Scientific Series

We propose models of symmetric WIMP dark matter in which dark matter annihilations generate the baryon asymmetry. We call this mechanism "WIMPy baryogenesis". This provides a dynamical connection between the late-time abundances of both dark matter and baryons. We construct explicit models of leptogenesis and baryogenesis at the weak scale, and find the "miraculous" result that, for order one couplings and weak scale masses for any new fields, the baryon asymmetry and dark matter relic density from WIMPy baryogenesis match the observed values. We also discuss implications for the LHC and dark matter detection experiments.

General relativity is a covariant theory of two transverse, traceless graviton degrees of freedom. According to a theorem of Hojman, Kuchar, and Teitelboim, modifications of general relativity must either introduce new degrees of freedom or violate the principle of general covariance. In my talk, I will discuss modifications of general relativity that retain the same number of gravitational degrees of freedom, and therefore explicitly break general covariance. Motivated by cosmology, the modifications of interest maintain spatial covariance. Demanding consistency of the theory forces the physical Hamiltonian density to obey an analogue of the renormalization group equation, which encodes the invariance of the theory under flow through the space of conformally equivalent spatial metrics.

Weak topological insulators have an even number of Dirac cones in their surface spectrum and are thought to be unstable to disorder, which leads to an insulating surface. Here we argue that the presence of disorder alone will not localize the surface states, rather, the presence of a time-reversal symmetric mass term is required for localization. Through numerical simulations, we show that in the absence of the mass term the surface always flow to a stable metallic phase and the conductivity obeys a one-parameter scaling relation, just as in the case of a strong topological insulator surface. With the inclusion of the mass, the transport properties of the surface of a weak topological insulator follow a two-parameter scaling form.

The LHC has just concluded this year's proton-proton run at 7 TeV CM energy, producing more than 5fb-1of data. While the full data sample collected by the CMS experiment will be analyzed over the winter, many of the present searches for new physics have been completed with 1-2 fb-1. In this talk we will present the most recent updates on the search analyses in CMS, including the Higgs search, searches for supersymmetry, and a plethora of other BSM models, such as extra dimensions, Z's, W_R, leptoquarks, and more. We'll also show the short-term and longer-term plans of the collider and experiments.

Taking String Theory as a ``theoretical laboratory'', I will present handy expressions for bosonic and fermionic (SUSY) higher-spin Noether currents. I will also describe a class of non-local higher-spin Lagrangian couplings that are generically required by the Noether procedure starting from four-points. The construction clarifies the origin of old problems for these systems and links String Theory to some aspects of Field Theory that go beyond its conventional low energy limit. I will finally discuss how the extension of these results to (A)dS brings about the emergence of minimal-like couplings from higher-derivative ones.

In inflationary theories, single field models are typically considered subject to slow-roll conditions. In this talk I will present current observational constraints on deviations from slow-roll, e.g. bounds coming from strong coupling considerations, scale-dependent non-Gaussianities and the tensor-to-scalar ratio. These constraints still allow significant violations of slow-roll conditions. Focusing on non-Gaussian signals, I will discuss a variety of intriguing observable signatures that can be found for fast-rolling single fields.

Problematic growths of curvature and anisotropy are found in nonsingular bouncing cosmologies that include both an ekpyrotic phase and a bouncing phase. Classically, initial curvature and anisotropy that are suppressed during the ekpyrotic phase will grow back exponentially during the nonsingular bouncing phase. Besides, curvature and shear perturbations are generated by quantum fluctuations during the ekpyrotic phase. In the bouncing phase, an adiabatic curvature perturbation grows to dominate and gives rise to a blue spectrum that spoils the scale-invariance. Meanwhile, a scalar shear perturbation grows nonlinear and creates an overwhelming anisotropy that disrupts the nonsingular bounce altogether. We examine the common origin of these problems and discuss possible ways to avoid them.

Besides their experimental relevance in condensed matter and quantum information science, quantum spin systems are an interesting playground to study decoherence and quantum entanglement. Random matrices are used since the 50' to model quantum chaotic dynamics and complex quantum systems. I introduce new random matrix models which lead to explicit solutions for some simple open or closed quantum spin systems. They allow to probe the various dynamical regimes of decoherence and the emergence of the classical phase space for the spin, in particular in the non-Markovian regimes where no master equations are available.

In this talk I will provide evidence supporting the Dolan/Nirschl/Osborn conjecture for the precise form of the amplitude of four-point functions of 1/2-BPS operators in N=4 SYM theory at strong coupling and in the large N limit. I will also discuss the methods that allowed the evaluation of amplitudes involving operators of arbitrary conformal dimension.

Quantum theory can be thought of as a noncommutative generalization of Bayesian probability theory, but for the analogy to be convincing, it should be possible to describe inferences among quantum systems in a manner that is independent of the causal relationship between those systems. In particular, it should be possible to unify the treatment of two kinds of inferences: (i) from beliefs about one system to beliefs about another, for instance, in the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen or "quantum steering" phenomenon, and (ii) from beliefs about a system at one time to beliefs about that same system at another time, for instance, in predictions or retrodictions about a system undergoing dynamical evolution or undergoing a measurement. I will present a formalism that achieves such a unification by making use of "conditional quantum states", a noncommutative generalization of conditional probabilities. I argue for causal neutrality by drawing a comparison with a classical statistical theory with an epistemic restriction. (Joint work with Matthew Leifer).

The talk consists of two parts: (1) Quasi-single inflation, where the isocurvature direction has mass of order Hubble parameter. This part is based on 0911.3380 and new results about higher mass, and a sharp turn in trajectory. (2) Multi-stream inflation, where the inflationary trajectory bifurcates. This part is based on 0903.2123, 1006.5021 and a on-going project on calculating the bifurcation probability in a complicated landscape.

We report on our recent progress to investigate materials classes exhibiting d+id superconductivity, where topologically nontrivial pairing phases can emerge. Specifically, motivated by recent experimental progress, we show that graphene doped to the van Hove regime can give rise to a plethora of interesting ordering instabilities such as spin density wave and superconductivity. As a function of system parameters such as doping and range of Coulomb interaction, we explain which instability is favored by the system, and analyze the effect of long-range interactions on superconductivity giving rise to a competition between singlet d+id and triplet f wave. We also outline our work in progress for other materials classes which we believe are promising to stabilize such interesting topological superconducting states of matter.