Lightest Supersymmetric Particle Research Articles

Combined search for electroweak production of winos, binos, higgsinos, and sleptons in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV

A combination of the results of several searches for the electroweak production of the supersymmetric partners of standard model bosons, and of charged leptons, is presented. All searches use proton-proton collision data at s=13 TeV recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2016–2018. The analyzed data correspond to an integrated luminosity of up to 137 fb−1. The results are interpreted in terms of simplified models of supersymmetry. Two new interpretations are added with this combination: a model spectrum with the bino as the lightest supersymmetric particle together with mass-degenerate Higgsinos decaying to the bino and a standard model boson, and the compressed-spectrum region of a previously studied model of slepton pair production. Improved analysis techniques are employed to optimize sensitivity for the compressed spectra in the wino and slepton pair production models. The results are consistent with expectations from the standard model. The combination provides a more comprehensive coverage of the model parameter space than the individual searches, extending the exclusion by up to 125 GeV, and also targets some of the intermediate gaps in the mass coverage. © 2024 CERN, for the CMS Collaboration 2024 CERN

ATLAS Run 2 searches for electroweak production of supersymmetric particles interpreted within the pMSSM

A summary of the constraints from searches performed by the ATLAS collaboration for the electroweak production of charginos and neutralinos is presented. Results from eight separate ATLAS searches are considered, each using 140 fb−1 of proton-proton data at a centre-of-mass energy of s\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\sqrt{s} $$\\end{document} = 13 TeV collected at the Large Hadron Collider during its second data-taking run. The results are interpreted in the context of the 19-parameter phenomenological minimal supersymmetric standard model, where R-parity conservation is assumed and the lightest supersymmetric particle is assumed to be the lightest neutralino. Constraints from previous electroweak, flavour and dark matter related measurements are also considered. The results are presented in terms of constraints on supersymmetric particle masses and are compared with limits from simplified models. Also shown is the impact of ATLAS searches on parameters such as the dark matter relic density and the spin-dependent and spin-independent scattering cross-sections targeted by direct dark matter detection experiments. The Higgs boson and Z boson ‘funnel regions’, where a low-mass neutralino would not oversaturate the dark matter relic abundance, are almost completely excluded by the considered constraints. Example spectra for non-excluded supersymmetric models with light charginos and neutralinos are also presented.

Dark Matter searches with photons at the LHC

We unveil blind spot regions in dark matter (DM) direct detection (DMDD), for weakly interacting massive particles with a mass around a few hundred GeV that may reveal interesting photon signals at the LHC. We explore a scenario where the DM primarily originates from the singlet sector within the Z3-symmetric Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM). A novel DMDD spin-independent blind spot condition is revealed for singlino-dominated DM, in cases where the mass parameters of the higgsino and the singlino-dominated lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) exhibit opposite relative signs (i.e., κ < 0), emphasizing the role of nearby bino and higgsino-like states in tempering the singlino-dominated LSP. Additionally, proximate bino and/or higgsino states can act as co-annihilation partner(s) for singlino-dominated DM, ensuring agreement with the observed relic abundance of DM. Remarkably, in scenarios involving singlino-higgsino co-annihilation, higgsino-like neutralinos can distinctly favor radiative decay modes into the singlino-dominated LSP and a photon, as opposed to decays into leptons/hadrons. In exploring this region of parameter space within the singlino-higgsino compressed scenario, we study the signal associated with at least one relatively soft photon alongside a lepton, accompanied by substantial missing transverse energy (ɆT) and a hard initial state radiation jet at the LHC. In the context of singlino-bino co-annihilation, the bino state, as the next-to-LSP, exhibits significant radiative decay into a soft photon and the LSP, enabling the possible exploration at the LHC through the triggering of this soft photon alongside large ɆT and relatively hard leptons/jets resulting from the decay of heavier higgsino-like states.

On the possibility of mixed axion/neutralino dark matter in specific SUSY DFSZ axion models

We introduce four supersymmetric (SUSY) axion models in which the strong CP problem and the μ problem are solved with the help of the Peccei–Quinn mechanism and the Kim-Nilles mechanism, respectively. The axion physics enriches the SUSY model by introducing axion as a dark matter candidate and, therefore, the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) could just be a part of the total dark matter. For this reason, axion relieves the tensions between SUSY models and numerous experimental measurements, such as the dark matter direct detection experiments and the precise measurements of anomalous magnetic moment of the muon a μ . In the present paper, we investigate the constraints imposed by the latest a μ measurements and LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment on the relic density of the Higgsino-like LSP. Additionally, we consider the constraints arising from the cosmology of saxions and axinos, and their impacts on the parameter space of our models are carefully examined. For the axion constituting the remaining portion of dark matter, we find that the conventional misalignment mechanism can successfully account for the correct dark matter relic density observed by the Planck satellite.

Monojets reveal overlapping excesses for light compressed higgsinos

The ATLAS and CMS collaborations have recently presented results of searches for compressed electroweakinos in final states including soft leptons. These searches are sensitive to mass splittings ranging from quite small values of about 5 GeV to O(10) GeV, which are endemic to scenarios with wino-like and higgsino-like lightest supersymmetric particles (LSPs). While all experimental results exhibit apparently compatible mild excesses, these soft-lepton analyses, taken together with disappearing-track searches targeting much smaller splittings, notably leave unconstrained a sizeable region of parameter space with modest splittings of 1–5 GeV. We point out that this gap can be closed, for scenarios with a higgsino-like LSP, by monojet searches. On the other hand, we find at the same time that current monojet searches show excesses in a region partially overlapping that favoured by the soft-lepton analyses. We provide an up-to-date map of these results and show, among others, a best-fit point with an excess greater than 2σ that is consistent with a higgsino-like LSP mass around 177 GeV. We finally comment on how such a point can be realised in the MSSM.

(g-2)μ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$(g-2)_\\mu $$\\end{document} and stau coannihilation: dark matter and collider analysis

Slepton coannihilation is one of the most promising scenarios that can bring the predicted Dark Matter (DM) abundance in the the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) into agreement with the experimental observation. In this scenario, the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP), usually assumed to be the lightest neutralino, χ~10\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ ilde{\\chi }_{1}^0$$\\end{document} can serve as a Dark Matter (DM) candidate while the sleptons as the next-to-LSPs (NLSPs) lie close in mass. In our previous studies analyzing the electroweak sector of MSSM, a degeneracy between the three generations of sleptons was assumed for the sake of simplicity. In case of slepton coannihilation this directly links the smuons involved in the explanation for (g-2)μ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$(g-2)_\\mu $$\\end{document} to the coannihilating NLSPs required to explain the DM content of the universe. On the other hand, in well-motivated top-down models such degeneracy do not hold, and often the lighter stau turns out to be the NLSP at the electroweak (EW) scale, with the smuons (and selectrons) somewhat heavier. In this paper we analyze such a scenario at the EW scale assuming non-universal slepton masses where the first two generations of sleptons are taken to be mass-degenerate and heavier than the staus, enforcing stau coannihilation. We analyze the parameter space of the electroweak MSSM in the light of a variety of experimental data namely, the DM relic density and direct detection limits, LHC data and especially, the discrepancy between the experimental result for the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, (g-2)μ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$(g-2)_\\mu $$\\end{document}, and its Standard Model (SM) prediction. We find an upper limit on the lightest neutralino mass, the lighter stau mass and the mass of the tau sneutrino of about ∼550GeV\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\sim 550 \\,\\, {\ extrm{GeV}}$$\\end{document}. In contrast to the scenario with full degeneracy among the three families of sleptons, the upper limit on the light smuon/selectron mass moves up by ∼200GeV\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\sim 200 \\,\\, {\ extrm{GeV}}$$\\end{document}. We analyze the DD prospects as well as the physics potential of the HL-LHC and a future high-energy e+e-\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$e^+e^-$$\\end{document} collider to investigate this scenario further. We find that the combination DD experiments and e+e-\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$e^+e^-$$\\end{document} collider searches with center of mass energies up to s∼1100GeV\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\sqrt{s} \\sim 1100 \\,\\, {\ extrm{GeV}}$$\\end{document} can fully cover this scenario.

Searching for sbottom LSP at the LHC

Assuming that the sbottom is the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP), we carry out an analysis of the relevant signals expected at the LHC. The discussion is established in the framework of the μν\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\mu \ u $$\\end{document}SSM, where the presence of R-parity violating couplings involving right-handed neutrinos solves simultaneously the μ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\mu $$\\end{document}-problem and the accommodation of neutrino masses and mixing angles. The sbottoms are pair produced at the LHC, decaying to a lepton and a top quark or a neutrino and a bottom quark. The decays can be prompt or displaced, depending on the regions of the parameter space of the model. We focus the analysis on the right sbottom LSP, since the left sbottom is typically heavier than the left stop because of the D-term contribution. We compare the predictions of this scenario with ATLAS and CMS searches for prompt and long-lived particles. To analyze the parameter space we sample the μν\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\mu \ u $$\\end{document}SSM for a right sbottom LSP, paying special attention to reproduce the current experimental data on neutrino and Higgs physics, as well as flavor observables. For displaced (prompt) decays, our results translate into lower limits on the mass of the right sbottom LSP of about 1041 GeV (1070 GeV). The largest possible value found for the decay length is about 3.5 mm.

Invisible dark matter decays of a non-Standard Model like CP-even scalar boson

We investigate two extensions of the standard model that include particle dark matter candidates: the Next-to-Two Higgs Doublet Model and the Next-to-minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. These models feature a non-Standard Model like CP-even scalar with a sub-TeV mass, denoted by H2, among other particles. At a 13 TeV proton–proton collider, the primary production channel for such scalars is via the fusion of a pair of gluons. Subsequently, these scalars can decay invisibly into a pair of dark matter candidates, which can be dominant. In the supersymmetric model, it is possible for the Lightest Supersymmetric Particle (LSP) and Next-to Lightest Supersymmetric Particle (NLSP) to be mass degenerate, leading to quasi-invisible H2 decays to LSP+NLSP and NLSP+NLSP. We present the predictions of both models for this challenging scenario while ensuring compatibility with recent experimental constraints.

New dark matter candidate in the B-L\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$B-L$$\\end{document} symmetric SSM

The B-L symmetric SUSY model (B-LSSM) introduces a new Z′\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$Z'$$\\end{document} gauge boson and two singlet scalars, which indicates there are more neutralinos in the B-LSSM comparing with the minimal SUSY extension of standard model (MSSM). These new neutralinos provide more dark matter (DM) candidates in the B-LSSM, we find that the super partner of the new scalar singlet can serve as the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) and be considered as a DM candidate. The properties of this new DM candidate are analyzed in this work. Taking into account the experimental constraints on Higgs boson mass, B meson rare decays and muon anomalous magnetic dipole moment, the numerical results are obtained and presented. The properties of new DM candidate in the B-LSSM satisfy the observed relic density Ωh2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\Omega h^2$$\\end{document} and comply with the latest upper bounds on σSIχ10-n\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\sigma _\ extrm{SI}^{\\chi _1^0-n}$$\\end{document}, and its mass is expected to greater than 80GeV\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$80\\;\ extrm{GeV}$$\\end{document} approximately.

Cosmology with a supersymmetric local B - L model

We propose a minimal gauged U(1) B-L extension of the minimal supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) which resolves the cosmological moduli problem via thermal inflation, and realizes late-time Affleck-Dine leptogensis so as to generate the right amount of baryon asymmetry at the end of thermal inflation. The present relic density of dark matter can be explained by sneutrinos, MSSM neutralinos, axinos, or axions. Cosmic strings from U(1) B-L breaking are very thick, and so the expected stochastic gravitational wave background from cosmic string loops has a spectrum different from the one in the conventional Abelian-Higgs model, as would be distinguishable at least at LISA and DECIGO. The characteristic spectrum is due to a flat potential, and may be regarded as a hint of supersymmetry. Combined with the resolution of moduli problem, the expected signal of gravitational waves constrains the U(1) B-L breaking scale to be 𝒪(1012–13) GeV. Interestingly, our model provides a natural possibility for explaining the observed ultra-high-energy cosmic rays thanks to the fact that the core width of strings in our scenario is very large, allowing a large enhancement of particle emissions from the cusps of string loops. Condensation of LHu flat-direction inside of string cores arises inevitably and can also be the main source of the ultra-high-energy cosmic rays accompanied by ultra-high-energy lightest supersymmetric particles.

Search for supersymmetry in final states with a single electron or muon using angular correlations and heavy-object identification in proton-proton collisions at s\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\sqrt{s} $$\\end{document} = 13 TeV

A search for supersymmetry is presented in events with a single charged lepton, electron or muon, and multiple hadronic jets. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1 of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. The search targets gluino pair production, where the gluinos decay into final states with the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) and either a top quark-antiquark (tt¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \ extrm{t}\\overline{\ extrm{t}} $$\\end{document}) pair, or a light-flavor quark-antiquark (qq¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \ extrm{q}\\overline{\ extrm{q}} $$\\end{document}) pair and a virtual or on-shell W boson. The main backgrounds, tt¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \ extrm{t}\\overline{\ extrm{t}} $$\\end{document} pair and W+jets production, are suppressed by requirements on the azimuthal angle between the momenta of the lepton and of its reconstructed parent W boson candidate, and by top quark and W boson identification based on a machine-learning technique. The number of observed events is consistent with the expectations from standard model processes. Limits are evaluated on supersymmetric particle masses in the context of two simplified models of gluino pair production. Exclusions for gluino masses reach up to 2120 (2050) GeV at 95% confidence level for a model with gluino decay to a tt¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \ extrm{t}\\overline{\ extrm{t}} $$\\end{document} pair (a qq¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \ extrm{q}\\overline{\ extrm{q}} $$\\end{document} pair and a W boson) and the LSP. For the same models, limits on the mass of the LSP reach up to 1250 (1070) GeV.

Search for top squarks in the four-body decay mode with single lepton final states in proton-proton collisions at sqrt{s} = 13 TeV

A search for the pair production of the lightest supersymmetric partner of the top quark, the top squark ( {overset{sim }{textrm{t}}}_1 ), is presented. The search targets the four-body decay of the {overset{sim }{textrm{t}}}_1 , which is preferred when the mass difference between the top squark and the lightest supersymmetric particle is smaller than the mass of the W boson. This decay mode consists of a bottom quark, two other fermions, and the lightest neutralino ( {overset{sim }{chi}}_1^0 ), which is assumed to be the lightest supersymmetric particle. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1 of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. Events are selected using the presence of a high-momentum jet, an electron or muon with low transverse momentum, and a significant missing transverse momentum. The signal is selected based on a multivariate approach that is optimized for the difference between m( {overset{sim }{textrm{t}}}_1 ) and m( {overset{sim }{chi}}_1^0 ). The contribution from leading background processes is estimated from data. No significant excess is observed above the expectation from standard model processes. The results of this search exclude top squarks at 95% confidence level for masses up to 480 and 700 GeV for m( {overset{sim }{textrm{t}}}_1 ) − m( {overset{sim }{chi}}_1^0 ) = 10 and 80 GeV, respectively.

Collider constraints on electroweakinos in the presence of a light gravitino

Using the GAMBIT global fitting framework, we constrain the MSSM with an eV-scale gravitino as the lightest supersymmetric particle, and the six electroweakinos (neutralinos and charginos) as the only other light new states. We combine 15 ATLAS and 12 CMS searches at 13 TeV, along with a large collection of ATLAS and CMS measurements of Standard Model signatures. This model, which we refer to as the {{tilde{G}}}-EWMSSM, exhibits quite varied collider phenomenology due to its many permitted electroweakino production processes and decay modes. Characteristic {{tilde{G}}}-EWMSSM signal events have two or more Standard Model bosons and missing energy due to the escaping gravitinos. While much of the {{tilde{G}}}-EWMSSM parameter space is excluded, we find several viable parameter regions that predict phenomenologically rich scenarios with multiple neutralinos and charginos within the kinematic reach of the LHC during Run 3, or the High Luminosity LHC. In particular, we identify scenarios with Higgsino-dominated electroweakinos as light as 140 GeV that are consistent with our combined set of collider searches and measurements. The full set of {{tilde{G}}}-EWMSSM parameter samples and GAMBIT input files generated for this work is available via Zenodo.

Search for direct pair production of sleptons and charginos decaying to two leptons and neutralinos with mass splittings near the W-boson mass in sqrt{s} = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for the electroweak production of pairs of charged sleptons or charginos decaying into two-lepton final states with missing transverse momentum is presented. Two simplified models of R-parity-conserving supersymmetry are considered: direct pair-production of sleptons left(overset{sim }{ell}overset{sim }{ell}right) , with each decaying into a charged lepton and a {overset{sim }{chi}}_1^0 neutralino, and direct pair-production of the lightest charginos left({overset{sim }{chi}}_1^{pm }{overset{sim }{chi}}_1^{mp}right) , with each decaying into a W-boson and a {overset{sim }{chi}}_1^0 . The lightest neutralino left({overset{sim }{chi}}_1^0right) is assumed to be the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP). The analyses target the experimentally challenging mass regions where mleft(overset{sim }{ell}right)-mleft({overset{sim }{chi}}_1^0right) and mleft({overset{sim }{chi}}_1^{pm}right)-mleft({overset{sim }{chi}}_1^0right) are close to the W-boson mass (‘moderately compressed’ regions). The search uses 139 fb−1 of sqrt{s} = 13 TeV proton-proton collisions recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. No significant excesses over the expected background are observed. Exclusion limits on the simplified models under study are reported in the left(overset{sim }{ell },{overset{sim }{chi}}_1^0right) and left({overset{sim }{chi}}_1^{pm }{overset{sim }{chi}}_1^0right) mass planes at 95% confidence level (CL). Sleptons with masses up to 150 GeV are excluded at 95% CL for the case of a mass-splitting between sleptons and the LSP of 50 GeV. Chargino masses up to 140 GeV are excluded at 95% CL for the case of a mass-splitting between the chargino and the LSP down to about 100 GeV.

Dark matter in NMSSM with small [formula omitted] and [formula omitted

The NMSSM provides an excellent dark matter candidate, usually the lightest neutralino (χ̃10) being the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP), in the universe. It is a mixture of the bino, the neutral wino, the neutral higgsinos, and the singlino. In this work, we investigate the features of the lightest neutralino by concentrating on a specific region of the NMSSM parameter space with small values of both λ and κ, taking into account theoretical and experimental constraints, including relic density, direct and indirect detection constraints. We have found that the LSP dark matter is a singlino-dominated neutralino for most of the sample points of the chosen scenario. Thus, contrary to expectations, the NMSSM is not comparable to the MSSM in terms of dark matter properties as λ and κ are very small. The LSP can also be either higgsino-dominated or bino-dominated in some parameter space. The most important parameters affecting the mass and properties of the LSP are κ, λ/κ, and μeff. Further, we notice that σpSI≈1.02σnSI and σpSD≈0.76σnSD for all the surviving sample points.

Right-handed sneutrino and gravitino multicomponent dark matter in light of neutrino detectors

We investigate the possibility that right-handed (RH) sneutrinos and gravitinos can coexist and explain the dark matter (DM) problem. We compare extensions of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) and the next-to-MSSM (NMSSM) adding RH neutrinos superfields, with special emphasis on the latter. If the gravitino is the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) and the RH sneutrino the next-to-LSP (NLSP), the heavier particle decays to the former plus left-handed (LH) neutrinos through the mixing between the scalar partners of the LH and RH neutrinos.However, the interaction is suppressed by the Planck mass, and if the LH-RH sneutrino mixing parameter is small, ≪ O(10-2), a long-lived RH sneutrino NLSP is possible even surpassing the age of the Universe.As a byproduct, the NLSP to LSP decay produces monochromatic neutrinos in the ballpark of current and planned neutrino telescopes like Super-Kamiokande, IceCube and Antares that we use to set constraints and show prospects of detection.In the NMSSM+RHN, assuming a gluino mass parameter M 3 = 3 TeV we found the following lower limits for the gravitino mass m 3/2 ≳ 1-600 GeV and the reheating temperature T R ≳ 105 - 3 × 107 GeV, for mν̃ R 10-800 GeV. If we take M 3 = 10 TeV, then the limits on TR are relaxed by one order of magnitude.

Hunting squarks in Higgsino LSP scenarios at the LHC

Current searches for squarks are inefficient in cases when the squark does not directly decay to the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP), because those decays are Yukawa suppressed. This occurs when producing the first two generations of squarks and when, at the same time, there are several electroweakinos lighter than those squarks. In this paper, we analyze the signal of the pair production of squarks that subsequently decay to an intermediate neutralino (${\stackrel{\texttildelow{}}{\ensuremath{\chi}}}_{3}^{0}$) plus jets. The neutralino will then decay to the LSP (mainly Higgsino) and a Higgs. We have simulated the events and designed a discovery strategy based on a signal of two jets, four $b$ quarks, and missing transverse energy. We obtain very promising values for the Large Hadron Collider sensitivity at 14 TeV and $300\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{fb}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$.

Discovery potential for split supersymmetry with thermal dark matter

Supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model with scalar superpartners above 10 TeV are well motivated since the Higgs boson mass can be explained by quantum corrections while maintaining gauge coupling unification. If supersymmetry breaking is transmitted to gauginos via anomaly mediation, the gaugino masses are loop suppressed compared to scalar masses, and the lightest supersymmetric particle is the Higgsino or wino, which can be the dark matter. In this setup, we identify the regions of parameter space that reproduce the observed Higgs boson mass and the thermal abundance of dark matter. We analyze the effects of complex phases in the gaugino mass parameters on the electron electric dipole moment (EDM) and the dark matter scattering cross section. We find that, for scalar masses up to 10 PeV and any size of the complex phases, the model with Higgsino dark matter is within reach of planned experiments -- Advanced ACME via electron EDM and LUX-ZEPLIN via dark matter direct detection -- with complementary discovery potentials, and the model with wino dark matter is within reach of future electron EDM experiments.

(g−2)μ and SUSY

The persistent [Formula: see text] discrepancy between the experimental result from Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) for the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, [Formula: see text], and its Standard Model (SM) prediction, was confirmed recently by the “MUON G-2” result from Fermilab. The combination of the two measurements yields a deviation of [Formula: see text] from the SM value. Here, we review an analysis of the parameter space of the electroweak (EW) sector of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), which can provide a suitable explanation of the anomaly while being in full agreement with other latest experimental data like the direct searches for EW particles at the LHC and dark matter (DM) relic density and direct detection constraints. Taking the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) (the lightest neutralino in our case) to be the DM candidate, we discuss the case of a mixed bino/wino LSP, which can account for the full DM relic density of the universe and that of wino and higgsino DM, where we take the relic density only as an upper bound. We observe that an upper limit of [Formula: see text] can be obtained for the LSP and next-to (N)LSP masses establishing clear search targets for the future HL-LHC EW searches, but in particular for future high-energy [Formula: see text] colliders such as the ILC or CLIC.

Monojet signatures from gluino and squark decays

We study the monojet and dijet channels at the LHC as a tool for searching for squarks and gluinos. We consider two separate R-parity conserving supersymmetric scenarios. In the first scenario we postulate a large mass hierarchy between squarks ( overset{sim }{q} ) and winos ( overset{sim }{W} ), and wino-like neutralino is assumed to be the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP). The associated squark-wino production, pp → overset{sim }{q}overset{sim }{W} , then leads to a monojet-like signature, where the high pT jet is originated from the squark decay, overset{sim }{q} → q + overset{sim }{W} . We demonstrate that this associated production, as well as the pp → overset{sim }{W}overset{sim }{W} + jets production, have a significant impact on the exclusion limit in the squark-neutralino mass plane. The second scenario postulates that the lighter of the squark and gluino is only a few GeV heavier than the LSP neutralino. The associated squark-gluino production, pp → overset{sim }{q}overset{sim }{g} , then leads to a distinctive monojet signature, where the high pT jet is produced from the decay of the heavier coloured particle into the lighter one ( overset{sim }{q} → q+ overset{sim }{g} for {m}_{tilde{q}} > {m}_{tilde{g}} and overset{sim }{g} → q+ overset{sim }{q} for {m}_{tilde{g}} > {m}_{tilde{q}} ). The lighter coloured particle is effectively regarded as an invisible particle since the decay products are soft due to the approximate mass degeneracy. We recast existing monojet and dijet analyses and find a non-trivial exclusion limit in the squark-gluino mass plane in this scenario.