Periodic Reporting for period 3 - SPEAR (Standard model Precision Electroweak tests at Acute Rapidities)
Reporting period: 2023-06-01 to 2024-11-30
The electroweak SM theory describes the electromagnetic and weak-nuclear forces in terms of three fundamental parameters.
A global fit of observables that relate to these parameters is sensitive to quantum-loop corrections involving possible fields beyond those of the SM.
Gaining a deeper understanding of the fundamental forces of nature is especially important for society since it has proven to lead to technological breakthroughs throughout history.
The discovery of physics beyond the SM is a holy grail in physics.
The sensitivity of this test is primarily limited by the precision of the measurement of the W boson mass.
The SPEAR project aims to exploit a previously unforeseen potential of the LHCb experiment in a new measurement of the W boson mass.
The project also aims to make a precision determination of a related parameter, the weak mixing angle, and a test of lepton universality with
W boson decays.
A global fit of observables that relate to these parameters is sensitive to quantum-loop corrections involving possible fields beyond those of the SM.
Gaining a deeper understanding of the fundamental forces of nature is especially important for society since it has proven to lead to technological breakthroughs throughout history.
The discovery of physics beyond the SM is a holy grail in physics.
The sensitivity of this test is primarily limited by the precision of the measurement of the W boson mass.
The SPEAR project aims to exploit a previously unforeseen potential of the LHCb experiment in a new measurement of the W boson mass.
The project also aims to make a precision determination of a related parameter, the weak mixing angle, and a test of lepton universality with
W boson decays.
Within the first year of the project my team has delivered a first proof-of-principle measurement of the W boson mass with the LHCb experiment,
which was reported as a preliminary result in the prestigious CERN seminar series https://indico.cern.ch/event/1027304/(opens in new window).
This result was also one of the highlights in the bi-annual European Physical Society summer conference that followed soon after the CERN seminar.
This provides an solid foundation for achieving the objectives of WP1 of the project.
A scientific paper describing this analysis is now in the final stages of editorial review within the LHCb experiment, before it is submitted to a peer-reviewed
open access journal.
All team members have already presented the results at workshops, meetings and conferences.
which was reported as a preliminary result in the prestigious CERN seminar series https://indico.cern.ch/event/1027304/(opens in new window).
This result was also one of the highlights in the bi-annual European Physical Society summer conference that followed soon after the CERN seminar.
This provides an solid foundation for achieving the objectives of WP1 of the project.
A scientific paper describing this analysis is now in the final stages of editorial review within the LHCb experiment, before it is submitted to a peer-reviewed
open access journal.
All team members have already presented the results at workshops, meetings and conferences.
Within the first year of the project the first proof-of-principle measurement of the W boson mass already introduces several novel methodologies that are unique to this analysis.
This includes a simultaneous measurement of the W boson mass and a W-specific tune of event generators.
The analysis also made use of a simple new method for controlling charge-dependent curvature biases, which was developed by the PI
with collaborators https://link.springer.com/article/10.1140%2Fepjc%2Fs10052-021-09016-9(opens in new window).
This includes a simultaneous measurement of the W boson mass and a W-specific tune of event generators.
The analysis also made use of a simple new method for controlling charge-dependent curvature biases, which was developed by the PI
with collaborators https://link.springer.com/article/10.1140%2Fepjc%2Fs10052-021-09016-9(opens in new window).