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Quantum black holes with charge, colour, and spin at the LHC

In low-scale gravity scenarios, quantum black holes could be produced at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) provided the Planck scale is not higher than a few TeV. Based on fundamental principles and a few basic assumptions, we have constructed a model for quantum black hole production and decay in proton-proton collisions. By performing a detailed particle-level simulation at LHC energies, we have estimated cross sections and branching fractions for final-state particle topologies that would uniquely identify quantum black holes in LHC detectors. If the Planck scale is about a TeV, even with the most pessimistic assumptions, the rates for quantum black hole production are estimated to be above backgrounds, and some of the final-particle states are not found in Standard Model processes. Our results could form the starting point for a detailed investigation of quantum black holes by the LHC experiments.