Search for gauge mediated SUSY breaking topologies at \sqrt{{\mathrm s}} \sim 189 GeV

Searches for topologies characteristic of Gauge Mediated SUSY Breaking models (GMSB) are performed by analysing 173.6 of data collected at = 188.6 GeV with the ALEPH detector. These topologies include acoplanar photons, non-pointing single photon, acoplanar leptons, large impact parameter leptons, detached slepton decay vertices, heavy stable charged sleptons and four leptons plus missing energy final states. No evidence for these new phenomena is observed and limits on production cross sections and sparticle masses are derived. A scan of a minimal GMSB parameter space is performed and model dependent lower limits of about 45 GeV/ on the next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle (NLSP) mass and of about 9 TeV on the mass scale parameter are derived, independently of the NLSP lifetime. Received: 30 November 1999 / Published online: 14 April 2000     

Searches for Gauge-Mediated Supersymmetry Breaking topologies in e^+e^- collisions at centre-of-mass energies up to \sqrt{s}=209 \mathrm{GeV}

Searches were performed for topologies predicted by gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking models (GMSB). All possible lifetimes of the next-to-lightest SUSY particle (NLSP), either the lightest neutralino or slepton, decaying into the lightest SUSY particle, the gravitino, were considered. No evidence for GMSB signatures was found in the OPAL data sample collected at centre-of-mass energies up to $\sqrt{s}=209 \mathrm{GeV}$ at LEP. Limits on the product of the production cross-sections and branching fractions are presented for all search topologies. To test the impact of the searches, a complete scan over the parameters of the minimal model of GMSB was performed. NLSP masses below $53.5 \mathrm{GeV}/c^2$ in the neutralino NLSP scenario, below $87.4 \mathrm{GeV}/c^2$ in the stau NLSP scenario and below $91.9 \mathrm{GeV}/c^2$ in the slepton co-NLSP scenario are excluded at 95% confidence level for all NLSP lifetimes. The scan determines constraints on the universal SUSY mass scale Λ from the direct SUSY particle searches of Λ>40, 27, 21, 17, $15 \mathrm{GeV}/c^2$ for messenger indices N=1,2,3,4,5 for all NLSP lifetimes.     

Search for excited leptons in e+e- collisions at \sqrt{s}=189–209 GeV

A search for excited lepton production in e⁺e^- collisions was performed using the data collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies ranging from 189 GeV to 209 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 600 pb^-1. No evidence for excited lepton production was found. In searches for pair-produced excited leptons, lower mass limits were established in the range 94–103 GeV/c², depending on the channel and model assumptions. In searches for singly-produced excited leptons, upper limits on the parameter f/Λ were established as a function of the mass.     

Observable signals of gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking

The observable consequences of gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking (GMSB) are reviewed here. Implications of scenarios both with a neutralino and a slepton as the next lightest supersymmetric particle (NLSP) are surveyed in relation to hadronic ande ⁺ e ^- colliders. We also discuss the phenomenological consequences of the NLSP decaying slowly, giving rise to delayed events in the detectors.The importance of distinguishing signals of GMSB models from those of the commonly discussed supergravity-type theories is emphasized.     

Nucleosynthesis bounds in gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking theories

In gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking theories the next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle can decay during or after the nucleosynthesis epoch. The decay products such as photons and hadrons can destroy the light element abundances. Restricting the damage that these decays can do leads to constraints on the abundance and lifetime of the NLSP. We compute the freezeout abundance of the NLSP by including all coannihilation thresholds which are particularly important in the case in which the NLSP is the lightest stau. We find that the upper bound on the messenger scale can be as stringent as 10¹² GeV when the NLSP is the lightest neutralino and 10¹³ GeV when the NLSP is the lightest stau. Our findings disfavour models of gauge mediation where the messenger scale is close to the GUT scale or results from balancing renormalisable interactions with non-renormalisable operators at the Planck scale. When combined with the requirement of no gravitino overabundance, our bound implies that the reheating temperature after inflation must be less than 10⁷ GeV.     

Study of radiative leptonic events with hard photons and search for excited charged leptons at GeV

During the last 1995 data acquisition period at LEP, the DELPHI experiment collected an integrated luminosity of 5.9 pb⁻¹ at centre-of-mass energies of 130 GeV and 136 GeV. Radiative leptonic events (e, μ, τ) with high energy photons were studied and compared to Standard Model predictions. The data were used to search for charged excited leptons decaying through an electromagnetic transition. No significant signal was found. From the search for pair produced excited leptons, the limits m_e^* > 62.5 GeV/c², m_μ^* > 62.6 GeV/c² and m_τ^* > 62.2 GeV/c² at 95% confidence level were established. For single excited lepton production, upper limits on the ratio λ/m_l^* of the coupling of the excited charged lepton to its mass were derived.     

En-gauging naturalness

The discovery of a 125.5 GeV Higgs with standard model-like couplings and naturalness considerations motivate gauge extensions of the MSSM. We analyse two variants of such an extension and carry out a phenomenological study of regions of the parameter space satisfying current direct and indirect constraints, employing state-of-the-art two-loop RGE evolution and GMSB boundary conditions. We find that due to the appearance of non-decoupled D-terms it is possible to obtain a 125.5 GeV Higgs with stops below 2 TeV, while the uncoloured sparticles could still lie within reach of the LHC. We compare the contributions of the stop sector and the non-decoupled D-terms to the Higgs mass, and study their effect on the Higgs couplings. We further investigate the nature of the next-to lightest supersymmetric particle, in light of the GMSB motivated searches currently being pursued by ATLAS and CMS.     

Search for an LSP gluino at LEP with the DELPHI detector

In some supersymmetric models, the gluino () is predicted to be light and stable. In that case, it would hadronize to form R-hadrons. In these models, the missing energy signature of the lightest supersymmetric particle is no longer valid, even if R-parity is conserved. Therefore, such a gluino is not constrained by hadron collider results, which looked for the decay . Data collected by the DELPHI detector in 1994 at 91.2 GeV have been analysed to search for events. No deviation from Standard Model predictions is observed and a gluino mass between 2 and 18 GeV/c² is excluded at the 95% confidence level in these models. Then, R-hadrons produced in the squark decays were searched for in the data collected by DELPHI at the centre-of-mass energies of 189 to 208 GeV, corresponding to an overall integrated luminosity of 609 Pb^-1. The observed number of events is in agreement with the Standard Model predictions. Limits at 95% confidence level are derived on the squark masses from the excluded regions in the plane () GeV/c², and GeV/c² for purely left squarks. GeV/c², and GeV/c² independent of the mixing angle. Received: 6 November 2002 / Published online: 15 January 2003     

Decay-mode independent searches for new scalar bosons with the OPAL detector at LEP

This paper describes topological searches for neutral scalar bosons S⁰ produced in association with a Z⁰ boson via the Bjorken process at centre-of-mass energies of 91 GeV and 183-209 GeV. These searches are based on studies of the recoil mass spectrum of and events and on a search for with and S or photons. They cover the decays of the S⁰ into an arbitrary combination of hadrons, leptons, photons and invisible particles as well as the possibility that it might be stable. No indication for a signal is found in the data and upper limits on the cross section of the Bjorken process are calculated. Cross-section limits are given in terms of a scale factor k with respect to the Standart Model cross section for the Higgs-strahlung process . These results can be interpreted in general scenarios independently of the decay modes of the S⁰. The examples considered here are the production of a single new scalar particle with a decay width smaller than the detector mass resolution, and for the first time, two scenarios with continuous mass distributions, due to a single very broad state or several states close in mass. Received: 13 March 2002 / Published online: 19 February 2003     

Properties of anomalous eμ events produced in e+e− annihilation

We present the properties of 105 events of the form e⁺ + e^? → e^+- + μ^? + missing energy, in which no other charged particles or photons are detected. The simplesthypothesis compatible with all the data is that these events come from the production of a pair of heavy leptons, the mass of the lepton being in the range 1.6 to 2.0 GeV/c²     

Search for charged Higgs,scalar tau's and a test of technicolor models

We have used our measurements of final states from e⁺e^? containing an isolated muon and a hadronic or electron shower to search for new spin 0 charged particles. We exclude (95% CL) a supersymmetric partner of the τ with a mass less than 14 GeV/c². We obtain upper limits on the branching ratio to τv_τ for charged Higgs particles or technipions with masses up to 14 GeV/c². This disagrees with some technicolor model predictions.     

Search for squark production in events with jets, hadronically decaying tau leptons and missing transverse energy at

A search for supersymmetric partners of quarks is performed in the topology of multijet events accompanied by at least one tau lepton decaying hadronically and large missing transverse energy. Approximately 1 fb⁻¹ of collision data from the Fermilab Tevatron Collider at a center of mass energy of 1.96 TeV recorded by the DØ detector is analyzed. Results are combined with the previously published DØ inclusive search for squarks and gluinos. No evidence of physics beyond the Standard Model is found and lower limits on the squark mass up to 410 GeV are derived in the framework of minimal supergravity with tanβ=15, A₀=−2m₀ and μ<0, in the region where decays to tau leptons dominate. Gaugino masses m_1/2 are excluded up to 172 GeV.     

Search for one large extra dimension with the DELPHI detector at?LEP

Single photons detected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP2 in the years 1997–2000 are reanalysed to investigate the existence of a single extra dimension in a modified ADD scenario with slightly warped large extra dimensions. The data collected at centre-of-mass energies between 180 and 209 GeV for an integrated luminosity of ∼650 pb⁻¹ agree with the predictions of the Standard Model and allow a limit to be set on graviton emission in one large extra dimension. The limit obtained on the fundamental mass scale M _D is 1.69 TeV/c ² at 95% CL, with an expected limit of 1.71 TeV/c ². Deceased.     

Mass and lifetime limits on new long-lived particles in 300 GeV/c π− interactions

A sensitive search has been done for the production of new long-lived and penetrating particles by 300 GeV/c negative pions. No new state —decaying into at least two charged known particles —has been detected with mass above 1 GeV/c² and lifetime in the range 5·10^?11 s to 5·10^?7s. We give upper limits on production cross sections, and consequences on the existence of heavy “axion-like” particles, heavy neutrinos and supersymmetric particles. In particular, this experiment excludes the existence of light gluinos with lifetime in the range 5·10^?11 to 10^?8s: this closes the last “window of opportunity” for gluinos withM<2 GeV/c² and lifetime measurable in particle physics experiments.     

Gauge mediated supersymmetry signals at the Tevatron involving τ-leptons

We consider the phenomenology of GMSB models where the lighter stau is the next to lightest supersymmetric particle. In this situation the dominant signals for supersymmetry at the Tevatron are events where two or three high p_T τ-leptons accompanied by large missing transverse energy are produced. This leads to signatures that are very different from the photonic signals for GMSB (where the lightest neutralino is the NLSP) and the dilepton and trilepton signals in the usual supergravity models (involving e and/or μ only) that have been investigated extensively. We find that the inclusive 2 τ-jet signature could be observable at the Tevatron Run 11, while the inclusive 3 τ-jet signature could be important at Run III.     

On the excited quarks and leptons

Using a duality-like finite energy sum rule, we discuss the assumption of having excited fermions at the W scale in a supersymmetric(SUSY) and non-supersymmetric hypercolour theory where quarks and leptons are bound states of fermion and scalar preon constituents. We conclude that a SUSY-like composite model cannot have excited fermions having a mass smaller than 0.5 TeV. A non-SUSY composite model having composite fermions but elementary W bosons can produce an excited fermion mass of the order of M_W provided that the scalar vacuum condensate is of the order of the (TeV)² scale of compositeness.     

Light singlet particles and their cosmological consequences in witten-type supersymmetric models

In a class of supersymmetric gauge models which generate a large mass scale from a supersymmetry breaking mass scale M through loop corrections, there exists generally a very light scalar particle which transforms like a singlet under SU(3)_c × SU(2)_L with no U(1) charge. Cosmological constraints on such a particle are so severe that an upper bound is set on possible values of supersymmetry breaking scale in this class of models as M ? 500 TeV provided that the large mass scale is 10¹⁵ GeV and the mass of the light scalar particle is generated in one-loop order. This bound holds even if the goldstino is not absorbed into the gravitino.     

Search for long-lived particles in 200 GeV/c proton-nucleon collisions

A search for long-lived particles (τ ? 10^?8 sec), with changes $\text{±}\text{2}\text{3}\text{, ± 1, ±}\text{4}\text{3}\text{and}\text{± 2}$, produced in 200 GeV pN collisions was performed at the CERN-SPS in a secondary beam equipped with superconducting r.f. separators. Upper limits were obtained for the production of long-lived hadrons and leptons. For charge - 1 particles the limits are at the level of 10^?7 of the pions at a mass m = 0.2 GeV and reach the 10^?11 level from $\text{3}\text{to}\text{8}\text{GeV}$. The production of light antinuclei was measured. The cross sections for ³He production are (1.3 ± 0.3) and (1.9 ± 0.3) × 10^?34 cm²/sr · GeV/c at 21 and 47.4 GeV/c respectively; for t the cross section is (7.6 ± 0.9) × 10^?34 cm²/sr · GeV/c at 23.7 GeV/c.     

Production on heavy Higgs bosons ate + e −-colliders

The production of Higgs bosons in the mass range of 200 GeV/c²<M _H <1TeV/c ² ate ⁺ e ^? super colliders is studied. We consider the possibilities to detect Higgs bosons via their decays into vector boson pairs. Single particle distributions of vektor bosons arising from this decay are compared with background reactions. We find, that the signal of Higgs bosons with masses up to 60- GeV/c² should be visible over the background already at \(\sqrt s = 1\) TeV, provided that the vektor bosons can be identified via their hadronic decay modes.     

Stückelino dark matter in anomalous U(1)′ models

We study a possible dark matter candidate in the framework of a minimal anomalous U(1)′ extension of the MSSM. It turns out that in a suitable decoupling limit the Stückelino, the fermionic degree of freedom of the Stückelberg multiplet, is the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP). We compute the relic density of this particle including coannihilations with the next to lightest supersymmetric particle (NLSP) and with the next to next to lightest supersymmetric particle (NNLSP), which are assumed to be almost degenerate in mass. This assumption is needed in order to satisfy the stringent limits that the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) puts on the relic density. We find that the WMAP constraints can be satisfied by different NLSP and NNLSP configurations as a function of the mass gap with the LSP. These results hold in the parameter space region where the model remains perturbative.