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Elena Accomando

Publications and source records attributed to Elena Accomando.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2015

Complementarity of Forward-Backward Asymmetry for discovery of Z' bosons at the Large Hadron Collider

The Forward-Backward Asymmetry (AFB) in Z' physics is commonly only thought of as an observable which possibly allows one to profiling a Z' signal by distinguishing different models embedding such (heavy) spin-1 bosons. In this brief review, we examine the potential of AFB in setting bounds on or even discovering a Z' at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and proof that it might be a powerful tool for this purpose. We analyse two different scenarios: Z's with a narrow and wide width, respectively. We find that, in both cases, AFB can complement the conventional searches in accessing Z' signals traditionally based on cross section measurements only.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2015

Exclusion and discovery via Drell-Yan in the 4DCHM

Searches for Z' bosons are most sensitive in the dilepton channels at hadron colliders. Whilst finite width and interference effects do affect the modifications the presence of BSM physics makes to Standard Model (SM) contributions, generic searches are often designed to minimize these. The experimental approach adopted works well in the case of popular models that predict a single and narrow Z' boson allowing these effects to effectively be neglected. Conversely, finite width and interference effects may have to be taken into account in experimental analyses when such Z' states are wide or where several states are predicted. We explore the consequences of these effects in the 4-Dimensional Composite Higgs Model (4DCHM) which includes multiple new Z' bosons and where the decays of these resonances to non-SM fermions can result in large widths.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2013

Z' at the LHC: Interference and Finite Width Effects in Drell-Yan

The interference effects between an extra neutral spin-1 Z'-boson and the Standard Model background in the Drell-Yan channel at the LHC are studied in detail. The final state with two oppositely charged leptons is considered. The interference contribution to the new physics signal, currently not fully taken into account by experimental collaborations in Z'-searches and in the interpretation of the results, can be substantial. It may affect limits or discovery prospects of Z' at the LHC. As the Z'-boson interference is model-dependent, a proper treatment would a priori require a dedicated experimental analysis for each particular model. Doing so could potentially improve the sensitivity to new physics, but would require significantly more experimental effort. At the same time, it is shown that one can define an invariant mass window, valid for a wide range of models, for which the contribution of the model-dependent interference to the Beyond the Standard Model signal is reduced to O(10%), comparable to the level of the combined uncertainty from parton densities and higher order corrections. This quasi-model-independent "magic cut" does not scale with the mass of the Z'-boson and is approximately constant over a large range of masses. Such control of the interference effects relies on not-too-small branching ratios of Z' to leptons (typically of at least a few percent) which can be suppressed, however, by additional new decay channels of the Z'; a small width-to-mass ratio alone does not guarantee the interference to be small over an arbitrary kinematic range. Under the general assumption that these new decay channels of Z' are not dominant, one can perform quasi-model-independent analyses, preserving the current scheme used by the experimental collaborations for the Z'-boson search using the suggested invariant mass window cut.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2012

Interference effects in heavy W'-boson searches at the LHC

Interference effects are widely neglected in searches for new physics. This is the case in recent publications on searches for W'-bosons using leptonic final states. We examine the effects of interference on distributions frequently used to determine mass limits for possible W'-bosons and show that there are important qualitative effects on the behaviour of the new physics signal. There are two main consequences. Firstly, exclusion limits where interferences effects have not been considered are likely to have been overestimated. Secondly, presenting experimental results as a function of a transverse mass cut rather than in terms of the contribution of new physics to the total cross-section would be more informative.

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arXiv2011

W' production at the LHC in the 4-site Higgsless model

We study the phenomenology of the 4-site Higgsless model, based on the $SU(2)_L\times SU(2)_1\times SU(2)_2\times U(1)_Y$ gauge symmetry, at present colliders. The model predicts the existence of two neutral and four charged extra gauge bosons, Z1,Z2,W1,W2. In this paper, we focus on the charged gauge sector. We first derive limits on W1,W2-boson masses and couplings to SM fermions from direct searches at the Tevatron. We then estimate at the 7 TeV LHC the exclusion limits with the actual L=1 fb-1 and the discovery potential with the expected L=10 fb-1. In contrast to the minimal (or 3-site) Higgsless model which predicts almost fermiophobic extra gauge bosons, the next-to-minimal (or 4-site) Higgsless model recovers sizeable W1,W2-boson couplings to ordinary matter, expressing the non-fermiophobic multiresonance inner nature of extra-dimensional theories. Owing to this feature, we find that in one year from now the new heavy gauge bosons, W1 and W2, could be discovered in the final state with an electron and large missing transverse energy at the 7 TeV LHC for W1,W2-boson masses in the TeV region, depending on model parameters.

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arXiv2011

Improved analysis of the bounds from the electroweak precision tests on the 4-site model

We present a new complete analysis of the electroweak precision observables within the recently proposed 4-site Higgsless model, which is based on the SU(2)_L x SU(2)_1 x SU(2)_2 x U(1)_Y gauge symmetry and predicts six extra gauge bosons, W_{1,2} and Z_{1,2}. Within the epsilon_i (i=1,2,3,b) parametrization, we compute for the first time the EWPT bounds via a complete numerical algorithm going beyond commonly used approximations. Both epsilon_{1,3} impose strong constraints. Hence, it is mandatory to consider them jointly when extracting EWPT bounds and to fully take in to account the correlations among the electroweak precison measurements. The phenomenological consequence is that the extra gauge bosons must be heavier than 250 GeV. Their couplings to SM fermions, even if bounded, might be of the same order of magnitude than the SM ones. In contrast to other Higgsless models, the 4-site model is not fermiophobic. The new gauge bosons could thus be discovered in the favoured Drell-Yan channel already during the present run of the LHC experiment.

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arXiv2010

Z' physics with early LHC data

We discuss the prospects for setting limits on or discovering spin-1 $Z'$ bosons using early LHC data at 7 TeV. Our results are based on the narrow width approximation in which the leptonic Drell-Yan $Z'$ boson production cross-section only depends on the $Z'$ boson mass together with two parameters $c_u$ and $c_d$. We carefully discuss the experimental cuts that should be applied and tabulate the theoretical next-to-next-to-leading order corrections which must be included. Using these results the approach then provides a safe, convenient and unbiased way of comparing experiment to theoretical models which avoids any built-in model dependent assumptions. We apply the method to three classes of perturbative $Z'$ boson benchmark models: $E_6$ models, left-right symmetric models and sequential standard models. We generalise each class of model in terms of {mixing angles which continuously parametrize} linear combinations of pairs of generators and lead to distinctive orbits in the $c_u-c_d$ plane. We also apply this method to the strongly coupled four-site benchmark model in which two $Z'$ bosons are predicted. By comparing the experimental limits or discovery bands to the theoretical predictions on the $c_u$-$c_d$ plane, we show that the LHC at 7 TeV with integrated luminosity of 500 pb$^{-1}$ will greatly improve on current Tevatron mass limits for the benchmark models. If a $Z'$ is discovered our results show that measurement of the mass and cross-section will provide a powerful discriminator between the benchmark models using this approach.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2010

Z' production at the LHC in the four-site Higgsless model

We study the phenomenology of the neutral gauge sector of the four-site Higgsless model, based on the SU(2)_L x SU(2)_1 x SU(2)_2 x U(1)_Y gauge symmetry, at present colliders. The model predicts the existence of two neutral and four charged extra gauge bosons, Z_{1,2} and W^\pm_{1,2}. We expand and update a previous study, by concentrating on the neutral sector. We derive new limits on Z_{1,2}-boson masses and couplings from recent direct searches at the Tevatron. We moreover estimate the discovery potential at the Tevatron with a project luminosity L=10 fb^{-1}, and at the 7 TeV LHC with L=1 fb^{-1}. In contrast to other Higgsless theories characterized by almost fermiophobic extra gauge bosons, the four-site model allows sizeable Z_{1,2}-boson couplings to SM fermions. Owing to this feature, we find that in the next two years the extra Z_{1,2}-bosons could be discovered in the favoured Drell-Yan channel at the 7 TeV LHC for Z_{1,2} masses in the TeV region, depending on model parameters.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2007

Isolating Vector Boson Scattering at the LHC: gauge cancellations and the Equivalent Vector Boson Approximation vs complete calculations

We have studied the possibility of extracting the $W^+W^-\to W^+W^-$ signal using the process $us\to cd W^+W^-$ as a test case. We have investigated numerically the strong gauge cancellations between signal and irreducible background, analysing critically the reliability of the Equivalent Vector Boson Approximation which is commonly used to define the signal. Complete matrix elements are necessary to study Electro--Weak Symmetry Breaking effects at high $WW$ invariant mass.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2005

Boson boson scattering at LHC

We analyse some features of WW scattering processes at LHC. The severe cancellations between fusion diagrams and the other contributions evidence the necessity of complete calculations for studying the high WW invariant mass region and disentangling the standard Higgs case from new physics.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2002

Electroweak-correction effects in gauge-boson pair production at the LHC

We have studied the effect of one-loop logarithmic electroweak radiative corrections on WZ and $Wγ$ production processes at the LHC. We present analytical results for the leading-logarithmic electroweak corrections to the corresponding partonic processes du -> WZ, Wgamma. Using the leading-pole approximation we implement these corrections into Monte Carlo programs for $pp\to lν_l l'\bar l', lν_lγ$. We find that electroweak corrections lower the predictions by 5-20% in the physically interesting region of large transverse momentum and small rapidity separation of the gauge bosons.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1999

Non-conserved currents and gauge-restoring schemes in single W production

We generalize the inclusion of the imaginary parts of the fermionic one-loop corrections for processes with unstable vector bosons to the case of massive external fermions and non conservation of weak currents. We study the effect of initial and final state fermion masses in single W production in connection with the gauge-invariant treatment of the finite-width effects of W and Z bosons, giving numerical comparisons of different gauge-invariance-preserving schemes in the energy range of LEP2 and LC for e+e- -> e- v u d. We do not find significant differences between the results obtained in the imaginary part fermion loop scheme and in other exactly gauge preserving methods.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1998

Higgs Production in Charged Current Six Fermion Processes at Future $e^+e^-$ Colliders

We study higgs physics at future $e^+e^-$ colliders taking into account the full set of Feynman diagrams for six fermion final states, which are produced for higgs masses near or above the two $W$'s threshold. In particular we examine events where one isolated lepton or two isolated leptons of different flavours signal the presence of two $\rm W^*$'s. For these charged current processes, a detailed analysis of the relevance of irreducible and QCD background shows that appropriate cuts are generally sufficient to deal with it in the case of reconstructed or missing higgs mass distributions. These latter are however affected by a non negligible distortion and shift of the maximum.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1997

Six fermion processes at future $e^+ e^-$ colliders: signal and irreducible background for top, WWZ and Higgs physics in charged current final states

We compute several total and differential cross sections relevant to top, WWZ and Higgs physics at future $e^+e^-$ colliders taking into account the full set of Feynman diagrams for six fermion final states. We examine in particular charged current processes, in which final particles cannot be formed by three Z's decay. We include in our calculations initial state radiation and beamstrahlung effects, and the most important QCD corrections in an approximate (naive) form. We also compare this complete approach with production $\times$ decay approximation.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1997

Semileptonic six fermion processes at future $e^+ e^-$ colliders: signal and irreducible background for top and WWZ physics

We compute several total and differential cross sections relevant to top and WWZ physics at future $e^+e^-$ colliders taking into account the full set of Feynman diagrams for six fermion final states. We also include in our calculations initial state radiation and beamstrahlung effects, and the most important QCD corrections in an approximate (naive) form. We compare such a complete approach with "production x decay" approximation and we suggest that in many physical studies the former is needed.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1996

WPHACT 1.0 - A program for $WW$, Higgs and 4 fermion physics at $e^+ e^-$ colliders

WPHACT (W W and Higgs Physics with PHACT) is a MC program and unweighted event generator which computes all Standard Model processes with four fermion in the final state at $e^+ e^-$ colliders. It is based on an helicity amplitude method which allows precise and fast evaluations of the matrix elements both for massless and massive fermions. Fermion masses for $b$ quarks are exactly taken into account. QED initial state and Coulomb corrections are evaluated, while QCD final state corrections are included in an approximate formulation. Cuts can be easily introduced and distributions for any variable at parton level can be implemented. The contributions to the processes of neutral Standard Model or Susy Higgs can be included. Anomalous couplings effects for the triple coupling can be computed. An interface to hadronization is provided and Jetset can be directly called from the program.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1996

Distributions in Four-Fermion Processes

The programs WPHACT and WTO, which are designed for computing cross sections and other relevant observables in the $e^+e^-$ annihilation into four fermions, are used to make detailed and complete predictions for the semi-leptonic and fully hadronic channels $e^+e^- \to \barq q lν, \barq q \barq q$. Both the total cross sections in the LEP~2 energy range and some of the most relevant distributions are analyzed. Particular algorithms are introduced for the fully hadronic channels in order to analyze the $WW$ physics and to properly define the signal versus the background. With appropriate kinematical cuts it has been shown that the Neutral Current background can be made vanishingly small when the problem of determining the $W$ boson mass is addressed. The remaining background from the complete Charge Current and Mixed processes is again small but not completely negligible. A detailed discussion is performed on the validity of the most relevant approximations such as the double-resonant one. The inclusion of final state QCD correction, in its {\it naive} form (NQCD), is discussed and various implementations are examined.

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