Related papers: The Weak Scale from BBN
A finite vacuum energy density implies the existence of a UV scale for gravitational modes. This gives a phenomenological scale to the dynamical equations governing the cosmological expansion that must satisfy constraints consistent with…
We present a new solution to the electroweak hierarchy problem. We introduce $N$ copies of the Standard Model with varying values of the Higgs mass parameter. This generically yields a sector whose weak scale is parametrically removed from…
A universe without weak interactions is constructed that undergoes big-bang nucleosynthesis, matter domination, structure formation, and star formation. The stars in this universe are able to burn for billions of years, synthesize elements…
The fundamental laws of physics are required to be invariant under local spatial scale change. In 3-dimensional space, this leads to a variation in Planck constant \hbar and speed of light c. They vary as \hbar ~ a^(1/2) and c ~ a^(-1/2), a…
The Hubble parameter inferred from cosmic microwave background observations is consistently lower than that from local measurements, which could hint towards new physics. Solutions to the Hubble tension typically require a sizable amount of…
For a universe with massive neutrinos, cold dark matter, and baryons, we solve the linear perturbation equations analytically in the small-scale limit and find agreement with numerical codes at the 1-2% level. The inclusion of baryons, a…
VAMP (variable-mass particles) scenarios, in which the mass of the cold dark matter particles is a function of the scalar field responsible for the present acceleration of the Universe, have been proposed as a solution to the cosmic…
The hypothesis that non-perturbative gravitational effects lead to explicit breaking of global symmetries is considered in the context of Majoron models. We find that the nonvanishing Majoron mass generated by these effects can overclose…
We present models that simultaneously predict presence of dark energy and cold dark matter along with slow-roll inflation. The dark energy density is found to be of order $({\rm a \;few \;meV})^4$, and the mass of dark matter constituent is…
We study the time variation of fundamental constants in the early Universe. Using data from primordial light nuclei abundances, CMB and the 2dFGRS power spectrum, we put constraints on the time variation of the fine structure constant…
Precision cosmology provides a sensitive probe of extremely weakly coupled states due to thermal freeze-in production, with subsequent decays impacting physics during well-tested cosmological epochs. We explore the cosmological implications…
We consider 4D weak scale theories arising from 5D supersymmetric (SUSY) theories with maximal Scherk-Schwarz breaking at a Kaluza-Klein (KK) scale of several TeV. Many of the problems of conventional SUSY are avoided. Apart from 3rd family…
This work proposes a direct link between the hierarchy problem and Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs): we suggest that the small mass of the Higgs boson arises from being dynamically driven to the scale of the WIMP. Such a special…
While it is often stated that the notion of electroweak (EW) naturalness in supersymmetric models is subjective, fuzzy and model-dependent, here we argue the contrary: electroweak naturalness can be elevated to a {\it principle} which is…
We study the theoretical correlation between the Higgs mass of the minimal standard model and the scale at which new physics is expected to occur. In addition to the classic constraints of unitarity, triviality and vacuum stability, we…
Scale invariance supplemented by the requirement of the absence of new heavy particles may play an important role in addressing the hierarchy problem. We discuss how the Standard Model may become scale invariant at the quantum level above a…
Effective field theory of dark matter fluid on large scales predicts the presence of viscosity of the order of $10^{-6} H_0 M_P^2$. It has been shown that this magnitude of viscosities can resolve the discordance between large scale…
With the discovery of a particle that seems rather consistent with the minimal Standard Model Higgs boson, attention turns to questions of naturalness, fine-tuning, and what they imply for physics beyond the Standard Model and its discovery…
We consider electrically neutral complex vector particles $V$ below the GeV mass scale that, from a low energy perspective, couple to the photon via higher dimensional form factor interactions. We derive ensuing astrophysical constraints by…
We propose a unification of some fine-tuning problems -- really in this article only the problem of why the weak scale is so small in energy compared to a presumed fundamental scale, being say the Planck scale -- by postulating the zero or…