We perform a systematic study of flavor-changing neutral currents (FCNCs) in the 331 model with right-handed neutrinos (331RHNs), analyzing constraints on the $\textit{Z}$ boson mass from $\textit{K}$-, $\textit{D}$-, $\textit{B}$ -, and $\textit{B}$ -meson oscillations. By explicitly incorporating scalar sector dynamics and quark rotation ambiguities $$ \left({V}_L^{u,d}\right) $$ , we demonstrate that $\textit{Z}$ mass limits depend critically on the parametrization of Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix factors. Three scenarios are explored: $$ {V}_L^u $$ = $$ {V}_{\textrm{CKM}}^{\dagger } $$ (FCNCs restricted to $\textit{D}$-mesons), $$ {V}_L^d $$ = $\textit{V}$ (dominant $\textit{B}$ constraints), and a hybrid mixing pattern. Strikingly, reduces the $\textit{Z}$ mass bound to $$ {M}_{Z^{\prime }} $$ ≳ 600 GeV — two orders of magnitude below literature values — by leveraging large experimental uncertainties in $\textit{D}$- $$ \overline{D} $$ oscillations. Conversely, requires $$ {M}_{Z^{\prime }} $$ ≳ 165 TeV due to stringent $\textit{B}$ data. We further establish the alignment limit cos($\textit{ϕ}$ + $\textit{φ}$) = 0 for the SM-like Higgs, showing its viability depends on $$ {V}_L^{u,d} $$ configurations, with $\textit{B}$ systems enforcing |cos($\textit{ϕ}$ + $\textit{φ}$)| < 0$\textit{.}$01 in down-sector FCNC scenarios. Our analysis reveals that strategic choices of quark mixing matrices can suppress FCNC visibility, reconciling the 331 framework with flavor data without ultra-heavy $\textit{Z}$ bosons. This work provides the first unified treatment of SM-like Higgs- and $\textit{Z}$ -mediated FCNCs in 331 models, identifying viable parameter spaces for collider phenomenology.

Brazil

Patricio Escalona

Spain

João Pinheiro

A. Doff

C. Pires

Meson mixing bounds on $\textit{Z}$

Studying exotic hadrons is a challenge against the conventional quark model, providing us with a good platform to deepen our understanding of the strong interaction. An inclusive study of the exotic hadrons in vacuum and at finite temperature is an intriguing approach to shed light on their nature. As a first step, we study the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>Z</mi><mi>c</mi></msub><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3900</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></math> in both the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>D</mi><msup><mover accent="true"><mi>D</mi><mo stretchy="false">¯</mo></mover><mo>*</mo></msup></math> hadronic molecular and the triangle singularity pictures, and discuss the behaviors of <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>Z</mi><mi>c</mi></msub><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3900</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></math> at finite temperature in these two different pictures. As a result, we show the properties that its mass becomes smaller and its width becomes larger when the temperature increases, which are seen commonly in the hadronic molecular picture and in the triangle singularity picture. The enhanced widths in hot medium indicate that the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>Z</mi><mi>c</mi></msub><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3900</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></math> will be dissociated at a sufficiently high temperature. This feature is also reflected by a decrease of the effective couplings in the hadronic molecular picture. It is concluded that, not only in vacuum but also in hot medium, the behaviors of <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>Z</mi><mi>c</mi></msub><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3900</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></math> are similar in the two different interpretations of <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>Z</mi><mi>c</mi></msub><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3900</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></math>.

China

Japan

Ying Zhang

Atsushi Hosaka

Qian Wang

Shigehiro Yasui

<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi>Z</mi><mi>c</mi></msub><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mn>3900</mn><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></math> in a hadronic molecule and a triangle singularity approach at finite temperature

This paper presents a computer code for analyzing electroweak precision data (EWPD) in the framework of the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT), highlights the importance of recent ATLAS and CMS precision measurements, and introduces a novel analysis of the forward–backward asymmetry at the LHC. The computer code provides the likelihood of SMEFT Wilson coefficients based on precision measurements of $\textit{W}$ and $\textit{Z}$ pole observables, interpolation formulas for Standard Model predictions, and modular SMEFT parametrizations. SMEFT predictions including next-to-leading-order (NLO) effects in perturbative and SMEFT expansion are available and five alternative electroweak input parameter schemes are supported. The likelihood addresses shortcomings of previous formulations in the treatment of parametric uncertainties and can be straightforwardly included in SMEFT fits of LHC data. The input parameter scheme dependence and role of NLO corrections is studied for the EWPD fit in the SMEFT. Furthermore, the impact of recent ATLAS and CMS measurements — of the $\textit{W}$ boson mass and width, of the lepton flavour universality (LFU) of $\textit{W}$ branching fractions, and the effective leptonic weak mixing angle, $$ {\sin}^2{\theta}_{\textrm{eff}}^{\ell } $$ — is analyzed. A test of LFU that surpasses the precision of existing measurements is proposed based on the $$ {\sin}^2{\theta}_{\textrm{eff}}^{\ell } $$ measurement. Finally, an ATLAS Drell-Yan triple-differential cross-section measurement is reinterpreted in the SMEFT and combined with the EWPD likelihood. This analysis demonstrates the feasibility of the LFU precision test, improves constraints on muon couplings with respect to the world average, and determines a combination of the quark-coupling asymmetry parameters $\textit{A}$ and $\textit{A}$ with a precision comparable to that of the heavy flavour parameters $\textit{A}$ and $\textit{A}$ .

Germany

Hannes Mildner

An EWPD SMEFT likelihood for the LHC — and how to improve it with measurements of W and Z boson properties

We study the new $Z'$ boson as a portal for the production of Higgs bosons $h_0$ and $H_0$ predicted by the Bestest Little Higgs Model through Higgs-strahlung processes $\mu^+\mu^- \to (Z, Z') \to Zh_0, ZH_0$ . We focus on the resonant and nonresonant effects of the $Zh_0, ZH_0$ signals. In our analysis, we consider the center-of-mass energies of $\sqrt{s}=3, 4, 6, 10, 30$ TeV and integrated luminosities of ${\cal{L}}=2, 4, 6, 10, 30$ ${ {\rm{ab}}^{-1}}$ projected for a future muon collider. The possibility of performing precision measurements for Higgs bosons $h_0$ and $H_0$ is very promising for the future muon collider. Furthermore, our results may be useful to the High Energy Physics community. Complementarily, we generate and provide the Feynman rules necessary for studying processes $\mu^+\mu^- \to (Z, Z') \to Zh_0, ZH_0$ .

J.M. Martínez-Martínez

A. Gutiérrez-Rodríguez

E. Cruz-Albaro

M.A. Hernández-Ruíz

New $\textit{Z}$' boson of the bestest little Higgs model as a portal to signatures of Higgs bosons $\textit{h}$ $_{0}$ and $\textit{H}$ $_{0}$ at the future muon collider

We study the Higgs couplings involved in the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>Z</mi><mi>h</mi></math> associated production mode at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in presence of Higgs-gauge boson coupling modifiers via <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>κ</mi></math> framework and dimension-six Standard Model (SM) effective theory operators. The analysis is performed mainly in the context of the High-Luminosity LHC (with <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msqrt><mi>s</mi></msqrt><mo>=</mo><mn>14</mn><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><mi>TeV</mi></math> and luminosity <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mn>3000</mn><mtext> </mtext><mtext> </mtext><msup><mi>fb</mi><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></math>) setup using cut-based as well as machine learning techniques. The analysis shows significant betterment in the signal significance by using the machine learning technique. We also do a <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msup><mi>χ</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></math> analysis, which reveals an appreciable change in the sensitivity of the coupling modifiers due to the presence of effective operators, in particular, due to the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>q</mi><mi>q</mi><mi>Z</mi><mi>h</mi></math> Higgs-current interactions. The dipole operators concerning the same vertex combine quarks of different chiralities and do not interfere with the SM diagrams, hence contributing only at <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi mathvariant="script">O</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><msup><mi mathvariant="normal">Λ</mi><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>4</mn></mrow></msup><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></math>. In order to observe better sensitivity for this class of operators, we need to move to higher center-of-mass energy, where the effects of both Higgs-current and dipole four-point interactions are more prominent.

India

Subhaditya Bhattacharya

Sanjoy Biswas

Abhik Sarkar

Higgs couplings in SMEFT via <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mrow><mi>Z</mi><mi>h</mi></mrow></math> production at the HL-LHC

We investigate the LHC discovery prospects for a second Higgs doublet through <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>A</mi><mo stretchy="false">→</mo><mi>Z</mi><mi>H</mi></math> weak decay. The latter is identified as the smoking gun signature of two Higgs doublet models (2HDMs) with first-order electroweak (EW) phase transition, a necessary condition for EW baryogenesis. In the general 2HDM (G2HDM) that has flavor-changing neutral Higgs couplings, <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>H</mi></math> may decay dominantly via <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>t</mi><mover accent="true"><mi>c</mi><mo stretchy="false">¯</mo></mover><mo>+</mo><mover accent="true"><mi>t</mi><mo stretchy="false">¯</mo></mover><mi>c</mi></math> final states, giving rise to trilepton signals. By a phenomenological analysis, we show that <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>A</mi><mo stretchy="false">→</mo><mi>Z</mi><mi>H</mi></math> in <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msup><mo>ℓ</mo><mo>+</mo></msup><msup><mo>ℓ</mo><mo>−</mo></msup><mi>t</mi><mover accent="true"><mi>c</mi><mo stretchy="false">¯</mo></mover></math> or <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msup><mo>ℓ</mo><mo>+</mo></msup><msup><mo>ℓ</mo><mo>−</mo></msup><mover accent="true"><mi>t</mi><mo stretchy="false">¯</mo></mover><mi>c</mi></math> final states could be a promising probe of G2HDM at the LHC with flavor violation.

Taiwan

Wei-Shu Hou

Mohamed Krab

Probing the general 2HDM with flavor violation through <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>A</mi><mo stretchy="false">→</mo><mi>Z</mi><mi>H</mi></math>

A search for decays of the Higgs boson into a <italic>Z</italic> boson and a light resonance, with a mass of 0.5&#8211;3.5 GeV, is performed using the full 140 fb &#8722;1 dataset of 13 TeV proton&#8211;proton collisions recorded by the ATLAS detector during LHC Run 2. Leptonic decays of the <italic>Z</italic> boson and hadronic decays of the light resonance are considered. The resonance can be interpreted as a <math altimg='si2.svg'><mi>J</mi><mo stretchy='false'>/</mo><mi>&#968;</mi></math> or <math altimg='si3.svg'><msub><mrow><mi>&#951;</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>c</mi></mrow></msub></math> meson, an axion-like particle, or a light pseudoscalar predicted in two-Higgs-doublet models. Due to its low mass, this resonance is produced with a high Lorentz boost in the laboratory frame and therefore reconstructed as a single small-radius jet of hadrons. A neural network is used to correct the Monte Carlo simulation of the total expected background using data from sideband regions. Two additional neural networks are used to distinguish signal from background, enhancing the purity of the signal region. A binned profile-likelihood fit is performed on the final-state invariant mass distribution. No significant excess of events relative to the expected background is observed, and upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the Higgs boson's branching fraction to a <italic>Z</italic> boson and a light resonance. The exclusion limit is &#8764;10% for the lower masses, and increases for higher masses. Upper limits on the effective coupling <math altimg='si4.svg'><msubsup><mrow><mi>C</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>Z</mi><mi>H</mi></mrow><mrow><mtext>eff</mtext></mrow></msubsup><mo stretchy='false'>/</mo><mi mathvariant='normal'>&#923;</mi></math> of an axion-like particle to a Higgs boson and <italic>Z</italic> boson are also set at 95% confidence level, and range from 0.9 to 2 TeV &#8722;1.

France

G. Aad

Norway

E. Aakvaag

United States

B. Abbott

United Arab Emirates

S. Abdelhameed

K. Abeling

N.J. Abicht

S.H. Abidi

M. Aboelela

Morocco

A. Aboulhorma

Israel

H. Abramowicz

Y. Abulaiti

Italy

B.S. Acharya

A. Ackermann

C. Adam Bourdarios

Poland

L. Adamczyk

S.V. Addepalli

United Kingdom

M.J. Addison

J. Adelman

Türkiye

A. Adiguzel

T. Adye

A.A. Affolder

Y. Afik

M.N. Agaras

A. Aggarwal

Romania

C. Agheorghiesei

F. Ahmadov

S. Ahuja

X. Ai

G. Aielli

A. Aikot

M. Ait Tamlihat

B. Aitbenchikh

M. Akbiyik

Sweden

T.P.A. Åkesson

A.V. Akimov

D. Akiyama

N.N. Akolkar

S. Aktas

K. Al Khoury

G.L. Alberghi

Canada

J. Albert

P. Albicocco

G.L. Albouy

S. Alderweireldt

Z.L. Alegria

Switzerland

M. Aleksa

I.N. Aleksandrov

C. Alexa

Greece

T. Alexopoulos

F. Alfonsi

M. Algren

M. Alhroob

Czechia

B. Ali

H.M.J. Ali

S. Ali

S.W. Alibocus

South Africa

M. Aliev

G. Alimonti

W. Alkakhi

C. Allaire

B.M.M. Allbrooke

J.S. Allen

J.F. Allen

Chile

C.A. Allendes Flores

P.P. Allport

A. Aloisio

Argentina

F. Alonso

C. Alpigiani

Z.M.K. Alsolami

M. Alvarez Estevez

A. Alvarez Fernandez

M. Alves Cardoso

M.G. Alviggi

M. Aly

Y. Amaral Coutinho

A. Ambler

C. Amelung

M. Amerl

C.G. Ames

D. Amidei

B. Amini

K. Amirie

Portugal

S.P. Amor Dos Santos

K.R. Amos

D. Amperiadou

S. An

V. Ananiev

C. Anastopoulos

T. Andeen

J.K. Anders

A.C. Anderson

A. Andreazza

S. Angelidakis

A. Angerami

A.V. Anisenkov

A. Annovi

C. Antel

E. Antipov

M. Antonelli

F. Anulli

Search for Higgs boson decays into a <italic>Z</italic> boson and a light hadronically decaying resonance in <italic>pp</italic> collisions at <math altimg='si1.svg'><msqrt><mrow><mi>s</mi></mrow></msqrt></math>=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The main goal of modern experiments in the high-energy physics area is to find deviations from the Standard Model, the theoretical framework which describes data well but is expected to be extended to a more general theory. The anomalous coupling approach provides an opportunity to look for a wide range of new physics effects in different experimental signatures thanks to its model independence. In this work, the neutral triple gauge couplings are considered in <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>Z</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>ℓ</mo><mo>ℓ</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mi>γ</mi></math> channel, and an effective field theory is used to parametrize these couplings in the Lagrangian. Neutral triple gauge couplings are triple interactions between <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>Z</mi></math> bosons and photons, and some of them violate <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>C</mi><mi>P</mi></math> symmetry. This work presents a study of <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>C</mi><mi>P</mi></math>-sensitive variables in the aforementioned channel using special angular variables and matrix-element-based optimal observables. Based on these variables, expected limits on the coupling parameters are set for the conditions of Run II and Run III at LHC experiments, demonstrating the possibility of studying the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>C</mi><mi>P</mi></math>-violation using a neutral triple gauge coupling approach and special <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>C</mi><mi>P</mi></math>-sensitive variables.

Russia

Armenia

Artur E. Semushin

Evgeny Yu. Soldatov

Anastasia S. Kurova

<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>C</mi><mi>P</mi></math>-violating effects of the neutral triple gauge couplings in <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>Z</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mo>ℓ</mo><mo>ℓ</mo><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mi>γ</mi></math> production at the LHC

A precise determination of the CKM angle $\textit{γ}$ from $$ {B}_s^0 $$ oscillations in $$ {B}_s^0\to {D}_s^{\mp }{K}^{\pm } $$ decays offers a critical test of the Standard Model and probes for new physics. We present a comprehensive study on the prospects of measuring $\textit{γ}$ at a future Tera-$\textit{Z}$ factory, utilizing the baseline detector concept of the Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC). A two-dimensional simultaneous fit framework, incorporating flavor tagging, decay time resolution modeling, and acceptance corrections, is developed using full Monte Carlo simulations of $$ {B}_s^0\to {D}_s^{\mp}\left(\to {K}^{\mp }{K}^{\pm }{\pi}^{\mp}\right){K}^{\pm } $$ decays and inclusive background processes. The effective flavor tagging power reaches 23.6%, while the decay time resolution is determined to be 26 fs. Projecting to full statistics of signal events across three dominant $$ {D}_s^{-} $$ decay channels, we estimate a statistical precision of $\textit{σ}$($\textit{γ}$) = 0$\textit{.}$69 , which corresponds to 4.1 Tera-$\textit{Z}$ boson equivalent data. This study has established the feasibility of sub-degree level $\textit{γ}$ measurements at a $\textit{Z}$ factory, highlighting its unique advantages in time-dependent $\textit{CP}$ violation studies through ultra-precise vertexing and background suppression capabilities.

Ji Peng

Mingrui Zhao

Xiaolin Wang

Manqi Ruan

Hengne Li

Shanzhen Chen

Prospect for measurement of $\textit{CP}$-violating observables in $$ {B}_s^0\to {D}_s^{\mp }{K}^{\pm } $$ decays at a future $\textit{Z}$ factory

We study the dynamics of domain walls formed through the spontaneous breaking of an approximate <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi mathvariant="double-struck">Z</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></math> symmetry in a scalar field, focusing on their collapse under the influence of quantum and thermal corrections induced by a <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi mathvariant="double-struck">Z</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></math>-violating Yukawa coupling to Dirac fermions in the thermal bath. The thermal effects make the potential bias between the true and false vacua dependent on the temperature and may lead to notable variations in the annihilation temperature of domain walls, in addition to the shift caused by temperature-independent quantum corrections. These modifications could substantially alter the gravitational wave spectrum produced by collapsing domain walls, potentially providing observable signatures for future gravitational wave detection experiments.

Qing-Quan Zeng

Xi He

Zhao-Huan Yu

Jiaming Zheng

Collapsing domain walls with <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><msub><mi mathvariant="double-struck">Z</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></math>-violating coupling to thermalized fermions and their impact on gravitational wave detections