John March-Russell

Abstract:

The inferred values of the cosmological baryon and dark matter densities are strikingly similar, but in most theories of the early universe there is no true explanation of this fact; in particular, the baryon asymmetry and thus density depends upon unknown, and {\it a priori} unknown and possibly small, CP-violating phases which are independent of all parameters determining the dark matter density. We consider models of dark matter possessing a particle-antiparticle asymmetry where this asymmetry determines both the baryon asymmetry and strongly effects the dark matter density, thus naturally linking $\Omega_{\rm{b}}$ and $\Omega_{\rm{dm}}$. We show that sneutrinos can play the role of such dark matter in a previously studied variant of the MSSM in which the light neutrino masses result from higher-dimensional supersymmetry-breaking terms.

Abstract:

We show that the recently constructed 5-dimensional supersymmetric S ¹ /(Z2 × Z′2) orbifold GUT models allow an appealing explanation of the observed hierarchical structure of the quark and lepton masses and mixing angles. Flavor hierarchies arise from the geometrical suppression of some couplings when fields propagate in different numbers of dimensions, or on different fixed branes. Restrictions arising from locality in the extra dimension allow interesting texture zeroes to be easily generated. In addition the detailed nature of the SU(5)-breaking orbifold projections lead to simple theories where b - τ unification is maintained but similar disfavored SU(5) relations for the lighter generations are naturally avoided. We find that simple 5d models based on S¹ /(Z2 × Z′2) are strikingly successful in explaining many features of the masses and mixing angles of the 2nd and 3rd generation. Successful three generation models of flavor including neutrinos are constructed by generalizing the S¹ /(Z2 × Z′2) model to six dimensions. Large angle neutrino mixing is elegantly accommodated. Novel features of these models include a simple mu = 0 configuration leading to a solution of the strong CP problem. © SISSA/ISAS 2004.

Abstract:

This biennial Review summarizes much of Particle Physics. Using data from previous editions, plus 1726 new measurements from 512 papers, we list, evaluate, and average measured properties of gauge bosons, leptons, quarks, mesons, and baryons. We also summarize searches for hypothetical particles such as Higgs bosons, heavy neutrinos, and supersymmetric particles. All the particle properties and search limits are listed in Summary Tables. We also give numerous tables, figures, formulae, and reviews of topics such as the Standard Model, particle detectors, probability, and statistics. Among the 119 reviews are many that are new or heavily revised including those on neutrino mixing, CP violation in K, D, and B mesons, Vcb, the new exotic Θ(1540) particle, extra-dimensions, grand unified theories, cosmic background radiation, dark matter, cosmological parameters, and big bang cosmology. A booklet is available containing the Summary Tables and abbreviated versions ofsome of the other sections of this full Review. All tables, listings, and reviews (and errata) are also available on the Particle Data Group website: http//pdg.lbl.gov. ©2004 Regents of the University of California.