Theoretical and Experimental Approaches to Dark Energy and the Cosmological Constant Problem

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

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2. Introduction

   • Ahmad Borzou

   Pages 1-3

3. Dark Energy

   • Ahmad Borzou

   Pages 5-16

4. A Lorentz Gauge Theory of Gravity

   • Ahmad Borzou

   Pages 17-35

5. Standard Model and Supersymmetry

   • Ahmad Borzou

   Pages 37-46

6. The Large Hadron Collider

   • Ahmad Borzou

   Pages 47-52

7. The Compact Muon Solenoid

   • Ahmad Borzou

   Pages 53-71

8. Search for Supersymmetry in the Multijet and Missing Transverse Momentum Channel in pp Collisions at 13 TeV

   • Ahmad Borzou

   Pages 73-105

9. Summary

   • Ahmad Borzou

   Pages 107-108

10. Back Matter

    Pages 109-111

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This thesis represents a unique mix of theoretical work discussing the Lorentz theory of gravity and experimental work searching for supersymmetry with the Compact Muon Solenoid experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. It begins by reviewing a set of widely-discussed theoretical solutions to the cosmological constant problem, including a natural solution provided by the recently developed Lorentz gauge theory of gravity. The Schwartzschild metric, de Sitter space, and quantum versions of the theory are also discussed. The thesis then looks to supersymmetry for an alternative solution. The idea behind supersymmetry is reviewed and an experimental search for supersymmetry is presented. A major contribution was to estimate one of the most significant backgrounds in this search, which arises from top-antitop quark pair production or W boson production in association with multiple jets where the W boson decays into the hadronically-decaying tau leptons and neutrinos. This background was estimated through a novel method involving kinematically analogous events but including a well-measured muon. This search significantly extends limits on supersymmetric partners of gluons from previous searches.

• solutions cosmological constant
• solutions dark energy
• Lorentz gauge theory of gravity
• Schwartzschild metric
• de Sitter space
• search for supersymmetry
• large hadron collider
• compact muon solenoid

• EUCOS-CASPAR, Physics Department, Baylor University, Waco, USA

  Ahmad Borzou

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