Light Stops in the MSSM: Implications for Photino Dark Matter and Top Quark Decay

Abstract

We consider the viability of the minimal supersymmetric standard model with a light ($m_{{\tilde{t}}_1}<$ 45 GeV) stop. In order for its relic abundance to be cosmologically significant, the photino as dark matter must be quite close in mass to the stop, $(m_{{\tilde{t}}_1}-m_{\tilde{\gamma }})\simeq 3-7$ GeV. However, as we show, the photino despite its low mass is virtually undetectable by either direct or indirect means. We also discuss the implications of these masses on the top quark branching ratios.

Comments: 11pages, LaTex, UMN-TH-1309/94