Overview of Collider Limits on New Physics within MicrOMEGAs 4.3
The paper discussed here elaborates on the advancements made in micrOMEGAs, version 4.3. It focuses on integrating complex experimental constraints, mainly stemming from the constraints imposed by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) data, into the computational framework for the evaluation of dark matter models within extensions of the Standard Model (SM).
The micrOMEGAs code has been instrumental in computing dark matter observables and their compatibility with LHC results. The significant progress in high-energy physics, particularly with the Higgs boson discovery and exploratory searches for new particles at LHC, necessitates an improved interface of micrOMEGAs with various external codes. This integration enables the comprehensive assessment of dark matter scenarios against collider constraints from different frameworks like HiggsBounds, Lilith, HiggsSignals, and SModelS.
Higgs-Sector Constraints
The Higgs sector constraints are meticulously updated using tools like Lilith and HiggsSignals. Lilith, a fast Python library, constructs a global likelihood function based on the Higgs boson signal strengths derived from ATLAS and CMS. The constraints are particularly relevant to new physics models altering the Higgs couplings or involving branching ratios into undetected states. Lilith's strength in fast parameter space exploration is leveraged by micrOMEGAs to calculate p-values and verify compatibility with observed Higgs data.
HiggsSignals, alongside HiggsBounds, adds another layer by focusing on exclusion limits for additional Higgs states beyond the discovered 125 GeV particle. This is crucial for models proposing extra Higgs bosons. The interface with these tools ensures thorough validation of new Higgs predictions against a wide array of available experimental results.
Collider Limits on New Particles
The micrOMEGAs framework extends its capabilities by interfacing with SModelS, a powerful tool for testing the predictions of Beyond Standard Model (BSM) physics against Simplified Model Spectra (SMS) from SUSY searches. SModelS decomposes the BSM input into basic components and matches them with LHC upper limits. This feature is particularly vital for scenarios involving Z2-symmetric models, offering constraints even in absence of specific LLP (Long-Lived Particle) decay channels.
Other incorporated constraints include LEP limits on sparticle masses, limits on Z boson's invisible decay widths, and cross-section constraints on more common searches like Z0 bosons and mono-jet events. These additions enhance micrOMEGAs' versatility in quickly ruling out or validating parts of the parameter space.
Implications and Future Directions
This enhancement in micrOMEGAs caters to the computational needs of dark matter studies where models need constant validation against evolving experimental data. Through streamlined interfaces and robust performance, it offers researchers a faster and more reliable tool to correlate theoretical predictions with complex experimental constraints.
In the future, further developments could expand micrOMEGAs' scope by integrating additional LHC result interpretations, and possibly incorporating more comprehensive recasting tools such as MadAnalysis5 or CheckMate, albeit with a recognition of their computational demand. These plans would cater to an increasingly complex experimental landscape, especially as the LHC gathers more data at higher energies.
Overall, the integration of these interfaces in micrOMEGAs 4.3 significantly strengthens its utility in contemporary high-energy physics research, providing an indispensable toolset for theoretical physicists working on dark matter models. It simplifies the process of confronting complex model predictions with collider data, thus lending momentum to the ongoing task of probing the unknowns of particle physics.
