Search for new physics in final states with two opposite-sign, same-flavor leptons, jets, and missing transverse momentum in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 13 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports a search for new physics beyond the standard model in events with two opposite-sign, same-flavor leptons, jets, and missing transverse momentum at 13 TeV, finding no significant deviations.

Contribution

It introduces a search strategy using invariant mass and event categories to enhance sensitivity to supersymmetry signals in LHC data.

Findings

No significant excess observed over standard model predictions

Results set limits on simplified supersymmetry models

Analysis demonstrates effective categorization for new physics searches

Abstract

A search is presented for physics beyond the standard model in final states with two opposite-sign, same-flavor leptons, jets, and missing transverse momentum. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 2.3 inverse femtobarns of proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2015. The analysis uses the invariant mass of the lepton pair, searching for a kinematic edge or a resonant-like excess compatible with the Z boson mass. Both search modes use several event categories in order to increase the sensitivity to new physics. These categories are based on the rapidity of the leptons, the multiplicity of jets and b jets, the scalar sum of jet transverse momenta, and missing transverse momentum. The observations in all signal regions are consistent with the expectations from the standard model, and the results are interpreted in the context of simplified models of supersymmetry.