Displaced Signals of Hidden Vectors at the Electron-Ion Collider

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of the Electron-Ion Collider to detect light weakly interacting vector bosons via displaced vertex signals, offering a promising avenue for new physics discovery.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method for searching for hidden vector bosons at the EIC using displaced vertex signals, enhancing detection prospects compared to existing experiments.

Findings

Proposed searches outperform current experimental projections.

Inclusion of backward particle identification improves detection reach.

Displaced vertex signals are effective for discovering or constraining new light vector bosons.

Abstract

The Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) provides unique opportunities in searching for new physics through its high center of mass energy and coherent interactions of large nuclei. We examine how light weakly interacting vector bosons from a variety of models can be discovered or constrained, over significant parts of their parameter space, through clean displaced vertex signals at the EIC. Our results indicate that the searches we propose favorably compare with or surpass existing experimental projections for the models examined. The reach for the new physics that we consider can be markedly improved if "far backward" particle identification capabilities are included in the EIC detector complex.