Limits on Split Supersymmetry from Gluino Cosmology

Abstract

An upper limit on the masses of scalar superpartners in split supersymmetry is found by considering cosmological constraints on long-lived gluinos. Over most of parameter space, the most stringent constraint comes from big bang nucleosynthesis. A TeV mass gluino must have a lifetime of less than 100 seconds to avoid altering the abundances of D and Li-6. This sets an upper limit on the supersymmetry breaking scale of 10^9 GeV.

Comments: 10 pages, 2 figures. v2: Gluino lifetime corrected, conclusions unchanged. v3: references added