arXiv subjects

Kechen Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Kechen Wang.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

Search for the SUSY Electroweak Sector at $ep$ Colliders

The sensitivity of future electron-proton colliders, the LHeC and FCC-eh, to weakly-produced supersymmetric particles is evaluated in this article. Supersymmetric scenarios where charginos ($\tildeχ_1^{\pm}$) and neutralinos ($\tildeχ_1^{0}$ and $\tildeχ_2^{0}$) are nearly degenerate in mass are considered. Two sets of models, which differ in the mass of sleptons ($\tilde{\ell}$), are studied. Under the hypothesis that slepton masses are at the multi-TeV scale (``decoupled'' scenario), the production processes for charginos and neutralinos at $ep$ colliders, $p\, e^- \to j\, e^-\, \tildeχ \tildeχ$ with $\tildeχ=\tildeχ_1^{0}$, $\tildeχ_1^{\pm}$ or $\tildeχ_2^{0}$, are considered. For the models where slepton masses are above but close to $\tildeχ_1^{\pm}$, $\tildeχ_2^{0}$ masses (``compressed'' scenario), contributions from the processes $p\, e^- \to j\, \tildeχ\, \tilde{e}_L^-$ and $j\, \tildeχ\, \tildeν$ followed by the decays $\tilde{e}_L^- \to \tildeχ_{1,2}^{0} + e^-$ and $\tildeν \to \tildeχ_1^+ + e^-$ are also taken into account. These scenarios are analysed with realistic detector performance, using multivariate techniques. Effects of systematic uncertainties and electron beam polarization dependence are also discussed. The reach is found to be complementary to the one obtained at $pp$ colliders, in particular for the compressed-slepton scenario.

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arXiv2020

Physics with Far Detectors at Future Lepton Colliders

At the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), several far detectors such as FASER and MATHUSLA have been proposed to target the long-lived particles (LLPs) featured with displaced vertices. Naturally one question arises as to the feasibility of installing similar far detectors at future lepton colliders like the CEPC and FCC-ee. Because of the different kinematics of final state particles and the freedom to locate both the experiment hall and the detectors, the future lepton collider with an additional far detector may play a unique role in searching for LLPs. In this study, we consider various locations and designs of far detectors at future $e^- e^+$ colliders and investigate their potentials for discovering LLPs in the physics scenarios including exotic Higgs decays, heavy neutral leptons, and the lightest neutralinos. Our analyses show that the kinematical distinctions between the lepton and hadron colliders render the optimal positions of far detectors lying at the direction perpendicular to the collider beams at future $e^- e^+$ colliders, in contrast to the LHC where a boost in the forward direction can be exploited. We also find that when searching for LLPs, such new experiments with far detectors at future lepton colliders may extend and complement the sensitivity reaches of the experiments at the future lepton colliders with usual near detectors, and the present and future experiments at the LHC. In particular, we find that, for the theory models considered in this study, a MATHUSLA-sized far detector would give a modest improvement compared to the case with a near detector only at future lepton colliders.

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arXiv2020

Probing the Decoupled Seesaw Scalar in Rare Higgs Decay

The Higgs boson can mix with a singlet scalar that dynamically generates the Majorana mass of the right-handed neutrino $N_R$. We show that even a tiny mixing between the Higgs boson and a `decoupled' singlet scalar allows for Higgs-mediated pair production of $N_R$ without significant mixings between the active neutrinos and $N_R$, and thus testable at colliders via a characteristic signal of two same-sign same-flavor lepton pairs, plus missing energy. We demonstrate that this search channel is mostly background-free in $pp$-collision and can be a highly sensitive probe of the Higgs-singlet mixing at the current and future $pp$ colliders. Such channel provides a clean signal to discover the singlet scalar and explore the origin of neutrino masses.

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arXiv2018

Lepton Flavor Violating Dilepton Dijet Signatures from Sterile Neutrinos at Proton Colliders

In this article we investigate the prospects of searching for sterile neutrinos in lowscale seesaw scenarios via the lepton flavour violating (but lepton number conserving) dilepton dijet signature. In our study, we focus on the final state $e^\pm μ^\mp jj$ at the HL-LHC and the FCC-hh (or the SppC). We perform a multivariate analysis at the detector level including the dominant SM backgrounds from di-top, di-boson, and tri-boson. Under the assumption of the active-sterile neutrino mixings $|V_{ l N}|^2=|θ_e|^2=|θ_μ|^2$ and $|V_{ τN}|^2 = |θ_τ|^2=0$, the sensitivities on the signal production cross section times branching ratio $σ(p p \to l^\pm N)\times {\rm BR} (N \to l^{ \mp} jj)$ and on $|V_{ l N}|^2$ for sterile neutrino mass $M_N$ between 200 and 1000 GeV are derived. For the benchmark $M_N=500$ GeV, when ignoring systematic uncertainties at the HL-LHC (FCC-hh/SppC) with 3 (20) ${\rm ab}^{-1}$ luminosity, the resulting 2-$σ$ limits on $|V_{ l N}|^2$ are $4.9\times 10^{-3}$ ($7.0\times 10^{-5}$), while the 2 -$σ$ limit on $σ\times {\rm BR}$ are $4.4\times10^{-2}$ ($1.6\times10^{-2}$) fb, respectively. The effect of the systematic uncertainty is also studied and found to be important for sterile neutrinos with smaller masses. We also comment on searches with $τ^\pm μ^\mp jj$ and $τ^\pm e^\mp jj$ final states.

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arXiv2017

Search for Singly Charged Higgs in Vector Boson Scattering at the ep Colliders

We search for a five-plet singly charged Higgs $H_5^\pm$ in the Georgi-Machacek model at the ep colliders. The charged Higgs bosons are produced via the $ZW^{\pm}$ fusion process $p\, e^- \to j\, e^-\, H_5^\pm$, and decay as $H_5^\pm \to Z\, W^{\pm} \to (l^+ l^-)\, (jj)$. With a detector-level simulation at the FCC-eh and LHeC, a multi-variate analysis is performed to yield limits on the production cross section times branching ratio $σ(p\, e^- \to j e^- H_5^\pm) \times {\rm BR}(H_5^\pm \to Z\, W^\pm)$ and on the model parameter $\sinθ_H$ for charged Higgs masses between 200 and 1000 GeV. The effects of electron beam polarization are also investigated.

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arXiv2017

Search for Heavy Sterile Neutrinos in Trileptons at the LHC

We present a search strategy for both Dirac and Majorana sterile neutrinos from the purely leptonic decays of $W^\pm \to e^\pm e^\pm μ^\mp ν$ and $μ^\pm μ^\pm e^\mp ν$ at the 14 TeV LHC. The discovery and exclusion limits for sterile neutrinos are shown using both the Cut-and-Count (CC) and Multi-Variate Analysis (MVA) methods. We also discriminate between Dirac and Majorana sterile neutrinos by exploiting a set of kinematic observables which differ between the Dirac and Majorana cases. We find that the MVA method, compared to the more common CC method, can greatly enhance the discovery and discrimination limits. Two benchmark points with sterile neutrino mass $m_N = 20$ GeV and 50 GeV are tested. For an integrated luminosity of 3000 ${\rm fb}^{-1}$, sterile neutrinos can be found with $5 σ$ significance if heavy-to-light neutrino mixings $|U_{Ne}|^2 \sim |U_{Nμ}|^2\sim 10^{-6}$, while Majorana vs. Dirac discrimination can be reached if at least one of the mixings is of order $10^{-5}$.

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arXiv2017

Signatures of Dirac and Majorana Sterile Neutrinos in Trilepton Events at the LHC

Heavy sterile neutrinos with masses below $M_W$ can induce trilepton events at the 14 TeV LHC through purely leptonic $W$ decays of $W^\pm \to e^\pm e^\pm μ^\mp ν$ and $μ^\pm μ^\pm e^\mp ν$ where the heavy neutrino will be in an intermediate state on its mass shell. Discovery and exclusion limits for the heavy neutrinos are found using both Cut-and-Count (CC) and a Multi-Variate Analysis (MVA) methods in this study. We also show that it is possible to discriminate between a Dirac and a Majorana heavy neutrino, even when lepton number conservation cannot be directly tested due to unobservability of the final state neutrino. This discrimination is done by exploiting a combined set of kinematic observables that differ between the Majorana vs. Dirac cases. We find that the MVA method can greatly enhance the discovering and discrimination limits in comparison with the CC method. For a 14-TeV $pp$ collider with integrated luminosity of 3000 ${\rm fb}^{-1}$, sterile neutrinos can be found with 5$σ$ significance if heavy-to-light neutrino mixings $|U_{Ne}|^2 \sim |U_{Nμ}|^2 \sim 10^{-6}$, while the Majorana vs. Dirac type can be distinguished if $|U_{Ne}|^2 \sim |U_{Nμ}|^2 \sim 10^{-5}$ or even $|U_{N\ell}|^2\sim 10^{-6}$ if one of the mixing elements is at least an order of magnitude smaller than the other.

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arXiv2017

The leptonic future of the Higgs

Precision study of electroweak symmetry breaking strongly motivates the construction of a lepton collider with center-of-mass energy of at least 240 GeV. Besides Higgsstrahlung ($e^+e^- \to hZ$), such a collider would measure weak boson pair production ($e^+e^- \to WW$) with an astonishing precision. The weak-boson-fusion production process ($e^+e^- \to ν\barν h$) provides an increasingly powerful handle at higher center-of-mass energies. High energies also benefit the associated top-Higgs production ($e^+e^-\to t\bar th$) that is crucial to constrain directly the top Yukawa coupling. The impact and complementarity of differential measurements, at different center-of-mass energies and for several beam polarization configurations, are studied in a global effective-field-theory framework. We define a "global determinant parameter" (GDP) which characterizes the overall strengthening of constraints independently of the choice of operator basis. The reach of the CEPC, CLIC, FCC-ee, and ILC designs is assessed.

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arXiv2016

Distinguishing Dirac/Majorana Sterile Neutrinos at the LHC

We study the purely leptonic decays of $W^\pm \to e^\pm e^\pm μ^\mp ν$ and $μ^\pm μ^\pm e^\mp ν$ produced at the LHC, induced by sterile neutrinos with mass $m_N$ below $M_W$ in the intermediate state. Since the final state neutrino escapes detection, one cannot tell whether this process violates lepton number, what would indicate a Majorana character for the intermediate sterile neutrino. Our study shows that when the sterile neutrino mixings with electrons and muons are different enough, one can still discriminate between the Dirac and Majorana character of this intermediate neutrino by simply counting and comparing the above decay rates. After performing collider simulations and statistical analysis, we find that at the $14~\text{TeV}$ LHC with an integrated luminosity of $3000~\text{fb}^{-1}$, for two benchmark scenarios $m_N$ = 20 GeV and 50 GeV, at least a $3σ$ level of exclusion on the Dirac case can be achieved for disparities as mild as e.g. $|U_{Ne}|^2 < 0.7~ |U_{Nμ}|^2$ or $|U_{Nμ}|^2 < 0.7~ |U_{N e}|^2$, provided that $|U_{Ne}|^2$, $|U_{Nμ}|^2$ are both above $\sim 2\times 10^{-6}$.

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arXiv2016

Beyond Higgs Couplings: Probing the Higgs with Angular Observables at Future $e^+ e^-$ Colliders

We study angular observables in the $e^+e^-\to Z H\to \ell^+ \ell^-\,b\bar{b}$ channel at future circular $e^+ e^-$ colliders such as CEPC and FCC-ee. Taking into account the impact of realistic cut acceptance and detector effects, we forecast the precision of six angular asymmetries at CEPC (FCC-ee) with center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} =$ 240 GeV and 5 (30) ${\rm ab}^{-1}$ integrated luminosity. We then determine the projected sensitivity to a range of operators relevant for the Higgs-strahlung process in the dimension-6 Higgs EFT. Our results show that angular observables provide complementary sensitivity to rate measurements when constraining various tensor structures arising from new physics. We further find that angular asymmetries provide a novel means of both probing BSM corrections to the $H Z γ$ coupling and constraining the "blind spot" in indirect limits on supersymmetric scalar top partners.

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arXiv2016

Constraining Natural SUSY via the Higgs Coupling and the Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment Measurements

We use the Higgs coupling and the muon anomalous magnetic moment measurements to constrain the parameter space of the natural supersymmetry (SUSY) in the Generalized Minimal Supergravity (GmSUGRA) model. We scan the parameter space of the GmSUGRA model with small electroweak fine-tuning measure ($Δ_{\rm EW} \leq 100$). The parameter space after applying various sparticle mass bounds, Higgs mass bounds, B-physics bounds, the muon magnetic moment constraint, and the Higgs coupling constraint from measurements at HL-LHC, ILC, and CEPC, is shown in the planes of various interesting model parameters and sparticle masses. Our study indicates that the Higgs coupling and muon anomalous magnetic moment measurements can constrain the parameter space effectively. It is shown that $Δ_{\rm EW}\sim$ 30, consistence with all constraints, and having supersymmetric contributions to the muon anomalous magnetic moment within 1$σ$ can be achieved. The precision of $k_b$ and $k_τ$ measurements at CEPC can bound $m_A$ to be above 1.2 TeV and 1.1 TeV respectively. The combination of the Higgs coupling measurement and muon anomalous magnetic moment measurement constrain $\tilde{e}_R$ mass to be in the range from 0.6 TeV to 2 TeV. The range of both $\tilde{e}_L$ and $\tildeν_e$ masses is 0.4 TeV $\sim$ 1.2 TeV. In all cases, the $\tildeχ_1^0$ mass needs to be small (mostly $\leq$ 400 GeV). The comparison of bounds in the $\tanβ- m_A$ plane shows that the Higgs coupling measurement is complementary to the direct collider searches for heavy Higgs when constraining the natural SUSY. A few mass spectra in the typical region of parameter space after applying all constraints are shown as well.

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arXiv2015

Limits on Excited Quarks from the ATLAS Multi-jet Search

We interpret the recent ATLAS multi-jet search results using 20.3 fb-1 data at sqrt(s)=8 TeV in the context of searching for excited quarks. Within the effective field theory framework, using the null results of that search, our analysis shows that the excited quark mass below 5 TeV can be excluded at the 95% confidence level. Our analysis also indicates that when the validation of effective field theory is considered, the limit can be largely compromised.

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arXiv2015

Natural Supersymmetry, Muon $g-2$, and the Last Crevices for the Top Squark

We study the interplay of natural supersymmetry and a supersymmetric solution to the discrepancy observed in measurements of the muon magnetic moment. The strongest constraints on the parameter space currently come from chargino searches in the trilepton channel and slepton searches in the dilepton channel at the LHC, and vast regions are currently allowed, especially at large $\tanβ$. With light top squarks in the spectrum, as required from naturalness arguments, the situation changes dramatically; stop-assisted chargino and neutralino production via $\tilde{t} \rightarrow b \tildeχ_{1}^{\pm}$ and $\tilde{t} \rightarrow t \tildeχ_{1}^0$ are already probing the entire parameter space compatible with the muon magnetic moment at $\tanβ \sim \mathcal{O}(10)$, while upcoming stop searches will probe most of the parameter space at larger $\tanβ \sim 40$. Direct Higgsino searches as well as compressed slepton and stop searches are crucial to close out corners of parameter space. We consider one such example: in the presence of light sleptons and charginos as required to obtain appreciable contributions to the muon magnetic moment, compressed stops can dominantly undergo the following decay $\tilde{t} \, \rightarrow \, b \tilde{\ell} ν(\tildeν \ell) \, \rightarrow \, b \ell ν\tildeχ_{1}^0$, facilitated by off-shell charginos. We find that the enhanced branching to leptons leads to a $5 σ$ mass reach (with $3000$ fb$^{-1}$ of data at LHC14) of $m_{\tilde{t}} \, \sim \, 350$ GeV, with the mass difference between stops and the lightest neutralino being $\sim 80$ GeV. This will further close out a significant part of the parameter space compatible with naturalness and the muon magnetic moment.

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arXiv2015

Probing Compressed Sleptons at the LHC using Vector Boson Fusion Processes

The vector boson fusion (VBF) topology at the Large Hadron Collider at 14 TeV provides an opportunity to search for new physics. A feasibility study for the search of sleptons in a compressed mass spectra scenario is presented in the final state of two jets, one or two low $p_{T}$ non-resonant leptons, and missing energy. The presence of the VBF tagged jets and missing energy are effective in reducing Standard Model backgrounds. Using smuon production with a mass difference between $\tilde{l}_{L}$ and $\tildeχ_{1}^0$ of 5-15 GeV, the significance of observing the signal events is found to be $\sim$ 3-6$σ$ for $m_{\tilde{l}}$=115-135 GeV, considering an integrated luminosity of 3000 fb$^{-1}$.

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arXiv2014

Probing Compressed Top Squarks at the LHC at 14 TeV

A feasibility study is presented for the search of the lightest top squark in a compressed scenario, where its mass is approximately equal to the sum of the masses of the top quark and the lightest neutralino. The study is performed in the final state of two b-jets, one lepton, large missing energy, and two high-$E_{\rm T}$ jets with large separation in pseudo-rapidity, in opposite hemispheres, and with large dijet mass. The LHC could discover compressed top squarks with mass up to approximately 340 GeV (390 GeV) with an integrated luminosity of 1000 ifb (3000 ifb).

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arXiv2013

Probing Supersymmetric Dark Matter and the Electroweak Sector using Vector Boson Fusion Processes: A Snowmass Whitepaper

Vector boson fusion (VBF) processes at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) provide a unique opportunity to search for new physics with electroweak couplings. Two studies are presented: (i) A search of supersymmetric dark matter in the final state of two VBF jets and large missing transverse energy is presented at 14 TeV. Prospects for determining the dark matter relic density are studied for the cases of Wino and Bino-Higgsino dark matter. The LHC could probe Wino dark matter with mass up to approximately 600 GeV with a luminosity of 1000 fb$^{-1}$. (ii) A search for the chargino/neutralino system in the final state of two VBF jets, missing transverse energy and two $τ$'s (light stau case) and light lepton $e$ and $μ$ (light slepton case). The $5 σ$ mass reach at 300 fb$^{-1}$ (1000 fb$^{-1}$) of LHC14 for inclusive and opposite-sign $τ$ pairs are 250 GeV (300 GeV) and 200 GeV (250 GeV), respectively, for $ΔM \, = \, m_{\tildeτ_1} - m_{\neu{1}} \, = \, 30$ GeV. For $ΔM \, = \, 15$ GeV, the $3 σ$ mass reach at 300 fb$^{-1}$ (1000 fb$^{-1}$) of LHC14 for inclusive $τ$ pairs is 180 GeV. The $5 σ$ mass reach at 300 fb$^{-1}$ (1000 fb$^{-1}$) of LHC14 for inclusive and opposite-sign $μ$ pairs are approximately 350 GeV (400 GeV) and 300 GeV (350 GeV), respectively. The mass reaches in the same-sign final state cases are similar to those in the opposite-sign cases.

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arXiv2013

Probing Dark Matter at the LHC using Vector Boson Fusion Processes

Vector boson fusion (VBF) processes at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) provide a unique opportunity to search for new physics with electroweak couplings. A feasibility study for the search of supersymmetric dark matter in the final state of two VBF jets and large missing transverse energy is presented at 14 TeV. Prospects for determining the dark matter relic density are studied for the cases of Wino and Bino-Higgsino dark matter. The LHC could probe Wino dark matter with mass up to approximately 600 GeV with a luminosity of 1000 fb$^{-1}$.

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