Explanation of the ATLAS Z-peaked excess by squark pair production in the NMSSM

The ATLAS collaboration recently reported a $3\sigma$ excess in the leptonic-$Z+jets+E_{T}^{miss}$ channel. We intend to interpret this excess by squark pair production in the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM). The decay chain we employ is $\tilde{q} \to q \tilde{\chi}_2^0 \to q \tilde{\chi}_1^0 Z$, where $\tilde{\chi}_1^0$ and $\tilde{\chi}_2^0$ denote the lightest and the next-to-lightest neutralinos with singlino and bino as their dominant components respectively. Our simulations indicate that after considering the constraints from the ATLAS searches for $jets + E_{T}^{miss}$ signal the central value of the excess can be obtained for $m_{\tilde{q}} \lesssim 1.2 {\rm TeV}$, and if the constraint from the CMS on-$Z$ search is further considered, more than 10 signal events are still attainable for $m_{\tilde{q}} \lesssim 750 {\rm GeV}$. Compared with the interpretation by gluino pair production, the squark explanation allows for a significantly wider range of $m_{\tilde{q}}$ as well as a less compressed SUSY mass spectrum. We also show that the squark explanation will be readily tested at the initial stage of the 14 TeV LHC.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figure

Top quark forward-backward asymmetry at the Tevatron: a comparative study in different new physics models

The top quark forward-backward asymmetry A_{FB}^t measured at the Tevatron is above the Standard Model prediction by more than 2-sigma deviation, which might be a harbinger for new physics. In this work we examine the contribution to A_{FB}^t in two different new physics models: one is the minimal supersymmetric model without R-parity (RPV-MSSM) which contributes to A_{FB}^t via sparticle-mediated t-channel process d d_bar-> t t_bar; the other is the third-generation enhanced left-right model (LR model) which contributes to A_{FB}^t via Z'-mediated t-channel or s-channel processes. We find that in the parameter space allowed by the tt_bar production rate and the tt_bar invariant mass distribution at the Tevatron, the LR model can enhance A_{FB}^t to within the 2-sigma region of the Tevatron data for the major part of the parameter space, and in optimal case A_{FB}^t can reach 12% which is slightly below the 1-sigma lower bound. For the RPV-MSSM, only in a narrow part of the parameter space can the \lambda'' couplings enhance A_{FB}^t to within the 2-sigma region while the \lambda' couplings just produce negative contributions to worsen the fit.Comment: Version in PRD (RPV-MSSM lambda" effects added

Explanation of the ATLAS Z-peaked excess in the NMSSM

Recently the ATLAS collaboration reported a $3\sigma$ excess in the leptonic-$Z+jets+E_{T}^{miss}$ channel. This may be interpreted in the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) by gluino pair production with the decay chain $\tilde{g} \to q \bar{q} \tilde{\chi}_2^0 \to q \bar{q} Z \tilde{\chi}_1^0$, where $\tilde{\chi}_1^0$ and $\tilde{\chi}_2^0$ denote the lightest and the next-to-lightest neutralinos with singlino and bino as their dominant components respectively. After exploring the relevant parameter space of the NMSSM by considering the constraints from the ATLAS searches for $jets + E_{T}^{miss}$ signals, we conclude that the NMSSM is able to explain the excess at $1 \sigma$ level with the number of the signal events reaching its measured central value in optimal cases, and the best explanation comes from a compressed spectrum such as $m_{\tilde{g}} \simeq 650 {\rm GeV}$, $m_{\tilde{\chi}_2^0} \simeq 565 {\rm GeV}$ and $m_{\tilde{\chi}_1^0} \simeq 465 {\rm GeV}$. We also check the consistency of the ATLAS results with the null result of the CMS on-$Z$ search. We find that under the CMS limits at $95\%$ C.L., the event number of the ATLAS on-$Z$ signal can still reach 11 in our scenario, which is about $1.2 \sigma$ away from the measured central value.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figure