5 research outputs found
Dark Matter in the MSSM
We have recently examined a large number of points in the parameter space of
the phenomenological MSSM, the 19-dimensional parameter space of the
CP-conserving MSSM with Minimal Flavor Violation. We determined whether each of
these points satisfied existing experimental and theoretical constraints. This
analysis provides insight into general features of the MSSM without reference
to a particular SUSY breaking scenario or any other assumptions at the GUT
scale. This study opens up new possibilities for SUSY phenomenology both in
colliders and in astrophysical experiments. Here we shall discuss the
implications of this analysis relevant to the study of dark matter.Comment: 27 pages, 19 figs; Journal version in NJP issue "Focus on Dark Matter
and Particle Physics". Previous version had 26 pages, 19 figures. Text and
some figures have been update
Supersymmetry Without Prejudice at the LHC
The discovery and exploration of Supersymmetry in a model-independent fashion
will be a daunting task due to the large number of soft-breaking parameters in
the MSSM. In this paper, we explore the capability of the ATLAS detector at the
LHC ( TeV, 1 fb) to find SUSY within the 19-dimensional
pMSSM subspace of the MSSM using their standard transverse missing energy and
long-lived particle searches that were essentially designed for mSUGRA. To this
end, we employ a set of k previously generated model points in the
19-dimensional parameter space that satisfy all of the existing experimental
and theoretical constraints. Employing ATLAS-generated SM backgrounds and
following their approach in each of 11 missing energy analyses as closely as
possible, we explore all of these k model points for a possible SUSY
signal. To test our analysis procedure, we first verify that we faithfully
reproduce the published ATLAS results for the signal distributions for their
benchmark mSUGRA model points. We then show that, requiring all sparticle
masses to lie below 1(3) TeV, almost all(two-thirds) of the pMSSM model points
are discovered with a significance in at least one of these 11 analyses
assuming a 50\% systematic error on the SM background. If this systematic error
can be reduced to only 20\% then this parameter space coverage is increased.
These results are indicative that the ATLAS SUSY search strategy is robust
under a broad class of Supersymmetric models. We then explore in detail the
properties of the kinematically accessible model points which remain
unobservable by these search analyses in order to ascertain problematic cases
which may arise in general SUSY searches.Comment: 69 pages, 40 figures, Discussion adde
Cosmic Ray Anomalies from the MSSM?
The recent positron excess in cosmic rays (CR) observed by the PAMELA
satellite may be a signal for dark matter (DM) annihilation. When these
measurements are combined with those from FERMI on the total () flux
and from PAMELA itself on the ratio, these and other results are
difficult to reconcile with traditional models of DM, including the
conventional mSUGRA version of Supersymmetry even if boosts as large as
are allowed. In this paper, we combine the results of a previously
obtained scan over a more general 19-parameter subspace of the MSSM with a
corresponding scan over astrophysical parameters that describe the propagation
of CR. We then ascertain whether or not a good fit to this CR data can be
obtained with relatively small boost factors while simultaneously satisfying
the additional constraints arising from gamma ray data. We find that a specific
subclass of MSSM models where the LSP is mostly pure bino and annihilates
almost exclusively into pairs comes very close to satisfying these
requirements. The lightest in this set of models is found to be
relatively close in mass to the LSP and is in some cases the nLSP. These models
lead to a significant improvement in the overall fit to the data by an amount
dof in comparison to the best fit without Supersymmetry
while employing boosts . The implications of these models for future
experiments are discussed.Comment: 57 pages, 31 figures, references adde
Simplified Models for LHC New Physics Searches
This document proposes a collection of simplified models relevant to the
design of new-physics searches at the LHC and the characterization of their
results. Both ATLAS and CMS have already presented some results in terms of
simplified models, and we encourage them to continue and expand this effort,
which supplements both signature-based results and benchmark model
interpretations. A simplified model is defined by an effective Lagrangian
describing the interactions of a small number of new particles. Simplified
models can equally well be described by a small number of masses and
cross-sections. These parameters are directly related to collider physics
observables, making simplified models a particularly effective framework for
evaluating searches and a useful starting point for characterizing positive
signals of new physics. This document serves as an official summary of the
results from the "Topologies for Early LHC Searches" workshop, held at SLAC in
September of 2010, the purpose of which was to develop a set of representative
models that can be used to cover all relevant phase space in experimental
searches. Particular emphasis is placed on searches relevant for the first
~50-500 pb-1 of data and those motivated by supersymmetric models. This note
largely summarizes material posted at http://lhcnewphysics.org/, which includes
simplified model definitions, Monte Carlo material, and supporting contacts
within the theory community. We also comment on future developments that may be
useful as more data is gathered and analyzed by the experiments.Comment: 40 pages, 2 figures. This document is the official summary of results
from "Topologies for Early LHC Searches" workshop (SLAC, September 2010).
Supplementary material can be found at http://lhcnewphysics.or