Can multi-TeV (top and other) squarks be natural in gauge mediation?

TL;DR

This paper explores how multi-TeV squarks can be natural in gauge mediation models by employing 'focussing' mechanisms and non-minimal models to avoid fine-tuning, and analyzes their collider signatures.

Contribution

It proposes specific non-minimal gauge mediation models that achieve heavy squarks without fine-tuning, introducing methods to increase Higgs mass and suppress gaugino masses.

Findings

Multi-TeV squarks can be natural with 'focussing' mechanisms.

Minimal gauge mediation does not support natural multi-TeV squarks.

Non-minimal models can achieve heavy squarks and gauginos without fine-tuning.

Abstract

We investigate whether multi-TeV (1-3 TeV) squarks can be natural in models of gauge mediated SUSY breaking. The idea is that for some boundary condition of the scalar (Higgs and stop) masses, the Higgs (mass)$^2$, evaluated at the renormalization scale $\sim O(100)$ GeV, is not very sensitive to (boundary values of) the scalar masses (this has been called ``focussing'' in recent literature). Then, the stop masses can be multi-TeV without leading to fine-tuning in electroweak symmetry breaking. {\em Minimal} gauge mediation does {\em not} lead to this focussing (for all values of $\tan \beta$ and the messenger scale): the (boundary value of) the Higgs mass is too small compared to the stop masses. Also, in minimal gauge mediation, the gaugino masses are of the same order as the scalar masses so that multi-TeV scalars implies multi-TeV gauginos (especially gluino) leading to fine-tuning. We discuss ideas to {\em increase} the Higgs mass relative to the stop masses (so that focussing can be achieved) and also to {\em suppress} gaugino masses relative to scalar masses (or to modify the gaugino mass relations) in {\em non-minimal} models of gauge mediation -- then multi-TeV (top and other) squarks can be natural. Specific models of gauge mediation which incorporate these ideas and thus have squarks (and in some cases, the gluino) heavier than a TeV without resulting in fine-tuning are also studied and their collider signals are contrasted with those of other models which have multi-TeV squarks.