Search for heavy long-lived multi-charged particles in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=8 TeV using the ATLAS detector

TL;DR

This paper reports a search for heavy, long-lived multi-charged particles in proton-proton collisions at 8 TeV using the ATLAS detector, setting new mass limits between 660 and 785 GeV due to no observed signals.

Contribution

First search for multi-charged long-lived particles at 8 TeV with ATLAS, establishing new mass exclusion limits based on ionisation signatures.

Findings

No candidate events observed.

Mass limits between 660 and 785 GeV.

Constraints on Drell-Yan production model.

Abstract

A search for heavy long-lived multi-charged particles is performed using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Data collected in 2012 at $\sqrt{s}$=8 TeV from $pp$ collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $20.3$ fb$^{-1}$ are examined. Particles producing anomalously high ionisation, consistent with long-lived massive particles with electric charges from $|q|=2e$ to $|q|=6e$ are searched for. No signal candidate events are observed, and 95\% confidence level cross-section upper limits are interpreted as lower mass limits for a Drell--Yan production model. The mass limits range between 660 and 785 GeV.