Tue·Sep 9, 2025Tuesday·September 9, 2025

1. 01*

   Chasing the two-Higgs-doublet model via electroweak corrections at $e^{+}{e}^{-}$ colliders

   Pia Bredt🇩🇪 · Tatsuya Banno🇯🇵 · Marius Höfer🇩🇪 · Syuhei Iguro🇯🇵 · Wolfgang Kilian🇩🇪 · Yang Ma🇧🇪 · Jürgen Reuter🇩🇪 · Hantian Zhang🇨🇭

   We present a comprehensive study of Higgs boson production associated with a neutrino pair at $e^{+}{e}^{-}$ colliders ($e^{+}{e}^{-}\to h\nu \bar{\nu }$) at next-to-leading-order accuracy in both the Standard Model and the two-Higgs-doublet model. We show that these new physics effects will be observable in total and differential cross sections when compared with theoretical predictions that include electroweak corrections, even in the Higgs alignment limit. This highlights the potential of precision studies at future $e^{+}{e}^{-}$ colliders for searching new physics.

   hep-phhep-exPRL(2026)·4 citations
2. 02*

   Disentangling Initial-State and Evolution Effects in Heavy-Ion Collisions Using EPOS and PHSD

   Mahbobeh Jafarpour🇫🇷 · Vadym Voronyuk🇷🇺 · Klaus Werner🇫🇷 · Elena Bratkovskaya🇩🇪 · Damien Vintache🇫🇷

   In this study we examine the impact of the initial stage and dynamical evolution on final-state observables in heavy-ion collisions. For this goal we develop a novel approach, EPOSir+PHSDe, which employs EPOS initial conditions as the starting point for parton and hadron evolution within the PHSD microscopic transport approach. By examining the space-time evolution of matter in this model and comparing to EPOS (which starts with an S-matrix approach for parallel scatterings for the initial conditions and uses a hydrodynamic evolution for the quark-gluon plasma stage with the UrQMD as afterburner) and PHSD (which starts with primary high energy $NN$ scattering realized via the LUND string model and continues with fully microscopic transport dynamics for strongly interacting partonic and hadronic matter), we identify the key differences in the final particle distributions among the three approaches. Our analysis focuses on rapidity, transverse momentum spectra, and flow harmonics $v_2$ for Au+Au collisions at the invariant energy of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV. We find a dominant influence of dynamical evolution over the initial conditions on the final observables.

   hep-phhep-exnucl-thPRC(2026)·0 citations
3. 03*

   Knudsen number and universal behavior of collective flows in conformal and non-conformal systems

   Vincenzo Nugara (1 and 2)🇮🇹 · Nicolas Borghini (3)🇩🇪 · Vincenzo Greco (1 and 2)🇮🇹 · Salvatore Plumari (1 and 2) ((1) Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Catania, Catania, (2) INFN-Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Catania, Italy, (3) Fakultät für Physik, Universität Bielefeld, D-33615 Bielefeld, Germany)🇮🇹

   We investigate the role of the Knudsen number (Kn) as a scaling parameter governing the emergence of collective behavior in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Using the Relativistic Boltzmann Transport approach, we explore different initial conditions for both conformal (massless) and non-conformal (massive) systems with a constant specific shear viscosity $\eta /s$. Observables such as the time evolution of anisotropic flow coefficients collapse onto universal curves for fixed classes of Knudsen number, when using a scaled time variable accounting for the system size and the speed of sound $c_s$. More differential quantities, such as $v_n(p_T/⟨E_T⟩)$, show a larger sensitivity to $c_s$. We also study events with fluctuating initial profiles from the \trento\ model, simulating collision systems from O-O to Pb-Pb at RHIC and LHC energies. Universal scaling at a given Kn value also holds in these event-by-event simulations, suggesting that the Knudsen number provides a unified criterion for classifying collectivity across different systems, including small systems where thermalisation may not be fully realised.

   hep-phnucl-thPLB(2026)·5 citations
4. 04*

   Vacuum Structure of an Extended Standard Model with $U(1{)}_D$ Symmetry

   Apriadi Salim Adam🇮🇩 · Yunita Kristanti Andriani🇮🇩 · Bayu Dirgantara🇮🇩

   In this research, we investigate the vacuum structure of an extended standard model with a $U(1{)}_D$ global symmetry. The scalar sector consists of two $SU(2)$ doublets as well as one complex singlet and one real singlet, resulting in a more complicated vacuum structure compared to that of the Standard Model. We analyze various theoretical constraints, including the conditions for being bounded from below, the existence of a global minimum, and perturbativity up to the Planck scale. Additionally, we consider experimental constraints from the Higgs invisible decay. Through a detailed statistical analysis using numerical methods, we show that the extended scalar potential can accommodate a stable vacuum while satisfying both theoretical and experimental constraints for a small region of the parameter space.

   hep-phhep-thJHEP(2026)·2 citations
5. 05*

   Flavor Enhanced Chromomagnetic Dipole Moment in the Bestest Little Higgs Framework

   T.Cisneros-Pérez🇲🇽 · A. Ramirez-Morales🇲🇽 · R. Gamboa-Goni🇲🇽 · C. Ortiz🇲🇽

   We investigate the anomalous Chromomagnetic Dipole Moment (CMDM), ${\hat{\mu }}_t^{\mathrm{BLHM}}$, of the top quark within the Bestest Little Higgs Model (BLHM). Our study incorporates novel interactions arising from the extended CKM matrix in the BLHM and explores a broad region of the experimentally allowed parameter space, yielding CMDM values on the order of $10^{-3}$. This result represents an improvement over previous CMDM calculations within the BLHM and makes it competitive with other beyond the Standard Model scenarios. Experimental and model parameter uncertainties are considered and propagated through our calculations, using a Monte Carlo method.

   hep-phhep-thPRD(2026)·0 citations
6. 06*

   Cosmic Structure Strikes Back: The Elimination of Vector-Mediated Nonstandard Interaction Models as a Mechanism for Sterile Neutrino Dark Matter Production

   Cannon M. Vogel🇺🇸 · Helena García Escudero🇺🇸 · Kevork N. Abazajian🇺🇸

   We revisit sterile-neutrino production enabled by nonstandard interactions (NSI) among active neutrinos mediated by new bosons. We focus on vector mediators, including neutrinophilic, gauged $L_{\mu }-L_{\tau }$, and $B-L$ realizations that modify in-medium dispersion and scattering, thereby altering the active-sterile conversion history. Building on a novel production framework with NSI thermal potentials and collision integrals, we compute nonthermal phase-space distributions across sterile neutrino mixing and NSI parameters and map each point to an equivalent thermal warm dark matter particle mass $m_{\mathrm{th}}$ via linear-theory transfer function fitting with cosmological structure-formation Boltzmann solver. This enables a direct reinterpretation of state-of-the-art structure-formation limits from Milky Way satellites, strong lensing, and the Lyman-$\alpha$ forest. These limits, in conjunction with X-ray decay searches, as well as results from a wide variety of particle physics experiments allow for a more complete examination of these models. We find that these vector-mediated models are ruled out when the full combination of current constraints, listed above, are taken into account. NSI scalar-mediated models and models with low-reheating temperatures remain viable.

   hep-phastro-ph.COPRD(2025)·3 citations
7. 07*

   Analysis of the hidden-charm pentaquark candidates in the $J/\psi p$ mass spectrum with QCD sum rules

   Zhi-Gang Wang🇨🇳

   In this work, we distinguish the isospin unambiguously to construct the diquark-diquark-antiquark type five-quark currents with the isospin $I=\frac{1}{2}$, and study the $uudc\bar{c}$ pentaquark states with the QCD sum rules systematically for the first time. Then we obtain the mass spectrum of the diquark-diquark-antiquark type $uudc\bar{c}$ pentaquark states with the isospin-spin-parity $I{J}^P=\frac{1}{2}{\frac{1}{2}}^{-}$, $\frac{1}{2}{\frac{3}{2}}^{-}$ and $\frac{1}{2}{\frac{5}{2}}^{-}$, and make possible assignments of the $P_c(4312)$, $P_c(4337)$, $P_c(4380)$, $P_c(4440)$ and $P_c(4457)$. As a byproduct, we obtain the lowest hidden-charm pentaquark state which lies just above the $\bar{D}{\Lambda }_c$ threshold.

   hep-phEPJC(2026)·9 citations
8. 08*

   Jet momentum broadening beyond the jet quenching parameter from QCD kinetic theory

   Alois Altenburger🇦🇹 · Kirill Boguslavski🇦🇹 · Florian Lindenbauer🇦🇹

   Using QCD kinetic theory, we study momentum broadening of jets using the full broadening probability (elastic collision kernel) $C({\mathbf{q}}_{\perp })$ extracted during simulations of the nonequilibrium initial stages in heavy-ion collisions. We find that small momentum transfer is more likely than in thermal equilibrium, particularly along the beam axis. Our extraction represents a significant step towards a more realistic modeling of jet quenching during the initial stages.

   hep-phnucl-thEPJ Web Conf.(2025)·0 citations
9. 09*

   Classification of Higgs sectors from group theoretical properties of UV gauge theories

   Shinya Kanemura🇯🇵 · Yushi Mura🇯🇵 · Tetsuo Shindou🇯🇵

   Extended Higgs sectors are often introduced to explain phenomena beyond the standard model (BSM). The existence of multiple scalar fields may cause the Landau pole below the Planck scale. In this case, the low-energy theory may be replaced by an asymptotic-free gauge theory. In this paper, we consider an $\mathrm{SU}(2)$ gauge theory with confinement as such an ultraviolet theory of the extended Higgs sectors. We investigate the relation between scalar particle contents at the low energy and group theoretical properties of fundamental fermions of the gauge theory. We find that particle contents of various extended Higgs sectors previously proposed to explain the BSM problems are deduced by each charge assignment of flavor symmetry of the fundamental fermions of the $\mathrm{SU}(2)$ gauge symmetry. Our findings may provide a new picture for the ultraviolet completion of the extended Higgs sectors.

   hep-phhep-thPRD(2026)·1 citation
10. 10*

    Perfect spin hydrodynamics at all orders in spin polarization

    Zbigniew Drogosz🇵🇱

    We compare two recently developed frameworks of perfect spin hydrodynamics for spin-$1/2$ particles, based respectively on classical kinetic theory and the Wigner function. We show that the conserved currents in both approaches have the same form at each order of the expansion in the components of the spin polarization tensor $\omega$. The only difference is a relative multiplicative factor, which is equal to 1 at the lowest nontrivial order and increases monotonically with the expansion order.

    hep-phnucl-thPLB(2026)·6 citations
11. 11*

    Explaining 650 GeV and 95 GeV Anomalies in the 2-Higgs Doublet Model Type-I

    Akshat Khanna🇮🇳 · Stefano Moretti🇬🇧 · Agnivo Sarkar🇮🇳

    We propose an interpretation of a rather significant 650 GeV excess emerged at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) from CMS Collaboration data in the $\gamma \gamma b\bar{b}$ final state, accompanied by further clusters at 125(90-100) GeV in the $\gamma \gamma (b\bar{b})$ system, within the 2-Higgs Doublet Model Type-I (2HDM-I) in presence of a softly broken ${\mathcal{Z}}_2$ symmetry. The underlying process that we probe is $gg$-initiated production of a CP-odd (or pseudoscalar) Higgs boson $A$, with mass around 650 GeV, decaying into the Standard Model (SM)-like Higgs state $H$ (decaying into $\gamma \gamma$) and a $Z$ boson (decaying into $b\bar{b}$). We configure this theoretical framework so as to also have in the spectrum a light CP-even (or scalar) Higgs state $h$ with mass around 95 GeV, which is included for the purpose of simultaneously explaining additional data anomalies seen in the $b\bar{b}$, $\gamma \gamma$ and ${\tau }^{+}{\tau }^{-}$ final states while searching for light Higgs states at the Large Electron-Positron (LEP) collider (the first one) and LHC (the last two). By accounting for both experimental and theoretical constraints, our results show that the 2HDM-I can explain all aforementioned anomalies at a significance level of $2.5\sigma$.

    hep-phInt.J.Mod.Phys.A(2026)·5 citations
12. 12*

    Multiplicity distributions in QCD jets and jet topics

    Xiang-Pan Duan🇨🇳 · Lin Chen🇪🇸 · Guo-Liang Ma🇨🇳 · Carlos A. Salgado🇪🇸 · Bin Wu🇪🇸

    We evaluate the Koba-Nielsen-Olesen (KNO) scaling functions for quark- and gluon-initiated jets by incorporating energy conservation into the Double Logarithmic Approximation (DLA). The resulting modified DLA (MDLA) expressions differ substantially from the DLA predictions and qualitatively align with the recently proposed QCD-inspired expressions, albeit with some quantitative differences. By fixing the two parameters in the MDLA expressions, we show that the inclusive charged-particle multiplicity distributions of the two leading jets in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV, measured by ATLAS over a wide jet $p_T$ range of $0.1$-$2.5$ TeV, are well described within experimental uncertainties and consistent with PYTHIA simulations. This conclusion is further supported by direct comparisons with quark- and gluon-initiated jet distributions extracted via jet topics, though the propagated uncertainties from experimental data remain sizable.

    hep-phhep-exnucl-thJHEP(2026)·7 citations
13. 13*

    To Break or Not to Break: A Review of a No-Go Theorem on Chiral Symmetry Breaking in QCD-like Theories

    Ling-Xiao Xu🇮🇹

    This is a pedagogical review of some recent progress in rigorously proving chiral symmetry breaking in a class of QCD-like theories that closely resemble the real-world QCD, namely the $SU(N_c)$ Yang-Mills theory coupled to $N_f$ flavors of massless quarks in the fundamental representation. Based on 't Hooft anomaly matching and persistent mass conditions, a general no-go theorem is formulated: assuming that the theory flows in the infrared to a fully color-screened, infrared-free phase described by color-singlet hadrons, symmetry and anomaly constraints necessarily imply spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking; conversely, any phase with unbroken chiral symmetry must retain unscreened color charges, thereby ruling out a fully color-singlet hadron description in the infrared. While these results have been widely assumed, the recent developments reviewed here establish them with a new level of rigor. The persistent mass condition, carefully formulated here, plays a central role, just as it does in the Vafa-Witten theorem on unbroken vectorlike symmetries.

    hep-phhep-lathep-thInt.J.Mod.Phys.A(2026)·2 citations
14. 14*

    Could the 650 GeV Excess be a Pseudoscalar of a 3-Higgs Doublet Model?

    Ayoub Hmissou🇲🇦 · Stefano Moretti🇬🇧 · Larbi Rahili🇲🇦

    In this study, we propose the interpretation of a 650 GeV excess observed at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) by the CMS Collaboration in terms of the production of a CP-odd (or pseudoscalar) Higgs boson A, with mass around 650 GeV, decaying into the Standard Model (SM)-like Higgs state $h_{125}$ (in turn decaying into $\gamma \gamma$) and a Z boson (in turn decaying into $b\bar{b}$), within a 3-Higgs Doublet Model (3HDM) featuring two active and one inert doublet, known as the I(1+2)HDM. This theoretical structure features a spectrum with both the SM-like Higgs boson (with a 125 GeV mass) and a lighter CP-even (or scalar) Higgs state with mass around 95 GeV, $h_{95}$, which is present in this scenario for the purpose of simultaneously explaining anomalies seen in the $b\bar{b}$, $\gamma \gamma$ and ${\tau }^{+}{\tau }^{-}$ final states in searches for additional light Higgs states at the Large Electron-Positron (LEP) collider and LHC itself. It should be noted that, in the I(1+2)HDM, the inert sector presents loop-induced enhancements to the $h_{95}\to \gamma \gamma$ width via inert charged Higgs states, providing a viable mechanism to explain, in particular, the observed (and most significant) di-photon excess at 95 GeV. Taking into account both experimental and theoretical constraints, our results can not only explain the aforementioned anomalies (possibly, aside from the ${\tau }^{+}{\tau }^{-}$, which is the most marginal one) but also predict, as collateral signals, resonant production of the same CP-odd scalar A followed by the decays: (i) $A\to h_{95}Z$, leading to the same $\gamma \gamma b\bar{b}$ final state displaying the original 650 GeV anomaly and (ii) $A\to t\bar{t}$, leading to a well-known and studied signature.

    hep-phPRD(2025)·8 citations
15. 15*

    Doubly heavy hadron production in ultraperipheral collisions

    Jun Jiang🇨🇳 · Hao Yang🇨🇳 · Xiao Liang🇨🇳 · Zong-Guo Si🇨🇳 · Cong-Feng Qiao🇨🇳 · Bing-Wei Long🇨🇳 · Yan-Rui Liu🇨🇳 · Shi-Yuan Li🇨🇳

    The inclusive production of pseudoscalar heavy quarkonia (${\eta }_c,{\eta }_b,B_c$), double heavy baryons ${\Xi }_{Q{Q}^{\prime }}$ ($Q^{(\prime )}=c,b$ quarks) and tetraquarks $T_{QQ}$ in heavy ion ultraperipheral collisions (UPCs) is studied. Numerical results indicate that the experimental investigation of ${\eta }_c,{\Xi }_{cc}$, and $T_{cc}$ is feasible at the upcoming HL-LHC and future FCC. Heavy ion UPCs open another avenue for studying the production of these doubly heavy hadrons.

    hep-phPoS(2026)·3 citations
16. 16*

    Criterion for the Existence of the $G(3900)$ Resonance

    Yin Huang🇨🇳 · Xurong Chen🇨🇳

    About 18 years ago, the BABAR and the Belle Collaborations reported evidence for a new $c\bar{c}$ structure near $3900\mathrm{MeV}$ in $e^{+}{e}^{-}\to D\bar{D}$, triggering debate over whether it represents a genuine hadronic state or arises from interference effects and the opening of the $D^{\ast }\bar{D}$ threshold. The issue remained unsettled until 2024, when BESIII, with an enlarged $e^{+}{e}^{-}\to D\bar{D}$ sample, confirmed the presence of the $G(3900)$ structure, reviving discussion of its nature. Although it has been proposed as a $P$-wave $D{\bar{D}}^{\ast }$ molecular state, no consensus has emerged, and interference effects remain a plausible explanation. In this Letter, we show that analyzing the $e^{+}{e}^{-}\to D\bar{D}$ cross section as a function of the transverse momentum of the final-state $D$ meson reveals a prominent Jacobian peak. This feature cannot be generated by interference effects alone and thus provides direct evidence for the existence of $G(3900)$. Moreover, the peak position is highly sensitive to the actual mass of $G(3900)$, offering a precise determination method. The criterion illustrated by $G(3900)$ can be extended to other hadronic systems, offering a powerful tool to identify genuine resonances.

    hep-phhep-ex3 citations
17. 17*

    Neural Posterior Unfolding

    Fernando Torales Acosta🇺🇸 · Jay Chan🇺🇸 · Krish Desai🇺🇸 · Vinicius Mikuni🇺🇸 · Benjamin Nachman🇺🇸 · Jingjing Pan🇺🇸 · Francesco Rubbo🇺🇸

    Differential cross section measurements are the currency of scientific exchange in particle and nuclear physics. A key challenge for these analyses is the correction for detector distortions, known as deconvolution or unfolding. Binned unfolding of cross section measurements traditionally rely on the regularized inversion of the response matrix that represents the detector response, mapping pre-detector (`particle level') observables to post-detector (`detector level') observables. In this paper we introduce Neural Posterior Unfolding, a modern, Bayesian approach that leverages normalizing flows for unfolding. By using normalizing flows for neural posterior estimation, NPU offers several key advantages including implicit regularization through the neural network architecture, fast amortized inference that eliminates the need for repeated retraining, and direct access to the full uncertainty in the unfolded result. In addition to introducing NPU, we implement a classical Bayesian unfolding method called Fully Bayesian Unfolding (FBU) in modern Python so it can also be studied. These tools are validated on simple Gaussian examples and then tested on simulated jet substructure examples from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). We find that the Bayesian methods are effective and worth additional development to be analysis ready for cross section measurements at the LHC and beyond.

    hep-phhep-exJINST(2026)·1 citation
18. 18*

    Double logarithmic contribution to Higgs pair production in the high-energy limit

    Zhenghong Hu🇨🇳 · Tao Liu🇨🇳

    We study the leading logarithmic QCD corrections to Higgs pair production in the high-energy limit, which originate from soft quark exchange in the Feynman diagram and are thus suppressed by the quark mass. It is found that triangle Feynman diagrams can be analyzed in the same way as single Higgs production mediated by bottom quarks [45-47], while for diagrams of box type we cannot get an all-order result due to the many more double logarithmic structures they own. In this paper we calculate the abelian corrections at three loops for the first time after obtaining the corresponding one- and two-loop leading logarithms, which are in total agreement with the analytical results in the literature.

    hep-phJHEP(2026)·6 citations
19. 19*

    Study of transition form factors of the lightest pseudoscalars

    Yi-Hao Zhang🇨🇳 · Shao-Zhou Jiang🇨🇳 · Ling-Yun Dai🇨🇳

    In this paper, we study the transition form factors of the lightest pseudoscalar mesons, ${\pi }^0$, $\eta$, and ${\eta }^{\prime }$, within the framework of resonance chiral theory. Our analysis is performed based on the data of time-like and space-like singly-virtual and space-like doubly-virtual form factors, as well as the relevant cross sections and latest invariant mass spectra of $e^{+}{e}^{-}$ pair for the process of $P\to \gamma e^{+}{e}^{-}$. The transition form factors of these pseudoscalars are obtained. Also, we evaluate their contributions to the light-by-light part of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. Our two Fits give similar results, where Fit-A gives $a_{\mu }^{{\pi }^0}=(61.6\pm 1.8)\times 10^{-11}$, $a_{\mu }^{\eta }=(15.2\pm 1.7)\times 10^{-11}$, $a_{\mu }^{{\eta }^{\prime }}=(16.0\pm 1.2)\times 10^{-11}$, and the total contribution of neutral pseudo-scalar meson poles is $a_{\mu }^{{\pi }^0+\eta +{\eta }^{\prime }}=(92.8\pm 2.9)\times 10^{-11}$.

    hep-phnucl-thCommun.Theor.Phys.(2026)·3 citations
20. 20*

    The 690 GeV scalar resonance

    M. Consoli🇮🇹 · L. Cosmai🇮🇹 · F. Fabbri🇮🇹 · G. Rupp🇵🇹

    Spontaneous symmetry breaking through the Higgs field has been experimentally confirmed as a basic ingredient of the Standard Model. However, the origin of the phenomenon may not be entirely clear, because, in perturbation theory, the vacuum turns out to be a metastable state. An alternative scenario was proposed that implies a second resonance of the Higgs field $\mathcal{H}$ with a well delimited mass $(M_H{)}^{\mathrm{Theor}}=690(30)$ GeV. This stabilises the potential, but, owing to an $H$ coupling to longitudinal $W$s with the same typical strength as that of the low-mass state with $m_h=125$ GeV, it would still remain a relatively narrow resonance. Our scope here is twofold. First, leaving out many details, we outline a simple logical path where the, apparently surprising, idea of such a second resonance follows from basic properties of ${\Phi }^4$ theories. Secondly, we spell out a definite experimental signature of this resonance that is clearly visible in various LHC data. As a by-product, the ${\mathcal{H}}^3$ term gives ${\kappa }_{\lambda }=(M_H/m_h)\sim$ 5.5 consistently with the ATLAS and CMS data.

    hep-phhep-exEPL(2025)·1 citation
21. 21*

    Dissecting Exclusive Multijet Cross Sections

    Jürg Haag🇨🇭

    This paper studies multijet cross sections in the kinematic limit where one or more of the jets are unresolved. We study the asymptotic expansion of the cross section by using the method of regions. We explain in large generality how to identify the relevant phase space regions and derive the leading-power approximation of the phase space. The leading-power phase space factorizes into a hard phase space and a radiation phase space for each collinear sector and the soft sector. Using the infrared factorization properties of squared matrix elements at leading power, we derive a factorization formula for generic resolution variables describing the exclusive n-jet limit in terms of fully differential beam, jet, and soft functions. We show how the factorization formula can be simplified for specific resolution variables. We regularize rapidity divergences in the beam and jet functions using a time-like reference vector, a method we call the ``$z_N$-prescription'', and demonstrate how the associated zero-bin contributions combine with the soft function to define a soft subtracted function free of rapidity divergences and suitable for numerical evaluation. The $z_N$-prescription can be used both for ${\mathrm{SCET}}_{\mathrm{II}}$- and ${\mathrm{SCET}}_{\mathrm{I}}$-type resolution variables. As an application of our framework, we derive factorization formulas for several transverse-momentum-like variables, and we present a variable that factorizes into simple cumulant functions to all orders in perturbation theory.

    hep-phJHEP(2026)·3 citations
22. 22*

    The complementary of CTAO, direct detection and collider searches for dark matter in Effective Field Theories and Simplified models

    Igor Reis🇫🇷 · Andre Scaffidi🇮🇹 · Emmanuel Moulin🇫🇷 · Martin White🇦🇺

    This paper explores the sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory to dark matter annihilation in the Galactic Center, within the frameworks of Effective Field Theory and Simplified Models. We present sensitivity forecasts, utilizing an up-to-date instrument configuration and incorporating the latest models for Galactic Diffuse Emission. A key aspect of our work is the inclusion of updated dark matter density profiles, J-factors, and velocity dispersion distributions derived from the FIRE-2 cosmological hydrodynamical simulations, which significantly impact the expected indirect detection signals. Furthermore, we update the constraints from direct detection experiments (Xenon1T and LZ) taking into account the astrophysical uncertainties informed by the FIRE-2 simulations, and also investigate limits coming from collider searches (ATLAS and CMS). Our analysis reveals improved constraints on the effective suppression scale ($M_{\ast }$) in the Effective Field Theory framework and on the mediator mass ($M_{med}$) in Simplified Models compared to previous studies, highlighting the complementarity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory with direct and collider searches in probing a wide range of dark matter scenarios. We discuss the implications of these results for various dark matter interaction types, including scalar, pseudoscalar, vector, and axial-vector mediators, and emphasize the importance of considering realistic astrophysical inputs in interpreting dark matter search results across different experimental fronts.

    hep-phastro-ph.HEhep-exJCAP(2026)·2 citations
23. 23*

    Constraining the Energy Momentum Tensor through DVCS Dispersion Relation beyond Leading Power

    Víctor Martínez-Fernández🇫🇷 · Daniele Binosi🇮🇹 · Cédric Mezrag🇫🇷 · Zhao-Qian Yao🇪🇸

    In this letter, we analyse and interpret the kinematic power corrections to deeply virtual Compton scattering dispersion relation. We show that the kinematic corrections at twist-4 can be connected to other form factors of the Energy-Momentum Tensor beyond the pressure distribution involved at leading-power, namely the ones related to Momentum and total Angular Momentum distributions. In the nucleon case, these corrections are not negligible at presently accessible virtualities. The DVCS subtraction constant becomes an experimental constraint on momentum distributions, pressure forces distributions, and total angular momentum distributions. Finally, we use continuum and lattice-QCD results to predict the expected size of the DVCS subtraction constant, and conclude that momentum distributions are responsible of roughly one-third of the experimental signal at $Q^2=2{\text{GeV}}^2$.

    hep-phnucl-thPRD(2026)·11 citations
24. 24*

    Self-resonant dark matter with $Z_4$ gauged symmetry

    Lucca Radicce Justino🇰🇷 · Seong-Sik Kim🇰🇷 · Hyun Min Lee🇰🇷 · Jun-Ho Song🇰🇷

    We present a new model for two-component scalar dark matter (DM), consisting of two complex scalar fields. In this model, both the DM components are stable due to the remaining $Z_4$ gauge symmetry, which is the remnant of the $U(1{)}^{\prime }$ local symmetry. When the resonance condition for DM masses is fulfilled, we show that the elastic co-scattering processes between two components of dark matter ($u$-channel processes) are enhanced due to the Yukawa potential with a small effective mass for the lighter DM mediator, so we can use such co-scattering processes for dark matter to explain the small-scale problems at galaxies. Moreover, there are also semi-annihilation processes that two components of dark matter annihilate into one dark matter particle and a dark photon/Higgs, which are enhanced by the $u$-channel Sommerfeld factor. Focusing on some benchmark models for two-component dark matter satisfying the observed relic density, we obtain the bounds for the dark photon portal couplings from the direct detection for boosted dark matter, which is produced from the semi-annihilation processes at the galactic center.

    hep-phastro-ph.COEPJC(2026)·0 citations
25. 25*

    Heavy Field Effects on Inflationary Models in Light of ACT Data

    Shuntaro Aoki🇯🇵 · Hajime Otsuka🇯🇵 · Ryota Yanagita🇯🇵

    Recent results from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT), when combined with Planck and DESI datasets, indicate a scalar spectral index $n_s$ larger than that reported in the Planck 2018 baseline, thereby challenging conventional Starobinsky-type ($\alpha$-attractor) inflationary scenarios at the $2\sigma$ level. In addition, the positive running of the spectral index ${\alpha }_s$ implied by the data provides strong constraints on these models. In this paper, we explore the possibility that the presence of an additional heavy field during inflation, with a mass of order the Hubble scale and a sizable mixing coupling to the inflaton, can reconcile such inflationary models with the ACT results by increasing both $n_s$ and ${\alpha }_s$, particularly in the strong-mixing regime. Furthermore, we extend this framework to traditional inflation models such as chaotic inflation and natural inflation, which have already been excluded by Planck alone, and show that they can be revived in certain regions of parameter space. Inflationary observables, including the spectral index $n_s$, the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$, and the running ${\alpha }_s$, are computed within the single-field EFT approach, which is applicable even in the presence of a heavy field with large mixing. We also discuss the non-Gaussianity signatures arising from the heavy field, noting that parts of the parameter space are already excluded or can be tested in future observations. Finally, we present concrete model realizations that allow for such a large mixing.

    hep-phastro-ph.COgr-qchep-thJCAP(2025)·26 citations
26. 26*

    Transverse momentum Resummation and Analytic continuation into the Deep Infrared

    Andrea Simonelli🇮🇹

    Extracting information on the three-dimensional structure of hadrons from transverse-momentum data is a challenging task, requiring the separation of perturbative contributions under QCD control from genuinely non-perturbative effects, unavoidably affected by phenomenological bias. Standard approaches model transverse-momentum-dependent (TMD) observables in impact-parameter space and compare them with data after Fourier inversion, generating an interplay between perturbative terms, non-perturbative models, and prescriptions used to extend perturbation theory beyond its natural domain. In this work, a consistent methodology to perform the Fourier inversion analytically is proposed, achieving a solid resummation of TMD parton distributions and cross sections directly in transverse-momentum space. The resummation is carried out to next-to-leading logarithmic (NLL) accuracy, validated against alternative prescriptions, and tested on experimental data. This framework provides a systematic procedure to analytically continue observables into the deep infrared, identifying two primary sources of non-perturbative effects: the low energy behavior of the strong coupling and of the parton distribution functions. This points to a paradigm shift in TMD phenomenology, where the structure of hadrons emerges from the dynamics of QCD itself rather than from flexible parametrizations with only indirect physical interpretation.

    hep-phhep-exhep-thEPJC(2026)·3 citations
27. 27*

    Asymmetric Cannibal Dark Matter: Constraints from Neutron Star

    Ujjal Kumar Dey🇮🇳 · Sourav Gope🇮🇳

    Asymmetric dark matter can be efficiently captured by neutron stars via elastic scattering with nucleons and dark matter self scattering. The accumulated dark matter thermalizes and concentrates in the stellar interior, forming a dark matter core. In this work, we propose a novel framework in which a ${\mathbb{Z}}_3$ symmetry allows for number-changing self-interactions of the form $3\to 2$ within the dark sector. These cannibalistic reactions become increasingly efficient at high dark matter densities, leading to a significant depletion of the dark matter population in the stellar core. This number depletion heats up the neutron star above the standard cooling expectations, yielding observable thermal signatures in relatively old, isolated neutron stars, potentially detectable via future infrared telescopes. We show that even in the presence of other heating mechanisms, e.g. dark matter annihilation and kinetic heating, the cannibal heating dominates for certain parameter space. We demonstrate that the cannibal heating can predict detectable heating signatures in old neutron stars, thereby allowing a broader range of viable dark matter masses and couplings to the Standard Model.

    hep-phastro-ph.COJHEP(2026)·3 citations
28. 28*

    Energy loss baseline for light hadrons in oxygen-oxygen collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.36\text{TeV}$

    Aleksas Mazeliauskas🇩🇪

    I present predictions for inclusive charged hadron spectra in minimum-bias proton-proton and oxygen-oxygen collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.36\text{TeV}$, assuming no final-state interactions. Using next-to-leading order perturbative QCD matrix elements, along with state-of-the-art (nuclear) parton distribution and fragmentation functions, I establish a baseline for the nuclear modification factor $R_{\text{AA}}^h$ in oxygen-oxygen collisions in the absence of quenching. Theoretical uncertainties in this baseline are found to be substantial for transverse momenta below $20\text{GeV}$. In the intermediate range $20\text{GeV}\lesssim p_T^h\lesssim 70\text{GeV}$, these uncertainties are significantly reduced to approximately 5\%. At higher momenta ($p_T^h\gtrsim 70\text{GeV}$), however, predictions exhibit a marked spread due to differences between fragmentation functions, reflecting varying assumptions about isospin symmetry. Finally, I show that considering neon-neon collisions in the initial state or neutral pions in the final state does not appreciably change the nuclear modification factor.

    hep-phnucl-exnucl-thPLB(2026)·10 citations
29. 29*

    FASTColor -- Full-color Amplitude Surrogate Toolkit for QCD

    Javier Mariño Villadamigo🇩🇪 · Rikkert Frederix🇸🇪 · Tilman Plehn🇩🇪 · Timea Vitos🇸🇪 · Ramon Winterhalder🇮🇹

    High-multiplicity events remain a bottleneck for LHC simulations due to their computational cost. We present a ML-surrogate approach to accelerate matrix element reweighting from leading-color (LC) to full-color (FC) accuracy, building on recent advancements in LC event generation. Comparing a variety of modern network architectures for representative QCD processes, we achieve speed-up of around a factor two over the current LC-to-FC baseline. We also show how transformers learn and exploit underlying symmetries, to improve generalization. Given the gained trust in trained networks and developments in learned uncertainties, the LC-to-FC approach will eventually benefit further from not needing a final classic unweighting step.

    hep-phSciPost Phys.(2026)·17 citations
30. 30*

    Reviving WIMP dark matter with temperature-dependent couplings

    Debasish Borah🇮🇳 · Arnab Dasgupta🇺🇸 · Tong Arthur Wu🇺🇸

    The persistent null results at dark matter (DM) direct-detection experiments have pushed the popular weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) DM to tight corners. Generic WIMP models with direct-detection rate below the current upper limits often lead to a thermally overproduced relic abundance after freeze-out. To resolve this conundrum, we propose a novel scenario where DM has temperature-dependent couplings with the standard model (SM) bath. A scalar field having a large vacuum expectation value (VEV) at high temperatures generates sizeable DM-SM interactions leading to efficient DM annihilations responsible for generating the desired thermal relic. At lower temperatures, the scalar field VEV settles down to a small value as a result of a phase transition which can generically be of first order, effectively leading to suppressed DM-SM interaction rate at low temperature, consistent with null results at direct-detection experiments. Upper bound on thermal DM mass forces the first-order phase transition (FOPT) to occur at scales such that the corresponding gravitational wave signal remains within reach of future experiments like LISA.

    hep-phastro-ph.COPRD(2026)·1 citation
31. 31*

    CP violation in decays into states with neutral kaons

    Yuval Grossman🇺🇸 · Paolo Leo🇩🇪 · Alberto Martini🇩🇪 · Guglielmo Papiri🇺🇸 · Armine Rostomyan🇩🇪

    CP violation in the kaon system can manifest itself in decays to final states containing neutral kaons. The effect is governed by an efficiency function that reflects the specific experimental setup. We demonstrate that this efficiency function factorizes into two components: the kaon energy spectrum and a universal detector-dependent factor. We show that matter effects on kaon oscillations can have a significant effect on CP asymmetries. We provide estimates of the theoretical prediction for some such CP asymmetries for a Belle II-type experiment.

    hep-phhep-exJHEP(2026)·4 citations
32. 32*

    Two-loop QCD corrections to $ZH$ and off-shell $Z$ boson pair production in gluon fusion

    Joshua Davies🇬🇧 · Dominik Grau🇩🇪 · Kay Schönwald🇨🇭 · Matthias Steinhauser🇩🇪 · Daniel Stremmer🇩🇪 · Marco Vitti🇩🇪

    We compute two-loop corrections to the associated production of a Higgs boson with a $Z$ boson and to off-shell $Z$ boson pair production in the gluon fusion channel, mediated by a heavy quark. We perform deep expansions in the high-energy region and around the forward limit and show that their combination covers the whole phase space. Our results constitute the next-to-leading order virtual corrections to these processes. Their numerical evaluation is fast and the dependence on all parameters is maintained, thus a change of parameter values or renormalization scheme is straightforward. As a by-product of our calculation, we also obtain the two-loop heavy quark mediated virtual corrections to the processes of off-shell di-photon and photon-$Z$ production.

    hep-phJHEP(2026)·8 citations
33. 33*

    Boiling After the Dust Settles: Constraining First-Order Phase Transitions During Dark Energy Domination

    Seth Koren🇺🇸 · Yuhsin Tsai🇺🇸 · Runqing Wang🇺🇸

    A first-order phase transition could occur in the late universe when vacuum energy begins dominating the energy density ($z\lesssim 0.3$) and convert some latent heat into other forms such as invisible radiation. This generic possibility also has concrete motivation in particle physics models which invoke a multitude of vacua to address theoretical puzzles. The naïve constraint on such an event comes from measurements of the Hubble expansion rate, but this can only probe transitions involving $\mathcal{O}(10)\%$ of the dark energy. In this work, we show that significantly tighter constraints appear when accounting for phase transition fluctuations affecting CMB photon propagation anisotropically, akin to the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect. For instance, if a completed phase transition has $\beta /H_{\star }\lesssim 25$, current CMB data limits the associated vacuum energy released to less than $1\%$ of the dark energy. A transition to negative vacuum energy (quasi-anti-de Sitter) is allowed only for $\beta /H_{\star }\gtrsim 300$. For $\beta /H_{\star }\lesssim 500$, the universe will not crunch for at least $14$ Gyr.

    hep-phastro-ph.COPRL(2026)·8 citations
34. 34*

    Low-energy theory of jet processes and PDF factorization

    Thomas Becher🇨🇭 · Patrick Hager🇩🇪 · Sebastian Jaskiewicz🇨🇭 · Matthias Neubert🇺🇸 · Dominik Schwienbacher🇨🇭

    The consistency of collinear factorization violation with PDF factorization has been an outstanding challenge and subject of considerable debate. In this work we demonstrate their compatibility using a factorization theorem for non-global jet observables. Our analysis relies on consistency relations derived from renormalization conditions in effective field theory. We verify these relations through an explicit computation at three-loop order and show that the double-logarithmic evolution sourcing the super-leading logarithms reduces to single-logarithmic DGLAP running below the lowest perturbative scale. The crucial ingredient reconciling the two evolutions is a perturbative Glauber contribution to the low-energy matrix elements which breaks soft-collinear factorization at the cross section level but restores PDF factorization.

    hep-phJHEP(2026)·14 citations
35. 35*

    Resonant axion and dark photon production in magnetic white dwarfs

    Nirmalya Brahma🇨🇦 · Ella Iles🇨🇦 · Hugo Schérer🇨🇦 · Katelin Schutz🇨🇦

    Using magnetic white dwarfs as a case study, we show that the emission of sub-MeV bosons from stellar plasmas can be substantially modified in the presence of a magnetic field. In particular, the magnetic field-induced anisotropy and cyclotron resonance both significantly affect the in-medium dispersion relations of the Standard Model photon. As a result, resonant level crossing between photons and other light bosons occurs under environmental conditions that differ from the resonance criteria in unmagnetized environments. We find that the magnetic field opens additional regions within magnetic white dwarfs where resonance can occur. These findings motivate revisiting astrophysical constraints on light bosons in systems where the cyclotron frequency is comparable to or larger than the plasma frequency.

    hep-phastro-ph.HEastro-ph.SRPRD(2026)·4 citations
36. 36*

    Searching for a Charged Higgs Boson in Top-Quark Decays via the $WZ$ Mode

    Saiyad Ashanujjaman🇩🇪 · Andreas Crivellin🇨🇭 · Siddharth P. Maharathy🇿🇦 · Bruce Mellado🇿🇦

    Top-quark decays are sensitive probes of light charged Higgs bosons ($H^{\pm }$) due to the sizable $t\bar{t}$ production cross section at the LHC in conjunction with their distinct experimental signatures. While dedicated ATLAS and CMS searches considered only $H^{\pm }$ decays into $\tau \nu$, $cs$, or $cb$ for $m_{H^{\pm }}<m_t$, the $WZ$ channel remains unexplored, despite being the dominant mode in $SU(2{)}_L$ triplet models. Since, top-quark pair production with $t\to H^{\pm }b$ and $H^{\pm }\to WZ$ gives rise to $t\bar{t}Z$-like signatures, we recast existing $t\bar{t}Z$ analyses to search for signs of charged Higgs bosons and set novel limits on the product of branching fractions Br$(t\to H^{\pm }b)\times$Br$(H^{\pm }\to WZ)$. These constraints turn out to be at the sub-permille level, despite the observed $2\sigma$ preference for a non-zero value. Interpreted within the hypercharge $Y=0$ Higgs triplet model, this translates into a stringent constraint on the triplet Higgs vacuum expectation value of $v_{\Delta }\lesssim 2$ GeV, which is stronger than those from the $cs,\tau \nu$ modes and even surpasses electroweak precision constraints from the $\rho$ parameter. Moreover, the $2\sigma$ preference for a non-zero cross section further strengthens the cumulative case for a $\approx 152$ GeV boson as suggested, in particular, by di-photon excesses.

    hep-phhep-exPRD(2026)·5 citations
37. 37*

    NLO observables for QCD-like theories and application to pion dark matter

    Helena Kolešová🇳🇴 · Daniil Krichevskiy🇳🇴 · Suchita Kulkarni🇦🇹

    QCD-like theories are of interest in various areas of beyond-Standard-Model phenomenology, including composite Higgs models or pionic dark matter. The effective field theories provide a framework for describing the dynamics of such strongly coupled gauge theories at low energies. In this work, we present next-to-leading order (NLO) expressions for masses, condensates, decay constants, and scattering amplitudes in the chiral expansion of QCD-like theories with $N_F=2$ fermions with non-degenerate masses in both real and pseudoreal representations of the gauge group. We further apply the NLO formulas to fit existing lattice spectroscopic and scattering data for $Sp(N_c=4)$ gauge theory with $N_F=2$ fermions in fundamental representation, extracting the NLO low-energy constants of the theory. Using these fits, we refine the NLO formulas describing the $2\to 2$ pion self-interactions and confirm that the NLO contributions play a crucial role in determining the viable parameter space of pion dark matter scenarios like the strongly interacting massive particles (SIMP).

    hep-phJHEP(2026)·7 citations
38. 38*

    Enhancements in velocity-dependent dark matter annihilation in Galactic subhalos

    Odelia V. Hartl🇨🇦 · Evan Vienneau🇨🇦 · Evan Batteas🇺🇸 · Addy J. Evans🇺🇸 · Nassim Bozorgnia🇨🇦 · Louis E. Strigari🇺🇸

    We examine velocity-dependent dark matter annihilation in subhalos using a sample of six Milky Way-like galaxies from the Aurgia simulation suite. We quantify the enhancement in the annihilation rate in subhalos when including the contribution from particles in the smooth component of the halo that overlap with the subhalos. The enhancement in the annihilation rate scales with the smooth component of the host halo dark matter density, and is evident for subhalos over the resolvable mass range. Maximal enhancement factors are ~ 48 for p-wave models, and ~ 37,000 for d-wave models. For p and d-wave annihilation models, ~ 13 and ~ 6 subhalos, respectively, across all six host halos have emission from dark matter annihilation in their direction that is above the foreground emission from the smooth dark matter component, and would therefore be resolvable as sources. Such subhalos with the most significant enhancement factors tend to be on the lower end of the mass range and located closer to the center of the host galaxy. We provide a prescription to calculate the enhancement for subhalos as a function of distance from the Galactic center, and use this to examine the impact on dark matter limits from a couple of example dwarf spheroidals. We show that, including the enhancement factors, limits from individual dwarf spheroidals are at a cross section scale that may approach those derived from the Galactic center.

    ↳ astro-ph.HEastro-ph.COhep-phJCAP(2026)·1 citation
39. 39*

    Primordial Black Holes Evaporating before Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

    Quan-feng Wu🇨🇳 · Xun-Jie Xu🇨🇳

    Primordial black holes (PBHs) formed from the collapse of density fluctuations provide a unique window into the physics of the early Universe. Their evaporation through Hawking radiation around the epoch of Big Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) can leave measurable imprints on the primordial light-element abundances. In this work, we analyze in detail the effects of PBHs evaporating before BBN, with various intermediate steps understood analytically, and obtain the BBN constraint on PBHs within a transparent and reproducible framework. We find that, to produce observable effects on BBN, the PBH mass must exceed $10^9$ g, a threshold higher than that reported in some earlier studies. Slightly above $10^9$ g, the BBN sensitivity rapidly increases with the mass and then decreases, with the turning point occurring at $2\times 10^9$ g. For PBHs in the mass range $[10^9,10^{10}]$ g, current measurements of BBN observables set an upper bound on the initial mass fraction parameter $\beta$ ranging from $10^{-17}$ to $10^{-19}$. To facilitate future improvements, we make our code publicly available, enabling straightforward incorporation of updated nuclear reaction rates, particle-physics inputs, and cosmological data.

    ↳ astro-ph.COhep-phJCAP(2026)·10 citations
40. 40*

    21 cm forest one-dimensional power spectrum as an indirect probe of dark matter particles and primordial black holes

    Meng-Lin Zhao🇺🇸 · Yue Shao🇺🇸 · Sai Wang🇨🇳 · Xin Zhang🇺🇸

    Understanding the nature of dark matter (DM) particles remains a pivotal challenge in modern cosmology. Current cosmological research on these phenomena primarily utilizes cosmic microwave background (CMB) observations and other late-time probes, which predominantly focus on large scales. We introduce a novel probe, the 21 cm forest signal, which can be used to investigate DM properties on small scales during the epoch of reionization, thereby addressing the gap left by other cosmological probes. Annihilation and decay of DM particles, as well as Hawking radiation from PBHs, can heat the intergalactic medium (IGM). This heating suppresses the amplitude of the 21 cm forest 1D power spectrum. Therefore, the 1D power spectrum provides an effective method for constraining DM properties. However, astrophysical heating processes in the early universe can also affect the 21 cm forest 1D power spectrum. In this work, we assess the potential of using the SKA to observe the 21 cm forest 1D power spectrum for constraining DM properties, under the assumption that astrophysical heating can be constrained reliably by other independent probes. Under low astrophysical heating conditions, the 1D power spectrum could constrain the DM annihilation cross section and decay lifetime to $⟨\sigma v⟩\sim 10^{-31}\mathrm{c}{\mathrm{m}}^3{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}$ and $\tau \sim 10^{30}\mathrm{s}$ for $10\mathrm{GeV}$ DM particles, and probe PBHs with masses $\sim 10^{15}\mathrm{g}$ at abundances $f_{\mathrm{PBH}}\simeq 10^{-13}$. These constraints represent improvements of 5-6 orders of magnitude over current limits. Furthermore, the 21 cm forest 1D power spectrum has the potential to exceed existing bounds on sub-GeV DM and to probe PBHs with masses above $10^{18}\mathrm{g}$, which are otherwise inaccessible by conventional cosmological probes.

    ↳ astro-ph.COgr-qchep-phhep-thPRD(2026)·4 citations
41. 41*

    Long-term neutrino emission from a core-collapse supernova with axion-photon coupling

    Masamitsu Mori🇯🇵 · Kanji Mori🇯🇵

    We perform long-term general-relativistic neutrino-radiation hydrodynamic simulations for core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) which include the cooling effect induced by the coupling between axion-like particles (ALPs) and photons. We take into account the \kanji{photon} coalescence and the Primakoff effect, and investigate ALPs with the mass of 10\,MeV and the coupling constant $g_{a\gamma }$ of $1.0\times 10^{-9}\mathrm{Ge}{\mathrm{V}}^{-1}$ to $7.0\times 10^{-9}\mathrm{Ge}{\mathrm{V}}^{-1}$. It is found that the effects of the ALP cooling emerge in the late phase rather than the early phase and the ALP luminosities are always lower than the neutrino luminosity in our simulations. We estimate the number of neutrino events for Super-Kamiokande assuming a 10\,kpc CCSN. We conclude that signatures of ALPs could be found in the long-term neutrino signals from a nearby CCSN event in the future, even if $g_{a\gamma }$ is below an upper limit based on the conventional energy-loss argument.

    ↳ astro-ph.HEhep-phPRD(2026)·3 citations
42. 42*

    A.P. Balachandran: Living in Physics

    V.P. Nair🇺🇸

    A.P. Balachandran was a theoretical physicist of extraordinary versatility and originality. In a career spanning over six decades, he made many significant contributions to quantum field theory and mathematical physics. His influence extends beyond the impact of his papers, with a large number of research students and collaborators. Here, in an attempt at a coherent scientific biography, I try to contextualize and evaluate his many contributions.

    ↳ physics.hist-phhep-phhep-thmath-ph+10 citations
43. 43*

    Search for Signatures of Dark Matter Annihilation in the Galactic Center with HAWC

    R. Alfaro🇲🇽 · C. Alvarez🇲🇽 · A. Andrés🇲🇽 · E. Anita-Rangel🇲🇽 · M. Araya🇨🇷 · J.C. Arteaga-Velázquez🇲🇽 · D. Avila Rojas🇲🇽 · H.A. Ayala Solares🇺🇸 · R. Babu🇺🇸 · P. Bangale🇺🇸 · A. Bernal🇲🇽 · K.S. Caballero-Mora🇲🇽 and 100 other authors

    We conduct an indirect dark matter (DM) search in the Galactic Center, focusing on a square region within $\pm 9^{\circ }$ in Galactic longitude and latutide, using 2,865 days of data ($\sim$8 years) from the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory. We explore DM particles within the Weakly Interacting Massive Particles framework with masses from 1 TeV to 10 PeV. Analyzing three annihilation channels ($b\bar{b}$, ${\tau }^{+}{\tau }^{-}$, $W^{+}{W}^{-}$) and three density profiles (Navarro-Frenk-White, Einasto, Burkert), we find no significant excess and set 95\% confidence-level upper limits on the velocity-weighted annihilation cross section. Our results provide the first constraints on DM particles well above 100 TeV using gamma-ray data from the Galactic Center, with the strongest limits $\mathcal{O}(10^{-24})$~cm${}^3$/s, from the ${\tau }^{+}{\tau }^{-}$ channel and the Einasto profile.

    ↳ astro-ph.HEhep-exhep-phPRL(2026)·2 citations
44. 44*

    Quarkonia collectivity in large collision systems with ALICE

    Chi Zhang (for the ALICE collaboration)🇫🇷

    Quarkonium production is one of the golden probes to study the quark--gluon plasma (QGP). Among many observables, the measurement of azimuthal anisotropies in quarkonium production sheds light on the collective behavior of heavy-flavor particles in a strongly interacting medium. In particular, the measurements of the elliptic flow ($v_2$) of quarkonia in Pb--Pb collisions at the LHC provide us direct evidence of heavy quark thermalization in the QGP. In these proceedings, new results of inclusive $J/\psi$ elliptic flow measurement in Pb--Pb collisions carried out by the ALICE collaboration in Run 3 using three methods including event-plane, scalar-product and multi-particle correlation (cumulant) will be presented. The method of cumulant will give access to the $J/\psi$ flow fluctuations at forward rapidity. Alongside the new flow measurements of $J/\psi$, new results of $\mathrm{{\rm Y}}(1S)$ flow measurement at forward rapidity in ALICE Run 3 will be presented as well with comparison to model calculations.

    ↳ nucl-exhep-exhep-phEPJ Web Conf.(2026)·1 citation
45. 45*

    Core or Halo? Two-Fluid Analysis of Dark Matter-Admixed Quarkyonic Stars in the Multi-Messenger Era

    Jeet Amrit Pattnaik🇮🇳 · D. Dey🇮🇳 · M. Bhuyan🇮🇳 · R. N. Panda🇮🇳 · S. K. Patra🇮🇳

    For the first time, we explore dark matter (DM) admixed quarkyonic stars (DAQSs) within a two-fluid formalism, where the normal/visible sector is modeled by a quarkyonic equation of state (EOS) in the Effective Relativistic Mean Field (E-RMF) framework and the DM component is treated as a degenerate fermionic gas with scalar and vector self-interactions. Our analysis begins with the mass-radius (M-R) relation, showing that the inclusion of DM enables stellar configurations to reach the mass range compatible with the GW190814 event. We identify both DM core and DM halo morphologies among the viable EOSs, with core dominated and halo dominated cases exhibiting distinct signatures. By fixing the stellar mass within the GW190814 range, we constrain the possible dark matter fractions and explore the role of different interaction channels. Using the EOSs consistent with these constraints, we further investigate the tidal deformability ($\Lambda$), moment of inertia (MOI), and stellar radius, finding broad agreement with constraints from GW170817, GW190814, and NICER. Finally, we compile the characteristic properties of DAQSs, including EOS type, DM fractions, morphology (core vs halo), and macroscopic observables in a comparative summary. This study provides a unified two-fluid framework to explore dense QCD matter and dark matter in the multi-messenger era, suggesting that the GW190814 secondary object could plausibly be interpreted as either a DM core or a DM halo quarkyonic star.

    ↳ astro-ph.HEhep-phhep-thnucl-th2 citations
46. 46*

    Magnetic, thermal and rotational evolution of isolated neutron stars

    José A. Pons🇪🇸 · Clara Dehman🇪🇸 · Daniele Viganò

    The strong magnetic fields of neutron stars are closely linked to their observed thermal, spectral, and timing properties, such as the distribution of spin periods and their derivatives. To understand the evolution of astrophysical observables over time, it is essential to develop robust theoretical frameworks and numerical models that solve the coupled thermal and magnetic field evolution equations, incorporating detailed microphysics such as thermal and electrical conductivities and neutrino emission rates. These efforts are key to uncovering how the strength and geometry of magnetic fields change with age, ultimately shedding light on the diverse phenomenology of neutron stars. In this review, we outline the fundamental theory underlying magneto-thermal evolution models, with an emphasis on numerical methods and a comprehensive set of benchmark tests intended to guide current and future code development. We revisit established results from axisymmetric simulations, highlight recent progress in fully three-dimensional models, and offer a perspective on the anticipated developments in this rapidly evolving field.

    ↳ astro-ph.HEastro-ph.IMgr-qchep-ph+1Liv.Rev.Comput.Astrophys.(2026)·11 citations
47. 47*

    Three-Loop Gauge Beta Functions in Supersymmetric Theories with Exponential Higher Covariant Derivative Regularization

    Swapnil kumar Singh🇮🇳

    We study the three-loop gauge $\beta$-functions in general $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmetric gauge theories regularized by higher covariant derivatives (HCD) supplemented with Pauli--Villars subtraction. The all-structure three-loop form of the $\beta$-functions in the HCD framework is known and involves regulator-dependent parameters. Here we evaluate these parameters explicitly for the exponential regulators $R(x)=e^{x^n}$ and $F(x)=e^{x^m}$. We obtain the constants $A(n)$ and $B(m)$ in closed form, together with their large-$n,m$ asymptotics, and substitute them into the general three-loop expressions. This yields fully explicit, regulator-parameterized $\beta$-functions and a systematic expansion in $1/n$ and $1/m$ that organizes finite, scheme-dependent terms. We then exhibit finite coupling redefinitions that map the renormalized $\overline{\mathrm{DR}}$ result to a scheme compatible with the Novikov--Shifman--Vainshtein--Zakharov relation. Our analysis clarifies how exponential higher-derivative regulators preserve this relation at the bare level and illustrates the regulator-driven structure of supersymmetric renormalization group flows.

    ↳ hep-thhep-ph2 citations
48. 48*

    Constraints on Dark Matter Models from Supermassive Black Hole Evolution

    John Ellis🇨🇭 · Malcolm Fairbairn🇬🇧 · Juan Urrutia🇪🇪 · Ville Vaskonen🇪🇪

    A semi-analytical model for the evolution of galaxies and supermassive black holes (SMBHs) within the $\Lambda$CDM paradigm has been shown to yield stellar mass-BH mass relations that reproduce both the JWST and pre-JWST observations. Either fuzzy or warm dark matter (FDM or WDM) would suppress the formation of the smaller galactic halos that play important roles in the CDM fit to the high-redshift SMBH data. Our analysis of the stellar mass-BH mass relation disfavours FDM fields with masses $<2.0\times 10^{-20}$ eV and WDM particles with masses $<7.2$ keV, both at the 95 % confidence level.

    ↳ astro-ph.COastro-ph.HEhep-exhep-phPRL(2026)·5 citations
49. 49*

    Exact solution of the DeWitt-Brehme-Hobbs equation in copropagating electromagnetic and gravitational waves

    Giulio Audagnotto🇩🇪 · Antonino Di Piazza🇺🇸

    An accelerated charge interacts with its own electromagnetic field, a phenomenon known as electromagnetic radiation reaction. The DeWitt-Brehme-Hobbs (DWBH) equation describes the motion of a charged mass in the presence of combined electromagnetic and gravitational fields, taking into account electromagnetic radiation-reaction effects. Here, we find the first exact analytical solution of the DWBH equation in the case of a charged mass in the presence of copropagating and otherwise arbitrary electromagnetic and gravitational plane waves. As a consequence of the Penrose limit, the scenario considered here can be seen as a local limit around ultrarelativistic trajectories in a general curved spacetime. Finally, the paradigmatic example of an electromagnetic wave in the presence of a constant-amplitude gravitational wave is worked out explicitly and it is shown how the presence of the gravitational wave can qualitatively change electromagnetic radiation-reaction effects.

    ↳ gr-qchep-phPRD(2026)·0 citations
50. 50*

    Fermi Geometry of the Higgs Sector

    Nathaniel Craig🇺🇸 · I-Kwan Lee🇺🇸 · Yu-Tse Lee🇺🇸

    We develop the field space geometry of scalar-fermion effective field theories as a vector bundle supermanifold. We further establish a Fermi normal coordinate system on the bundle that clarifies the geometric content in scattering amplitudes, particularly the imprints of field space non-analyticities. Specializing to the Standard Model Higgs sector, we examine the geometric consequences of custodial symmetry violation, including implications for the physical Higgs field as a distinguished scalar axis and deformations in the fermionic sector. Our results enable a systematic and realistic geometric interpretation of Higgs sector phenomenology.

    ↳ hep-thhep-phJHEP(2026)·5 citations

* Reconstructed cohort: no mailing for this day survives in the archive. Papers are grouped by their submission times and arXiv's announcement cut-off, assuming announcement without delay; positions follow identifier order. Validated at ~91% exact-day agreement against the archived era.