Hep-Ph explores the fundamental forces that govern how particles interact and behave at the smallest scales imaginable. This field bridges the gap between theoretical predictions and experimental reality, helping scientists understand the building blocks of our universe without getting lost in complex mathematics. Whether investigating the Higgs boson or searching for new physics beyond current models, these studies push the boundaries of human knowledge about matter and energy.

At Gist.Science, we process every new preprint in this category as soon as it appears on arXiv. We strip away the dense jargon to offer both accessible plain-language explanations and detailed technical summaries, ensuring that groundbreaking research is understandable to everyone from students to seasoned experts. Below are the latest papers in this dynamic field, ready for you to explore with clarity and depth.

⚛️ phenomenology

Novel Constraints on Spin-Dependent Light Dark Matter Scattering

This paper utilizes the SNO experiment's sensitivity to neutral current signals and CANDU reactor production mechanisms to derive novel constraints on MeV-scale spin-dependent dark matter, excluding cross sections above 10−33 cm210^{-33}\,{\rm cm}^{2} for masses up to 1.5 MeV and setting tighter limits of ∼10−37 cm2\sim 10^{-37}\,{\rm cm}^{2} via solar interactions.

Alexander Clarke, Maxim Pospelov2026-04-10
⚛️ phenomenology

Scalars at the Cosmological Collider: Full Shapes of Tree Diagrams and Bispectrum Searches using Planck Data

This paper provides a unified derivation of the full bispectrum shapes for single, double, and triple exchange processes involving massive scalars in the Cosmological Collider framework and reports a null result from Planck data, while identifying a 1.5σ\sigma hint of non-Gaussianity in an extended scenario featuring a scalar chemical potential that allows for on-shell production of super-Hubble mass particles.

Soubhik Kumar, Qianshu Lu, Zhong-Zhi Xianyu, Yisong Zhang2026-04-10
⚛️ phenomenology

Axion-like Particles and Lepton Flavor Violation in Muonic Atoms

This paper investigates the potential for the Mu2e experiment to detect lepton-flavor-violating μ−e−→e−e−\mu^- e^- \to e^- e^- transitions in muonic atoms mediated by axion-like particles, concluding that while light mediators can parametrically enhance the rate, stringent constraints from electron anomalous magnetic moments and other flavor-violating processes severely limit the observable branching ratio to at most O(10−20)\mathcal{O}(10^{-20}), making the upcoming Mu3e experiment the most promising probe for the viable parameter space.

Girish Kumar, Alexey A. Petrov2026-04-10
⚛️ phenomenology

Lecture notes on Machine Learning applications for global fits

This paper presents a comprehensive framework for accelerating high-energy physics global fits by employing Machine Learning surrogates, specifically Boosted Decision Trees trained via active learning, to approximate log-likelihood functions and efficiently explore parameter spaces, as demonstrated by an application to the B±→K±ννˉB^\pm \to K^\pm \nu \bar{\nu} anomaly and Axion-Like Particles at Belle II.

Jorge Alda2026-04-10
⚛️ phenomenology

Multi Component Dark Matter in a Minimal Model

This paper proposes a minimal multi-component dark matter model featuring two singlet fermions and a singlet scalar coupled via a Higgs portal, demonstrating that a viable parameter space exists where the loop-suppressed fermions constitute the dominant relic density while evading direct detection limits, and the tree-level interacting scalar provides a subdominant contribution that remains consistent with current experimental bounds.

Karim Ghorbani2026-04-10
⚛️ phenomenology

Oblique Shocks at Supernova Remnants in Massive Star Clusters: A Model for the Cosmic-Ray Knee Observed by LHAASO

This paper proposes that oblique shocks within massive star clusters, driven by combined supernova and collective wind interactions, serve as a unified mechanism to accelerate cosmic rays to multi-PeV energies, successfully reproducing the all-particle spectrum and rigidity-dependent knee observed by LHAASO while predicting detectable gamma-ray and neutrino emissions.

Luana N. Padilha, Rita C. Anjos2026-04-10