Could MT2 be a singularity variable?

The algebraic singularity method is a framework for analyzing collider events with missing energy. It provides a way to draw out a set of singularity variables that can catch singular features originating from the projection of full phase space onto the observable phase space of measured particle momenta. It is a promising approach applicable to various physics processes with missing energy but still requires more studies for use in practice. Meanwhile, in the double-sided decay topology with an invisible particle on each side, the MT2 variable has been known to be a useful collider observable for measuring particle masses from missing energy events or setting signal regions of collider searches. We investigate the relation between the two different types of kinematic variables in double-sided decay topology. We find that the singularity variables contain the MT2 variable in many cases, although the former is not a strict superset of the latter.

The Effect of Unparticle in the Processes \(e^{+}e^{-}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma\) and \(\gamma e^{-}\rightarrow U^{\mu }e^{-}\) when the \(e^{+},e^{-}\) Beams Are Polarized in Unparticle Physics

We investigate the influence of unparticle physics on the positron-electron collider via the scalar unparticle and electron exchange. From computing the contribution of the unparticle exchange to the cross-section (CS) as well as evaluating the dependence of differential cross-section (DCS) on the scattering angle , we calculate the production of vector unparticle in the photon-electron collider in s- and t- channels such as missing energy distribution. Besides, we also found that the polarization of the beams also significantly contributes to the CS and DCS of the unparticle production.

Searching in 2-Dimensional mass space for final states with 2 invisible particles

A method to search for particles of unknown masses in final states with two invisible particles is presented. Searching for final states with missing energy is a challenging task usually performed in the tail of a missing energy related distribution. The search method proposed is based on a 2-Dimensional mass reconstruction of the final state with two invisible particles. Thus, a bump hunting is possible, allowing a stronger signal versus background discrimination. Parameters of the new theory can be extracted from the mass distributions, a valuable step towards understanding its true nature. The proof of principle is based on the existing SM top pairs in their dilepton final state. The method is applicable in many interesting searches at the LHC, including dark matter candidates or heavy top partners.

The light invisible boson in FCNC decays of B and $$B_c$$ mesons

In this paper, we study the FCNC decay processes of B and $$B_c$$ B c meson, in which one invisible particle is emitted. Both the spin-0 and spin-1 cases are considered. The model-independent effective Lagrangian is introduced to describe the coupling between the light invisible boson and quarks. The constraints of the coupling coefficients are extracted by experimental upper limits of the missing energy in B meson decays. The bounds are used to predict the upper limits of branching fractions of corresponding $$B_c$$ B c decays, which are of the order of $$10^{-6}$$ 10 - 6 or $$10^{-5}$$ 10 - 5 when final meson is pseudoscalar or vector, respectively. The maximum branch ratios are achieved when $$m_\chi \approx 3.5$$ m χ ≈ 3.5 –4 GeV, where $$m_\chi $$ m χ is the mass of the invisible particle.

Exploring charm decays with missing energy in leptoquark models

We investigate the possibility that scalar leptoquarks generate consequential effects on the flavor-changing neutral-current decays of charmed hadrons into final states with missing energy "Image missing" carried away by either standard model or sterile neutrinos. We focus on scenarios involving the R2, $$ {\tilde{R}}_2 $$ R ˜ 2 , and $$ {\overline{S}}_1 $$ S ¯ 1 leptoquarks and take into account various pertinent constraints, learning that meson-mixing ones and those inferred from collider searches can be of significance. We find in particular that the branching fractions of charmed meson decays D →"Image missing", M = π, ρ, and Ds→"Image missing" and singly charmed baryon decays $$ {\Lambda}_c^{+} $$ Λ c + →"Image missing" and Ξc→"Image missing" are presently allowed to attain the 10−7-10−6 levels if induced by R2 and that the impact of $$ {\tilde{R}}_2 $$ R ˜ 2 is comparatively much less. In contrast, the contributions of $$ {\overline{S}}_1 $$ S ¯ 1 , which couples to right-handed up-type quarks and the sterile neutrinos, could lead to branching fractions as high as order 10−3. This suggests that these charmed hadron decays might be within reach of the BESIII and Belle II experiments or future super charm-tau factories and could serve as potentially promising probes of leptoquark interactions with sterile neutrinos.

Collider constraints on dark mediators

We explore the constraints current collider searches place on a QCD-like dark sector. A combination of multi-jet, multi-jet plus missing energy and emerging jets searches is used to derive constraints on the mediator mass across the full range of the dark meson lifetimes for the first time.The dark sector inherits a flavour structure from the coupling between the dark quarks and the SM quarks through the mediator. When this is taken into account, the differently flavoured dark pions become distinguishable through their lifetime. We show that also in these cases the above mentioned searches remain sensitive, and we obtain limits on the mediator mass also for the flavoured scenario.We then contrast the constraints from collider searches with direct detection bounds on the dark matter candidate itself in both the flavoured and unflavoured scenario. Using a simple prescription it becomes possible to display all constraints in the dark matter and mediator mass plane. Constraints from direct detection tend to be stronger than the collider constraints, unless the coupling to the first generation quarks is suppressed, in which case the collider searches place the most stringent limits on the parameter space.

On the challenges of searching for GeV-scale long-lived particles at the LHC

Many models of dark matter predict long-lived particles (LLPs) that can give rise to striking signatures at the LHC. Existing searches for displaced vertices are however tailored towards heavy LLPs. In this work we show that this bias severely affects their sensitivity to LLPs with masses at the GeV scale. To illustrate this point we consider two dark sector models with light LLPs that decay hadronically: a strongly-interacting dark sector with long-lived exotic mesons, and a Higgsed dark sector with a long-lived dark Higgs boson. We study the sensitivity of an existing ATLAS search for displaced vertices and missing energy in these two models and find that current track and vertex cuts result in very low efficiency for light LLPs. To close this gap in the current search programme we suggest two possible modifications of the vertex reconstruction and the analysis cuts. We calculate projected exclusion limits for these modifications and show that they greatly enhance the sensitivity to LLPs with low mass or short decay lengths.

High-temperature electroweak symmetry breaking by SM twins

We analyse a possible adjustment of Twin Higgs models allowing to have broken electroweak (EW) symmetry at all temperatures below the sigma-model scale ∼ 1 TeV. The modification consists of increasing the Yukawa couplings of the twins of light SM fermions. The naturalness considerations then imply a presence of relatively light electroweak-charged fermions, which can be produced at the LHC, and decay into SM gauge and Higgs bosons and missing energy. Analysis of experimental bounds shows that such a modified model features an increased amount of fine-tuning compared to the original Twin Higgs models, but still less tuning than the usual pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone Higgs models not improved by Z2 twin symmetry. The obtained modification in the evolution of the EW symmetry breaking strength can, in particular, have interesting implications for models of EW baryogenesis, which we comment on.