Looking forward: Photon induced processes with tagged protons at the CMS experiment

TL;DR

This paper discusses the use of photon induced processes with tagged protons at CMS to probe new physics, focusing on exclusive processes and quartic gauge couplings, utilizing the Precision Proton Spectrometer (PPS).

Contribution

It introduces the PPS detector's role in enhancing sensitivity to exclusive processes and presents initial results from its operation at the LHC.

Findings

First results obtained with PPS demonstrate its capability.

Enhanced sensitivity to quartic gauge couplings achieved.

Ongoing program aims to explore rare exclusive processes.

Abstract

Photon induced processes can be used as a sensitive probe of new physics searches and can be studied using exclusive processes. These processes lead to unprecedented sensitivities on quartic anomalous couplings between photons and W and Z bosons, and new physics searches. By tagging the leading proton from the hard interaction, the Precision Proton Spectrometer (PPS) provides an increased sensitivity to select exclusive processes. PPS is designed to operate in standard high-luminosity runs at the LHC to perform measurements of e.g. the quartic gauge couplings and search for rare exclusive processes. The first results obtained with PPS, and the status of the ongoing program are discussed.