Experiments on neutrino oscillations have confirmed that neutrinos have small, but non-zero masses, and that the interacting neutrino states do not have definite masses, but are mixtures of such states.The seesaw models make up a group of popular models describing the small neutrino masses and the corresponding mixing.In these models, new, heavy fields are introduced and the neutrino masses are suppressed by the ratio between the electroweak scale and the large masses of the new fields. Usually, the new fields introduced have masses far above the electroweak scale, outside the reach of any foreseeable experiments, making these versions of seesaw models essentially untestable. However, there are also so-called low-scale seesaw models, where the new particles have masses above the electroweak scale, but within the reach of future experiments, such as the LHC.In quantum field theories, quantum corrections generally introduce an energy-scale dependence on all their parameters, described by the renormalization group equations. In this thesis, the energy-scale dependence of the neutrino parameters in two low-scale seesaw models, the low-scale type I and inverse seesaw models, are considered. Also, the question of whether the neutrinos are Majorana particles, \ie , their own antiparticles, has not been decided experimentally. Future experiments on neutrinoless double beta decay could confirm the Majorana nature of neutrinos. However, there could also be additional contributions to the decay, which are not directly related to neutrino masses. We have investigated the possible future bounds on the strength of such additional contributions to neutrinoless double beta decay, depending on the outcome of ongoing and planned experiments related to neutrino masses. / QC 20110812

In recent years, there has been a large interest in the subject of extra dimensions in particle physics. In particular, a number of models have been suggested which provide solutions to some of the problems with the current Standard Model of particle physics, and which could be tested in the next generation of high-energy experiments. Among the most important of these models are the large extra dimensions model by Arkani-Hamed, Dimopoulos, and Dvali, the universal extra dimensions model, and models allowing right-handed neutrinos to propagate in the extra dimensions. In this thesis, we study phenomenological aspects of these three models, or simple modifications of them.   The Arkani-Hamed-Dimopoulos-Dvali model attempts to solve the gauge hierarchy problem through a volume suppression of Newton's gravitational constant, lowering the fundamental Planck scale down to the electroweak scale. However, this solution is unsatisfactory in the sense that it introduces a new scale through the radius of the extra dimensions, which is unnaturally large compared to the electroweak scale. It has been suggested that a similar model, with a hyperbolic internal space, could provide a more satisfactory solution to the problem, and we consider the hadron collider phenomenology of such a model.   One of the main features of the universal extra dimensions model is the existence of a potential dark matter candidate, the lightest Kaluza-Klein particle. In the so-called minimal universal extra dimensions model, the identity of this particle is well defined, but in more general models, it could change. We consider the indirect neutrino detection signals for a number of different such dark matter candidates, in a five- as well as a six-dimensional model.   Finally, right-handed neutrinos propagating in extra dimensions could provide an alternative scenario to the seesaw mechanism for generating small masses for the left-handed neutrinos. Since extra-dimensional models are non-renormalizable, the Kaluza-Klein tower is expected to be cut off at some high-energy scale. We study a model where a Majorana neutrino at this cutoff scale is responsible for the generation of the light neutrino masses, while the lower modes of the tower could possibly be observed in the Large Hadron Collider. We investigate the bounds on the model from non-unitarity effects, as well as collider signatures of the model. / QC 20110324

The standard model of particle physics can excellently describe the vast majorityof data of particle physics experiments. However, in its simplest form, it cannot account for the fact that the neutrinos are massive particles and lepton flavorsmixed, as required by the observation of neutrino oscillations. Hence, the standardmodel must be extended in order to account for these observations, opening up thepossibility to explore new and interesting physical phenomena. There are numerous models proposed to accommodate massive neutrinos. Thesimplest of these are able to describe the observations using only a small numberof effective parameters. Furthermore, neutrinos are the only known existing particleswhich have the potential of being their own antiparticles, a possibility that isactively being investigated through experiments on neutrinoless double beta decay.In this thesis, we analyse these simple models using Bayesian inference and constraintsfrom neutrino-related experiments, and we also investigate the potential offuture experiments on neutrinoless double beta decay to probe other kinds of newphysics. In addition, more elaborate theoretical models of neutrino masses have beenproposed, with the seesaw models being a particularly popular group of models inwhich new heavy particles generate neutrino masses. We study low-scale seesawmodels, in particular the resulting energy-scale dependence of the neutrino parameters,which incorporate new particles with masses within the reach of current andfuture experiments, such as the LHC. / Standardmodellen för partikelfysik beskriver den stora majoriteten data från partikelfysikexperimentutmärkt. Den kan emellertid inte i sin enklaste form beskrivadet faktum att neutriner är massiva partiklar och leptonsmakerna är blandande,vilket krävs enligt observationerna av neutrinooscillationer. Därför måste standardmodellenutökas för att ta hänsyn till detta, vilket öppnar upp möjligheten att utforska nya och intressanta fysikaliska fenomen. Det finns många föreslagna modeller för massiva neutriner. De enklaste av dessakan beskriva observationerna med endast ett fåtal effektiva parametrar. Dessutom är neutriner de enda kända befintliga partiklar som har potentialen att vara sinaegna antipartiklar, en möjlighet som aktivt undersöks genom experiment på neutrinolöst dubbelt betasönderfall. I denna avhandling analyserar vi dessa enkla modellermed Bayesisk inferens och begränsningar från neutrinorelaterade experiment och undersöker även potentialen för framtida experiment på neutrinolöst dubbelt betasönderfall att bergänsa andra typer av ny fysik. Även mer avancerade teoretiska modeller för neutrinomassor har föreslagits, med seesawmodeller som en särskilt populär grupp av modeller där nya tunga partiklargenererar neutrinomassor. Vi studerar seesawmodeller vid låga energier, i synnerhetneutrinoparametrarnas resulterande energiberoende, vilka inkluderar nya partiklarmed massor inom räckh°all för nuvarande och framtida experiment såsom LHC. / <p>QC 20130830</p>

The discovery of the Higgs boson by the LHC provided the last piece of the puzzle neces- sary for the Standard Model (SM) to be a successful theory of electroweak scale physics. However there exist various phenomenological reasons which serve as pointer towards the existence of physics beyond the Standard Model. For example the explanation for the smallness of the neutrino mass, baryon asymmetry of the universe, the presence of dark matter and dark energy etc. are not within purview of the Standard Model. Con- ceptual issues like the gauge hierarchy problem, weakness of gravity provide some of the theoretical motivation to pursue theories beyond the SM. We consider scenarios with warped extra-dimensions (Randall-Sundrum (RS) Model ) as our preferred candidate to answer some of the questions raised above. RS model gives an elegant geometric solution to address the hierarchy between the two fundamental scales of nature i.e. Planck scale and electroweak scale. In addition to this, the geometry of RS serves as a useful setup wherein the fermion mass hierarchy problem can also be solved. The goal of this thesis is to investigate whether RS model can be an acceptable theory of avour while at the same time serving as a solution to the hierarchy problem. In Chapter[1] we begin with a brief introduction of the SM, highlighting issues which pro- vides the necessary motivation for constructing new physics models. Various candidates of Beyond Standard Model (BSM) physics are introduced and a few preliminaries es- sential to understand frameworks with additional spatial-dimensions ( at and warped) is provided. In Chapter[2] we specialize to the case of warped extra-dimensions and motivate the need to have the SM elds in the bulk. Mathematical details related to the analysis of various spin elds (0; 12; 1 and 2) in a warped background necessary to understand relevant phenomenology is provided. The lack of knowledge of Dirac or Majorana nature of the neutrino leads to a wide variety of possibilities as far as neutrino mass generation is concerned. In Chapter[3] we focus on the leptonic sector where three cases of neutrino mass generation are consid- ered: a)Planck Scale lepton number violation (LLHH case) b) Dirac neutrinos c) Bulk Majorana mass terms. We then study the implications of each case on the charged lepton mass tting. The case with Planck scale lepton number violation in normal RS scenario requires large and negative values for the bulk mass parameters for the charged singlets cE. Dirac neutrinos and the case with Bulk Majorana mass terms give good t to data. For completeness, the ts for the hadronic sector is provided in the appendix. In Chapter[4] avour violation for each of three cases introduced in Chapter[3] is studied. For the case with Planck scale lepton number violation, the non-perturbative Yukawa coupling between the SM singlets and the KK states render the higher order diagrams incalculable. Lepton avour violation (LFV) is particularly large for the Dirac case and the bulk Majorana case for low Kaluza-Klein(KK) mass scales. We then invoke the ansatz of Minimal Flavour violation to suppress LFV with low lying KK scales and examples of avour group is provided for both cases. In Chapter[5] we present an example with a type II two Higgs doublet model applied to the LLHH case. The setup o ers a solution where LLHH scenario can be consistently realized in RS model, where the masses and mixing angles in the leptonic sector can bet with O(1) choice of bulk parameters. Assumption of global lepton number conservation (like in Dirac neutrinos) could lead to problems in theories of quantum gravity where it does not hold. This leads us to the question whether Dirac neutrinos can be naturally realized in nature. In Chapter[6] we consider the special case of bulk Majorana mass encountered in Chapter[3] where the bulk Dirac mass terms for the right handed neutrino is set to zero. We nd that this leads to a case where the e ective zero mode neutrino mass is of Dirac type with negligible e ects from the tower of Majorana states. In Chapter[7] we consider RS at the GUT scale which no longer serves as a solution to the hierarchy problem. SUSY is introduced in the bulk and the low energy SUSY serves as a solution to the hierarchy problem. Such models serve as a useful alternative to SUSY models with family symmetries (e.g. Froggatt-Nielsen Model). However the solutions to the Yukawa hierarchy problem are constrained due to anomaly cancellation conditions. In Chapter[8] supersymmetry breaking due to radion mediation in addition to brane localized sources is considered and detailed analysis of the running of soft masses and the low energy avour observables is considered for both cases separately. In Chapter[9] we conclude and present future directions.

[pt] Atualmente podemos determinar com grande precisão os parâmetros das massas e misturas dos neutrinos. Porém, mesmo que no futuro as incertezas sobres as medidas destes parâmetros sejam reduzidas considerablemente, talvez algumas questões ainda continuem em aberto, como por exemplo, o valor absoluto da massa dos neutrinos, a hierarquia de massa e também determinar se os neutrinos são de Majorana ou Dirac, e se forem de Majorana, então quais seriam os valores das fases de CP? Nesta tese, nós abordamos parte destas questões estudando a detetabilidade da fase CP de Majorana através das medidas de massa dos neutrinos, que são extraídas de experimentos de decaimento beta, duplo decaimento beta sem neutrinos e observações cosmológicas. Para quantificar a sensibilidade dos experimentos à fase de Majorana, além de usar os gráficos convencionais das regiões permitidas, usamos a função de exclusão, definida como uma fração no espaço de parâmentros CP, que é excluída quando um conjunto de parâmetros de entrada é fornecido. A sensibilidade dos experimentos é considerada quando variamos as incertezas desde o valor mais pessimista até o valor mais optimista e também incluímos o erro experimental devido à matriz de elementos nucleares. Com esta análise, encontramos que a fase de Majorana, denotada como a21, pode ser restringida ao ser excluído o espaço de parâmentros entre um 10 por cento e até 50 por cento, com um nível de confiança de 3o, isto se consideramos que a massa do neutino mais leve é 0.1eV. Também são tratados aspectos característicos da sensibilidade à fase a21, como por exemplo, a dependência à outra fase de Majorana a31. Para finalizar, nós estudamos o caso de se na atualidade, a incerteza do elemento de matriz nuclear pode ser limitado usando as medidas dos mesmos experimentos. / [en] Nowdays we are in a precision epoch where is possible to get accurately the parameters that involve the neutrino physics, however, even that in the future the uncertainties on those parameters will decrease enormously, perhaps still will continue some open question, for instance, what is the absolute mass of neutrinos? What is the hierarchy of the masses? Are the neutrinos Majorana or Dirac? And if they were Majorana, what would be the value of the CP phases? In this work, we studying the detectability of the CP phase through experiments of neutrino beta decay, neutrinoless double beta decay and cosmology. In order to quantify the sensitivity to the Majorana phase we use the CP exlusion fraction, it is a fraction of region of the CP phase, that is excluded for a given set of assumed input parameters. The experiments sensitivity is account when it is varied since the pessimistic to optimistic one, assumptions of the experimental erros, the uncertainty of nuclear matrix elements and all the scenarios are considering with the Normal and Inverted hierarchies. We find that a Majorana phase, the called a21 can be constrained strongly by excluded 10 − 50 per cent of phase space at 3o CL for the lowest neutrino mass of 0.1 eV. The characteristic features of the sensitivity to a21, such as dependences on the other phase a31 are addressed. We also arise the question of whether the uncertainties of nuclear matrix elements could be constrined be consistancy of such measurements.

[pt] Nesta tese estudamos o potencial que terão a próxima geração de detectores de neutrinos (JUNO, Hyper-Kamiokande e DUNE) para a detecção dos efeitos da matéria da Terra através da identificação das modulações no espectro de energia dos neutrinos de supernovas de colapso de núcleo em nossa galáxia, assumindo a possibilidade do decaimiento invisível de v2 após os neutrinos terem deixado a estrela, caminho da Terra. Simulações recentes do colapso gravitacional (e subsequente explosão) de estrelas com massa maior do que ~ 8Mo mostram que durante a fase de esfriamento as energias médias (Eve) e (Evx) tornam-se muito semelhantes e os fluxos tendem a se igualar, tornando difícil observar os efeitos da matéria da Terra usando um único detector. Neste trabalho mostramos que a inclusão do decaimiento dos neutrinos também cria a possibilidade de observar os efeitos em consideração no canal de detecção de neutrinos se o ordenamento de massa for normal e no canal anti-neutrino se o ordenamento for invertido, o que não é esperado na ausência de decaimento. Em particular, se a taxa de decaimento for maior do que ~ 70%, descobrimos que o decaimento invisível de v2 pode aumentar as possibilidades de observação dos efeitos da matéria da Terra, mesmo para supernovas a uma distância de 10 kpc de nós. / [en] In this thesis we studied the potential that the next-generation neutrino detectors (JUNO, Hyper-Kamiokande and DUNE) will have to the detection of the Earth matter effects through the identification of the modulations in the energy spectrum of neutrinos from core-collapse supernovae in our galaxy, assuming the possibility of the invisible decay of v2 after the neutrinos have left the star, on their way to Earth. Recent simulations of gravitational collapse (and subsequent explosion) of stars more massive than ~ 8Mo show that during the cooling phase the average energies (EVe) and (Evx) become very similar and the fluxes tend to equalize, making it difficult to observe the Earth matter effects using a single detector. In this work we show that the inclusion of neutrino decay creates also the possibility of observing the effects under consideration in the neutrino detection channel if the mass ordering is normal and in the anti-neutrino channel if the ordering is inverted, which is not expected in the absence of neutrino decay. In particular, if the decay rate is more than ~ 70%, we find that the invisible neutrino decay of v2 can enhance the observation possibilities of Earth matter effects even for supernovae at a distance of 10 kpc from us.