Precision Measurement of a Particle Mass at the Linear Collider

Precision measurement of the stop mass at the ILC is done in a method based on cross-sections measurements at two different center-of-mass energies. This allows to minimize both the statistical and systematic errors. In the framework of the MSSM, a light stop, compatible with electro-weak baryogenesis, is studied in its decay into a charm jet and neutralino, the Lightest Supersymmetric Particle(LSP), as a candidate of dark matter. This takes place for a small stop-neutralino mass difference.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 3tables, Conference(Workshop)-LCWS/ILC2007-June,2,200

A Method for the Precision Mass Measurement of the Stop Quark at the International Linear Collider

Many supersymmetric models predict new particles within the reach of the next generation of colliders. For an understanding of the model structure and the mechanism(s) of symmetry breaking, it is important to know the masses of the new particles precisely. In this article the measurement of the mass of the scalar partner of the top quark (stop) at an e+e- collider is studied. A relatively light stop is motivated by attempts to explain electroweak baryogenesis and can play an important role in dark matter relic density. A method is presented which makes use of cross-section measurements near the pair-production threshold as well as at higher center-of-mass energies. It is shown that this method not only increases the statistical precision, but also greatly reduces the systematic uncertainties, which can be important. Numerical results are presented, based on a realistic event simulation, for two signal selection strategies: using conventional selection cuts, and using an Iterative Discriminant Analysis (IDA). Our studies indicate that a precision of \Delta\mstop = 0.42 GeV can be achieved, representing a major improvement over previous studies. While the analysis of stops is particularly challenging due to the possibility of stop hadronization, the general procedure could be applied to the mass measurement of other particles as well. We also comment on the potential of the IDA to discover a stop quark in this scenario, and we revisit the accuracy of the theoretical predictions for the neutralino relic densityComment: 41 pages, 14 figures, in JHEP forma

Supersymmetry Without Prejudice at the 7 TeV LHC

We investigate the model independent nature of the Supersymmetry search strategies at the 7 TeV LHC. To this end, we study the missing-transverse-energy-based searches developed by the ATLAS Collaboration that were essentially designed for mSUGRA. We simulate the signals for ~71k models in the 19-dimensional parameter space of the pMSSM. These models have been found to satisfy existing experimental and theoretical constraints and provide insight into general features of the MSSM without reference to a particular SUSY breaking scenario or any other assumptions at the GUT scale. Using backgrounds generated by ATLAS, we find that imprecise knowledge of these estimated backgrounds is a limiting factor in the potential discovery of these models and that some channels become systematics-limited at larger luminosities. As this systematic error is varied between 20-100%, roughly half to 90% of this model sample is observable with significance S>5 for 1 fb^{-1} of integrated luminosity. We then examine the model characteristics for the cases which cannot be discovered and find several contributing factors. We find that a blanket statement that squarks and gluinos are excluded with masses below a specific value cannot be made. We next explore possible modifications to the kinematic cuts in these analyses that may improve the pMSSM model coverage. Lastly, we examine the implications of a null search at the 7 TeV LHC in terms of the degree of fine-tuning that would be present in this model set and for sparticle production at the 500 GeV and 1 TeV Linear Collider.Comment: 51 pages, 26 figure

Comparison of Non-Redundant Array and Double Pinhole Coherence Measurements with Soft X-rays

Experiments on the future Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) and other Free Electron Lasers will need to be performed on a single-shot basis. The double pinhole method of measuring spatial coherence requires a separate measurement, with a different pinhole separation distance, for each length scale sampled. This limits its utility for LCLS. A potential alternative uses a Non-Redundant Array (NRA) of apertures designed to probe the coherence over the range of length scales defined by their physical extent, in a single measurement. This approach was tested by comparing diffraction patterns from soft x-rays incident on double pinhole and NRA absorption mask structures. The double pinhole fringe visibility data serve as discrete reference points that verify the continuous spectrum of the NRA coherence data. The results present a quantitative analysis of the double pinhole coherence measurements and a qualitative comparison to the NRA images

A 3-D model of superfluid helium suitable for numerical analysis

The two-fluid description is a very successful phenomenological representation of the properties of Helium II. A 3-D model suitable for numerical analysis based on the Landau-Khalatnikov description of Helium II is proposed. In this paper we introduce a system of partial differential equations that is both complete and consistent as well as practical, to be used for a 3-D solution of the flow of Helium II. The development of a 3-D numerical model for Helium II is motivated by the need to validate experimental results obtained by observing the normal component velocity distribution in a Helium II thermal counter-flow using the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique

Proposal to study the k+- charge exchange reactions at high energies

An experiment is proposed for measurement of the K{sup {+-}} {yields} K-Long charge-exchange reactions using unseparated beams; useful rates are obtained for p{sub inc}{le}100 GeV/c and -t {le} 1 (GeV/c){sup 2}. A V-spectrometer with resolution {+-}1% is used downstream of the target for detection of the decays K-long {yields} {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -}. Using hydrogen and deuterium targets, the detection system is designed to measure: (1) d{sigma}/dt for K{sup -}p {yields} {bar K}{sup 0}n. The reaction will be distinguished from background processes involving N* and K* production by kinematics and supplementary detectors surrounding the target. (2) d{sup 2}{sigma}/dpdt for K{sup -}d {yields} {bar K}{sup 0}nn. This final state will be distinguished from those involving production of {pi}{sup 0}'s or charged particles primarily by the supplementary target veto array. Use of a deuterium target will provide partial clarification of the problems to be encountered in achieving part 3. In principle, some information on the relative sizes of the spin-flip and non-spin-flip amplitudes will be obtained. (3) d{sup 2}{sigma}/dpdt for K{sup +}d {yields} K{sup 0}pp. Since charged particles are produced at the interaction vortex, this final state can be reliably extracted only with the insight gained in parts (1) and (2) and a detailed study of the distributions in the target veto counter array

Radiation damage to scintillator in the D0 luminosity monitor

We report the result of evaluating radiation damage to Bicron BC408 plastic scintillator used in the D0 Luminosity Monitor during Run IIa. The Luminosity Monitor provides pseudo-rapidity coverage over the range 2.7 < |{eta}| < 4.4, with the radiation dose in Run IIa estimated to be 0.5 MRad for the region closest to the beams. We find the light yield is degraded by 10-15% due to radiation damage by comparing new and old scintillator in four observables: (1) visual inspection, (2) optical transmittance, (3) response to the radioactive source of {sup 90}Sr and (4) light yield for cosmic rays

A High Luminosity e+e- Collider to study the Higgs Boson

A strong candidate for the Standard Model Scalar boson, H(126), has been discovered by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments. In order to study this fundamental particle with unprecedented precision, and to perform precision tests of the closure of the Standard Model, we investigate the possibilities offered by An e+e- storage ring collider. We use a design inspired by the B-factories, taking into account the performance achieved at LEP2, and imposing a synchrotron radiation power limit of 100 MW. At the most relevant centre-of-mass energy of 240 GeV, near-constant luminosities of 10^34 cm^{-2}s^{-1} are possible in up to four collision points for a ring of 27km circumference. The achievable luminosity increases with the bending radius, and for 80km circumference, a luminosity of 5 10^34 cm^{-2}s^{-1} in four collision points appears feasible. Beamstrahlung becomes relevant at these high luminosities, leading to a design requirement of large momentum acceptance both in the accelerating system and in the optics. The larger machine could reach the top quark threshold, would yield luminosities per interaction point of 10^36 cm^{-2}s^{-1} at the Z pole (91 GeV) and 2 10^35 cm^{-2}s^{-1} at the W pair production threshold (80 GeV per beam). The energy spread is reduced in the larger ring with respect to what is was at LEP, giving confidence that beam polarization for energy calibration purposes should be available up to the W pair threshold. The capabilities in term of physics performance are outlined.Comment: Submitted to the European Strategy Preparatory Group 01-04-2013 new version as re-submitted to PRSTA

Search for large extra dimensions in final states containing one photon or jet and large missing transverse energy produced in p anti-p collisions at s**(1/2) = 1.96-TeV

The authors present the results of searches for large extra dimensions in samples of events with large missing transverse energy E{sub T} and either a photon or a jet produced in p{bar p} collisions at {radical}s = 1.96 TeV collected with the CDF II detector. For {gamma} + E{sub T} and jet + E{sub T} candidate samples corresponding to 2.0 fb{sup -1} and 1.1 fb{sup -1} of integrated luminosity respectively, they observe good agreement with standard model expectations and obtain a combined lower limit on the fundamental parameter of the large extra dimensions model, M{sub D}, as a function of the number of extra dimensions in the model

Search for Standard Model Higgs Boson Production in Association with a W Boson at CDF

We present a search for standard model Higgs boson production in association with a W boson in proton-antiproton collisions (p{bar p} {yields} W{sup {+-}}H {yields} {ell}{nu}b{bar b}) at a center of mass energy of 1.96 TeV. The search employs data collected with the CDF II detector which correspond to an integrated luminosity of approximately 1 fb{sup -1}. We select events consistent with a signature of a single lepton (e{sup {+-}}/{mu}{sup {+-}}), missing transverse energy, and two jets. Jets corresponding to bottom quarks are identified with a secondary vertex tagging method and a neural network filter technique. The observed number of events and the dijet mass distributions are consistent with the standard model background expectations, and we set 95% confidence level upper limits on the production cross section times branching ratio ranging from 3.9 to 1.3 pb for Higgs boson masses from 110 to 150 GeV/c{sup 2}, respectively