Polarization effects in the search for dark vector boson at $e^+e^-$ colliders

TL;DR

This paper explores how polarization effects in $e^+e^-$ collisions can reveal the Lorentz structure of dark vector boson couplings, using angular distributions of decay products to distinguish vector and axial-vector interactions.

Contribution

It introduces a method to determine the Lorentz structure of dark vector boson couplings through polarization and angular distribution analysis at $e^+e^-$ colliders.

Findings

Polarization of $Z_d$ depends on its mass relative to collision energy.

Angular correlations can differentiate vector and axial-vector couplings.

Feasibility of measurement at Belle II with detector effects considered.

Abstract

We argue that the search for dark vector boson through $e^+e^-\to Z_d\gamma$ can determine the Lorentz structure of $Z_dl^+l^-$ couplings with the detection of leptonic decays $Z_d\to l^+l^-$. We assume a general framework that the dark vector boson interacts with ordinary fermions through vector and axial-vector couplings. As a consequence of Ward-Takahashi identity, $Z_d$ is transversely polarized in the limit $m_{Z_d}\ll \sqrt{s}$. On the other hand, the fraction of longitudinal $Z_d$ is non-negligible for $m_{Z_d}$ comparable to $\sqrt{s}$. Such polarization effects can be analyzed through angular distributions of final-state particles in $Z_d$ decays. Taking $l^{\pm}\equiv \mu^{\pm}$, we study the correlation between $Z_d$ angle relative to $e^-$ beam direction in $e^+e^-$ CM frame and $\mu^-$ angle relative to the boost direction of $Z_d$ in $Z_d$ rest frame. This correlation is shown to be useful for probing the Lorentz structure of $Z_dl^+l^-$ couplings. We discuss the measurement of such correlation in Belle II detector, taking into account the detector acceptance and energy resolution.