Constraints on antisymmetric tensor fields from Bhabha scattering

TL;DR

This paper investigates constraints on antisymmetric tensor fields, predicted by string theory, by analyzing their potential effects on Bhabha scattering and deriving bounds on their electromagnetic dipole couplings.

Contribution

It provides new experimental bounds on the electromagnetic dipole couplings of antisymmetric tensor fields from Bhabha scattering data.

Findings

Constraints: $ ilde{M}_e m_C > 7.1 imes 10^4$ GeV$^2$

String theory predictions can be tested via electron scattering

Limits improve understanding of tensor field couplings

Abstract

Antisymmetric tensor fields are a compelling prediction of string theory. This makes them an interesting target for particle physics because antisymmetric tensors may couple to electromagnetic dipole moments, thus opening a possible discovery opportunity for string theory. The strongest constraints on electromagnetic dipole couplings would arise from couplings to electrons, where these couplings would contribute to Moller and Bhabha scattering. Previous measurements of Bhabha scattering constrain the couplings to $\tilde{M}_e m_C>7.1\times 10^4\,\mathrm{GeV}^2$, where $m_C$ is the mass of the antisymmetric tensor field and $\tilde{M}_e$ is an effective mass scale appearing in the electromagnetic dipole coupling.