We report on a search for direct scalar bottom quark (sbottom) pair production in $p\overline{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.96\mathrm{TeV}$, in events with large missing transverse energy and two jets of hadrons in the final state, where at least one of the jets is required to be identified as originating from a $b$ quark. The study uses a collider detector at Fermilab Run II data sample corresponding to $2.65{\mathrm{fb}}^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. The data are in agreement with the standard model. In an $R$-parity conserving minimal supersymmetric scenario, and assuming that the sbottom decays exclusively into a bottom quark and a neutralino, 95% confidence-level upper limits on the sbottom pair production cross section of 0.1 pb are obtained. For neutralino masses below $70\mathrm{GeV}/c^2$, sbottom masses up to $230\mathrm{GeV}/c^2$ are excluded at 95% confidence level.

• Received 16 May 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.081802