Abstract
The presence of large-mass resonances in the data collected at the Large Hadron Collider would provide direct evidence of physics beyond the Standard Model. A key challenge in current resonance searches at the LHC is the modelling of signal–background interference effects, which can severely distort the shape of the reconstructed invariant mass distribution relative to the case where there is no interference. Such effects are strongly dependent on the beyond the Standard Model theory that must be considered as unknown if one aims to minimise any theoretical bias on the search results. In this paper, we describe a procedure which employs a physically-motivated, model-independent template functional form that can be used to model interference effects, both for the characterisation of positive discoveries, and in the presentation of null results. We illustrate the approach with the example of a scalar resonance decaying into a pair of photons.
Highlights
Preliminary considerationsThe most straightforward way to present both positive and null search results is that of working in the context of a given BSM theory; an approach of this type is, by construction, a top-down one
A model-independent approach to resonance searches has recently been presented in Ref. [8], but we note that the method we propose is vastly different; in particular, Ref. [8] relies heavily on a Fourier representation of non-periodic functions, which need not be introduced in this paper
The top-down approach typically employed in the presentation of LHC resonance search results, while constituting a straightforward procedure in the scenario where there is strong motivation to believe a priori in a particular model, Page 21 of 22 1174 becomes less ideal for reporting the findings of a general search for BSM resonances
Summary
The most straightforward way to present both positive and null search results is that of working in the context of a given BSM theory; an approach of this type is, by construction, a top-down one. The details of how BSM theories are treated in such procedures are under the control of the experimental collaborations, which, among other things, renders it difficult for theorists to assess how tweaking different aspects of the models might improve, worsen, or otherwise affect the search results. For these reasons, it is interesting to consider the opposite viewpoint, namely that of a bottom-up approach in which data are manipulated, and the search results presented using the fewest possible number of theoretical assumptions. This operation will contribute to the overall systematics of the procedure we are proposing
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