Probing new physics with tau-leptons at the LHC

TL;DR

This paper explores potential new physics signals in tau-lepton pair production at the LHC, focusing on unique signatures that differentiate from other lepton channels, and proposes charge asymmetry as a key diagnostic tool.

Contribution

It introduces three generic new physics scenarios affecting tau pairs at the LHC and highlights the use of charge asymmetry to identify and distinguish these effects.

Findings

Charge asymmetry can effectively detect new physics in tau pairs.

Different new physics models produce distinct charge asymmetry signatures.

Tau channel offers unique sensitivity to non-universal Z' and leptoquark effects.

Abstract

We discuss new physics that can show up in the $\tau^+\tau^-$ production process at the LHC but not in the dimuon or the dielectron channels. We consider three different generic possibilities: a new resonance in the Drell-Yan process in the form of a non-universal $Z^\prime$; a new non-resonant contribution to $q\bar{q}\to \tau^+\tau^-$ in the form of leptoquarks; and contributions from gluon fusion due to effective lepton gluonic couplings. We emphasize the use of the charge asymmetry both to discover new physics and to distinguish between different possibilities