A spin on same-sign W-boson pair production

TL;DR

This paper explores how the LHC can detect quantum spin correlations between quarks inside protons through same-sign W-boson pair production, offering a new way to study proton structure.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of double parton scattering focusing on spin correlations, highlighting the potential of same-sign W-boson pairs as a sensitive probe.

Findings

Measurements of muon production rates can reveal quark spin correlations.

The analysis estimates the significance of detecting these correlations at various luminosities.

Same-sign W-boson production is identified as a promising channel for such measurements.

Abstract

We demonstrate that the LHC will be sensitive to quantum correlations between two quarks inside the proton. Same-sign W-boson pair production is the most promising channel for clear measurements of double parton scattering. The left-handed nature of the coupling between quarks and W-bosons makes it a prime probe to measure parton spin correlations. We perform a detailed analysis of double parton scattering, including relevant backgrounds. The analysis reveals that measurements comparing the rate at which two muons from W boson decays are produced in the same compared to opposite hemispheres are especially sensitive to spin correlations between two quarks inside the proton. We provide estimates of the significance of the measurements as a function of the integrated luminosity.