Unravelling Strings at the LHC

TL;DR

This paper introduces the footprint framework to connect high‑scale string/$M$ theory vacua with LHC observables by mapping microscopic parameters to signature space and analyzing correlations among signatures. It studies four realistic string‑susy classes (KKLT‑1, KKLT‑2, LGVol, G2‑MSSM) and demonstrates that each yields a finite, distinguishable region in LHC signature space, with correlations between signatures reflecting underlying theory. A quantitative method based on multi‑signature correlations and an overlap metric is developed to assess how well different vacua can be distinguished, showing that the overlap between footprints can be driven to zero with a modest set of observables. The approach remains applicable with limited data and can be generalized to broader string vacua, offering a practical path to using LHC results to constrain or exclude certain corners of the string/$M$‑theory landscape.

Abstract

We construct LHC signature footprints for four semi-realistic string/$M$ theory vacua with an MSSM visible sector. We find that they all give rise to limited regions in LHC signature space, and are qualitatively different from each other for understandable reasons. We also propose a technique in which correlations of LHC signatures can be effectively used to distinguish among these string theory vacua. We expect the technique to be useful for more general string vacua. We argue that further systematic analysis with this approach will allow LHC data to disfavor or exclude major ``corners'' of string/$M$ theory and favor others. The technique can be used with limited integrated luminosity and improved.

Figures (10)

• Figure 1: Two-dimensional slices of the footprint of the three string-susy models. All models are simulated with 5$fb^{-1}$ luminosity in PGS4 with L2 trigger. If not explicitly stated, all signatures include a least two hard jets and large missing transverse energy. For each example, the points are generated by varying the microscopic parameters over their full ranges, as explained in Section \ref{['Sec:scan']}.
• Figure 2: Two-dimensional slices of the footprint of the three string-susy models. All models are simulated with 5$fb^{-1}$ luminosity in PGS4 with L2 trigger. If not explicitly stated, all signatures include a least two hard jets and large missing transverse energy. For each example, the points are generated by varying the microscopic parameters over their full ranges, as explained in Section \ref{['Sec:scan']}.
• Figure 3: A particular slice of footprint for the models studied. The one-lepton charge asymmetry (only include $e$ and $\mu$) is defined as $A_c^{(1)}\equiv\frac{N_l^{+}-N_l^-}{N_l^{+}+N_l^-}$. The SSDF/1tau signature is defined as the ratio of the number of events with SSDF dilepton and the number of events with 1 tau lepton. All models are simulated with 5$fb^{-1}$ luminosity in PGS4 with L2 trigger. If not explicitly stated, all signatures include a least two hard jets and large missing transverse energy. For each example, the points are generated by varying the microscopic parameters over their full ranges, as explained in Section \ref{['Sec:scan']}.
• Figure 4: Slices of footprints for the models studied. All models are simulated with 5$fb^{-1}$ luminosity in PGS4 with L2 trigger. If not explicitly stated, all signatures include a least two hard jets and large missing transverse energy. For each example, the points are generated by varying the microscopic parameters over their full ranges, as explained in Section \ref{['Sec:scan']}.
• Figure 5: Slices of footprints for the models studied. All models are simulated with 5$fb^{-1}$ luminosity in PGS4 with L2 trigger. If not explicitly stated, all signatures include a least two hard jets and large missing transverse energy. For each example, the points are generated by varying the microscopic parameters over their full ranges, as explained in Section \ref{['Sec:scan']}.