Probing Compressed Bottom Squarks with Boosted Jets and Shape Analysis

TL;DR

This study explores advanced shape analysis techniques to improve the search for compressed bottom squarks at the LHC, achieving significant exclusion potential with realistic systematics and pileup conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a shape-based analysis method for compressed sbottom searches, enhancing sensitivity over traditional cut-based approaches.

Findings

Shape analysis improves exclusion limits for sbottoms.

Potential to exclude sbottoms up to 530 GeV at 14 TeV.

Analysis remains effective with systematics and pileup considered.

Abstract

A feasibility study is presented for the search of the lightest bottom squark (sbottom) in a compressed scenario, where its mass difference from the lightest neutralino is 5 GeV. Two separate studies are performed: $(1)$ final state containing two VBF-like tagging jets, missing transverse energy, and zero or one $b$-tagged jet; and $(2)$ final state consisting of initial state radiation (ISR) jet, missing transverse energy, and at least one $b$-tagged jet. An analysis of the shape of the missing transverse energy distribution for signal and background is performed in each case, leading to significant improvement over a cut and count analysis, especially after incorporating the consideration of systematics and pileup. The shape analysis in the VBF-like tagging jet study leads to a $3\sigma$ exclusion potential of sbottoms with mass up to $530 \, (462)$ GeV for an integrated luminosity of $300$ fb$^{-1}$ at 14 TeV, with $5\%$ systematics and PU $= 0 \, (50)$.