Deep-Inelastic Scattering with LHC Neutrinos

TL;DR

The paper discusses the potential of LHC neutrino deep-inelastic scattering measurements to advance understanding of proton structure, QCD, and BSM physics, leveraging new neutrino observations at the LHC.

Contribution

It reviews the physics opportunities of neutrino DIS at the LHC, including probing proton and nuclear structure and supporting BSM searches with upcoming experiments.

Findings

LHC neutrino fluxes enable novel DIS measurements.

Neutrino DIS can probe ultra-small-x QCD phenomena.

Enhances BSM search capabilities at the HL-LHC.

Abstract

The observation of neutrinos produced in LHC collisions by the far-forward FASER and SND@LHC experiments in 2023 herald the new era of collider neutrino physics. These high-intensity forward neutrino fluxes from proton-proton LHC collisions enable novel opportunities in QCD, neutrino physics, BSM searches, and astroparticle physics. In this contribution, we briefly review the physics potential of neutrino deep-inelastic scattering (DIS) measurements at the LHC to shed light on proton and nuclear structure, both for ongoing far-forward experiments and for the proposed Forward Physics Facility (FPF) to operate concurrently with the HL-LHC. We consider the reach of LHC neutrino DIS to scrutinise the mechanisms of forward hadron production and constrain QCD in the ultra-small-$x$ region. We also discuss how neutrino DIS measurements at these far-forward detectors enhance direct and indirect BSM searches at the HL-LHC.