Search for new physics in<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mi>e</mml:mi><mml:mi>μ</mml:mi><mml:mi>X</mml:mi></mml:math>data at DØ using SLEUTH: A quasi-model-independent search strategy for new physics

Abstract

We present a quasi-model-independent search for the physics responsible for electroweak symmetry breaking. We define final states to be studied, and construct a rule that identifies a set of relevant variables for any particular final state. A new algorithm (``SLEUTH'') searches for regions of excess in those variables and quantifies the significance of any detected excess. After demonstrating the sensitivity of the method, we apply it to the semi-inclusive channel $e\ensuremath{\mu}X$ collected in 108 ${\mathrm{pb}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ of $p\overline{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.8$ TeV at the D\O{} experiment during 1992--1996 at the Fermilab Tevatron. We find no evidence of new high ${p}_{T}$ physics in this sample.