In the realm of high-energy physics, researchers are continually pushing the boundaries of our understanding, with implications that often ripple out to other sectors, including energy. Among these researchers are Jayita Lahiri, Tania Robens, and Krzysztof Rolbiecki, who are affiliated with the University of Manchester, the University of Siegen, and the University of Warsaw, respectively. Their recent work delves into the intricacies of particle physics models and their detection at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), with potential insights for energy applications.
The team’s research focuses on two specific models of particle physics: the two Higgs-doublet model with a pseudoscalar singlet (2HDMa) and the Inert Doublet Model (IDM). Both models predict the existence of new particles that could be produced at the LHC and decay into final states with leptons and missing energy. The researchers analyzed experimental exclusion bounds derived from searches for the 2HDMa and applied them to the IDM, which shares similar final states.
One of the key findings of this study is that the sensitivity of the ATLAS search for the 2HDMa, which is optimized for a specific model topology, might not be sufficient to detect other new physics scenarios that have larger rates. This highlights the importance of developing more versatile search strategies that can cover a broader range of potential new physics scenarios.
The researchers also provided an update on constraints from vector boson fusion production of the Standard Model-like scalar and subsequent invisible decay from full Run 2 data on the parameter space of the IDM. They emphasized the off-shell region, which is often overlooked but could hold crucial information about the properties of the IDM. Additionally, they discussed a search that specifically concentrates on soft lepton final states, which could provide complementary information to other searches.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector are not immediately apparent, as the study is primarily focused on fundamental particle physics. However, a deeper understanding of the fundamental forces and particles that make up our universe could potentially lead to breakthroughs in energy production, storage, and transmission. For instance, advances in particle physics could inspire new approaches to nuclear fusion, which is a promising area of research for clean and abundant energy production.
In conclusion, the work of Lahiri, Robens, and Rolbiecki contributes to our understanding of particle physics models and their detection at the LHC. While the direct applications to the energy sector may not be immediate, the pursuit of fundamental science often leads to unexpected and transformative advancements. This research was published in the Journal of High Energy Physics.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.