Finite SU(N)k unification
We consider N = 1 supersymmetric gauge theories based on the group SU(N)1 × SU(N)2 × ... × SU(N)k with matter content (N,N*,1,...,1)+(1,N,N*,...,1)+ ... +(N*,1,1,...,N) as candidates for the unification symmetry of all particles. In particular we examine to which extent such theories can become finite and we find that a necessary condition is that there should be exactly three families. We discuss further some phenomenological issues related to the cases (N,k) = (3,3), (3,4), and (4,3), in an attempt to choose those theories that can become also realistic. Thus we are naturally led to consider the SU(3)3 model which we first promote to an all-loop finite theory and then we study its additional predictions concerning the top quark mass, Higgs mass and supersymmetric spectrum.

title: Finite unification at all-loops

title: Finite unified theories and the top quark mass
abstract: We present results of a study of two phenomenologically interesting SU (5) supersymmetric Grand Unified models, which are finite to all-loops before spontaneous symmetry breaking. The finiteness conditions provide us with relationships among the Yukawa and gauge couplings at the unification point, which in turn predict a heavy top quark mass (∼ 175 – 190 GeV).

title: Top quark mass predictions from gauge Yukawa unification
abstract: Gauge-Yukawa Unification (GYU) is a renormalization group invariant functional relation among gauge and Yukawa couplings which holds beyond the unification point in Grand Unified Theories (GUTs). Here, GYU is obtained by requiring finiteness and reduction of couplings to all orders in perturbation theory. We examine the consequences of GYU in various supersymmetric GUTs and in particular the predictions for the top quark mass. These predictions are such that they distinguish already GYU from ordinary GUTs. Moreover, when more accurate measurements of the top quark mass are available, it is expected that it will be possible to discriminate among the various GYUs.

title: Finite GUTs within conventional N=1 gauge theories
abstract: Finite Unified Theories (FUTs) are conventional N=1 supersymmetric Grand Unified Theories, which can be made all-loop finite, both in the dimensionless (gauge and Yukawa couplings) and dimensionful (soft supersymmetry breaking terms) sectors. This remarkable property leads to a drastic reduction in the number of free parameters, which in turn leads to an accurate prediction of the top quark mass in the dimensionless sector, and predictions for the Higgs boson mass and the s-spectrum in the dimensionful sector. Among the characteristics of the latter ones are: 1) The lightest Higgs boson mass is predicted to be in the window 120–130 GeV, in case the LSP is neutralino, while in case the LSP is the τ (which can be consistently accommodated in presence of bilinear R-parity violating terms) it can be as light as 111 GeV. 2) The s-spectrum starts above several hundreds of GeV.

title: Conditions for vacuum stability in an S3 extension of the Standard Model
abstract: In this work we study the Higgs sector in the minimal S3 extension of the Standard Model. The S3 extended Standard Model, which has three Higgs doublets fields that belong to the three-dimensional reducible representation of the permutation group S3, has naturally new phenomena: there are several Higgs bosons, charged, neutral and pseuodscalar ones, and more than one potential minimum. We analyzed the stability of the minimal S3 invariant extension of the Higgs potential and show that at tree-level, the potential minimum preserving electric charge and CP symmetries, when it exists, is the global one.

title: Precise measurement of the W-boson mass with the CDF II detector.
abstract: We have measured the W-boson mass M(W) using data corresponding to 2.2  fb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96  TeV with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. Samples consisting of 470,126 W → eν candidates and 624,708 W → μν candidates yield the measurement M(W) = 80,387 ± 12(stat.) ± 15(syst.) = 80,387 ± 19  MeV/c2. This is the most precise measurement of the W-boson mass to date and significantly exceeds the precision of all previous measurements combined.

title: Measurements of direct CP violating asymmetries in charmless decays of strange bottom mesons and bottom baryons.
abstract: We report measurements of direct CP-violating asymmetries in charmless decays of neutral bottom hadrons to pairs of charged hadrons with the upgraded Collider Detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. Using a data sample corresponding to 1 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity, we obtain the first measurements of direct CP violation in bottom strange mesons, A(CP)(B(s)(0)→K(-)π(+))=+0.39±0.15(stat)±0.08(syst), and bottom baryons, A(CP)(Λ(b)(0)→pπ(-))=+0.03±0.17(stat)±0.05(syst) and A(CP)(Λ(b)(0)→pK(-))=+0.37±0.17(stat)±0.03(syst). In addition, we measure CP violation in B(0)→K(+)π(-) decays with 3.5σ significance, A(CP)(B(0)→K(+)π(-))=-0.086±0.023(stat)±0.009(syst), in agreement with the current world average. Measurements of branching fractions of B(s)(0)→K(+)K(-) and B(0)→π(+)π(-) decays are also updated.

title: Measurement of the top quark mass in the dilepton channel using m(T2) at CDF
abstract: We present measurements of the top quark mass using m(T2), a variable related to the transverse mass in events with two missing particles. We use the template method applied to t (t) over bar dilepton events produced in p (p) over bar collisions at Fermilab's Tevatron Collider and collected by the CDF detector. From a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.4 fb(-1), we select 236 t (t) over bar candidate events. Using the m(T2) distribution, we measure the top quark mass to be M-top = 168.0(-4.0)(4.8)(stat) +/- 2.9(syst) GeV/c(2). By combining m(T2) with the reconstructed top quark mass distributions based on a neutrino weighting method, we measure M-top = 169.3 +/- 2.7(stat) +/- 3.2(syst) GeV/c(2). This is the first application of the m(T2) variable in a mass measurement at a hadron collider.

title: Search for Higgs bosons produced in association with b quarks
abstract: We present a search for neutral Higgs bosons φ decaying into bb¯, produced in association with b quarks in ppb¯ collisions. This process could be observable in supersymmetric models with high values of tan β. The event sample corresponds to 2.6 fb-1 of integrated luminosity collected with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. We search for an enhancement in the mass of the two leading jets in events with three jets identified as coming from b quarks using a displaced vertex algorithm. A data-driven procedure is used to estimate the dijet mass spectrum of the nonresonant multijet background. The contributions of backgrounds and a possible Higgs boson signal are determined by a two-dimensional fit of the data, using the dijet mass together with an additional variable which is sensitive to the flavor composition of the three tagged jets. We set mass-dependent limits on σ(ppb¯ = φb) x Β(φ= bb¯) which are applicable for a narrow scalar particle φ produced in association with b quarks. We also set limits on tan β in supersymmetric Higgs models including the effects of the Higgs boson width.

title: Elastic Electroproduction of $\rho$ Mesons at HERA
abstract: The elastic electroproduction of rho mesons is studied at HERA with the H1 detector for a photon virtuality in the range 1 Q^2 60 GeV^2 and for a hadronic centre of mass energy in the range 30 W 140 GeV. The shape of the pipi mass distribution in the rho resonance region is measured as a function of Q^2. The full set of rho spin density matrix elements is determined, and evidence is found for a helicity flip amplitude at the level of 8 +- 3 % of the non-flip amplitudes. Measurements are presented of the dependence of the cross section on Q^2, W and t (the four-momentum transfer squared to the proton). They suggest that, especially at large Q^2, the gamma^*p cross section develops a stronger W dependence than that expected from the behaviour of elastic and total hadron-hadron cross sections.