In the realm of high-energy physics, a team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, including Nandini Das, Dilip Kumar Ghosh, Nivedita Ghosh, and Ritesh K. Singh, have proposed a novel strategy for detecting long-lived, doubly charged scalars at future lepton colliders. Their work, published in the journal Physical Review D, focuses on a specific type of scalar particle that could have significant implications for our understanding of neutrino masses and the broader landscape of particle physics.
The researchers are investigating a complex scalar triplet that could explain the tiny masses of neutrinos through a mechanism known as the Type-II Seesaw mechanism. In this scenario, the doubly charged scalar can have a relatively long lifetime and decay predominantly into pairs of like-sign muons, such as μ⁺μ⁺ or μ⁻μ⁻. This decay process produces distinctive displaced-vertex signals, which are crucial for identifying the presence of these scalars.
The study focuses on the potential for detecting these scalars at two future lepton colliders: the International Linear Collider (ILC) and a prospective muon collider. The researchers consider the planned center-of-mass energies of these colliders and incorporate both theoretical and experimental constraints to analyze the resulting signals. One of the key signatures they examine is the presence of four leptons accompanied by missing transverse energy. Displaced vertices provide direct evidence of the scalar’s long lifetime, while the invariant mass distribution of same-sign dilepton pairs serves as a powerful complementary probe for discovering doubly charged Higgs bosons.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector are not immediately apparent, as the study is primarily focused on fundamental particle physics. However, a deeper understanding of the fundamental particles and forces that govern the universe could potentially lead to breakthroughs in energy production, storage, and transmission. For instance, advancements in particle physics have historically contributed to the development of new technologies, such as medical imaging and nuclear energy. While the direct impact on the energy industry may be speculative at this stage, the pursuit of fundamental scientific knowledge often paves the way for unexpected and transformative applications.
In summary, the researchers have proposed a novel search strategy for long-lived doubly charged scalars at future lepton colliders, focusing on their distinctive decay patterns and the resulting signals. Their work highlights the potential for discovering new particles and phenomena that could reshape our understanding of the universe and, eventually, lead to innovative applications in various fields, including the energy sector. The research was published in Physical Review D, a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the publication of fundamental research in all areas of particle physics, field theory, gravitation, and cosmology.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.