Squark Masses Research Articles

Limits on R -parity-violating couplings from Drell-Yan processes at the LHC

We find constraints on R-Parity Violating (RPV) couplings of the minimal supersymmetric standard model, using Drell-Yan differential cross sections at the LHC. Specifically, we look at the constraints on $\lambda'LQD^c$ couplings from monolepton and dilepton data published by ATLAS, with either electrons or muons in the final state. Out of the 18 RPV couplings to which the LHC is at least potentially sensitive by this technique, we find new limits on 12 (or 13) of them, for squarks masses above 1 (or 2) TeV. We also show that one can employ our techniques to achieve significantly stronger bounds at a high-luminosity upgrade of the LHC.

LHC limits on gluinos and squarks in the minimal Dirac gaugino model

Dirac gauginos are a well-motivated extension of the MSSM, leading to interesting phenomenological consequences. At the LHC, gluino-pair production is enhanced while squark production is suppressed as compared to the MSSM, and the decay signatures are altered by a more complex chargino and neutralino spectrum. We investigate how this impacts current gluino and squark mass limits from Run 2 of the LHC. Concretely, we compare different assumptions about the electroweak-ino spectrum through four benchmark models paying particular attention to the effect of the trilinear λS coupling, which induces a mass splitting between the mostly bino/U(1) adjoint states. Among other results, we show that for large λS the additional {tilde{chi}}_2^0to foverline{f}{tilde{chi}}_1^0 decays somewhat weaken the limits on gluinos (squarks) in case of heavy squarks (gluinos). Moreover, we compare the limits in the gluino vs. squark mass plane to those obtained in equivalent MSSM scenarios.

Bi\u03bdo phenomenology at the LHC

We study the LHC constraints on an R-symmetric SUSY model, where the neutrino masses are generated through higher dimensional operators involving the pseudo-Dirac bino, named biνo. We consider a particle spectrum where the squarks are heavier than the lightest neutralino, which is a pure biνo. The biνo is produced through squark decays and it subsequently decays to a combination of jets and leptons, with or without missing energy, via its mixing with the Standard Model neutrinos. We recast the most recent LHC searches for jets+ with sqrt{s}=13 TeV and mathrm{mathcal{L}} = 36 fb−1 of data to determine the constraints on the squark and biνo masses in this model. We find that squarks as light as 350 GeV are allowed if the biνo is lighter than 150 GeV and squarks heavier than 950 GeV are allowed for any biνo mass. We also present forecasts for the LHC with sqrt{s}=13 TeV and mathrm{mathcal{L}} = 300 fb−1 and show that squarks up to 1150 GeV can be probed.

Inclusive search for supersymmetry in pp collisions at sqrt{s}=13 TeV using razor variables and boosted object identification in zero and one lepton final states

An inclusive search for supersymmetry (SUSY) using the razor variables is performed using a data sample of proton-proton collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1, collected with the CMS experiment in 2016 at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt{s}=13 TeV. The search looks for an excess of events with large transverse energy, large jet multiplicity, and large missing transverse momentum. The razor kinematic variables are sensitive to large mass differences between the parent particle and the invisible particles of a decay chain and help to identify the presence of SUSY particles. The search covers final states with zero or one charged lepton and features event categories divided according to the presence of a high transverse momentum hadronically decaying W boson or top quark, the number of jets, the number of b-tagged jets, and the values of the razor kinematic variables, in order to separate signal from background for a broad range of SUSY signatures. The addition of the boosted W boson and top quark categories within the analysis further increases the sensitivity of the search, particularly to signal models with large mass splitting between the produced gluino or squark and the lightest SUSY particle. The analysis is interpreted using simplified models of R-parity conserving SUSY, focusing on gluino pair production and top squark pair production. Limits on the gluino mass extend to 2.0 TeV, while limits on top squark mass reach 1.14 TeV.

GUT-inspired MSSM in light of muon g−2 and LHC results at s=13 TeV

The recent results of the LHC search for electroweak production of supersymmetric (SUSY) particles at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV have shown improved lower limits for their masses. In addition, the projected experiment E989 will be able to measure the muon anomalous magnetic moment precisely so that the experimental uncertainty can be reduced by a factor of four. It was pointed out that if the center value of the muon $g-2$ remains unchanged the deviation between the standard model (SM) prediction and the experimental value will be as large as 7.0$\sigma$. Such a large deviation will be solid evidence for new physics beyond the SM. Motivated by these results, we investigate the minimal SUSY extension of the SM with universal gaugino masses at the grand unified scale in the light of the muon $g-2$ and the updated LHC constraints. The squarks are assumed to be heavy and decoupled from physics at low energy scales to resemble the SM-like Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV and other bounds for squark masses at the LHC. We have pinned down allowed windows for the lightest neutralino and the smuon masses as well as other input parameters relevant to the light SUSY sector. The expected results of the E989 experiment play a crucial role in narrowing these windows. The viability of the model for small mass regions can be tested at the LHC Run 3 and the High Luminosity LHC in the near future.

Search for long-lived particles decaying into displaced jets in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV

A search for long-lived particles decaying into jets is presented. Data were collected with the CMS detector at the LHC from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV in 2016, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The search examines the distinctive topology of displaced tracks and secondary vertices. The selected events are found to be consistent with standard model predictions. For a simplified model in which long-lived neutral particles are pair produced and decay to two jets, pair production cross sections larger than 0.2 fb are excluded at 95% confidence level for a long-lived particle mass larger than 1000 GeV and proper decay lengths between 3 and 130 mm. Several supersymmetry models with gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking or $R$-parity violation, where pair-produced long-lived gluinos or top squarks decay to several final-state topologies containing displaced jets, are also tested. For these models, in the mass ranges above 200 GeV, gluino masses up to 2300-2400 GeV and top squark masses up to 1350-1600 GeV are excluded for proper decay lengths approximately between 10 and 100 mm. These are the most restrictive limits to date on these models.

Search for supersymmetry in events with a photon, a lepton, and missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at sqrt{s} = 13 TeV

Results of a search for supersymmetry are presented using events with a photon, an electron or muon, and large missing transverse momentum. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1 of proton-proton collisions at sqrt{s} = 13 TeV, produced by the LHC and collected with the CMS detector in 2016. Theoretical models with gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking predict events with photons in the final state, as well as electroweak gauge bosons decaying to leptons. Searches for events with a photon, a lepton, and missing transverse momentum are sensitive probes of these models. No excess of events is observed beyond expectations from standard model processes. The results of the search are interpreted in the context of simplified models inspired by gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking. These models are used to derive upper limits on the production cross sections and set lower bounds on masses of supersymmetric particles. Gaugino masses below 930 GeV are excluded at the 95% confidence level in a simplified model with electroweak production of a neutralino and chargino. For simplified models of gluino and squark pair production, gluino masses up to 1.75 TeV and squark masses up to 1.43 TeV are excluded at the 95% confidence level.

Confronting the Coloured Sector of the MRSSM with LHC Data

R-symmetry leads to a distinct low energy realisation of SUSY with a signicantly modified colour-charged sector featuring a Dirac gluino and scalar colour octets (sgluons). In the present work we recast results from LHC BSM searches to discuss the impact of R-symmetry on the squark and gluino mass limits. We work in the framework of the Minimal R-symmetric Supersymmetric Standard Model and take into account the NLO corrections to the squark production cross sections in the MRSSM that have become available recently. We find substantially weaker limits on squark masses compared to the MSSM: for simple scenarios with heavy gluinos and degenerate squarks, the MRSSM mass limit is $$ {m}_{\tilde{g}} $$ > 1:7TeV, approximately 600 GeV lower than in the MSSM.

Search for pair-produced resonances decaying to quark pairs in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV

A general search for the pair production of resonances, each decaying to two quarks, is reported. The search is conducted separately for heavier resonances (masses above 400 GeV), where each of the four final-state quarks generates a hadronic jet resulting in a four-jet signature, and for lighter resonances (masses between 80 and 400 GeV), where the pair of quarks from each resonance is collimated and reconstructed as a single jet resulting in a two-jet signature. In addition, a b-tagged selection is applied to target resonances with a bottom quark in the final state. The analysis uses data collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$, from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The mass spectra are analyzed for the presence of new resonances, and are found to be consistent with standard model expectations. The results are interpreted in the framework of $R$-parity-violating supersymmetry assuming the pair production of scalar top quarks decaying via the hadronic coupling $\lambda_{312}''$ or $\lambda_{323}''$, and upper limits on the cross section as a function of the top squark mass are set. These results probe a wider range of masses than previously explored at the LHC, and extend the top squark mass limits in the $\widetilde{\mathrm{t}}$ $\to$ qq$'$ scenario.

Supersymmetry and LHC missing energy signals

Current analyses of the LHC data put stringent bounds on strongly interacting supersymmetric particles, restricting the masses of squarks and gluinos to be above the TeV scale. However, the supersymmetric electroweak sector is poorly constrained. In this article we explore the consistency of possible LHC missing energy signals with the broader phenomenological structure of the electroweak sector in low energy supersymmetry models. As an example, we focus on the newly developed Recursive Jigsaw Reconstruction analysis by ATLAS, which reports interesting event excesses in channels containing di-lepton and tri-lepton final states plus missing energy. We show that it is not difficult to obtain compatibility of these LHC data with the observed dark matter relic density, the bounds from dark matter direct detection experiments, and the measured anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. We provide analytical expressions which can be used to understand the range of gaugino masses, the value of the Higgsino mass parameter, the heavy Higgs spectrum, the ratio of the Higgs vacuum expectation values $\tan \beta$, and the slepton spectrum obtained in our numerical analysis of these observables.

Search for long-lived particles with displaced vertices in multijet events in proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV

Results are reported from a search for long-lived particles in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV delivered by the CERN LHC and collected by the CMS experiment. The data sample, which was recorded during 2015 and 2016, corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 38.5 fb$^{-1}$. This search uses benchmark signal models in which long-lived particles are pair-produced and each decays into two or more quarks, leading to a signal with multiple jets and two displaced vertices composed of many tracks. No events with two well-separated high-track-multiplicity vertices are observed. Upper limits are placed on models of $R$-parity violating supersymmetry in which the long-lived particles are neutralinos or gluinos decaying solely into multijet final states or top squarks decaying solely into dijet final states. For neutralino, gluino, or top squark masses between 800 and 2600 GeV and mean proper decay lengths between 1 and 40 mm, the analysis excludes cross sections above 0.3 fb at 95% confidence level. Gluino and top squark masses are excluded below 2200 and 1400 GeV, respectively, for mean proper decay lengths between 0.6 and 80 mm. A method is provided for extending the results to other models with pair-produced long-lived particles.

Sub-leading power corrections to transition form factors of η and η′ mesons from twist-six contributions

Using collinear factorization, we have calculated twist-six corrections to ηγ and transition form factors in QCD. Only a subset of light-cone operators of twist-six, which can be factorized as a product of two gauge-invariant operators, have been considered assuming negligible contribution of non-factorizable operators. Corrections arising from finite meson mass and the finite s-quark mass have also been accounted for. The resulting power corrections start as 1/Q4-type of terms. While the twist-six contribution for the η meson is a couple of times smaller in magnitude than the twist-four contribution, for the η′ meson these two contributions turn out to be comparable. The matrix element of the pseudoscalar quark current for u- and d-quarks between the vacuum and one-meson state, hq, has considerable influence on the result. Expressions obtained by superimposing our results on those obtained in the literature for leading and sub-leading power corrections from lower twists have been plotted and compared with data.

Searches for pair production of charginos and top squarks in final states with two oppositely charged leptons in proton-proton collisions at sqrt{s}=13 TeV

A search for pair production of supersymmetric particles in events with two oppositely charged leptons (electrons or muons) and missing transverse momentum is reported. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1 of proton-proton collisions at sqrt{s}=13 TeV collected with the CMS detector during the 2016 data taking period at the LHC. No significant deviation is observed from the predicted standard model background. The results are interpreted in terms of several simplified models for chargino and top squark pair production, assuming R-parity conservation and with the neutralino as the lightest supersymmetric particle. When the chargino is assumed to undergo a cascade decay through sleptons, with a slepton mass equal to the average of the chargino and neutralino masses, exclusion limits at 95% confidence level are set on the masses of the chargino and neutralino up to 800 and 320 GeV, respectively. For top squark pair production, the search focuses on models with a small mass difference between the top squark and the lightest neutralino. When the top squark decays into an off-shell top quark and a neutralino, the limits extend up to 420 and 360 GeV for the top squark and neutralino masses, respectively.

Flavour-violating decays of mixed top-charm squarks at the LHC

We explore signatures related to squark decays in the framework of non-minimally flavour-violating supersymmetry. We consider a simplified model where the lightest squark consists of an admixture of charm and top flavour. By recasting the existing LHC searches for top and charm squarks, we show that the limits on squark masses from these analyses are significantly weakened when the top-charm mixing is sizeable. We propose a dedicated search for squarks based on the tc+{E_{mathrm {T}}^{mathrm {miss}}} final state which enhances the experimental sensitivity for the case of high mixing, and we map its expected reach for the forthcoming runs of the LHC. We emphasize the role of analyses requiring a jet tagged as produced by the fragmentation of a charm quark in understanding the squark mixing pattern, thus providing a novel handle on new physics. Our results show that, in order to achieve full coverage of the parameter space of supersymmetric models, it is necessary to extend current experimental search programmes with analyses specifically targeting the cases where the lightest top-partner is a mixed state.

Search for supersymmetry in final states with charm jets and missing transverse momentum in 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for supersymmetric partners of top quarks decaying as {tilde{t}}_1to c{tilde{upchi}}_1^0 and supersymmetric partners of charm quarks decaying as {tilde{c}}_1to c{tilde{upchi}}_1^0 , where {tilde{upchi}}_1^0 is the lightest neutralino, is presented. The search uses 36.1 fb−1pp collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider and is performed in final states with jets identified as containing charm hadrons. Assuming a 100% branching ratio to c{tilde{upchi}}_1^0 , top and charm squarks with masses up to 850 GeV are excluded at 95% confidence level for a massless lightest neutralino. For {m}_{{tilde{t}}_1,{tilde{c}}_1}-{m}_{{tilde{upchi}}_1^0} < 100 GeV, top and charm squark masses up to 500 GeV are excluded.

Displaced vertices from hidden glue

We consider the phenomenology of glueball production and decay in theories with hidden glue. We focus on the case of folded supersymmetry (FSUSY), where there is an unbroken SU(3) gauge theory in the absence of light matter, leading to the formation of glueballs. We study their production through the annihilation of folded squarks into hidden gluons at the LHC, and model their fragmentation into glueballs. We obtain the distribution of displaced vertices, which is directly determined by the folded squark mass scale. Although here we specifically apply it to FSUSY, the procedure to model the hidden glue fragmentation into glueballs can be generalized to other similar theories.

Search for squarks and gluinos in final states with jets and missing transverse momentum using 36 fb−1 of s=13 TeV pp collision data with the ATLAS detector

A search for the supersymmetric partners of quarks and gluons (squarks and gluinos) in final states containing hadronic jets and missing transverse momentum, but no electrons or muons, is presented. The data used in this search were recorded in 2015 and 2016 by the ATLAS experiment in $\sqrt{s}$=13 TeV proton--proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb$^{-1}$. The results are interpreted in the context of various models where squarks and gluinos are pair-produced and the neutralino is the lightest supersymmetric particle. An exclusion limit at the 95\% confidence level on the mass of the gluino is set at 2.03 TeV for a simplified model incorporating only a gluino and the lightest neutralino, assuming the lightest neutralino is massless. For a simplified model involving the strong production of mass-degenerate first- and second-generation squarks, squark masses below 1.55 TeV are excluded if the lightest neutralino is massless. These limits substantially extend the region of supersymmetric parameter space previously excluded by searches with the ATLAS detector.

Search for new physics in events with two soft oppositely charged leptons and missing transverse momentum in proton–proton collisions at [formula omitted

A search is presented for new physics in events with two low-momentum, oppositely charged leptons (electrons or muons) and missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data collected using the CMS detector at the LHC correspond to an integrated luminosity of 35.9fb−1. The observed event yields are consistent with the expectations from the standard model. The results are interpreted in terms of pair production of charginos and neutralinos (χ˜1± and χ˜20) with nearly degenerate masses, as expected in natural supersymmetry models with light higgsinos, as well as in terms of the pair production of top squarks (t˜ ), when the lightest neutralino and the top squark have similar masses. At 95% confidence level, wino-like χ˜1±/χ˜20 masses are excluded up to 230 GeV for a mass difference of 20 GeV relative to the lightest neutralino. In the higgsino-like model, masses are excluded up to 168 GeV for the same mass difference. For t˜ pair production, top squark masses up to 450 GeV are excluded for a mass difference of 40 GeV relative to the lightest neutralino.

Search for photonic signatures of gauge-mediated supersymmetry in 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search is presented for photonic signatures, motivated by generalized models of gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking. This search makes use of proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC, and it explores models dominated by both strong and electroweak production of supersymmetric partner states. Experimental signatures incorporating an isolated photon and significant missing transverse momentum are explored. These signatures include events with an additional photon or additional jet activity not associated with any specific underlying quark flavor. No significant excess of events is observed above the Standard Model prediction, and 95% confidence-level upper limits of between 0.083 fb and 0.32 fb are set on the visible cross section of contributions from physics beyond the Standard Model. These results are interpreted in terms of lower limits on the masses of gluinos, squarks, and gauginos in the context of generalized models of gauge-mediated supersymmetry, which reach as high as 2.3 TeV for strongly produced and 1.3 TeV for weakly produced supersymmetric partner pairs.

Search for natural and split supersymmetry in proton-proton collisions at sqrt{s}=13 TeV in final states with jets and missing transverse momentum

A search for supersymmetry (SUSY) is performed in final states comprising one or more jets and missing transverse momentum using data from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data were recorded with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC in 2016 and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1. The number of signal events is found to agree with the expected background yields from standard model processes. The results are interpreted in the context of simplified models of SUSY that assume the production of gluino or squark pairs and their prompt decay to quarks and the lightest neutralino. The masses of bottom, top, and mass-degenerate light-flavour squarks are probed up to 1050, 1000, and 1325 GeV, respectively. The gluino mass is probed up to 1900, 1650, and 1650 GeV when the gluino decays via virtual states of the aforementioned squarks. The strongest mass bounds on the neutralinos from gluino and squark decays are 1150 and 575 GeV, respectively. The search also provides sensitivity to simplified models inspired by split SUSY that involve the production and decay of long-lived gluinos. Values of the proper decay length cτ0 from 10−3 to 105 mm are considered, as well as a metastable gluino scenario. Gluino masses up to 1750 and 900 GeV are probed for cτ0 = 1 mm and for the metastable state, respectively. The sensitivity is moderately dependent on model assumptions for cτ0 ≳ 1 m. The search provides coverage of the cτ0 parameter space for models involving long-lived gluinos that is complementary to existing techniques at the LHC.