Are Light Gluinos Dead?

Abstract

Not yet. ALEPH's recent exclusion limit employs an aggressive determination of theoretical uncertainties using a simplified application of the Bayesian method. The validity of their analysis can be evaluated by its further implications, such as contradicting the existence a b quark and requiring relations between hadronic event-shape observables which are not observed. Traditional error estimation methods result in a much larger estimate for the theoretical uncertainties. This puts the ALEPH and also Csikor-Fodor limits at the $\sim 1~ σ$ level for the very light gluino scenario. A recent astrophysical result implies direct searches will be more difficult than previously anticipated, adding to the importance of reducing the QCD uncertainty in predictions sensitive to indirect effects of light gluinos. Some possible indications in favor of a light gluino are noted.