Getting Stuck: Using Monosignatures to Test Highly Ionizing Particles

TL;DR

This paper proposes using monojet and monophoton searches to detect highly ionizing particles that do not reach the outer detector parts, providing new constraints and extending sensitivity for such particles at the LHC.

Contribution

It introduces a novel search strategy using monojet and monophoton data to detect highly ionizing particles with large charges and limited detector penetration, expanding current detection methods.

Findings

CMS data excludes particles with mass $ extless 650$ GeV and charge $ extgreater 100e$

Expected improvements will extend sensitivity to 750 GeV

Search strategy can be applied to magnetic monopoles and similar particles

Abstract

In this paper we argue that monojet and monophoton searches can be a sensitive test of very highly ionizing particles such as particles with charges $\gtrsim 150e$ and more generally particles that do not reach the outer parts of the detector. 8 TeV monojet data from the CMS experiment excludes such objects with masses in the range $\lesssim 650~{\text{GeV}}$ and charges $\gtrsim 100e$. This nicely complements searches for highly ionizing objects at ALICE, ATLAS, CMS and LHCb. Expected improvements in these channels will extend the sensitivity range to $m\lesssim 750~{\text{GeV}}$. This search strategy can directly be generalized to other particles that strongly interact with the detector material, such as e.g. magnetic monopoles.