53315880
Neutrinoless double-beta decay and physics beyond the standard model
Neutrinoless double-beta decay is the most powerful tool to probe not only for Majorana neutrino masses but for lepton number violating physics in general. We discuss relations between lepton number violation, double-beta decay and neutrino mass, review a general Lorentz-invariant parametrization of the double-beta decay rate, highlight a number of different new physics models showing how different mechanisms can trigger double-beta decay and, finally, discuss possibilities of discriminating and testing these models and mechanisms in complementary experiments.
35525710
Phenomenology of neutrinoless double beta decay
Neutrinoless double beta decay ( 0 ν β β ) violates lepton number by two units, a positive observation therefore necessarily implies physics beyond the standard model. Here, three possible contributions to 0 ν β β decay are briefly reviewed: (a) The mass mechanism and its connection to neutrino oscillations; (b) Left-right symmetric models and the lower limit on the right-handed W boson mass; and (c) R-parity violating supersymmetry. In addition, the recently published “extended black box” theorem is briefly discussed. Combined with data from oscillation experiments this theorem provides proof that the 0 ν β β decay amplitude must receive a non-zero contribution from the mass mechanism, if neutrinos are indeed Majorana particles.
11803420
Majoron emission in muon and tau decays revisited
9 pages, 4 figures.-- ISI article identifier:000264762400078.-- ArXiv pre-print avaible at: http://arxiv.org/abs/0902.0525
53865432
Hefty MSSM-like light Higgs in extended gauge models
A bstractIt is well known that in the MSSM the lightest neutral Higgs h0 must be, at the tree level, lighter than the Z boson and that the loop corrections shift this stringent upper bound up to about 130 GeV. Extending the MSSM gauge group in a suitable way, the new Higgs sector dynamics can push the tree-level mass of h0 well above the tree-level MSSM limit if it couples to the new gauge sector. This effect is further pronounced at the loop level and h0 masses in the 140GeV ballpark can be reached easily. We exemplify this for a sample setting with a low-scale U(1)R × U(1)B−L gauge symmetry in which neutrino masses can be implemented via the inverse seesaw mechanism.
119290526
Probing a supersymmetric model for neutrino masses at ultrahigh energy neutrino telescopes
Abstract A bilinear R-parity breaking SUSY model for neutrino mass and mixing predicts the lightest superparticle to decay mainly into a pair of tau leptons or b quarks along with a neutrino for relatively light SUSY spectra. This leads to a distinctive triple bang signature of SUSY events at ultrahigh energy neutrino telescopes like IceCube or Antares. While the expected signal size is only marginal at IceCube, it will be promising for a future multi-km 3 size neutrino telescope.
53701384
Enhancing $l_i 3 l_j$ with the $Z^0$-penguin
Lepton flavor violation (LFV) has been observed in neutrino oscillations. For charged lepton FV decays only upper limits are known, but sizable branching ratios are expected in many neutrino mass models. High scale models, such as the classical supersymmetric seesaw, usually predict that decays $l_i \to 3 l_j$ are roughly a factor $\alpha$ maller than the corresponding decays $l_i \to l_j \gamma$. Here we demonstrate that the $Z^0$-penguin diagram can give an enhancement for decays $l_i \to 3 l_j$ in many extensions of the MSSM. We first discuss why the $Z^0$-penguin is not dominant in the MSSM with seesaw and show that much larger contributions from the $Z^0$-penguin are expected in general. We then demonstrate the effect numerically in two example models, namely, the supersymmetric inverse seesaw and R-parity violating supersymmetry.
59440932
Maximizing Kepler science return per telemetered pixel: Detailed models of the focal plane in the two-wheel era
Kepler's immense photometric precision to date was maintained through satellite stability and precise pointing. In this white paper, we argue that image modeling--fitting the Kepler-downlinked raw pixel data--can vastly improve the precision of Kepler in pointing-degraded two-wheel mode. We argue that a non-trivial modeling effort may permit continuance of photometry at 10-ppm-level precision. We demonstrate some baby steps towards precise models in both data-driven (flexible) and physics-driven (interpretably parameterized) modes. We demonstrate that the expected drift or jitter in positions in the two-weel era will help with constraining calibration parameters. In particular, we show that we can infer the device flat-field at higher than pixel resolution; that is, we can infer pixel-to-pixel variations in intra-pixel sensitivity. These results are relevant to almost any scientific goal for the repurposed mission; image modeling ought to be a part of any two-wheel repurpose for the satellite. We make other recommendations for Kepler operations, but fundamentally advocate that the project stick with its core mission of finding and characterizing Earth analogs. [abridged]
50599515
Gravitational Lensing Accuracy Testing 2010 (GREAT10) Challenge Handbook
GRavitational lEnsing Accuracy Testing 2010 (GREAT10) is a public image analysis challenge aimed at the development of algorithms to analyze astronomical images. Specifically, the challenge is to measure varying image distortions in the presence of a variable convolution kernel, pixelization and noise. This is the second in a series of challenges set to the astronomy, computer science and statistics communities, providing a structured environment in which methods can be improved and tested in preparation for planned astronomical surveys. GREAT10 extends upon previous work by introducing variable fields into the challenge. The "Galaxy Challenge" involves the precise measurement of galaxy shape distortions, quantified locally by two parameters called shear, in the presence of a known convolution kernel. Crucially, the convolution kernel and the simulated gravitational lensing shape distortion both now vary as a function of position within the images, as is the case for real data. In addition, we introduce the "Star Challenge" that concerns the reconstruction of a variable convolution kernel, similar to that in a typical astronomical observation. This document details the GREAT10 Challenge for potential participants. Continually updated information is also available from www.greatchallenges.info.
118584751
Sérsic galaxy models in weak lensing shape measurement: model bias, noise bias and their interaction
Cosmic shear is a powerful probe of cosmological parameters, but its potential can be fully utilised only if galaxy shapes are measured with great accuracy. Two major effects have been identified which are likely to account for most of the bias for maximum likelihood methods in recent shear measurement challenges. Model bias occurs when the true galaxy shape is not well represented by the fitted model. Noise bias occurs due to the non-linear relationship between image pixels and galaxy shape. In this paper we investigate the potential interplay between these two effects when an imperfect model is used in the presence of high noise. We present analytical expressions for this bias, which depends on the residual difference between the model and real data. They can lead to biases not accounted for in previous calibration schemes. By measuring the model bias, noise bias and their interaction, we provide a complete statistical framework for measuring galaxy shapes with model fitting methods from GRavitational lEnsing Accuracy Testing (GREAT) like images. We demonstrate the noise and model interaction bias using a simple toy model, which indicates that this effect can potentially be significant. Using real galaxy images from the Cosmological Evolution Survey (COSMOS) we quantify the strength of the model bias, noise bias and their interaction. We find that the interaction term is often a similar size to the model bias term, and is smaller than the requirements of the current and shortly upcoming galaxy surveys.
118354862
Maximizing Kepler science return per telemetered pixel: Searching the habitable zones of the brightest stars 1
In today's mailing, Hogg et al. propose image modeling techniques to maintain 10-ppm-level precision photometry in Kepler data with only two working reaction wheels. While these results are relevant to many scientific goals for the repurposed mission, all modeling efforts so far have used a toy model of the Kepler telescope. Because the two-wheel performance of Kepler remains to be determined, we advocate for the consideration of an alternate strategy for a >1 year program that maximizes the science return from the "low-torque" fields across the ecliptic plane. Assuming we can reach the precision of the original Kepler mission, we expect to detect 800 new planet candidates in the first year of such a mission. Our proposed strategy has benefits for transit timing variation and transit duration variation studies, especially when considered in concert with the future TESS mission. We also expect to help address the first key science goal of Kepler: the frequency of planets in the habitable zone as a function of spectral type.
15297769
Measurement and calibration of noise bias in weak lensing galaxy shape estimation
Weak gravitational lensing has the potential to constrain cosmological parameters to high 
precision. However, as shown by the Shear Testing Programmes and Gravitational lensing 
Accuracy Testing challenges, measuring galaxy shears is a non-trivial task: various methods 
introduce different systematic biases which have to be accounted for. We investigate how 
pixel noise on the image affects the bias on shear estimates from a maximum likelihood 
forward model-fitting approach using a sum of co-elliptical Sersic profiles, in complement 
to the theoretical approach of an associated paper. We evaluate the bias using a simple but 
realistic galaxy model and find that the effects of noise alone can cause biases of the order of 
1–10 per cent on measured shears, which is significant for current and future lensing surveys. 
We evaluate a simulation-based calibration method to create a bias model as a function of 
galaxy properties and observing conditions. This model is then used to correct the simulated 
measurements. We demonstrate that, for the simple case in which the correct range of galaxy 
models is used in the fit, the calibration method can reduce noise bias to the level required for 
estimating cosmic shear in upcoming lensing surveys.