A Model Independent Search For New Physics in an Inclusive Di-lepton Event Sample

In this paper we describe a model independent search for new physics in proton proton collisions at a center of mass energy of 7 \TeV using $35 \pm 1 \mathrm{pb^{-1}}$ of inclusive di-lepton data recorded with the CMS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). We base our search on the variable \st which sums the \pt of leptons and jets as well as missing \et and define two signal regions, one rejecting $Z\to \ell\ell~$ like topologies, and one selecting those. We find good agreement between the observed \st distribution and the Standard Model expectation. Thus we derive an upper limit on the cross section times the acceptance $\sigma \times {\cal{A}}$ of new physics in the two signal regions of $0.14~\pb$ at the $95\%$ confidence level for \st above $1000$ and $1200\GeV$ respectively. By providing details of the experimental response to \st we present our results in a way that allows their comparison to a wide range of theoretical models.