Transverse Observables and Mass Determination at Hadron Colliders

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the maximum transverse mass in two-body decays at hadron colliders can be used to determine unknown particle and invisible particle masses, with potential applications to supersymmetric particle decays.

Contribution

It provides a proof that the transverse mass maximum can determine both unknown masses in two-body decays, extending to pair-produced superpartner scenarios.

Findings

Transverse mass maximum can determine both particle masses.

Method applies to decays involving invisible particles.

Potential use in supersymmetry mass measurements.

Abstract

I consider the two-body decay of a particle at a hadron collider into a visible and an invisible particle, generalizing $W \to e \nu$, where the masses of the decaying particle and the invisible decay particle are, {\em a priori}, unknown. I prove that the transverse mass, when maximized over possible kinematic configurations, can be used to determine both of the unknown masses. I argue that the proof can be generalized to cover cases such as decays of pair-produced superpartners to the lightest, stable superpartner at the Large Hadron Collider.