Model-Independent Jets plus Missing Energy Searches

TL;DR

This paper proposes a model-independent method for jets plus missing energy searches that broadens sensitivity to new physics by analyzing differential cross sections, applicable at both Tevatron and LHC.

Contribution

It introduces a new approach to set limits on differential cross sections, enhancing the reach of jets plus missing energy searches beyond specific models like mSUGRA.

Findings

The method can detect gluinos as light as 125 GeV within MSSM.

It requires only standard model background knowledge and minimal modifications to existing analyses.

Applicable to both Tevatron and LHC experiments.

Abstract

We present a proposal for performing model-independent jets plus missing energy searches. Currently, these searches are optimized for mSUGRA and are consequently not sensitive to all kinematically-accessible regions of parameter space. We show that the reach of these searches can be broadened by setting limits on the differential cross section as a function of the total visible energy and the missing energy. These measurements only require knowledge of the relevant Standard Model backgrounds and can be subsequently used to limit any theoretical model of new physics. We apply this approach to an example where gluinos are pair-produced and decay to the LSP through a single-step cascade, and show how sensitivity to different gluino masses is altered by the presence of the decay chain. The analysis is closely based upon the current searches done at the Tevatron and our proposal requires only small modifications to the existing techniques. We find that within the MSSM, the gluino can be as light as 125 GeV. The same techniques are applicable to jets and missing energy searches at the Large Hadron Collider.