Detection of two-photon exclusive production of supersymmetric pairs at the LHC

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential for detecting supersymmetric particle pairs produced via photon-photon fusion at the LHC, emphasizing the low background and mass measurement capabilities using forward proton detectors.

Contribution

It introduces a method for detecting and measuring supersymmetric particles through exclusive photon-photon fusion processes at the LHC, utilizing forward proton detectors for mass determination.

Findings

Low background due to exclusive process signature

Mass resolution of a few GeV for SUSY particles

Feasibility of detecting quasi-stable particles in supersymmetry

Abstract

The detection of pairs of sleptons, charginos and charged higgs bosons produced via photon-photon fusion at the LHC is studied, assuming a couple of benchmark points of the MSSM model. Due to low cross sections, it requires large integrated luminosity, but thanks to the striking signature of these exclusive processes the backgrounds are low, and are well known. Very forward proton detectors can be used to measure the photon energies, allowing for direct determination of masses of the lightest SUSY particle, of selectrons and smuons with a few GeV resolution. Finally, the detection and mass measurement of quasi-stable particles predicted by the so-called sweet spot supersymmetry is discussed.