Search for supersymmetry in hadronic final states using MT2 with the CMS detector at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV

A search for supersymmetry or similar new physics is carried out using a sample with 19.5 fb$^{-1}$ integrated luminosity of $\sqrt{s} = 8$ TeV pp collisions collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. Our main approach, the inclusive $M_\mathrm{T2}$ analysis, is based on fully hadronic final states. Events are selected using the stransverse mass variable, $M_\mathrm{T2}$, and analyzed separately for different jet and b-tagged jet multiplicities. The signal is separated from the standard model background by requiring high values of $M_\mathrm{T2}$. The remaining backgrounds consist of $Z$+jets events where the $Z$ decays to neutrinos, $W$+jets events, and $t\bar{t}$+jets events, where one $W$ is decaying leptonically, but the charged lepton escaping detection. A second line of approach, the $M_\mathrm{T2}$ Higgs analysis, targets supersymmetric models with a Higgs boson produced within supersymmetric cascades and exploits the dominant decay channel to $b \bar{b}$. We search for a signal in the invariant mass distribution of the selected b pairs. For both approaches, all backgrounds are estimated using data-driven methods. No significant excess of events over the expected background is observed. Exclusion limits in various simplified models are derived.