Observational bounds on a possible electron-to-proton mass ratio variation and constraints in the lepton-specific 2HDM

• Published in: arXiv.org 2024-07
• Main Authors: Albuquerque, R G, Holanda, R F L, I E T R Mendonça, P S Rodrigues da Silva
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Astronomical models; Confidence intervals; Cosmology; Electroweak interactions (field theory); Galactic clusters; Large scale structure of the universe; Leptons; Parameters; Particle physics; Protons; Red shift; Standard model (particle physics)
• ISSN: 2331-8422

In this work, we test a possible redshift variation of the electron-to-proton mass ratio, \(\mu = m_e/m_p\), directly from galaxy cluster gas mass fraction measurements and type Ia Supernovae observations. Our analysis is completely independent of any cosmological model. Our result reveals no variation of \(\mu\) within 1 \(\sigma\) confidence level. From the point of view of Particle Physics, we can use the precision on these results to constrain the parameter space of models beyond the Standard Model of electroweak interactions. We exemplify this by focusing in a specific Two Higgs Doublet model (2HDM), where the second scalar doublet couples exclusively to leptons. An important parameter in the model concerns the ratio between its vacuum expectation values, defined by \(\tan\beta\). In our approach we can constrain the inverse parameter (cot\(\beta\)) to an optimal value, (tan\(\beta)^{-1}=\) 0.02127 \(\pm\) 0.0029, with the largest vacuum expectation value for 2HDM, \(v_2\), estimated at around 240.033 \(\pm\) 0.21~GeV. Also, by taking into account the \((g-2)_\mu\) discrepancy found between theory and experiment, we can reduce the validity region for this model and establish bounds on the scalar masses, in the light of our findings from galaxy clusters data for \(\mu\). This study contributes valuable insights to the understanding of Particle Physics and Astrophysics interface, establishing a new interplay between data from large scale structure of the Universe and subatomic Physics.