Following the recent Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) results, we revisit chaotic inflation based on a single complex scalar field with mass term $\textit{M}$ |Φ| , which usually predicts a spectral index $\textit{n}$ ≈ 0.96 but a too-large tensor to scalar ratio $\textit{r}$ ≈ 0.16. With radiative corrections, the potential $\textit{M}$ |Φ| ln (|Φ| /Λ ) induces spontaneous symmetry breaking near the scale Λ, yielding a Pseudo Nambu-Goldstone boson which can play the role of a quintessence field, hence radiative inflation and dark energy (RIDE). Including a non-minimal coupling to gravity $\textit{ξ}$|Φ| $\textit{R}$ with $\textit{ξ}$ ~ 0.1 reduces the tensor to scalar ratio to $\textit{r}$ ≲ 0.03, allowing a good fit of the RIDE model to Planck data. Allowing a small additional quartic coupling correction $\textit{λ}$|Φ| allows a good fit to ACT data sets for $\textit{ξ}$ ∼ 1 and $\textit{λ}$ ∼ 10 .

Finland

Ireland

Venus Keus

United Kingdom

Stephen King

Chaotic inflation RIDES again

Higgsinos can be the lightest supersymmetric particles, allowing for either a full or partial dark matter interpretation, with the correct thermal freeze-out abundance obtained for masses near 1.1 TeV. Dark matter direct detection experimental results, now rapidly approaching the neutrino fog, imposes increasingly stringent requirements on Higgsino purity. We begin by summarizing the purity constraints implied by the current strong limits from the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment in 2024, presenting them as lower bounds on gaugino masses in scenarios with decoupled sfermions and heavy Higgs bosons. We further quantify how these constraints will evolve as direct detection approaches various neutrino fog discovery and exclusion definitions and future exclusion projections. Finally, given that nearly pure Higgsinos remain notoriously challenging to probe directly at colliders, we explore complementary signatures in which Higgsinos are produced from the decays of heavier superpartners, where additional leptons and jets can be used for triggering. In particular, we advocate for searches of stop and wino pairs decaying directly to Higgsinos as a promising means to probe Higgsino dark matter well into the neutrino fog era.

Italy

Prudhvi N. Bhattiprolu

United States

Stephen P. Martin

James D. Wells

Chasing Higgsino dark matter at colliders in the neutrino fog era

In this note we consider examples of decomposition (in which a local QFT is equivalent to a disjoint union of multiple independent theories, known as universes) where there is a continuous family of universes, rather than a finite or countably infinite collection. In particular, this allows us to consistently eliminate all instantons in a local QFT via a suitable topological gauging of the ($\textit{−}$1)-form symmetry. In two dimensional U(1) gauge theories, this is equivalent to changing the gauge group to $\textit{ℝ}$. This makes both locality as well as the instanton restriction explicit. We apply this to clarify the Gross-Taylor string interpretation of the decomposition of two-dimensional pure Yang-Mills. We also apply decomposition to study two-dimensional $\textit{ℝ}$ gauge theories, such as the pure $\textit{ℝ}$ Maxwell theory, and two-dimensional supersymmetric gauged linear sigma models whose gauge groups have factors of $\textit{ℝ}$. In that context, we find that analogues of the Witten effect for dyons, here rotating between universes, play a role in relating anomalies of the individual universes to (different) anomalies in the disjoint union. Finally, we discuss limits of the Tanizaki-Ünsal construction, which accomplish instanton restriction by topologically gauging a $\textit{ℚ}$/$\textit{ℤ}$ ($\textit{−}$1)-form symmetry, and speculate in two-dimensional theories on possible interpretations of those limits in terms of the adelic solenoid.

Alonso Perez-Lona

Eric Sharpe

Xingyang Yu

Hao Zhang

Total instanton restriction via multiverse interference: Noncompact gauge theories and (−1)-form symmetries

We describe in detail the implementation of the relativistic three-neutron finite-volume quantization condition derived in ref. [1]. In particular, we show how the complications due to Wigner rotations acting on spins are included, and present concrete formulas for the case when the angular momenta within pairs is restricted to be less than 2. We describe the symmetries of the matrices appearing in the quantization condition, and decompose solutions into irreducible representations of the appropriate doubled finite-volume symmetry groups. We present an implementation of the three-particle K matrix, keeping the two lowest-order terms in the threshold expansion. We provide numerical predictions for the finite-volume spectrum for a setup with nearly physical parameters, including two-particle interactions that are based on experimental results. This exploratory study shows the how lattice QCD calculations of the three-neutron spectrum with sufficient precision can provide detailed information on both two- and three-particle interactions.

Wilder Schaaf

Stephen Sharpe

Implementing the three-neutron quantization condition

We construct Schubert line defects in the 3d $$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$ supersymmetric gauged linear sigma model (GLSM) with target space a partial flag manifold $\textit{X}$ = Fl( ; $\textit{n}$), generalizing our construction for complete flag manifolds given in a companion paper (part I) [1]. In the context of the 3d GLSM/quantum K-theory correspondence, the Schubert line defects are constructed as 1d $$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$ supersymmetric gauge theories coupled to the 3d field theory, and they flow to objects supported on Schubert varieties $\textit{X}$ ⊆ $\textit{X}$ in the quantum K-theory. The flavored Witten index of the 1d defect is expected to compute the Chern character of [𝒪 ] — more precisely, it gives us a polynomial representative of the Schubert class in the quantum K-theory ring. We give strong evidence for this claim by showing in examples that the Witten indices of Schubert defects indeed reproduce a recently-defined set of polynomials that represent the Schubert classes in the Whitney presentation, which we call the parabolic Whitney polynomials. Moreover, upon using the quantum ring relations, we can convert these polynomials into seemingly new polynomials in the Toda presentation, which we call the parabolic quantum Grothendieck polynomials. These new polynomials specialize to known polynomials in various limits, including to the quantum Grothendieck polynomials in the case of the complete flag. In the 2d limit, our construction also realizes the Schubert classes [$\textit{X}$ ] in the quantum cohomology ring of the partial flag manifold, and the parabolic quantum Grothendieck polynomials then reduce to previously known parabolic quantum Schubert polynomials.

Cyril Closset

China

Wei Gu

France

Osama Khlaif

Hao Zou

Schubert line defects in 3d GLSMs. Part II. Partial flag manifolds and parabolic quantum polynomials

We construct new half-BPS line defects in 3d $$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$ supersymmetric quiver gauge theories whose Higgs branches are complete flag manifolds $\textit{X}$ = Fl($\textit{n}$). Upon circle compactification, the bulk theory flows to a non-linear sigma model (NLSM) with target space $\textit{X}$ and the line defects flow to objects supported on Schubert varieties $\textit{X}$ ⊆ $\textit{X}$. These $\textit{Schubert line defects}$ form an important basis of the quantum K-theory of $\textit{X}$. They are realized as $$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$ supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SQM) quivers coupled to the 3d gauge theory. We show that the insertion of the Schubert line defect restricts the target space of the 3d gauged linear sigma model (GLSM) to the Schubert variety $\textit{X}$ , with the 1d degrees of freedom physically realizing a Bott-Samelson resolution of $\textit{X}$ . Moreover, we verify in examples that the 1d flavored Witten index of the quiver SQM reproduces the (equivariant) Chern character of the structure sheaf $$ {\mathcal{O}}_{X_w} $$ as a (double) quantum Grothendieck polynomial, generalizing previous results for $\textit{X}$ a Grassmannian manifold. Our construction thus provides a more direct realization of the 3d GLSM/quantum K-theory correspondence for complete flag manifolds. Finally, in the small-circle limit, we obtain a 0d-2d coupled system that realizes the Schubert classes [$\textit{X}$ ] in the quantum cohomology ring of $\textit{X}$.

Schubert line defects in 3d GLSMs. Part I. Complete flag manifolds and quantum Grothendieck polynomials

Algorithms for computing neutrino oscillation probabilities in sharply varying matter potentials such as the Earth are becoming increasingly important. As the next generation of experiments, DUNE and HyperK as well as the IceCube upgrade and KM3NeT, come online, the computational cost for atmospheric and solar neutrinos will continue to increase. To address these issues, we expand upon our previous algorithm for long-baseline calculations to efficiently handle probabilities through the Earth for atmospheric, nighttime solar, and supernova neutrinos. The algorithm is fast, flexible, and accurate. It can handle arbitrary Earth models with two different schemes for varying density profiles. We also provide a c++ implementation of the code called nufast-earth along with a detailed user manual. The code intelligently keeps track of repeated calculations and only recalculates what is needed on each successive call which can also help provide significant speed-ups.

Peter B. Denton

Stephen J. Parke

Efficient atmospheric, solar, and supernova neutrino propagation through the Earth

We extend the relativistic field theoretic finite-volume formalism to $\textit{Nππ}$ scattering states at maximal isospin, $\textit{I}$ = 5$\textit{/}$2. As in previous work using the relativistic field theory approach, we work to all orders in a generic low-energy effective theory, and determine the quantization condition that relates finite-volume energies to intermediate K matrices, and the integral equations connecting the latter to the physical scattering amplitudes. We discuss the parametrization of the K matrices, and explain in detail the new features that arise in implementing the quantization condition due to the spin of the nucleon in combination with the use of non-degenerate particles. As a concrete example, we provide a sample numerical application including the ∆ resonance in the $\textit{Nπ}$ subchannel. The extension to the $\textit{I}$ = 3$\textit{/}$2 and 1$\textit{/}$2 channels is more involved, due to mixing with $\textit{Nπ}$ states, and we do not provide a complete formalism for these cases. We explain why $\textit{Nπ}$ states cannot be included by treating the nucleon as a pole in $\textit{p}$-wave $\textit{Nπ}$ scattering, an approach that has been successful in studying $\textit{DD}$ scattering using the three-particle $\textit{DDπ}$ formalism. We additionally provide results for all isospins under the assumption of no two-to-three mixing, thereby laying the groundwork for a follow-up paper in which all $\textit{Nππ}$ → $\textit{Nπ}$ systems are fully treated. Finally, we study the singularities in $\textit{Nππ}$ amplitudes arising from $\textit{Nπππ}$ intermediate states, and find that our subthreshold cutoff functions must be modified to avoid such singularities.

Maxwell Hansen

Switzerland

Fernando Romero-López

Finite-volume formalism for $\textit{Nππ}$ at maximal isospin

We show how a natural neutrino mass hierarchy with large lepton mixing angles may be achieved in a theory of gauge flavour deconstruction. Hitherto it has been shown that neutrino anarchy may result from such theories, but here we show that this need not necessarily be the case. In particular we consider the minimal tri-hypercharge theory, and show that the decomposition of the family hypercharges into the corresponding $\textit{B}$ − $\textit{L}$ gauge groups, together with the charged lepton mass hierarchy, implies the sequential dominance conditions for a neutrino mass hierarchy, where lepton mixing originates from both the neutrino and charged lepton sectors. We present novel and model-independent sequential dominance results applicable to this case, but also useful more generally. We also show how natural quark mass and mixing are included in such a framework.

Mario Fernández Navarro

Spain

Avelino Vicente

Natural neutrino mass hierarchy in a theory of gauge flavour deconstruction

We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>D</mi></math>-meson, <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>B</mi></math>-meson, and nucleon physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the nuclear and particle physics communities. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>f</mi><mo>+</mo></msub><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></math> arising in the semileptonic <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>K</mi><mo stretchy="false">→</mo><mi>π</mi></math> transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay-constant ratio <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>f</mi><mi>K</mi></msub><mo>/</mo><msub><mi>f</mi><mi>π</mi></msub></math> and its consequences for the Cabibbo–Kobayashi–Maskawa (CKM) matrix elements <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>V</mi><mrow><mi>u</mi><mi>s</mi></mrow></msub></math> and <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>V</mi><mrow><mi>u</mi><mi>d</mi></mrow></msub></math>. We review the determination of the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>B</mi><mi>K</mi></msub></math> parameter of neutral kaon mixing as well as the additional four <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>B</mi></math> parameters that arise in theories of physics beyond the Standard Model. For the heavy-quark sector, we provide results for <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>m</mi><mi>c</mi></msub></math> and <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>m</mi><mi>b</mi></msub></math> as well as those for the decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters of charmed and bottom mesons and baryons. These are the heavy-quark quantities most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. We review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>α</mi><mi>s</mi></msub></math>. We review the determinations of nucleon charges from the matrix elements of both isovector and flavor-diagonal axial, scalar and tensor local quark bilinears, and momentum fraction, helicity moment and the transversity moment from one-link quark bilinears. We also review determinations of scale-setting quantities. Finally, in this review we have added a new section on the general definition of the low-energy limit of the Standard Model.