A Quasi-Model-Independent Search for New Physics at Large Transverse Momentum

TL;DR

This study employs a quasi-model-independent approach to search for new high transverse momentum physics phenomena in Fermilab Tevatron data, analyzing multiple final states without finding evidence of new physics.

Contribution

It introduces the 'Sleuth' method for broad, model-independent searches for new physics at high p_T in collider data.

Findings

No evidence of new high p_T physics was observed.

The method demonstrated sensitivity across various models.

89% of hypothetical similar experiments would have seen a more interesting signal.

Abstract

We apply a quasi-model-independent strategy ("Sleuth") to search for new high p_T physics in approximately 100 pb^-1 of ppbar collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.8 TeV collected by the DZero experiment during 1992-1996 at the Fermilab Tevatron. Over thirty-two e mu X, W+jets-like, Z+jets-like, and 3(lepton/photon)X exclusive final states are systematically analyzed for hints of physics beyond the standard model. Simultaneous sensitivity to a variety of models predicting new phenomena at the electroweak scale is demonstrated by testing the method on a particular signature in each set of final states. No evidence of new high p_T physics is observed in the course of this search, and we find that 89% of an ensemble of hypothetical similar experimental runs would have produced a final state with a candidate signal more interesting than the most interesting observed in these data.