The twelve-flavor $\boldsymbol{\beta}$-function and dilaton tests of the sextet scalar

TL;DR

This paper investigates the twelve-flavor SU(3) gauge theory's beta function, refutes previous claims of an infrared fixed point, and presents initial dilaton tests of a light scalar in the sextet model, contributing to near-conformal BSM physics.

Contribution

It provides high-precision analysis of the twelve-flavor beta function, challenges prior IRFP claims, and introduces first dilaton tests of the sextet scalar, advancing understanding of near-conformal BSM theories.

Findings

Refutes earlier IRFP evidence in the twelve-flavor beta function.

Challenges claims of non-universal fermion behavior.

Presents initial dilaton test results for the sextet scalar.

Abstract

We discuss near-conformal gauge theories beyond the standard model (BSM) where interesting results on the twelve-flavor $\beta$-function of massless fermions in the fundamental representation of the SU(3) color gauge group and dilaton tests of the light scalar with two massless fermions in the two-index symmetric tensor (sextet) representation can be viewed as parts of the same BSM paradigm under investigation. We report results from high precision analysis of the twelve-flavor $\beta$-function \cite{Fodor:2016zil} refuting its published IRFP \cite{Cheng:2014jba,Hasenfratz:2016dou}. We present our objections to recent claims \cite{Hasenfratz:2017mdh,Hasenfratz:2017qyr} for non-universal behavior of staggered fermions used in our analysis. We also report our first analysis of dilaton tests of the light $0^{++}$ scalar in the sextet model and comment on related post-conference developments. The dilaton test is the main thrust of this conference contribution including presentation #405 on the $n_f=12$ $\beta$-function and presentation #260 on dilaton tests of the sextet model. They are both selected from the near-conformal BSM paradigm.