Experimental search potential for sbottom via $\tilde\chi^{\pm}_1$ decays at the LHC Run-3 and HL-LHC, in final states with same-sign leptons and multiple jets

TL;DR

This study assesses the LHC's potential to discover sbottom particles decaying via charginos and neutralinos, using same-sign leptons and jets, projecting exclusion limits across different energies and luminosities.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed projections for sbottom searches via chargino-mediated decays at the LHC Run-3 and HL-LHC, expanding current search strategies.

Findings

Projected exclusion limits vary with energy and luminosity.

Same-sign lepton signatures enhance detection sensitivity.

Potential to exclude sbottom masses up to several TeV.

Abstract

This paper explores the experimental search potential for sbottom pair production in an R-parity conserving scenario at the LHC Run-3 and HL-LHC. The sbottom decays with a 100% BR via a chargino, $\tilde{b}_1 \to t \tilde{\chi}_1^\pm$, which subsequently decays to a $W$ boson and a neutralino, $\tilde{\chi}_1^\pm \to W \tilde{\chi}_1^0$, also with a 100% BR. The study follows the ATLAS object definitions and event selection criteria from Ref. JHEP06(2020)046, focusing on Rpc2L1b and Rpc2L2b signal regions defined with same-sign leptons and at least one $b$-tagged jet. Projected exclusion limits are presented in the $\tilde{b}_1$ - $\tilde{\chi}_1^0$ mass plane for three center-of-mass energies (13 TeV, 13.6 TeV, and 14 TeV) and three integrated luminosity scenarios (139 fb$^{-1}$, 300 fb$^{-1}$, and 3000 fb$^{-1}$). keywords: sbottom pair production, same-sign leptons, multi-leptons