The equivalence principle has proven to be central to theories of gravity, with General Relativity being the simplest and most elegant theory to embody the principle. Most alternative theories of gravity struggle to satisfy the principle and still be distinct from GR. Extensions of cosmological and quantum theories question the irrefutably of the equivalence at every scale. The possibility of an equivalence principle violation at galactic scales would be an exciting prospect. In this thesis, we will carefully examine the equivalence principle through the study of chameleon scalar-tensor theories, this will include solutions for hypothetical stars known as boson stars. Such theories find varied application, especially in cosmology, where they model dark energy and inflation. The AWE hypothesis, is an instance of this. It is a nonuniversally coupled model in which violations of the equivalence principle on galactic scales may be apparent. We investigate spherically symmetric and static solutions within the framework of this theory. The constraints obtained from galactic rotation curves results in values of the couplings that show no significant violation of the equivalence principle or values consistent with a theory of dark energy

A search for displaced photons from exotic decays of the Higgs boson is presented, specifically targeting the relatively weak constraints on the branching ratio of Higgs boson decays to invisible particles imposed by other searches. 139 fb⁻¹ of 𝑝-𝑝 collision data at center-of-mass energy √𝑠 = 13 TeV, collected between 2015 and 2018, is analyzed. Exploiting the excellent timing performance and longitudinal segmentation of the ATLAS electromagnetic calorimeter, the photon arrival time and extrapolation to the beam axis, or pointing, can be used to extract the displaced photon signature from Standard Model background processes. The background photon timing and pointing distributions are predicted using carefully constructed, data-derived templates. Signal contributions are analyzed in the context of a Gauge-Mediated Supersymmetry Breaking model in which the Higgs boson decays into two, long-lived next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle neutralinos, which each subsequently decay into a photon and a gravitino. Agreement with background is observed with no significant excesses for any signal models considered. Limits at the 95% confidence level are placed on the branching ratio of the Higgs boson to two neutralinos in the context of the various signal models.

A search for Higgs boson pairs produced in the decay of high mass exotic resonances is presented. The search uses the bb̄bb̄ final state, analyzing 139 fb⁻¹ of proton–proton collision data at √s = 13 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector. Spin-0 and spin-2 benchmark signal models are considered and no significant deviation from the Standard Model prediction is observed. The search is combined with a complementary analysis for lower mass resonances to set upper limits on the production cross-section times HH branching ratio of new resonances in the mass range of 251 GeV to 5 TeV. In addition, the methodology for the in-situ calibration of a novel double-b-tagging algorithm (Xbb2020) using gluon to bb̄ decays is presented. Preliminary scale factors for Monte-Carlo simulation are computed using 139 fb⁻¹ of √s = 13 TeV pp collision data collected with the ATLAS detector. The completed calibration will allow the Xbb2020 algorithm to be used in future ATLAS searches for H → bb̄ decays.

This work presents the search for Dark Matter particles associated with the Higgs Boson decaying into a b b-bar quark pair. The dark matter search result is based on proton-proton collision data collected at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV by the ATLAS detector during Run II. The results are interpreted in the context of a simplified model (Z’-2HDM) which describes the interaction of dark matter and standard model particles via new heavy mediator particles. The new powerful Higgs tagging techniques, which exploit the jet substructure and heavy flavor information to a large extent, are developed to improve the search sensitivity of the search. The target physics signals are signature with an optimized search region and interpreted with background estimation result statistically.

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Orientador: Juan Carlos Montero Garcia / Banca: Alex Gomes Dias / Banca: João dos Anjos / Banca: Marcelo Moraes Guzzo / Banca: Rogério Rosenfeld / Resumo: Nesta tese, partículas tais como áxions, Májorons e neutrinos são consideradas em duas extensões eletrofracas do modelo padrão da física de partículas. Especificamente, os modelos considerados estão baseados nas simetrias de gauge SU(3)L ⊗ U(1)X eSU(2)L ⊗U(1)Y⊗U(1)B−L. Primeiramente, no contexto do modelo 3-3-1 com um sector escalar mínimo é realizado um estudo detalhado referente à implementção da simetria de Peccei-Quinn (PQ) para resolver o problema CP forte. Para a versão original do modelo, que possui apenas dois tripletos escalares, é mostrado que a Lagrangiana total é invariante sobre uma simetria PQ. No entanto, o áxion não é produzido porque um sub-grupo permanece sem quebrar. Embora, neste caso, o problema CP forte possa ser resolvido, a solução é amplamente desfavorecida porque três quarks não têm massa em todas as ordens da teoria de perturbação. A adição de um terceiro tripleto escalar resolve o problema dos quarks sem massa, mas o áxion que aparece é visível. Para fazer o modelo realístico teremos que modificá-lo. É mostrado que a adição de um singleto escalar junto com uma simetria de gauge discreta ZN é capaz de levar a cabo esta tarefa e proteger o áxion de efeitos da gravidade quântica. Para ter segurançaa que a simetria de gauge discreta que protege o áxion é livre de anomalias, é usada uma versão discreta do mecanismo de Green-Schwarz. A seguir, é considerado um modelo eletrofraco baseado na simetria de gauge SU(2)L ⊗U(1)Y⊗U(1)B−L, no qual temos neutrinos de mão direita com números quânticos exóticos e diferentes. Devido a esta particular caraterística, é possível termos de massa e de Yukawa para os neutrinos, com campos escalares que podem adquirir valores esperados do vácuo (VEVs) pertencendo a escalas de energia... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In this doctoral thesis axions, Majorons and neutrinos are considered into different electro weak extensions of the standar dmodel of the particle physics. Specifically, the two models considered are based on theSU(3)L ⊗U(1)X andSU(2)L⊗U(1)Y⊗ U(1)B−Lgaugesymmetries. Firstly, in the framework of a 3-3-1 model with a minimal scalar sector a detailed study concerning the implementation of the PQ symmetry in order to solve the strong CP problem is made. For the original version of the model, with only two scalar triplets, it is shown that the entire Lagrangian is invariant under a PQ-like symmetry but no axion is produced since aU(1) subgroup remains unbroken. Although in this case the strong CP problem can still be solved, the solution is largely disfavored since three quark states are left massless to all orders in perturbation theory. The addition of a third scalar triplet removes the massless quark states but the resulting axion is visible. In order to become realistic the model must be extended to account for massive quarks and invisible axion. It is shown that the addition of a scalar singlet together with aZN discrete gauge symmetry can successfully accomplish these tasks and protect the axion field against quantum gravitational effects. To make sure that the protecting discrete gauge symmetry is anomaly free, a discrete version of th eGreen-Schwarz mechanism is used. Secondly, an electroweak model based on the gauge symmetrySU(2)L ⊗U(1)Y⊗ U(1)B−L which has right-handed neutrinos with different quantum numbers is considered. Because of this particular feature it is possible to write Yukawa terms, and neutrino mass terms, with scalar fields that can develop VEVs belonging to different energy scales. A detailed study of the scalar and the Yukawa neutrino sectors is made to show that this model is compatible with... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

This PhD thesis presents the measurement of the differential cross section for the production of a Z boson in association with jets in proton-proton collisions taking place at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. A development of a data acquisition (DAQ) system for the Triple-Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detector in view of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector upgrade is also presented.<p><p>The events used for the data analysis were collected by the CMS detector during the year 2012 and constitute a sample of 19:6 fb-& / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

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The Standard Model scalar potential contains a minimum at the Electroweak scale, responsible for the masses of the weak gauge bosons through the Higgs mechanism. However, if the Electroweak minimum is only a local minimum, and there exists a global minimum at a higher energy in the Higgs potential, then in a su ciently old universe we would expect the vacuum expectation value to be at the global minimum. The absence of a global minimum at higher energy is related to the condition that the Higgs self coupling is greater than or equal to zero for all energies. For any model that fails this, we expect new physics to enter before the energy at which the coupling becomes negative. We developed tools to automate the derivation of beta functions for renormalisable gauge theories, and used these to carry out evolution of the renormalisation group equations for the Standard Model and three extensions to the Standard Model | the Standard Model with a fourth generation, the Standard Model with right-handed neutrinos and a Left-Right Symmetric Model. We conclude that of these four models, the Standard Model is the only one in which all the couplings remain perturbative, and in which the Electroweak minimum is a global minimum.

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