Searching for Quirks at LHCb

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel search strategy for quirks at LHCb, leveraging its unique detector geometry and trigger system to detect characteristic particle patterns, potentially exploring new parameter regions beyond current collider experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a new quirk detection method using LHCb's VELO detector, demonstrating its potential to explore previously inaccessible parameter space.

Findings

LHCb can probe quirk parameter regions beyond ATLAS and CMS.

The proposed method effectively detects back-to-back, planar hit patterns.

Simulations show promising sensitivity projections for quirk detection.

Abstract

Quirks are heavy particles connected by a flux tube from a hidden confining force that remain weakly constrained in large regions of their parameter space. This flux tube acts as a string that, at short enough distance, stretches as the quirk pair separates, then pulls the pair back together leading to interesting dynamics. We propose a novel search using the LHCb Vertex Locator (VELO), whose forward geometry and software-based trigger are uniquely suited to detecting the characteristic back-to-back, planar hit patterns produced by quirk pairs with little transverse recoil. Using detailed simulations of the VELO geometry, together with simple geometric selections, we present different sensitivity projections, demonstrating that LHCb can probe parameter regions inaccessible to existing ATLAS and CMS searches and offering a powerful, complementary path toward discovering quirks.