Comparing the Efficacy of SMS Prediction to That of a More Complex Supersymmetric Framework

ORAL

Abstract

Supersymmetric models provide explanations for the relic abundance of dark matter, resolve the higgs boson hierarchy problem, and predict that gauge couplings will unify at high energies. It also predicts a new particle for each Standard Model (SM) particle. Considering the number of states these models predict, there can be more than 100 free parameters in a supersymmetric theory. To facilitate experimental investigation, these theories are often constrained by allowing only a few masses to vary and assuming new states decay through a single process limiting the predicted particles that can be generated by an event. A relevant example of this is the Simplified Model Spectra (SMS) used in many predictions tested by the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment. In this work, we present a study testing the robustness of assumptions made by CMS in producing mass exclusion limits of superpartners using SMS. Using a theoretical framework published in 2020, we computed the expected limits of neutralinos and charginos, and those from the SMS assumptions in order to see how robust the CMS results are with respect to different parameterizations of superpartners' properties. We elected to focus on a high energy diboson jet plus missing energy search, as it is a distinct final state that is rarely seen in SM interactions. Our data showed that, while the comparison to the median expected limit was not a significant improvement, the upper limit was greatly improved compared to the SMS predictions, improving by around four orders of magnitude. This leads us to the conclusion that, at the very least, it may be worthwhile to apply a more complex framework to the situation.

Presenters

  • Elizabeth Wibert

    Texas Tech University

Authors

  • Elizabeth Wibert

    Texas Tech University

  • Julian Sewell

    Texas Tech University

  • Vinay Hedge

    Texas Tech University

  • Andrew Whitbeck

    Fermilab