A search for supersymmetric top quarks in CMS 8TeV data in the b/τ + jets + met + muon final state

Abstract

This dissertation examines data recorded in 2012 by the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to search for supersymmetric top quark decay. In order to reduce the substantial backgrounds and properly calibrate simulation with data, the Simultaneous Heavy Flavor and Tag (SHyFT) method is employed. SHyFT divides events into bins based on their event content to produce signal and background-enriched regions. Then, a global fit is performed over all the bins simultaneously, which not only extracts the estimated signal contribution, but also constrains the contributions of the backgrounds and estimates the values of several systematic uncertainties. Using currently available data, this dissertation sets limits on the cross-section of particular supersymmetric models.