Search for supersymmetry with photons in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports on two searches for supersymmetry involving photons in proton-proton collisions at 8 TeV, using CMS data, setting limits on supersymmetric particle production cross sections.

Contribution

It presents novel inclusive search strategies for supersymmetry with photons, utilizing razor variables and data-driven background estimation at 8 TeV.

Findings

No significant excess observed over standard model predictions.

Upper limits set on cross sections for supersymmetric particles.

Constraints placed on gauge-mediated supersymmetry models.

Abstract

Two searches for physics beyond the standard model in events containing photons are presented. The data sample used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 inverse femtobarns of proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV, collected with the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. The analyses pursue different inclusive search strategies. One analysis requires at least one photon, at least two jets, and a large amount of transverse momentum imbalance, while the other selects events with at least two photons and at least one jet, and uses the razor variables to search for signal events. The background expected from standard model processes is evaluated mainly from data. The results are interpreted in the context of general gauge-mediated supersymmetry, with the next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle either a bino- or wino-like neutralino, and within simplified model scenarios. Upper limits at the 95% confidence level are obtained for cross sections as functions of the masses of the intermediate supersymmetric particles.