arXiv subjects

M. Schlaffer

Publications and source records attributed to M. Schlaffer.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

Probing the strange Higgs coupling at lepton colliders using light-jet flavor tagging

We propose a method to probe the coupling of the Higgs to strange quarks by tagging strange jets at future lepton colliders. For this purpose we describe a jet-flavor observable, $J_F$, that is correlated with the flavor of the quark associated with the hard part of the jet. Using this variable, we set up a strangeness tagger aimed at studying the decay $h\to s\bar{s}$. We determine the sensitivity of our method to the strange Yukawa coupling, and find it to be of the order of the standard-model expectation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

The CLIC Potential for New Physics

The Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) is a mature option for the future of high energy physics. It combines the benefits of the clean environment of $e^+e^-$ colliders with operation at high centre-of-mass energies, allowing to probe scales beyond the reach of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) for many scenarios of new physics. This places the CLIC project at a privileged spot in between the precision and energy frontiers, with capabilities that will significantly extend knowledge on both fronts at the end of the LHC era. In this report we review and revisit the potential of CLIC to search, directly and indirectly, for physics beyond the Standard Model.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

On the challenge of estimating diphoton backgrounds at large invariant mass

Diphoton searches at high invariant mass are an integral part of the experimental high energy frontier. Using the analyses of the 750\,GeV diphoton resonance as a case study, we examine the methodology currently employed by the experimental analyses in estimating the dominant standard model backgrounds. We assess the dependence of the significance associated with the excess on the background modeling. In particular, we show that close to the high energy tails of the distributions, estimates of the jet faking backgrounds relying on functional extrapolations or Monte Carlo estimates of the challenging photon-jet contributions introduce a large uncertainty. Analyses with loose photon cuts, low photon $p_T$ cuts and those susceptible to high photon rapidity regions are especially affected. Given that diphoton-based searches beyond 1\,TeV are highly motivated as discovery modes, these considerations are relevant and applicable in the future. We first consider a physics-driven deformation of the shape of the diphoton faking photon-jet spectrum by next-to-leading order effects combined with a rapidity and transverse momentum dependent fake rate. We show that the resulting local significance of the excess is reduced due to such a deformation. Then using a simple, but more general, ansatz to modify the contribution of the jet faking backgrounds at high invariant masses but keeping the inclusive and differential sample purities within experimental uncertainty estimates, we demonstrate that the originally reported local 750\,GeV excess significances could have been overestimated by more than one standard deviation. We furthermore cross-check our analysis by comparing fit results based on the smaller 2015 and the larger 2016 LHC datasets. Finally we employ our methodology on the complete 13\,TeV LHC dataset to asses the systematics involved in the current diphoton searches beyond the TeV region.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

Effective Field Theory Analysis of New Physics in e+e- -> W+W- at a Linear Collider

We analyze new physics contributions to $e^+e^-\to W^+W^-$ at the TeV energy scale, employing an effective field theory framework. A complete basis of next-to-leading order operators in the standard model effective Lagrangian is used, both for the nonlinear and the linear realization of the electroweak sector. The elimination of redundant operators via equations-of-motion constraints is discussed in detail. Polarized cross sections for $e^+e^-\to W^+W^-$ (on-shell) are computed and the corrections to the standard model results are given in an expansion for large $s/M^2_W$. The dominant relative corrections grow with $s$ and can be fully expressed in terms of modified gauge-fermion couplings. These corrections are interpreted in the context of the Goldstone boson equivalence theorem. Explicit new physics models are considered to illustrate the generation and the potential size of the coefficients in the effective Lagrangian. Brief comments are made on the production of $W^+W^-$ pairs at the LHC.

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arXiv2012

Benchmark Models, Planes, Lines and Points for Future SUSY Searches at the LHC

We define benchmark models for SUSY searches at the LHC, including the CMSSM, NUHM, mGMSB, mAMSB, MM-AMSB and p19MSSM, as well as models with R-parity violation and the NMSSM. Within the parameter spaces of these models, we propose benchmark subspaces, including planes, lines and points along them. The planes may be useful for presenting results of the experimental searches in different SUSY scenarios, while the specific benchmark points may serve for more detailed detector performance tests and comparisons. We also describe algorithms for defining suitable benchmark points along the proposed lines in the parameter spaces, and we define a few benchmark points motivated by recent fits to existing experimental data.

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