We consider constraints that can be placed on certain invisible scalar particles through monojet studies at the LHC and compare them with those from direct detection experiments when interpreted as dark matter. Whereas direct detection constraints are typically more restrictive, we identify regions of parameter space where monojet studies provide important complementary bounds. We carry out our analysis using both a ϕSMEFT for real scalar particle pairs coupled to standard-model fields through operators of up to dimension six, and a simple UV completion with vector-like quarks, with both the scalars and the vector-like quarks being odd under a ℤ_2 symmetry, while the SM particles are even. The vector-like quarks can only decay into a jet and an invisible scalar, and we recast the current ATLAS monojet data to constrain their parameter space. Comparison of the two descriptions yields some insight into interpreting dark matter constraints obtained with EFTs.

Abstract Baryon number is an accidental symmetry of the Standard Model at the Lagrangian level. Its violation is arguably one of the most compelling phenomena predicted by physics beyond the Standard Model. Furthermore, there is a large experimental effort to search for it including the Hyper-K, DUNE, JUNO, and THEIA experiments. Therefore, an agnostic, model-independent, analysis of baryon number violation using the power of Effective Field Theory is very timely. In particular, in this work we study the contribution of dimension six and seven effective operators to |∆(B − L)| = 0, 2 nucleon decays taking into account the effects of Renormalisation Group Evolution. We obtain lower limits on the energy scale of each operator and study the correlations between different decay modes. We find that for some operators the effect of running is very significant.

We present two models of dark matter (DM) that can provide a natural explanation of the excess of B+-* K+ + invisible events with respect to the Standard Model (SM) prediction for B+-* K+nu nu, which has been reported by the Belle II Collaboration. Interactions between the dark and the visible sector are mediated by an axionlike particle in one case, by the kinetic mixing between a dark photon and the SM photon in the second case. Both models encompass a light fermion singlet as the DM candidate and can account for the observed DM relic abundance through, respectively, the freeze-in and the freeze-out production mechanism, while simultaneously explaining the Belle II excess.

This document summarises discussions on future directions in theoretical neutrino physics, which are the outcome of a neutrino theory workshop held at CERN in February 2025. The starting point is the realisation that neutrino physics offers unique opportunities to address some of the most fundamental questions in physics. This motivates a vigorous experimental programme which the theory community fully supports. A strong effort in theoretical neutrino physics is paramount to optimally take advantage of upcoming neutrino experiments and to explore the synergies with other areas of particle, astroparticle, and nuclear physics, as well as cosmology. Progress on the theory side has the potential to significantly boost the physics reach of experiments, as well as go well beyond their original scope. Strong collaboration between theory and experiment is essential in the precision era. To foster such collaboration, we propose to establish a CERN Neutrino Physics Centre. Taking inspiration from the highly successful LHC Physics Center at Fermilab, the CERN Neutrino Physics Centre would be the European hub of the neutrino community, covering experimental and theoretical activities.

We systematically investigate the possible phenomenological impact of residual flavour groups in the charged lepton sector. We consider all possible flavour charge assignments for abelian residual symmetries up to Z8. The allowed flavour structures of operators in Standard Model Effective Field Theory (up to dimension six) lead to distinctive and observable patterns of charged lepton flavour violating processes. We illustrate the relevance of such selection rules displaying the current bounds on and the future sensitivities to the new physics scale. These results demonstrate, in particular, the importance and discriminating power of searches for lepton flavour violating tau lepton decays and muonium to antimuonium conversion.

The axion-like particle (ALP) is a well-motivated extension of the Standard Model. In this work, we revisit the sensitivity of forward accelerator experiments to light long-lived ALPs, and analyze flavor constraints. Our analysis incorporates recent measurements of the rare decays B→ K + X and K→π +X, which place stringent bounds on quark flavor violation of a light ALP. We consider the complete list of hadronic modes in the calculation of the ALP decay rate and exclusive production channels based on recent improvements. The analysis includes the discussion of tree-level quark flavor-violating couplings in addition to a universal flavor-conserving ALP coupling to fermions and the electroweak ALP couplings. Our results demonstrate the complementarity of heavy meson decays and forward accelerator facilities in probing light ALPs. The interplay between two ALP couplings is also investigated.

Baryon and lepton number are excellent low-energy symmetries of the Standard Model (SM) that tightly constrain the form of its extensions. In this paper we investigate the possibility that these accidental symmetries are violated in the deep UV, in such a way that one multiplet necessary for their violation lives at an intermediate energy scale $M$ above the electroweak scale. We write down the simplest effective operators containing each multiplet that may couple linearly to the SM at the renormalisable level and estimate the dominant contribution of the underlying UV model to the pertinent operators in the SMEFT: the dimension-5 Weinberg operator and the baryon-number-violating operators up to dimension 7. Our results are upper bounds on the scale $M$ for each multiplet--operator pair, derived from neutrino-oscillation data as well as prospective nucleon-decay searches. We also analyse the possibility that both processes are simultaneously explained within a natural UV model. In addition, we advocate that our framework provides a convenient and digestible way of organising the space of UV models that violate these symmetries.

We analyse the Z and Higgs boson decays Z -> l(+)l(-) (l = e, mu,T), H -> gamma gamma and H -> Z gamma that are induced at one-loop level in models with a doubly-charged isosinglet scalar. After discussing current constraints, we derive the parameter space that will be probed by the HL-LHC and the possible future colliders the ILC, CEPC and FCC. We then apply those constraints to lepton triality models which are based on a discrete Z(3) family symmetry and were recently studied in the context of charged-lepton flavour-violating processes at Belle II and the proposed mu(+)mu(+) and mu(+)e(-) collider known as mu TRISTAN. We find that the future constraints that can be imposed by Z -> l(+)l(-) on the lepton flavour conserving couplings of the triality models reduce the viable parameter space to probe lepton flavour violating processes. The constraints from Higgs boson decays are the first on the Higgs portal sector of the triality models.

The search for baryon-number-violating (BNV) nucleon decay provides an in- triguing probe of new physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). Future neutrino experiments will improve the sensitivity to BNV nucleon decays and can serve to search for dark particles. In this work, we study the sterile neutrino effective field theories (EFTs) with baryon number violation and the impact of light sterile neutrino on BNV nucleon decays. We revisit the dimension-6 and dimension-7 EFT operator bases with |∆(B − L)| = 2 or |∆(B − L)| = 0. They are then matched to the baryon chiral perturbation theory. We obtain the effective chiral Lagrangian at low energies and the BNV interactions between the sterile neutrino and baryons and mesons. The rates of nucleon decay to SM neutrinos or a sterile neutrino are calculated. We then show the constraints on the ultraviolet scale from nucleon decay search at Super-K. The correlation of two EFT operators and the dependence on the sterile neutrino mass are also investigated.

AbstractBaryon number is an accidental symmetry of the Standard Model (SM) Lagrangian that so far has been measured to be exactly preserved, although it is expected to be violated at higher energies. In this work we compute order-of-magnitude estimates for the matching contributions of generic ultraviolet models to effective operators that generate nucleon decay processes. This is done in a systematic and automated way using operators constructed from SM fields up to dimension nine and working in a framework that has proved useful in the study of lepton-number violation. For each of the operators we derive estimates for the rates of different nucleon-decay channels. These allow us to establish model-independent lower bounds on the underlying new-physics scale and identify potential correlations between the various decay modes. The results are most relevant for families of models that generate the considered operator. This analysis is especially timely given the expected future sensitivities in numerous experiments such as Hyper-K, DUNE, JUNO and THEIA.

Abstract Recently Belle II reported the first measurement of B+ → K+ + invisible(inv), which is 2.7σ above the standard model (SM) prediction. If confirmed, this calls for new physics beyond SM. In the SM, the invisible particles are neutrino-anti-neutrino pairs. There are more possibilities when going beyond the SM. In this work, we focus on decays to dark matter (DM) and show that the B → K + inv excess from Belle II and DM relic density can be simultaneously explained in a simple extension of the SM. The model introduces a real scalar singlet ϕ acting as a DM candidate, and two heavy vector-like quarks Q, D with the same quantum numbers as the SM left-handed quark doublet and right-handed down-type quark singlet, respectively. All these new particles are odd under a ℤ2 symmetry while the SM particles are even. The model can successfully explain the Belle II anomaly and DM relic density for TeV-scale heavy quarks with hierarchical Yukawa couplings involving b and s quarks. At the same time, it can easily satisfy other flavour physics constraints. Direct detection searches utilizing the Migdal effect constrain some of the parameter space.

Abstract The search for baryon-number-violating (BNV) nucleon decay is an intriguing probe of new physics beyond the SM in future neutrino experiments with enhanced sensitivity. The dark sector states such as an axion or axion-like particle (ALP) can induce nucleon decays with distinct signature and kinematics from the conventional nucleon decays. In this work, we study the ALP effective field theories (EFTs) with baryon number violation and the impact of light ALP on BNV nucleon decays. We revisit the dimension-8 BNV operators in the extended EFTs with an ALP field a respecting shift symmetry. The low-energy EFT operators with |∆(B – L)| = 2 and |∆(B – L)| = 0 are matched to the baryon chiral perturbation theory. We obtain the effective chiral Lagrangian and the BNV interactions between ALP and baryons/mesons. The ALP interactions lead to two-body baryon decays B → ℓ (or ν) a and three-body nucleon decays N → M ℓ (or ν) a. We obtain the constraints on the UV scale from the invisible Λ0 decay search at BESIII, the invisible neutron decay search at KamLAND and proton decay search at Super-K. We also show the projections of some other baryon/nucleon decays and present the distinct distributions of kinematic observable.

Abstract The axion-like particle (ALP) may induce flavor-changing neutral currents (FCNCs) when the fermions’ Peccei-Quinn charges are not generation universal. The search for flavor-violating ALP couplings with a bottom quark so far focused on FCNC processes of B mesons at low energies. The recent measurements of B → K + X rare decays place stringent bounds on the quark flavor violations of a light ALP in different decay modes. In this work we propose a novel direct search for bottom flavor-violating interaction of a heavy ALP at the LHC and its upgrades, namely QCD production of an ALP associated with one b jet and one light jet p p → b j a. We consider the decay of the ALP to photons, muons and invisible ALP decays. The Boosted Decision Tree (BDT) algorithm is used to analyze the events and we train the BDT classifier by feeding in the kinematic observables of signal and backgrounds. Finally, we show the complementarity between the search prospects of hadron colliders and the low-energy B meson constraints from B meson mixing and B meson decays to a light ALP.

Belle II recently reported the first measurement of B+-> K++inv, which is 2.8 sigma above the Standard Model prediction. We explore the available parameter space of new physics within Standard Model effective field theory extended by sterile neutrinos (vSMEFT) and provide predictions for the other B -> k(star)+inv decay modes and invisible B-s decays. We also briefly comment on charged current decays B -> D-(star)& ell; and possible ultraviolet completions of the relevant vSMEFT operators.

We correct an error in the pNGB coupling to neutrinos in eq. (2.14) and reevaluate the constraint on the active-sterile mixing from keV sterile neutrino dark matter decay.

The rare decays B^+→ K^+ μμ̅ and B^0→ K^*0μμ̅ provide the strongest constraints on the mixing of a light scalar with the Higgs boson for GeV-scale masses. The constraints sensitively depend on the branching ratio to muons. Additional decay channels like an invisible partial width may substantially weaken the constraints. This scenario will be probed at Belle II in B→ K^(*) + inv . We illustrate the complementarity of scalar decays to muons and invisible decays using the currently available results of LHCb and BaBar. We provide two simple model realisations providing a sizeable invisible scalar width, one based on a real scalar and one based on a U(1)_B-L gauge symmetry. In both examples the scalar decays into heavy neutral leptons which can be motivated by the seesaw mechanism for neutrino masses.

The general anomaly-free U(1)′ models allow non-universal lepton charges. We explore the sensitivities of FASER/FASER2, COHERENT and DUNE/T2HK precision experiments to the new gauge boson Z′ and the new CP-even scalar ϕ. With non-universal lepton charges, distinctive reaches at FASER/FASER2 emerge in the regime of low m_Z^' and small gauge coupling gBL for different U(1)′ charge setups. The COHERENT experiment and the future long-baseline experiments DUNE/T2HK also provide complementary probes to the available parameter space. For mϕ < 2 m_Z^' , the search for the scalar ϕ at FASER/FASER2 is sensitive to the mixing angle between the scalar singlet and the SM Higgs. In the case of mϕ > 2 m_Z^' , the kinematically allowed decay ϕ → Z′Z′ changes the lifetime and decay rates of the scalar ϕ. The sensitivity reach highly depends on the Z′ mass and the gauge coupling gBL.

We investigate if the projected high-precision measurements of the cross section of the Higgsstrahlung process e^+ e^- → Zh at a future electron–positron collider can be utilised to indirectly probe the fermionic Seesaw models. We consider the two centre-of-mass energies √(s)=240 GeV and 365 GeV, and compare the collider reaches to constraints from electroweak observables, probes of lepton flavour universality and the existing and prospective bounds from searches for lepton flavour violation. For the analysis we assume the limit of an exactly conserved lepton-number symmetry. We find that while any appreciable correction to the Higgsstrahlung cross section is already strictly constrained in the Type-I Seesaw model, effects of up to 𝒪(10%) are possible within Type-III Seesaw.

AbstractThe rare decays $$B^+\rightarrow K^+ \mu \bar{\mu }$$ B + → K + μ μ ¯ and $$B^0\rightarrow K^{*0} \mu \bar{\mu }$$ B 0 → K ∗ 0 μ μ ¯ provide the strongest constraints on the mixing of a light scalar with the Higgs boson for GeV-scale masses. The constraints sensitively depend on the branching ratio to muons. Additional decay channels like an invisible partial width may substantially weaken the constraints. This scenario will be probed at Belle II in $$B\rightarrow K^{(*)} + \textrm{inv}$$ B → K ( ∗ ) + inv . We illustrate the complementarity of scalar decays to muons and invisible decays using the currently available results of LHCb and BaBar. We provide two simple model realisations providing a sizeable invisible scalar width, one based on a real scalar and one based on a $$U(1)_{B-L}$$ U ( 1 ) B - L gauge symmetry. In both examples the scalar decays into heavy neutral leptons which can be motivated by the seesaw mechanism for neutrino masses.

We analyse the potential of the proposed μ+μ+ and μ+e− collider μTRISTAN to complement the searches for charged-lepton flavour-violation (CLFV) that can be carried out by Belle II. μTRISTAN offers the possibility of directly producing and studying new resonances that could mediate CLFV for a certain range of masses. In addition, we find that it can produce competitive bounds to those from Belle II for cases where the new resonance lies beyond direct reach. We illustrate these points with three Z3 “lepton triality” models, where we also find an example that can only be probed by μTRISTAN. These three models feature doubly-charged scalars, denoted k1,2,3 respectively, that induce both CLFV and flavour-conserving processes. Tree-level k1 exchange induces the CLFV scattering process μ+e−→e+τ−, while k2 interactions induce μ+μ+→τ+e+, μ+e−→τ+μ− and make a non-SM contribution to the flavour-conserving scattering μ+μ+→μ+μ+. The k3 model has a non-SM contribution to the flavour-conserving process μ+e−→μ+e−. Other scattering processes involving k1, k2 or k3 are not relevant for μTRISTAN and outside the scope of our analysis. We quantify the sensitivity of μTRISTAN for each of these processes. For the k1 and k2 cases we compare the μTRISTAN reach to the expected sensitivity of Belle II to the crossing symmetry related CLFV τ decays.