Z' Studies at the LHC: An Update

Abdelhak Djouadi (1) , M. Dittmar , A.S. Nicollerat

1 PMT - Laboratoire de Physique Mathématique et Théorique

We reanalyse the potential of the LHC to discover new $Z'$ gauge bosons and to discriminate between various theoretical models. Using a fast LHC detector simulation, we have investigated how well the characteristics of $Z'$ bosons from different models can be measured. For this analysis we have combined the information coming from the cross section measurement, which provides also the $Z'$ mass and total width, the forward-backward charge asymmetries on- and off-peak, and the $Z'$ rapidity distribution, which is sensitive to its $u \bar{u}$ and $d \bar{d}$ couplings. We confirm that new $Z'$ bosons can be observed in the process $pp \to Z' \to l^+ l^-$, up to masses of about 5 TeV for an integrated luminosity of 100 fb$^{-1}$. The off- and on-resonance peak forward-backward charge asymmetries $A_{\rm FB}^{l}$ show that interesting statistical accuracies can be obtained up to $Z'$ masses of the order of 2 TeV. We then show how the different experimental observables allow for a diagnosis of the $Z'$ boson and the distinction between the various considered models.

Domaines: Physique des Hautes Energies - Phénoménologie [hep-ph]; Physique des Hautes Energies - Expérience [hep-ex]

Abdelhak Djouadi, M. Dittmar, A.S. Nicollerat. Z' Studies at the LHC: An Update. Physics Letters B, 2004, 583 (1-2), pp.111-120. ⟨10.1016/j.physletb.2003.09.103⟩. ⟨hal-00315292⟩