Decoding the Mechanism for the Origin of Dark Matter in the Early Universe Using LHC Data

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how LHC data can distinguish between different supersymmetric mechanisms responsible for dark matter production in the early universe, focusing on Stau Coannihilation and Hyperbolic Branch scenarios.

Contribution

It introduces a method to differentiate between two key dark matter generation mechanisms using LHC signatures within the mSUGRA model.

Findings

LHC signatures can discriminate between Stau-Co and HB regions.

Multiple correlated signals serve as clear indicators for each mechanism.

Analysis provides a pathway to understand dark matter origin through collider data.

Abstract

It is shown that LHC data can allow one to decode the mechanism by which dark matter is generated in the early universe in supersymmetric theories. We focus on two of the major mechanisms for such generation of dark matter which are known to be the Stau Coannihilation (Stau-Co) where the neutralino is typically Bino like and annihilation on the Hyperbolic Branch (HB) where the neutralino has a significant Higgsino component. An investigation of how one may discriminate between the Stau-Co region and the HB region using LHC data is given for the mSUGRA model. The analysis utilizes several signatures including multi leptons, hadronic jets, b-tagging, and missing transverse momentum. A study of the SUSY signatures reveals several correlated smoking gun signals allowing a clear discrimination between the Stau-Co and the HB regions where dark matter in the early universe can originate.