Gamma(K -> e nu)/Gamma(K -> mu nu) in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the ratio R_K of kaon decay rates into electrons versus muons can reveal lepton-flavour violating effects in the MSSM, providing constraints on supersymmetric parameters through detailed loop calculations.

Contribution

It offers a detailed analysis of MSSM contributions to R_K, including non-approximate calculations involving stau mixing and explores potential destructive interference effects.

Findings

MSSM can enhance R_K via LFV parameters like delta_{RR}^{13}.

The bino-stau loop dominates the MSSM contribution in the probed parameter space.

A significant deviation of R_K below the SM prediction would suggest physics beyond MSSM.

Abstract

The quantity R_K = Gamma(K -> e nu)/Gamma(K -> mu nu) studied by the experiment NA62 at CERN is known to probe lepton-flavour violating (LFV) parameters of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). A non-zero parameter delta_{RR}^{13} can open the decay channel K -> e nu_tau and enhance R_K over its Standard-Model value. In the region of the parameter space probed by NA62 the contribution from a bino-stau loop diagram is numerically dominant and the mixing between left-handed and right-handed staus is important. For large values of the stau mixing angle theta_tau the commonly adopted mass insertion approximation is not accurate. We therefore express the supersymmetric contribution to R_K in terms of the mass of the lightest stau eigenstate, the mixing angle theta_tau, and other relevant MSSM parameter such as tan(beta) and the charged-Higgs boson mass M_H and plot the parameter regions constrained by R_K. We further study to which extent R_K can be depleted through MSSM contributions interfering destructively with the SM amplitude for K -> e nu_e. This lepton-flavour conserving (LFC) mechanism involves the parameter combination |delta_{LL}^{13} delta_{RR}^{13}|, which can be constrained with a naturalness consideration for the electron mass or with the measurement of the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron. The LFC effect on R_K is marginal, an NA62 measurement of R_K significantly below the Standard Model expectation would indicate physics beyond the MSSM.