Search for new physics in final states with a lepton and missing transverse energy in pp collisions at the LHC

TL;DR

This paper reports a search for new physics involving a lepton and missing energy in proton-proton collisions at the LHC, setting limits on hypothetical particles like W' bosons and extra dimensions.

Contribution

It provides the first limits on heavy W' bosons and extra dimension models using CMS data at 7 and 8 TeV energies.

Findings

Excluded W' boson masses below 2.90 TeV

Set limits on contact interaction energies below 10.5 TeV

No evidence found for excess events in the lepton plus missing energy channel

Abstract

This Letter describes the search for an enhanced production rate of events with a charged lepton and a neutrino in high-energy pp collisions at the LHC. The analysis uses data collected with the CMS detector, with an integrated luminosity of 5.0 inverse femtobarns at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, and a further 3.7 inverse femtobarns at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV. No evidence is found for an excess. The results are interpreted in terms of limits on a heavy charged gauge boson (W') in the sequential standard model, a split universal extra dimension model, and contact interactions in the helicity-nonconserving model. For the last, values of the binding energy below 10.5 (8.8) TeV in the electron (muon) channel are excluded at a 95% confidence level. Interpreting the ell nu final state in terms of a heavy W' with standard model couplings, masses below 2.90 TeV are excluded.