<p> This dissertation describes the search for large extra dimensions. Such extra dimensions could solve the hierarchy problem, one of the greatest puzzles in the field of particle physics. The hierarchy problem is the mystery of why gravity is significantly weaker than the electromagnetic, strong, and weak forces. A solution would unify the strength of gravity with the strength of the other forces. There are many possible tests for extra dimensions. Presented is the analysis of proton-proton collisions with final states in which a single photon recoils from an invisible particle. These data were collected with the Compact Muon Solenoid detector during the 2011 Large Hadron Collider run at CERN, in Geneva, Switzerland, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 5 fb<sup>-1</sup> of proton-proton collisions at a center of mass energy of 7 TeV. </p><p> Backgrounds are estimated using data driven techniques for those due to <i>W</i> → νe, hadronic jets, and non-collision backgrounds such as beam remnants faking a photon, and anomalous energy deposits in the electromagnetic calorimeter. The less significant backgrounds are estimated using Monte Carlo simulation, <i>W</i>γ, dijet, and jet + γ. The irreducible Z(νν)+ γ background was estimated in Monte Carlo for the extra dimension search, but in later studies this component should be estimated by using a ratio of the measured <i>Z</i>γ → μμγ cross section. </p><p> The results are consistent with the predicted Standard Model cross section of Z bosons decaying to neutrino pairs. Subsequently, the worlds best limits are placed on the monophoton topology of large extra dimensions. The same analysis provides a measurement of the Z(ν<span style="text-decoration:overline">ν</span>)+γ cross section consistent with next to leading order predictions.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:3596924 |
| Date | 21 November 2013 |
| Creators | Miceli, Tia Marie |
| Publisher | University of California, Davis |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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