Search for New Heavy Particles Decaying to Z0 Z0 to llll, lljj in p pbar Collisions at Sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports a search for new heavy particles decaying into Z boson pairs in proton-antiproton collisions at 1.96 TeV, using the CDF II detector, setting stronger limits on potential resonances than previous studies.

Contribution

It introduces an improved analysis with more data and channels, including muons and jets, and sets new, more stringent limits on heavy resonance production.

Findings

No significant excess observed above background

Limits on graviton resonance production are 7-20 times stronger

Enhanced muon detection algorithms improved analysis sensitivity

Abstract

We report on a search for anomalous production of Z boson pairs through a massive resonance decay in data corresponding to 2.5-2.9 fb^-1 of integrated luminosity in p pbar collisions at 1.96 TeV using the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. This analysis, with more data and channels where the Z bosons decay to muons or jets, supersedes the 1.1 fb^-1 four-electron channel result previously published by CDF. In order to maintain high efficiency for muons, we use a new forward tracking algorithm and muon identification requirements optimized for these high signal-to-background channels. Predicting the dominant backgrounds in each channel entirely from sideband data samples, we observe four-body invariant mass spectra above 300 GeV/c^2 that are consistent with background. We set limits using the acceptance for a massive graviton resonance that are 7-20 times stronger than the previously published direct limits on resonant ZZ production.