Can the nearly conformal sextet gauge model hide the Higgs impostor
New results are reported from large scale lattice simulations of a frequently discussed strongly interacting gauge theory with a fermion flavor doublet in the two-index symmetric (sextet) representation of the SU(3) color gauge group. We find that the chiral condensate and the mass spectrum of the sextet model are consistent with chiral symmetry breaking in the limit of vanishing fermion mass. In contrast, sextet fermion mass deformations of spectral properties are not consistent with leading conformal scaling behavior near the critical surface of a conformal theory. A recent paper could not resolve the conformal fixed point of the gauge coupling from the slowly walking scenario of a very small nearly vanishing β -function (DeGrand et al.  ). It is argued that overall consistency with our new results is resolved if the sextet model is close to the conformal window, staying outside with a very small non-vanishing β -function. The model would exhibit then the simplest composite Higgs mechanism leaving open the possibility of a light scalar state with quantum numbers of the Higgs impostor. It would emerge as the pseudo-Goldstone dilaton state from spontaneous symmetry breaking of scale invariance. We will argue that even without association with the dilaton, the scalar Higgs-like state can be light very close to the conformal window. A new Higgs project of sextet lattice simulations is outlined to resolve these important questions.

title: Twelve massless flavors and three colors below the conformal window
abstract: We report new results for a frequently discussed gauge theory with twelve fermion flavors in the fundamental representation of the SU(3) color gauge group. The model, controversial with respect to its conformality, is important in non-perturbative studies searching for a viable composite Higgs mechanism Beyond the Standard Model (BSM). To resolve the controversy, we subject the model to opposite hypotheses inside and outside of the conformal window. In the first hypothesis we test chiral symmetry breaking ( SB) with its Goldstone spectrum, F , the SB condensate, and several composite hadron states as the fermion mass is varied in a limited range with our best e ort to control finite volume e ects and extrapolation to the massless chiral limit. Supporting results for SB from the running coupling based on the force between static sources and some preliminary evidence for the finite temperature transition are also presented. In the second test for the alternate hypothesis we probe conformal behavior driven by a single anomalous mass dimension under the assumption of unbroken chiral symmetry. Our results show a very low level of confidence in the conformal scenario. Staggered lattice fermions with stout-suppressed taste breaking are used throughout the simulations.

title: The sextet gauge model, light Higgs, and the dilaton
abstract: The frequently discussed strongly interacting gauge theory with a fermion flavor doublet in the two-index symmetric (sextet) representation of the SU(3) color gauge group is investigated \cite{Fodor:2012ty}. The chiral condensate and the mass spectrum are consistent with chiral symmetry breaking at vanishing fermion mass. In contrast, sextet fermion mass deformations of spectral properties are not consistent with leading conformal scaling behavior near the critical surface of a conformal theory. A recent paper \cite{DeGrand:2012yq} which could not resolve the conformal fixed point of the gauge coupling from the slowly walking scenario of a very small nearly vanishing \beta -function is not in conflict with chiral symmetry breaking reported here. A light Higgs impostor could emerge as the dilaton from spontaneous symmetry breaking of scale invariance or, without the dilaton mechanism, as a composite state.

title: Conformal finite size scaling of twelve fermion flavors
abstract: Extended simulation results and their analysis are reported in a strongly coupled gauge theory with twelve fermion flavors in the fundamental SU(3) color representation. The conformality of the model is probed using mass deformed conformal finite size scaling (FSS) theory driven by the fermion mass anomalous dimension. Two independent conformal FSS fitting procedures are used in the analysis. The first one deploys physics motivated scaling functions, complemented by a second fitting procedure with spline based general B-forms for the scaling functions. The results at fixed gauge coupling show unresolved problems with the conformal hypothesis.

title: The Chiral Phase Transition from Lattice QCD with Physical Pion Masses and Domain Wall Fermions
abstract: The HotQCD collaboration has extended its study of the finite temperature transition in 2+1 flavor QCD using domain wall fermions (DWF) to the physical point. With chiral fermions and truly physical pion masses, these calculations are arguably the most realistic of their kind to date, and not possible without a combination of algorithmic advances (chiefly the dislocation suppressing determinant ratio, DSDR), highly optimized BAGEL/CPS software, and access to the LLNL/IBM 20 Petaflops Sequoia Blue Gene/Q. All results are for a fixed temporal lattice size of 8, yet discretization effects, at least for the spectrum at zero temperature, are expected to be at the 5% level. Presented here are early results – in particular, the critical temperature and pion mass dependence of the light quark chiral susceptibility.

title: Lattice QCD thermodynamics in the presence of the charm quark
abstract: We present an update on the 2 + 1 flavor QCD equation of state of the Wuppertal–Budapest Collaboration, extending our previous studies to finer lattice spacings and providing a continuum extrapolation of the trace anomaly. A Symanzik improved gauge and a stout-link improved staggered fermion action is utilized. We also present preliminary results for the fully dynamical charmed equation of state.

title: Terahertz Radiation as a Bunch Diagnostic for Laser‐Wakefield‐Accelerated Electron Bunches
abstract: Experimental results are reported on the temporal and spectral characterization of coherent terahertz (THz) radiation. The radiation is emitted by relativistic electron bunches, which in turn are produced by a laser‐driven plasma‐based accelerator. As the femtosecond electron bunches exit the plasma‐vacuum interface, coherent transition radiation (at THz frequencies) is emitted. Measuring the properties of this radiation allows characterization of the electron bunches. Theoretical work on the emission mechanism is presented, including a model that calculates the THz waveform from a given bunch profile. It is found that the spectrum of the THz pulse is coherent up to the 200‐μm‐thick ZnTe detection limit of 4 THz, which corresponds to the production of sub‐50 fs (root‐mean‐square) electron bunch structure. The measurements demonstrate both the shot‐to‐shot stability of bunch parameters that are critical to THz emission (such as total charge and bunch length), as well as femtosecond synchronization between ...

title: Undulator radiation from laser-plasma-accelerated electron beams
abstract: Recent experiments coupled electron beams from the LOASIS TREX laser plasma accelerator (LPA) [1, 2, 3] to the Tapered Hybrid Undulator (THUNDER). Using the 1.5m, 66 period undulator, followed by an XUV spectrometer, spontaneous radiation was observed at photon energies extending to 100 eV. Previous experiments have reported visible  and soft-x-ray  radiation. The purpose of our experiments is to do highly precise, single shot diagnostics of the energy spread and emittance for each electron beam. We present recent results including measurements of electron beam transport through the undulator with and without the use of permanent magnetic quadrapoles, and measurements of XUV spectra up to 100 eV from LPA produced e-beams.

title: Radiative damping and electron beam dynamics in plasma-based accelerators.
abstract: The effects of radiation reaction on electron beam dynamics are studied in the context of plasma-based accelerators. Electrons accelerated in a plasma channel undergo transverse betatron oscillations due to strong focusing forces. These oscillations lead to emission by the electrons of synchrotron radiation, with a corresponding energy loss that affects the beam properties. An analytical model for the single particle orbits and beam moments including the classical radiation reaction force is derived and compared to the results of a particle transport code. Since the betatron amplitude depends on the initial transverse position of the electron, the resulting radiation can increase the relative energy spread of the beam to significant levels (e.g., several percent). This effect can be diminished by matching the beam into the channel, which could require micron sized beam radii for typical values of the beam emittance and plasma density.

title: Quasi-matched propagation of high-intensity, ultra-short laser pulses in plasma channels
abstract: The propagation of a short and intense laser pulse in a plasma channel is investigated through the nonlinear paraxial wave equation. An analytic condition describing quasi-matched laser propagation (i.e., when the second order normalized-intensity-weighted transverse moment of the laser-pulse remain constant) is obtained. For any arbitrary temporal laser pulse profile and any prescribed transverse density profile in the channel, we determine the laser intensity distribution along the pulse, i.e., the slice-dependent laser waist, ensuring quasi-matched propagation. For the case of a Gaussian laser with an initially uniform spot throughout the pulse, we determine the optimal channel depth that minimizes spot size oscillations. The analytical and semi-analytical results obtained for both cases are validated through comparison with numerical simulations.

title: ACCURATE ALIGNMENT OF PLASMA CHANNELS BASED ON LASER CENTROID OSCILLATIONS
abstract: A technique has been developed to accurately align a laser beam through a plasma channel by minimizing the shift in laser centroid and angle at the channel outptut. If only the shift in centroid or angle is measured, then accurate alignment is provided by minimizing laser centroid motion at the channel exit as the channel properties are scanned. The improvement in alignment accuracy provided by this technique is important for minimizing electron beam pointing errors in laser plasma accelerators.