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Generating the Electro-Weak Scale by Vector-like Quark Condensation
by Sophie Klett, Manfred Lindner, Andreas Trautner
This Submission thread is now published as
Submission summary
| Authors (as registered SciPost users): | Sophie Klett |
| Submission information | |
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| Preprint Link: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2205.15323v2 (pdf) |
| Date accepted: | 2023-01-30 |
| Date submitted: | 2022-11-07 12:10 |
| Submitted by: | Klett, Sophie |
| Submitted to: | SciPost Physics |
| Ontological classification | |
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| Academic field: | Physics |
| Specialties: |
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Abstract
We show that vector-like quarks in the fundamental or higher-dimensional representations of QCD can generate the electro-weak scale in a phenomenologically viable way by chiral symmetry breaking condensates. The thereby generated scales are determined by numerically solving the Dyson-Schwinger equation and these scales are sizable, because they grow with the hard vector-like mass. Communicating such a scale to the Standard Model via a conformally invariant scalar sector can dynamically generate the electro-weak scale without a naturalness problem, because all non-dynamical mass scales are protected by chiral symmetry. We present a minimal setup which requires only a new neutral scalar with mass not too far above the electro-weak scale, as well as vector-like quarks at the (multi-)TeV scale. Both are consistent with current bounds and are attractive for future experimental searches at the LHC and future colliders. Depending on the hypercharge of the vector-like quarks, hadrons made of them are color-neutral bound states which would be interesting Dark Matter candidates.
Author comments upon resubmission
We are grateful for the close reading and insightful comments. Below we list the changes we have made in the revised manuscript.
A detailed response to the referee report is posted under the "Reply to the above Report" section below the report.
Sincerely,
The authors
List of changes
1. We have added a footnote on page 3 to emphasize the importance of a strongly coupled theory (QCD) in the mechanism.
2. To further clarify the cancellation of divergences in the calculation of a massive fermion condensate we have added a sentence before Eq. (12) on page 7.
3. We have added a sentence to page 9 of our updated manuscript to comment on the applicability of our results to quarks of the standard model.
Published as SciPost Phys. 14, 076 (2023)
Reports on this Submission
Report
All of my questions have been resolved in the latest version of the authors' manuscript, which is well written. The essential role of QCD within the mechanism that underlies their model is now clear. Overall, the manuscript provides a compelling picture for a possible dynamical origin of the electroweak symmetry breaking sector.