Search for pair production of scalar bottom quarks in ppbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV

Abstract

A search for direct production of scalar bottom quarks (sb) is performed with 310 pb-1 of data collected by the DO experiment in ppbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The topology analyzed consists of two b jets and an imbalance in transverse momentum due to undetected neutralinos chi0_1, with chi0_1 assumed to be the lightest supersymmetric particle. We find the data consistent with standard model expectations, and set a 95% C.L. exclusion domain in the (m_sb,m_chi0_1) mass plane, improving significantly upon the results from Run I of the Tevatron.

Published in Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 171806 (2006) - Minor changes in v2 to match the published version