Astroparticle Physics at LHC
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MSc Physics Master Thesis Astroparticle physics at LHC Dark matter search in ATLAS by Michaël Muusse 6171885 September 2015 60 EC September 2013 – September 2015 Supervisor/Examiner: Examiner: Dr. D. Berge Dr. M. Vreeswijk ... Astroparticle physics at the LHC Dark matter search in ATLAS Astrophysics at the LHC – Dark matter seach in ATLAS ii Astrophysics at the LHC – Dark matter seach in ATLAS iii Astroparticle physics at the LHC Dark matter search in ATLAS Master thesis in Physics Michael Muusse July 2015 Track: Grappa, University of Amsterdam Supervisor: Dr. D. Berge 2nd supervisor: Dr. D. Salek Second Reviewer: Dr. M. Vreeswijk ... Astrophysics at the LHC – Dark matter seach in ATLAS iv Front cover image credit: [14] [178] edited. Astrophysics at the LHC – Dark matter seach in ATLAS v Abstract Astroparticle physics at the LHC – Dark matter search in ATLAS In astronomy and cosmology the hypothesized existence of dark matter and its properties are inferred indirectly from observed gravitational effects. An explanation for the missing mass problem in the study of motion of galaxies and clusters, the shape of galactic rotation curves, observations on weak gravitational lens effects near clusters and the correspondence between the cosmic microwave background anisotropies and the large- scale structure of the Universe, could be given by a form of non electromagnetic interacting, invisible matter, hence called dark matter. An undetected heavy elementary relic particle that interacts only trough the gravitational and weak forces is a leading candidate for dark matter. Furthermore elementary particles with Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) properties arise often in theories beyond the standard model. Since WIMPs are ought to be produced in particle accelerator experiments, important evidence could be found in the analysis of high energy collisions in the LHC. In this thesis simulations of the pair production of WIMPs in the upcoming 2015 LHC collisions with energy of 14 TeV are analysed and the sensitivity of a signature of large missing energy accompanied by a jets is studied. A ROOT program was written which optimises the selection criteria for signature events for all different scenarios of WIMP and mediator particle properties. Different models with a contact interaction represented by the D5 operator or an interaction trough a generic Z’ intermediate state with mediator masses in the range between Mz’ = 100 GeV and Mz’ = 15 TeV and with a dark matter mass of Mx = 50 GeV and Mx = 400 GeV were studied and show harder selection cuts don’t always improve signal to background ratios but a tuned asymmetric selection is preferred. Considering all 48 studied models in 62.9% of the cases significance was enhanced by an average of 3.0% with respect to the application of any of the standard used selection methods, while there was no situation in which significance was decreased. This confirms the viewpoint of multiple jets being created opposed to the invisible WIMPs and shows the importance of using tuned selection criteria to enhance significance. Astrophysics at the LHC – Dark matter seach in ATLAS vi Astrophysics at the LHC – Dark matter seach in ATLAS vii Table of contents Front cover 1 ...................................................................................................................... i Front cover 2 ...................................................................................................................... iii Abstract .............................................................................................................................. v Table of contents ............................................................................................................... vii Preface ............................................................................................................................... xi Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1. Dark matter in astrophysics ........................................................... 5 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 5 1.2.1 Evidence for dark matter - Motion of galaxies and clusters ................................ 6 1.2.2 Evidence for dark matter - Gravitational lensing .................................................. 8 1.2.3 Evidence for dark matter - The CMB.................................................................... 9 1.2.4 Evidence for dark matter - Bullet Cluster ............................................................. 12 1.3 Dark matter candidates ......................................................................................... 13 1.4 Alternatives for dark matter .................................................................................. 16 Chapter 2. Dark matter in Big Bang cosmology .............................................. 17 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 17 2.2 Spacetime & special relativity ............................................................................... 17 2.3 Spacetime and gravity, general relativity .............................................................. 19 2.4 The cosmological principle.................................................................................... 22 2.5 The expanding Universe ....................................................................................... 23 2.6 The Big Bang model.............................................................................................. 24 2.7.1 Problems with Big Bang theory: The horizon problem ......................................... 29 2.7.2 Problems with Big Bang theory: The flatness problem ........................................ 29 2.7.3 Inflation theory ....................................................................................................... 30 2.8.1 The thermal history of the Universe ...................................................................... 31 2.8.2 The Planck era ...................................................................................................... 31 2.8.3 Grand Unification .................................................................................................. 31 2.8.4 Inflation era ............................................................................................................ 32 2.8.5 Baryogenesis......................................................................................................... 32 2.8.6 Electroweak symmetry breaking ........................................................................... 33 2.8.7 The hadron epoch ................................................................................................. 33 2.8.8 The lepton epoch .................................................................................................. 34 2.8.9 Nucleosynthesis .................................................................................................... 34 2.8.10 Matter radiation equality ........................................................................................ 34 2.8.11 Recombination ...................................................................................................... 35 Astrophysics at the LHC – Dark matter seach in ATLAS viii 2.8.12 Structure formation................................................................................................ 35 2.8.14 Reionization........................................................................................................... 35 2.8.15 Formation of galaxies ............................................................................................ 36 2.8.16 Formation of the Solar System ............................................................................. 37 2.8.17 Today..................................................................................................................... 37 2.9 ΛCDM .................................................................................................................... 37 Chapter 3. Dark matter in particle physics ...................................................... 39 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 39 3.2.1 Symmetries and conservation laws ...................................................................... 39 3.2.2 External symmetries of spacetime ........................................................................ 39 3.2.3 Internal symmetries of spacetime ......................................................................... 40 3.3.1 The standard model of particle physics ................................................................ 42 3.3.2 Additional global symmetries in the Standard Model ........................................... 44 3.3.3 The Higgs mechanism .......................................................................................... 44 3.4.1 Problems with the Standard Model ....................................................................... 45 3.4.2 Extensions of the Standard Model ........................................................................ 50 3.5.1 WIMP detection ..................................................................................................... 53 3.5.2 Direct detection of WIMPs ...................................................................................