Abstract: Even if supersymmetric particles are found at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), it will be difficult to prove that they constitute the bulk of the dark matter (DM) in the Universe using LHC data alone. We study the complementarity of LHC and DM indirect searches, working out explicitly the reconstruction of the DM properties for a specific benchmark model in the coannihilation region of a 24-parameters supersymmetric model. Combining mock high-luminosity LHC data with presentday null searches for gamma rays from dwarf galaxies with the Fermi Large Area Telescope, we show that current Fermi Large Area Telescope limits already have the capability of ruling out a spurious wino-like solution which would survive using LHC data only, thus leading to the correct identification of the cosmological solution. We also demonstrate that upcoming Planck constraints on the reionization history will have a similar constraining power and discuss the impact of a possible detection of gamma rays from DM annihilation in the Draco dwarf galaxy with a Cherenkov-Telescope-Array-like experiment. Our results indicate that indirect searches can be strongly complementary to the LHC in identifying the DM particles, even when astrophysical uncertainties are taken into account.

Abstract: Nonstandard on-shell decays of W-+/- and Z bosons are possible within the framework of extended supersymmetric models, i.e., with singlet states and/or new couplings compared to the minimal supersymmetric standard model. These modes are typically encountered in regions of the parameter space with light singlet-like scalars, pseudoscalars, and neutralinos. In this letter we emphasize how these states can lead to novel signals at colliders from Z- or W-+/--boson decays with prompt or displaced multileptons/tau jets/jets/photons in the final states. These new modes would give distinct evidence of new physics even when direct searches remain unsuccessful. We discuss the possibilities of probing these new signals using the existing LHC run-I data set. We also address the same in the context of the LHC run-II, as well as for the future colliders. We exemplify our observations with the “mu from v” supersymmetric standard model, where three generations of right-handed neutrino superfields are used to solve shortcomings of the minimal supersymmetric standard model. We also extend our discussion for other variants of supersymmetric models that can accommodate similar signatures.

Abstract: MoEDAL is designed to identify new physics in the form of long-lived highly ionizing particles produced in high-energy LHC collisions. Its arrays of plastic nuclear-track detectors and aluminium trapping volumes provide two independent passive detection techniques. We present here the results of a first search for magnetic monopole production in 13 TeV proton-proton collisions using the trapping technique, extending a previous publication with 8 TeV data during LHC Run 1. A total of 222 kg of MoEDAL trapping detector samples was exposed in the forward region and analyzed by searching for induced persistent currents after passage through a superconducting magnetometer. Magnetic charges exceeding half the Dirac charge are excluded in all samples and limits are placed for the first time on the production of magnetic monopoles in 13 TeV pp collisions. The search probes mass ranges previously inaccessible to collider experiments for up to five times the Dirac charge.