In the realm of particle physics, researchers are continually pushing the boundaries of the Standard Model (SM) to address its limitations and unravel the mysteries of the universe. Among these researchers is H. B. Câmara, a scientist affiliated with the Instituto de Física Teórica in São Paulo, Brazil, who has been delving into the realms of beyond the Standard Model (BSM) physics to shed light on phenomena such as neutrino oscillations, dark matter, and the baryon asymmetry of the universe.
Câmara’s research explores various BSM scenarios that aim to address multiple open problems in particle physics and cosmology. One of the key focuses is on the dark sector, which encompasses particles and interactions that do not emit, absorb, or reflect light. The study introduces the concept of a “dark linear seesaw,” a novel setup that links neutrino mass generation to dark matter candidates. This model predicts charged lepton flavor violation and suggests that dark sector particles could constitute Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), which are potential dark matter candidates that could be detected through direct detection experiments.
Another significant aspect of the research is the investigation of spontaneous CP violation induced by a complex scalar singlet. This mechanism acts as a common origin for both low- and high-energy CP violating effects, which are crucial for leptogenesis—the process by which an excess of leptons over antileptons is generated, leading to the observed baryon asymmetry in the universe. Additionally, the study analyzes a Nelson-Barr model that addresses the strong CP problem, generates a realistic Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix radiatively, and yields scalar WIMP dark matter.
Câmara’s work also delves into unified axion frameworks, where a colored sector radiatively generates neutrino masses. These models predict distinctive axion couplings to photons and fermions and accommodate axion dark matter in both pre- and post-inflationary cosmologies. Axions are hypothetical particles that could explain the strong CP problem and serve as dark matter candidates. Furthermore, the research explores minimal flavored Peccei-Quinn symmetries, which link the flavor puzzle, neutrino masses, and dark matter within a predictive and testable framework. The Peccei-Quinn symmetry is a global symmetry that, when spontaneously broken, can solve the strong CP problem and give rise to axions.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector are primarily indirect. Understanding the fundamental particles and interactions that make up the universe can lead to advancements in energy technologies. For instance, the study of dark matter and its interactions could pave the way for novel detection methods and potentially new energy sources. Additionally, the exploration of axions and their properties could have implications for energy storage and transfer, as well as for the development of new materials with unique electrical and magnetic properties.
This research was published in the journal Physical Review D, a prestigious publication that covers topics in particle physics, field theory, and related areas. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of fundamental physics and could have far-reaching implications for the energy industry as our knowledge of the universe continues to expand.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.