Solving the LHC Inverse Problem with Dark Matter Observations

TL;DR

This paper explores how astrophysical observations, especially direct and indirect detection of neutralinos, can differentiate between supersymmetric models that appear similar at colliders, despite uncertainties.

Contribution

It demonstrates that astrophysical data can effectively distinguish nearly degenerate supersymmetric models, improving model discrimination beyond collider data alone.

Findings

101 of 276 model pairs distinguishable with conservative assumptions

186 of 276 model pairs distinguishable with optimistic assumptions

Detection sensitivity depends on astrophysical uncertainties and nuclear physics progress

Abstract

We investigate the utility of cosmological and astrophysical observations for distinguishing between supersymmetric theories. In particular we consider 276 pairs of models that give rise to nearly identical patterns of observables at hadron colliders. Despite inherent uncertainties in such things as the local halo density model, or background rates from astrophysical sources, we find observations associated with stable relic neutralinos can be a surprisingly effective discriminant between candidate theories. We focus attention on neutralino scattering experiments (direct detection of relic neutralinos) and observations of gamma-rays from relic neutralino annihilation (indirect detection experiments). With extremely conservative physics assumptions and background estimates we find 101 of the 276 degenerate pairs can be distinguished. Using slightly more optimistic assumptions about background rates increases this number to 186 of the 276 pairs. In the direct detection arena the ability to distinguish between models will be dependent on further progress in addressing uncertainty in nuclear matrix elements. For observations in the indirect detection arena we discuss the sensitivity of these results to additional assumptions made about the cosmological density of neutralinos and the galactic halo profile. We also comment on the complementarity of this study to recent work investigating these same pairs at a 500 GeV linear collider.