Nonresonant Searches for Axionlike Particles at the LHC

We propose a new collider probe for axionlike particles (ALPs), and more generally for pseudo-Goldstone bosons: nonresonant searches that take advantage of the derivative nature of their interactions with Standard Model particles. ALPs can participate as off shell mediators in the s channel of 2→2 s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 124; no. 5; p. 051802
Main Authors Gavela, M B, No, J M, Sanz, V, de Trocóniz, J F
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 07.02.2020
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Summary:We propose a new collider probe for axionlike particles (ALPs), and more generally for pseudo-Goldstone bosons: nonresonant searches that take advantage of the derivative nature of their interactions with Standard Model particles. ALPs can participate as off shell mediators in the s channel of 2→2 scattering processes at colliders like the LHC. We exemplify the power of this novel type of search by deriving new limits on ALP couplings to gauge bosons via the processes pp→ZZ, pp→γγ, and pp→jj using run 2 CMS public data, probing previously unexplored areas of the ALP parameter space. In addition, we propose future nonresonant searches involving the ALP coupling to other electroweak bosons and/or the Higgs particle.
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.051802