Model Independent Search For New Physics At The Tevatron

TL;DR

This thesis conducts a comprehensive, model-independent search for new physics at the Tevatron using CDF data, employing multiple statistical methods to detect discrepancies, but finds no significant evidence of new phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a global, model-independent approach utilizing multiple statistical probes to search for new physics across all final states simultaneously.

Findings

No significant discrepancies found between data and Standard Model predictions.

The search methods proved effective in analyzing large datasets for potential new physics signals.

The analysis set constraints on possible new physics scenarios within the explored data.

Abstract

This thesis is a global, model-independent search for new physics, performed with CDF Run II data. The Standard Model prediction is implemented in all final states simultaneously, and an array of statistical probes is employed to search for significant discrepancies between data and prediction. The probes (also known as "Vista", "Sleuth" and "Bump Hunter") are sensitive to population discrepancies, shape disagreements in distributions of kinematic variables, excesses of events of high total transverse momentum, and local excesses of data suggesting resonant production of new massive particles. The result of this search, first in 1 fb-1 and then in 2 fb-1, is null, namely no considerable evidence of new physics was found.