Rare particle decay challenges supersymmetry theories

BBC : Supersymmetry is a term used to describe a set of theories that attempt to explain several failings of the standard model of particle physics. The detection of a specific decay process for the strange B meson is challenging several variations of supersymmetry. Researchers from the Large Hadron Collider at CERN have recently detected the first-ever decay of a strange B meson into two muons. Based on their other observations of strange B mesons, they calculated that this decay route only occurs one time in one billion decays. Many versions of supersymmetry have predicted that this decay route would occur much more frequently. The result is otherwise completely in line with standard model predictions. The signal itself is not yet at the confidence level that is considered conclusive proof for the decay pattern. However, even if the muonâmuon decay hasn’t been detected, it still occurs so infrequently that supersymmetry has been dealt a strong blow. Some theorists are already looking for alternatives to the standard model, which doesn’t explain the existence of dark matter. Other theorists believe that other forms of supersymmetry may still be correct.