriate choice of mass and couplings, it appears at first examination that the extracted parton-level invariant mass distribution for all models are in conflict with Tevatron observations. We show on closer examination, however, that t tbar events in Z'_H and W' models have considerably lower selection efficiencies in high invariant mass bins as compared to the Standard Model, so that W', Z'_H, and axigluon models can generate the observed asymmetry while being consistent with the total cross-section and invariant mass spectrum. Triplet and sextet models have greater difficulty producing the observed asymmetry while remaining consistent with the total cross-section and invariant mass distribution. To more directly match the models and the CDF results, we proceed to decay and reconstruct the tops, comparing our results against the "raw" CDF asymmetry and invariant mass distributions. We find that the models that successfully generate the corrected CDF asymmetry at the parton level reproduce very well the more finely binned uncorrected asymmetry. Finally, we discuss the early LHC reach for discovery of these models, based on our previous analysis [arXiv:1102.0018].Comment: 29 pages, 14 figures, 2 table

Two Conditions for Galaxy Quenching: Compact Centres and Massive Haloes

We investigate the roles of two classes of quenching mechanisms for central and satellite galaxies in the SDSS ($z<0.075$): those involving the halo and those involving the formation of a compact centre. For central galaxies with inner compactness $\Sigma_{\rm 1kpc} \sim 10^{9-9.4}M_{\odot} {\rm kpc}^{-2}$, the quenched fraction $f_{q}$ is strongly correlated with $\Sigma_{\rm 1kpc}$ with only weak halo mass $M_{\rm h}$ dependence. However, at higher and lower $\Sigma_{\rm 1kpc}$, sSFR is a strong function of $M_{\rm h}$ and mostly independent of $\Sigma_{\rm 1kpc}$. In other words, $\Sigma_{\rm 1kpc} \sim 10^{9-9.4} M_{\odot} {\rm kpc}^{-2}$ divides galaxies into those with high sSFR below and low sSFR above this range. In both the upper and lower regimes, increasing $M_{\rm h}$ shifts the entire sSFR distribtuion to lower sSFR without a qualitative change in shape. This is true even at fixed $M_{*}$, but varying $M_{*}$ at fixed $M_{\rm h}$ adds no quenching information. Most of the quenched centrals with $M_{\rm h} > 10^{11.8}M_{\odot}$ are dense ($\Sigma_{\rm 1kpc} > 10^{9}~ M_{\odot} {\rm kpc}^{-2}$), suggesting compaction-related quenching maintained by halo-related quenching. However, 21% are diffuse, indicating only halo quenching. For satellite galaxies in the outskirts of halos, quenching is a strong function of compactness and a weak function of host $M_{\rm h}$. In the inner halo, $M_{\rm h}$ dominates quenching, with $\sim 90\%$ of the satellites being quenched once $M_{\rm h} > 10^{13}M_{\odot}$. This regional effect is greatest for the least massive satellites. As demonstrated via semi-analytic modelling with simple prescriptions for quenching, the observed correlations can be explained if quenching due to central compactness is rapid while quenching due to halo mass is slow.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, MNRAS accepte

Statistical Analysis of the Metropolitan Seoul Subway System: Network Structure and Passenger Flows

The Metropolitan Seoul Subway system, consisting of 380 stations, provides the major transportation mode in the metropolitan Seoul area. Focusing on the network structure, we analyze statistical properties and topological consequences of the subway system. We further study the passenger flows on the system, and find that the flow weight distribution exhibits a power-law behavior. In addition, the degree distribution of the spanning tree of the flows also follows a power law.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Current induced torques and interfacial spin-orbit coupling: Semiclassical Modeling

In bilayer nanowires consisting of a ferromagnetic layer and a non-magnetic layer with strong spin-orbit coupling, currents create torques on the magnetization beyond those found in simple ferromagnetic nanowires. The resulting magnetic dynamics appear to require torques that can be separated into two terms, damping-like and field-like. The damping-like torque is typically derived from models describing the bulk spin Hall effect and the spin transfer torque, and the field-like torque is typically derived from a Rashba model describing interfacial spin-orbit coupling. We derive a model based on the Boltzmann equation that unifies these approaches. We also consider an approximation to the Boltzmann equation, the drift-diffusion model, that qualitatively reproduces the behavior, but quantitatively fails to reproduce the results. We show that the Boltzmann equation with physically reasonable parameters can match the torques for any particular sample, but in some cases, it fails to describe the experimentally observed thickness dependences