A search for supersymmetric top quarks in CMS 8TeV data in the b/τ + jets + met + muon final state
Melo, Andrew Malone
:
2016-04-05
Abstract
This dissertation examines data recorded in 2012 by the Compact Muon
Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to search
for supersymmetric top quark decay. In order to reduce the substantial
backgrounds and properly calibrate simulation with data, the
Simultaneous Heavy Flavor and Tag (SHyFT) method is employed. SHyFT
divides events into bins based on their event content to produce
signal and background-enriched regions. Then, a global fit is
performed over all the bins simultaneously, which not only extracts
the estimated signal contribution, but also constrains the
contributions of the backgrounds and estimates the values of several
systematic uncertainties. Using currently available data, this
dissertation sets limits on the cross-section of particular
supersymmetric models.