Finding the Optimal ΔR Cut for Distinguishing Dark Photon Decay and Background Events
Session Number
Project ID: PHYS 15
Advisor(s)
Dr. Peter Dong; Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Discipline
Physical Science
Start Date
19-4-2023 10:05 AM
End Date
19-4-2023 10:20 AM
Abstract
The phenomenon of dark matter has perplexed physicists for decades, and, in an attempt to find it, some physicists hypothesize a dark sector of particles. These particles interact little with Standard Model particles and have a new force analogous to electromagnetism carried by the dark photon. If this dark photon has enough mass, then it could decay into a tightly collimated pair of leptons. We analyze the cases of the dark photon having masses around 0.3 GeV or 0.9 GeV and compare Monte Carlo generated data and reconstructed data to search for the ΔR cut that can best distinguish dark photon decay events from the background Drell-Yan events. We report the optimal ΔR cut for each case to maximize signal and minimize background.
Finding the Optimal ΔR Cut for Distinguishing Dark Photon Decay and Background Events
The phenomenon of dark matter has perplexed physicists for decades, and, in an attempt to find it, some physicists hypothesize a dark sector of particles. These particles interact little with Standard Model particles and have a new force analogous to electromagnetism carried by the dark photon. If this dark photon has enough mass, then it could decay into a tightly collimated pair of leptons. We analyze the cases of the dark photon having masses around 0.3 GeV or 0.9 GeV and compare Monte Carlo generated data and reconstructed data to search for the ΔR cut that can best distinguish dark photon decay events from the background Drell-Yan events. We report the optimal ΔR cut for each case to maximize signal and minimize background.