m_T2 : the truth behind the glamour

TL;DR

The paper introduces the m_T2 kinematic variable, explaining its properties and demonstrating its importance in reconstructing supersymmetric particle masses at the LHC.

Contribution

It defines and analyzes the m_T2 variable, highlighting its utility in events with missing particles and illustrating its application in supersymmetry mass reconstruction.

Findings

m_T2 is effective for events with undetected particles.

It aids in reconstructing supersymmetric particle masses.

Mathematical properties of m_T2 are characterized.

Abstract

We present the kinematic variable, m_T2, which is in some ways similar to the more familiar `transverse-mass', but which can be used in events where two or more particles have escaped detection. We define this variable and describe the event topologies to which it applies, then present some of its mathematical properties. We then briefly discuss two case studies which show how m_T2 is vital when reconstructing the masses of supersymmetric particles in mSUGRA-like and AMSB-like scenarios at the Large Hadron Collider.