3 research outputs found
Shedding Light on the Dark Sector with Direct WIMP Production
A Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) provides an attractive dark
matter candidate, and should be within reach of the next generation of
high-energy colliders. We consider the process of direct WIMP pair-production,
accompanied by an initial-state radiation photon, in electron-positron
collisions at the proposed International Linear Collider (ILC). We present a
parametrization of the differential cross section for this process which
conveniently separates the model-independent information provided by cosmology
from the model-dependent inputs from particle physics. As an application, we
consider two simple models, one supersymmetric, and another of the "universal
extra dimensions" (UED) type. The discovery reach of the ILC and the expected
precision of parameter measurements are studied in each model. In addition, for
each of the two examples, we also investigate the ability of the ILC to
distinguish between the two models through a shape-discrimination analysis of
the photon energy spectrum. We show that with sufficient beam polarization the
alternative model interpretation can be ruled out in a large part of the
relevant parameter space.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figure
The role of polarized positrons and electrons in revealing fundamental interactions at the Linear Collider
The proposed International Linear Collider (ILC) is well-suited for discovering physics beyond the Standard Model and for precisely unraveling the structure of the underlying physics. The physics return can be maximized by the use of polarized beams. This report shows the paramount role of polarized beams and summarizes the benefits obtained from polarizing the positron beam, as well as the electron beam. The physics case for this option is illustrated explicitly by analyzing reference reactions in different physics scenarios. The results show that positron polarization, combined with the clean experimental environment provided by the linear collider, allows to improve strongly the potential of searches for new particles and the identification of their dynamics, which opens the road to resolve shortcomings of the Standard Model. The report also presents an overview of possible designs for polarizing both beams at the ILC, as well as for measuring their polarization