Setting Limits on Lambda for Contact Interactions
Session Number
Project ID: PHYS 08
Advisor(s)
Dr. Peter Dong; llinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Discipline
Physical Science
Start Date
22-4-2020 8:50 AM
End Date
22-4-2020 9:05 AM
Abstract
We will be setting limits on lambda, the energy scale where contact interactions may be observed, on contact interactions in the dilepton channel. Our primary background is from Drell-Yan, and to improve the accuracy of the limit, we are using an innovative new method that looks at contact interactions and Drell-Yan in combination and sets the limits on lambda directly, instead of finding and setting limits based on cross-sections. Previously, we treated contact interactions as a separate process from Drell-Yan. The problem with that method is because some models predict destructive interference, and that can cause our distribution to actually be less than the Standard Model prediction, which cannot be analyzed because there can never be an event that creates a negative number of particles. Our solution to this is by treating the Drell-Yan and contact interaction samples as a single sample and setting a Bayesian limit directly on lambda.
Setting Limits on Lambda for Contact Interactions
We will be setting limits on lambda, the energy scale where contact interactions may be observed, on contact interactions in the dilepton channel. Our primary background is from Drell-Yan, and to improve the accuracy of the limit, we are using an innovative new method that looks at contact interactions and Drell-Yan in combination and sets the limits on lambda directly, instead of finding and setting limits based on cross-sections. Previously, we treated contact interactions as a separate process from Drell-Yan. The problem with that method is because some models predict destructive interference, and that can cause our distribution to actually be less than the Standard Model prediction, which cannot be analyzed because there can never be an event that creates a negative number of particles. Our solution to this is by treating the Drell-Yan and contact interaction samples as a single sample and setting a Bayesian limit directly on lambda.