Higher-Order QCD Predictions for Dark Matter Production in Mono-$Z$ Searches at the LHC

TL;DR

This paper provides advanced QCD predictions for mono-Z dark matter searches at the LHC, incorporating next-to-leading order corrections and parton-shower effects to improve accuracy and reduce uncertainties.

Contribution

It introduces a framework for automated higher-order QCD calculations in simplified dark matter models with vector and scalar mediators for mono-Z searches.

Findings

QCD corrections are significant and impact predictions.

Inclusion of higher-order effects reduces theoretical uncertainties.

Analysis of discovery potential in benchmark scenarios.

Abstract

We present theoretical predictions for mono-$Z$ production in the search for dark matter in Run-II at the LHC, including next-to-leading order QCD corrections and parton-shower effects. We consider generic simplified models with vector and scalar $s$-channel mediators. The calculation is performed by implementing the simplified models in the FeynRules/MadGraph5_aMC@NLO framework, which allows us to include higher-order QCD corrections and parton-shower effects in an automated way. We find that these corrections are sizeable and help to reduce the theoretical uncertainties. We also investigate the discovery potential in several benchmark scenarios in the 13 TeV run at the LHC.